Grinding EXP From Fireball Skill-Chapter 67: Shadow Attendant

Li Wei learned from Vince’s memories that there were three ways to enter the Magic Net.

The first, and most common method, was to use a Magic Net Codex.

The Magic Net Codex was a special kind of Magic Book used to connect to the Magic Net.

The requirements to use it were very low; one only had to be a Mage Apprentice.

The second method was commonly used by High Tier Mages. The minimum requirement was to be a Grand Mage, who could directly connect to the Magic Net using their Spiritual Power.

Compared to the somewhat inconvenient Magic Net Codex, which couldn’t be used at any time, Grand Mages preferred to access the Magic Net directly with their Spiritual Power.

The third and rarest method was to be one of the Magic Goddess’s chosen.

By becoming one of the Magic Goddess’s chosen, one could enter the Magic Net anytime, anywhere, and without any conditions.

Back when the Magic Goddess had just created the Magic Net, before the Magic Net Codex had even appeared, only Grand Mages and stronger Mages could use the Magic Net.

It was during this time that many young Low Tier Mages became the Magic Goddess’s chosen.

Unlike the chosen of other Divine Spirits, who were subject to various restrictions but possessed all sorts of powerful Divine Powers,

the Magic Goddess’s chosen were just granted a slot to get online anytime, anywhere.

Later, after the Magic Net Codex appeared, the Magic Goddess rarely chose new followers.

Hundreds of years had passed, and the chosen of the Magic Goddess who were still alive had all become powerful Mages.

In this respect, they didn’t disgrace the reputation of a Divine Spirit’s chosen representing great power.

Their source of Power was just different.

The only method Li Wei could currently use was the first one: entering the Magic Net via a Magic Net Codex.

There was a Magic Net Codex in the Maple City Mage Tower.

But unless he revealed he was already a Tier One Mage, he wouldn’t get a chance to use the Magic Net Codex.

’That means I have to find a way to get my hands on a Magic Net Codex.’

Li Wei remembered that the Magic Net Codex seemed to be on the exchange list at the quartermaster’s office.

"Tsk! No matter how I look at it, it all comes back to Merit."

The Magic Net Codex was a physical object; he couldn’t get it from the dream world.

Li Wei began to seriously consider the matter of earning Merit.

He didn’t want to take risks, but the allure of the Magic Net was too great.

The Magic Net contained a massive number of Magic Models, a collection of almost every Magic Model ever created by Mages around the world.

The Fire Resistance Ring and Meteor Fire Rain Spell that Li Wei had been longing for were both in the Magic Net.

It even had Forbidden Curses.

The options available were far more numerous than the Magic in the Maple City Mage Tower.

This was probably why the Maple City Mage Tower also had a Magic Net Codex.

For a Mage, Magic would always be the most tempting thing in existence.

Every Mage wanted to obtain more powerful and rarer Magic.

Li Wei was no exception.

Martin, Marina, and the others were no exception either.

’If I’m going out to earn Merit, I’ll have to go alone.’

’If I could have a Nightmare Servant with me, my safety would be much higher.’

’In the worst-case scenario, I could have the Nightmare Servant hold off the enemy while I turn invisible and retreat.’

After thinking it through, Li Wei searched the dream world for a suitable Nightmare to cultivate into a Nightmare Servant.

After searching for a bit, he found a newly formed Tier One Low Level Nightmare near the city wall.

BANG!

A small Fireball instantly killed the Nightmare, and he picked up the Nightmare Core.

Li Wei hurried back to his safe house.

’A Tier One Low Level Nightmare should be fine, right?’

He carefully used his Spiritual Power to feed the Nightmare Core.

After absorbing the Spiritual Power, the Nightmare Core became more active, and the gray mist around it gradually thickened.

The consumption rate of his Spiritual Power sped up, and Li Wei’s heart tightened.

A moment later, he breathed a sigh of relief.

’Just as I thought. Last time it was because the Nightmare Core was Tier Two and required too much Spiritual Power, which is why I lost control.’

The Spiritual Power consumption was several times faster now, but it was still within Li Wei’s control.

