Chapter 23: Eye of Insight
Ig caught the tree root thrown by the girl. His gaze fell upon it, and hesitation flickered in his heart.
The Dragon Crystal Flame Burst King Tree… from its name, it seemed to be a flame-elemental treant demonic beast. And judging by the hint of excitement in Verafia’s eyes, it was something she wouldn’t simply ignore.
Anything that piqued the interest of this young lady, a Phoenix, couldn’t possibly be some “inferior” Silver or Gold Rank item.
Given Ig’s lackluster “Appraisal” talent, if he were to use it on something far beyond his limits, his spiritual sea might just explode!
“Ig, you really are cautious… Sigh, I won’t tease you anymore. There isn’t a trace of demonic power left here, otherwise it would have been noticed long ago. Appraise it with peace of mind, you definitely won’t die!”
Verafia urged him on, waving her little fists and then proudly lifting her little face.
“Besides, with this lady by your side, what could possibly happen! Hurry up!”
Ig smiled. Although he always felt that this willful young lady was toying with him, the girl’s last words somehow gave him a sense of peace.
Ig brought the “Dragon Crystal Flame Burst King Tree Root” before his eyes.
Unlike before, where information was directly displayed, and unlike previously when he couldn’t withstand the pressure and suffered a backlash to his spiritual power, Ig’s vision was now a vast, boundless white. It was as if the true information was concealed by something far beyond his comprehension…
Suddenly, Ig felt his finger touched by a delicate and tender fingertip. The young man started in surprise, but before he could think further, a stream of spiritual power, clear and gentle like a flowing stream, moved in a peculiar pattern, touching the “vast white” before his eyes.
As if snow melting under flames, the “Gate of True Knowledge” opened, and in his spiritual sea, text etched like crystal in a common tongue unfurled.
—
Appraisal:
Dragon Crystal Flame Burst King Tree Root
Type: Material
Rarity: Worn
Evaluation: Root of a Platinum Rank Dragon Crystal Flame Burst King Tree, broken a month ago in the Setting Sun Forest on the northern outskirts of Vist City when facing the invasion of ????. The power it once contained has been completely depleted.
—
“It can do this?”
Ig’s eyes widened. He was utterly incredulous that his talent could reveal such information.
The young man instinctively turned his head. Beside him, Verafia’s raised little face wore an expression that mirrored Ig’s thoughts, filled with smug satisfaction: “Just as this lady predicted.”
“Miss Verafia, this…”
Ig hesitated for a moment before asking.
Ig knew his talent well; he could only “appraise” some superficial information at most. This was naturally because of the girl beside him.
And the peculiar pattern the girl’s spiritual power had outlined earlier…
“Isn’t this simple? I told you before, for this kind of ‘True Eye’ talent, besides the influence of karma, insight, and knowledge, the stronger the basic spiritual power, the higher the level of ‘insight,’ and the more information you can see!”
The girl swayed her slender fingers like jade, raising her eyebrows as she spoke. However, she suddenly noticed the slightly stunned expression on the young man before her.
“Eh, why the expression… Did I not say? But what’s so surprising about such common knowledge! Can’t you also see the information on Lothel’s human sword?”
“Common knowledge… it should be common knowledge for your Phoenix clan, shouldn’t it? Even Father has never heard of such a talent.”
Ig’s mouth twitched slightly, but upon reflection, he did feel that what the girl said had some truth to it.
“Also, ‘True Eye,’ and the Eye of Insight that Miss Verafia mentioned… they sound like a series of abilities. Should I try doing what she did earlier?”
Ig thought to himself. In his spiritual sea, the traces left by the girl’s previous spiritual power were clearly engraved.
The young man tried to simulate it himself.
Verafia suddenly stopped speaking and quietly gazed at him. A hint of a smile flickered in her molten-gold, magnificent pupils. She could naturally sense Ig’s attempt.
“True Eye… this is more than just impressive.”
