Dharma Ring: Selling dung beetles at the border

Apprentices at the Magic Academy. Blazer said, Isn't the academy closed? Why are there still people outside? Has it reopened?

Blaze finished his guess with a serious expression.

Rhea Lucalia Magic Academy is not just an academy, at least not in this day and age.

When people in the junction area look up at the stars, the eye-catching giants they always see are the golden trees that cover the sky and the sun, and the full moon.

The Queen of the Full Moon, Lenora, impressed the geniuses of both the academy and the royal family, pushing the power of the Calian royal family to its peak, making the royal family a rare force that was not completely eliminated by the golden tree's crusade.

The Academy remained closed during the Shattered War to show its neutrality and did not participate in the contest for the throne of Elden.

If the academy really opens its doors, then another force that cannot be ignored will appear.

Blaze thought a lot. Because of his identity, he knows more inside stories and is more worried about the future.

Blaze thought worriedly for a long time, and countless thoughts went through his mind. The bald apprentice finally answered:

No, I went out when it was closed, but I couldn't go back.

Wuming laughed loudly:

I often forget to bring my keys when I go out. I end up having to dismantle the door and smash it open.

The bald apprentice was dejected:

That's a seal of a giant magic circle. It's meant to maintain aloofness and superiority in the conquests of the demigods. It's powerful enough for the academy to be immune to itself - I can't break it.

Wuming said: When you were closed, you didn't leave any means of communicating with the outside world? Doesn't that mean you have no way of knowing when the war is over?

The bald apprentice muttered:

Maybe there are other channels, but a low-level magician like me has no way of knowing. I don't even deserve the pyroxene key, so I can't return to the academy.

While he was rumbling, the bald apprentice's stomach suddenly rumbled, loud and clear, echoing in the empty lake area.

The bald apprentice's face immediately turned red as if he had been slapped loudly, and he looked at the expressions of the other three in embarrassment.

Wuming also looked at Tuifu and Blaze, and said with disgust:

You shaved it too hard, did you really leave no flesh at all?

I didn't eat them all. Blaze looked at Tuifu.

It's not good to waste food. Tuifu raised his hand.

Sorry, there's no meat left. Wuming said. He took out a small crab from the package - it was caught on the road before.

Wuming grilled a crab and handed it to the bald head.

The bald apprentice looked at the red-hot crab and almost shed tears:

I don't want to trouble you, thank you...

Don't worry, it's no trouble. Wuming smiled and looked at Bald Eater, You can pay me.

The bald apprentice was holding a crab leg in his mouth and was stunned:

I...I don't have any runes in me.

Look at what you said, do I look like a mercenary person? Wuming puffed up his chest.

It doesn't look like it, Blazer said, but you are indeed a businessman.

The merchant is going to abandon you two losers now. Wuming rolled his eyes. He turned to the bald head and said, You live here and are still a magic apprentice. You should be quite smart.

The bald head is a little shy:

In the academy they just call me a loser.

Then do you know the way? Wuming asked, We want to go to Kaliya Walled City, but we don't know the way. If you can be a tour guide, we are willing to pay you.

I know the way. The bald head nodded, I just heard it's very dangerous there...

Don't worry about fighting. Just lead the way. If there is real danger, run away by yourself and don't worry about us. Wuming said.

Tops glanced at the crab in his hand and nodded in agreement.

The nameless party added another member, a bald man riding a spirit horse, leading a half-orc, a half-naked man, and an armored man, all the way north.

Tops was weak, so Tuifu called out his spirit horse to take him with him, so that he could see far and show the way.

You are so generous. You didn't negotiate the price. Wuming chatted with the bald man on the horse.

Anyway, a waste like me can't do much. Bald Head said, I wish I could help you.

Wuming threw something to Bald Head, who caught it in a hurry.

This is a rune. To quantify it, it is about a thousand runes.

This is an advance payment. I will thank you properly when it arrives. Wuming said.

It's too much... The bald man held the rune in his hands, fearing that it would be crushed.

That's too much? If it's too much, you can give it back to me. Wuming was rude and immediately showed a stingy expression, How much do you want?

