Marketplace
Arthur went to the Market Floor. Inside, there were dozens of acolytes trying to sell their goods. Most of their trinkets were actually valuable magical resources. After all, many acolytes came and went into the Porfield Kingdom for extended periods of time. However, there were not many acolytes in the Porfield Kingdom, and even fewer magical organizations where they could sell their goods to the highest bidder. Often, they would be forced to sell their goods at a much lower price than the value of the said items.
Hence, most acolytes opted for stocking their resource until the time they returned to the ivory tower, before selling them all. With the wealth accumulated, some reinvested it in craftsmanship, or purchased other materials to sell at a higher price. The Market Floor was filled with independant and faction-based merchants, acolytes who were devoted in making more magic crystals.
Of course, the wealth these people earned was incomparable to that of advanced-rank acolytes who could fetch hundreds of magic crystals in one difficult mission. Still, each merchant in the Market Floor possessed a few hundred magic crystals' worth of materials, and the wealth that circulated in this floor daily numbered in the thousands of magic crystals.
Arthur targeted a very specific magical resource.
"I want to purchase all of your ice perls", Arthur said to the shop keeper of the Crimson Clan Medicine Hall, an infamous alchemy shop belonging to the second strongest faction of the tower.
The shop keeper was obviously surprised, but returned with a pouch filled with ice perls. There were more than 50 ice perls inside: "This will cost you more than 150 magic crystals, I am afraid. If you buy them all, I can sell them to you for the price of 100 magic crystals, but I don't think it is something you can afford with your cultivation"
Indeed, beginner acolytes were beyond poor. Even with years of completing patrolling missions, he only accumulated a few dozen magic crystals in total. This mission had proved incredibly rewarding, giving him a whole 15 magic crystals. Of course, it also happened to be a very difficult mission which could only be completed by using underhanded methods such as baiting, famishing and ambushing targets.
Among beginner acolytes, Arthur could be considered quite wealthy. Still, he was still very far from being able to afford a whole 100 magic crystals' worth of ice perls. He possessed status though.
Dorian said he would nurture him in exchange for his loyalty and his strength. And he didn't lie. As soon as Arthur said he needed funds, Dorian gave him more than 200 magic crystals.
'Of course I know why he did that. The more I am indebted, the more missions he can give me free of charge. He probably wants me to grow stronger as well, for my strength to match the title I hold...'
There were no interests on the loan, but it didn't change the fact that from now on, Arthur could not do anything.
Returning to his room, Arthur contemplated the chest filled with ice perls. There were 80 of them. The more he consumed them, the less EXP they gave, but it was enough for Arthur. He didn't invest so many magic crystals in ice perls in order to level up, although it was also a necessity.
He indebted himself to Dorian Sylvester, a fox in human's skin, and invested it all in ice perls in order to awaken an [Elemental Physique]. It was said that body refinement magi possessed cultivation method to upgrade their physiques. Just like knights could grow stronger through training, body refinement acolytes could grow stronger by training their magical resistance.
The [Ice Physique] was a wonderful perk that not only increased one's vitality significantly, it also made it incredibly resistant to magical spells. To Body Refinement Acolytes, who needed to reach close range in order to fully display their strength, it was a blessing. Any body refinement acolyte with an elemental physique would be the worst enemy of elemental acolytes.
[You have consumed an [Ice Perl - Medium Grade]. You have earned 18 EXP]
[You have consumed an [Ice Perl - Medium Grade]. You have earned 18 EXP]
[You have consumed an [Ice Perl - Medium Grade]. You have earned 18 EXP]
[You have consumed an [Ice Perl - Medium Grade]. You have earned 18 EXP]
[You have consumed an [Ice Perl - Medium Grade]. You have earned 18 EXP]
...
Eventually, a few days later, he reaped the fruits of his labour. It took him exactly 115 ice perls to finally awaken the [Ice Physique]
[You have awakened the perk [Ice Physique]. Your vitality rises, your lifespan increases, your affinity with the ice element increases greatly!]
[You have earned 1 500 EXP for awakening the perk [Ice Physique]. Your magic power is expanding]
[You have levelled up!]
[You have reached Acolyte Level 8!]
[You have reached the Intermediate Acolyte Realm!]
[Your understanding of magic grows]
[Your magic power expands]
[You have overcome your human limits and became a supernatural existence]
[Your existence in the Albion Plane grows stronger*********...]
[Name – Arthur Landragon
Class – Level 8 [Intermediate Rank] Acolyte (0 / 6 000 EXP)
HP – 80 / 80 | Mana: 80 / 80
→ Experience Stored: 60
Attributes:
Strength – 11 | Agility – 4 | Vitality – 6 (+2) | Magic Power – 8
Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship (60), Magical Knowledge (38), Archery (35), Ice Magical Knowledge (35), Deceiving (20), Spell Reading (18), Acting (16), Cartography (16), Scroll Copying (15), Eloquence (14), Charming (12), Poetry (10), Trading (8), Information gathering (6)
Perk: [Ice Physique: (+2) Vitality, (+6) Magic Resistance, (+30%) Ice Damage]
Knight Technique: Heavy Vertical Strike (23), Power Thrust (12), Killing Intent (10)
Spell: Freezing Touch [Low Grade – Rank 0] (20)
Magical Artefact: Moonlight Ring (Strength Blessing Cast [1/1])
Enchanted Items: Celeste (Medium-grade Enchanted Weapon), Ring of Courage (Low-grade Enchanted Item), Amulet of Healing (Low-grade Enchanted Item), Orc General Flag (Low-grade Enchanted Item)]
'My existence grows stronger?', Arthur wondered, the lines making him quite thoughtful.