Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

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The magic stones in Ian's Dimensional Ring were mainly accumulated over the years from refining [Starlight Potion] and [Rock Bear Potion], plus some spoils from previous enemies.

The total number is approximately 1,500 magic crystals, of which some are materials and need to be converted.

But... he was determined to get such a large piece of void crystal.

The Balance Water is one of the key keys to his advancement to level three.

If we miss this opportunity, who knows when we'll have another chance?

"Five hundred and one."

Ian slowly announced the new price, his voice low but clear and firm.

The purple-robed sorcerer's cold smile suddenly froze.

His eyes turned completely cold, and the subtle crystallization field around him trembled slightly, causing ripples in the air.

But at that moment...

hum!

A vast and abyss-like pressure emanated from the direction of the high platform.

Like an invisible giant hand, it gently pressed on everyone's heart.

A warning from a level three archmage.

The wizard froze, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed his anger.

He gave Ian a deep look, the coldness in his eyes almost freezing.

Then, he slowly leaned back in his chair and fell silent.

But everyone can see that this matter... is not over yet.

Derek spoke up at the opportune moment.

"Five hundred and ten magic crystals, for the first time."

"The second time."

"The third time."

"make a deal!"

The hammer fell silent.

Ian stood up and walked to the front of the stage.

All eyes were on him, filled with curiosity, curiosity, and a hint of apprehension.

A level two wizard who can casually produce so many magic crystals...

He is by no means a simple character.

Ian ignored the stares and walked to the front of the stage.

The gray-robed old man handed over the Void Crystal.

It feels cold and heavy to the touch, the surface cracks feel rough, and the dark color flowing inside seems to wriggle slightly as if it has a life of its own.

Ian checked and found nothing amiss, then took a prepared leather pouch from his dimensional ring.

Inside were prepared magic crystals, neatly arranged, their energy fluctuations pure and surging.

The old man took it, scanned it with his spiritual power, and nodded slightly.

The transaction is complete.

The waiter stepped forward and collected a 10% commission, fifty-one magic crystals.

Ian remained unfazed, storing the Void Crystal deep within his dimensional ring before turning and walking back to his corner.

Throughout the entire process, he remained calm and his steps were steady.

But only he knew that his heart was beating slightly faster.

I finally got the main material that looks like the "Balance Water"!

All that's left is to complete the recipe.

He sat back down on the low stool, and Ga Ga immediately transmitted his voice.

"Ian, that person seems really angry..."

"Um."

Ian glanced out of the corner of his eye in the direction of the purple-robed wizard.

The male wizard was whispering something to an old man beside him who had closed his eyes to rest.

The old man wore a simple gray robe and exuded a restrained aura.

However, Ian's mental perception could vaguely detect that the crystal in the other party's mental sea had completed its complete elementalization.

A pale blue, watery sheen flowed slowly across the crystal surface.

At the late stage of level two, his strength far surpasses his current level.

"We're not a match for them yet," Ian thought with a chill.

But he doesn't regret it; some things, you have to fight for when it's time.

A timid and hesitant person will never become a strong person.

The trade fair will continue.

Ian did not make another move, but simply observed quietly.

During this time, he noticed another gaze.

From the right side of the banquet hall, near the porthole.

Adele Justt sat in a high-backed chair, next to a middle-aged witch with a gentle face, wearing a dark blue dress.

The witch's aura was deep and composed; she was another late-stage level two cultivator.

She must be a close elder of the Edel family.

Adele's gaze lingered on Ian for a few seconds before she nodded slightly.

His eyes held a complex meaning.

There was surprise, there was contemplation, and there was also a hint of...admiration.

Clearly, she recognized the value of the Void Crystal and saw Ian's determination.

The person taking the stage at this moment was an elderly woman with gray hair, leaning on a crystal cane.

At the early stage of level two, his aura was somewhat weak, as if he had suffered a serious injury and had not yet recovered.

She took out a palm-sized crystal box from her dimensional ring.

