Spellcasters were always understated—black robes, a breeze through their sleeves. But the moment these black-robed figures appeared, the air seemed to freeze, breaths catching in throats. As they casually flicked their sleeves, even the Duchess fell silent.
Their robes bore the unmistakable emblems of high-ring spellcasters. All of them. All high-ring spellcasters. Leading the pack were Senior Chang and Senior Meng.
Meng waved with a beaming smile. "Hope we're not intruding, crashing uninvited?"
Yu Yu's heart was filled with emotions and she didn't know what to say for a moment.
She'd never hidden her hostility for Azure Waves, but she hadn't planned to leverage her seniors for revenge. Yet today, her seniors and sisters had shown up, unprompted, to back her up and make a statement.
Yu Yu pinched her palm, managing, "Senior, Sisters… I…"
Meng and Chang approached arm-in-arm, Meng's smile bright and open. "Silver Moon hasn't been this lively in ages. I was curious about the auction house, so I invited some colleagues to check it out."
She winked at Yu Yu, then asked, "Got seats for us?"
Yu Yu: "Yes, of course!"
Behind her stood seniors Yu Yu had seen but never named, their expressions mostly warm. Some waved at Felix. Felix, stone-faced throughout, softened slightly, nodding back with a rare hint of a smile. As the spellcasters entered, Lynn arrived with her crew.
Shadow Stalker: "…You? Need us for backup? With this crowd of heavyweights, what backup do you need?"
The magic circle's black robes outshone even the Duchess herself—especially so many living, breathing ones.
Mobile, active, alive!
Terrifying.
The magic circle wasn't known for its temper. These spellcasters could do anything. Would Shadow Stalker even survive stepping inside?
Lynn sensed her hesitation, grabbing her arm. "You're high-tier. How can you be this embarrassing?"
Behind them, high-tier rangers chatted with folded arms, high-tier warriors exchanged glances, but Shadow Stalker was the lone rogue. Once the spellcasters were out of sight, Lynn adjusted her collar, dragging the invisible Shadow Stalker inside.
In her light trench coat, flaxen hair tied high, Lynn's striking emerald eyes gleamed. She strode confidently, exuding a breezy, gentle charisma, undimmed even while hauling an invisible blob. The black robes' appearance had already stunned onlookers into silence, hands stuffed in mouths, not daring to utter a sound.
The magic circle's longstanding authority was beyond outsiders' comprehension.
But when the Wind Singer appeared, the crowd lost it.
"Wind Singer! AHHH!!!"
"Wind Singer! Wind Singer look at me!!!"
"AHHHH—!!"
Even the guards clenched fists, thrilled as she walked in.
Wind Singer, Silver Moon's idol.jpg
Lynn, used to the frenzy, waved with a smile, pulling the cloaked Shadow Stalker along.
The Duchess, already following the spellcasters inside, paused at the cheers, glancing back.
Wind Singer?
More popular than she'd thought. Hmph.
And that rogue—how pathetic was she?
After Wind Singer, high-tier rangers and warriors trickled in, two or three at a time. High-tier professionals, usually rare, now popped up one after another, leaving NPCs hoarse with awe. And the players, supposed stars of the show?
Who cared?
Well, maybe ask Felix.
She'd pulled her old trick: Silence Field + Mass Hold Person.jpg
Without it, who knew what chaos the rowdy players would unleash?
It felt like a cutscene. NPCs moved, but players were frozen in place.
Yet many knew deep down—they weren't just players, or NPCs.
But Yu Yu?
A player like them, yet somehow in the cutscene?!
EatBowlNoWash sulked on a rooftop, chewing her sleeve. "Wahhh, I'm so jealous I'm splitting! I'm a spellcaster too! Why's the gap between spellcasters so huge?"
"I want in the cutscene! Wahhh, let me in!"
Seeing the high-tier NPCs enter, she cast Feather Fall, mimicking Boss Yu. Whoosh, takeoff!
Players with Yu Yu's invites felt conflicted.
They hadn't expected her to command such influence.
Maybe they needed to rethink their approach to her?
Amid the tension, EatBowlNoWash crash-landed on a signboard, splatted, and scurried inside.
Everyone: "…"
Players then noticed Silence Field and Mass Hold Person had lifted.