She muttered inwardly. She had long suspected the young man’s talent, and this was merely further confirmation.
Her lips curved slightly. Verafia suddenly raised her little face again, and her clear, silver-like voice was once again filled with delight.
“En, as this lady expected, the Dragon Crystal Flame Burst King Tree in the Setting Sun Forest is indeed Platinum Rank. I don’t know what injured it, but it definitely won’t be my match!”
The girl spoke, and a gleam flashed in her big eyes. Because of the joy evident on her little face, Verafia’s beautiful eyebrows curved into a pair of lovely crescent moons.
“Moreover, I’ve also heard that this kind of demon tree is only born from a Dragon’s blood. If we can also find this dragon, I’ll have you appraise it a few more times to get more accurate information… Hmph hmph, this lady’s tonic is secured!”
Looking at the girl’s happy expression, Ig’s mood instantly lifted.
Ig also took the opportunity to advise her:
“Young Lady, since it’s like this, then we should…”
“Of course, we should look for any suitable flame-elemental sacred relics here first! This lady is starving!”
Verafia said as a matter of course, taking small steps forward.
“But, don’t you already have information about this Dragon Crystal Flame Burst King Tree, so why…”
“Hey, hey, this is just a Platinum Rank little demonic creature, how can it satisfy this lady! Besides, what if the information you appraise is wrong, or what if they run away?”
The girl turned her small face back in dissatisfaction, grabbed Ig’s arm with her little hand, and without further ado, pulled him forward.
“In short, just follow this lady!”
…
“Dragon Crystal Flame Burst King Tree… and this girl, interesting.”
A tall figure walked past, his deliberately lowered voice carrying a hint of a smile.
—
At a uniquely decorated restaurant next to the Balosais Trade Union.
After quickly running to the “high-end area” of the trade union building and just as quickly running back down, Verafia and Ig were now sitting opposite each other at a table, feasting on a small table of Vist special dishes.
However, compared to Verafia, who was enthusiastically enjoying her meal, Ig opposite her looked stunned and on the verge of tears.
Verafia’s “quick comings and goings” were naturally not fruitless. On the contrary, after only a few laps, the girl had her eye on what she wanted:
A high-grade flame magic crystal, like one bathed in flames, the relic of a Star Radiance powerful demonic beast, the Fire Bath Dragon Wolf King.
For such a high-grade item, which was only second to Saint Rank and possessed a trace of dragon bloodline, it was enough for a Saint Rank expert to use in alchemy and forging swords. Even with some flaws and damage, its price would naturally not be cheap.
The price was a staggering twelve hundred gold coins, a sum that even a Count Lord could not easily dismiss. At that moment, Ig was so shocked he almost pulled the girl and turned to leave.
However, as a “weak human” of only Bronze Rank, Ig naturally couldn’t move Verafia.
Moreover, seeing the displeasure on the girl’s little face and the sudden threat flashing in her big eyes, the young man had no choice but to steel himself, bring out all his belongings, and find the responsible manager, even mentioning his father’s name and title.
“One hundred gold coins? That’s far from enough. How about this, Young Master Ig, Marquis Eggesti once did us a favor in Vist City. Why don’t you pay a portion temporarily, and the Balosais Trade Union trusts your reputation as a direct descendant of the Landischlopen family for the remainder.”
In the end, Verafia received her spoils with a satisfied expression. Ig, on the other hand, felt like spitting blood as he handed over all his belongings – the understanding manager lady even left him one Kingdom Gold Coin.
Ig looked at Verafia, the exquisitely beautiful and cute doll-like young lady opposite him who seemed to be enthusiastically enjoying Vist’s specialty dishes, and felt despair in his heart:
In less than half a day, all the wealth he had accumulated for over ten years was gone, and he was in debt ten times over!
This wasn’t just a young lady who spent without earning! Even the family treasury wouldn’t be enough to sustain such spending!
