176: Chapter 176 The Mage's Legacy! Inspection in the Secret Chamber! Transaction Complete!

Inside the reception room.

After Rowan chose the meditation technique, his gaze turned to the other two booklets.

He first picked up the water-blue one.

The cover felt cool to the touch.

Upon opening the first page, a faint scent of the tide rushed towards him.

The content in the booklet was more detailed than the meditation technique, with every page filled with words.

He read through it line by line.

Zero-Ring Magic (Mage Apprentice Level):

Moistening Spell: Increases the moisture content in the surrounding air, can be used to extinguish fires, nourish plants, or create favorable casting conditions in dry environments.

Water Bullet Spell: Condenses water elements to form a high-pressure water bullet, with a range of about thirty meters, powerful enough to pierce through wooden boards.

Water Veil Spell: Deploys a translucent water veil in front of the caster, capable of blocking low-tier physical attacks and fire-type spells.

...

First-Ring Magic:

Water Binding Spell: Summons water currents to entwine the target's limbs; the binding strength increases with mental power, capable of restraining an ordinary knight at its peak.

Fog Spell: Creates a dense fog area with a diameter of twenty meters, obscuring vision and interfering with low-level detection spells.

...

Second-Ring Magic:

Deep Water Breathing: Grants the target the ability to breathe freely underwater for a duration of one hour.

Strangling Water Whip: Shapes several flexible, high-pressure water whips to lash at enemies and cause lacerations.

...

Third-Ring Magic:

Water Elemental Servant: Condenses a medium-sized water elemental to fight according to instructions.

...

Rowan skimmed through it briefly.

The further he went, the more complex the patterns on the pages became.

Intertwined magic array markings, various mental power structures, obscure and difficult-to-understand rune lines...

It was all profound knowledge exclusive to mages.

He frowned, realizing he couldn't understand it.

So, he closed the booklet and picked up the last one with the earth-yellow cover.

The contents inside were similar.

Stone Bullet Spell: Condenses earth elements to form a fist-sized stone bullet; the speed is slower, but the impact force is strong.

Earth Wall Spell: Raises a three-meter-high, half-meter-thick earth wall from the ground.

Ground Softening: Turns the ground within a five-meter diameter into a mud swamp, slowing down the enemy's movement speed.

Vibration Sensing: Senses biological activity within thirty meters by detecting minute vibrations in the ground.

...

After reading both booklets, Rowan fell into deep thought.

There were two options, and the prices were clear.

The full Water-type Mage Inheritance set was priced at one thousand and twenty standard magic crystals.

The full Earth-type Mage Inheritance set was priced at nine hundred and seventy standard magic crystals.

The Water-type was slightly more expensive, mainly because the market demand was greater, so the price was naturally a bit higher.

He calculated quickly in his mind.

The total estimated value of the materials from the Lord of Frost Howl was around two thousand magic crystals; regardless of which set he chose, it was more than enough.

As for Helena's talent, both Water and Earth types were within the selectable range.

Considering the convenience the Water-type's accompanying abilities provided for daily life, as well as Helena's personality, the Water-type seemed more fitting.

A moment later, he raised his head and looked at Julian, who was leisurely sipping tea across from him:

"If I choose the Water-type Mage Inheritance, regarding the payment method, can I use physical items as a deduction?"

"I have some materials from the Lord of Frost Howl here; Viscount Hawke should have already mentioned them to you."

Julian set down his teacup and nodded: "Of course, my lord. This is precisely the main purpose of my trip."

"Viscount Hawke briefly mentioned the list in his letter, but the final pricing requires me to see the physical items with my own eyes to confirm."

"If it is convenient, we can proceed with the physical inspection right now."

"At that time, I will issue a legally binding appraisal certificate and quotation as an official appraiser of the Purple Gold Merchant Alliance."

Rowan did not dawdle, standing up directly and saying:

"Then, please follow me, sir."

Rowan led Julian out of the main hall and arrived at a secret room deep underground in the castle.