Got it!
No entry? We'll charge!
"Rush it!"
NPCs, still gawking, watched lawless outsiders charge past guards' spears.
How are you so bold?
"ROAR—"
A sudden bellow toppled a swath of players, blood streaming from ears and noses, blinded and deafened.
Others, yet to act, staggered under the roar's force.
High-tier warrior skill: War Roar.
A towering silver-armored warrior stood before the guards, coldly drawing his longsword. "Cross the line, die."
He cleaved the nearest player's head clean off.
Blood sprayed three meters, staining his armor red—a scene too gory for any censor.
Players froze.
After a long pause, under his chilling gaze, someone presented an invite.
"Pass."
Checking it, the warrior stepped aside.
Yu Yu's racing emotions wouldn't settle.
She had only three items for auction.
[Guild Token], [Heart of Deep Darkness], [Legendary Mechanism]
Below, the Marquis's retainers passionately pitched them. Unbeknownst to Yu Yu, every NPC and player witnessing this etched her name deeper into their minds, quietly raising her priority.
Players' jealousy went without saying, but even the Federation reassessed her importance. Each time they thought they'd overestimated Yu Yu, the magic circle pulled a stunt, elevating her further.
Even the Federation, privy to all her data, was baffled.
What was her charm? Why did the magic circle value her so?
Was Will 9 that worth wooing?
Should they offer better treatment to keep her from the magic circle's clutches?
The Federation fretted, scheduling her benefits upgrade.
Others felt similarly.
Yu Yu's name finally caught certain eyes.
Her reputation was high. Previously, some saw her struggles and aimed to hire her as a bodyguard or household mage with hefty sums…
Now? Not likely.
Once the guild token sold, she'd never lack funds.
And with her spellcaster status and Federation ties, what couldn't she get?
Schemes fizzled before they began, leaving many dejected.
Yu Yu, oblivious and uninterested, didn't care.
She snuggled close to Felix. "Senior, I prepped a huge gift pack for you. Take it to HQ. When you run out, Night Raven me—I'll send more."
Felix, ever composed, nodded. "Got it."
The Duchess rapped the table. "Yu Yu."
Yu Yu glanced over. "What's up, Duchess?"
The silver-haired beauty's deep blue eyes narrowed. "Don't. Charm. My. Sister."
Look at this—look what Felix had done!
Yu Yu, baffled, locked eyes with Felix.
Is your sister nuts?
Felix's gaze confirmed, "Fu's always been dim."
Dumb puppy.
The Duchess's fur practically bristled. "Felix! Yu Yu!"
Yu Yu gasped. "Senior, her hair glows when she's mad!"
Felix stayed silent.
She could do that too.
Yu Yu muttered, "So that wasn't my imagination. Does her hair glow when she's secretly happy too? Wow, she's so readable…"
The Duchess cracked.
Felix: "…"
Moments later, sounds erupted, amusing nearby spellcasters.
Yu Yu: "Duchess, I'm sorry! You don't glow! Ahh—!"
Felix's headache was audible. "Fu, she's fragile. Calm down…"
The Duchess: "I'll make you glow!"
Yu Yu hid behind Felix, dodging her glare.
Eek! Fierce Wolfie!
The Duchess, using years of restraint, exhaled. "Just wait. Once Felix leaves, who'll save you?" She flashed a menacing sneer.
Felix switched hands to prop her chin.
Yu Yu grumbled, "Why so fierce? Can't I ask? It's obvious."
The Duchess's eyes flared with murder.
Felix sighed. "She's just dim. Can't even control that little quirk at her age."
The Duchess: "??? You're my sister?"
Felix: "Dim from birth. I should be Duchess."
The Duchess shattered, snapping, "You're so smart? Then don't dye your hair, shameless puppy!"
Felix fired back, "Even without dye, I wouldn't be like you…"
The two Wolfies bickered furiously. Yu Yu stayed quiet, ears perked.
Wah, they're so cute! How are they this cute?
She pictured two silver wolves yowling, each howl sharper, louder.
Hehe, Wolfies, hehe, Wolfies.
Yu Yu's face nearly cramped from grinning.
Snapping back, she met two icy, near-identical stares.
They'd stopped ages ago.
The Duchess fake-smiled. "What's so funny? Share."
