Chapter 166 - Virtuous Phantasms1 versus Magic Pets
Zhao Hai lightly laughed. âMiss Laura is too serious. Later on, I will need much help from the Young Lady.â
After Zhao Hai said that, Searle, who had walked out of the room earlier, came back with a big box. This box was around a meter long, half a meter wide, and about thirteen centimeters thick. Moreover, Searle handled the box with care, as if he were holding a newborn baby.
Zhao Hai looked curiously at Searle, then turned his head puzzledly towards Laura and asked, âMiss Laura, what is this?â
Laura smiled. âThis is the gift I prepared for Mister.â
Searle placed the box softly on the table and opened the lid slowly.
Zhao Hai looked into the box and saw that there was some hay inside it. There were five very large eggs placed on the hay, and each egg was around 40 centimeters3 long and greater than ten centimeters in diameter. What was more strange was that the color of each egg was different. Their hues were yellow, blue, red, green4, and purple.
Zhao Hai was puzzled as he examined the eggs while Green, startled, said, âVirtuous Phantasm colored eggs!â
Gawking, Zhao Hai asked, âVirtuous Phantasm colored eggs? What's that?â
Green looked at the five eggs and explained, âVirtuous Phantasms are special magic beasts and are very rare on the continent. This type of magic beast doesnât have any attack skills of their own.
âHowever, it has a very unusual ability. They can be used as an auxiliary. So long as a human obtains an egg of a Virtuous Phantasm, once they hatch, they can form a contract with the Virtuous Phantasm slowly. This is how you can use a Virtuous Phantasm. Moreover, they can help their master attract magic elements in order to aid them in battles. An adult Virtuous Phantasm can even turn into a weapon, helmet, or piece of armor. Thatâs why on the continent, there is something known as biological magic staffs5 or living armor6.â
Zhao Hai was in a daze. He hadnât thought that there would really be something like this, and couldnât help but look at the eggs with a pair of shining eyes.
Laura, on the other hand, was surprised to find out that Green knew so much about Virtuous Phantasms. Anyone who knew so stuff about Virtuous Phantasms would definitely not be any average person. Low rank warriors and magicians didnât even know the existence of these beasts. She didnât think that Green would know so much about it, which made her a lot more curious as to what was Greenâs real identity.
Green carefully examined the eggs, sighed, and said, âI am sure that these are Virtuous Phantasm colored eggs. They are different from the other magic beasts eggs because the eggs of Virtuous Phantasms have a natal attribute associated with their color. These eggs should be of the earth element, lightning element, water element, wind element, and fire element, all of which are very rare. Just these eggs alone would have a total value of over fifty thousand gold coins. They probably wouldnât even have a real market price.â
Zhao Hai was shocked. He hadnât thought that these eggs would be so unexpectedly precious. No wonder Searle had been so careful when handling the boxes. If these eggs were to be damaged, it would only mean that they were throwing away fifty thousand gold coins.
Zhao Hai gently covered the box and slowly closed his eyes. He sat in his chair and didnât speak for some time. Laura looked at Zhao Haiâs appearance and her heart couldnât help but clench.
Within this period of time, she had a certain understanding of Zhao Haiâs attitude towards receiving gifts. Since this gift was somewhat expensive, Zhao Hai might not necessarily receive it. Even if he did, she feared that he would also wish to return a gift to her. Looking at Zhao Haiâs appearance, it appeared that he was satisfied with this gift and was already thinking about what gift to give in return. If he wanted to give a gift in return, it wouldnât be another Virtuous Phantasm colored egg. 7.
Laura didnât dare disturb Zhao Hai as she understood the temperament of Zhao Hai. She knew that if Zhao Hai didnât want to receive the gift, then she wouldnât be able to persuade him, so Zhao Hai would probably end up not accept it.
After some time, Zhao Hai breathed out. He opened his eyes and looked at Laura. âMiss Laura, your gift really is too expensive. I donât want to receive it, but this gift is very important to me, so I will take it.â
Lauraâs face was like a blossoming flower as she smiled upon hearing what Zhao Hai said. She was afraid that Zhao Hai wouldnât receive the gift, but was glad he did and hastily said, âThis is a gift prepared for Mister, so please donât be too polite.â
Zhao Hai waved his hand, smiled, and said, âI accepted such an expensive gift from Miss Laura, so if I donât give anything back to the Young Lady, then it wonât be justified. I know that Miss Laura is a knight, so I should give you something that a knight needs.â
He smiled after saying it and Green knew what Zhao Hai wanted to give. Green hastily said, âMasterâŠâ
Zhao Hai waved his hand. âItâs all right, Miss Laura is to be trusted. Moreover, she is a person that knows the severity of things. We are lucky to have Miss Laura helping us, so giving her something in return is normal.â
Laura was actually shocked after seeing how they were acting. She didnât have any idea what Zhao Hai might be giving her in return, probably something of precious value comparable with the Virtuous Phantasm colored eggs that sheâd given.
