Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Yang Ling returned quickly to Wissen Castle on his Unicorn after bidding farewell to Elder Klive. His brows were tightly knit during the entire journey as he thought hard for a way to deal with the Troop Association.

It was easy to dodge a direct attack, but far harder to avoid one from the shadows!

He could of ways to deal with a direct challenge from the Troop Association. He was confident that he would be able to deal with his opponent using his high-level Magical Beasts like the Unicorn and Flying Dragon King, even if his opponent was a sage level fighter. But it would be troublesome if the other party launched a surprise attack from the shadows!

It was alright if the other party had set their sights on him alone. With his strong physical body, exceptional senses and teleportation-like Earth Evasion Technique, Yang Ling was confident that he would be able to escape even if the killer Flowing Venom had come back to life to deal with him. But it would be troublesome if the other party was going to also attack Alice, Yuna and the rest. There was no way for him to protect all of them.

He could come up with an idea if he knew the specific course of action and when the Troop Association would take action. At the very most, he could absorb Goode, Alice, Yuna and the rest into the space of the Wizard’s Pagoda to temporarily protect them from being killed. But the problem lies with no one knowing the plan of the Troop Association. He could not keep the group of people in the space of the Wizard’s Pagoda indefinitely!

Yang Ling deliberated as he moved and soon unknowingly approached Wissen Town.

Wissen Town had undergone a huge transformation after a large number of merchant teams swarmed into the town. There was construction everywhere. Townspeople who grew up in Wissen Town or Beastmen who had moved here from the mountains could look for Goode in the Wissen Castle and buy a piece of land after completing a few simple procedures. They can then set up facilities like bars and inns by paying a low amount of tax.

The tax needed for setting up a bar or an inn was low, but it was practically free for anyone to set up a stall by the side of the road, nor did they need to complete any procedures; They could even ask for help from the troops who were patrolling nearby should any situation occur. Since that was the case, many of the poorer citizens set up stalls by the side of the road, selling a few gimmicks.

Some sold baked pies by the side of the road, while others sold hide that they had processed at home; In fact, there were even some who purchased a large amount of rum from Shangri-La at a low price, then sold them at the roadside at a suitable markup…

Just like that, the people naturally formed a free market within Wissen Town, attracting a large number of adventurers, troops, merchants and family members from outside the town. Business got increasingly better, and the flow of traffic also increased. Some of the main roads got more and more crowded, making it such that carriages had no choice but to slow down.

“Quick, quick, quick, the leader is here, make way!”

“Chief Elder, please!”

…

Even though it was packed, people respectfully made way when they saw Yang Ling’s silhouette from far away. The ordinary citizens called him leader, while the hunters that had joined the Hunter Association referred to him as Chief Elder, calling him as they placed a palm on their chest as a gesture of respect.

“Oh, Arkas?”

Yang Ling had wanted to make his way quickly pass the crowd on his Unicorn after giving everyone a faint smile. Unexpectedly, he unintentionally noticed Arkas who had the symbol of a one-star hunter sewn on his shirt. He did not expect Argus’s thief-like brother to also have joined the Hunter Association.

“Sir, no… Chief Elder, I am Arkas. I immediately joined the Hunter Association after receiving my brother’s letter.” Seeing Yang Ling recognize him, Arkas, who had just become a hunter, was both nervous and excited. He did not expect the leader Yang Ling who was high above to remember him despite only meeting him once in the forest.

Receiving his brother’s letter?

Yang Ling had an epiphany as he looked at the hunter’s insignia on Arka’s clothes, understanding that this was all Argus’s idea. He did not expect the lad Argus to remember his unassuming cousin back at home even though he was leading an army and fighting the insurgents in the wilderness.

After a pause, looking at Arkas and the one-star hunters beside him who had once been thieves, Yang Ling asked, “Oh, not bad, have you completed any missions recently?”

“Two days ago, we caught a Short-legged Deer and sold it for a full two hundred Purple Crystal Coins!”

“Yesterday, just before it got dark, we helped Miss Lome find her missing azure-eyed cat. Even though we didn’t earn much crystal coins from that, it was enough for us to get a few drinks from the bar!”

…

Arkas and his few partners were excited when they recounted the missions they had completed in the past two days. They did not expect to earn that many crystal coins despite having only joined the Hunter Association for a few days. It was much better than being a thief. They earned a sizeable amount of money, and did not have to sneak and hide around all day long, nor did they have to worry about their victims exacting revenge.

“The Hunter Association is good, but the criteria for joining it is too high. I am only missing an arm but can’t get past the entrance test, sigh!” Seeing Arkas and the rest eating well for the past few days, an old man with only one arm shook his head in envy.

“Old man, bake your pies faster, don’t block the leader’s path. If even you can become a hunter, then I would have no problems too!” After shaking her head, a middle-aged lady with a waist even thicker than that of a bucket effortfully moved a table of vegetables back, afraid that she was blocking Yang Ling’s path.

Even a one-armed old man wants to be a hunter?

