Disturbance in the Mana Source

 Inside the slightly mysterious and solemn inner chamber of the Treasure Hall, the atmosphere rippled slightly due to Alice's request.

"All of them?" The steward's originally calm eyes, like a placid lake into which a pebble had been dropped, instantly flashed a look of surprise. His eyes were filled with unexpectedness and curiosity about Alice's decision.

"Yes." Alice nodded slightly, her expression calm and composed. She then explained softly, "For my mentor, rune papers are like precious treasures that are indispensable during a long and arduous magical journey. Naturally, the more reserves, the better. Only in this way can we be well-prepared and handle any unknown magical crises or opportunities with ease."

"I see." The steward seemed to be suddenly enlightened by a flash of wisdom. The look of confusion on his face was replaced by understanding and agreement. He nodded repeatedly.

The steward paused for a moment in thought. After a while, as if carefully weighing various factors in his mind, he slowly said, "We probably still have over three hundred rune papers here. However, due to many considerations, I can only sell you eighty percent of them. If we sell too many and cause a shortage in the rune paper inventory, it would be like a ship sailing in the magical business sea losing its ballast. I would have a hard time explaining to my superiors. I hope you can understand."

"Sure, no problem." Alice readily agreed, a faint smile curving her lips. There was no sign of her making things difficult. Her magnanimous appearance seemed to suggest that all this was within her expectations.

Seeing this, the steward's tense face relaxed, and a gratified smile appeared, as if a potential business crisis had been easily resolved.

Alice said, "However, I must inform you in advance that the runes crafted by my mentor might be slightly different from those of others. It's like a unique magical melody with a distinct rhythm. But their efficacy is definitely comparable to that of a low-level third-order rune. I will demonstrate it to you later. Only after you witness its wonders and are satisfied can we proceed with the purchase. This way, both of us can feel at ease."

The steward didn't hesitate much. As if infected by the confidence and sincerity in Alice's words, he immediately agreed. There was a glimmer of anticipation and curiosity in his eyes regarding this unknown rune.

Subsequently, he led Alice through the winding and mysterious corridors of the Treasure Hall to purchase the rune papers. Along the way, the flickering light of the magical runes on the walls cast a glow on their faces, as if silently blessing this transaction. Finally, they arrived at the secret chamber where the rune papers were stored. The two hundred and twenty rune papers were neatly arranged, emitting a faint magical fluctuation. The transaction price was half of the usual price. Alice took out one thousand one hundred low-grade magic crystals from her storage ring. The crystals sparkled with an alluring luster in the dim light of the secret chamber. She handed them over gently, and the steward received them solemnly. The actions of both parties carried a sense of respect and solemnity for the magical transaction. After the deal was completed, Alice left the secret chamber with a sense of satisfaction and anticipation.

At this moment, Alice was silently calculating the remaining number of magic crystals in her mind. Originally, after obtaining the crystals from Owen and Roger, there were only a little over four thousand low-grade magic crystals left. One low-grade magic crystal was equivalent to one hundred gold coins! This conversion made her realize that although she had gone through many twists and turns, she had once again become a wealthy young lady.

"Your Excellency, you're out." The thin young man Axes had a beaming face.

Alice looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Axes, the receptionist, standing not far away. She smiled at him and beckoned him over.

"Your Excellency." Axes called out.

"This is a reward for you." Alice took out ten low-grade magic crystals from her storage ring and handed them to Axes.

Axes looked down at the crystals and then up at her.

He bit his lower lip lightly. A complex and inscrutable look flashed in his eyes and was quickly concealed. He forced a smile and took the crystals.

Clutching the crystals tightly, he said, "Thank you, Your Excellency. This might be more wealth than I could earn in a year."

"You're welcome. You deserve it." Alice shook her head gently.

Alice asked Axes to take her for a stroll around the black market. Three or four hours passed in a flash.

Alice bought many items, including spirit herbs, elixirs, pills, and so on. The magic crystals were spent like running water. In an instant, all she had left was five hundred magic crystals.

The little furball was happily feasting in the contract space.

In her eyes, what the little furball was eating was all wealth! She felt a great pain in her heart!