Waving his hand, Zhao Hai told Green to hand over the Magic Peach8 Core and then placed it in front of Laura. He said, âThis little thing is what Iâm giving to Miss Laura.â
Laura looked puzzledly at the little thing. Even after careful observations, she couldnât find out anything different about it. Finally, she looked at Zhao Hai, confused.
Zhao Hai laughed. âNo wonder Young Lady doesnât know about this thing. This thing is something I obtained and is possibly an ancient magic product9. To tell you the truth, Young Lady, its function is mainly as a Pet Jewel.â
Laura, still puzzled as she looked at the item in her hand, murmured, âPet pig?â She was still thinking about Virtuous Phantasms and not about jewels, thus, she thought it was a pig.10
Zhao Hai smiled upon seeing that Lauraâs expression wasnât right, then said, âIt is a Pet Jewel, not a Pet Pig. This thing can help Miss Laura receive a Magic Pet, no matter what rank, no matter how large. So long as Miss Laura wishes for it, you can rein them in by using this little thing. The method is very simple; just place a drop of Miss Lauraâs blood on the Pet Jewel, then collect a drop of blood from the Magic Beast and also place it on the Pet Jewel.
âMiss can also use the Pet Jewel normally. When in battle, the Magic Pet you subdued will be interlinked with the Young Ladyâs mind, and you can easily command them. Also, even if they are seriously injured, so long as they didnât die and as long as the Magic Pet touches the jewel in time, the Magic Pet can recover automatically.â
Laura froze. A Magic Pet was an existence that was a lot more precious than a Virtuous Phantasm. Although it could be said that Virtuous Phantasms were very convenient as they could turn into armors and weapons, they also required some form of consumable in return. It wouldnât just be a common thing, but rather the battle qi of warriors or a magicianâs magic power.
Most importantly, Virtuous Phantasms fluctuated when changing into a weapon, which wasnât very good. The weapon would be of a very low grade. Even if it were finely forged and wielded by a superior warrior, the only advantage was that one could accumulate magic elements, enabling them to turn the weapon into a magic weapon.
However, magic beasts were different. Magic beasts had a high rank and a powerful strength. If one could get a big dragon to become a Magic Pet, that would almost be equal to being unmatched in the world.
Moreover, this thing, this Magic Peach Core, could cure the injuries of the magic beast and could also interlink the minds of the master and the Magic Pet. With regards to being a knight, there would be no hesitation upon trading five Virtuous Phantasms, or even ten for this thing.
Laura blankly held the Magic Peach Core. She didnât know that it was just a peach seed. Moreover, it was being regarded as an ancient magic product. The number of such ancient magic products on the continent was far too few and were even desired by deities. This was why Laura easily believed that it was an ancient magic product.
Green, who was beside Zhao Hai, wanted to laugh. He hadnât thought that Zhao Hai would say that it was an ancient magic product. Green laughed inside and thought that Zhao Hai was really talented. Nobody would suspect that this thing unexpectedly came from the inside of a plant.11
After some time, Laura revealed an awed expression, as if she were holding something rare instead of just holding a Magic Peach Core. Her eyes were sad as she gently placed the thing on the table and finally said to Zhao Hai, âThis is too unfair to Mister. This gift is too expensive and more precious than the five Virtuous Phantasm colored eggs. Thus, I cannot receive it.â
Zhao Hai faintly smiled. âMiss Laura is too polite. Please accept it as this thing would be more useful to you. However, donât think that this is such a good thing. Be careful when using it, otherwise it will bring you a great deal of trouble.â
Laura was not stupid and immediately understood. Just like what Zhao Hai had said, if she didnât use it carefully, this thing would become a curse.
Zhao Hai looked at Lauraâs appearance, smiled, and said, âFor Miss Laura, this thing will be very useful. However, the danger it represents is very large. If Miss Laura doesnât want to receive it, then I will not force you.â
Laura looked at the Magic Peach Core on the table, then looked at Zhao Hai and clenched her teeth. Finally, she decided to take the Magic Peach Core and carefully embraced it. Then she bowed to Zhao Hai and said, âLaura will have to apologize to Mister Zhao Hai.â
Zhao Hai waved his hand and said, âMiss Laura is too polite. This was an equal exchange, thus, you donât owe me anything.â
Laura smiled bitterly. How could she not owe anything to him? Although five Virtuous Phantasm colored eggs were precious, they could not be compared to the unique ancient magic products of the continent. The difference wasnât as simple as just being a few streets apart.
Zhao Hai firmly said to Laura, âMiss Laura, I do hope that you wonât tell anyone that I am the one who gave you this Pet Jewel. Ok?â
Laura nodded and said, âMister, rest assured that I will not say anything. But if one day, some people chase me down in order to kill me because of this Pet Jewel, I ask Mister to save me.â
Zhao Hai smiled at Laura, and couldnât help but laugh as he knew that Laura was cracking a joke. Everyone knew about Laura. Donât even look at just his relationship with her, there was also Quinn John, who wasnât an average person. In addition, she was of the Markey Dell clan. On the continent, the number of people who dared to move against her would only be a few.
Notes:
- This chapter was MTL'ed. Please leave a comment for constructive criticisms and advice.
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