Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

Read the full text of Chapter 220, "Thirteen Young Men," for free at: [link missing].

early morning.

Outer City Branch of the Crimson Cloud Merchant Alliance.

A relatively tidy two-story stone building with a bright red triangular flag hanging at the entrance.

Manager Wang was a chubby middle-aged man with a perpetually friendly smile on his face, but his eyes were as shrewd as a fox's.

He was already waiting at the door, and when he saw Ian, he immediately came to greet him.

"Lord Li Xing, we've been waiting for you!"

They were being overly enthusiastic.

Ian nodded slightly and followed him into the stone building.

The first floor is a spacious shop with various materials displayed on shelves.

Dried herbs, sealed medicines, bundles of metal ingots, and a small amount of stardust in glass bottles.

Several commoners dressed in coarse cloth were asking about prices in hushed tones at the counter. When they saw Manager Wang bring Ian in, they all lowered their heads and made way for him.

"Please come upstairs." Manager Wang gestured for them to come up.

The second floor is a simply furnished reception room.

Tea sets were already laid out on the wooden table, and the tea was steaming hot.

Manager Wang took out a thick booklet from the drawer. The cover was hardcover and the corners were worn.

"This is the exchange book within the Merchant Alliance."

He pushed the booklet in front of Ian, rubbing his hands together and laughing:

"Level 2 collaborator privileges, 20% off all materials, and an advance of 100 standard crystals... Elder Chen really values ​​you highly."

Ian opened the booklet.

The paper is specially made parchment, which has a thick feel.

The items are neatly listed above, with their names, descriptions, and the number of standard crystals required for exchange.

The materials for purification potions, such as Flame Grass and Moonflower petals, are readily available.

……

Ian turned the pages one by one.

The booklet contained a wide variety of items, from basic materials to finished potions, from tools to scrolls of knowledge, and even a few low-level rune equipment.

The price is also shockingly high.

Even the most ordinary fine iron longsword costs 20 dust crystals.

A parchment scroll containing three basic rune combat techniques is priced at 2 standard crystals.

"What does Lord Li Xing want?" Steward Wang asked tentatively.

Ian flipped to the potion section, his fingertip hovering over a line of text.

【Elemental Tempering Potion (Standard Recipe): Accelerates cultivation during the Nascent Soul stage and slightly increases the probability of bloodline awakening. Exchange Price: 10 Standard Crystals】

[Basic Rune Pen: A tool for engraving basic runes, exchange price: 5 Standard Crystals/set]

A total of 15 standard crystals.

Converted to dust crystals, that's 1500.

Based on the income of ordinary people in the outer city, it would take decades of saving without eating or drinking to accumulate enough.

"I want both of these," Ian said, pointing to the recipe and the rune pen.

Manager Wang's eyes lit up: "Elemental Tempering Potion? This is a good thing! Although it's just a standard formula and the success rate isn't high, as long as we refine a few bottles, it'll be enough to break even!"

He paused, then lowered his voice.

"To be honest, within the Merchant Alliance, only partners at level three or above can exchange for this formula. Elder Chen specifically instructed that an exception be made for you."

Ian didn't reply and continued scrolling down.

The detailed recipe specifications list the required ingredients:

Juyuan flower (1 plant), Lingcui grass juice (10 ml), purified water (500 ml), honey (20 g).

The materials are not rare, but they are quite troublesome to process.

In particular, the juice of Lingcui grass needs to be extracted from the roots and stems of Lingcui grass, which is a complicated process and is prone to spoilage.

"Does the Merchant Alliance have these materials?" Ian asked.

"Yes! We have them all!" Manager Wang patted his chest confidently.

"One Juyuan Flower costs 3 Dust Crystals, one Spirit Extract Grass Juice costs 1 Dust Crystal and ten milliliters, and purified water and honey are cheap, so we'll give you half a Dust Crystal per serving!"

Ian's rapid mental arithmetic.

The total cost of materials is less than 5 dust crystals, and there's even a discount.

A qualified bottle of elemental energy tempering potion can sell for more than thirty dust crystals on the black market in the outer city.

Profits six times.

"Advance payment of 100 standard crystals first."

Ian closed the booklet. "After replacing the rune pen and the recipe, buy all the remaining materials."

"Okay!"

Manager Wang smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits. He immediately took out paper and pen from the drawer and began writing out the invoice.

The pen tip scratched across the paper.

Outside the window, gray clouds moved slowly, and dark red sunlight leaked through the gaps, illuminating Ian's profile.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the sea of ​​his mind.

The proficiency panel unfolds before your eyes.

