Mulberry Valley. Find your next read at empire
The fourth floor of the Lord’s Hall.
Ivan caressed the thick tome in his hands, its pages crafted from some kind of metal material. This was the ‘Tidal Treasure Tome’ he had brought back from the tomb fortress in the Black Fog Forest.
This Tidal Treasure Tome, as befitting a tome that dares to claim such a title, encompasses all aspects of the Breathing Skill, including parts that focus on strength, speed, body constitution, perception, and so on—truly all-encompassing.
Each individual part, if taken separately, is a Legendary Class Breathing Skill, all capable of raising a knight’s page to the pinnacle of a Flying Knight.
Based on individual aptitude, you could practice part of it separately, combine two focus parts, or even three together—in this regard, it was indeed extraordinarily blessed.
What he valued most was the part that emphasized hearing and agility, which was quite in line with Bat’s Eyes, and could greatly promote the derivation of the Bat’s Eye Breathing Method.
However, like most upper-class Breathing Methods, the Tidal Treasure Tome required the bloodline of the Tidal Empire’s Royal Family to practice—specifically, the Centaur Royal Family’s bloodline. The more concentrated and purer the bloodline, the faster the cultivation process.
Unlike other upper-class Breathing Methods, the bloodline of the Tidal Empire’s Royal Family had very distinctive characteristics. With increasing bloodline concentration, one would gradually take on the form of a Centaur, no longer bearing the appearance of a human.
“The last few pages are blank; they can only be unlocked with a high purity of Centaur Royal Family bloodline, revealing the recorded text and patterns. These pages must pertain to the Knight King.”
“The Centaur clan is a nomadic race, and they have vanished without a trace long ago, not to mention finding any of their royals.”
Ivan slightly shook his head, suddenly thinking of that prematurely deceased undead girl. It seemed that even in life, Helen’s bloodline purity would hardly meet the Tidal Treasure Tome’s requirements, which surely demanded one in a million.
For Helen, he did not ask if she wanted to leave that place; on one hand, they were not familiar with each other, and on the other hand, she was more suitable to stay there.
Helen was an intelligent creature that had lived for several hundred, or even thousands of years, a kind of alternative immortality. Once discovered, certainly many sorcerers would take an interest in her, looking for ways to take her to their laboratories, and the consequences would be unpredictable.
Before leaving that castle, Ivan completed his own request, repairing the fog array for Helen.
All he spent was time, energy, elements ink, and the most valuable of all, the Water element condensed bead obtained from inside the giant eight-tentacle monster.
“Thinking back on it, I really had good luck.”
“The array underneath Lahr Island was hastily arranged; that black robed monster in the Kanda magic stone mine was unorthodox and probably did not even know the meaning of concealment. With the support of the Raw Stone Array Disc and since I already understood the relevant knowledge for the arrays at Lake Nichols, these arrays were naturally not so difficult to comprehend.”
“The fog array I just repaired was the same, naturally formed with no deliberate embellishments.”
“Only the Green Sea Calamity Array on the Alate was layered with encryption, baffling to the observer, offering little chance for gaining any insight.”
Thinking of the recently repaired fog array, Ivan considered the various runes arrays he previously comprehended. After careful analysis, he realized that their smooth understanding was for a reason, mostly due to lack of encryption.
There it was, with the heavily encrypted Green Sea Calamity Array, he had hit a wall.
Following this pattern, Ivan understood what runes arrays he could comprehend and which were not worth wasting time on.
[Enchantment Skill: lv6(11/2000)]
[Runes Skill: Lv5(839/1500)]
[Knight Breathing Skill: lv6(1899/2000)]
[Energy Particle Skill: Lv5(508/1500)]
In recent months, there had been a boost in Experience Points across all subjects, with the greatest change in Enchantment Skill, thanks to his research into multiple runes sorcery arrays, advancing it to level 6 and earning both a Small Light of Wisdom and a Light of Wisdom.
Runes Skill and Energy Particle Skill gained several hundred Experience Points.
With considerable research into Breathing Skills, Knight Breathing Skill was almost reaching level 7, and according to the subject level pattern, level 7 would correspond to the Light of Great Wisdom, to which he was very much looking forward.
At that moment, Scented Butterfly fluttered in through the window in a panic, interrupting his thoughts.
“It’s terrible, Sorcerer Ivan, the Wind Moth—it fainted.”
“It suddenly became unconscious?” Ivan asked with a frown, and, seeing it nod, he continued, “What did it do before that?”
“It—it got greedy and sneaked some mulberries and leaves, just a little, please don’t be mad, I won’t let it eat them again next time,” Scented Butterfly replied anxiously, seeming somewhat incoherent.
Ivan was not asking about that; seeing Scented Butterfly unable to articulate well, he motioned for it to lead the way.
The place where Wind Moth had fainted was in the front ridge of Mulberry Valley, lying under a tree with a pained and struggling expression on its face now.
Ivan approached and sent a sliver of spiritual power probing; indeed, it was a matter on the Spirit level, with disturbances occurring in the mind.
“Sorcerer Ivan, how is it?” After waiting awhile, Scented Butterfly asked nervously.
“It’s nothing serious, it will wake up on its own soon enough. For the rest, we can discuss after it has awakened.” Ivan wasn’t sure if it was as he suspected, but if so, it was likely related to memory issues.
