As the sky turned to dusk, Elric finally returned to the inn.
He laid out everything he had bought that day on the table: a small shovel, a pair of shears, a backpack, and a set of new clothes.
After finishing dinner, he went upstairs, still thinking about the fat man and the stone disk.
Sitting by the bed, Elric couldn't help but ask,
"Mommy, what's the deal with that fat man today? Why did he give me this disk?"
Calista appeared from the jade pendant and began to explain.
"I can't fully figure out that fat man, but I'm sure of one thing: this disk contains a blue-grade psychic skill."
Elric felt a surge of excitement and confusion.
He understood the difference between "hidden inscriptions" and "visible inscriptions," techniques often used in many professions.
Hidden inscriptions were hard to detect, while visible inscriptions were clear and obvious.
However, he had never imagined that the disk in his hands would secretly hold such a valuable psychic skill.
"How do I access it?" Elric asked eagerly, his eyes fixed on the disk.
"It's simple. Just inject your psychic energy into the disk, and the hidden text will appear," Calista instructed.
Taking a deep breath, Elric followed her guidance, placing his hand on the disk and slowly channeling his psychic energy into it.
Sure enough, lines of text emerged on the surface of the disk.
"Roaring Gale? Blue rarity. Master this, and you can shake mountains and stir oceans."
Elric's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't fathom that he had acquired such a valuable blue-grade psychic skill without spending a single coin.
"It's a decent skill, but if anyone gets close enough to engage you in hand-to-hand combat, you won't be able to use it," Calista remarked, unimpressed as she glanced at the text.
"Why not?"
"Because it requires controlled breathing and isn't something you can use instantly. If someone has a skill they can unleash instantly, you'll be in trouble."
It was clear Calista didn't think much of the skill.
"Still, it's better than nothing. Practice it well, though—right now, you couldn't even blow away a cat."
Calista shook her head with a hint of amusement.
Elric sat on the bed, hugging the disk, smiling foolishly for a while. His excitement soon lulled him into an unintentional sleep.
Calista watched him, lightly shaking her head, then gently covered him with the blanket he had kicked off, a tender smile on her lips.
The next day came quickly, and Elric rose early.
Today, he needed to gather herbs.
He put on the clothes he had specially bought for herb collecting.
With his backpack on, tools in hand, he set off once more.
Back in the Blackwood Forest, Elric felt more confident, having gained some experience.
Following Calista's guidance, he took a different path this time.
As they walked, Calista suddenly told him to stop.
"Do you see that tiger up ahead?"
Elric nodded.
"That tiger is an illusion. Its true form is that rose. Take a closer look and see how that rose differs from the others."
Following her direction, Elric carefully examined the surrounding rose bushes.
One rose stood out—larger and redder than the others, its vibrant hue sharply contrasting with the surrounding roses.
Its beauty emitted a strange, almost unnatural aura.
"That rose is called the Tiger Rose. Don't be fooled by its beautiful appearance. It's extremely dangerous."
"What should I do with it?" Elric asked in a hushed tone, his eyes fixed on the blooming rose.
"You can't handle this plant just yet," Calista replied firmly, immediately rejecting his idea.
"So, I should just leave it?" Elric was clearly reluctant to give up.
"I'll handle it. You stand back," Calista instructed.
As she finished speaking, Calista emerged from the jade pendant.
Her dark green robe billowed around her as she summoned a gust of wind.
The wind quickly swept through the area. The tiger illusion prepared to counterattack but was instantly shattered by the wind blades, vanishing into thin air.
At the same time, the dangerous Tiger Rose was cleanly sliced from its stem by the sharp wind, falling lightly among the rose bushes. Everything was over in an instant.
Elric stood frozen, wide-eyed.
He had never imagined that Calista's power was so immense that she could easily defeat a danger he couldn't even begin to confront.
"All done. You can collect the rose now," Calista said calmly, while Elric was still processing the awe-inspiring scene he had just witnessed.
Snapping out of his daze, Elric hurried to the Tiger Rose, carefully bending down and placing it into his backpack.
Calista returned to the pendant, once again guiding Elric on his journey.
Before long, they arrived at a large tree.
At first glance, there seemed to be nothing special about the tree, except for its fruits.
The fruits were gray and shone with a metallic luster.
These were Ironfruits, something Elric recognized. Calista had taught him about them in his dreams before.
The outer shell of the Ironfruit was incredibly tough, which made it highly valuable for secondary processing.
However, the flesh inside was nearly inedible, and very few people collected these fruits for their taste.
Elric set down his backpack and quickly climbed the tree, picking two Ironfruits.
He wanted to gather more, but they were too heavy—just carrying two was already difficult.
"That's enough for today. Sell one Ironfruit when we return, and keep the Tiger Rose and the other Ironfruit," Calista instructed.
Elric nodded.
After organizing everything, he returned to Blackstone City and headed straight to the herbal shop.
The shop was called Stonewood Herbal Store.
This time, he arrived earlier than his last visit, and he felt much more relaxed.
Elric pushed open the door and looked around, noticing that only the shopkeeper was present.
The shopkeeper smiled as he saw Elric enter.
"Hey there, kid, you're back again, huh?"
Elric smiled slightly and walked up to the counter, placing one of the Ironfruits on it.
The shopkeeper's eyes were immediately drawn to the fruit.
"A big Ironfruit like this is pretty rare. I didn't expect you'd be able to find such a thing."
"Fifteen silver coins. Will you take it?" Elric asked.
The shopkeeper frowned, thinking it over, clearly weighing the pros and cons.
He made a suggestion.
"I'll trade you some Red Miasma Powder for it. Interested?"
Elric wasn't too familiar with Red Miasma Powder and frowned in thought.
"Red Miasma Powder is very useful for you. It can strengthen the toughness of your skin," Calista chimed in.
Hearing Calista's advice, Elric agreed.
The shopkeeper quickly handed him a small package.
Elric returned to the inn and asked the attendant to bring him a large tub filled with hot water.
This time, he sprinkled the Red Miasma Powder into the water before stripping down and sitting inside.