Ivan and the others cleared the chaotic energies within the cave, resolving all the hidden dangers of the Dodder magic stone mine.
Leaving the Dodder magic stone mine, the group took a detour to Wafting Scent Castle.
However, the town, the jungle, and Wafting Scent Castle were all deserted, the original spiritual bodies were nowhere to be seen, and the special force fields had weakened to a thread.
This made Locke somewhat disappointed.
“Alas! I can only barely advance to the peak of Level 2,” he said after he had dissipated the special force fields of the gathering point and his strength had increased to the peak of Level 2.
“That’s easy, you don’t have to return to East Capital with us, you can go look for other spiritual body gathering places on the continent by yourself,” Ivan spoke indifferently.
“Uh—my little arms and legs, better to be cautious,” Locke thought, then he remembered that terrifying arm. If he found the lair of its owner, he wouldn’t be coming back at all.
The appearance of that terrible arm was a wake-up call, making him realize that spiritual bodies also had their strong ones, and they were not simply a flock of chickens for him to slaughter.
“Coward,” Janey blurted out a single word.
“I’m just being cautious, do you understand caution?” Locke nearly jumped in response to her words.
“It’s better to be cautious, then let’s go back to East Capital together,” Ivan interjected to end the small dispute between the two. With a wave of his hand, the group set out on their return journey.
The long journey was unhurried, and it took nearly a month for the group to finally reach East Capital.
…
Rapid Wood Tower.
Ivan began to contemplate one issue, the series of events involved in advancing to a Level 3 Sorcerer.
Originally, according to his plan, this issue should have come up a year or even several years later, but the second Body Double Secret Method had given him a pleasant surprise, bringing the issue to the forefront.
When advancing to a Level 2 Sorcerer, he had borrowed the power of the Ant King Rebirth Cocoon Array, gaining an evolutionary baptism.
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Now, there was no such good fortune left, as the power of the Ant King Rebirth Cocoon Array could only support becoming a Level 2 Sorcerer, and it required decades of accumulation each time.
“Advancing to a Level 3 Sorcerer is no easy feat, opportunities in it come unpredictably and must be carefully planned.”
“The practice of the Black Beard Chapter has reached its limit, and the continuation of the Meditation Method, as well as the issue of Level 3 Solidification Magic, need consideration.”
“I remember Instructor Randall once mentioned that a certain Insect Control Master organization had a more complete Black Beard Chapter, probably with fourth-layer content, maybe I can find a way to get it as a reference.”
Thinking of Randall, Ivan recalled the forthcoming Red Cloud Realm that would appear in the coming years, where the mentor would surely go.
When the Red Cloud Realm reopens, it would also be time for him to return to Moon Pincer Peninsula.
Days passed, and Ivan’s life in East Capital was calm yet fulfilling, until someone made him an especially outrageous request, which at one point made him think he had misheard.
“Janey, repeat what you just said,” he said sternly.
“I need more Pan Iron Root to replenish my origin, I can sense where they all are, and I hope you will allow me to bring them back,” Janey repeated as instructed.
“That’s not ‘bringing them back’, it should be called ‘theft’,” Ivan stared at her discontentedly.
“If it’s completely undetected? By the rules of sorcerers, it shouldn’t be theft, then, right? Such things are just commonplace,” Janey said with unchanged tone.
True, by the very nature of sorcerer rules, which are based on survival of the fittest, theft was mild; murders and robberies were rife, but location mattered.
“This is East Capital.”
“I’m not sure about other things, but with Pan Iron Root, I promise no one will discover them, even those bound by blood oaths.”
“Are you certain?”
“Very certain.”
Janey was his Secret Method Body Double, and Ivan could feel that she was not lying. She truly had the confidence to claim Pan Iron Root in the East Capital region without alerting anyone.
Considering that Janey was relatively reliable, after much thought, Ivan decided to give her a chance.
“Okay, let’s give it a try.”
“I won’t disappoint you.”
Ivan looked intently at Janey.
Through the dealings of the Lank Mercantile Association, most of the Pan Iron Root had found owners, and their uniqueness made them difficult to reclaim even for him, leaving Janey to try on her own.
Subsequently, he sent Janey to gather information.
On the fifth day, he chose a target from the information gathered by Janey—a Level 2 Sorcerer who was also a guild elder.
That very night, Janey took action, showing Ivan her exceptional ‘infiltration’ ability.
Janey, all by herself, merged into the earth, relying on the bearing, armor-piercing, and shattering effects of the earth’s power to infiltrate silently and unnoticed.
