The Primordial Wizard

John quietly ignited his own blue flame, and said with bright eyes.

"why is that?"

Kleist asked a little puzzled.

John stared, pulled Kleist into the ear and said, "Why were we hunted down when we came out of the pharmacy? A gold coin is worth 100 acres of rough land, and even good land by the river costs 30 acres. Money Touching people, let's give Gail's remaining salary of 16 silver coins to his family first, as for the gold coin, we will gradually give them to them in other ways.

If we give Gail's salary to them, people in the village will think we are righteous, but if we give them a gold coin, it will be a blessing or a disaster! "

Kleist also woke up like a dream, and the scene of being chased and killed was right in front of him. The whole village only had 1,500 acres of rough fields and 30 to 70 acres of fertile fields. Three gold coins could buy almost one-tenth of the fields. , This is indeed a huge sum of money.

"It's true. Even in a relatively decent neighborhood like the third block of Hall City, one gold coin is enough to buy a two-bedroom apartment in a fourth-floor apartment. If it is a more remote neighborhood, you can buy three or four rooms. .”

Kleist couldn't help sighing, this is almost the income of the trackers for more than ten years without eating or drinking. Hall City is a big port, and the trackers generally also carry goods part-time. It can be said that all the hard work makes money. There are quite a few lines.

It's just that the locals in Hall City don't think much of this kind of work. They prefer to be government employees, or doctors, lawyers, and teachers in the city hall. This is considered the most decent job.

If you can read and write, you can also work as a clerk in a major company, or start a small business by yourself. In short, it is all labor-free work.

All kinds of service or physical labor such as moving bricks for construction, doing odd jobs, and servants are all foreigners.

As for sailors, generally they only need to be experienced, and it is too difficult to get into the industry. It is almost impossible for the two of them to have this kind of opportunity again.

Even if a tracker is frugal, it will take fifteen years to save up a gold coin. This kind of work is a standard youth job. A strong guy around twenty years old will not be able to do it until he is thirty-five and sick. up.

People over the age of 40 are not accepted here at all.

If you save enough, you can buy three or four houses in remote neighborhoods and rent them out for the elderly. If you spend all of them, you might freeze to death on the streets when you get old.

Having said so much, the overall income of trackers is considered medium in Hall City,

And the sailor is the standard upper-middle class.

Kleist said to John: "Anyway, it is right for us to leave our hometown. Even if we have ten acres of fertile land here, we can only earn three or four silver coins a year. Even if we have a hundred acres of fertile land, it is only three or four dollars. Trackers make money."

John nodded, shook his head again and said:

"It's still different. After all, Arita has something to eat, so he doesn't necessarily starve to death. The best way out for a tracker is to work hard to earn money. Buy three or four houses in the 789th block, one for self-occupation, and the others for retirement." .

But many people have no such foresight at all. They are busy and end up starving to death on the street. "

Kleist nodded empathetically. He had been doing nothing in the past. If he hadn't been lucky enough to pick up a ruby, he would probably be the same in the future.

John continued clearly: "Do you know why I chose to be a pharmacist apprentice?"

Kleist shook his head. He didn't know why John made such a choice. In fact, if he hadn't experienced so much, Kleist would never have thought of learning to read.

The two slowly approached the village. It was already noon, and the sun was warming people. This is one of the few warm times in winter.

"Because everyone gets sick. On the surface, the tracker's income is not bad. After a few years of labor, he can buy a bungalow in a somewhat dilapidated neighborhood like the Eighth Street. But once he gets sick, it is a devastating blow. Seeing a doctor is too expensive. up.

In fact, what I want most is to be a doctor, but if you want to be a doctor, you don't have to be literate. Like senior employees of the city hall, lawyers, doctors, teachers and other decent professions, which one can't go to university?

People like us have long since lost the opportunity to go to college. If we can read and write, then we can go to an adult elementary school, which is considered good. "

John sighed, the two had already reached the entrance of the village, several children were chasing after them, and the old man leaned against the rocks at the entrance of the village, resting under the shade of trees.

"It's John and Kleist, they're back."

"It's a completely different person, and I dress differently."

"Where's my brother? Where's my brother Gale?"

...

The old man and the children exclaimed. John and Kleist looked at each other, looking at the little boy who looked a little like Gail, with a serious and painful expression.

"Let's go to Gail's house first."

Gail's younger brother kept asking, but the two were just silent. There were many spectators in the village, and they followed them to Gail's house. Some people had a premonition.

Seeing John take out a gray clay pot from behind, Gail's mother's lips trembled.

Kleist whispered: "Aunt Carrie, Gail is dead. We were sailors together, and he died on New Aberdovi Island. This is the rest of Gail's salary, a total of seventeen silver coins. It's all here."

Gail's mother took it tremblingly and collapsed to the ground, his father's eyes were red and swollen, and his brother stopped smiling.

Gail's mother sobbed for a while, holding the urn and asked weakly: "How did my Gail die?"