It was highly possible that it related to the Wind Moth having received power from Toyennes before, leaving a potential risk that had lain dormant for so long before erupting.
Dealing with matters of the spirit, he also dared not act rashly; a small mistake could have dire consequences, turning the Wind Moth into an imbecile.
“Give it a third of this potion.”
“Stay here and keep watch. When it wakes up, come find me.”
Seeing that Scented Butterfly was still worried, Ivan casually handed over a Mental Power Recovery Potion, which could somewhat alleviate some symptoms.
Justine and Peggy, hearing the commotion, came rushing over.
Ivan waved to the two of them, signaling them to walk with him.
In the mulberry forest, some of the mulberry trees had already borne fruit, even though it wasn’t the season for it yet. The berries had been induced by the Scented Butterfly. There were numerous, plump ones, emitting a faint fruity aroma.
“I’ll be leaving in a few days.”
“I’ve decided to go with you to Mongna Ant Land Cottage.”
As the trio hadn’t walked far, Justine voiced her intention upon hearing what Ivan said.
“Ivan, won’t I become a burden to you if I go like this? After all, I’m so weak and it’s impossible for me to ever catch up with you. What would you do if others used me to threaten you?” she asked worriedly.
“No, you’re overthinking it,” Ivan assured confidently.
This was in fact a very realistic concern. Since sorcerers had achieved a leap in life hierarchy, they unconsciously deemed themselves above apprentices and common folk, and their original kin seemed less important.
Sorcerers don’t believe a sorcerer can be threatened by using their relatives; it would more likely enrage them, giving them a reason to go to any length, no longer bound by the rules they would otherwise follow.
“Brother Ivan, can I come with you?”
Peggy inquired hopefully, curious about the world across the great ocean.
These days, Peggy had stayed in Mulberry Valley, needing to learn apothecary skills from Justine. If Justine left, Peggy would take over the task of concocting potions for the caravan, an area in which she was talented.
Unfortunately, Peggy did not have the talent to become a sorcerer.
“Peggy, you need to stay here. I believe you can live a better life on this side,” Ivan said earnestly.
People without sorcerer talent who went to Moon Pincer Peninsula would find themselves at the very bottom, with no hope at all, unfree wherever they went because of the omnipresent danger.
Here, Peggy would be the daughter of an Earl.
“Okay, I will miss you, Brother Ivan,” Peggy’s eyes dimmed a little with her words.
The three of them chatted idly for a while until the voice of the Scented Butterfly reached them.
“Sorcerer Ivan, it’s awake, the Wind Moth is awake.”
By the time Ivan arrived, he saw the Wind Moth flying unsteadily in mid-air as if intoxicated, occasionally shaking its serpent-like head.
Ivan checked it again, finding its breath normal and its mental disorder largely settled. It would be fine after sleeping off this state by tomorrow.
“Do you feel any changes in your mind?”
“I seem to have some unfamiliar memory fragments.”
“Can you see clearly what the memories are?”
“There’s a green horn, something inside it, the name is—’Ode to Spring and Summer.’ It’s hidden near a very large lake; there’s a cave there, and other things in the cave, but I can’t see clearly—my head hurts!”
As he expected, the Wind Moth indeed had memory issues, with additional fragments that were likely to be deep-seated memories from Toyennes.
When the Wind Moth tried to recall more, its head would swell and throb, making it impossible to think further.
“Enough, rest well.”
Seeing this, Ivan gestured for it to stop.
The familiar name ‘Ode to Spring and Summer’ reminded Ivan of his own first Meditation Method—’Ode to Spring Trees,’ as well as ‘Ode to Spring Dew’ practiced by others.
It seemed that after returning to Moon Pincer Peninsula, he’d have to make a trip to Lake Nichols.
To avoid the harm of the Curse of Demon’s Resentment, one had to continuously delve deeper into researching it until completely mastering its secrets and then turning it into one’s own power. That was a sorcerer’s way of thinking, and undoubtedly what Toyennes must have believed as well.
So, he definitely had to acquire the ‘Ode to Spring and Summer.’
Ivan couldn’t help but think of Lahr Island and pondered for a few seconds before dismissing the idea of making a trip there.
If Toyennes hadn’t died at first, he surely would have taken any important items from the island or destroyed what he couldn’t take. Moreover, Bernardson and his people had visited the island afterward, leaving probably nothing worthwhile.
There was no need for a fruitless journey.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days passed, and it was time to leave Tidal Island.
At Flying Fish Port, a dense crowd had gathered to see them off, and the Aromatic Wheat Grand Duke had sent representatives, too—First Prince Vernon and Princess Sherry.
“Sorcerer Ivan,” all eight apprentices were present without exception.
“Set sail,” Ivan glanced at those who had come to bid him farewell, his gaze lingering on Leider and Madam Selina.
Madam Selina had decided to stay with Leider, a man deserving of trust. That he had not taken another wife all this time and had managed to raise five children alone was evidence enough.
Ivan left the matter alone. His father Leider was now an Earl, and an Earl must bear the responsibility befitting his status. He trusted Leider to handle the situation well.
Besides, he was only leaving, not dying, and as a sorcerer, his presence could not be ignored by the nobility.
After the ship set out from Flying Fish Port, it took nearly half a month of long sailing before safely returning to Windy Bay City.