Chapter 190: Mind Spells

However, Xia Duo was not a young man who couldn't handle a little provocation. "Let's look at the price first. If the price is right, I also need a 2nd Circle Spell."

"Customer, this, this 【Summon Mount】 is a must-have spell for Mages. As for the price—you know!"

"How much?"

"1000 Gold Coins?"

Xia Duo immediately turned to leave, but Ge Li Fei Zi grabbed him. "Customer, don't be in such a rush. 1000 Gold Coins is the price for others. I remember you, Xia Duo, a New Mage of the Tower of Time. I even personally certified your Spellcasting Level. I'll give it to you for 800 Gold Coins."

"Too expensive. Since you know I'm just a New Mage, you should know I don't have much money." Xia Duo made a gesture to leave again.

"That's not right. Mage Xia Duo, you certified as a Level 2 Mage, isn't that to receive a salary matching your level? 800 Gold Coins is only a few months' salary, but the time saved cannot be bought with these 800 Gold Coins!"

Ge Li Fei Zi finally said something sensible. Saving time was indeed important, but Xia Duo's learning speed was beyond what he could imagine.

For a 1st Circle Spell, from borrowing a book at the Library to successfully casting it for the first time, Xia Duo estimated he wouldn't even need a week.

800 Gold Coins for just one week—Xia Duo felt his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys all aching.

He had the urge to just say, "Will you sell it for 100 Gold Coins? If not, get lost," but the other party's status as an Intermediate Mage weighed over his head. If the other party got angry and attacked on the spot, even bringing out the Lord might not necessarily protect him.

For the first time, Xia Duo felt the drawbacks of trading with the strong; success or failure depended entirely on the other party's character, just as the situation of that Mage Apprentice earlier depended entirely on Xia Duo's character.

If Xia Duo attacked him, based on Xia Duo's understanding of the Territory's laws, as long as it wasn't an immediate death, he would only need to pay less than 100 Gold Coins in compensation. Even if it were an immediate death, there would likely be no trouble.

It would be nothing more than paying a few more Gold Coins, plus other punishments, but this would not affect Xia Duo's Permission Level in the Mage Tower or his normal activities in the slightest.

Was Ge Li Fei Zi a good person? Xia Duo didn't know, but he knew the other party was definitely someone who loved Gold Coins! However, he still cut the price in half for his counter-offer; after all, 800 Gold Coins looked unreliable.

"400 Gold Coins, not a penny more!"

"Deal!" Ge Li Fei Zi agreed immediately, almost without a moment's hesitation.

Looking at his face, which was practically beaming with joy, Xia Duo knew he could have bargained even more, but the more one bargains, the higher the risk.

A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. Next time, he must ask clearly first. One should try to avoid trading partners who exceed one's ability to handle!

At this moment, Ge Li Fei Zi completely ignored Xia Duo's dark expression and asked with a smile, "Mage Xia Duo, do you need any other spells?"

"What is the price for a 2nd Circle Spell?"

"Well! Different spells have different prices. I don't know which kind Mage Xia Duo wants?"

Xia Duo didn't know much about 2nd Circle Spells, but he knew the common ones. "【Protection from Arrows】!"

The power of this spell was enough to block most long-range attacks, such as bow and crossbow shots that 【Mage Armor】 could not block. It was simply a must-have life-saving spell for home and travel.

If he could understand it in advance, it might be helpful for improving 【Mage Armor】. Of course, the premise for all of this was a reasonable price.

"Protection from Arrows? This, this—" Ge Li Fei Zi seemed to hesitate, but seeing Xia Duo's expectant gaze, Ge Li Fei Zi gritted his teeth and whispered, "Mage Xia Duo, I haven't mastered this spell either."

"..."

Xia Duo's face practically had "I don't believe you" written on it. He truly didn't believe it. If his guess was correct, the Principles of 【Protection from Arrows】 and 【Mage Armor】 should be different, only the protection intensity differed.

He felt that as long as he could reach the Second Layer of the Magic Weave, he should be able to research it himself. How could Ge Li Fei Zi, an Intermediate Mage, not even know this life-saving spell?

"Cough—Mage Xia Duo, I am just a Wild Mage." A look of desolation appeared on Ge Li Fei Zi's face, but before Xia Duo could see it clearly, it vanished in an instant.

