As an NPC, having a lot of skills is quite reasonable, right?

Moen sat in a chair next to the alchemy table, legs crossed, flipping through the "Elementary Herbal Identification Guide" that was used to decorate the shop's storefront.

"Tsk." Moen clicked his tongue lightly, startling the apprentice alchemist next to him.

"Why did you stop? The temperature in the crucible has dropped below 60 degrees Celsius. Do you want to ruin my potion? Bellows, increase the speed by two levels."

The apprentice snapped out of his daze and hurriedly started working the bellows.

This guy just pointed out several problems with me, each time starting with a "tsk" and then relentlessly criticizing everything from my stirring technique to my heat control. In short, I was completely torn apart by his criticism.

Moen closed the heavy book and tossed it onto the table with a thud.

"Waste paper that misleads and corrupts students."

The apprentice dared not respond and could only nod frantically.

At this moment, the alchemist walked over with a big smile and a package of potions: "Sir, all the magic potions you requested are here, for a total of 25 silver coins."

Although Moen had just tossed him a gold coin, the potions Moen had ordered were extra and he certainly wouldn't include the cost in the total.

Moen stood up and reached into his purse.

It was during this brief pause in his movements that a silvery-white object "accidentally" slipped out of his arms.

Clang.

The boss subconsciously looked down.

A scale badge engraved with intricate iris patterns lies quietly on the floor.

The fat on the boss's face twitched suddenly, and his smile froze instantly.

He knew all too well what this meant, having run a shop in this area. His shop had always maintained a long-term partnership with the Nohanville branch of the Inquisition, reducing tax rates by providing free medicine.

Moen bent down to pick up the badge, casually wiped off the dust, and then went to the counter to lay out 25 silver coins: "Boss, pay up."

"No, no, no! You mustn't! You mustn't!" The shopkeeper, as if burned by the silver coins, grabbed Moen's hand and pushed the 25 silver coins back. Then, he quickly grabbed a few gold coins from his cash box and stuffed them into Moen's money bag.

Moen raised an eyebrow: "Boss, what do you mean by this? I don't remember getting this much change."

"No, no, no! It's my fault!" the boss said with a forced smile, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"My family was poor when I was a child, and I never went to school. I get dizzy just counting! This isn't much money, this is your change! Please don't be shy, take it!"

What a joke! If this guy gets upset, he could just go to the branch office and make a face, and his shop could be shut down tomorrow. He wouldn't even need to make up a charge; he'd be accused of funding heresy.

"Since you're being so honest..."

Moen glanced at the three extra gold coins in his purse and smiled, "Then I shall accept them."

After Moen left, several apprentices from the alchemy shop surrounded their boss and complained. Perhaps because they were used to being arrogant, they were full of resentment when they felt wronged.

"Teacher, I think that guy is just a little rich. We have Captain Jonah backing us up. He's in charge of the security of the entire commercial street. Why are you being so humble?"

"Exactly, exactly. I saw him standing there arrogantly, pointing fingers. He's just a nouveau riche, what does he know about alchemy?"

The group started chattering amongst themselves, which startled the boss. He quickly looked in the direction Moen had left, and only after confirming that Moen had indeed gone far away did he turn back and slap each of them on the head.

"Tell me, tell me, are you guys bored? Do you think I'm paying you all to chat like this? Captain Jonah, huh? If I'd managed to appease that guy from earlier, that bastard Jonah wouldn't even be fit to shine my shoes!"

The apprentices were greatly shocked to hear their teacher say this. They quickly slapped themselves in the face a few times and then dispersed to continue refining medicine.

The boss sat at the counter, thinking about what he should bring Mo En next time he came to make a better impression.

On the other hand, after leaving the alchemy shop, Moen did not rush to leave the city.

He first went to the armor shop and used the change the shopkeeper had given him to buy the wrist guards and boots he was missing. Although they were just ordinary basic equipment, it was better than nothing.

After finishing his preparations, Moen stood at the city gate, pondering where he should start grinding monsters.

He just obtained a Life Stone, and judging from the description, it should be related to replies.

Moen glanced at the skill bar. Although the skill [Bloodstained Frost Robe] was powerful, its side effects were equally deadly.

We must find a way to counteract or dispel this negative state.

Moen's brain was working at lightning speed, searching his memory bank.

He definitely can't learn a regular [Purification] spell, and the negative buff of attribute reduction requires at least a Holy Ritual level purification to remove.