Yu Yu forced her twitching face into innocence. "Nothing."
Felix's voice was cool. "Really? Want me to check with a spell?"
Yu Yu yelped, "Senior?! There's a spell for that?!"
"Why not?"
Yu Yu, super innocent, insisted, "I swear I wasn't thinking anything, Senior. How could you doubt me?"
Felix smirked. "Oh?"
Yu Yu, guilty, looked away, mumbling, "Just… wondering what Senior was like before."
Felix narrowed her eyes.
As her fingers twitched, Yu Yu blurted, "Does Senior's hair glow when she's mad too?"
Felix: "…"
The Duchess laughed. "Of course. Don't let her fool you. She's worse than me but sneaky—dyed her hair so no one notices. Hmph."
"If Mentor allowed, I'd dye mine too." The Duchess sulked.
Felix stopped. "No such spell, but now I get it."
Yu Yu: "???"
You tricked me?!
Seeing her look, Felix's tone stayed cool. "I was going to ask Fu to look after you, but…"
She flashed a rare faint smile. "Since you can read her moods, you two must get along splendidly."
Wah, Senior's smile is terrifying.
She's way sneakier than the Duchess!
Yu Yu snuck a glance at the Duchess.
The Duchess flashed a wholesome smile.
Yu Yu donned her pain mask. "We don't get along at all!"
The Duchess purred, "Advisor, you'd better work hard~"
In the next booth, Meng and Chang nearly choked laughing.
Oh, these two little Wolfies were getting cuter by the day.
The first guild token sold for a staggering 450 million.
Yu Yu, never having seen such money, gaped when the deal closed.
The Duchess didn't miss her chance to mock, blue eyes taunting. "Pathetic. Shocked by pocket change?"
Yu Yu: "You're rich?"
The Duchess lifted her chin proudly. "Don't you know?"
Yu Yu: "You've got money but can't spend it."
The Duchess's defense crumbled. "Yu… Yu…"
"V me 50, I'll teach you how to spend."
The Duchess sneered. "You're my advisor. Ideas are your job. Why pay?"
Her hair brightened as an idea hit. "Slack off, and I'll dock your pay!"
Yu Yu thought, I'm this awesome—why care about 100 gold?
But the Duchess smirked. "Didn't Felix gift you a farm? Ever think about taxes?"
Yu Yu deflated instantly. "Duchess, I'm your advisor! Don't burn me out!"
Felix, munching Yu Yu's snacks, stayed out of it, spectating.jpg
Having tamed Yu Yu, the Duchess was smug. Spotting Felix, she fumed. "Where's mine? Why's she got snacks and I don't?"
Yu Yu followed her gaze.
Oh, Senior had snacks; the Duchess didn't.
Yu Yu rummaged, offering her own share.
Two Wolfies were tough to feed. Was her farm big enough?
She started worrying.
The Duchess munched happily.
Yu Yu sat. "Are high-tier warriors rich? How much could that sword fetch?"
The guild token sold for real-world cash, wired through the Federation to her.
Exactly what Yu Yu wanted.
Why not use the Federation? Direct deals saved her from shady middlemen. Easy.
But Heart of Deep Darkness and Legendary Mechanism sold for gold. Yu Yu was curious.
The Duchess savored her snacks—nuts, dried fruit, jerky, even a tiny canned treat. Her hair glowed brighter, lighting the room.
In a great mood, she answered, "Not much. If they're tied to the magic circle, they can buy gear—enchanted items, scrolls, potions, whatever. Money's never enough."
"But without connections, money's useless."
She glanced dismissively. "Wind Singer's crowd? Mostly disconnected from the magic circle."
Yu Yu's eyes gleamed. "Rich but nowhere to spend? My favorite customers!"
"Watch me clean out Senior Meng, then rake in their gold!!"
The Duchess scoffed, skeptical. "You?"
Yu Yu bristled. "Senior Meng says I'm talented, and you mock me?"
The Duchess, dubious, hummed. "Really?"
Felix chimed in, "Yu's very talented."
The Duchess pondered.
Yu Yu seized the moment. "Duchess, strike while the iron's hot! Invest in me! Not much—just ten times my salary!"
The Duchess: "…?"
Her face hardened. "No way."
