Chapter 19: Heat Wave and Miracle

Luge actually still wanted to ask how much longer it takes other Wizard Apprentices to learn a Non-Compatible Zero-Circle Spell; Kalu's Diary writes almost only about himself, too few reference cases to cross-reference, and Kalu firmly believes he is a genius — his bewilderment comes from the profundity of the Spell, from the high standards he holds himself to from beginning to end.

Recalling the Diary's description of the Mingxing Potion, Luge discovered the Half-Man might be even more formidable than he imagined; the drawbacks of the Mingxing Potion are not so easily solved, a Spiritual Power potion with no side effects usable during the Apprentice period could absolutely make a fortune.

The Half-Man should already look down on earning those few Magic Stones from Wizard Apprentices; his Storage Bag certainly holds many Good Things, and piles of Magic Stones stacked in a spacious corner of the Storage Bag.

Unlike me, where even storing a few worms is crowded beyond measure, Luge thought.

The worm in his hand was not given away, so naturally he could only take it back himself.

As for whether the Fat Meat Worm stinks, he doesn't much care; what he finds interesting is that the Half-Man can still smell it. Does this mean the Half-Man is still a living normal person? Though the nose seems not too sharp either — the Half-Man showed curiosity about the worm's stench, but only smelled it after sitting up.

He really wanted to climb up the Large Stone Block from the side to see the Half-Man's missing brain.

Strictly speaking, the Half-Man is like him — both have left the realm of ordinary people, monsters in the eyes of ordinary people.

But a powerful Wizard like the Half-Man, no matter how terrifying his appearance, even missing a head, even becoming more terrifying, should not be blocked from entering those spacious and bright Underground Cities.

So as long as he finds a way, striving to become a Wizard is enough.

Power is the path to respect, and the pass to act with impunity.

Perhaps by then, when he becomes powerful, he will no longer care to live in those Underground Cities.

He bit down hard on a Meat Worm, juice flying and splashing.

Eating while walking.

Random thoughts swirling, unknowingly he arrived at a familiar intersection he hadn't visited in a long time — precisely the Hot Spring Vent he had been yearning for; walk a bit further in and he could feel that Warmth.

Didn't expect walking like that just now could also lead Here.

He looked at the mostly-eaten Meat Worm in his hand.

Decided to reward himself before burying his head in learning Spells; anyway there are more in the Storage Bag, make some more Cooked Worms to bring back, can give a few to Aijin — she will certainly be very happy.

He didn't eat the half Meat Worm in his hand either, carefully groping his way forward.

This place Underground Beasts generally don't like, but worldly matters have no absolute guarantee; there might be some strange beast with special tastes, so even though he used to like cooked food, he never dared come often. This place isn't warm — it's a stifling heat with rising mist, like a natural steamer; the Big Cave has over a hundred Hot Spring Vents large and small, seemingly cycling periodically — temperature peaks then drops, but even at its lowest temperature this is no place ordinary people can stay long.

He walked into the cave, found a Hot Spring Vent only waist-thick — this size was exactly what he wanted, safe and efficient.

One after another, color-changing Meat Worms, giving off a strange meaty fragrance.

Don't know what those powerful Wizards eat — would there be delicacies ordinary people never taste in a lifetime?

Huala! Hualala!

Luge's hair stood on end instantly.

Even in this place of rolling heat waves, it couldn't stop his spine from turning cold.

The sound was right nearby, behind him, in the direction of a memorable large Hot Spring Vent.

You know, this place is normally one Kobolds and Lizardmen instinctively don't want to approach — liking warmth doesn't equal liking to stew oneself.

He slowly turned his neck.

A pair of eyes happened to pierce through the rising, twisting water vapor and meet his gaze.

The distance between the two was quite close.

Imitating his tribe's Kobolds, he gave a strange cry and ran outward, not forgetting to hold the last half-cooked Meat Worm in his hand even before rising.

So this pointy-eared one is a female! And looking close this time she doesn't seem that dark either — dark gray? He thought.

At first meeting he only found her beautiful, but really couldn't tell male or female; of course this time he didn't really see clearly either — after all the steaming mist only twisted because of her movement, and most of her body was underwater.

But this elf is truly a monster — diving and soaking in a place like this, he wouldn't even dare cook worms that long.

He had been squatting here cooking worms for a good while, but the other party had obviously dived down before him.

Now he only hopes the other party, seeing he's just a stupid little Kobold, won't chase him to the death — everyone safe and sound; otherwise this little Kobold isn't easy to provoke either, it was all unintentional, so he's justified and confident, won't compensate a single worm.

When he chose the Hot Spring Vent position, he had already considered being closer to the Cave Entrance.

Three steps merged into two.

Already able to pass through the mist and see the Passage outside the Cave Entrance.

"You take one more step, and you'd better be prepared to meet the Underground Beasts' stomachs, and their excretory openings — I'll keep you conscious, soak you in Stiffening Elixir first, then feed you to the slowest-digesting Underground Beast; if you survive, feed you again… until you no longer appear intact…"

The elf's words were like chisels, chiseling at his ear; the content truly broadened his horizons.

As she spoke, she had already arrived not far away.

Luge looked at her — the other party actually wasn't hurrying to put on Clothes, just sauntered up to him like that.

He stared at the other party, shifting his Short Legs, slowly retreating toward the Cave Entrance behind him.

"Rest assured, I have no interest in you."

She spoke, already standing a few steps from him, swirling pale water vapor encircling the elf's cool black figure.

Luge immediately knelt on the ground, raising both hands high, screeching out a long string of Kobold Language.

Mostly words worshipping the powerful Strong Ones, scared witless and submitting, that set of rhetoric worshipping the Saint Lord.

"Trying to annoy me does you no good; I've never heard of a Kobold wearing a Storage Bag at his waist."

She spoke the Underground City's Yu Tong Shi, and before her voice fell she had successfully interrupted Luge's Kobold-style screeching.

He simply brushed the dirt off his knees with his hand, stood silently, awaiting judgment.

"Truly interesting…"

The dark gray elf hugged her chest, walking circle after circle around Luge.

"Long heard that some crazy fellows experiment on themselves, walk the Bloodline Fusion path no one tries — but never imagined… someone would Reform themselves into a Kobold! A truly Bold fellow."

The female elf began critiquing from head to toe.

"Miracle!"

"What do you plan to do next? Reverse-engineer the Dragonborn Kobold, turn into a pure-blood Dragon? That road is no easy walk…"

She finally stopped circling, but still looked him up and down.

"Beautiful Lady, you might consider putting your Clothes on first — that would be more elegant; though I'm a little Kobold, I'm also an elegant gentleman — please don't ignore me."

Luge finally could endure no longer.

He had already seen through it — this woman was not some slave hunting party of dark elves wandering about as Old Gold Tooth described, but a proper Wizard.

As for exactly how strong she was, whether an Official Wizard or a Wizard Apprentice of relatively high strength, that was not something a Kobold's eyesight and experience like his could discern.

However, he could confirm one thing: this person's eyesight was not as strong as the Half-Man's; the Half-Man had seen at a glance that he was not a reformed Kobold.

(Chapter End)