Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System-Chapter 116 - 110: Wizard’s Scripture

’Use Qi to replace Dimensional Energy.’

This idea was hardly a sudden whim on Murphy’s part.

If he were relying solely on the Wizard knowledge he’d acquired from Saren, he would never have dared to attempt Cultivation so recklessly.

It was just like the Titan’s Blood Crystal he’d received from Ailendra, which he still hadn’t touched.

"What are you so lost in thought about?" Aurora asked softly. The tip of her right finger, dusted with Star Moon Shimmer Powder, caressed Murphy’s cheek, its faint purple glow shimmering in the candlelight.

Murphy snapped out of his daze and gently took her right hand. He laced their fingers together, giving them a firm squeeze. "Just thinking how well these star and moon patterns suit you."

’Although I’ve already run a few experiments on small animals, the results are far from enough to confirm the safety of the Titan’s Blood Crystal.’

’For me, safety has to be the top priority, no matter what.’

"Speaking of which," Aurora said, using her left hand to gently brush a sweat-dampened golden curl from her cheek, "at the last tea party, all the ladies were saying this kind of shimmering dye is the latest trend in Silver Radiance City."

As the bustling capital of the Douglas Duke Domain and home to the Duke’s Mansion, Silver Radiance City had always set the fashion trends for the entire Northern Territory.

"Maybe you should try it too?" Aurora suggested playfully. "I hear some noblemen are even painting their nails these days."

Murphy gently stroked her delicate skin. "No thanks. I prefer seeing you all dressed up and looking beautiful."

’The Titan’s Blood Crystal isn’t like the Knight’s Secret Medicine I happened to confiscate from Rotton.’

’And this was something Ailendra, a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice, had given me for a specific reason. How could I not be wary?’ 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"You know," Aurora said, curling up against Murphy, her toes instinctively doing the same, "the new musician has been playing some wonderful pieces lately."

’But now that I have Margaret, things are different.’

’On my orders, the Princess will be compiling a collection of precious Wizard’s Scriptures from the Royal Family’s library for me.’

’Of course, I don’t trust Margaret completely. But compared to Saren of unknown origin and the mysterious Ailendra, a Princess under my control is at least somewhat more reliable.’

"Do you want to come listen sometime?" Aurora murmured in Murphy’s arms, her voice tinged with a playful coyness. "That piece, ’Violet Under the Moonlight,’ is truly beautiful."

"Alright," Murphy said, holding Aurora tighter and feeling her warmth. "Once I’m done with all this, we’ll go and listen together."

"It’s a promise..." Aurora whispered. As she stretched, her previously curled toes naturally straightened.

The faint purple dye on her pale toes twinkled with fine starlight, complementing the star and moon patterns on her fingers.

’Once Margaret delivers those Wizard’s Scriptures, I’ll be able to study the essence of Magic more systematically. It won’t be too late to try substituting it with Qi then.’

’As for the royal tax, that is indeed quite a tricky issue.’

’This is a war tax levied directly by the Royal Family and the Church Court. There’s very little room for Margaret to negotiate.’

’I have to pay this tax one way or another, unless I plan on making an enemy of the entire aristocracy and the Church Court.’

’But there’s a hidden catch to all this.’

’The payment deadline is the key. Why specifically send Princess Margaret and Archbishop John to collect the tax in person?’

’It’s because without their supervision, local Lords often use all sorts of excuses to delay payment, disrupting the treasury’s cash flow.’

Margaret had assured him last night, "Master, you needn’t worry about the tax. I have my ways of raising the money for you from the other Lords."

"Don’t do anything unnecessary."

"Rest assured, my jealous master."

...

「White Maple Territory, also known as the White Territory.」

Lord White slammed his palm on the desk, the impact nearly toppling the inkwell.

"Forty thousand Gold Coins!" he roared, his anger uncontrollable. "The Royal Family and the Church Court have gone too far! Why don’t they just start robbing people? Wouldn’t they make more money that way?"

A young Arthur White, the heir to the White Maple Territory, stood to one side. He spoke up cautiously, "Father, why don’t we request that Duke Douglas uphold justice for us? With his prestige..."

"Uphold justice?" Lord White sneered, his eyes flashing with derision. "They’re all in it together! Do you have any idea why our ’beloved Lord Duke’ didn’t come to collect the tax himself this time?"

