Chapter 32  

"That's very convenient… why don't people use it in Britain?"

"Soul magic. We are probably the only ones who have made a decent progress in the soul magic field and we still do a lot of research on the subject."

"Then… do you know about Horcruxes?"

"Ah yes, that is just garbage. Herpo the foul my ass, he probably had a rotten brain. I don't know why people called him one of the greatest dark wizards out there. Horcrux is actually a misinterpretation. I don't know too much about it in detail but you should be able to buy the books related to it and learn."

"Alright, tell me how much it would cost to buy stuff on runes, alchemy, soul magic, dark magic and blood magic. I want the jade tokens."

"Basically, you want the best of China…"

"Yes, absolutely. Why do you think I'd come here with so much money."

Ling rubbed his forehead before asking him the ring.

"I don't know how much everything would cost so it is better to take the money with me and it is also better for you to not show yourself. There are a few people who prey on foreigners."

"Alright, here you go." Alex said before pulling off the ring from his finger and gave it to the old man who went inside the shop.

Alex looked at the crowded street and simply stood in one place as he waited for Ling who came out after a few minutes.

"Young Master Tom, it will be better if you go back to the Hunter Pavilion and ask the lady for a room to stay. This shop mostly had books so now they are making the jade tokens."

"How long will it take?"

"About a week…"

"Can't I just explore this place instead?"

"You can… but I'll have to stay here. I do not trust these people with so much money and since I already paid them half as an advance payment, I'll have to keep an eye."

"How much did it cost?"

"I got it all at a discount so a hundred thousand taels. I paid him fifty already."

"Good. Keep the other fifty with you and give me the ring. I want to buy ingredients and stuff. If possible, give me the jade tokens that have information on all the plants, herbs and other ingredients that I might need."

"That won't take too long. Please wait here." The old man seemed full of energy as he stormed off inside and came back out after about an hour.

"Young master Tom, here's your ring… and here are the jade tokens that you might need."

Alex nodded and headed to the place he came from.

"Miss, I would like to stay here for a while. Could you provide me with a room?"

"Yes, esteemed guest. Please follow me." The lady said and opened the door.

Alex walked behind her and after walking for a long way, he was shown a room he could rest in. He went inside and closed the door before he sat down in the middle of the room.

'Jade tokens they say…'

He placed one of the tokens at the centre of his forehead and he didn't have to wait for even a second as immense pain permeated his head and slowly began affecting his entire body.

Information on various plants and herbs were forcefully being shoved into his mind. The pain lasted a few minutes and slowly went down. Alex was on the wooden floor, panting and sweating and he sat back up.

'Just one was so painful… and I have about twenty more here. In a week I will probably have more than a hundred maybe more than a thousand too… oh my god… what have I got myself into. These people are all masochists! Anyways, time for the next one.'

He took another jade token and placed it at the centre of his forehead like a hungry dog. Screams permeated through the walls, startling the maids nearby and prompting them to report their master.

Alex finally sat up after a few minutes and saw the door open as the lady at the counter peeped inside.

"Esteemed guest, I will be activating the soundproofing formations as it looks like you practice magical arts that make a lot of noise."

Alex embarrassedly scratched his chin while the door was once again closed.

'So, I was actually screaming… oh well, not like it matters.'

The jade tokens on the floor were being consumed one by one as time slowly passed and by the time he was done with all the tokens, it was night. Alex headed out towards the counter but was stopped by a bunch of maids as they saw him staggering.

"Esteemed guest, if you need something, you can ask us and we will do it for you."

"I just need food. My whole body hurts so it'll be better if you can bring me something that can help me recover."

The maids rushed off while one of them stayed to escort him back to his room.

He wasn't used to being cared so much by humans and it made him feel a little better. While he waited, he looked at the two pill bottles that he had taken out.

"So, the pills inside these are all of the lowest grade… the effects of each one of the pills lasts for four to six hours while the pills of the height grade are so effective and long lasting that the effects last for months…

Pills really are way better than potions although sometimes potions are way more effective."

While he was lost in his thoughts, the maids placed all kinds of dishes in front of him after they conjured a table. Alex found the food extremely delicious and ate till he could feel the food in his throat.

"Ahhh that was some nice food. Now I can't even sleep… how much did all of this cost?"

"This is all free, esteemed guest."