Inside the box lay a small, translucent clover, as if sculpted from ice.

On the surface of the grass blades, fine silver veins grow naturally, forming mysterious runes.

"[Silver-veined Soul-Soothing Herb], 500 years old."

The old woman's voice was hoarse.

"When taken directly, it can soothe the wounds of the soul and stabilize the mind."

"If combined with similar materials, it can be used to refine the [Requiem] potion."

"It has miraculous effects on severe soul injuries and loss of consciousness caused by bloodline curses."

She paused, then added.

Starting price: 100 magic crystals.

A few whispers arose from the audience.

The Silver-Veined Soul-Soothing Herb is indeed precious, especially effective for treating soul trauma.

However, with a medicinal herb that is 500 years old, the price is indeed quite high.

Moreover, the "Requiem" potion is extremely difficult to make, requiring a second-tier master-level potion-making skill.

Many people are tempted, but they are also weighing their options.

Ian noticed that Adele's body was leaning slightly forward.

She stared at the silver-veined soul-soothing grass, a hint of urgency flashing in her eyes.

His fingers unconsciously tightened, and his knuckles turned slightly white.

But soon, she slowly leaned back in her chair, her lips pressed tightly together, and a bitter and helpless look appeared in her eyes.

Ian understood instantly.

This herb was helpful in dealing with the blood curse on her father's bloodline.

But she... doesn't seem to be able to produce a hundred magic crystals.

Or perhaps, her resources were exhausted during those eight months of fighting.

Internal family pressure, with two elder brothers eyeing the situation covetously...

It's probably the limit that she was able to board the Leap.

Bidding begins.

One hundred and ten.

"One hundred and twenty."

"One hundred and fifty..."

Prices rose steadily, and Adele watched quietly without saying a word.

The middle-aged witch beside her gently patted the back of her hand, her eyes gentle but equally helpless.

As a collateral elder, she could only offer limited support amidst the internal family struggles.

"two hundred."

A voice rang out; it was that purple-robed male wizard again.

Adele's face turned pale, and she dug her fingers into her palm.

But she still didn't speak.

Her pride, coupled with her predicament, prevented her from showing weakness in front of others.

"Two hundred and ten," another level-two wizard chimed in.

"Two hundred and thirty," the purple-robed sorcerer lazily raised the price.

"Two hundred and fifty..."

When the price climbed to 480, others gradually withdrew.

Only the purple-robed male wizard remained, competing with another wizard dressed in black robes, whose aura was chilling.

"three hundred."

When the purple-robed wizard announced the number, his gaze swept over Ian.

The provocation in his eyes was undisguised.

The black-robed wizard hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and gave up.

Derek prepares to bring down the hammer.

Just then.

Three hundred and fifty.

A calm voice rang out again from the corner.

Everyone was stunned and turned their heads in unison.

Ian sat on a low stool, his gaze indifferent as he looked at the high platform.

It was as if he had just casually mentioned a number.

The mocking expression on the purple-robed sorcerer's face froze instantly.

He slowly turned his head and stared at Ian.

He didn't expect the other party to actually respond to his provocation.

Ian met his gaze, his face expressionless, as if he hadn't been the one making the bid.

"Three hundred and fifty magic crystals, for the first time."

Derek spoke up at the opportune moment, breaking the deadlock.

The purple-robed sorcerer's chest heaved, and his surrounding force field fluctuated violently.

But the old man in the gray robe beside him gently pressed down on his arm.

The old man kept his eyes closed, only shaking his head slightly.

The wizard took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and stopped bidding.

"The second time."

"The third time."

"make a deal!"

Ian stood up again, walked to the front of the stage, paid for the magic stones, and accepted the crystal box.

It felt cool to the touch, and the silver-veined resurrection plant inside the box emitted a gentle spiritual energy.

He turned around and, instead of going back to the corner, walked straight to the right side of the banquet hall.

Stop in front of Adele.

Adele looked up at him.