He moved closer to his son and lowered his voice. "It’s so that afterward, he can demand a refund from the Royal Family and the Church Court in the name of ’getting justice for us,’ and then skim the majority off the top as his ’service fee’!"

Arthur hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Then... why don’t we apply to pay in installments, like the Duval Territory? Her Highness the Princess seemed quite reasonable, and..." His voice trailed off as a blush crept up his face. "She’s incredibly beautiful, and she was so gentle with me. It seemed like she..."

"Fool!" Lord White exploded in a rage. "You’re as much of a fool as that Sylvan next door! How do you think the news about paying in installments got out? It’s a trap set by the Royal Family! Once you agree to installments, they have a legitimate reason to interfere in the territory’s affairs!"

He demanded sharply, "You say Her Highness the Princess has taken an interest in you? Then let me ask you, have you even touched her hand? Or so much as brushed her fingertips?"

"N-no..." Arthur stammered.

"And to think you grew up surrounded by women!" Lord White scolded in exasperation. "Don’t you even understand something so simple? If a woman is interested in you, the first thing she’ll offer is physical touch. She won’t even let you brush against her sleeve, which means you’ve clearly fallen for her bewitching act! These royal ladies are masters at luring men in with their charms! You think she’s taken a liking to you? She’s taken a liking to the White Maple Territory’s coffers!"

Arthur lowered his head in shame, his voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. "Father, I was wrong."

Lord White’s expression softened, and he stroked his beard with satisfaction. "That’s why a woman like the Thirteenth Princess is too much for a young man like you to handle. Let your father take over."

Arthur’s head snapped up, his face a mask of shock. "Father... You mean to say?"

"What?" Lord White narrowed his eyes. "Do you think your father is unworthy of a young princess?"

He turned to gaze out the window at the sprawling white maple forest, his voice filled with a certain longing. "If I can become the Thirteenth Princess’s lover, this tax of forty thousand Gold Coins... might still be negotiable."

The young heir stood rooted to the spot, mouth agape, utterly speechless.

...

「North of the Duval Territory, beyond the Black Wood Forest Outpost, lay the Cold Frost Viscount Domain of the Rosenia Kingdom.」

Deep winter had arrived. A bone-chilling wind howled through the valleys, whipping up flurries of snow.

In this desolate, silver-draped land, several figures in gray robes sat around an extinguished campfire like statues, completely unfazed by the severe cold.

One of them broke the silence first, their voice so steady it was hard to believe they were speaking in the sub-zero cold. "Where did Saren go? It’s been almost a month with no word from him."

A cloud of mist coalesced near the campfire, and a hoarse voice emerged from within. "He went to the Duval Territory. Said he was looking for some fun."

"Looking for fun?" another person sneered sarcastically. "I hear Archbishop John of the Truth Church Court is passing through that area. Ten to one he’s run into trouble."

A short, stout figure shot his head up. "Dead? That can’t happen! It’ll ruin our plans!"

The hoarse voice from before spoke again. "Which is why the plan needs to be adjusted."

"Where do we adjust it to?" someone pressed.

The mist dissipated, revealing a face covered in tattoos. "The Duval Territory, for now. I hear it hasn’t been designated as a church district, and they just agreed to the Royal Family’s installment plan for the tax."

"How foolish," a tall, lanky man across the campfire sneered. "As if you can just delay paying the Royal Family’s taxes. Still..."

He gave a sinister smile. "That Baron won’t have to worry about taxes for much longer."

"Precisely." The tattooed man’s voice was laced with cruelty. "We’ll be merciful and free him from the Royal Family’s exploitation forever. What a kindness."

A younger-sounding voice chimed in, "I just wish we could act faster."

"What are you talking about?" the lanky man retorted impatiently. "Don’t you need to allocate resources to start a war? Don’t you need to draw up plans? We’re already moving fast enough as it is."

The young voice repeated, "And I’m saying I wish we were faster."

The tattooed man raised a hand to stop the argument. "Alright, no need to be anxious. War will break out eventually. What we need to consider now is how to operate covertly under the dual surveillance of the Church Court and the Shepherd Headquarter District. If our preparations are lacking, we will all be reduced to cinders in the judgment fire of the God of Truth."

"Understood," the others replied in unison.

Their voices echoed through the frozen valley, merging with the howling wind.