Name: Li Xing (Ian)

Age: 21

[Realm Level: Late Awakening (91%)]

[Bloodline: Star Drawer (Slight Awakening)]

[Condition: In good condition]

[Skills: Starshine Perception (Proficient 92%), Star Step (Beginner 89%), Basic Swordsmanship (Proficient 93%), Basic Purification Potion (Beginner 46%)]

While waiting for news from Old Chen, he refined six vials of medicine every day and handed them over to the old cripple's pharmacy for sale.

Each tube contains twenty dust crystals, so that's eighty dust crystals a day.

The remaining two are for the people in the yard.

Those with old wounds or minor erosion from the corrosive blood have recovered most of their injuries under the care of the medicine.

And now...

Energy-Quenching Agent.

If they could be mass-produced, the dozen or so promising teenagers in the courtyard could break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the shortest possible time.

Even, awakening one's bloodline.

"Your Excellency Li Xing, the invoice is ready."

Manager Wang's voice pulled Ian back to reality.

A chubby hand handed over two pieces of paper: one was a recipe redemption voucher, and the other was a material delivery slip.

"The recipe was originally in the warehouse; I'll have someone fetch it right away. The materials are ready and can be picked up at any time."

Ian took the document, glanced at it, and confirmed that it was correct.

"In addition..." Manager Wang rubbed his hands together, a smile spreading across his face, "Old Chen also instructed that two late-stage awakening guards be dispatched to secretly protect your safety."

He paused, then added, "Of course, this only applies within the outer city limits. We won't interfere with your actions or enter your courtyard."

Ian's eyes flickered slightly.

Protect?

It's probably more surveillance.

It doesn't matter.

He now needs the business alliance's channels and resources, and there are certain costs to be paid.

"Please thank Mr. Chen for me," Ian said calmly.

"Definitely! Definitely!"

……

Before Ian even stepped out of the room, a series of orderly shouts rang out from outside.

Some time ago, he also rented two empty courtyards next door, which were just enough to accommodate more than a hundred people, making it less crowded than before.

The women squatted in the corner, cooking thin porridge in broken earthenware pots, the steam rising in the cold wind as white mist.

The men examined the makeshift tools: a few chipped knives, half a wooden stick, and rusty pieces of iron salvaged from the ruins.

The sound of iron swords cutting through the air, the heavy breathing of the boys, and the intermittent cries of a baby in the corner...

The various sounds mixed together created a strange kind of vitality.

The twelve boys, shirtless, practiced basic slashing movements under Li Yao's guidance.

Most of them were fifteen or sixteen years old, with dark skin and old scars on their bodies, but their eyes were surprisingly bright.

Ian stood under the eaves, his gaze sweeping over each of the boys.

He screened the samples three times.

The first assessment is to check the body's structure, whether it is sturdy, and whether the hands and feet are coordinated.

The second test is to observe their character and reaction when faced with the corpse of the corrupted beast—whether they shrink back in fear or grit their teeth and step forward.

The third test assesses comprehension by teaching the simplest "Charged Slash" technique, and whoever can master the power generation skill the fastest.

The twelve who ultimately remained were considered promising talents who could be nurtured to some extent.

"Stop," Ian said.

The boys immediately sheathed their swords, their chests heaving, their breath condensing into fine mist in the cold wind.

"From today onwards, you will embark on the path of rune cultivation."

Ian walked to the center of the yard, picked up a dry twig, and drew intricate lines on the compacted mud.

"The extraordinary beings of the Aran Continent are not limited to those with bloodlines."

The dry branches rustled as they brushed against the ground.

"Three hundred years ago, before the Great Cataclysm, the rune system coexisted with the bloodline system. Ordinary people could also draw upon primal energy and gain power by visualizing the stars and inscribing runes on themselves."

He stopped, and a complete "basic body tempering rune array" had been drawn on the ground.

The pattern consists of thirty-six tiny runes that are interconnected to form a perfect closed loop.

In the center of the formation, a faint airflow swirled, stirring up a few specks of dust.

The boys stared wide-eyed.

"Lord Li..." a freckled boy stammered.

"We...we can become superhumans too?"

"Yes." Ian tossed aside the dry branch, his voice resolute.

"But this path is more difficult than that of those with bloodlines."

He pointed to the rune array on the ground.

"The first step is to allow your body to absorb primordial energy. You need to use 'body tempering fluid' to draw these thirty-six runes on your skin. With the help of the potion, you can draw primordial energy into your body and temper your muscles, bones, and skin."

This process can take anywhere from one month to six months, requiring daily medicated baths and specific breathing techniques. Any slackening will result in the loss of all previous efforts.

