**Chapter 4: Hidden Quest Triggered – The Old Magician's Invitation**
Nolan Village's magic hut, where Su Yu now stood, existed within its own pocket dimension, separate from the bustling chaos of the novice village. As he pushed open the oak door, a wave of calm washed over him, in contrast to the world outside. Inside, only one figure stirred—a grizzled old magician, hunched over a bubbling cauldron of green liquid.
Without hesitation, Su Yu approached the table and tapped lightly, breaking the silence. "I need mana potions."
The old magician glanced up briefly, then returned to his work with a dismissive wave. "Potions here don't come cheap, boy. My lowest-tier ones start at 5 psionic coins each. Can you even afford that?" he scoffed, not hiding his disdain. "You're better off sticking to monster cleaning. Don't overreach."
Su Yu remained calm, used to this haughty attitude from NPCs. He'd been through this scenario before in his past life. Without saying a word, he materialized the coins from his inventory, letting them spill across the table in a crystalline cascade.
The magician froze mid-stir, eyes widening as thousands of psionic coins shimmered before him.
"What... what is this?" he muttered, unable to hide his astonishment. For a brief moment, he stared blankly at the money. It was a fortune, more than he could easily gather himself. In an instant, his demeanor shifted from arrogance to servile enthusiasm.
"Ah, ahem, my mistake, good sir! I didn't realize! Please, what can I offer you? You'll find no better stock than mine anywhere in the village!" He shuffled eagerly to Su Yu's side, rubbing his hands together.
Su Yu smirked at the swift change in tone but let it slide. After all, he had bigger things to focus on. He quickly scanned the magician's exchange list and began selecting items.
"300 bottles of [Primary Mana Recovery Potion], 100 bottles of [Primary Wisdom Potion], 300 [Fireball] scrolls, and 100 [Frostbolt] scrolls," Su Yu rattled off.
He packed his backpack full of essentials, his inventory filling up quickly with all the potions and scrolls he'd purchased. The whole haul cost him a total of 30,000 psionic coins—enough to bankrupt every player in the novice village combined.
Satisfied, Su Yu turned to leave, but before he could reach the door, the old magician called after him, "Wait, young wizard!"
Su Yu paused. "What is it?"
The old magician hurried forward, his voice dripping with newfound reverence. "I couldn't help but notice... you have an exceptional aura, a rare gift for magic. Tell me, would you consider joining the 'Scholar's Temple'? It's one of the most prestigious magical orders on the continent! We don't just accept anyone, you know!"
A system notification popped up:
**Ding! Hidden quest triggered: [Join the Scholar's Temple]**
- **Quest Objective:** Accept the invitation from the magician Pism and join the Scholar's Temple.
- **Reward:** [Scholar's Temple Invitation Letter] x1, Experience Points x200.
Su Yu thought back to his past life. The Scholar's Temple was indeed a legitimate faction, but far from the best. It was a third-rate force on the continent, paling in comparison to others like the Silverpine Spire and the Elemental Dome. In his last life, he'd heard players had to grind endless quests just to be considered for membership.
A sly smile crept across Su Yu's face. "The Scholar's Temple? Surely, you're joking. It's nothing compared to the Silverpine Spire or the Elemental Dome." He waved off the quest and turned to leave.
The old magician's eyes widened in shock. *How does he know about those first-rate powers?*
Before Su Yu could leave, the magician grabbed his arm desperately. "Wait! Please, reconsider. I can offer you something special—something I've kept secret for many years."
Another notification popped up:
**Ding! Quest update: Hidden rare quest [Join the Scholar's Temple (Modified)] triggered.**
- **New Quest Objective:** Hand over a [Silver Snake Gallbladder], dropped by the Level 5 boss [Silver Snake Leader].
- **Reward:** [Scholar's Temple Invitation Letter] x1, Skill Scroll [Chain Lightning (Excellent)] x1, Experience Points x500.
Su Yu raised an eyebrow. The reward this time was different—a [Chain Lightning] skill scroll. He remembered from his previous life that this was a highly coveted group attack skill, something few players could acquire during the early stages of the game.
In fact, it had taken players a grueling 30-quest chain to unlock this skill in his past life. Yet now, all he needed to do was defeat a level 5 boss and bring back a simple gallbladder?
Su Yu grinned. "Fine. I'll take on your quest," he said, turning back toward the door. "Expect my return soon."
The magician, sensing that he'd finally struck a deal, heaved a sigh of relief. "Good luck! I'll be waiting for your triumphant return."
Su Yu left the magic hut feeling pleased with his choice. While the Scholar's Temple was indeed a lesser faction, it was a convenient stepping stone for now. Besides, with the [Chain Lightning] skill in hand, he'd gain a significant advantage over other players in the novice stage.
For Su Yu, this was just the beginning.