Chapter 299
Chapter 299
Chapter 299
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 299 – Lan Qi Can’t Forget Loren
Inside the Endless Library, the roads stretched wide.
Beneath the vaulted ceiling that soared dozens of meters high, every step Lan Qi and Zestira took forward caused the surrounding lights to flicker on, as if pulling open the curtains to a grand stage.
On the towering bookshelves with their classical theater style stood countless magical tomes. Half-shrouded in dim light, ghostly pages occasionally floated through the air.
The floor was black marble inlaid with golden trim, reflecting faint light. At times, the ground itself revealed its true nature—an enormous magical crystal screen, capable of displaying shifting colors and guiding information.
The first space that ensured people wouldn’t get lost was the open reading hall. Beyond that, a crimson carpet stretched from the end of the hall straight to the reception desk of a meeting chamber.
The two walked forward without pause, until they stepped inside the chamber.
Above the reception desk hung a massive chandelier, glowing with a soft golden light that illuminated its polished surface.
“Do—you—require—assistance?”
Behind the desk, a doll-like artificial beauty with skin as pale as snow suddenly spoke.
Zestira flinched slightly; she had thought this automaton couldn’t talk.
“We’d like to exchange a treasury item,” Lan Qi said, smiling at Zestira to calm her, then addressing the automaton.
“Understood. Please—browse.”
As the chamber doors closed, the automaton activated a magical formation on the reception desk. Soon, rows of dark-colored text shimmered into view.
Following the instructions, Zestira removed her bracelet and placed it onto the sensing panel.
After a few seconds of reading, the display changed to show new information—
[Exchange Available: One Pink Sacred-grade magical item.]
Above White, Blue, and Purple grades, and second only to Orange Epic—the Pink Sacred grade.
“Please—refer—to—the—catalogue—and—make—your—selection.”
The automaton spoke again, its halting cadence enough to make Zestira feel her blood pressure rise.
Lan Qi, however, seemed unbothered. With steady composure, he thanked the automaton and began browsing the catalog.
Some were ancient demonic relics gathered by the Empire, others were master-crafted powerful magic cards, while still others were spoils confiscated from the Shadow World.
“Teacher, do you want to choose a magic artifact or a magic card?” Zestira asked after taking a deep breath.
Lan Qi paused at her words.
The promised reward wasn’t necessarily limited to cards—Pink Sacred-grade magic cards, artifacts, scrolls, or materials were all available options.
Artifacts couldn’t be soul bound or taken into the Shadow World, making them less portable and easier to lose, but they were versatile and didn’t take up card slots.
In the battle-heavy Northern Continent, artifacts and cards were equally valued. Only in the peaceful, Shadow World–oriented Southern Continent did cards completely outshine artifacts.
Scrolls could either be used once or turned into materials for making spell cards.
Other materials depended on the skill of the craftsman using them. Unless neither cards nor artifacts were worthwhile, no one would normally pick raw materials.
“If it’s within Pink Sacred grade, I’d still lean toward a magic card,” Lan Qi answered.
After all, he was from the Southern Continent.
If not restricted by type, he would search for a spell card above all else.
Though spell, summon, and equipment cards had no official hierarchy, in Lan Qi’s mind spell cards were the most noble.
Because high-quality spell cards were incredibly difficult to produce—only those who truly mastered a spell could create one. Epic-grade spell cards were nearly impossible to craft, existing only in the Shadow World.
A spell like the vampire’s blood authority, something one might never learn in a lifetime—if obtained through an Epic spell card, it could single-handedly reverse a battlefield.
Equipment and summon cards had their merits too. Equipment was low-cost, offered lasting attributes, but its functions were limited. Summons consumed tremendous mana and required focus to control, vanishing if destroyed.
So after filtering for the “Seal” category, Lan Qi’s eyes focused mainly on spell cards.
Summon and equipment cards could be considered, but Pink Sacred cards were hard to unbind, and with his few flexible slots, binding one was a serious commitment.
Yet sealing magic was rare. The treasury had only one Pink Sacred seal spell card at fifth tier:
[Night Ban Zone]
Type: Spell Card
Grade: Pink Sacred
Attribute: Dark/Seal
Tier: 5
Effect: Creates a barrier centered on the caster that blocks all vision. Costs high mana to cast and maintain. Units touching the barrier edge are briefly immobilized.
Note: “That was the last light you will ever see.”
Lan Qi glanced at it, then swiped it away.
The effect was familiar—similar to his [Glorious Virtue], except dark instead of light. Stronger on paper, perhaps, but not specialized against vampires.
The treasury had only two fifth-tier seal cards. At fourth tier, just one:
[Forbidden Curse Seal]
Type: Spell Card
Grade: Pink Sacred
Attribute: Curse/Seal
Tier: 4
Effect: With mutual consent, form a temporary familiar contract, turning the other party into your servant, granting them 1/8th of your own attributes.
Note: “Entrust your life to me—it will be fine.”
“This one seems weak,” Zestira remarked.
Supporters could only grant allies slight buffs; damage-dealers wouldn’t want a slot wasted on such a card.
“Not necessarily.” Lan Qi frowned slightly.
At its core, it was a curse card with sealing elements. In the right combinations—with spells that transfer familiars or empower them—it could be surprisingly useful.
But accepting it was dangerous. Turning into a familiar meant risking instant-death effects and further control.
“Still… it has value,” Lan Qi muttered, before swiping further down.
The forbidden feel of this card hinted at deeper principles—similar to those behind the [Great Poet]’s core material, The Poem of Compassion.
But he imagined the Great Poet sneering at him: “You traded for this trash? I could research it for you myself.” That would be embarrassing.
Finally, he reached the last sealing spell card:
[Sound Erasure Domain]
Type: Spell Card
Grade: Pink Sacred
Attribute: Barrier/Seal
Tier: 3
Effect: Cancels all sound within a chosen area. Larger ranges cost more mana, and maintaining drains heavily.
Note: “Those cold golden eyes—when he appeared, the world’s sound vanished.”
“Is there something special about this one?” Zestira asked, puzzled. Her teacher had skipped powerful attack and control spells, yet lingered on this interference card.
“This can suppress sound-based magic completely,” Lan Qi explained. “It can’t stop chanting or word-magic, but it blocks communication. And it perfectly counters [Beautiful Notes].”
Zestira fell silent.
She couldn’t quite understand why her teacher valued cards so differently—what seemed weak to her, he deemed strong; what seemed powerful, he dismissed.
After some thought, Lan Qi shifted filters to “Spirit,” then to “Light” and “Fire.” Still, no seventh-tier Pink Sacred cards appeared.
He briefly skimmed the Healing category, then closed it almost instantly, not even checking healing ratios.
Zestira was certain these categories aligned with her teacher’s affinities—suitable for his system, even potentially reverse-engineered someday.
Seal and Spirit were rare, so low supply was expected. Light and Fire were common; he was simply unlucky.
“…”
Lan Qi rested his chin in thought.
Then he switched the filter to “Wind.”
Zestira: “?”
At that moment, she had the strange feeling—someone, somewhere, was about to be very unlucky.