Chapter 176: Magic Control Union Market

Eve finally fired her last shot just before sunrise.

The last-minute challenge succeeded.

But she was utterly exhausted, too tired to care about the marks all over her body—she collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep without even bothering to collect her spoils.

Luo De cast a 【Dust-Cleansing Spell】 on her and pulled the blanket over her.

He left the cabin with renewed energy.

Facing the morning sun, he felt inexplicably refreshed.

The Banshee Krist stepped down from the roof.

She stared at him in shock: "Master, did you kill her? Good heavens—from sunset until now, it's been an entire night!"

Luo De gave her a cold glance: "That was meant to be your burden."

The banshee immediately stammered and bowed her head in apology.

"I—I've never done this before, so I was scared. It's all your fault for being so brutal every day, and Tally's screams were so exaggerated."

Luo De, of course, had no intention of truly holding it against her.

After all, he'd never been particularly interested in banshees.

Luo De and she picked some fresh wild berries and brought them to the temporary hospital.

Modern healing spells generally have poor effects,

except for native spiritual arts and the plague mage's plague therapy.

So even Calistria the elf's healing was actually worse than Little Ke, the half-deer, unless she performed a complex ritual requiring material components.

After all, no gods had descended onto this continent, so there was no priestly class skilled in healing.

Hearing Luo De was going to the Magic Control Union market today, Karistel gave him a list of ritual components she needed.

Magic Control Union.

On the market street.

Just as last time, it was still eerily quiet.

Luo De leaned against a brown wooden counter by the roadside.

While waiting for staff to evaluate the spoils he seized from the featherfolk Carolin, he chatted idly with the cat-woman behind the counter.

One moment complimenting her cat ears, the next pretending to discuss nail trends while brushing her small hand.

The cat-woman receptionist glanced at his handsome face, then at the pile of treasures awaiting appraisal—she decisively chose to play along.

First she invited him to feel the texture of her cat ears, then showed off the tiny barbs on her pink, delicate tongue.

She giggled incessantly.

The male clerk beside her watched with a cold, expressionless face.

In the end, Carolin's spoils, combined with Megon the Bone Dragon's recent trade goods, totaled 24, 32 Jin Along.

This was the first time Luo De had ever seen so much money.

His eyes lit up.

But the variety of goods here was absurdly overwhelming—after buying Karistel's required ritual components, he immediately became overwhelmed by choice.

He hadn't walked far.

Luo De saw a familiar figure approaching from ahead.

A white-robed mage.

Deputy Director of the Containment Division, the rabbitfolk Oona (Luo De didn't know she was rabbitfolk), personal mage of Magic Control Union Commissioner Julia.

"Forester Luo De! Long time no see!"

Beneath her hood's shadow, half her sweet face lit up with warm enthusiasm.

Behind her trailed a line of rabbits, jointly carrying a large wooden crate filled with various ritual components.

Frog legs, fishfolk gills—all reeking of fishy stench.

"Oona, Madam."

Luo De offered a brief greeting and moved to take his leave.

His impression of this high-rank mage was average—he didn't want to get entangled with her.

But she clearly had other ideas.

Oona leaned in warmly.

"Is the 【Dark Vortex Rift】 still stable? Your grafting labyrinth ritual has been listed by the Magic Control Union as a successful case—you'll receive rewards soon."

Luo De was a man of decorum.

He offered polite words: "All thanks to your care, without your oversight it would've been impossible."

Oona, though a high-ranking official, clearly appreciated it.

She beamed with delight.

Seeing she seemed harmless, Luo De asked her about training methods, elemental resonance, and treasures to enhance one's origin.

Oona was delighted by his inquiry; after a moment's thought, she personally led him to a stall.

【Cosmic Creature—Tongue of the Gravity Frog】.

Price: 13, 00 Jin Along / 650 internal points.

The price stunned Luo De.

When they first met, she had gifted him 2, 00 internal points—equivalent to nearly 40, 00 Jin Along.

His gaze toward her instantly warmed.

His earlier mild dissatisfaction vanished—this petite white-robed mage, barely reaching his chest, was clearly a generous grand mage.

Seeing his expression, Oona assumed he was clueless.

She explained: "Luckily there's still some left—this tongue is extremely rare. It carries gravity and aetheric toxins; some high-rank warriors with good poison resistance wrap it around their necks to train their bodies. The results are quite effective, but it's just too expensive."

Luo De naturally believed her and immediately purchased it using internal points.

Oona: "Treasures that directly enhance physical strength are rare finds. Cosmic creature organs might work, but usually come with bodily deformities."

"Forget it."

"I thought so—humans rarely want to alter their limbs."

Luo De frowned: "So there are races that willingly change their bodies?"

"Of course—slimes, zombies, mudfolk, and treants, especially those lacking pain sensation—they don't mind limb modifications."

Speaking of which,

Zombie Selina lost both hands—perhaps a solution could be found here.

Luo De asked directly.

Oona nodded and handed him a card.

"One of the Magic Control Union's master dwarven artisans—he's an expert in crafting alchemical prosthetics. Go to him and mention my name. Wait, no—don't mention my name, or he'll charge you extra!"

"..."

Noticing Luo De's puzzled look, she weakly defended: "It's not me—it's Commissioner Julia! Never mind."

She added: "As for elemental resonance, technically it's possible—but the minimum requirement is seventh-tier spiritual energy, usually mastered by totem warriors. Mages are skilled in manipulating elements and evocation, but using the body to resonate with elements? That's a rare field of study..."

Luo De had nearly given up, but noticed her hesitation, as if there was more to say.

"What is it?"

Oona thought for a moment: "Internal elemental resonance... there might be a way to achieve it using external objects. But it depends on whether you're willing to try."

"Do tell."

They walked and browsed together.

Luo De paused frequently—whenever he saw something the forest girls might like, he couldn't help but buy it.

Oona watched silently, silently marveling at his boundless kindness.

She was a rabbitfolk of the chastity sect, unfamiliar with romance, yet her spiritual perception sensed Luo De's sincerity.

"In the Containment Division, there are many magical disaster creatures and artifacts. Among them, there's a very special slime. Slimes are semi-liquid water elementals, normally translucent and slimy—but this one is pure black, with a metallic sheen."

Luo De joked: "A new species? Metal slime?"

Oona laughed: "We thought so at first, but this black slime retains the standard slime's shape-shifting and splitting abilities, and its body is rich in water elements and a fluid metal."

(End of Chapter)