"The second step is awakening. Once the thirty-six runes have formed a stable cycle within your body, you must use your will as a guide to connect the runes into a single entity. At that time, you will be able to awaken one or two basic characteristics."

It could be an increase in strength, a burst of speed, or enhanced perception.

Ian paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Without resources, most people will be stuck in the nano-element stage for their entire lives."

The courtyard was completely silent.

Only the mournful sound of the wind whistling through the eaves could be heard.

The freckled boy clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white: "I...I want to try!"

"I want to too!"

Count me in!

Not one of the twelve boys backed down.

"very good."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Ian's eyes; this was exactly the kind of energy he wanted.

As long as the body-tempering fluid is supplied in sufficient quantities, these young men will soon be able to form a formidable fighting force, and their loyalty will be unquestionable.

Three days later.

In the darkest hour before dawn, twelve boys were already kneeling neatly in the center of the courtyard.

In front of each person was a bowl of milky white ointment and the talisman pen they had exchanged a few days earlier.

Ian stood before them, his voice steady and firm.

"Take off your shirt and turn your back to me."

Without hesitation, the boys tore off their coarse cloth shirts, revealing their lean backs.

A cold wind swept by, raising goosebumps on the skin, but no one shivered.

Ian walked up behind the first boy... the freckled boy "Aku".

He dipped his brush in the ointment and the talisman fell.

The moment the pen tip touched his skin, A-Ku shuddered.

It wasn't pain, but a warm, tingling sensation that seeped into the pen tip and spread upwards along my spine.

Ian's wrist was steady, and his pen moved with incredible speed and fluidity.

The first rune: [Na Yuan].

The intricate patterns, like the trajectories of stars, fall between Aku's shoulder blades.

The primal energy essence in the ointment seeped through the rune patterns, causing a faint silver glow to appear beneath the skin.

The second one, the third one...

Thirty-six runes covered Aku's entire back, arms, and even extended to his calves.

He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and could clearly feel a violent energy surging through his body, as if it wanted to tear every inch of his flesh apart.

"Activate the breathing rhythm I taught you!" Ian hissed.

Aku immediately closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

With each breath, the chaotic energy within his body gradually became tamed, flowing slowly along the path outlined by the runes.

With each cycle, the energy becomes gentler, merging into the flesh and bones.

Half an hour later, the silver light gradually faded.

Aku opened his eyes, and a glint of silver light flashed deep in his pupils.

He tried clenching his fist, and his knuckles cracked softly. His strength was at least 30% greater than before!

"Next."

Ian walked toward the second boy.

From dawn to noon, all twelve boys completed the inscription of the runes.

When the silver light on the last person faded, Ian's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat.

Drawing thirty-six sets of basic rune arrays in a row was a huge drain even for him.

But it was worth it.

He looked at the twelve transformed teenagers before him.

Although still thin, his spirit and energy are completely different.

His eyes were sharp, his spine was straight, and a faint energy fluctuation emanated from his body.

With his ingenious methods and abundant resources, the Na Yuan period has been completed.

"From today onward, practice the breathing technique for one hour each at dawn and dusk."

Ian's voice was weary, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"Every three days, I will check the progress, and the first three to finish their assignments will receive extra resources."

The boys responded in unison, their voices loud and clear.

Li Yao stood beside Ian, looking at his companions who were refugees just yesterday, his eyes slightly reddening.

He knew that from this day forward, these people would be embarking on a completely different path.

And leading them was their own brother.

After teaching the boy, Ian then sought out the white-bearded old man.

How's the market situation for medicinal herbs?

The old man took out a small notebook from his pocket; the paper was yellowed and the edges were curled.

"Of the seven pharmacies in the outer city, three are owned by the Crimson Cloud Merchant Alliance, so their prices are the most stable. The other four are privately owned... and their prices are more inflated, but you can occasionally find a bargain."

He turned to a page and pointed to the crooked handwriting on it.

"Yesterday in a corner of the East Market, a hunter was selling 'Gathering Yuan Flowers' for 3 Dust Crystals per plant. I took a look, and the quality was alright, except that the roots had some rotten spots..."

"How much did you buy?"

"Three plants," the old man said in a low voice.

"I bet on 2 dust crystals per plant, and the hunter, who was in a hurry to get money to treat his injuries, agreed."

Ian nodded.

The Gathering Yuan Flower only grows on the edge of the Pure Land. It can slowly gather the Yuan energy in the air and has a miraculous effect on ordinary people to temper their bodies and sense Yuan energy.

"Well done." Ian took out a small bag of dust crystals from his pocket and handed it over.

