24: Chapter 24 The Gods Will Grant You Abundance

Three more sunrises and sunsets passed.

It was another morning. Zhang Mu walked with his hands behind his back, humming a little tune, swaying from side to side like a wealthy landlord as he strolled over to Potter's house.

The past three days were perhaps the happiest of his life.

His lung cancer had been temporarily resolved, and Potter had agreed to be his teacher and instruct him in magic.

The only uncertainty remained the test results from Song Lan, but they would be ready soon.

Judging by what she said on the phone last night, that gem was likely not cheap, provided it was naturally formed.

Zhang Mu wasn't sure if the magic changing the shape of the inclusion counted as artificial, so he could only wait patiently.

He hoped there wouldn't be any issues; that way, he would have a stable source of income.

Selling gold coins was simply too risky; the second time he sold four of them, the look in the gold shop owner's eyes had already become suspicious.

Pushing open the wooden door to Potter's house, Zhang Mu headed to the second floor, muttering to himself: "I should find time to get a passport and fly abroad, otherwise I won't be able to explain the origin of the gems. I might as well see if I can get a couple of guns for self-defense while I'm at it."

Firearms control in the Xia Kingdom was strict. Setting aside the fact that he had no way to purchase them, even if he did, he couldn't buy them; there was a high probability that the regulatory authorities would come knocking.

As for why he wanted to buy firearms, Zhang Mu felt his strength was still a bit weak. Hiding a large-caliber firearm in his pocket could provide an unexpected advantage when encountering danger.

He figured that the mages of the Saul Continent probably wouldn't recognize things like a barrett or a gatling. To prevent being ganged up on, he could even consider getting a grenade launcher.

He arrived at the second-floor bedroom while lost in thought.

The small room originally only had a single bed and a nightstand, but now a single desk and chair had been added.

This was for Zhang Mu's lessons.

"Junior, you're here early today." Avril held a magic notebook in her hands, her ice-blue pupils as calm as still water.

Recently, Potter left early every morning and didn't return until evening. Occasionally, Zhang Mu didn't even see him when he returned home, not knowing what he was busy with.

Therefore, Avril had been the one teaching him for these past three days.

Honestly speaking, taking magic classes was useless for Zhang Mu.

The class content was mostly things like precautions when casting spells, how to deeply understand magic text, common knowledge about the continent and magic, rules for exploring dungeons, and so on.

He could understand the lectures, but his magic knowledge was directly instilled into his mind by the panel in the most easily understandable way.

It even felt like hands-on instruction, and he could fully absorb it in about ten minutes each time.

Because of this, he had no need to engage with the study of magic text or safety precautions for casting spells, which were very important for other mages.

Although that was true, he still obediently sat behind the desk, reminiscing about his high school days.

The reason he was suddenly sitting so obediently wasn't because of Avril, but because of Potter's requirement.

When he learned he had to study magic text, he strongly protested to Potter, stating that he really didn't need these things.

But Potter told him that even a genius had to have a certain understanding of the world, at least possessing common sense.

Otherwise, when exploring dungeons, he wouldn't even be able to find where the real treasures were hidden.

Zhang Mu felt this made sense, so he calmed down to absorb the knowledge.

Avril divided the morning class into two parts: first explaining common knowledge about the world, then learning obscure magic text.

Therefore, Zhang Mu listened attentively during the first half, but began to zone out during the second half.

Since he had nothing else to do, he summoned the panel to check the progress of his newly learned spells.

[Character: Zhang Mu] [Race: Human] [Class: None] [Rank: None] [Skills: Meditation Method — Magic Sensing (Level 1 90%), Magic Absorption (Level 1 90%), Magic Control (Level 1 90%) Fireball Spell (Level 1 80%) — Releases a powerful fireball to attack the target. Wind Blade (Level 1 5%) — Releases a powerful curved wind blade to attack the target. Ice Cone (Level 1 5%) — Releases a powerful Ice Cone to attack the target.] [Unlocked Functions: Inventory, Resurrect in Place, Return to City Resurrection (No city bound yet)]

The experience bars for each skill had progressed quite a bit.

What Zhang Mu found regrettable was that Potter did not intend to teach him high-level magic for the time being.

His magic attribute could only be determined once he reached the apprentice rank. At that time, he would decide the direction of his magic studies based on the awakened attribute.

This was to avoid learning too many things and mastering none.

This was correct; even with the panel, Zhang Mu had to level up by constantly casting spells. If he learned too much, he might end up with a pile of peak Level 1 skills, but not a single Level 2 skill.

Withdrawing his thoughts, he stared at the experience bars for the three abilities of the Meditation Method. They were almost Level 2; what would happen then?

Also, what magic attribute would he awaken?

"Junior." "Junior?" "Junior Zhang Mu!"

The volume of the calls gradually increased, but he didn't react until a trace of coldness seeped through his skin, finally waking him up.

"Uh." Zhang Mu looked at the cold white mist surging from Avril's body and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, Senior, I was thinking about some happy things and got distracted."

Her fine, ice-blue eyebrows knitted slightly. "Junior, Teacher said your talent is very strong. I don't know exactly how strong, but I hope you understand that slackness is the grave that buries genius."

"Okay, Senior." The panel had to be kept secret, and Zhang Mu couldn't explain, so he nodded and agreed.

He wasn't angry in his heart; Avril could have just let him be.

She could have just thought, 'Whether you listen or not is up to you, I'll just read from the book, and then we can get along happily; it's good for you, good for me, and good for everyone.'

By doing that, she wouldn't offend anyone, and Zhang Mu would be happy too. Wouldn't that be fine?

But she didn't do that and remained responsible in teaching him.

The lecture continued, the sun climbed higher, and in the blink of an eye, it was noon.

Avril ate instant noodles, and Zhang Mu, not being very hungry, said hello and went out for a stroll.

Compared to not leaving the door for the past few days, he had recently been wandering around Kas Town often, with the purpose of... hoping to encounter the blonde Little Cat Girl again.

They parted too quickly last time; he didn't even get a chance to touch her cat ears, and the pain had kept him from sleeping well for three nights.

And the fluffy tail sticking out from under her pajamas—he hadn't even gotten a good look at it!

Unfortunately, perhaps because demi-humans had a low status on the Saul Continent and were easily bullied, Lia's parents didn't let her go far, which resulted in Zhang Mu coming up empty for three consecutive days.

"I should have asked where they lived that day." Zhang Mu wandered the streets with a sorrowful expression.

"This guest from a distant land, may the gods protect you."

Someone greeted him from behind. He subconsciously turned around, and standing a few meters away was a person dressed as a priest.

Wearing a clean white robe, with slightly thinning hair and looking to be in his early forties, he had kind and gentle eyes and held a thick book of scripture in his hands.

"Thank you for your blessing." Zhang Mu replied politely and prepared to leave.

"Guest." The priest stepped forward to block his path. "The gods shall bestow wealth upon you."

He chanted with a tone full of bewitchment. Zhang Mu wondered internally if this person was playing dumb, or if he really didn't understand what he meant.

After staring at the priest for a few seconds, Zhang Mu realized the meaning: "Donations?"

"The more pious the contribution, the more generous the gods' return."

Zhang Mu looked at him strangely: "You say the gods shall bestow wealth upon me?"

"Yes, sir."

Taking out a copper coin and stuffing it into his hand, Zhang Mu laughed, "Let's try a little first. How much of a return is one copper coin? Oh right, please ask the gods to hurry up; I have urgent matters to attend to."