Wizard: I Can Refine Everything

When Ali had finished changing her clothes, half an hour had already passed.

Looking at the youthful and cute girl in front of him, Richard couldn't help but sigh that the best cosmetic for women was youth.

When they arrived at the mission hall, Richard noticed that a fat man named Loken seemed to have already found a team.

"It seems common for low-level apprentices to form teams, but aren't these people worried about betraying each other?" Richard thought to himself.

Although the Black Stone Mountain Range was within the Academy's radius, there were no Academy Inspectors inside, and the apprentices were no longer restricted by school regulations.

Moreover, every apprentice who had successfully entered the Academy had blood on their hands. In the wilderness, if his companions weren't well-known to him, Richard wouldn't dare to sleep peacefully.

Richard and Ali walked up to the counter to accept a mission, and after confirming their team-up, the clerk briskly assigned them the mission.

"Let's go, pack up, tonight we'll take the flying airship."

On their way, Richard felt that Ali kept glancing at him, but whenever he looked back at her, she quickly averted her gaze.

"Is there something on my face?" Richard asked.

"Um... no."

"Then why do you keep looking at me?"

"Who's looking at you, don't flatter yourself. I was... I was looking at the street lights."

Richard shook his head, unable to understand the girl's thoughts.

Next time, he would record her with a Recording Crystal and see if she still denied it.

Back at the dorm, besides packing clothes, Richard also armed himself thoroughly. He carried a great sword on his back, wore an arm bracelet, an ice cone ring on his finger, a magic dagger at his waist, and finally picked up the fireball magic wand. Richard's gear was now complete.

After packing, Richard and Ali headed to the airship field located outside the Academy.

There were many apprentices at the airship field, and Richard, with his sharp eyes, saw the team joined by the fat man Loken.

Boarding a Zeppelin-type magic airship, Richard was exempted from the airship ticket after showing the mission proof, earning envious glances from the surrounding apprentices.

The price of an airship ticket was not cheap, starting at one magic stone and going up to five or six for farther places.

Ali looked at the ticket price on the airship, "Richard, how did you know that taking academy missions could get us free tickets?"

If they really had to pay for the tickets, the two of them would need four magic stones to go to the Black Stone Mountain Range, which would cost more than the reward itself.

And the airship ticket seller didn't give any hints about this rule.

"Hehe, secret."

This passenger airship was different from the recruitment airships; instead of individual compartments, it had rows of wooden seats.

Richard and Ali's seats were by the window. Sitting down, Ali, who was accustomed to sleeping, yawned and leaned against Richard, closing her eyes.

Looking at Ali, who fell asleep instantly, Richard helplessly took a piece of clothing from their luggage and draped it over her.

The moonlight outside the window was bright and when it shone through the window onto Ali's face, it seemed to veil her face with a layer of gauze.

"Sleeping like this is such a waste. The efficiency… doesn't feel as good as meditation."

…

The flying airship was fast, and they reached the distant Black Stone Mountain Range in half a night.

When the morning sun shone into the airship, Richard moved his shoulders and woke Ali up.

"Wake up, we're here."

"Hm? So soon?"

Ali yawned and stretched languidly, then followed Richard off the airship.

The airship docked near a small town inhabited by quite a few ordinary humans. Loken's team also disembarked with Richard, but they seemed very familiar with the Black Stone Mountain Range and headed straight for it.

As soon as they entered the small town, several people immediately approached Richard and Ali.

"Wizard sir, do you need a guide? I am very familiar with the Black Stone Mountain Range."

"Wizard sir, I know the Black Stone Mountain Range the best, just a quarter of a magic stone, and I guarantee your mission will be completed quickly and smoothly."

"Master Wizard, don't listen to them, I..."

Seeing the guides crowded together, Richard coughed.

"Quiet down, everyone. We're here to survey the survival status of the White Crystal Deer, as well as to hunt a Magic Beast known as the Black Striped Water Python. Which of you are familiar with these two creatures?"

Richard's words made the guides fall silent.

They were indifferent to the White Crystal Deer, but very few among them had ever seen the Black Striped Water Python.

"Master Wizard, I'm familiar with the White Crystal Deer, but I've only seen the Black Striped Water Python once in the past six months, and I don't know if it's still around that area."

An old guide with a head of white hair but full of energy stood out among the guides, and none of the others dared to steal his business.

Helplessly, the assignments under a wizard were lucrative but risky, and if they felt they were being fooled, even the City Lord couldn't protect them.

"Alright, it's you then. How many Magic Stones?"

"Half a Magic Stone is enough, Master Wizard."

"What's your name?"

"You can just call me Old John, Master Wizard."

The transaction completed, Old John didn't waste any time and immediately led the two towards Black Stone Mountain Range.

In the morning, the Black Stone Mountain Range was covered in mist, and from afar it appeared as if a dark beast lurked within the white fog.

Old John led the two along a mountain path deep into the Black Stone Mountain Range. Along the way, various uniquely shaped plants and insects kept Richard and his companion from turning away.

"Master Wizard, is this your first visit to Black Stone Mountain Range?"

Richard, who had just finished collecting some plants, turned and looked towards Old John.

"Indeed it is."

"Ha ha, I could tell you two were first-timers from the way you act," laughed Old John, reaching into the nearby brush and pulling out a mushroom.

"Master Wizard, never mind those little toys, look at this mushroom Old John has."

Richard took the mushroom and with a probe of his spiritual power, discovered that it actually contained magic.

"What is this!" Richard asked in surprise.

Old John shook his head, "I don't know what it is either, just that I often see other wizards picking this when they come to the mountain."

Richard, sensing the hint, carefully pocketed the mushroom and took out a Magic Stone from his belt pocket, which still had one-fifth of its magic power left.

"Later, take us to see other things that wizards often pick."

Old John with a beaming smile accepted the Magic Stone, "Alright, Old John guarantees you'll be satisfied, sir."

Black Stone Mountain Range was vast, stretching over thousands of kilometers, even extending beyond the Academy's bounds.

As the moon climbed into the sky, after walking in the mountain for a day, Richard and his party started a campfire in the forest. Richard and Ali sat quietly in front of the campfire, watching Old John show off his cooking skills.

Having been a guide for decades, Old John mastered his duties, noting that Richard and his companion were first-timers at Black Stone Mountain Range and were unprepared. Along the way, he began preparing game meat for dinner.

As Old John smoothed a layer of secret spices over the golden-brown skin of the mountain chicken, a thick fragrance burst forth as the greasy skin sizzled.

"It smells so good." Ali sniffed, eagerly watching the roasting chicken.

At that moment, Richard felt a bit greedy too; although he had prepared dry rations, who would prefer them over delicious roast meat?

Just as the two were indulging their appetites, sudden noises echoed from the woods.

The keen-eared Old John looked alertly towards the woods, suddenly thrusting the barbecue into the ground.

"Both of you, someone is approaching and we may need to fight. Old John won't hold you back."

With that, Old John's figure vanished into the woods in an instant.

And not long after he disappeared, rustling sounds came from the forest in front of Richard.

A figure, covered in blood, emerged from the woods.