"We'll continue our search today, focusing on Lingcui Grass and Honey Syrup."

"yes!"

After settling the chores in the yard, Ian took Li Yao out.

The streets outside the city remained crowded and dirty.

Rotten vegetable leaves mixed with mud and water piled up on the roadside, emitting a pungent, sour stench.

Several emaciated beggars huddled in a corner, their empty eyes staring at passersby.

Occasionally, guards in crimson leather armor would patrol by, their boots making a "pat-pat" sound as they stepped into the mud.

"Brother, over there..."

Li Yao suddenly tugged at Ian's sleeve.

The boy pointed to a shadowy spot on the street corner.

Three men in tattered leather armor were surrounding a thin boy.

The bald man at the head of the group was about to reach out and snatch the cloth bag from the boy's arms.

"You little brat, you said you'd pay me back today, where's the money?"

"My mother is sick, and we haven't raised enough money for her medicine..."

The boy's voice trembled as he clutched the cloth bag tightly.

"Illness? What does that have to do with me!" The bald man slapped him across the face.

The boy's cheeks instantly turned red and swollen, but he still refused to let go.

Pedestrians hurried past, and no one dared to intervene.

Ian paused, his powerful intuition telling him that the boy seemed to possess something extraordinary.

[Starlight Perception] Spreads out silently.

The bald man had faint energy fluctuations, indicating he was in the early stages of awakening, but his aura was weak and unsteady, clearly due to the use of drugs to artificially inflate his strength.

The other two are even weaker, barely reaching the Na Yuan stage.

"Li Yao," Ian said calmly.

"elder brother!"

"Go, practice your skills."

Li Yao's eyes lit up, and he clenched his fists and rushed over.

The boy was small in stature, but his movements were as swift as a cat's.

He rushed up behind the bald man, pushed off the ground with his right foot, and leaped into the air, slamming his left elbow into the back of the bald man's neck!

This is the basic combat technique of the Ian Cult: [Elbow Strike].

It emphasizes sudden bursts of power, breaking through the surface with a single point.

"Um?"

The bald man sensed the wind behind him and hurriedly turned around, but it was too late.

Boom!

The elbow tip struck the vulnerable spot on the side of the cervical spine with precision.

The bald man groaned, his vision went black, and he staggered forward and fell.

The other two were stunned for a moment, then roared and pounced on Li Yao.

The boy remained calm and composed, shifting his feet slightly and slipping away from the two men's attack like an eel.

At the same time, his right hand reached out, his five fingers joined together like a knife, and slashed hard at the ribs of the man on the left.

laugh!

The leather armor was ripped open.

The man turned pale with pain and squatted down, clutching his ribs.

The last one, seeing that things were not going well, turned around and tried to run away.

Li Yao picked up a piece of gravel from the ground with his toe and kicked it away.

Snapped!

The gravel struck the man right behind his knee.

"what!"

Amidst screams, the man fell to the ground, clutching his knees and rolling around.

"what!"

Amidst screams, the man fell to the ground, clutching his knees and rolling around.

From the moment Li Yao made his move to the moment the three fell to the ground, only five seconds had passed.

The pedestrians on the street were all stunned, staring dumbfounded at the thin boy.

Li Yao took a breath, his little face tense, and looked at Ian.

Ian nodded slightly.

not bad.

Although the movements are still somewhat immature, the grasp of timing and the precision of exertion are already showing initial signs.

He walked up to the thin boy and squatted down.

"What's your name?"

"Ah, Ashu..." The boy's voice was still trembling, and he was still clutching the cloth bag tightly in his arms.

"What's in the bag?"

"It's...it's the medicine that cured my mother's illness." Ashu lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes.

"I borrowed one dust crystal from them yesterday to buy medicine, and they promised to return two today... but I... I really can't come up with the right amount..."

Ian was silent for a moment, then took out two dust crystals from his pocket and put them into the boy's hand.

"Take it to pay off your debts, and use the rest to buy some food."

Ashu froze, looked up, and his dirty face was full of disbelief.

"M-Sir...this..."

"My name is Li Xing." Ian stood up. "I live in the courtyard at the end of West Street. If your mother isn't better, you can come find me."

After saying that, he ignored the boy and turned to walk towards the Crimson Cloud Merchant Alliance branch.

Li Yao quickly followed, whispering, "Brother, those three people..."

"It's ruined." Ian said without turning his head.

"My neck is dislocated, two ribs are broken, and my kneecap is shattered. In this outer city, it's practically death."

His voice was calm, as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.

Li Yao pursed his lips and said nothing more.

He knew his brother was right.

In this wasteland, those who lose their mobility will not survive more than three days.