Soon, the name of a monster came to mind.

【The Prism Golem】.

This monster's core skill, [Radiant Pulse], releases high-frequency light waves to the surrounding area, which can not only blind enemies, but more importantly, it can randomly remove a layer of debuff from the caster.

"First, I'll get my hands on the [Radiant Pulse], and then find a skill to combine with the Life Stone for fusion," Moen decided.

These golems only spawn in the Fallen Star Rift near Nohanville, and they are elite monsters. Not only is the spawn rate low, but they also only appear in the ruins. Moen plans to go and check it out first. If he's lucky enough to encounter one, he'll kill it. If he doesn't, he can farm some other monsters in the Fallen Star Rift.

Moen reluctantly spent 5 silver coins to buy a map of the area around Nohanville and set off for Falling Star Rift based on the map's markings.

Two hours later, as Moen walked through a withered pine forest, the scene before him suddenly changed.

Congratulations on discovering: Fallen Star Rift Valley

[WARNING: The gravitational field in this area is abnormal. Please be careful where you land.]

From outside the valley, Moen could see visible blue arcane dust floating in the air within the Fallen Star Rift.

The most striking thing is that the huge rocks are not stationary on the ground, but are suspended in mid-air, defying the laws of physics, and some are even slowly drifting.

Moen had just reached the entrance to the rift when he was forced to stop.

A pale blue arcane barrier stretched between the two boulders, blocking the only passage.

In front of the barrier stood several people wearing robes embroidered with star patterns.

That was the attire of a scholar from the Star Pattern Secret Codex Academy.

Moen wanted to go up and say hello, and ask if he could be allowed to go in.

But before he could get close, a man wearing rune-inlaid half-body armor and wielding a magic sword blocked his way.

The man looked Moen up and down, then glanced at Moen's chest, which was not adorned with any church insignia.

Moen also sent out a scout to check who was on the other side.

Name: Olson Morgan

[Level: 14]

Olsen could tell that Moen was just an adventurer with no real status, and a hint of disdain appeared in his eyes.

"This is the Star Pattern Academy's restricted research area. Unauthorized personnel, get out of here."

Before Moen could retort, he heard a hurried voice coming from inside the barrier.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!!"

The light screen opened, and a slightly disheveled figure stumbled out.

She was a woman wearing a red scholar's robe from the Star-Patterned Mystic Academy.

Name: Alvin Pad

【grade:??】

At this moment, she was holding a black stone tablet that was half the height of a person in her arms. The surface of the stone tablet was flashing an extremely unstable scarlet light and emitting a "beep beep" sound like a bomb counting down.

"The interpretation failed! The energy flow is reversed!"

Alvin, drenched in sweat, stared at the frantically flashing countdown runes on the stone tablet in his arms: "One minute left! It's going to explode!"

"Elwin?!" Olsen's expression changed drastically.

"Why did you bring it out? Throw it back!"

"We can't blow it up inside! The gravity field inside is too fragile right now. If we explode at this point, it will cause a chain reaction of collapses, and all the historical sites will be destroyed!"

She had to bring the danger to an open area and detonate it. Now she had given up on deciphering it and was sitting on the ground, constantly building a shield around the stone tablet, even though she knew it was futile.

As for herself, thanks to the protection of the intermediate-level magical artifact, she would not suffer serious injuries.

"Forty seconds left!" The red light on the stone tablet grew brighter and brighter.

Olsen reacted extremely quickly. The moment Elwin explained the reason, he retreated and planted his longsword in the ground to cast [Star Barrier].

A thick, light blue, semi-transparent light shield instantly rose up, completely protecting him inside.

Meanwhile, the laborers they had hired in Nohanville to move equipment could only desperately pray that Elwin's barrier would mitigate the impact of the stone tablet's explosion.

One of the servants closest to Olsen tried to approach the barrier for shelter, but as soon as he stretched out his hand, Olsen gave him a disgusted glare.

"Get lost, you filthy thing."

Olsen even deliberately reduced the range of his shield, as if worried that these sweaty country bumpkins would soil his magic barrier.

After finally scaring away the group of servants with magic, Olsen turned around and found Moen staring intently at him.

Enraged by Moen's emotionless gaze, Olsen taunted through the shield, "I told you to leave, but you wouldn't. You can't reason with a damned devil."

My drawing skills are limited, and I couldn't capture even a tenth of the beauty of the Rift Valley. —Moun