Chapter 190: Saifaar the Stingy

Naimi Xisi and Saifaar's transaction went very smoothly; the generous Nine-ring Mage not only handed over the Seven-circle and Eight-Circle Spells he knew to Naimi Xisi, but also included many rare spells of the first through sixth circles that Naimi Xisi had not yet learned.

After exchanging the Sun God's Praise for a thick Spellbook, Naimi Xisi had not yet had time to open it when another anomaly erupted inside Nasca City.

It seemed that the destruction of the pyramid triggered a chain reaction, and a massive city‑scale Rune formation suddenly appeared over the whole city.

Only three seconds after appearing, the formation abruptly shattered; from the original pyramid site a green pillar of light rose from the ground, and a crystal‑clear dark‑green longsword shot out of it.

Naimi Xisi instinctively sensed it was a treasure, but before he could intercept it, the green sword vanished as if summoned by some distant force.

"Tsk."

Di Luonaou, delighted at Naimi Xisi's displeased expression, got angry and, the latter, flung a bolt of lightning that cut him, leaving him charred on the outside and tender inside.

After Saifaar obtained the Sun God's Praise, he was in a good mood and cheerfully interrupted Naimi Xisi's ravaging actions, saying, "Until we meet again, Naimi Xisi."

Naimi Xisi was startled and asked, "Are you leaving?"

Saifaar nodded, sighed, and said, "Just now I reported what happened here to Baolis. He said that since all the leaders of Nasca City are dead, I should go to the front lines to seek cooperation. In short, I must secure an alliance before the Golden Legion's main force departs, sigh."

Naimi Xisi was somewhat surprised and said, "I killed all their high shamans; how could those Nik Sar Lan possibly agree to cooperate?"

Saifaar stroked his beard and laughed, "I don't know the details, but Baolis used some method to verify that the front‑line Nik Sar Lan army leader is a person whose faith is 'unstable'. As long as I can persuade him, cooperation is possible."

Naimi Xisi nodded, asked no further questions; he was no longer interested in this and just wanted to return to his Mage Tower to study the newly learned spells.

After the group went their separate ways, Naimi Xisi left Nasca City. Before departing, the surviving Nik Sar Lan at the city gate and the survivors who had been punished into monsters begged him to take them away, but Naimi Xisi ignored them outright; he was too lazy to haul hundreds of burdens back.

Seeing no hope of refuge, some survivors stayed in Nasca City, trying to build a new home, while others fled toward cities of other Alliances.

These survivors who left Nasca City later spread the story of "a gigantic entity that fell from the sky, calling itself White Mystery, which unleashed divine punishment and destroyed the heretical shamans colluding with an evil god" throughout central Maztek.

Naimi Xisi did not know that the title he had longed to popularize during his Young Dragon Stage had, unbeknownst to him, finally become famous.

——

Maztek's night sky was pure, like black velvet. Delicate velvet was speckled with countless glittering shards, the stars of the heavens reflecting the fates of living beings.

The forest beneath the stars exuded a mysterious aura; the soft moonlight combined with the sparkling shards made each leaf reflect a smooth, translucent mirror image.

Xianai sat by the campfire, chewing the rations in her hand, staring blankly at the crackling pile of burning wood.

"Teacher, can't you summon a Mage Mansion for us to stay in?" Xianai said helplessly.

Saifaar sat on a makeshift blanket made of travel bags, eyes closed in meditation. Hearing this, he opened his eyes and, in a reproachful tone, said, "Xianai, I've told you many times, what is the most important thing for a mage?"

"It's knowledge!" Xianai immediately held up her ration and said.

Saifaar's eye twitched, as if it were true; he then sighed and asked, "And the second most important?" Xianai thought for a moment, hesitated, and replied, "Is it Spell Slot?"

Saifaar looked at her with a gaze that seemed to say "Good thing you haven't completely forgotten," and said, "Exactly, especially when adventuring outdoors, Spell Slot importance outweighs knowledge!"

"The Mage Mansion Spell is a Seven-circle Spell! How can you waste a precious High-ring Spell Slot for a bit of comfort?! If an enemy suddenly appears, you might lack the final Seven-circle Spell Slot needed in battle and die!"

After speaking, Saifaar seemed to think his tone was harsh, softened his voice toward Xianai and said, "We are not warriors; without Spell Slots, we are weaker than ordinary people. If I had a Magic Item that could cast the Mage Mansion Spell, I would use it without hesitation, but for now, we must endure."

Xianai pursed her lips, honestly lowered her head and kept chewing the rations; her mentor was fine in every way except that he always turned minor issues into principle matters, making her feel like a child being scolded by parents each time.

"I understand, teacher."

Seeing Xianai silent, Saifaar nodded satisfactorily and said, "It's good that you understand. What's so great about the Mage Mansion Spell? In my view, the Second-circle Spell 'Magic Rope Spell' is cheaper and more practical; sleeping inside it is safe as well."

After that, Saifaar muttered a few short syllables; a purple magic rope instantly materialized in midair. Holding his travel bag, the elderly Saifaar deftly grasped the rope and climbed upward, entering an invisible extra‑dimensional pocket in the sky.

Once inside, Saifaar stuck his head out and laughed, "See, sleeping here is quite comfortable."

"Let's sleep quickly; get up early tomorrow. By evening we should reach the front‑line city of Duzula."

!

Xianai was just about to toss her ration and summon the Magic Rope Spell to sleep when a faint rustling sound suddenly arose in the nearby forest.

"Something's up, teacher!" Xianai's eyes sharpened as she slipped a silvery silk glove onto her right hand, its surface etched with intricate patterns.

It was the Attribute Gloves Saifaar had crafted for her; they allow unlimited daily use of animal‑enhancement spells. Though spells like Bull Strength cannot be stacked, as a transformation mage the gloves are still very useful to Xianai.

Saifaar immediately emerged from the dimensional rift, brandishing his staff and gazing solemnly into the distant forest.

The moonlight was already dim, and under the canopy the forest interior was pitch black; Saifaar could barely hear the increasingly loud, noisy sounds drawing nearer.

"Roar!!"

From afar, faint tiger roars could be heard.

The sound grew nearer, and a skinny black silhouette sprinted toward them—it was a grimy, malnourished little boy.

The boy saw the two, a flash of fear and wariness in his eyes, but he did not stop; he gritted his teeth and charged forward.

The sounds behind him grew louder, and soon a squad of Nik Sar Lan knights riding cougars leapt out of the forest, rapidly closing in on the boy!

(End of Chapter)