Chapter 22 – Spoils and Promotion

The two mage robe skeletons might have been powerful Apprentice-Level mages in life, but after becoming undead and rising again, they were merely skeletal frames dressed in somewhat ornate attire. Punk gave each skeleton a Minor Catapult spell, and thus, the mage robe skeletons with shattered skulls and extinguished soul flames finally achieved complete “eternal rest.”

Punk dared not use his hands to directly search these “bone piles.” After all, no matter how “pathetic” these two piles of bones might seem now, they were once esteemed “Apprentice Mage Lords.” Who knew if their belongings were enchanted with spells to prevent enemy contact? Countless unfortunate thieves who died from bizarre curses after carelessly handling mages’ items had “sincerely” taught everyone a lesson—”never underestimate a mage’s defensive measures.” Mages spare no effort in protecting their fragile bodies, just like Punk. Since learning the versatile spell “Minor Mage Armor,” that energy overcoat had never left his body!

To ensure a safe “search,” casting spells was undoubtedly the best choice. Punk softly chanted an incantation, and at the tip of his staff, an energy hand gradually took shape—emitting a faint purple glow, with sharp edges resembling a carved diamond statue. The low chant, when listened to closely, sounded as ethereal and cheerful as a lark’s song. This was the Apprentice Rank Conjuration spell—Minor Mage Hand.

Punk ordered the giant bear, which could still exist for ten minutes, to stand guard nearby. Then, he controlled the large hand to pick up the skeletons and mage robes. The bone frames, having lost their soul energy connection, clattered and scattered across the ground. With a few shakes in the air, as if shaking out clothes, pieces of bones fell from the mage robes, leaving only a robe swaying gently in the breeze.

Punk carefully analyzed the mage robe using the System and found that although there were clear traces of enchantments and other magical effects, these had all dissipated due to erosion by necrotic energy. After all, this was only an Apprentice-Level robe. Now, only a few faintly glowing runes proved it was once a magical item. As for its current state… after being disassembled, it could only be called magical scrap…

But even “scrap” at the Apprentice-Level was still Apprentice-Level magical scrap. If nothing went wrong, it could likely be sold for one to two hundred Gold Coins. For most mages, this amount was trivial—barely enough to purchase a low-tier knowledge from the organization. However, what Punk needed most right now was precisely such “low-tier knowledge”!

After rummaging through the bone piles, Punk found one piece of boot scrap, two pieces of belt scrap, and three magical ring scraps. Without exception, all these items had lost their magical power, and their only remaining value was the roughly seven hundred Gold Coins they could fetch.

To be honest, Punk had once harbored a small hope of finding some treasure or secret manual, but reality is always the greatest tool for shattering illusions. Forget treasures—he hadn’t even found a single usable item!”After all sorts of adventures and schemes, why do others always manage to find secret manuals or treasures, or at least some kind of treasure map, while I end up moonlighting as a scrap collector?” Punk muttered to himself as he stuffed the assorted “junk” into his tattered Mage Robe serving as a makeshift bag. Truthfully, he knew that two apprentice mages wouldn’t possess any powerful equipment—their meager gear couldn’t withstand a Formal-Level Mage’s attacks. Getting these scattered odds and ends was already a decent haul, but Punk couldn’t help grumbling inwardly: “So web novels really are full of lies.”

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After randomly setting a coordinate at the edge of the Undead Forest, Punk hoisted his bundle of valuable “scrap” and began the journey back. With his Divination Spells, he wouldn’t get lost even in the featureless Wasteland. His plan was to return to Konola City, sell the spoils to the Mage Guild, and use the earnings to buy a house away from the bustling markets. There, he’d diligently practice alchemy—future Alchemical Creations would be his real source of income. Messy tasks like this one could easily drag him into unpredictable “major incidents,” and at his current power level, it was wiser to steer clear.

The time was now 25:00 at night. Faerûn’s three moons hung suspended in the sky once more, and the weather was clear and calm. Unpolluted by industrial exhaust, the night sky revealed countless shimmering stars, each one a distinct plane. Light from these planes near Faerûn traversed the nearly dust-free Astral Plane¹, casting a brilliant starry spectacle upon Faerûn. Unlike Earth’s night sky, the stars seen from the Faerûn Plane shimmered in a rainbow of colors—especially the blues and reds emitted by elemental planes… adorning the heavens like a fairy-tale canvas. Each star moved at varying speeds, influenced by Faerûn’s gravity, all visible “stars” orbiting the plane. From the ground, it appeared as though every star spun directly overhead. Against the profound, serene backdrop of night, the starlight glittered like exquisite crystal diamonds adorning a gown!

Gazing at this magical night sky, Punk was momentarily entranced. How much beauty, mystery, and wonder still lay hidden in the depths of the cosmos, waiting to be pursued and witnessed? The allure of the unknown captivated his entire being. The cool moonlight bathed his face in a pure, pale glow, while starlight reflected colorful hues in his eyes. Punk felt as though the resplendent night sky had illuminated his very soul, his spirit merging with the countless dazzling stars… And so, Punk stood in profound contemplation, gazing up at the starry expanse, the breeze gently rustling the edges of his Mage Robe as the entire Wilderness fell into tranquil silence…Punk seemed to hear a drunken voice murmuring faintly by his ear in the hazy depths of consciousness. Gradually, he awakened from this mysterious state, sensing his soul perception—now magnified more than threefold—and feeling the power of his soul flowing like a gentle stream through every limb. Vast amounts of mana grew increasingly condensed within the depths of his soul. Gazing at the world before him, now exceptionally clear, he lightly touched the breeze with his slender, pale fingers. Punk knew: he had broken through!

The breakthrough came suddenly, yet it felt as natural as water flowing downhill. The ascension of his soul level granted Punk a deeper understanding of magic and control. Now, even low-level spells could gain significant effect enhancements when cast by him. Most importantly, he had finally qualified to learn Apprentice-Level spells! Recalling the armor on the priest he had seen—withstanding dozens of strikes from skeleton warriors without breaking, its formidable defense standing firm and unyielding amidst the torrential rain of attacks—and thinking of the immense, all-consuming power of the Flying Flame Spell stored in his staff, Punk couldn’t help but reveal a faint smile. His path of magic could finally advance further!

“However, one must eat bite by bite and walk step by step. On the way back to Konola City, I must diligently study Apprentice-Level spells to truly attain the combat power of an Apprentice-Level mage. By then, I won’t feel intimidated facing that Old Mage in the Mage Guild.” Resuming his expressionless demeanor, Punk picked up the fallen “Trash Bag” from the ground and continued walking toward Konola City under the cover of night. The intertwined glow of three moons brightened the night sky considerably.

“My path has only just begun!” Punk remarked calmly.

(End of Chapter)