"You're so stingy!" Yu Yu fumed.
The Duchess glanced at Felix. "My sister's the spendthrift."
Yu Yu was struck speechless.
Felix: "?"
Meanwhile, bidding for Heart of Deep Darkness peaked.
"9600 gold, first call!"
"9600 gold, second call!"
"10,000 gold!"
"Any higher? 10,000 gold, first call?" The auctioneer's voice cracked with fervor.
"10,000 gold, second call!"
"10,000 gold, third call!"
Yu Yu saw Lynn's melon seeds hit the floor.
The poor half-elf had probably never seen such wealth.
Her emerald eyes were wide, white pointed ears drooping unconsciously.
The Duchess: "Hmm… you pay taxes?"
Yu Yu snapped alert. "Taxes go to Senior, not you. You didn't build, and now you want a cut? No way."
The Duchess, disappointed, muttered, "Fine."
Unable to stand Yu Yu's glee, she sneered, "It's not your money. Why're you thrilled?"
"Hmph, adventuring with others—she earns 10,000. You?"
Yu Yu mused, pulling out her two staves. "Could these sell?"
The Duchess laughed. "No chance. Who buys staves except spellcasters? How many spellcasters in Silver Moon?"
Yu Yu pondered. "But seniors are loaded."
Silver Moon's richest profession? Spellcasters, hands-down.
Meng poked her head in. "Oh? Selling what?"
"If it's those, good luck~"
Yu Yu stashed her staves, confident. "Seniors, just wait. I'll go scavenging."
"Swords, daggers, bows—grab a pile and auction them," Yu Yu said, her future bright. "What else is valuable? Potions? Recipes? Seeds? Enchantment patterns? Materials?"
"Hmph, I'll have it all."
She spoke like picking up pebbles, easy as pie, making high-ring spellcasters chuckle.
Meng clapped. "Ambitious! We're rooting for you~"
Yu Yu struck a proud pose.
She was ready for Rock Mound.
Adventure prep!
The final item, the Legendary Mechanism, was top-grade but useless.
Still, a spellcaster senior, intrigued, bought it for 2,000 gold to tinker with at home.
Auction concluded.
Yu Yu's haul: 450 million + 2,000 gold.
Lynn's: 9,000 gold.
Per Senior's rule, under 2,000 gold was tax-free; otherwise, 10%.
Yu Yu kept all; Lynn paid 1,000.
The Duchess pouted nearby; Yu Yu was ecstatic.
The carefree half-elf didn't mind, grinning like she'd rolled in honey.
"Never seen this much money in your life, huh?"
Lynn's emerald eyes curved into crescents, her smile radiant. "I'm rich!"
Yu Yu: "Shame Silver Moon's got no restaurants, or we'd feast."
Lynn's gaze snapped to her.
Yu Yu got it. "Let's go home for a big meal."
"Senior, Duchess coming?"
The Duchess considered, glancing at Lynn, hesitant.
Lynn, spotting her, huffed. "Useless Duchess, just wait. Once I level up, I'm challenging you."
Since using the Warrior Covenant, Lynn had gained insights, eager to test them.
She added, "Your healing scrolls are amazing. Lots of people asked about them. They want to buy."
Yu Yu perked up. "Tell me, pros and cons?"
"Pros? It's fast, like you outsiders—use it, see results," Lynn said, eyes sparkling. "Our potions take at least twenty minutes. Too slow for light wounds, so we skip them."
"But healing is different," she recalled. "Internal or external injuries, it works instantly. Super fast."
"You know, time's precious sometimes."
"Side effects?" Yu Yu asked.
"Hmm, it drains some stamina. For heavy wounds, it might tap potential to heal, so you'd need recovery after…" Lynn mused. "But healing can't handle severe injuries yet."
"Cons…" She hesitated. "Maybe the output's too low? Sometimes it doesn't fully heal, leaving a bit, but using another scroll feels wasteful."
"Not really a con, though?" Lynn wasn't sure.
Yu Yu nodded, thinking. "Got it. I'll optimize it, boost the output. Tell them I'll keep selling healing scrolls and try restoration ones."
"From the description, restoration should handle worse external injuries."
Lynn: "Got it."
No more talk—they headed back for a feast.