He didn’t feel like he was about to be drained dry, unlike when he was cultivating the Tier Two Nightmare Core.

Ten minutes later, the Nightmare Core was saturated with Spiritual Power.

A faint, gray, misty humanoid figure appeared before Li Wei, bearing a strong resemblance to him.

The figure formed from a Tier One Low Level Nightmare was much fainter than one formed from a Tier Two Nightmare.

It looked ephemeral, the mist so thin you could see right through it.

It made Li Wei worry that a gust of wind might blow the Nightmare Servant away.

With a thought, the Nightmare Servant raised its hand, spun in a circle, hopped a few times, and then became still again.

Li Wei smiled. "Not bad. It feels a bit like playing with a remote-controlled robot."

He felt a hazy consciousness coming from the Nightmare Servant.

"Master."

Li Wei looked at the Nightmare Servant, thought for a moment, and said, "From now on, your name is Shadow Attendant."

"Yes, Master."

He exited the dream world.

Li Wei could sense the Shadow Attendant’s core somewhere inside his body.

With a thought, a faint, blue, illusory figure slowly materialized in the air.

The Shadow Attendant had appeared from the dream world into reality, but its core was still inside his body, or perhaps in the dream world’s safe house.

As long as the core wasn’t destroyed, the Shadow Attendant could not die.

Looking at the Shadow Attendant’s obvious Nightmare appearance, an idea struck Li Wei.

"Shadow Tentacles!"

A Shadow Tentacle extended from the shadows.

"Absorb the Shadow Element."

Upon hearing this, the Shadow Attendant reached out, touched the Shadow Tentacle, and slowly began to absorb the Shadow Element.

Its figure gradually turned gray, then a faint black, resembling a shadow.

Li Wei retracted the Shadow Tentacle, a satisfied smile on his face.

He had gotten this inspiration from the Tier Two Nightmare that had burst from over-absorption.

The effect was surprisingly good.

’With these Shadow Element fluctuations, it’s a pure Shadow Creature. Who would dare say it’s a Nightmare?’

"Hide in my shadow. Don’t come out without my command."

"Yes, Master."

The Shadow Attendant slipped into Li Wei’s shadow, following him like one.

After a busy night, it was already morning.

Li Wei ate breakfast and headed to the training hall in the military barracks.

The notice board on the training hall wall was plastered with various mission postings.

When he arrived, the place was already crowded.

Many people wanted to grab a good mission early before heading out.

"Hunt the Beastman Race roaming near Cold Sand City. Long-term mission. Reward: 1-3000 Merit based on Beastman military rank."

Below it was a corresponding chart, which Li Wei glanced at.

A common Beastman Soldier was worth 1-2 Merit, a Tier One Beastman Soldier was 5-30 Merit, a Tier Two was 30-100 Merit, and a Tier Three was 100-500 Merit.

Beastmen with military ranks offered additional Merit rewards.

The highest reward was for killing a Beastman Race general, a Tier Four Beastman, which awarded 3000 Merit.

Li Wei looked at the other missions.

"Destroy the small Beastman Race outpost west of Cold Sand City."

"Assassinate the Beastman Race captain, Gomora."

"Assassinate the Beastman Race sergeant, Temorad."

"Destroy the Beastman Race army’s supply camp."

"Eliminate roaming Beastman Race Professionals."

"Reconnoiter the movements of the Beastman Race army north of Cold Sand City."

"Investigate traces of Beastman Race Assassins within Cold Sand City."

...

Li Wei walked a lap around the training hall and went to the quartermaster’s office.

"Basic Level Magic Item, Magic Net Codex! Purchase Price: Five hundred Merit."

"Tier Two Magic Scroll, Rapid Freeze Spell Scroll! Purchase Price: Three hundred Merit."

"Tier Two Magic Scroll, Hundred-Slit Wind Blade Technique Scroll! Purchase Price: Four hundred Merit."

Li Wei found the Magic Scrolls that Vince and Fesia had used.

When he saw the prices, he was left speechless.

’They’re so rich!’