45: Chapter 45 Turmoil

"Any news on that iron mine I asked you about before?"

Mo Bai asked aloud.

As residents of Sheep Horn Village in this area, he had previously learned by chance from Parn that the village knew of a small iron mine's existence.

However, because the interests involved were too great, they didn't dare to mine or use it, and only the old blacksmith knew its exact location.

Regrettably, the old blacksmith died at the hands of the Great Axe Gang, and the young blacksmith only knew a general direction, not the exact location.

"The young blacksmith, Shaan, is still out searching and hasn't gotten back to me yet. I'll go ask him right now."

Parn rushed off as soon as he finished speaking.

Seeing this, Mo Bai withdrew his thoughts and continued to ponder over the anatomical model in front of him.

"The iron mine still needs to be found as soon as possible. Without proper tools, everything is inconvenient.

Moreover, lacking steel to make weapons and armor, the guard force Parn established is ultimately a bit flimsy.

Initially touching upon transcendent power can certainly increase combat strength, but they are still flesh and blood after all. If coupled with heavy armor and standard weapons, their combat power could definitely reach the next level."

Mo Bai knew deep down that at the end of the day, to establish a foothold in the game and study spells in peace, obtaining a certain level of strength was absolutely unavoidable.

Now, more and more people were in Sheep Horn Village, with nearly two hundred people already.

With such a large volume of personnel activity, it was only a matter of time before the Great Axe Gang found them again.

He didn't want to move his nest in disgrace; besides, it wasn't just a matter of a nest.

Sheep Horn Village had practically become his subordinate village.

This village provided food, services, and offerings, and had produced a follower like Parn, as well as the ten-man guard force currently being developed—none of which could be abandoned.

Mo Bai even intended to gradually expand it, training Parn or other followers to establish a mature territory system to obtain a steady stream of money and material offerings.

Mage research was a bottomless pit.

Money came quickly, but it went just as fast.

After all, research wasn't just about going through it in one's head; it required a series of experiments for verification.

Some experiments didn't require materials, but most did.

At this moment, Mo Bai stood by Quiet Lake, looking at the calm surface. The Elemental Power in the surrounding environment rose and fell slowly with the fluctuations of his Spiritual Power.

Then, collecting his thoughts, Mo Bai glanced at the crystal core Parn had just brought over, and with a flick of his mind...

Buzz!

An earthen wall rose out of thin air.

"Let's call it Earth Wall Technique."

Mo Bai took a look, and after naming it, he recorded the Magic Spell Model on the cliff face and had Yang Hao include this Magic Spell Model within the scope of their research.

Having collected his thoughts, Mo Bai once again focused his attention on the anatomical model before him.

While carving models onto it, he deduced and calculated on the side; meanwhile, silently, the various Elemental Powers he moved temporarily formed one Magic Spell Model after another within his body, then dissipated, repeating the cycle over and over.

Whenever Elemental Power was absorbed by his body, the experiment would repeat again and again, and his body even began to show some mutations.

However, Mo Bai didn't care at all and continued experimenting directly with his own body.

During this time, he occasionally drank some potions, and the supplies he had seized from the Great Axe Gang were gradually being consumed.

At the same time, a piece of news began to circulate among certain players in Oak Town.

"Have you heard? That mage who was selling magic scrolls is actually a player!"

"Eh? What? A player?"

"magic scrolls? You mean the magic scrolls someone offered a ten-thousand-dollar bounty for? The person drawing those magic scrolls is a player?"

*Hiss.*

"Yes, and I have the coordinates right here."

"Coordinates? What's the use of coordinates? It's not like he can teach us how to draw magic scrolls, can he?"

"Why couldn't he?"

"At least he knows how to undergo a class change to a mage. If a solo player like him can change classes, why can't we?"

"Would he even tell you?"

"Hmph, if he doesn't tell me, I'll just kneel and beg him! I'll pay more! If nothing else, can't I just see if I can buy some magic scrolls to resell for a profit?"

*Hiss.*

"Good idea. Can you give me the coordinates?"

"Sure, a hundred bucks."

"?"

"?"

"PM me if you want them."

"666, brother, you don't want to sell magic scrolls to make money; you clearly just want to sell coordinates to make money."

"They aren't mutually exclusive."

"..."

As news circulated on the forum, a player looking at the message suddenly turned to a bounty notice at the entrance of Oak Town.

"Bounty for supernatural information. Ten silver for anyone who can provide accurate information."

"Ten silver is one-tenth of a gold. At the current exchange rate, selling it would be five thousand bucks."

The player's heart skipped a beat, and without any hesitation, he walked straight into Oak Town.

Inside the Dragon Soaring Guild, Luo Long's eyes widened slightly.

"What?"

"That unique mage is a player?"

Opposite Luo Long, Ming Zhan and Li Yujian inquired repeatedly. Once they confirmed the news was correct, the three looked at each other, their minds racing.

"Since we know, why don't we just prepare a gift and visit him together to learn the secret of the class change?"

"Would that cause resentment? We've already sent people there, after all; there should be people from your guilds learning there too.

Although the design of a 'mathematical mage' is a bit ridiculous, if you think about it carefully, there's a certain logic to the absurdity. After all, the mage class is easily overpowered, so there must be restrictions.

Mathematics is just right—it has a certain difficulty. You can either become a god or a complete failure.

But regardless, if we maintain stability and continue, paying the tuition and letting Mo Bai teach a bit more, our guilds will naturally master the class change path."

The three pondered briefly. Indeed, besides that solo player, their three guilds had sent a total of four people to study. Everything they learned was recorded and sent back to the rear, where the aspiring mages were all studying.

A group of people was also helping with the experiments to provide data, making their guild representatives look more outstanding and perhaps gain more attention.

Furthermore, it allowed the 'mages' in the rear to get familiar with the process.

If they ruined this great situation and caused Mo Bai to just quit and stop working, they would be the ones losing out the most.

However, after a moment of deliberation, Luo Long nodded.

"True, then let's not go, to avoid disturbing his peace."

"Yeah, makes sense."

"Makes sense."

The two agreed readily. Ming Zhan from the War Alliance and Li Yujian from Blood Moon then each found an excuse to leave the Dragon Soaring Guild.

As soon as they left, Luo Long immediately shouted.

"Wang Kun, prepare a gift, call those female players from the cheerleading squad, let's go, go, go!"

Without delaying more than a few minutes, Luo Long took a shortcut straight toward Quiet Lake as soon as they were gone.

However, just as he approached, he spotted another group of people. Coming closer, he saw...

"Huh? Li Yujian?"

"Huh? Luo Long?"

"Pah!"

The two looked at each other and spat in unison.

Seeing that their intentions to visit secretly and alone had been foiled, the two were no longer in a hurry.

"Fine, since we're both here, let's just wait for Ming Zhan together to avoid being a laughingstock."

Luo Long sighed slightly and spoke casually.

"Oh! By the way, where's Ming Zhan?"

"I haven't seen him. Have you?"

Li Yujian replied casually. Just as he finished speaking, the two suddenly realized something and looked at each other.

"Wait, he wouldn't..."