Badge in Azure

Chapter 1038: Jalin (Part 2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Jalin was able to call out, which meant that his instant death magic was rendered null. Saleen followed up immediately with another spell, but Jalin retreated to the bottom of the magic tower instead, leaning on the tower and holding her chest, saying, “Saleen, stop!”

Saleen waved his hand and hundreds of icicles dispersed in the air.

Jalin was still in shock. The paper mask on her face had torn and the peach blossom flower on the mask fell to the floor, exposing a delicate face beneath.

Saleen felt his heart skip a beat. Jalin looked even prettier than Nailisi. It was no wonder that she had to hide it behind a mask, as it would invite untold amount of trouble otherwise. Even Saleen, who was surrounded by beautiful girls, felt dumbfounded for a moment.

So that mask was equipment too then? Only thoughts related to magic would have been able to snap Saleen out of Jalin’s influence in the shortest amount of time.

“You really dared go that far...” Killing intent welled up inside Jalin when she saw her torn mask. If she had not had the piece of equipment taking the fall, the instant death spell would have finished the job. This Saleen is really brutal. We made it clear that it was just an exchange, yet he really had no hesitation pulling the move. He definitely intended to kill me.

“Sorry. Force of habit.” Not even a hint of apology was heard from Saleen’s words. He extended his hand and gestured a ‘please’ at Jalin.

Jalin nodded took out a new mask from her space equipment and put it on her face, making her way down the mountain. Saleen noticed that the peach blossom on her new mask looked considerably paler.

Saleen knew that he was being wary of Jalin’s movement abilities when a killing intent welled up inside him. But Jalin was still alive and the clan leader of the Grukos would not be able to do anything to him.

Jalin did not bother using the unique abilities of hers when she travelled down the mountain, using a common Wind Travel spell instead. She wrapped Saleen into the spell and made their way to the group of palaces tens of miles away.

Every move that Jalin took made Saleen feel like he was seeing something he had never seen before. She had almost died at Saleen’s hands, yet she acted as if nothing happened. Mages usually only kept their friends and loved ones, or subordinates and prisoners and whatnot, in their spells like that. She wrapped Saleen inside her spell and let the wind element drive both of them forward. She would have been able to attack any time within the vicinity of that spell.

Jalin went about it very naturally and Saleen became reluctant to put up a Water Shield. It was fortunate that his Devil Armament was naturally buffed. Even if Jalin were to act against him, Saleen would probably not suffer any damage from the attacks.

They were both level nine sorcerers and capable of moving faster than warhorses even by just walking. The trip, which was tens of miles long, took them about half an hour.

There were no patrolling troops before the palace. It was all peaceful and tranquil on the Golden Plains of the Grukos. Jalin brought Saleen through one hall after another. Saleen was right behind her and saw the female mage walking in a rather alluring manner. Saleen could not help but cast tens of lightning runes from his eyes, laying a film of pale golden color before his eyes and thunder rumbling in his mind, before he was able to calm down.

This is eerie. Just walking alone can already be some skills and all. Saleen thought it fortunate that he was a mage. If the one who ran into her was a warrior, her opponent would have probably been reluctant to do her any harm.

“Saleen, we’re here. Don’t go making Teacher angry when you see her,” Jalin said and took Saleen around to a palace on the side. She then called from the corridor in a low voice, “Teacher, he’s here.”

In the Qin language, the pronunciation of ‘he’ and ‘she’ sounded very different. Saleen only knew then that Jalin’s teacher, Lord Chief of the Grukos, was a woman.

However, it was hardly surprising. Qin women had been emperors before, so it was normal for one to be a chief. So long as she was powerful enough, she would have been able to nurture a mage like Jalin. The Lord Chief of the Grukos was probably on par with the likes of Joey.

Saleen pushed his mask up and followed Jalin through the door. Only the center of the hall had magic lighting shining down into the palace, forming a bright spot of six meters in length and width. There was a broad table in that spot and the elders of the Grukos were all sitting there drinking tea.

Dikas was attending to her. He glared hard when he saw Saleen coming in. The mage felt his face hurt, as if it had been lacerated by sword aura. That was considered an ambush. If Saleen had his mask on, the ambush would have amounted to nothing. He had deliberately pushed his mask up to show respect.

Saleen felt a tinge of anger welling up in him, but recalled that Jalin told him that she had a brother in training. So this is him? But he’s a grand swordmaster.

The Lord Chief of the Grukos, a female mage, pointed at the seat across the table and said nothing.

Saleen grew frustrated, but had no choice but to go sit across from the mage. Jalin came beside the female mage, standing at her teacher’s flank with Dikas and attending to her teacher.

The hall was dark, and Saleen knew that it was a Darkness Enchantment. If it had not been for the magic lamp, Saleen would have had to use his Elemental Eye to perceive his surroundings.

“I’m Arbola, clan leader of the Grukos. I take it that you brought the mark of the Six-winged Flying Snake with you?” The female mage said all of a sudden.

