Lord Shenxiu-Chapter 514: Mysterious System (Requesting Monthly Pass)

"From commoner to Major General... Gale will definitely obtain a title, that is, from commoner to nobility..."

Johan’s eyes brimmed with yearning.

For him, Gale was his dream!

"Is there no other way besides joining the military or the Church?" Lady Lily felt deeply disappointed.

"Not necessarily. In Kaleston, there’s a huge underground market... There, transactions regarding the first three ranks are very common, but one must be vigilant, as that place is rife with false knowledge and counterfeit goods, such as some dead-end rank professions that are often dumped, in hopes of recouping research funds and gathering more experimental data..."

Kerry let out a sigh, "Moreover... strictly speaking, that’s illegal and unprotected. Even if one is scammed or even loses their life over it, there’s no one to take responsibility... Furthermore, to privately research the arcane requires substantial wealth, very substantial, because the secrets of a mere first rank typically sell for around 100 gold pounds."

Gold pounds were the highest currency denomination in the Clement Kingdom, a type of gold coin.

At this moment, many such darling coins lay quietly in Zhong Shenxiu’s pocket.

On their obverse was the portrait of the founding King — Clement; on the reverse, a double-headed dragon; their edges were serrated to prevent clipping, heavy, and high in gold content.

Naturally, the gold pounds in Zhong Shenxiu’s hands hadn’t been stolen or snatched but had been privately minted.

After all, who among cultivators couldn’t refine artifacts?

Moreover, he guaranteed these gold pounds were even truer than the real thing, after all, they were crafted from the gold of the East, indistinguishable in gold content.

It was just for the convenience of circulation.

He had previously taken out twenty coins for use, and if needed more, he could even first build a mint in the Wuji Pearl, after all, there were so many people needing something to do.

"100 gold pounds, 100 gold pounds..."

Johan fell into a daze; he hadn’t seen a single gold pound in his life. After a long while, a bitter smile emerged on his face: ’Originally... I planned to work part-time and save up money to buy arcane knowledge...’

Zhong Shenxiu rolled his eyes upon hearing this: ’Working to support studying arcane knowledge, do you think you’re playing a game?’

"That’s just the basics. If subsequent needs for elixirs are high-level, or rituals require the use of gems and other precious materials, it’s all a heavy burden..."

Kerry’s voice was low, for even he couldn’t afford it.

Lady Lily too issued a sigh of the impoverished.

"Although one hasn’t immediately entered the hall of the arcane, just loitering at the doorway, appreciating that sliver of radiance, is enough to excite people, isn’t it?"

Shenxiu chuckled lightly, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere: "According to Mr. Kerry, there are many ways to ascend the arcane ranks, but most have significant flaws. Those few complete paths, are they all controlled by major forces or ancient families?"

"Indeed, so joining them is the best approach." Kerry sighed: "I have received the admissions letter from the Medici Royal Academy and plan to undergo three years of study in Kaleston. I believe that as long as my performance is exceptional, I will definitely be noticed."

’Right, the college students of this era, ’Heavenly Pride’ doesn’t even begin to describe them...’

Zhong Shenxiu saw Lady Lily’s admiring gaze beside him, unsurprised.

"I still want to learn more about the arcane."

He thought for a moment, then took out five gold pounds and placed them, their dazzling luster in a neat row on the table, instantly attracting the eyes of Johan and Lady Lily: "And knowledge has its price, so I choose to buy it, such as information about the rank positions of the great families and the Church."

’While for a superior to reward a subordinate with money is an honorable deed, what makes him think he’s nobler than Mr. Kerry?’

Witnessing this scene, Lady Lily suddenly felt somewhat angry.

Western concepts differ from those of the East; receiving a gift from a superior is a matter of great honor, but the premise is that the other party truly is a superior.

"No problem... I’ve always been an enthusiast of the arcane, it’s just unfortunate that public knowledge only goes up to the fifth rank..."

What Kerry did next surprisingly disappointed Lady Lily, as he smiled and accepted the coins: "As for the complete chains held by the great families and the Church... hmm, let’s start with the Royal Medici Family, which, along with its branches, controls a series of very fearsome professions. Those extraordinaries can conduct divination, interrogate souls, enslave evil spirits... I only know that their first rank is — [Spirit Child]!"

’I can probably guess that their fourth rank is — [Pastor], likely preceded by Spirit Summoner...’

Zhong Shanxiu suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

’So to speak, the fifth rank in the West, known as legendary, is equivalent to Primordial Pill? And that Primordial Pill Cultivator just now, was easily captured by a sixth rank Primordial Spirit, while the remaining unfortunate Divine Power Practitioners were besieged by more fourth rank extraordinaries, and all met their downfall...’

’Right, I can make some correspondence with the earlier ranks, but the sixth rank might not correspond to Primordial Spirit... Eastern and Western systems are inherently different; how can they be strictly matched? Perhaps here, the sixth and seventh ranks equate to a complete stage of Primordial Spirit, or maybe their seventh rank is equivalent to achieving immortality through dissolution? Without experiencing it for oneself, who can be certain?’

’And ’equivalent’ and ’corresponding’ are very vague concepts, the true strength is only clear after you clash...’

’The [Pastor] I obtained initially clearly belongs to a rank position controlled by the Medici Family. If I had been here then, maybe I would have climbed the arcane hierarchy...’

Seeing Johan looking a bit constrained, he said with a smile: "Sharing is also a virtue; let’s listen together."

"Although I’ve researched many public texts, the arcane is too vast, and knowledge above the legend rank is strictly locked up and kept secret, so I’ve only done some trivial summarization and compilation..."

Kerry was somewhat embarrassed but continued: "The military mainstream rank is [Soldier], which can advance to the second rank of [Warrior]. It’s said here there are branches, the [Warriors] at the third rank have two choices, [Knight] and [Swordsman]... Yes, the chain is not a single line but can be like a large tree with branches. For the fourth rank, I’m not too familiar, and only because of Major General Gale’s matter did I learn that the [Knight] branch, upon advancing to the fifth rank, becomes [Dragon Knight]!"

"Additionally, the Traveler Church controls the Believer rank positions. The first rank is called [Acolyte], the second rank is [Believer], the third rank is [Assistant Pastor], there might be [Bishop] after that, but I’m not clear on it’s exact hierarchy..."

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