Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

The next morning, Ian, led by Hawke, set off into the depths of the Gloomwood.

The deeper you go, the thinner the fog becomes.

Instead, a hazy, moonlit glow enveloped the forest, which is probably the origin of the name "Ghost Light".

The path beneath our feet had become much clearer and more orderly, clearly the result of long-term foot traffic and simple repairs.

After walking for about an hour, they heard faint sounds of people ahead, along with a smell that was a mixture of herbs, minerals, leather, and some kind of cheap incense.

After passing through a grove of exceptionally tall silver-leaved trees, the view suddenly opened up before us.

A stream about ten meters wide meanders through the area. The water is clear and shimmers with a faint silvery-white luster in the hazy light. This must be the "Misty Stream".

Along the banks of the stream, there are hundreds of buildings of various sizes scattered about.

There are simple wooden houses and stone houses, as well as relatively neat two-story buildings.

There were even several stilt houses built with large logs and vines, bearing obvious signs of witchcraft reinforcement.

It was bustling with people, a hundred times more lively than Hawke's makeshift gathering point.

At a glance, there were at least several hundred people active here, most of whom were wizard apprentices, ranging from low to high level.

There were also a small number of ordinary servants or adventurers wearing leather armor and carrying weapons, who were responsible for carrying goods or acting as guards.

This small settlement is quite well-equipped, serving as the core location for wandering apprentices in the area, where resources and information circulate.

"How about it? Pretty big, huh?" Hawke said with a hint of pride.

"This place was originally just a stall set up by a few senior apprentices to facilitate transactions."

Over the decades, it has gradually become like this. Look at that area upstream of the stream.

He pointed to several more elaborate buildings to the north, complete with courtyards and obvious protective magical fluctuations.

"That's where several of the strongest forces are usually based. It's best not to go near it unless you have to."

Ian nodded, his gaze sweeping across the entire settlement.

As Hawke had said before, there was a suffocating sense of oppression here, like that of a formal wizard.

Throughout the entire "Misty Creek," there were no fewer than thirty or forty advanced apprentices, some of whom were particularly solid and even posed a faint threat to him.

"Where is the trading venue?" Ian asked.

"In the middle of the stream, the largest three-story wooden building is the one with the sign 'Dream Weaver'. It's the largest trading place here and also the place with the best information."

Hawke led Ian along the main path by the creek.

Along the way, Ian saw many stalls set up on the ground, selling various materials.

The dried herbs, the various colored ores, the processed animal hides and bones, and the liquids or powders sealed in rough crystal bottles looked like cheap potions or extracts.

The sounds of hawking and bargaining filled the air, creating a chaotic yet vibrant atmosphere.

Soon, they arrived at the three-story wooden building.

The wooden building occupies a large area, is made of solid materials, and has simple runes carved on its surface, which have a calming and protective meaning.

Although rough, it could be considered "luxurious" for this area.

A dark purple wooden sign hangs at the entrance, with the words "Dream Weaver's Hut" outlined in luminous paint, appearing in a twisted and graceful manner, next to an abstract eye pattern.

There were quite a few people coming and going, most of them in a hurry and with cautious expressions.

Hawke whispered, "The owner here is a woman, everyone calls her 'Dream Weaver' Mira. She's a very powerful senior apprentice, said to have exceptionally strong mental power, and is skilled in illusion and mental magic. Her methods are also quite sophisticated."

She might have special connections that allow her to get her hands on some rare items. Once inside, talk less and observe more; there are many rules here, so don't touch anything without permission.

Ian was somewhat surprised. He thought the owner here was at least a formal wizard. He kept an eye on him and followed Hawke inside.

The lobby on the first floor is very spacious, like a general store, with wooden shelves lined up against the walls.

Various goods were neatly arranged on top, including basic medicinal herbs, common ores, and low- to mid-level enchanted materials...

There were even some broken fragments, many of which Ian couldn't understand the runes on.

Several waiters dressed in matching grey robes were greeting guests. Hawke, clearly familiar with the place, led Ian directly through the hall and up the stairs to the second floor.

The second floor was much quieter and had been divided into several separate rooms.

The door is marked with signs: "Pharmaceutical Materials", "Minerals and Metals", "Books and Scrolls", and "Customization Consultation".

The air was filled with the rich aroma of medicinal herbs and the smell of old parchment.

Hawke knocked on the door of the "potion materials" room.

"Come in." A slightly hoarse female voice rang out, with a strange tone that was highly recognizable.

Upon entering, the room was small but neatly arranged.

All four walls are lined with floor-to-ceiling medicine cabinets, and each small drawer has a label on it.

In the center of the room was a large solid wood table, on which were placed a balance scale, a grinder, several sealed crystal jars, and a set of tea utensils that looked quite exquisite.

Behind the table sat a woman.

She looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing a dark purple long dress. The style was simple but the cut was appropriate, which made her skin appear excessively fair.

Her chestnut-brown hair was loosely tied up, revealing her smooth forehead and a pair of slightly pointed ears.

Her appearance wasn't stunning, but her eyes were exceptionally striking. Her pupils were a rare deep purple, as if they contained whirlpools, and looking at them for too long could make one feel dizzy.

She was holding a pale yellow crystal in her hand, observing it against the light.

Hearing someone enter, he slowly lowered his head, his gaze calmly sweeping over Hawke before finally settling on Ian.

Ian immediately sensed a slight mental probe sweeping over him. He remained calm, restraining his mental energy and maintaining only the fluctuations of a senior apprentice.

"Hawk, a rare guest. And who is this?" Mira asked, her voice still carrying that peculiar rhythm.

"Ms. Mira, this is Ian, a new potion master who came from the east and wants to stay here to do some business."

Hawke introduced himself respectfully, much more cautiously than when he was outside.

"Potion Master?" Mira's deep purple eyes lingered on Ian for a moment longer.

Seemingly surprised by his calm resistance to her probing, she asked, "What are you good at?"

"The quality of our basic potions, secondary healing potions, basic antidotes, and intermediate potions, including the 'awakening potion,' is guaranteed to be above standard."

Ian repeated what he had said before, in a calm tone.

He had some ideas in mind, but he wanted to make initial contact before making any plans.

Mira nodded noncommittally, stood up from behind the table, walked to the medicine cabinet on the side, and casually opened a few drawers to take a look.

"Standard-quality basic potions and [awakening potions] do have a stable market here."

The supply of medicinal herbs here is relatively stable, and the price is 4 magic stones, the market price. You can also pay with finished potions, or... with labor instead of payment.

She turned around, leaned against the medicine cabinet, and her gaze seemed to see right through people's hearts.

"However, a high-level apprentice potion master crossing the outskirts of the 'Deadly Mountains' to come here probably isn't just here to do some basic potion business, is it? What do you want?"