Ten runes? Baldhead asked.

Now even Wuming's shameless person felt a little embarrassed.

That's too little. Wuming said, Forget it, just take this thousand as all the reward.

Baldhead wanted to shirk it, but Wuming didn't give him a chance and introduced his companions.

Blaize, Tuifu, Wuming... Wuming said, I don't know your name yet.

Tops, my name is Tops. Bald Head said.

It's really you. Wuming was a little surprised.

Have you heard of me? Topps was surprised.

Se Lian mentioned you before. Wuming said.

You actually know Se Lian. Tops' eyes widened, That's the star of the academy - even though he was expelled.

Wuming looked at Topps.

Ser Lian had a good opinion of Topps and believed that he could be recognized by the academy and receive a glowing stone shield.

But the person in front of him obviously had a bald head and was not wearing a hood, and his temperament obviously didn't match.

Are you really Tops? Wuming said, Se Lian said you could get the pyroxene stone cover. Why are you so miserable?

Se Lian said that about me? Topps was even more surprised, even a little frightened. Then maybe you made a mistake. There is another person named Topps in the academy. She and I have nothing to do with each other.

She said it was during a debate when you were the audience and you said something funny. Wuming said.

Tops was silent for a moment, his memory returning to the past.

That was indeed him, and that was the beginning of his becoming a laughing stock.

Ser Lian indeed remembered correctly. The only time he and Ser Lian interacted was at that debate.

At that time, he became the laughing stock of everyone, and the apprentices who had not yet obtained the stone shield surrounded him, with ridicule and smiles on every face.

The sound of ridicule overwhelmed his soul, making him just want to turn into a soul-calling snail and shrink into his own shell.

But the laughter suddenly died down, as if someone was strangled by something strong, and the venue fell into silence.

One person stood out from the crowd, ignoring everyone's gazes and whispers, and asked him seriously about his thoughts.

Serian's talent was already evident at that time. She could ignore other people's opinions and focus on her own thinking. And just the fact that she stood out from the crowd overwhelmed all the laughter.

Tops's newly overwhelmed mind had not yet recovered, and he could not organize his words well. He did not give an answer that satisfied Se Lian. Se Lian did not ask any more questions and turned around and left in thought.

When Se Lian came in, everyone's laughter was cut off, and they stopped laughing at Tops, and he was able to escape from this disaster.

Because of this, Topps has always had a good impression of Serian. Even when he later heard that the academy had expelled her from the academy and accused her of torturing and killing a large number of magicians, he did not want to believe it.

Topps came back from his thoughts and murmured:

She is indeed a talented woman who has never been born in the world. She can remember such little things.

So it's really you. Wuming said, Se Lian thinks you are better than those who laugh at you.

Tops suddenly burst into tears and sat on the horse, silent for a long time.

The three of them walked in silence for a while, then Wuming spoke:

Tops, do you want to be a teacher at my place?

Tops subconsciously said: I can't.

He whispered:

I only know some inferior spells.

Since Se Lian thinks you are good, then you should have great potential. Wuming said, Just right, a low-level spell with a low-level package. Ser Lian will spend a lot of money to teach it, and you will teach it to a small one.

Wuming shook his finger: In my opinion, there is no distinction between high and low magic, more depends on the applicable environment. As long as you find the right occasion, there will always be a time when you can shine. Your salary will be less than Se Lian, but if you If you want to conduct research, I will also try to fund you.

That's too much trouble for you, Topps said.

It's not troublesome. I'm a businessman, so I can naturally distinguish between input and output. As long as you can help me earn your share of wages, I won't lose money. Wuming said, My store will be very popular in the future, and a lot of Ordinary faders will need to learn some simple spells, which are just right for you. How about you, do you want to help? It's a win-win situation.

Topps touched his bald head:

Thank you, but I'm sorry, I can't go.

Not satisfied with the salary? Wuming asked.

Topps shook his head:

I still want to go back to the academy and continue my research.

Can we only do research in the academy? Wuming said, I don't think Se Lian misses the academy very much.

