As Alaric activated the Codex of the Restoration School, the free-floating, vibrant life energy in the air rapidly converged on him.
Without realizing it, he fell into a state of meditative cultivation.
He only awoke from his deep meditation when the first rays of dawn touched the horizon.
Alaric had been cultivating for the entire night.
Yet, when he opened his eyes, he felt no fatigue. Instead, he was refreshed and full of vigor.
Boosted by his 'Level 7 Wood Element Affinity,' he had actually managed to achieve initiation in the Codex of the Restoration School in a single night.
His greatest surprise, however, was the discovery that he could finally cultivate without mana crystals.
Relying on his powerful Wood affinity, he could actively absorb the free-floating magical energy from the air.
He silently estimated the efficiency.
This method was about twenty to thirty percent as effective as using crystals.
The efficiency wasn't high, but it had the advantage of being sustainable and completely free.
In places rich with life energy, like a forest or ancient ruins, the efficiency would be even greater.
Furthermore, his efficiency when using crystals had more than doubled, and his utilization of the mana within them was much higher.
If only I'd had this kind of talent when I first came to this world... Alaric thought with a sigh. I'd probably be a Level 9 Apprentice by now. With a bit of luck, maybe even a Novice Mage.
On the path of magic, the gap between having talent and not was simply immense.
It wasn't just about cultivation speed; talent also dramatically affected a spell's power.
Now, any spell he cast related to life or nature would be at least twice as powerful as the same spell cast by a mage of the same rank with poor talent.
And this was only a Level 7 affinity.
If he could possess a Level 9 affinity, or even the legendary 'Perfect Elemental Affinity,' then even the most basic cantrip could become terrifyingly powerful in his hands.
It was said that geniuses who could dominate their peers possessed, at a minimum, a Level 7 or higher elemental affinity.
Without it, no amount of magical items could bridge the gap in talent—after all, the top geniuses wouldn't be lacking in equipment either.
At my current level... I should be considered quite gifted, at least in a place like the Sunfire Knights...
Alaric savored the thought for a moment before a grim reality hit him—he was out of crystals.
His winnings from killing Rob had all been spent on simulations. If he wanted to keep using the system, he needed to make money.
Two paths lay before him.
The first was to follow the previous simulation and head to the town of Millian.
That path was relatively safe and would lead him to Feren, who could provide a letter of recommendation to the Sunfire Knights. It was the stable choice.
The second was to return to the abandoned temple and try to eliminate the sealed demon.
If he succeeded, he would likely get a holy relic used to suppress the demon, which could sell for several hundred crystals.
Although the simulation showed he was injured by the demon's power, he hadn't died. With the seal still intact, he had a chance.
He considered it for a moment, then dismissed the idea.
Not worth it.
This world was too dangerous. Risking his life against a demon that was clearly stronger than him, all for a holy relic of unknown quality, was foolish. When there's a safe path to grow stronger, it's better to take it.
With his decision made, Alaric left without a backward glance.
Two days later, he arrived in Millian. The town wasn't large, but it was quite lively.
After circling the town, he bought a small house with a courtyard near the market for the price of two Lesser Mana Crystals.
This was his first time spending mana crystals, and it felt surprisingly good.
Once the previous owner left, he took the vial of Potent Mana Potion from his dimensional pouch. In his simulations, this potion was his ticket to Level 8. Now, however, he hesitated.
He could drink it and break through, no question.
But if he sold it, he could likely gather enough points for another simulation. Based on his experience, investing the same resources into the system would likely yield a greater return in the end.
With that thought, Alaric put the potion away and walked out towards the market.
Before long, he spotted a shop called "The Verdant Phial." An idea sparked, and he walked inside.
Alaric was now a Level 7 Apprentice with a Level 7 Wood Element Affinity.
Even in plain clothes, the confident aura that came from true power was something no ordinary person could possess.
The shop clerk didn't dare to be neglectful, hurrying over with a broad smile.
Alaric got straight to the point, taking out the potion. "Do you purchase magic potions here?"
"Of course," the clerk smiled. "For a popular potion like this one, we typically buy at eighty percent of the market price."
Alaric handed him the vial. "Take a look at this. How many crystals can you offer?"
The clerk opened the cap, took a sniff, and savored the aroma for a moment. "This is a Potent Mana Potion, twelve doses, of medium quality."
"I can offer you four Lesser Crystals per dose. For the whole vial, how about a round fifty Lesser Crystals?"
Alaric was curious. "Can you make that decision yourself? Don't you need the shopkeeper to inspect it?"
The clerk laughed. "If it were anyone else selling a potion, we would naturally have to inspect it thoroughly.
But you, sir, have an extraordinary aura. One look and it's clear you're no commoner.
Why would someone like you try to trick us over a few dozen crystals? However, if you'd like to meet the shopkeeper, I can certainly call him out."
Alaric's expression turned a bit strange at this.
Back in Baker Town, he used to take herb-gathering quests from the local apothecary and knew the clerks well.
The shopkeeper there would personally use several detection spells on anything he bought, checking it over and over for fakes.
He didn't just distrust the sellers; he didn't trust his own staff.
If an employee dared to make a private deal, a light punishment would be a vicious beating.
A severe one meant being dumped in the wilderness as a corpse.