Saleen nodded and then shook his head. The rumbling noise in his head was still reverberating, negating the effects of Arbola’s magic on him.

The female mage smiled, and it seemed to clear the air of frustration about her when she returned. She asked, “tea?”

Saleen took out a tea set from his Devil Ring and said, “I brought my own.”

“Stubborn kid. No wonder Lex likes you.” The female mage was not angry at all, seeing Saleen lighting a fire and warming up his tea set.

The tea set that Saleen had with him used to be Lex’s. They were hardly able to see each other much after they got married. He was attended to by a good number of mages and everything seemed grand for him back then. But Saleen came to understand that it was Lex’s way of nurturing him, allowing him to develop a kind of bearing for handling such situations.

It was a power resembling rules. While it was nowhere as powerful as rules, it was nonetheless an important combat skill. Lex might have been nurturing such a bearing from birth. No one who was able to keep their mind still would have been able to hold their head up before her, let alone actually move against her.

Saleen was nurturing such a bearing as well, something Jason imparted on him, a bearing of forging forward and not looking back. Saleen had seen the outline of such a bearing with him when he battled Jalin earlier. When his sharp aura burst, the rate of success of his instant death magic rose as well. It was an effect arising from a state where the powers within him reached a perfect balance.

In that very instant, Saleen broke Jalin’s bearing and might, crushing her mask. That mask served as Jalin’s second life.

“Lex hopes that someone from the clan will be able to help her defend Daliang City. That is her city. If it were to be taken by the Holy See...”

“I will send 12 sorcerers and 500 warriors. You and Lex will be in charge of them from here on out.” Arbola made a decision before Saleen was done making his statement. It was better Saleen had thought it would have been; he thought that the female mage would have tried to get in his way.

“I have brought the mark of the Six-winged Flying Snake, and I wonder what can I exchange it with.” Saleen went straight to the key question. He found that it was pointless to put up pretenses in front of Arbola. The woman was someone like Joey: immutable.

“Who do you want in exchange?” Arbola asked in return. She looked at Saleen, wanting to look for an opening in his eyes.

“I’d like the Crown of Glory.” Saleen did not flinch at all. He had no way of knowing what valuables the Grukos had with them. If he were to simply ask for something just because Arbola asked like that, he would have suffered quite a loss.

The Crown of Glory was a piece of equipment that belonged to the founding emperor of the First Dynasty, crafted by killing 18 kings of gods. The Six-winged Flying Snake might have been powerful, but it did compare to that piece of equipment.

“How dare you!” Dikas shouted. His gleaming eyes shot at Saleen.

Saleen was able to see that time that Dikas eyes emanated something like tangible power. That was control of rules, and he felt as if a formless sword aura was coming right for his face.

Saleen did not anticipate that Dikas would behav so ruthlessly before Arbola when he was first hit. When Dikas pulled the same trick again, Saleen was ready for him. He shot 36 golden lightning runes from his eyes, negating Arbola’s attack.

Arbola was astounded when she saw the golden lightning runes emanating from Saleen’s eyes. The runes were something she had never seen before and she was unable to even to tell what type of skill it was. She and Saleen were one whole level away. She would have usually been able to tell attributes and weaknesses of skills, even the ones she had never encountered before.

She, however, was unable to tell the weaknesses of the golden runes that shot out of Saleen’s eyes. It was some power of rules that was very close to perfection.

Given time, Saleen would probably grow into the most famous mage on Myers Mainland, instead of how it was, where everyone merely saw him as a king, and furthermore, one who relied on Lex.

“Saleen, I have to admit that I underestimated you. Alright, I’ll tell you now that I have two pieces of equipment with me. Each is of a level comparable to the Six-winged Flying Snake, but they are not suited for my use. Which one would you wish to take home with you?” Arbola took out two unassuming pieces from her space equipment, putting them on the table.

The one on the left was a ring, which was carved with metals and gems criss-crossing each other. It was a deep color, and the metal parts looked messy and the gems lacked luster. Saleen’s Elemental Eye was unable to tell what it was. All he was able to tell about that ring was that it was probably carved from ore. The metals and the gems were fused together by some unknown power, making it look eerie.

The equipment on the right was a small jade green crossbow. Saleen was able to tell right away that it was elvish equipment. As Arbola put it, it was a level comparable to the mark of Six-Winged Flying Snake.

Saleen began to ponder. He was able to tell just about nothing about the ring, but the small crossbow could be gifted to Eleanor. Saleen definitely knew the use of that item, which, once developed, would be able to serve as a powerful equipment, and it would be far more handy than his Crystal Finger.

“I can only choose one?” Saleen asked in an attempt to test the waters.

“Yes, one, per the principles of mages: equivalent exchange.” Arbola looked at Saleen and saw no greed in his eyes. Saleen’s blue eyes looked like the surface of a frozen lake, completely devoid of ripples and movement.

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