Suddenly, the mana source in her body, like a surging lake, roiled violently. This sudden change made her frown in pain.

What on earth was going on?!

The mana in the mana source lake was churning more and more violently. She bent her body slightly, unable to bear the pain.

"Your Excellency, what's wrong with you?" Axes asked nervously and worriedly.

At this moment, those who were secretly coveting Alice's items or had other intentions, seeing her sudden change in expression as if she were injured, couldn't help but become restless.

"Your Excellency, are you okay?"

Axes was extremely anxious because he knew that there was a group of "little tails" following them. If something happened to her at this moment, he really couldn't protect her.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the black-robed man paused slightly with the chess piece in his hand.

"What's the matter?" An old man with a kind face and an air of an immortal asked.

"I remembered that there is still something unfinished. I'll take my leave for now." A deep, slightly sexy and magnetic voice rang out. The black-robed man stood up and then tore open the void and stepped into the crack.

The old man with an air of an immortal shook his head gently and sighed for the good game of chess. Then he continued to place his white chess piece.

"Your Excellency, should I take you back to the Treasure Hall first?" Axes scanned the surroundings and asked in a low voice.

Just as Alice was about to agree, a cold arm encircled her waist, and a familiar yet slightly strange aura wafted over.

She looked up with difficulty, and a handsome face came into her view, which instantly made her feel a sense of amazement.

Caesar!

Caesar frowned slightly when he saw her in such a disguise. He picked her up and left the place.

Those in the black market who had malicious intentions towards Alice and Axes hadn't even reacted yet when they saw a black figure taking Alice away.

The black market guards reported this matter to the steward of the Treasure Hall. After hearing about it, the steward of the Treasure Hall became even more certain that this black figure was the young man's mentor!

He had never expected that her mentor was so powerful!

Being able to enter and leave their black market without a sound! Presumably, his cultivation had already reached the level of an Archmage.

They must not offend this master-disciple pair and must make friends with them!

Alice didn't know that Caesar had unconsciously become her "protective umbrella".

Caesar took her to the top floor of the Number One Restaurant in the capital of the Augustan Empire.

Alice was placed on the bed. After thinking for a moment, Caesar raised his hand and placed it over her abdomen, injecting mana to calm the violent and out-of-control state of the mana in her mana source.

"Caesar..." Alice's face was pale, and she looked at him with half-closed eyes.

"Yes." Caesar replied gently.

Alice wrinkled her small face and asked with a sobbing voice, "Does it hurt you?"

"No."

Alice: "..." It's only me who hurts.

The mana leakage in the mana source was quickly calmed down by Caesar.

Alice sat up and blinked her eyes and asked, "Caesar, do you know why my mana source has become like this?"

Caesar glanced at her and said, "Have you fought with someone of Grand Mage level?"

Alice's eyes lit up when she heard this.

He continued, "Your mana source is different from others. It is initially relatively fragile but will become stronger and stronger later. So don't try to fight beyond your level in the next one or two months!"

Suddenly, Caesar's handsome face darkened slightly. His deep and cold eyes stared at her and said, "Don't forget that our lives are closely intertwined. I gave you three years. Do you want to take it back?"

Alice felt a bit guilty.

Once there was an emergency with her body, he could sense it and appear anytime and anywhere.

Caesar is really too powerful!

Unable to separate and hard to escape, she had no choice but to... cling to him.

Alice sniffed and threw herself into Caesar's arms, crying out, "Wuwuwu, I know I'm wrong. I won't do it again. Please forgive me one more time."

Caesar was caught off guard by her sudden embrace and then heard her wailing plea for forgiveness. He felt a vein throbbing on his forehead.

"Shut up."

Alice obediently shut her mouth and then showed him a bright smile with a row of white teeth.

Caesar felt even more irritable for some reason when he saw her shut up so quickly.

She was so flexible that he didn't even know where to direct his anger!

Alice seemed to remember something. She took out a piece of paper from her storage ring and handed it to Caesar.

"Caesar, I crafted a rune for you."

Caesar looked down at her and then took the piece of paper that looked like a rune paper. There were complex rune patterns drawn on the white paper.

However, Caesar could see that this rune had an effect similar to that of a cold-repelling rune.