The secret room was built with thick granite, and simple anti-detection runes were engraved on the walls.

On the floor, there were several large chests.

The lids were opened.

A scent mixed with Frost and blood instantly filled the entire secret room.

Julian's gaze fell upon the items in the chests, and his breathing paused involuntarily.

Although he had long since learned about the listed materials through Viscount Hawke's letter, when he truly saw the physical items, the impact on his vision and senses was clearly different.

With a solemn expression, Julian put on a pair of silver-threaded gloves and began to carefully inspect them one by one.

The entire inspection process lasted nearly half an hour.

Rowan waited patiently on the side.

When Julian straightened his back, his face wore a satisfied expression.

He turned to Rowan and informed him of the appraisal results:

"The Count, after careful inspection, this batch of materials is of superior quality and well-preserved, consistent with the list description you provided."

"According to the latest market guidance price of the Purple Gold Merchant Alliance, the comprehensive valuation I give is two thousand one hundred and five standard magic crystals."

He paused and added: "If you have no objections to this price, we can discuss the specific transaction plan based on this."

Two thousand one hundred and five magic crystals!

It was over a hundred more than the two thousand or so that Viscount Hawke had originally estimated.

Rowan felt a slight joy in his heart, but on the surface, he nodded calmly:

"I can accept this price."

The subsequent process went much more smoothly.

The full payment for the Water-type Mage Inheritance set was one thousand and twenty magic crystals.

[Crystal Meditation Technique], three hundred magic crystals.

A total of one thousand three hundred and twenty magic crystals.

The balance remaining was seven hundred and eighty-five magic crystals.

Rowan requested that Julian settle the payment using the standard method of the Purple Gold Merchant Alliance.

Julian pondered for a moment and proposed a plan:

"My lord, for the remaining seven hundred and eighty-five magic crystals, I suggest you receive them in this way."

"Seven hundred will be converted into bearer magic crystal drafts from the Vilantia United Bank, which can be cashed at Vilantia Bank branches in major cities across the continent."

"For the remaining eighty-five, I will pay directly in physical magic crystals, which is convenient for your daily use or small transactions."

"What does my lord think?"

The Vilantia United Bank was one of the most reputable multinational financial institutions on the continent, and the magic crystal drafts it issued had excellent liquidity among nobles and merchants in various countries.

Rowan did not hesitate and nodded in agreement:

"Let's do as you suggest, sir."

After completing the transaction, both of them smiled.

Rowan reached out and shook hands with Julian:

"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Sinclair. Thank you for your professional service."

Julian also smiled and replied:

"It is my honor to work with you, my lord."

"These are two inheritance magic stones, containing the Crystal Meditation Technique and the Water-type Mage Inheritance, respectively."

"When the time comes, my lord, you only need to have the recipient of the inheritance touch their forehead to the magic stone; as long as the recipient has the corresponding mage talent, they can obtain the complete inheritance imprint."

"After being used three times, it requires three magic crystals to recharge. After a total of nine uses, the inheritance magic stone will be destroyed; please take note of this, my lord."

"If you have any other questions, you can contact me at any time through Viscount Hawke or the Merchant Alliance's channels."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries.

Rowan personally saw Julian out of the castle's main gate, watching as he disappeared into the streets of Gino City, surrounded by his guards.

He turned around, preparing to return to the castle.

However, he heard the familiar sound of carriage wheels coming from outside the castle gate.

A carriage bearing the emblem of Count Golden Flame was slowly stopping on the open ground in front of the castle.

The carriage curtain was lifted.

Helena stepped down.

She saw Rowan standing on the steps, her beautiful eyes lighting up.

Lifting her skirt, she walked quickly to Rowan and curtsied:

"My lord, I have returned. My family has already been settled in the city."

Her voice carried a hint of fatigue from the long journey, but she seemed to be in good spirits.

Rowan chuckled and nodded, putting his arm around Helena's slender waist, and walked into the castle, saying at the same time:

"You've returned just in time. Come with me."