Chapter 23 Cunning as a Fox

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PS: (Brothers, we've signed a contract, please vote for me, it's not easy being a new author╭(╯3╰)╮)

The store clerk swaggered into the alley.

One hand tucked behind his back, eyes downcast, appearing completely unguarded, yet he took in his surroundings with a sweeping glance.

Lin Suo pondered thoughtfully.

A short while later.

At the end of the alley, the clerk sighed in disappointment.

"Damn rats, not falling for it."

The person in ambush at the end of the alley, dressed in black, also jumped down, looking displeased.

"Matt, give me an explanation."

The clerk immediately became flustered.

"Lady Sara, I didn't expect this rat to be so patient. Maybe he knew he was no match for me and didn't dare to make a move."

"After all, I work at the White Rose, and your average Wild Wizard wouldn't dare to touch me."

"This time it was my misjudgment. I've wasted Lady Sara's time. I will be responsible for compensating."

"Hmph."

"It better be that way."

The Black Robe Wizard Sara let out a cold huff, visibly irritated.

From his exposed cheek, one could see scaly patches like those of a snake, much like a physically mutated Wild Wizard.

Lin Suo frowned.

He replayed the day's events in his mind and roughly understood the plan of these two individuals.

"Cooperating with a Wild Wizard for a sting operation."

"Targeting the likes of me who are hot-tempered and not very powerful?"

Judging from their expression, they had succeeded more than once.

Having not discovered him, the Black Robe Wizard's spiritual fluctuations were also unhidden, looking like an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice close to breakthrough to the Advanced level.

The gap between Wizard Apprentices isn't that apparent.

To deliver a fatal strike without alerting the local residents probably meant they had mastered Spiritual Witchcraft.

Spiritual Witchcraft is not available to Wild Wizards, but it is not restricted from sale to other large Wizard factions coming from outside Kouste Port.

On the contrary, if the relationship is good enough.

Even First Rank Witchcraft could be exchanged, not to mention the Apprentice Level Witchcraft which mostly has a commercial use.

Matt works at the White Rose.

If a Wizard from another region brings a group of Apprentices for an exchange event, it's highly probable they would sell Spiritual Witchcraft to the visiting Apprentices.

This creates an opportunity.

"How insidious, now I won't feel any guilt about killing you."

Lin Suo secretly triggered the mechanism.

Today, the Enlightenment Flowers planted in the Sunshine Garden had fully matured. Lin Suo picked five of them.

One of which, he used to create a potent Five Confusion Barriers.

The principle behind Five Confusion Barriers is actually very simple.

What is hollow cannot be replenished.

Essentially, it is not a poisonous smoke.

But a type of incense that significantly benefits the spirit; when Lin Suo was concocting it, the main ingredient was Mint Essence Liquid.

Originally, it was developed to help him stay up late to increase his skill levels.

That cool and crystal-clear sensation could freeze a mortal's soul into an ice pop.

But for Wizards with strong spiritual power, who have opened up a space within their minds, its effect is average; that's why he then thought it might not work on Wizards.

Today's concoction included an Enlightenment Flower.

The effect was significantly enhanced, so much that even he couldn't withstand it and would faint within seconds. The only reason he had set it up was to prepare for accidents like this one.

He had come with the mindset of flaunting his corpse, ensuring no room for error.

Who would have thought that he would end up having to take an extra life.

Indeed, some things you truly understand only after having experienced them.

Lesson learned!

Below.

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Matt suddenly shivered and realized that the city was enveloped in fog. Living in the port city came with such annoyances, yet fogs in the approaching winter were uncommon.

"Sss~ So cold."

"Lord Sara, let's head back first. I'll bring the reward to you tomorrow."

The Black Robe, Sara, paused, feeling a numbness at the center of her forehead.

She expanded her spiritual power detection and sensed that something was amiss.

The normally crystal-clear detection now was incredibly blurred, as if frosted over.

Wait...!

"Not good! This fog is not... right..."

With a thump, Sara fell to the ground, succumbing to a deep slumber.

The whole process took no more than three seconds.

Meanwhile, Matt was completely motionless, like a frozen statue, his eyes devoid of luster.

Lin Suo put on a filtering mask.

The filter, made from Artificial Magic Stones, can effectively resist the spiritual power pervading the fog.

He descended from the rooftop.

As expected, Matt's soul perished, beyond salvation, dying on the spot.

Transcendent magic potions used on ordinary people mostly result in outcomes like his.

Approaching the Black Robe cautiously, Lin Suo took out a small throwing knife from his embrace and, with a flick of the wrist, drove it firmly into Sara's forehead, hilt-deep.

Dead beyond doubt.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lin Suo meticulously searched the corpse.

The loot was meager: two genuine Magic Stones, two pouches of coins, and no books concerning witchcraft, which was normal.

Who would carry all their belongings when out to ambush others?

However, Sara had a Meditation Method book close to her body.

"Moon Snake Meditation Method?"

"Indeed, for you, the Meditation Method is fundamental. Even an Apprentice Level Method is understandable to always carry."

He flipped through it casually.

These meditation methods with side effects are usually of Apprentice Level. However, something seemed off about this Moon Snake as Lin Suo browsed it with a grimace.

It feels like trouble has been stirred...

Practicing requires the blood of a demon beast called the Moon Snake, but it also leads to a transformation into a half-human, half-snake being. If one could break through to become an official Wizard, they would possess the Moon Snake's Bloodline and its inherent Power.

Such Meditation Methods were originally disseminated by the Life Transformation School.

Later, it was found that before reaching the First Rank Wizard, using such shortcut methods to transform the Bloodline could hasten the progress in strength and cultivation speed.

However, it had irreversible and serious effects on the soul and psyche.

While the Bloodline could be extracted and altered, soul transformation remained a challenge for Wizards.

With the strictness of Ancient Wizards, such an "experimental leak" should not have occurred.

Yet, the whims of fate lie herein.

Under a variety of coincidences, it became inevitable.

By the time Wizards of the Life Transformation School noticed the signs, these flawed Meditation Methods had already spread across the continent.

Thus.

After several generations, the only recourse was to study and make revisions.

Minimizing the side effects while also castrating the method to eliminate the possibility of breaking through to become an official Wizard.

This way, the apprentices who learned it accidentally.

Will never fully mutate into Demon Monsters as a result of their growing strength.

In recent years, those with ulterior motives.

Would intentionally hand these Meditation Methods to Wild Wizards for their study, nurturing more Apprentices.

When the time was ripe, it would serve as an opportunity to harvest Demon Monster materials.

"Sss..."

Reflecting on the Wizard Manual Deer Antlers had given him, and comparing some details of the Moon Snake Meditation Method's practices.

He could assert that it was an uncastrated, special Meditation Method.

Transforming Bloodline, harvesting people as materials.

He had prematurely reaped someone else's leeks, an exceedingly dangerous act.

"No, the body must be dealt with first."

Removing all the traps set in the alley and using an Enlightenment Flower to gather the scattered Five Confusion Barriers, the two elements were mutually attractive, capable of absorbing each other.