C22 Zhang Xing Learned Magic
Upon his return to Dragon Island, Zhang Xing set to work on constructing the Office of Internal Affairs.
"Construction of the Office of Internal Affairs complete! Cost: 5,000 gold coins."
"Upgrade the dragon's nest!"
"Upgrade successful. The dragon's nest is now at Level Two. Cost: 10,000 gold coins."
Hei Bao let out a cry of excitement and dashed to his new abode. The spaciousness inside was astounding. The crisscrossing caverns soared to a height of five meters, providing ample room for his four-meter-long frame to navigate with ease.
After exploring the lair, Hei Bao settled on the innermost cave for his dwelling.
He sprawled out on the ground contentedly, contemplating whether to bring out the gemstone he had recently acquired. After some thought, he decided against it, not feeling entirely secure, and flew out once more.
He cautiously poked his head out, scanning his surroundings before his gaze settled on the nearby castle. He listened intently and, assured that Zhang Xing was indeed within, returned to the comfort of his cave. There, he regurgitated a few gemstones and a mound of gold coins into a corner.
He then lay atop the pile of coins, admiring the red and blue gemstones with satisfaction.
Hei Bao had managed to retrieve over ten thousand gold coins from the three mages. He knew better than to let Zhang Xing see this treasure; otherwise, his master might just swindle them away.
Zhang Xing tallied up the remaining gold coins. Factoring in his loot from the three warriors and the expenses for the Office of Internal Affairs, he had a balance of fifty-five thousand gold coins.
Following the construction of the Office of Internal Affairs, a Congress building emerged, capable of generating eight hundred gold coins daily—double the output of the Office of Internal Affairs. For Zhang Xing, investing in the Congress was a lucrative move.
"Congress construction successful. Cost: 15,000 gold coins."
He checked his experience points next. There were no bonuses for these constructions.
Zhang Xing wasn't bothered, though. Without any missions from the system, they were left to hunt Demonic Beasts for experience and leveling up, which for now, was sufficient.
His current shortfall was in magic skills. After a month of studying theory, it was unrealistic to expect a novice to master practical skills right away.
After several real battles, he had mastered the art of casting fireballs. He now felt that merely possessing magical power wasn't enough; the thrill of combat left him wanting more. Curious, he decided to check out the magic skills available in the shop.
The first page listed primary magic skills, including Magic Arrow, Fireball Arts, and Expedite Attack, each priced at 200 gold coins. The second page featured intermediate magic skills like Explosive Flame Dance, Both Eyes Blind, and Thunderbolt, with each skill costing 500 gold coins. The third page showcased high-level magic skills such as Meteor Shower, Consecutive Fireball, and Planted Mine, each for 1000 gold coins. The fourth and fifth pages were dedicated to Magic Instructor Skills and Magic Master Skills, respectively.
Warrior skills like Heaven Breaking Fist, Heaven Splitting Fist, and Sky Destroying Fist were also available, with prices set at 200, 500, and 1000 gold coins each.
Zhang Xing thought to himself, "I want to learn them all! But for now, mastering up to the third page will suffice. Hahaha!" His boisterous laughter drew the attention of Hei Bao, who peeked out curiously at his master.
"What's got you so amused this time?" Hei Bao inquired, noticing the flicker of light on Zhang Xing's body.
"Ah, so the master is studying magic. Nothing exciting for me to see; I was born with these abilities. They'll just come to me naturally when I reach the right age," Hei Bao remarked dismissively.
But as he was about to withdraw, another flash of light caught his eye. Mesmerized, Hei Bao couldn't help but watch as bursts of light followed one after another, illuminating Divine Dragon Island like a vibrant fireworks display.
"My goodness, how many magic skills has the master learned?" Hei Bao wondered in awe.
Zhang Xing was well aware that acquiring these magic skills at the academy would be a formidable challenge. Without a substantial number of credits, it was impossible to obtain them. Some students spent eight years at the academy and still couldn't amass enough credits to exchange for high-level magic skills. Earning credits required completing various assignments, tasks, and even joining clubs for outdoor adventures.
In less than ten minutes, Zhang Xing had spent 11,400 gold coins and learned nearly twenty magic skills. If the entire faculty and student body were to find out, he couldn't even begin to imagine the extent of their envy and disbelief.
