Chapter 66: Chapter 62: Magic Stone
The red, beast-shaped insignia on the slate-gray treasure chest had now completely disappeared.
After just getting an Excellent Level Skill Scroll, Lin Mo excitedly opened the second Treasure Chest.
"Huh?"
Inside wasn’t another Scroll, nor was it weapons or equipment. Instead, there was a small sphere about the size of a thumbnail and a red Potion.
’A Life Potion? Even though this Potion is worth a very expensive 15 Gold Coins, it’s hard not to be a little disappointed if it’s the only thing in a Bronze Treasure Chest.’
Lin Mo frowned and carefully picked up the bottle, but the doubt in his eyes quickly vanished.
’No, that’s not it...’
Because they were so precious and because he was curious about the wonders of alchemy, Lin Mo had spent a good deal of time studying the Life Potion he’d bought.
Although this Potion was also red, it was clearly different from a Life Potion.
First, there was the color. A Life Potion was more of a dark red, whereas this one was a brighter, fiery red.
Second, there was the texture. When he gently shook it, the liquid in the narrow bottle was clearly thicker than a Life Potion.
But this probably wasn’t a higher-tier version like an Intermediate or Strong Life Potion, because as soon as Lin Mo picked up the bottle, he felt a scorching heat from within.
It was so hot it nearly burned his hand, forcing him to quickly set it down.
Due to his limited knowledge of Alchemy Products—the beginner’s guide he’d bought only covered a few basic recipes—he had no way of knowing the Potion’s specific effects for now.
This wasn’t Bain’s area of expertise, either. He would most likely have to wait until he returned to town and visit the Alchemy Shop to have the old woman there take a look at it.
The small bead next to it, however, looked somewhat familiar.
Lin Mo pulled the Roland Town Map Guide from his bag and quickly found the information he was looking for.
[Introduction to Common and Valuable Items].......34-38
Magic Stone: A precious gem that forms naturally or originates from a powerful Demon. It contains immense Magic Power that an Alchemist can attune to amplify magic of a corresponding Attribute. It can be held and used by directly infusing it with Magic Power, or it can be used as a Magic Amplification Device by setting it into a Magic Staff.
He picked up the small bead. Just like the Potion from before, it was scorching hot.
However, unlike the rather "free-form" images of Magic Stones in the guide, the one in Lin Mo’s hand was clearly much smoother and more regularly shaped.
’If this bead is a Fire Attribute Magic Stone, then that Potion from earlier is most likely related to it, too?’
Lin Mo couldn’t hide the joy in his eyes. Power didn’t come without a price. The Mage, hailed as the strongest Profession, had an even more fatal flaw on top of well-known weaknesses like being slow and fragile—it was expensive.
Whether it was the Magic Wands used to improve one’s resonance with Magic Power, or items like Magic Stones and Potions for amplifying Magic, the prices were all absurdly high.
Take Magic Wands, for example. Despite also being weapons, their high material requirements and difficult crafting processes made them several times more expensive than weapons for Physical Professions.
And as for a precious item like a Magic Stone, according to the guide, even the most Ordinary one was worth at least 200 Gold Coins!
Getting one of these from a Treasure Chest was definitely a win.
But...
Lin Mo sighed with a hint of resignation.
’I have a Magic Skill Scroll, a Magic Stone, and a Potion, but I’m missing the most important thing: Magic Power.’
’It’s like the broth is simmering and the side dishes are all prepped, but the main course is missing.’
’Better get some sleep for now.’
After carefully stowing the items away, Lin Mo took out his sleeping bag and climbed in.
The day’s exhaustion hit him the moment he lay down, his eyelids growing too heavy to keep open. He was sound asleep in less than ten seconds.
Of course, as always, he remained vigilant. Even though he had been traveling with Bain and the others for a long time and had come to trust them, Lin Mo was still in the wild. His Wolf Bone Sword lay within reach, and he kept his sleep light, ready to wake at the slightest disturbance.
「The night passed in the blink of an eye.」
When Lin Mo opened his eyes, it was already late morning.
Not dawn, but later—around eight or nine.
They hadn’t set a watch schedule the previous night, so Evan had kept guard almost the entire night by himself. Only when dawn approached and Millian finally stirred, and after he saw her drink the last of the Life Potion, did he finally close his eyes in relief. Soon, the air was filled with his snores.
The good rest, combined with his Constitution now at 9, left Lin Mo feeling full of energy.
Uncle Bain sat under a nearby tree, holding a wineskin and leisurely drinking...
Well, drinking water.
Unless they were a madman with a death wish or had absolute confidence in their strength, no Adventurer would be foolish enough to drink alcohol in the middle of an expedition.
"I gathered all the Cat Demon’s Claws from the hidden room. Counting the ones we had before, we have more than enough for the quest."
Lin Mo said, walking out of the tent while eating a piece of bread.
"So..."
"We’re heading back!"
Those three words from their leader, Bain, sent a thrill of excitement through the group.
This journey had been full of too many unexpected dangers and near-death scrapes. Even for Adventurers used to living on a knife’s edge, their nerves were frayed to the breaking point.
And now, it was finally over. They could go home!
"We’ll need to rely on you one last time for the journey back."
Bain looked at Lin Mo. After this, he planned on taking a long break and living a quiet life for a while. He figured Evan and the others felt the same.
As for Lin Mo...
Now that he was a Professional, he was in a different world from them.
He would go on to join a new party, taking on harder quests with bigger rewards.
This was an unspoken understanding between them all.
Lin Mo nodded, held out a hand, and smiled easily. "I’m still staying at the same inn. Feel free to reach out anytime."
Although he had shouldered a great deal of pressure during their two trips together, personal gain aside, Bain and the others had also helped him immensely. They had answered many of his questions, taught him how to set traps, and passed on a wealth of adventuring experience.
"Alright."
Bain bumped his fist, a smile breaking across his serious face.
There was no need for sadness. This was the way of things between Adventurers—a life of comings and goings, of chance encounters, of people who were but passing clouds.
Whether in meeting or in parting, there was a romance to the adventure itself.
With their feelings in order and their packs shouldered, the group stepped into the woods, walking across the dappled shadows of the trees.
The sun was perfect today.