Se Lian is a stargazer, and her main research object is the stars. And with her talent, I am afraid she has already digested the knowledge of the academy. She is pursuing the source of magic and does not need the academy. Tops said,

But my research requires information from the academy's library, especially the research results of Wang Vladaga when he was studying in the academy as Lenara's husband.

Tops' cowardice is tinged with determination:

Although I am useless, I want to complete my research.

Wuming looked up at Tops, the moonlight shining on his bald head, reflecting another full moon.

Wuming looked at Topps with respect:

Well said, he looks like a magician, but I have just one problem.

What?

Can you enter the academy now?

Tops wilts: I can't get in.

That's fine. Wuming said, Just pass the time. You are very free anyway, just like Se Lian.

Maybe I have a chance to return to the academy. Tops insisted, For example, if there is a kind-hearted faded person who is willing to help me get the pyroxene key or something...

Topps spoke softer and quieter, and he himself felt that this was unreliable.

My store specializes in serving faded people. Wuming said, You can come into contact with more faded people in my store, and the probability of meeting a kind-hearted faded person is higher.

Wuming's reasons were impeccable, and Topps really couldn't find a reason to refuse.

Okay. Tops said, Thank you for your kindness. I don't need a salary, but if I have the opportunity to return to the academy in the future, I hope you will allow me to leave.

So persistent. Wuming muttered, Okay, I don't like forced buying and selling either - what exactly are you studying? So persistent.

It's just some defensive magic. I don't like fighting. This field is most suitable for me. Tops said, My colleagues always say that I am reinventing the wheel. They say that the Golden Tree and Kallia have related technologies, and there is no research. meaning. But I always feel that there are still some mysteries in this field that have not been peeled away, and I want to figure it out.”

Talking about his research field, Topps rubbed his bald head and fell into deep thought on the horse.

Wuming didn't bother him anymore. With Topps' guidance, they wouldn't deviate too much from the route.

A week later, the four arrived at the Kaliya Walled City.

Entering the city, Blaze finally showed his master's familiarity and stopped getting lost. He led the three of them through the Kaliya Walled City through a secret passage and came to a magician's tower.

Topps was left outside, and Blaze went up with Nameless and Tuifu.

When going up, stepping on the stairs, Wuming heard a burst of hurried and messy footsteps.

When he reached the top of the tower, he once again saw the mysterious doll girl he had seen in the Ailei Church that day, with two faces and four hands.

At this time, this mysterious doll girl was sitting high on a chair, with two hands on her knees and two hands on the armrests, looking down at Wuming and others.

When Taifu saw the owner who gave him the summoning bell, he immediately greeted him warmly:

Is it you who gave me this gift? Thank you!

The doll girl ignored her husband. She looked at Blaze with a serious face:

Blaze, why did you bring people here? You brought so many people.

Blaze opened his mouth, as if he was frightened by the majestic demeanor of the puppet, but no words came out.

I would like to thank you and learn magic from you. Wuming explained, I would also like to ask you if you know the origin of the spirit horse.

The puppet looked at Wuming, and the face of the soul body frowned:

Why are you here?

I'm here to trade, hoping to reach some cooperation.

The puppet said: I am not a teacher or a businessman.

You are indeed not a teacher, you are a demigod. Wuming said.

The doll's face became more and more gloomy, and she turned to look at Blaze.

It's not my fault. I didn't reveal any information. Blaze quickly lay down on the ground, exposing his belly.

Wuming glanced sideways: You usually play quite a lot in private.

The doll spread a hand to cover its face:

Okay Blaze, the ground is cold.

She looked at Wuming and sighed helplessly:

It's my fault. I appeared in front of you rashly and you discovered my identity.

Wuming bowed to the doll:

Dear demigod, what should I call you?

The puppet was silent for a moment, and the eyes of that half of the soul were wandering:

Rena.

Miss Reina. Wuming said politely, Please forgive my visit. My name is Wuming and I want to negotiate a deal with you.

The puppet demigod who called herself Reina stared at Wuming calmly: What are the conditions? You said you want to cooperate.

Wuming immediately fell to the ground, knelt down and slid to Reina's side, bursting into tears:

Help, Greg wants to take revenge on me...