Chapter 32: The Eye of the Storm

A week-long wilderness practice course.

Unnoticed, it had already flown by at breakneck speed.

Sug Black Iron Mine.

Woo~ Woo~

Accompanied by the roar of the transcendent steam train, the group, having successfully completed the week-long wilderness practice course, embarked on their journey back to Sug Ruins City.

Inside the slightly swaying train carriage.

Ai Li, Paul, Yulai, and others were enthusiastically exchanging insights from the wilderness practice course with fellow passengers in the same carriage.

Gunie, however, wrapped his coat around himself, leaned against the wooden wall, and rested with his eyes half-closed.

After leaving Howling Canyon, the rest of the journey was uneventful, albeit with a few scares.

Though there were minor incidents.

For instance, they were attacked by a troop of monkeys hurling hard fruits.

Another time, they were stalked by wolves at night, but the group used the terrain to their advantage and drove them off.

And then, in the ruins, poor Paul was shot in the knee by an arrow from a skeleton archer.

But overall, it was quite safe.

Gunie, dressed in a black coat, was resting with his eyes closed.

Though he appeared to be resting, Gunie was actually tallying his approximate gains in his mind.

The idle grinding over the past few days.

Had brought about a rapid surge in Gunie's strength.

His mental power, source energy, physical body, and even his blood had all improved considerably.

At this rate of growth, it wouldn't be a problem for Gunie to advance to a first-rank Blood Curse Master in about half a month.

Having just become a transcendent, it was normal for the first month or two to see rapid improvement, thanks to the nourishment of transcendent traits on the ordinary body.

This was quite normal.

Apart from his own growth.

Gunie had also made multiple touch-magic contacts with his three transcendent equipment pieces, and had now worn them all.

Generally speaking, a magic-copper-grade transcendent equipment required at least six to seven touch-magic contacts before it could be worn.

Otherwise, forced wearing would cause incompatibility between the equipment and the wearer, wearing down the wearer's transcendent traits.

But Gunie discovered that after only two touch-magic acceptances with the transcendent equipment.

He was able to wear the magic-copper-grade transcendent equipment, the "Magic Shield Necklace."

As for the two mithril-grade pieces, which normally required half a month of touch-magic acceptance before they could be worn.

After five days of touch-magic contact, Gunie could already wear them.

For this peculiar situation of his.

The only explanation was.

"Transcendent talent!"

The powerful curse that had effortlessly cursed Gunie to death, and the curse lurking deep within his blood from the mysterious presence gazing from the abyss.

Had both been transformed by Gunie's reincarnation into his own talents, granting him an exceptionally outstanding transcendent talent in terms of compatibility with transcendent equipment.

At this moment, Gunie was wearing the mithril-grade short boots on his feet.

These silver-gray mithril short boots, with a classical British men's short boot style, exuded a vintage flair.

Worn on the feet, they had a certain style without being too conspicuous.

As for the mithril-grade staff, about the size of the one in the Harry Potter movies.

It had already been placed by Gunie inside his coat.

Transcendent equipment needed to be constantly nurtured with source energy and contacted through touch-magic to better adapt and unleash their transcendent traits.

As the romantics would say: "Treat transcendent equipment like a lover; care for it diligently, and it will unleash astonishing transcendent power."

And indeed, that was the case.

Without deeply experiencing and nurturing transcendent equipment.

Even a transcendent master would struggle to unleash the power of magic-copper-grade equipment.

Conversely, even a low-rank transcendent, if they had deeply nurtured mithril-grade equipment, could unleash its formidable power.

Gunie's transcendent talent was now quite excellent; with continued nurturing, both the magic-copper and mithril equipment would display considerable power.

Compared to all these pieces of transcendent equipment.

What surfaced most frequently in Gunie's mind.

Was the "Coin of Fate," hailed as a masterpiece.

During the wilderness practice course, Gunie had no private space, so he had suppressed the matter.

But today, he would return to his small secret room.

