My inventory is full of monster materials.

The next day, the morning light pierced through the thin mist and shone into the room through the window.

Mark hadn't slept all night, but he was unusually energetic. After a quick wash, he shouldered his packed traveler's backpack and went downstairs.

Just as I stepped out of the stairwell, a man's wail came from the kitchen.

"Damn it! Giant rats have invaded! All the food I prepared last night has been eaten!"

Mark paused, a hint of guilt flashing across his face, thinking that the kitchen incident must have been exposed.

Then Mark saw people coming and going in the kitchen, with waitresses and helpers busily counting ingredients and washing kitchen utensils.

Even Paul, the hotel manager, was in a panic, forgetting to wipe his most beloved glass.

Mark became increasingly embarrassed by the sight, so he took out a gold coin from his pocket, flicked it with his fingertip, and the gold coin flew through the air in an arc towards Paul.

"Hey! Lao Luo, catch!"

"Um?"

Paul grabbed the gold coin, initially looking at Mark with a puzzled expression, but soon realized what he had done, his eyes widened in anger, and he squeezed the gold coin out like soft mud.

"You brat, is this what you did?!"

"!"

Mark was startled. A blur of images flashed before his eyes, but just then, his stomach rumbled loudly.

The two stared at each other awkwardly for a dozen seconds, then Mark had a sudden inspiration and pointed at his stomach, cursing.

"It's all its fault, it has nothing to do with me."

"snort."

Old Luo snorted coldly, released the completely deformed gold coin from his hand, and warned.

"You little brat, at least give me a heads-up, and don't mess around like this again!"

"Next time for sure! Next time for sure!"

Mark apologized with a forced smile, then fled the hotel as if escaping.

As soon as Mark stepped out of the hotel, he saw a two-horse-drawn caravan slowly pulling up to the side of the road.

Just then, a familiar head popped out from behind the coachman; it was Henry, waving and calling out.

"Hey Mark, get in the car! We're just one person short!"

"Coming right away!"

Mark quickly walked around to the back of the carriage, lifted the curtain, and saw that, sure enough, besides Henry, Emily and Brady were also inside. The two greeted him with smiles.

Good day, Mr. Mark.

"Big brother, come quick! I saved you the most comfortable spot!"

Mark laughed and grabbed the edge of the canopy to climb over. Henry quickly stepped forward, supported the heavy travel backpack, patted it curiously, and asked.

"Mark, why did you bring so much stuff?"

"It's always better to be prepared when you're traveling."

After Mark climbed into the carriage and settled in, he was surprised to find that there were only four of them inside.

"Henry, you're really generous! You actually chartered the whole car?"

"yes."

Big Henry scratched his head and gave a good-natured smile.

"It's a two-day journey from Pinewood Town to Sergei City. Chartering the whole vehicle will make things more comfortable for everyone."

Mark was about to praise Henry for his subtlety when Brady excitedly shouted out first.

"Let's go! Destination: Sergei City!"

"Is this your first time visiting a lord's city?"

"Yeah! What about you, big brother?"

"Me too."

...

……

……

After two days and one night of travel, the carriage only rested for one night at a post station along the way, and then traveled smoothly southward.

On the morning of the third day, the outline of a magnificent city began to appear faintly at the end of the road.

Inside the car, Brady had long lost his initial excitement and was fast asleep, head drooping and drooling.

Henry sat on the bench, his fingers gently stroking a small stone sculpture of a young girl, his eyes soft and a silly grin on his face.

Emily held the holy book, bowing her head and silently reciting the scriptures, her expression devout and focused.

Mark was also holding a book, reading it very carefully. The cover had the words "Model and Ritual of the 1st Ring Spell - Frostbolt" printed in large, clear letters.

Since acquiring this skill book, Mark has devoted his spare time to studying magic, and now he has finally made progress.

A phantom light curtain flickered before my eyes.

Learned the first-level spell "Frostbolt".

"Frostbolt Lv1 (Green)": Fires an arrow formed from ice element, dealing frost and piercing damage to a single target, and increasing spell damage by 10%.

Mark slowly closed the skill book, rubbed his eyes, his mind still racing.

According to the normal pattern of spell learning:

With an Intelligence stat of 10, a spellcaster can easily learn a 0-ring spell within a year.

If your intelligence is below 10, you will need to spend more time and effort; conversely, the higher your intelligence, the easier it is to learn spells.

This is why one of the entry requirements for a mage apprentice is an intelligence level of 10.

Similarly, the learning threshold for a 1st-circle spell is 15 points of Intelligence.

Mark's current intelligence is as high as 20 points, which is not only 5 points higher than the standard intelligence, but also an exponential increase in his ability to learn spells.

In addition, the ice element affinity brought by "Frostblood III" allowed Mark to easily master "Frost Arrow" in six or seven days.

Mark was overjoyed to have just learned a new spell, and his playful nature led him to want to test its effects.

Mark extended his index and middle fingers and brought them together. The azure magic within him quickly gathered at his fingertips, radiating a solid azure light.

Immediately, Mark lightly flicked his finger in the air, and an arrow made entirely of ice floated before his eyes.

The arrow shaft is crystal clear, gleaming with a cold blue light. The arrowhead is sharp and pointed, and the fletching is covered with tiny ice fibers. When a breeze blows, it even creates tiny ice flowers.

Mark looked up at the carriage and tapped the window with his fingertip, letting out a soft sound.

"go!"

call out!

The ice arrow shot out like a bolt from a bow, piercing the air with a sharp whooshing sound, and went straight through the tree trunk a dozen meters away from the roadside, leaving only a hole emitting a chilling aura.

Just then, the magical fluctuations from the spell startled the two horses pulling the carriage ahead. The horses immediately reared up, letting out an anxious neigh, and the carriage shook violently a few times.

The sudden commotion instantly startled the passengers inside the car.

Henry reacted the fastest, standing up abruptly and taking the lead in blocking the opening of the carriage roof, looking around warily and shouting.

"What's going on? Are there robbers?!"

Brady was jolted awake by the jolt, and upon hearing the word "robber," he instantly perked up and rushed forward without even rubbing his eyes.

"Uncle, move aside! Let me deal with this robber!"

Emily, standing beside her, gripped her silver staff tightly, her expression grave, her body radiating a faint light, ready for anything.

But outside the carriage, all was calm and peaceful. Looking around, there was only their carriage on this stretch of road, not a single person in sight.

Just then, the driver's slightly flustered apology came from the front of the carriage.

"I'm so sorry, gentlemen. The horse got a fright and suddenly went berserk for a moment. It disturbed you, but it's alright now. I'm truly sorry!"

"Cough cough."

Mark, showing responsibility at this moment, stepped forward, coughed twice to attract his companions' attention, and then explained.

"Sorry, I was just testing out a new spell I learned called 'Frostbolt,' I wasn't a bandit. Everyone, please continue to rest."

Hearing Mark's explanation, the friends lowered their guard and became very curious about Mark's new spell.

Henry leaned closer and asked.

"You've already finished learning the skill book Felix gave you? Only a few days! That's fast!"

Brady scratched his head, looking distressed and aggrieved.

"There are so many words in that book that I don't recognize. Couldn't you have given me some pictures instead?"

Emily was also very distressed and said sullenly.

"I prayed very hard, but I just couldn't learn the 'blessing technique' from the book."

"???"

Upon hearing this, Mark and the other two turned around in shock.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Emily asked the question as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Isn't this how you all study?"

"..."