Chapter 655: PAID

Midnight passed, and noon arrived.

It was finally time to leave for Zhongyuan.

Feeling the passage of time, I opened my eyes in the prepared quarters.

Huuuuu.

As I exhaled the breath I had been holding, energy accompanied it, slowly dispersing.

The circulating energy settled and seeped into my heart.

“Hmm.”

It was a strange sensation.

Something similar to inner energy, yet distinctly different.

If I were to describe it, it wasn’t unpleasant, but it felt awkward—an odd fit.

‘Peculiar.’

Truly peculiar.

Several hours ago, in the underground chamber with the Palace Lord, I had gained the power to use enchantments.

The Palace Lord called it a "ring," and I agreed that the name was fitting.

A ring was indeed bound around my heart.

Unlike the inner energy gathered in my middle dantian, the ring hovered outside my heart, spinning slowly.

By using the technique I had acquired in the underground chamber, I formed the ring.

The more I studied it, the more surprising it became—because the number of rings increased.

The single ring had become two.

‘What’s the difference?’

Why had it doubled overnight?

All I did was breathe normally.

‘I don’t get it.’

Shaking my head, I rose from the bed and grabbed the book beside me.

It was the book on enchantments the Palace Lord had given me.

Ah, not the initial technique I had received, but the book they handed over afterward.

Initially, the Palace Lord had refused to give it to me, claiming it was against the rules.

However, when I demonstrated that I had successfully formed one ring, they relented and presented it to me as a gift.

‘What did they say when they handed it over?’

Something about it being an investment in my "brilliant talent."

How embarrassing.

‘Brilliant talent, my foot.’

The absurdity of the statement made me chuckle.

‘What’s the point of talent if it’s for something useless?’

Judging by the Palace Lord’s reaction, I might indeed have a knack for enchantments.

But even if I did, what use was it?

With martial arts training already demanding enough, I didn’t have the luxury to devote myself to enchantments.

‘I only picked it up because it seemed potentially useful.’

I hadn’t thought deeply about how I’d use it later.

Even mastering it didn’t seem like it would aid my growth in martial arts.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘I’ll probably learn it since it’s not too hard.’

But I doubted I’d dedicate much effort to it.

I had neither the time nor the leisure for that.

‘And who would even teach me?’

In martial arts, I had Paejon pushing me to my limits and occasionally my father giving me guidance. That was fine.

But when it came to enchantments, there was no one suitable to teach me.

If I stayed longer at the Ice Palace, that might have been different, but it was time to return to Zhongyuan.

‘Maybe I should ask the Divine Doctor?’

Regarding the book I gave you. It would be best to read it only after forming more than two rings.

Young Master Gu.

Thank you for saving the Northern Sea. I regret there is so little I can do to repay you.

I’ll do my best.