Chapter Forty-Four: Yang Qiu's Rapid Rise to Power (Requesting Recommendation Votes)

After Fina and Blaise left, Natasha found herself immediately surrounded. Guda, Des, and the others all had their eyes fixed on the item in Natasha’s hand.

“Can any of you withstand a single blast of Fireburst?” Natasha calmly closed the case containing the testing reagent and looked at the others with a tranquil expression. “Or are you planning to never deal with professionals like them again?”

At this, Guda halted in his tracks. Indeed, those two mages just now were nothing like ordinary professionals. Mages, in any story, were known for their vast connections and high status. Natasha seemed to have a good relationship with Fina as well. If they tried to rob her so openly, it wouldn’t bode well for their future prospects.

“Of course not. We’re all upright people here,” Guda replied, though his tone carried a subtle hint of threat. “But this place is remote and dangerous. If you’d be willing to part with two-thirds of your find, we could offer you protection.”

They couldn’t act openly, but if they simply removed their identification markers in secret, nothing would stop them from making a move—an old trick of theirs.

Natasha smiled faintly. “No need. Just take care of yourselves.”

Her goal had already been achieved. Here in town, it was highly unlikely these people would dare lay hands on her.

From her own experience, Natasha reckoned they’d probably try to ambush her outside the town. Conveniently, another faction was already lying in wait beyond the town’s borders—free muscle, essentially. Once chaos broke out, any so-called threats would vanish.

Meanwhile, at home, Yang Qiu was reviewing the results screen for Scenario Seven. He’d invested an enormous amount of mental energy into evolving Blaise this time. With such high costs, the rewards were naturally impressive.

Scenario Seven: Mage War Against Freddy

Scenario Summary: The greedy, nascent nightmare was no longer content with merely harvesting the fear and souls of ordinary people. He set his sights on the novice mage Fina, who had come to investigate. Unfortunately for him, he failed to understand the simple truth: when you trifle with the young, the elders soon come knocking...

Scenario Evolution Result: Excellent

Scenario Evolution Products: Morningstar Mage Blaise, Simple Alchemy Workshop, Nightmare Freddy (dying), Single-Layer Clocktower (pseudo)

Morningstar Mage Blaise: A grand mage proficient in fire-elemental spells, possessing strong scientific research abilities, the physical and combat qualities of an intermediate knight, skilled in the creation of various magical potions, knowledgeable in the crafting of some magical items, in possession of several exclusive optimized spell models, and master of most general spells below the advanced mage level.

Simple Alchemy Workshop: A workshop specifically for crafting magical potions and items. Its simple grade limits the maximum item level it can produce. Slightly reduces material consumption and slightly increases the quality of crafted items. Has self-defense capabilities at the intermediate professional level. Can host up to one grand mage/alchemist, ten advanced mages/alchemists, and several other professionals at the same time. The optimal staffing is ten advanced professionals plus supporting staff.

Nightmare Freddy (dying): A nascent nightmare with the innate ability to manipulate dreams. Comprehensive rating is intermediate professional. Exceptionally skilled at evasion. Feeds on the fear of sentient beings and can rapidly increase his own power through fear. Currently suffering severe flame damage and is in a state of acute energy depletion, weakness, and grave injury.

Single-Layer Clocktower (pseudo): The scenario’s evolved planet is a single layer of the clocktower (not fully evolved), which can admit a limited number of outsiders and requires additional energy for maintenance. It possesses self-defense equivalent to an advanced professional and can, by consuming a large amount of energy, project this layer of the clocktower into the real world.

Once the scenario evolution ended, Yang Qiu felt a surge of immense magical power erupt within his body. At the same time, his mental energy rapidly condensed, its quality soaring and granting Yang Qiu a unique new sensation—as though he’d gained a new organ. This enhancement was a direct result of Blaise’s materialization.

Now, even without using his script-creation abilities, Yang Qiu could be dropped straight into the Avengers’ plot from his previous life and still rank among the most powerful—capable of easily protecting himself, the kind of person who, even if he couldn’t win, could always escape.

He hadn’t had long to savor this newfound power when he “saw” Blaise bid farewell to Fina and perform a spatial leap in his direction.

Blaise soon halted before a phantom door and knocked. “Master Kieran, I’ve come to bid you farewell. I’m preparing to return and serve my sentence.”

“Come in,” Yang Qiu replied, now more composed than ever. His power had officially surpassed Blaise’s, and with his unique items, he could play the role of Kieran without relying at all on the script’s power.

“Master Kieran, do you have any advice for me?” Having spoken with his disciple for some time, Blaise’s mood and demeanor had changed dramatically—he was nothing like the person Yang Qiu had first met.

“You don’t need to return to the Alchemy Workshop for now,” Yang Qiu said. After all, the simple alchemy workshop currently available wasn’t suitable for someone of Blaise’s level—even as punishment, it wouldn’t do. “For now, join the Ancient One.”

“The Ancient One? You mean the Sorcerer Supreme?” Blaise asked.

“That’s right. The Ancient One has safeguarded peace for so long; it’s time for us to take over. Go observe their operations for a while. This period will count toward your sentence,” Yang Qiu replied coolly, having considered this arrangement for a long time.

Within Scenario Seven’s planet, aside from the basic alchemy workshop, there was nothing suitable for placing Blaise. It wasn’t appropriate to release him directly into the surface world either. The best option for now was the Ancient One’s domain—where his presence wouldn’t raise suspicions and his talents wouldn’t go to waste.

Yang Qiu now felt that his previous encounter with the Ancient One had been a stroke of luck. Without her support and her help cleaning up after him, he’d have had far more to worry about, and his development would certainly have been much slower than it was now.

“Yes, I’ll go at once.” Blaise didn’t leave immediately; instead, he hesitated, as if he had something on his mind.

“If you have concerns, speak.” Yang Qiu prompted him.

“Could you lend me some low-grade magical materials? The Council has forbidden me from purchasing any, and the Ancient One belongs to a different magical tradition, so her resources aren’t much use to me…” Blaise’s tone was humble—before his fall from grace, he wouldn’t have even glanced at such basic materials.

“It’s for your apprentice, isn’t it? I know her—a kindhearted young girl, still unworldly,” Yang Qiu said with a smile. Clearly, the bond between master and apprentice was solid. “When the Mage Council distributes their annual allotment of materials to official mages, I’ll have them set aside an extra share. But once your sentence is over, there’ll be no further compensation. Is that acceptable?”

“It’s more than enough. Thank you, Master Kieran.” Blaise was sincerely grateful. Once his punishment ended and he regained his status, he’d no longer lack for ordinary materials. The extra share now, however, would greatly aid his apprentice’s growth.