Upon reaching the level of an intermediate mage, it’s only natural for the family to provide funds for their research and experiments—who would be willing to make a living by scribing scrolls?

Therefore, in this world, low-level magic scrolls are cheap and plentiful, but as you go higher, once you reach third-level magic, the price of scrolls becomes outrageous.

Only intermediate mages are qualified to scribe third-level scrolls! For example, a first-level scroll sells for five gold coins, a second-level one can fetch ten, but a third-level scroll costs at least fifty gold coins, and even then, it’s hard to find one.

“Customer, do you want it or not?” The shop assistant had talked to Thunder until his mouth was dry, but still saw no sign of him wanting to buy, and couldn’t help feeling a bit annoyed.

“No!” Thunder refused flatly. If not for the fact that he was a distinguished mage, the assistant would have cursed him out.

“Get your manager out here and tell them there’s a big deal.” Thunder suddenly had an idea.

“Please wait a moment!” The assistant looked a bit dispirited, but he still didn’t dare offend the request of an intermediate mage.

Before long, a middle-aged man walked out from the inner hall. Even before he got close, Thunder could already sense a faint elemental fluctuation emanating from him.

He’s a mage too?

“Hello, customer, I’m the owner of this humble shop, George.” Guided by the assistant, the middle-aged man walked up to Thunder and gave him a once-over, his eyes showing a hint of admiration and envy. “May I ask what you’re looking to buy?”

“Not buy—sell.”

“Sell?” The owner frowned. “And what is it you wish to sell...?”

“Find a quiet, spacious place.” The shop was crowded, not suitable for displaying the Five-Colored Divine Thunder Talisman.

George nodded and led Thunder toward the inner hall, not forgetting to instruct the assistant to entertain Uncle Oak and Tiffany.

Although the assistant had looked down on him, the owner’s approach made Thunder feel much more favorable toward him.

Behind the shop was a courtyard—not large, but spacious enough for Thunder to demonstrate his talisman.

“Customer, may I ask what you wish to sell?” The owner turned around and asked, standing in front of Thunder.

“You’re a mage too, aren’t you?” Thunder took out a Five-Colored Divine Thunder Talisman from his robe and handed it to George.

“Good eye, customer. I am indeed a mage, but my talent is limited. I’ll probably only ever be an ordinary junior mage in this life.” George accepted the talisman, his face showing a bitter expression.

Although there was a magical fluctuation from him, it was very faint. It seemed George was telling the truth. On the Pan-Continent, there were countless people who spent their whole lives hovering between junior and intermediate mage.

“What is this?” George looked at the talisman in confusion. Although he could sense the magical fluctuation from it, it wasn’t inscribed with magical beast blood, nor did it use any special materials, so he really couldn’t connect it to a magic scroll.

Thunder didn’t answer. He held a talisman in his own hand, gave it a gentle shake, and with a crack, a bolt of lightning as thick as a snake struck the ground, blasting a large hole in the solid earth.

“A magic scroll?” George’s eyes widened instantly. How could this be? “A basic Lightning Drop spell can actually reach the power of a third-level spell?”

It was unbelievable. Not only did this magic scroll surpass the scope of scrolls on the Pan-Continent, but its sheer power made George doubt his own eyes.

“You can try it yourself—free of charge.” Thunder said with a smile.

Chapter 9: This Is How Gold Coins Are Made

George turned the talisman over and over in his hands for a long while before finally preparing to tear it open.

There are two ways to activate a magic scroll. One is for a mage to use incantations and magic power to assist in the release, which can fully unleash the magic inscribed within the scroll. The other is the brute-force method George was about to use: tearing open the scroll. When the stored magical elements inside collide and recombine, a spell is cast, but its power is greatly reduced.

The first method is generally used for casting spells above one’s level—when a junior mage wants to cast a fifth- or sixth-level spell, for example. The second method is for those without magic power, such as warriors or nobles without combat ability.

“Wait!” Seeing George about to tear the talisman, Thunder shouted, trying to stop him.

After all, the Five-Colored Divine Thunder Talisman was a basic talisman of the Talisman Sect, a bit different from this world’s magic scrolls. Thunder wasn’t sure if tearing it would still work.

But he was a moment too late.

George had already torn the talisman with a ripping sound.

With a crisp “crack,” a bolt of lightning struck precisely in the hole that had already appeared in the ground.

“Uh...” Witnessing such an incredible event, Thunder didn’t know how to explain it. Could it be that this world is very different from the Earth he once knew?

“What’s wrong?” George looked at Thunder with delight.

“Nothing.”

“The power is impressive—even just tearing it open, it’s as strong as a second-level spell! If combined with incantations and magic power, this would absolutely be a Lightning Drop spell on par with a third-level spell.”