Just as Kleist was about to speak, John rushed to say, "Gail is sick. You know that sailors have always had a curse-like disease called sepsis..."

Listening to John's description, Kleist's mouth opened wide unconsciously, and then closed quickly, confused but afraid to speak.

After the two left Gail's house and finished dealing with the enthusiastic inquiring villagers, Kleist took John to his room and closed the door.

"John, why did you say that at Gail's house just now, you know Gail was killed by a monster."

John glared at him, sat on the edge of the bed and said weakly: "Yes, but if we tell the truth, do we have to clarify the matter of rubies and the matter of black ginseng?

I say this for the safety of both of us. As for Gail’s gold coin, I will keep it with you and give it to his family when we can. "

As he spoke, John took out the gold coin and handed it to Kleist.

The freckles on Kleist's face turned red, he waved his hand and said, "I didn't mean that, John, you are thoughtful, it's better if you keep it safe. What do you think we should do next?"

John leaned forward, pressed his elbows on his thighs and said in a low voice: "We have to find a way to re-enter the dreamland, the pure white dreamland, and try to pass the test of gemstones. The city of Hall has entered winter, and there are no ships coming and going. Entering the depression season, we wait until the next spring to go back, and it is estimated that the dead gangsters will fade away by then.

Just taking advantage of this time, I will teach you how to read. I have two books here, which are just right for you. "

John took out two tattered paper books from the package. According to Ace's observation, the development level of the real name world is roughly equivalent to the early stage of the Western European Renaissance in the previous life. There were already papermaking and movable type printing, so John could get two books. Books are not unusual.

"This is an old book I bought for one silver coin. One is "The Chronicles of Io Continent" and the other is "Biography of Io Continental Characters". The former focuses on timelines and major events, while the latter focuses on heroes.

Using these two books for literacy can not only improve literacy, but also broaden your knowledge. "

Kleist looked at the two books with some awe and longing, which represented territory, history and wisdom that he had never been to.

In this way, the two began to teach and learn together.

They came to the village and brought a lot of changes to this small village. People talked more about navigation and diseases.

"If you want me to say, the job of being a sailor is really profitable. There are twenty silver coins at a time, which is worth five years of my farming."

"Who would say no? But this job is hard to get into, and secondly, you have to live to make money. You didn't see Gail die so badly. This is the money to buy your life."

"According to me, it's better to be a tracker. According to John, trackers make the most money by working hard. Pulling ropes to transport goods can be close to one silver coin in a month!

At least seven or eight silver coins a year. If you are strong and work hard, you can have ten silver coins. "

"Indeed, farming is not as good as working in the city. Why don't we go together?"

"It's difficult, without the guidance of Baron Rogge, we can't get out of Rogge Town at all, or we will have to serve 60 days of corvee."

"In the final analysis, it's better for John and his family. The free households are still different from our peasant households."

Most of the villagers in Rogge Town are farmers. As long as they have no guides, they will never leave here for the rest of their lives.

As for John and the others, a small number of shabby households from Rogge Town moved here. As free citizens, they have the right to move at will.

Three days later, a heavy snowfall made the whole village white. John and Kleist were reading "The Chronicle of Io Continent" at Kleist's house, roasting a charcoal fire.

"John, are we really going to Rogue Town when the snow stops?"

While his parents were busy cooking in the kitchen, Kleist said in a low voice.

John nodded and said, "Yes, we haven't been able to enter the maze for a while, I want to get something to make it easier for us to enter the maze."

Kleist nodded, grabbed the ruby ​​through his clothes, and continued reading "The Chronicle of Io Continent".

Among the gems, the consciousness of Ace's avatar is also observing the two. After obtaining the two abilities of detoxification treatment and quick thinking, they are not in a hurry to use their abilities. stop.

This made Ace even more satisfied with John. It is possible for prudent people to live, and it is possible to live in the future.

As for the dream, the dreams of Kleist and John seemed to become too active and difficult to link. Ace's power was suppressed too much, and he failed several times. Excessive power was consumed, and he planned to take a break.

Two days later, the snow had already stopped, but the snow on the road had not melted. It was completely white and few people went out.

John and Kleist had prepared four smooth-bottomed wooden boards early in the morning, and they were wearing thick cotton coats. They stepped on skis and headed towards Rogue Town.

The weather is too cold, even ox carts and donkey carts rarely go out. In this snow-melt environment, skis are the best choice.

There was nothing to say along the way. In Rogge Town in winter, there were fewer pedestrians and a lot less wild animals. I skied along the dirt road to Rogge Town, and the sun had not yet reached the middle of the sky.

Although Rogge Town is called a town, it is actually a cross street between the north and the south. It is not very prosperous. John is very familiar with this place. He took Kleist around and bought what he wanted at the only pharmacy.

"This is sun-dried cow's orchid flower neck, which is generally used to soothe the nerves. The nobles like to take it before going to bed. But in fact, if this kind of thing is burned, the smoke it produces is more effective."