Xia Duo knew about Wild Mages; they were actually Mages who hadn't joined any faction. The Mage Guild didn't count; only the superior Arcane Union counted.

But for an Intermediate Mage, even if they were a Wild Mage, they shouldn't be this pathetic! However, thinking about the source of their spells, he could understand.

Perhaps their spells were also traded for in this way, so such important life-saving spells would naturally not be sold to others easily!

Xia Duo still didn't believe Ge Li Fei Zi didn't know 【Protection from Arrows】 and just assumed he wasn't willing to sell it. But since it wasn't for sale, Xia Duo prepared to end the trade.

However, before Xia Duo could speak, Ge Li Fei Zi pulled him into a corner with a mysterious look and lowered his voice, "I have a Mind Spell here. Does Mage Xia Duo need it?"

"A Mind Spell?"

"Keep your voice down!" Ge Li Fei Zi's expression changed drastically, and he looked left and right. "This is a spell that the Territory strictly prohibits from being traded!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Duo also became a bit nervous. Although he hadn't heard of this ban, there was indeed no information about Mind Spells in the Tower of Time Library.

Although he was quite repulsed by Mind Spells, that was toward other people's spells. If he mastered it himself, he would absolutely not have any repulsion.

This was like nuclear weapons on Earth. Although the Five Kingdoms strongly opposed them, that was only because they already had them. If they didn't, it would be a different story.

Or rather, one only has the qualification to oppose them once they possess them.

Of course, Xia Duo didn't know if Mind Spells were nuclear weapons in Netheril, but since he had encountered this, he couldn't let it slip by.

As for the so-called ban, he didn't take it to heart. That should be aimed at merchants. For members of the Mage Tower, as long as they didn't explicitly violate the Mage Tower's regulations, some unwritten rules were actually within the allowed range.

But at this point, he was also certain that Ge Li Fei Zi truly didn't know 【Protection from Arrows】. If he dared to take out a Mind Spell to sell, what would he be worried about regarding a life-saving spell!

"What spell is it?"

"【Charm Person】."

Xia Duo's heart warmed; he knew the function just by the name. "What's the price?"

"One fixed price, 1000 Gold Coins!" This time, Ge Li Fei Zi held firm on the price.

Xia Duo had 1000 Gold Coins on him, but precisely because he had so much money, he felt itchy inside. "Can't it be a little less?"

"Mage Xia Duo, I don't know this spell myself. It's a Learning Scroll from someone else left here for me to sell on their behalf. They want 900 Gold Coins; I'm just earning a risk fee."

Ge Li Fei Zi's tone didn't sound fake, and Xia Duo was indeed a bit suspicious, but the Mind Spell had already occupied his mind. He now had both the pride of taking advantage and the thrill of violating a ban.

Coupled with the fact that the Mind Spell was indeed very attractive to him, Xia Duo didn't hesitate too much and agreed.

14 Exchange Vouchers of 100 Gold Coins were exchanged for only two Scrolls, one of which was 【Summon Mount】.

Although he couldn't confirm if it was 【Summon Mount】 through the details, he could judge that it was a 1st Circle Summoning Spell. Regardless of whether it was 【Summon Mount】, it wasn't a loss.

As for the other Learning Scroll, there was some debate; it was said to be 【Charm Person】. Xia Duo only unfolded it and looked at it twice, unable to judge, but it was indeed completely different from the types of spells he had learned before.

Added to the drawing style and the age of the paper of the two Learning Scrolls, which were also different, Xia Duo temporarily believed Ge Li Fei Zi.

The handover was completed, and the two looked at each other and smiled.

Before leaving, Ge Li Fei Zi reminded him once more, "Mage Xia Duo, Mind Spells do indeed involve a ban. Once you step out of this door, absolutely do not say that I sold it to you, otherwise—"

"Rest assured, I know."

Regardless of whether it was a threat, from the moment Ge Li Fei Zi entered the door, being fleeced was inevitable. Now, being able to have the harvest of two Learning Scrolls could be considered a pretty good result.

Xia Duo's thoughts gradually shifted entirely to that second Scroll, and he just wanted to return to the Mage Tower immediately to see if that Spell was truly a mind Spell.

If it were, he might have hit the jackpot.