Grinding EXP From Fireball Skill-Chapter 75: Magic Net Codex

Li Wei left the city wall and walked toward the Mage Tower.

The bustling streets felt like a reunion after a long absence.

In Cold Sand City, the streets had been virtually empty due to the war, with people hiding fearfully in their homes.

’Some enjoy a peaceful life, while others must carry a heavy burden.’

Li Wei sighed.

"Mr. Li Wei?"

Jimmy cried out in pleasant surprise when he saw Li Wei.

"You’re back? Is the war over?" Jimmy asked.

Li Wei shook his head. "Not yet. I just came back early for a few special reasons."

Jimmy paused, then quickly asked, "So, are you going to leave again, Mr. Li Wei?"

Li Wei said, "I don’t think so."

’Otz’s message was clear: stay put in Maple City and don’t go running off.’

’Otherwise, he’d have me stay behind with Lanya and the others.’

And Li Wei really didn’t want to go out again anyway.

’I need some time alone.’

’I have to properly process everything that’s happened over the last half-month.’

Hearing that Li Wei wasn’t leaving, Jimmy said happily, "Director Gus will be thrilled to hear you’ve returned safely, Mr. Li Wei."

"For the first few days after you left, Director Gus was hoping for your safe return every single day."

Li Wei smiled. "Then please thank Director Gus for me."

"Oh, and I’ll be delivering this month’s manuscript on schedule, so he doesn’t need to worry."

Hearing this, Jimmy grinned. "That’s wonderful news." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Li Wei took out fifty-four Silver Coins and handed them to Jimmy. "Please take these back to Director Gus. Consider the extra manuscript fee he gave me last time a loan. And pass on a message for me—thanks."

"Mr. Li Wei said to thank you..."

Jimmy stood before Gus. Gus stared at the money pouch on the table, stunned for a long time.

He hadn’t expected Li Wei to remember.

’I paid those fifty-four Silver Coins out of my own pocket and never expected to get them back.’

Gus put the pouch away as if it were a treasure. It wasn’t just fifty-four Silver Coins, but a token of friendship from a Mage.

The significance was extraordinary!

Gus smiled at Jimmy and asked, "Did you ask if Mr. Li Wei has time? We should throw him a welcome-back dinner."

Jimmy replied, "I did. He said he just got back and is a little tired, so he wants to rest for a few days."

"Alright, then let’s not disturb Mr. Li Wei for now. We can invite him to dinner in a few days."

Li Wei returned to the Mage Tower. Delis and the others were still in class.

After becoming Magic Apprentices, Delis, Land, and Neil had become much busier.

They could now practice casting Magic, so they had to spend more time on Cultivation each day.

Li Wei returned to his room, and his Magic Badge vibrated.

He took out the Magic Badge, and the voice of the Magic Butler sounded from within.

’Now that I’m back in the Mage Tower, the Magic Badge has reconnected with the Magic Butler.’

Magic Butler: "Apprentice Mage Li Wei, you have a new message. Please review."

"Mission ’Escort the City Lord’ completed. 500 Merit awarded."

"Significant contributions made during the war. 100 Contribution awarded."

"Merit can be redeemed at the Maple City Quartermaster’s Office. Please use it in a timely manner."

"The Merit System will close at the end of the war. Exchanges will only be possible again when the Merit System reopens."

"Unused Merit can be converted into Mage Tower Contribution, but only while the Merit System is active."

"You have returned to the Mage Tower. The issuance of war-time Contribution has been terminated."

Li Wei was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected the escort mission to yield so many rewards.

He flipped it over and glanced at the number on the back of his Magic Badge: 119.

The Merit total on his Magic Paper Cards was still 207; he would need to go to the Maple City Quartermaster’s Office to sync them before he received the 500 Merit.

’All that hard work for half a month earned me less than hitching a ride in the City Lord’s carriage.’

The result was so surreal that Li Wei couldn’t quite process it.

’Oh well. Regardless, at least I can get the Magic Net Codex now.’

Without another word, Li Wei left the Mage Tower and headed for the Quartermaster’s Office in Maple City.

"Redeem Merit? One moment, let me check," said the clerk at the Quartermaster’s Office.

A moment later, she returned and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"So? Can I make the exchange?" Li Wei asked.

The clerk said, "Yes, but after you complete the exchange, it will take some time for the item to arrive in Maple City."

"You can leave your address, and we’ll have someone deliver it to you once it arrives."

"Okay, thank you for your trouble."

Li Wei redeemed a copy of the Magic Net Codex and left his address.

After returning to the Mage Tower, he converted all his remaining Merit into Contribution.

His 207 Merit converted to 82.8 Contribution.

Li Wei now had a total of 201.8 Contribution, just enough to buy the Crystal Meditation Method.

The problem was that purchasing the Crystal Meditation Method required the rank of a Tier One Mage.

As an Apprentice Mage, he wasn’t qualified.

’I could solve this by revealing my true strength and having my status changed to Tier One Official Mage.’

’But that would just lead to more problems.’

Li Wei took out his Magic Text Scroll and began to look through it.

Half a month had passed, and the number of items on the Magic Text Scroll had decreased significantly.

The shop on the Magic Text Scroll was a marketplace shared by several Extraordinary Influences.

Mages could purchase what they needed from it, as could other Professionals.

The discounted Potions and Magic Equipment were especially popular.

Li Wei searched for a bit and found that the Mage Tower’s Crystal Meditation Method was also listed.

The Crystal Meditation Method, however, wasn’t discounted.

’Huh? The Mage Association also has the Crystal Meditation Method?’

More importantly, the Mage Association had no purchasing restrictions.

In the past, Mage Tower Contribution could only be used within the Mage Tower and couldn’t be exchanged for Gold Coins.

So even if Li Wei saw the Mage Association selling the Crystal Meditation Method, he would have been helpless.

However, now that multiple factions were sharing a war-time store, Mage Tower Contribution could be used at the Mage Association at an equivalent value.

An idea sparked in Li Wei’s mind.

He thought for a moment, then hurried toward the Mage Association.

"Hello, I’d like to purchase a copy of the Crystal Meditation Method."

"Of course. Please wait a moment."

Before long, a young woman from the Mage Association brought out a copy of the Crystal Meditation Method and handed it to him.

"That will be 200 Contribution. You have 1.8 Contribution remaining. Please come again."

The young woman in the Mage Apprentice Robe watched Li Wei leave through the Mage Association’s main doors.

’Such a young Apprentice Mage!’

Li Wei walked out of the Mage Association, his heart filled with joy.

’I finally got the Crystal Meditation Method.’

’The Magic Net Codex will arrive in a few days, too. All in all, this trip was a huge success.’

’It’s just... Lanya and the others...’

Li Wei sighed.

He steeled himself, his gaze firming with resolve.

’Only with enough strength can I control my own destiny!’

Li Wei returned to the Mage Tower, his steps filled with determination.

Back in his study, he took out the box and opened it. Inside was a blue, polyhedral Crystal.

It looked somewhat similar to a Nightmare Core, only the color was different.

The box also contained instructions on how to use the Crystal.

Li Wei glanced at them and set them aside.

He had already learned about the Crystal Meditation Method and knew how to use it.

He took out the Crystal, pressed it to his forehead, and activated it with his Spiritual Power.

The information stored within the Crystal flooded into his mind.