Pillar of Yita

After crossing the Great Canyon, Holy Bow Peak, and entering the southern slopes of the Kudi Mountain Range, the climate gradually warms up, and spring often arrives a month or two earlier. By the time you reach places like the Brown-Red Forest, it’s already mid-spring in February or March.

Fortunately, the team set off early the next morning, giving Fang Hong a whole day to say goodbye to Ande.

On this day of departure, the legendary Alchemist seemed somewhat absent-minded. That morning was Fang Hong’s last lesson at the manor, where Ande Ulriel taught him knowledge related to Magic Power. Halfway through, the old man suddenly stopped.

Fang Hong was slightly startled and looked up. ”What are you looking at?” Ande raised his silver ash eyebrows, picked up the book, and knocked on him. He had gotten used to this in recent days, but the book was held high and lightly put down, finally smacking the lad’s brow with it.

He suddenly sighed, feeling somewhat disengaged. In earlier years, he never worried about his age; birth, aging, illness, and death were normal human occurrences. He often joked about the Old Copper Nose not being carefree enough.

But this morning, seeing the bare tree branches in the courtyard, he suddenly felt some unprecedented emotions.

He looked at the student before him, his only proud disciple—a genuine closeted disciple, even if he never said so. In his heart, he did have clear intentions. He had only taught this student for seven days; his lifetime’s worth of knowledge was vast as the sea. Yet, not much time was left.

Ande Ulriel never regretted anything in his life, but at this moment, he felt a twinge of annoyance. If only he had gone to Kapuka earlier to find this foolish lad, he might have gained a half-year more.

But leaving Fang Hong behind wasn’t possible; after all, it’s a young person’s world, and they had to go south to rebuild the Seven Seas Traveler.

That blueprint also held his effort, almost like a form of legacy.

”That’s all for the lessons,” the old man replied grumpily, ”No time to explain in half a morning; self-study with the books.”

”Take care on the road.”

”Wait for me at the Rose Workshop.”

”Get out—”

Fang Hong paused for a moment, then suddenly understood something.

Holding the book thrown to him, he bowed deeply to the old man.

That was the passing of knowledge, the student’s return salute to the teacher, as civilization quietly ignited and passed on.

While preparing luggage in the courtyard, Fang Hong met face to face with the Dwarf Guild President. This was their second encounter in recent days; each nodded from afar, and it seemed the other was also preparing to leave, with a Dwarf Goblin carrying a pile of luggage behind.

The Dwarf Guild President frowned, wiping the handle of his luggage box with a handkerchief until it shone. He looked at his handkerchief disdainfully before handing it to the Dwarf Goblin: ”It’s yours.” The Dwarf Goblin received it with joy and left happily.

Fang Hong shook his head, retracting his gaze.

Hilveld handed over a ring from the side.

”Mr. Ande has appraised this for you and asked me to pass it on,” she said, already groomed, wearing a black veil that added a sense of hazy beauty, seemingly more gorgeous than usual, smiled slightly: ”He really likes you as a student.”

”Hits my head every day, I’m dumb now,” Fang Hong complained.

Hilveld covered her mouth, laughing lightly.

Receiving the ring from the maiden’s hand, it was the very ring the Sorcerer-Ghoul had dropped, one of the three Fairy rings; after appraisal, its attributes naturally changed:

Fairy Kin, Saint Dilac’s Ring (Legendary Ring, Quality, SS+)

’Calculative Power enhances Magic Power Output—’

Weight: 0.01kg

Requirement: one-third Starlight

’Soul of Shattered Stars, Essence of Casting Brilliance’

Seeing the attributes, Fang Hong exclaimed in surprise. Only then did he understand why the ring was called ’Soul of Shattered Stars, Essence of Casting Brilliance’; the so-called Star Soul is indeed Starlight, merely another term in Eteliria.

Occupying one-third Starlight for a normal Invoker is equivalent to one and a half resurrections, and for him, it equals one resurrection—the cost is too high.

However, this item was genuinely suited for the Sorcerer-Ghoul; no wonder the Skeleton wore it, as Undead had no Starlight, rendering the ring requirement-free for them. Fang Hong held the ring, momentarily torn.

This ring was truly powerful, but the cost was excessively heavy—losing a life in vain, who would want that? Fang Hong hesitated, even experiencing a fleeting thought of turning into a Sorcerer-Ghoul.

Moreover, during the time at Cloud Harbor, Miya had compensated him with some Starlight; otherwise, given his current Starlight, wearing the ring would indeed pose a challenge.

However, he contemplated briefly and decided to temporarily pocket the ring.

The price was too great; he needed careful consideration before making a decision. Fang Hong was full of reluctance; finally acquiring a piece of Legendary Equipment, and moreover, the hardest-to-obtain Magic Ornament.

Yet, such were the limits—

Not being mad enough to toss it away was already due to its immense value.

Seeing him put the ring away, Hilveld showed no surprise, clearly already aware of the appraisal outcome.

She only picked up a box for Fang Hong—the box mostly contained books, heavy indeed. Fang Hong hastily said, ”I can use the Construct to help.”

Hilveld nodded towards the elderly man in the room: ”Combat Artisans generally don’t waste Construct’s Magic Power, just as Magic Guided Conductors don’t waste their Magical Points.”