John tied up the neck of the cow's tongue and said softly.

"This thing can let us enter the dream again?"

Kleist asked in a low voice.

John nodded, and the two glided back to the village.

At night, in Kleist's room, John and him sleep together.

A pottery dish was placed beside the bed, there were sparks faintly, and green smoke spread in the room. The two of them gradually fell asleep after smelling the strange fragrance.

The ruby ​​on Kleist's chest flickered and suddenly bloomed.

"Pure white, bleach the sheets, whitewash the walls, whiten my hair, whiten my skin."

John muttered inexplicably, and suddenly his whiteness shattered, and he and Kleist entered the woodland in the middle of the night.

John was wearing a white shirt and metal-rimmed round glasses, looking refined and refined. Kleist was wearing thick armor and was fully armed, holding an epee in his hand.

Two gem shards emerged above their heads, one azure blue and one fiery red.

Kleist touched his body in surprise, patted his armor, and made a bang bang sound.

"Why am I wearing armor? It's strange."

John shook his head, he didn't know this, looking up at the sky, the silver moon was hanging high.

"I know the dream. A road winding on top of a mountain, bright silver atmosphere, go my brother, may the jewel protect."

After saying that, he pushed aside the bushes, closed his eyes, and walked forward, staggering along the way, bruising his feet and knees.

Kleist followed behind John, looking around vigilantly, buzzing and roaring beside him, as if there was a black shadow barking its teeth and claws.

Walking more and more quickly, occasionally a black shadow would come, and the gem fragments above Kleist and John's heads would shine brightly, dispelling the shadow.

Finally, Kleist saw a faint light. It was a tall building, as tall as a church steeple, with dimly lit windows.

Black lichen, painted with eye marks.

"Are we going in?"

Kleist touched John in front of him and asked in a low voice.

"No, bypass it. This is the legendary revolving church. You can get something here, but it is absolutely impossible to pass the test. The test must be at the Gate of Pure White."

John said with certainty.

Ace watched them quietly, and in the process, he had a wonderful feeling, as if the dream had merged with some kind of reality in this real-name world.

Ace didn't interfere. For the first time, he realized that John's dream might not be entirely a fantasy, but might really be a reflection of a mysterious place.

"At this time, the laws of dreams seem to be extremely vast, and I can feel that if I can really annex and master the laws of dreams in the real name world..."

Ace also had endless reveries in his heart at this moment. He did not interfere with the dream, allowing John to map out the mystery and peek into the mystery a little bit.

John closed his eyes, the azure gemstone hung high, his heart was as clear as a mirror, he followed the unknown guidance, stepped out step by step, and slowly walked out of the woodland.

In Ace’s view of God, the edge of the dream began to expand, and the resonance with the mystery was strengthened. The woodland had passed, and the sun was in the middle of the sky, and the warm sunlight was shining. John, who closed his eyes, opened them and looked not far away. The majestic white gate, knees slowly kneeling.

Here is a vast expanse of white land, or a desert, with no wind, and the ground is extremely fine white sand. Kleist followed suit and knelt down with John.

"Great gem, from here we step into the pure white desert, stepping on the white bones, and walk with the dead. Please have mercy, and give us our real names in front of the ivory gate."

The reflection with the mysterious place is getting stronger and stronger, like a projection, with a slight chill, the figure of the dead is looming, and the mist is transpiring.

The two took a deep breath, helped each other to stand up, and Kleist looked at the figures of the dead, and the thick armor could hardly resist the coldness in his heart.

"Is this part of the test?"

Shivering, Kleist said with some fear.

John took a deep breath, and said calmly: "Yes, don't be afraid, I read it from "The Locksmith's Dream: Glimmer in the Hole", this should be the reflection of Mansu, we are not qualified to enter the real Mansu Su, here is just a reflection, it is a test for us by the great existence living in Mansu.

Use our courage and the healthy body of a living person to overcome all these. "

As he spoke, flames rose above his head, and Ace observed with great interest. As a foreign native "god", Ace knew no more than John.

At this moment, Ace was very interested in the book "The Locksmith's Dream: Shimmer in the Hole" that John always mentioned, and he was even more curious about the Morton's bookstore that sells books. The mysterious power of this world has its own system. It's amazing.

And the dream plays an important role in it, which makes Ace more excited. He knows what it means.

With the power of knowing everything, Ace keenly discovered that these dead people are actually just bubbles, just reflecting the traces of the mystery. As long as the passers-by are healthy and not too frightened, there is basically no problem.

The two shivered, and kept reciting the blessing of gemstones, and finally passed through the layers of fog and came to the pure white door full of corpses.

The entire door was carved from pure white ivory, which looked noble and gorgeous. The dead swarmed and roared into it. A large number of corpses had lost their flesh and blood, only pure white bones.

"John, it's cold, it's cold. Shall we go any further?"

Kleist's teeth were shaking, and his heavy armor was creaking.