Looking at the one-armed old man grumble as he baked his pies, Yang Ling shook his head and let out a bitter smile. The Hunter Association was not a charity organization. Setting up the association would be meaningless if anyone and everyone could enter.

However, the fact that everyone wants to join the Hunter Association showed that the status and income of the hunters was now far higher than that of an average adventurer. As a result of that, Yang Ling had successfully gained the sincere respect and support of the hunters within a short amount of time, accomplishing the goal he had set when he initially set up the Hunter Association.

Just as Yang Ling was about to leave quickly, Arkas muttered, “Chief Elder, I heard that high-level hunters would be able to obtain a Magic Hunting Card and quickly increase the abilities. Do you think… Do you think that you could make an exception and give us a few of those cards?”

After obtaining information that high-level hunters would receive a Magic Hunting Card and be able to summon Magical Beasts to aid them in battle, Arkas and the rest of his group had been incredibly expectant, wishing to receive a Magic Hunting Card even in their dreams. How could they give up on the opportunity now that they have coincidentally encountered Yang Ling, the Chief Elder that was said to be the only one who could create the Magic Hunting Cards. They hesitated for a moment before daringly voicing their thoughts.

Magic Hunting Cards?

Yang Ling shook his head after recovering from his surprise. He did not expect news of the Magic Hunting Cards to have spread out this quickly. Considering how loyal Argus was, Yang Ling had no problems giving his cousin a few Magic Hunting Cards; Unfortunately, Arkas was just a thief who bumbled along his days. He would not be able to use the Magic Hunting Cards even if Yang Ling was to give it to him for free.

“Arkas, regrettably, Magic Hunting Cards require a certain level of Magical Energy to use. Let me tell you what, come look for me when you can sense the Magical Elements in the air!” Yang Ling did not stay any longer after shaking his head regrettably, leaving quickly on his Unicorn.

On the Tailun Continent, even a Magical Apprentice at the lowest level could sense the Magical Elements in the air, the only difference being the strength of their senses. As long as Arkas reached the level Magical Tutor, Yang Ling would be able to find ways of pulling him along and help him increase his Magical Energy within a short amount of time. At the very least, he would be able to summon Magical Beasts of the lowest level to aid him in battle using the Magic Hunting Cards.

Yang Ling had many ways to forcefully boost a Magical Apprentice to a beginner-level Spellcaster. He could let the other party train in the Spirit Gathering Spell Formation in his villa, or let the other party consume a large amount of Magical Beast Blood Orbs, or let the other party have a drop of the Water of the Spring of Life. In fact, he could even directly inject a portion of his Magical Energy into the other party…

But boosting a person who did not know any magic at all to become a beginner-level Spellcaster was much more difficult. There were ways to do it, such as letting the other party consume a drop of Crystal Marrow regardless of cost and have them break through to the level of a high-level Spellcaster just like Alice had done. Unfortunately, the cost of that was just too high. Crystal Marrow was not like a cabbage, it would not grow back the next year after it was consumed.

Oh, Crystal Marrow?

Yang Ling had a thought as he recalled the three drops of Crystal Marrow he had in his Space Ring.

In this period of time, he had sensed that he was getting closer to breaking through to the level of mid-level Heaven Wizard, being merely one step away. Originally, he had wanted to save the Crystal Marrow and consume it in the future. Now, faced with the schemes of the Troop Association, faced with the unknown danger, it looks like he had no choice but to consume it now.

Faced with an unknown danger, quickly improving his abilities was the best course of action he could take. Only by strengthening his abilities could he protect the people close to him; Only by having powerful enough abilities could be protect the newly born Hunter Association and Magical Beast Territory!

After coming to a decision, Yang Ling charged forward on his Unicorn, barging into the Wissen Castle like the wind, disregarding the shock of the people around him. He ordered the old butler Murbaqi to stop anyone from disturbing him, then sat down within the Spirit Gathering Spell Formation in his villa and took out the three drops of Crystal Marrow from his Space Ring.

It was already late into the evening when he returned to the Wissen Castle. The surroundings were bright due to the torches around him, but the elegant villa surrounded by trees was pitch dark. Under the thick darkness of the night, the three Crystal Marrow released a ring of silver light, as if three sparkling pearls.

Two drops, or… Drink all three at one go?

Yang Ling had already come up with a plan back when he first obtained five drops of the Crystal Marrow. One drop for Yuna, one drop for Alice, two drops for himself, and he would save the last drop for Sofia who had went to the Divine Temple for the selection of the Moon Priestess.

Her sweet smile, mischievous gaze, melodious voice…

Looking at the sparkling Crystal Marrow, Yang Ling could not help but recall the sentimental elf beauty Sofia. He remembered the sorrow, moving voice of Sofia he had heard when he tamed his first Withered Tree Warrior; He recalled the fun times he had playing and chasing her around the forest, as well as her tender, slender waist and intoxicating fragrance!

Spring was approaching, Sofia should be coming back soon!

After recovering from his daze, Yang Ling kept the most alluring Crystal Marrow into his Space Ring. He then slowly circulated the Wizard Power in his body after taking a deep breath.