Having witnessed the whole process, Ivan’s first reaction was that she was being too modest.
In the East Capital, as long as one didn’t touch those few real sorcerer towers, anyone with Jenny’s capabilities could probably sneak into any place with earth present and basically remain undetected for a short period.
Using it to steal Pan Iron Root was indeed overkill.
“Didn’t let you down, did I?”
“From now on, do as you please with this, no need to report back to me.”
Ivan waved his hand dismissively, uninterested in meddling further, thinking she could do whatever she wanted.
In the following days, Ivan truly didn’t pay any more attention to Jenny’s affairs, until news actively came knocking on his door.
“Boss, guess what I’ve found out?” Locke said with great enthusiasm one day.
“Let’s hear it.” Ivan had just finished crafting a Pure White Eye not long ago and was in a satisfied mood.
“I tell you, there’s been a strange thief appearing in the East Capital recently. Many sorcerers and mercantile associations have suffered thefts, including the Lank Mercantile Association. The matter has become so heated that it’s been brought to the attention of the East Blade 2nd Legion.” Locke continued.
“Oh, have the people from the East Blade 2nd Legion found anything?” Ivan asked.
“It’s strange, actually. That thief likes to target those who have purchased Pan Iron Root, but each time, the amount of goods stolen isn’t much, just enough to cause embarrassment.
Actually, it was the people from Lank Mercantile Association who specifically told me this, cautioning me to be careful. What a joke, as if I would fear some big thief—underestimation is—”
Locke was speaking but then realized the expression on his boss’s face was off, somewhat peculiar, and he immediately had a bad feeling.
“Boss, do you know something?” Locke asked cautiously.
“Remember to hand over your Pan Iron Root, along with the ones from the Silkworm Queen and the swamp ants, to Jenny. It’s not very useful in your hands, and Jenny just happens to need it.” Ivan instructed instead.
“Huh? Could it be—Jenny—is that whatever it is?” Locke’s eyes widened incredulously.
“Is it that strange?”
“That’s just—almost too understandable.”
Locke said with difficulty, all those forces, all those layers of protection, all those sorcerers, and no one managed to catch a trace. He wouldn’t have been able to do such a thing himself.
At this moment, he had to admit that he somewhat admired that person.
However, that person was taking such a big risk to secretly collect Pan Iron Root, it must definitely serve an important purpose—maybe even greatly enhance one’s power—
Thinking thus, Locke suddenly couldn’t sit still any longer.
“Boss, now that we’ve alarmed the people from the 2nd Legion, should I tell her to back off?” Locke was still somewhat worried.
“Let her judge for herself. When it’s time to back off, she’ll do so,” Ivan responded with a slight shake of his head, expressing that he meant it when he said he wouldn’t interfere. If there really was a problem, he’d think of a backup plan then.
“Alright, I’ll go and find out some more information.”
Seeing how much his own boss trusted her, and then looking at himself, Locke felt like he’d taken another hit. The joy he’d felt from recently becoming a great mill master had largely dissipated.
A few days later, when the 2nd Legion began to take extensive action, Jenny appropriately stopped and obediently stayed inside the Rapid Wood Tower, no longer venturing out.
Jenny’s abilities had improved, now equivalent to a mid-Level 3.
Ivan was quite satisfied with this.
“You can go check out Ancient Tree Ridge at Moon Pincer Peninsula. The Pan Iron Root that you guys have came from sorcerers of that academy,” he said to Jenny.
“That might not be appropriate,” Jenny hesitated before shaking her head.
“What’s inappropriate?” Ivan didn’t understand.
“If we’re too far apart, I won’t be able to ensure your safety,” Jenny said earnestly.
“I haven’t reached a point where I need your protection to survive,” Ivan replied with a pause, speaking in an exasperated tone.
“What about what happened in the Dodd magic stone mine?”
“That was just an accident.”
“There might be similar accidents in the future.”
Seeing Jenny so insistent, Ivan didn’t press further; after all, it was well-intentioned.
Besides, having the Body Double close to him was beneficial for harmony between them.
It’s worth mentioning that in the four stages of the Body Double Secret Method, he and Jenny were in the third stage—Soul Cycle, though not as advanced as with Locke initially.
If he wanted to project part of his consciousness onto Jenny, it would probably take five or six years to achieve.
“As you wish.”
Judging by time, he estimated it wouldn’t be long before the Red Cloud Realm reopened, and by then, he would certainly visit the Highland Alliance on Moon Pincer Peninsula and could make a detour to the Ancient Tree Ridge Academy.