Zheng Qing lowered his head in dejection, but quickly lifted it again, his eyes flickering as he asked, "Can I exchange money from outside for money here?"
"Of course you can," Thomas's face flushed slightly. "Currency exchange is introduced in a dedicated chapter in the admission guide; you can look into it later. However, it's always very uneconomical to buy Wizard items with Baiding money, just like that black bat."
He pointed to a dark, shadowy object hanging from the top edge of the display window and said, "That black bat has no special abilities; it's not an Advanced pet. But if you pay for it with outside currency, it would probably cost over a hundred thousand, plus a 10% handling fee."
Zheng Qing immediately turned his head away, abandoning his previous idea.
"Don't you have a pet?" Thomas looked at him in confusion. "One pet is enough; they are all very spiritual. If you keep several different pets, they can easily conflict with each other."
"I have a pet?" Zheng Qing was greatly surprised.
There were indeed two small animals at home.
A Hamster and a small dog.
The Hamster had appeared at his home at some unknown time and built a small nest for itself on the balcony using sawdust and cotton wool. This little fellow was quite spiritual; it would clean up its own feces, food scraps, and other dirty things, then throw them out when the balcony window was open. Professor Zheng was very surprised when he discovered this. The elderly always have various rules and concerns, and under his strict orders, this Hamster grandly took up residence on the balcony, occasionally even enjoying some of the food offered in the Zheng family's sacrifices.
The puppy, on the other hand, was one of the pups born to a pregnant stray dog that Zheng Qing had found on the roadside one evening some time ago. That mother dog had disappeared without a trace after giving birth to her pups. Zheng Qing worried that someone might have caught it to stew for meat, but his search for several days yielded no results.
Although there were two little ones at home, Zheng Qing did not think of them when Thomas mentioned pets.
It's like some people enjoy starting businesses; they don't truly enjoy the stress and pressure, but rather the financial freedom that comes with successful entrepreneurship.
The Great Master once said, 'Be for the belly, not for the eyes.'
The pet in Zheng Qing's mind was a Wizard's pet.
As someone who had only truly encountered this unfamiliar world after adulthood, Zheng Qing always felt a subtle sense of detachment from Thomas and Four Seasons Square.
Even as he walked among Daoist robes and cloaks, he was still the high school graduate who had just finished school.
He didn't need a pet, but rather the sense of reality that this pet would bring him, a true tactile connection to the Wizarding World.
"That little fox in your house," Thomas said casually, while looking around at the shops and occasionally checking his phone. "Although it's not a powerful Spirit Beast, as a member of the fox demon clan, it's still a very good pet... This is it, Shangyuan Bookshop, the Wizard Alliance's designated authorized dealer."
"Are you talking about Poseidon? Isn't that a small dog?"
"Poseidon? A very powerful name. Of course, I am very sure that it is a fox demon. Although I don't know how you got it, it has clearly become your pet." Thomas pointed to an ancient and solemn shop in front of them and said to Zheng Qing, "Now, go buy your spell book first. As a Wizard's most important casting tool, you need to decide which one to buy yourself. The only advice I can give you is 'intuition'."
"Do I have to use a spell book for everything?" Zheng Qing looked up at the wooden carving of an open hardcover book on the sign above the door, feeling a little nervous.
"Yes, yes," Thomas's face suddenly showed some impatience, which added a heavy pressure to his already somewhat stern demeanor. "I should have expected you to ask that question. Yes, you always believe in the power of your own hand signs, just like those ninjas in Japan who only believe in the speed of their hand seals. Can't you imagine a casting method that has both power and speed? Why do you always doubt authority?"
"I'm just a little curious." Zheng Qing felt that Thomas was inexplicably agitated.
"Go in, I'll wait for you outside." Thomas's voice was a little low.
The spell book was the Wizard's book on the checklist.
According to Thomas's explanation, a spell book is a Wizard's primary means of casting Spells.
Wizards, in their daily studies and experiments, analyze and transcribe Spells into their spell books. When used, the Spell can truly unleash its power only after being activated through incantation or other means.
In simple terms, a Wizard without a spell book is like a tiger without teeth.
The entrance of Shangyuan Bookshop was decorated in an ancient and dignified style. Intricate runes were carved on the dark green steps and floor, while the heavy, dark red wooden door was unusually simple, with only a plaque bearing the characters 'Shangyuan' hanging above the doorframe.
Behind the counter at the entrance was a large display cabinet filled with various certificates.
"Wizard Alliance spell book Production and Sales Special License"
"Moonlight Council — Bologna spell book Designated Dealer"
"Luofu — Song Edition spell book Designated Dealer"
"First University spell book Research Institute Partner"
...
Rows of honors and authorized certifications hung there, showcasing the shop's credibility.
"Good afternoon!" The bookstore clerk was tall and thin, wearing a cyan robe and small round glasses, greeting Zheng Qing with a wide smile: "I am the business manager of Shangyuan Bookshop, you can call me Xiaoyuan. Are you a new student enrolling in the autumn? What kind of spell book do you need?"
Zheng Qing did not rush to answer.
The bookshop was filled with many wooden display cabinets, covered with thick transparent glass. Through the glass display windows, spell books were neatly arranged on shelves.
"I'd like to look around first, to get an understanding," Zheng Qing said vaguely.
Thomas had repeatedly emphasized that spell books were very important for Wizards and that choosing a spell book required relying on a Wizard's intuition.
What is intuition?
Zheng Qing was a little confused.
He circled several display cabinets twice, staring at the elaborately designed books for a long time, but felt no sudden inspiration or spiritual connection.
"These are Western-style hardcover editions," Xiaoyuan, the business manager, seeing Zheng Qing stop in front of the cabinet, quickly stepped forward to introduce. "If you'd like to take a closer look, we can take them out for you."
Zheng Qing hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Xiaoyuan pulled out a pair of clean, soft leather gloves, carefully took out the heavy spell book from the cabinet, and gently turned its pages.
"This one is a 17th-century Venetian binding. The style continues Venice's usual splendor. It has Baden-Württemberg calfskin and inlaid silver runes; the gilded edge features a fore-edge painting of 'Tranquil Mind Concentration Spell.' Of course, if you prefer, the shop also has Venetian bindings with a fore-edge painting of 'Kiss of the Bridge of Sighs'—young people usually like that style. Look, the corners of this spell book are bound in silver, and the front endpaper has a 'Five Aggregates Exorcism Spell' drawn by a Great Master. Even if you don't record Spells, just using this book alone can smash a few fierce spirits."
"How much?"
"Eighteen jade coins, if you please." The shop assistant nodded with a beaming smile and handed Zheng Qing a pair of gloves.
"It's a bit heavy." Zheng Qing put on the gloves, weighed the book, and shook his head.