And thus, the exploration of the Coin of Fate would begin.

Moreover, Gunie possessed the "Reincarnation" trump card for risky endeavors.

And the number of reincarnations had recovered to six.

Thus.

Gunie naturally feared no negative traits from the Coin of Fate.

Even if the Coin of Fate carried the dreaded "transcendent meme."

"Coin of Fate."

Gunie murmured softly.

…

Woo~

Sug Ruins City suburbs.

The transcendent steam train from the Sug Mine in the north, after stopping at Sug Ruins City station for a few minutes, roared again and gradually faded away.

155 Old Stone Street, third floor.

A wall of runes constructed by ritual spells sealed off the floor, the four walls, and the ceiling.

In effect, the entire living room on the third floor was completely isolated from the outside world.

His gaze sweeping over the transcendent steam train in the suburbs, Old Cohen pulled down the venetian blinds.

Sitting down on the sofa, Old Cohen took a light sip of the freshly brewed cheap brand "Wild Leaf Coffee" in front of him.

Then he looked up at the middle-aged nobleman sitting across from him, dressed in a white aristocratic suit, with a pocket watch, and his cane and top hat placed aside—Baron Tram.

"Would you like a cup?"

For a baron of the empire, who held a title, a fief, and a private small mine.

Offering him such coffee could almost be seen as another form of "insult."

But at this moment, Baron Tram did not put on the aristocratic airs and posture he would with other nobles.

He picked up the ceramic coffee pot himself and poured himself a full cup.

The freshly boiled, scalding hot coffee, Baron Tram still downed in one gulp.

"Not bad taste," Baron Tram said with a light smile.

"What brings you here today?" Old Cohen spoke first.

"Can't I come chat with an old friend?" Baron Tram leaned back slightly and smiled.

"If you really wanted to chat with me, you should have had your servant take me to the 'Autumn Sunlight Café,' not to my home," Old Cohen said unhurriedly.

"Hahaha..." Baron Tram laughed heartily.

"Of course, I came here for a reason."

Old Cohen held his coffee, sipping it slowly, waiting for Baron Tram to continue.

"That fellow Nigel, he'll be arriving in Sug Ruins City in a few days."

Old Cohen's hand holding the coffee paused, then he drained the last bit of coffee in the cup.

"Did you tell him?" Old Cohen raised an eyebrow slightly.

Baron Tram shrugged.

"When you started supplying those high-grade potions in bulk, it was already impossible to hide."

"You know, that fellow Nigel is not someone you can judge by common sense. Plus, he seems to have made a breakthrough at the sixth transcendent rank, making him even more untouchable."

"So I just came clean."

"Surely you're not reluctant to let go of that prodigy alchemist, are you?"

Baron Tram smiled.

Then, stroking his chin, Baron Tram said to himself.

"To have such efficiency and success rate in refining high-grade potions."

"His alchemy skill must be at least at the expert level, perhaps even touching the level of a master alchemist."

"Losing such a prodigy alchemist would be a tremendous loss."

"It's not that I'm reluctant to let Gunie go, but that he's still a child, not yet ready," Old Cohen said softly.

"So, the purpose of my visit is to urge you, if possible, to have Gunie receive the transcendent profession inheritance as soon as possible."

"Though Gunie is young, his transcendent talent is good, so it should be fine."

"Now that the turmoil hasn't yet arrived, Gunie still has some time to gain the ability to protect himself."

"If we wait until those fellows stir up the turmoil, it might be too late."

"I know. I've been considering this matter. I just didn't expect Nigel to come," Old Cohen shook his head.

"I'll expedite the acquisition of his transcendent profession."

"By the way!"

Old Cohen suddenly thought of something.

"Is Nigel coming to Sug Ruins City for this mysterious incident, or for Gunie?"

"Both."

Baron Tram said leisurely.

"And that mysterious incident involves a scope and depth more terrifying than we imagine."

"Old Cohen, this time, Sug Ruins City is at the very center of the storm."