His eyes held a complex mix of surprise, gratitude, and a hint of awkward embarrassment.

"Grey Moon Wizard..."

She spoke, her voice a little hoarse.

"This calming herb was indeed effective for my father."

"But I can't come up with 350 magic crystals right now."

She paused, straightened her back, and her eyes regained their calm.

"I will remember this favor and repay it with interest when I return to my family."

Ian looked at her pale face, and at the deep weariness and determination hidden in her eyes.

He was silent for a few seconds. Then he handed over the crystal box.

"There's no rush to return the magic stones."

Adele was taken aback.

"Last night you told me about Gaga, and about the Eternal Shadow Remnants."

Ian's voice was calm.

"Consider this herb my thanks on behalf of Gaga."

Adele pursed her lips, her eyes flickering.

In the end, she did not refuse and took the crystal box. Her fingertips trembled slightly the moment they touched it.

"Thanks."

Her voice was very soft, and her expression was very serious.

Ian nodded and turned to leave.

"etc."

Edel called out to him.

"Wait," Adele called out to him.

She glanced in the direction of the purple-robed sorcerer, her voice low but clear.

"That's Collins Hawkwood."

"The eldest son of the Hawkwood family, and one of the rulers of the Silver Sail City-State in the eastern part of the Central Continent."

Ian paused slightly.

Adele continued, speaking at a steady pace, but each word carried weight.

"The Hawkwood family has a fourth-level Morning Star wizard at its helm."

"Although they only control one city-state, it is strategically located, has a thriving trade, and its family wealth and influence are even greater than those of the Just family."

Ian's eyes darkened slightly.

Level 4 Morning Star...

That is an existence that has already surpassed the level of a great wizard, with a lifespan of tens of thousands of years, enough to establish an independent force.

Adele's voice became even softer.

"The old man beside Collins is the Hawkwood family's honored elder, 'Grey Vulture,' a late-stage level two cultivator who has completed his water elemental transformation."

"Their branch has a long-standing relationship with the Just family, and Collins... has a very close personal relationship with my two older brothers."

She looked up at Ian.

There was no fear in his eyes, only a calm reminder.

"You've snatched things from him twice in a row; given Collins's personality... he won't let this go easily."

"With a level three archmage on board, he wouldn't dare to make a move openly."

"But once we reach the central continent... we must be extra careful."

Ian paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Thank you for letting me know.

Adele gently shook her head.

"You help me once, and I'll remind you of something. It's fair."

She paused, then added.

"Although the Hawkwood family is powerful, there are many forces in the East that are stronger than them."

"Our Just family also has Morning Star wizards, most of whom are not in this world, so there's no need to worry."

Furthermore, the power of our family's three city-states is not merely for show.

"I will bear this grudge as well."

She spoke calmly, but Ian understood the weight of her words.

If he chooses to side with Adele.

Therefore, the conflict with the Hawkwood family will escalate from a personal feud into part of the battle for the Just family's succession.

At that time, the family power behind Adele will become his shield.

Of course, this is all predicated on her winning.

Ian simply nodded slightly. "I still need to think about it."

After saying that, he turned around and walked back to the low stool in the corner.

The trade fair was still ongoing inside the hall.

But Ian could feel several gazes falling on him, seemingly casually.

From Collins Hawkwood, and the Grey Vulture Elder beside him.

Also from some... other second-level wizards who noticed this conflict.

Gaga huddled inside his hood, whispering to each other.

"Ian, it looks like we're in big trouble..."

"Well, when wizards compete for resources, there's bound to be trouble."

Ian reached out and gently rubbed its little head.

Are you scared?

"Gaga! I'm not afraid!" Gaga puffed out her little chest, a fierce glint flashing in her heterochromatic eyes.

"Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I'll devour their shadow!"

Ian's lips curved slightly, and a faint golden light slowly swirled deep within his eyes.

trouble?

What he had to do was prevent trouble from happening...

Become strong enough.