Felix, unfamiliar with enchanting, stayed quiet.
The Duchess listened intently, then asked, "Healing—that's the new school you found, right?"
Yu Yu: "Yup, I brought it back!"
The Duchess mused. "Make some and sell me a few. I'll test them."
Yu Yu's eyes gleamed. "Deal!"
The Duchess was big business!!!
That night, Yu Yu bid a reluctant farewell to Felix, wishing she could tag along.
Felix, cool as ever, said, "Enough chatter."
Firmly, she added, "I'm off. Night Raven me if you need me."
With a teleport, she vanished.
Yu Yu: "Hmph, cold Wolfie."
The Duchess, busy, looked up, her smile fading. "…Said it out loud, huh?"
Yu Yu remembered another Wolfie was still here. "Ahem, you misheard. I said nothing."
She cut off the Duchess's casting. "Good food?"
The Duchess grinned. "Pretty good. I like it."
Yu Yu, satisfied, declared, "Wait for it—I'll practice my instrument and play for Senior!"
The Duchess's lip twitched. "Good thing Felix doesn't know you read that book, or…"
Yu Yu played innocent.
But Senior knew?
In a great mood, the Duchess's silver hair glowed like moonlight, exuding a cool, cleansing aura, pure and soothing, enveloping the room.
As her mood soared, the glow intensified, outshining lamps, as if a silver moon rose from the floor, its radiance spilling over, breathtaking.
Yu Yu could imagine a peak Wolfie standing here—what a sight.
No wonder the Silver Moon family was named so. The 'Silver Moon' in 'Silver Moon Sirius' was literal.
With a Wolfie at home, who needed lamps?
Two Wolfies? Perpetual moonlight baths!
Yu Yu suddenly envied the Grand Archon.
Move over, let me have a turn!
The Duchess looked up, puzzled. "What's that look? Not eating?"
Snapping back, her glow dimmed, moonlight retracting instantly.
Lynn's chopsticks fell, stunned, unable to recover.
Zi Shu and others looked ready to spam social media with grids of photos.
The Duchess realized, "I'm done. Leaving first."
Yu Yu grabbed her. "We're full too, but I've got untouched dishes. Take them."
The Duchess, prim, said, "Then I'll accept."
Watching her leave happily, Yu Yu pictured a glowing Wolfie heading home.
Did the magic circle keep the Silver Moon family because their lands were on the peninsula, or, like her, were they smitten with Wolfies, wanting to keep them as pets?
From the Grand Archon's vibe, she was obsessed with raising Wolfies!
Yu Yu lamented.
So decadent, Grand Archon! Step aside, my turn!
Unsure what the Grand Archon was up to, Yu Yu's plans to strike it rich were repeatedly delayed with a "wait."
Frustrated, she focused on her potatoes.
She'd traded for a plant protection array and was tinkering.
The principle wasn't hard—its trickiest part, coincidentally, was something Yu Yu had studied.
Though the array differed, the concept was the same, and she could buy array disks from the magic circle.
But the array's core? That stumped her.
She asked Senior Meng.
Meng: "The core comes from the Stars, their will."
Yu Yu: "What if there are no Stars?"
Meng glanced at her. "People."
"What?"
Meng propped her chin, casual. "What do you think Guardians are for?"
"They don't just contain anomalies. Where the Stars are needed but unavailable, Guardians step in."
Yu Yu began to grasp it. "You mean Will, Senior?"
Meng nodded briskly. "Guardians can't match the Stars' protection over the whole peninsula, but for a small area, they're enough."
Yu Yu mused, "So it's like a group will aura?"
Meng: "Much simpler. Auras affect humans; this just protects plants."
Yu Yu got it.
Time to make Chang Yu a mini array core and plant her in the ground.
Chuckling to herself, she asked, "If an item has a group will aura, can it be a core?"
Meng looked surprised. "Such a thing? That'd be a divine artifact."
"The magic circle's old artifacts are either polluted or lost, not only unusable but corrupting us. Sigh."
Yu Yu pouted.
Well, I've got a little tree branch at home.
Meng grew suspicious. "You sound so sure. Seen an artifact?"
Yu Yu clamped up, then said carefully, "There is one…"
Silver Moon's sparse population, with the Stars' protection and organized Guardians, likely had little need for bronze artifacts.
