Chapter 41: Tomes of the Soul
Opening the door and stepping inside, Gune saw that Meursault had already gone upstairs. Old Cohen was adding logs to the fireplace, while Vya sat on the sofa, watching him.
"What happened?" Old Cohen asked, his voice raspy, after he finished arranging the firewood and settled with a slight hobble onto the adjacent sofa.
"My adventuring companions from last time… one was assassinated, and the other two, though alive, are seriously injured." A heavy silence hung in the air before Old Cohen spoke again.
"Retaliation from the Blood Ear Elves?"
"Most likely."
Vya, who had been listening with a puzzled expression, now seemed to understand. "Blood Ear Elves?" she murmured.
Both men turned to her.
"I noticed Shadow Assassins tailing you when I was observing you earlier," Vya continued. "I dealt with them. They were indeed from the Blood Ear Elves."
"I assumed it was due to news leaking about your apothecary skills," she added. "Now it seems there's another reason." She then turned to Gune, her voice tinged with concern. "How did you incur the wrath of the Blood Ear Elves? Their vengeance is notoriously relentless."
Vya's words brought a sense of clarity to Gune. He succinctly recounted the events that led to his conflict with the Blood Ear Elves.
"…"
"I did sense someone watching me when I returned a few days ago," Gune said. "I suspected it might be the Blood Ear Elves, just as Miss Vya mentioned. Their thirst for revenge is well known. The feeling vanished later, and I was rather puzzled. It seems Miss Vya intervened on my behalf. My thanks."
"It was a fortunate coincidence," Vya replied with a modest smile. "Protecting you is, after all, my primary duty here."
After a moment of contemplation, Gune addressed Old Cohen, "Old Cohen…"
Before he could finish, Old Cohen glanced at him, his expression knowing. "You wish to acquire a new transcendent manual?"
Old Cohen, you truly are… perceptive.
"Yes," Gune nodded. "I'm seeking a mid-tier, or even high-tier, manual focused on spiritual cultivation."
Although Gune possessed exceptional skills as an apothecary, it was merely a secondary pursuit. His true calling was that of a Spellcaster, a Blood Curse Caster with potent combat abilities and a high star ranking. Having acquired his transcendent profession, he was in a period of rapid growth. What he needed most now was undoubtedly a manual for spiritual development. He had been considering asking Old Cohen for a few days now. Today, with his expert-level apothecary skills confirmed and the threat of enemies looming, he felt both justified and compelled to speak. For a Spellcaster, the strength of one's spirit was paramount.
The incomplete Ring Bombardment spell offered some soul-forging benefits, but it paled in comparison to a dedicated spiritual cultivation manual. It was only due to the System's passive training that his spiritual power had grown so rapidly. Once he obtained a powerful spiritual cultivation manual and integrated it with the System, his spiritual growth would skyrocket.
"A soul-related transcendent manual, and a mid-tier or even high-tier one at that…" Old Cohen frowned. Transcendent manuals were rare. Even spell and martial arts manuals, which were relatively more common, were typically only found at Transcendent Exchange Meetings or in the possession of seasoned Transcendent individuals. Soul-related manuals were far scarcer. Where could he find one for Gune on such short notice?
"A potent spiritual manual, you say?" Vya mused softly. She understood the rarity of such manuals; her own high-tier soul manual had cost her family a considerable fortune and numerous favors.
"I might have a solution," Vya said after a moment. "A few days ago, I learned at the Sugg Transcendent Association branch that they recently excavated and stored a collection of ancient Lanyemi language texts. These texts are sealed within receptacles imbued with substantial transcendent properties."
"Normally, these receptacles would be reported to the Transcendent Association and transported to the nearest Scholar Tower for thorough research and deciphering. However, a mysterious incident has occurred in Sugg Relic City recently, drawing many Transcendent individuals to the area."
A mysterious incident? Gune made a mental note of this information.
"Transporting the artifacts now would be risky, so the Lanyemi texts are currently being held at the Association branch," Vya continued. "Crucially, the president of the Sugg branch happens to be a distant uncle of mine. He has a good relationship with my father. If I intervene, he might grant you access to the texts. Of course, this is contingent on there actually being a soul cultivation manual among them. If not, then I'm afraid I can't be of much help."
"Thank you, Miss Vya," Gune said, rising to express his gratitude. Regardless of the outcome, he appreciated her willingness to help.
"It's nothing," Vya replied. "I should receive a reply within two or three days, and I'll inform you then."
"How is your progress with those spells?" Old Cohen's gravelly voice broke in.
"The two common spells are less practiced, but they've reached level two," Gune replied. "The Ring Bombardment, being a more potent beginner spell and the one I've focused on, is already at level three."
As Gune spoke, Old Cohen gazed intently at him, suppressing the surge of emotions within him. It's only been a few months, and he's made such astonishing progress. If I hadn't been with him day and night, I might believe he was possessed by the remnant soul of a powerful evil spirit, or even that he's a vessel for some divine offspring. Could that near-fatal illness truly have caused some sort of mutation within him?
Vya, too, couldn't help but steal another glance at Gune. As a gifted Contractor, she was surrounded by other prodigies. Even among them, Gune's spell level at his age was remarkable. Of course, if she knew that he had acquired these spells not in three to five years, but in mere months, her astonishment would be boundless.
In reality, Gune was concealing the true extent of his progress by two whole levels. His common spells were at level four, not two, and his beginner transcendent spell, Ring Bombardment, was at level five, not three.
(End of Chapter)