Plus, could they even get them?
Mainly, Eternal Darkness found it. Hard to say if her appraisal data was already uploaded to the magic circle.
Meng, hearing her out, wasn't too excited, just puzzled. "Weird. Your antiques have Will?"
Yu Yu found it odd too. "Maybe… faith?"
Meng scoffed. "Only evil gods need faith."
Yu Yu: "…"
Meng: "Have you told the Grand Archon?"
Yu Yu: "No, but the magic circle's got the site running. They probably know, right?"
"The Federation didn't hide the bronze artifacts—publicized them to boost morale."
Meng flopped back. "Then it's not much use. From your description, a high-tier Guardian's close enough. A top-tier one could shield a city, just not constantly."
Yu Yu was shocked. "Guardians are that useful?"
Meng: "We wield power; Guardians are civilization's bedrock. What do you know?"
She suddenly perked up. "What's this site?"
Here it comes, the main event.
Yu Yu grinned. "The official site! Senior Xue's been tweaking it. Wanna test it, Senior Meng? It's super fun."
Meng mirrored her sly smile. "Oh, I've gotta try that."
Two foxes exchanged knowing grins.
Meng got the beta that day and logged in!
Though she could stay online long, Yu Yu kept her offline meal habit.
She had two tasks on hand.
One: replicate Healing in reality. Two: replicate the Protection Array.
The latter was tough, and with her potato garden now using it, she'd need time to crack it.
The former, though…
Wei Zishu frowned. "Why hasn't Chang Yu gone out today?"
Fuyu thought. "Yesterday too, I think?"
Shu Tu: "Last night, I knocked. She was in-game, like Xiao Yu, staying long."
Wei Zishu worried. "Her health's frail. Skipping meals hurts her."
Shu Tu: "I put a mini fridge in her room with food and a microwave. She won't starve for now…"
Yu Yu projected her mental energy.
Yup, she'd dumped those two attribute points into mental.
Constitution? Later.
At 16 mental, Yu Yu was theoretically brushing the high-tier threshold.
Her mental energy could do plenty—open doors, pet cats, lift bowls… Ahem, she wasn't that bored, but projecting to scope small scenes was easy.
Yu Yu set her bowl down, knocking firmly. "Chang Yu, come eat."
No response.
She opened the door with mental energy.
Chang Yu sat in a corner of her bed, eyes red, looking up. "Sister Yu…"
Yu Yu crouched, spotting the phone clutched tightly, her heart sinking.
Few things could break Chang Yu like this. Probably…
"Your parents…"
Chang Yu wailed, "Gone…"
She sobbed, trying to stifle it, choking pitifully.
Though Yu Yu had guessed, she froze.
Zi Shu and the others reached the door, stunned by the words.
Anomalies were constant, but to brush so close…
Weren't they stuck in Huyou City? How did they suddenly…
As they spoke, Chang Yu's phone rang.
She wiped tears, looking hopeful.
Seeing the caller, she hurled the phone, clinging to Yu Yu, sobbing harder.
Yu Yu checked the screen.
Uncle?
She signaled Shu Tu.
Shu Tu grabbed the phone, stepping away to answer.
"Xiao Chi, we're heartbroken about your parents, but their shares…"
Shu Tu's eyes iced over. "Get lost."
She'd been to the hospital, overhearing plenty. This guy had claimed, "Xiao Chi's always been sickly, kept alive by money. She's nearly done—why not let her help her brother?" He'd planned to swap her kidney while her parents were gone, sealing the deal.
And now…
Shu Tu frowned.
Could Chang Yu protect what was hers?
Recalling her usual bright innocence, Shu Tu worried.
Wei Zishu's phone rang. "Hello?"
Yu Bai's voice came through. "Why aren't Yu or Shu Tu answering? Got time recently?"
Wei Zishu leaned on the window, her voice neutral. "What's up?"
Yu Bai: "We found something under Rong City. It's big. We've rallied all city players and heavy firepower. Can you make time…?"
Wei Zishu: "I'll check with the team."
Hanging up, she glanced at Chang Yu, crying in Yu Yu's arms, and Shu Tu's cold expression. Wei Zishu rubbed her temples, head aching.
Troubled times.