Chapter 34：The Alterac Valley

As he passed by Tilia's gates, a roadside stall caught Xiao Ling's attention. The stall was selling rapid-restoring mana potion. Exquisite crystal vials held the watery blue potions as they were displayed at the stall. The liquid was clear and pure.

These rapid-restoring mana potions were a great boon to players. With the replenishment from these potions, the players could stay engaged in battle for a longer period of time, enabling them to challenge Bosses of higher levels and obtain equipment of higher levels as well. More importantly, the rapid-restoring mana potion could very well save a player's life at crucial times.

Magic was a spellcaster's lifeline! There was no error in that statement. A spellcaster without mana would only have death waiting for them in the face of a formidable monster or player. It was every spellcaster's dream to have these rapid-restoring mana potions at hand at all times.

However, they were not exactly affordable for everyone.

The scarcity of magical herbs meant that the supply of mana potions could not keep up with the demand, pushing the price of mana potions well above that of health potions. It was six times more expensive than health potions. However, even with this outrageous price, players would still rush like ducks to buy all available stock.

The vendor was a young man in his 20s. His short crop of dark hair gave him a fresh look. He wore an alchemist's robe, which was different from a Mechanical Alchemist's robe. The robes of Mechanical Alchemists were embroidered with glyphs, while his was embroidered with ivy. This was a sign of his identity—he was an Apothecary Alchemist!

There were more than 30 vials of mana potions on display. Every vial of rapid-restoring mana potion was priced at 30 gold coins!

The young man hollered, "Mini rapid-restoring mana potions for sale! 30 gold coins each, ceasing operations after three minutes. Get it while stocks last." His tone was layered with some pride. It was as if he did not have to worry that his rapid-restoring mana potions would not sell. People would still buy it even if he set a higher price tag.

There were no poor Apothecary Alchemists. That was true. Apothecary Alchemists would frequently encounter magical herbs during their leveling. They would then harvest these herbs and concoct various potions, some of which they used themselves, and the remaining ones they sold for money.

By selling these mana potions alone, the young man could earn more than 10,000 gold coins!

Xiao Ling felt as if he was the only poor person in the world. He felt slightly helpless. He dared not buy such an expensive potion. He was about to leave when he stopped and turned back. He was thinking of buying one vial just in case. After all, it might just save his life when he found himself in a pinch. He steeled his resolve, took out 30 gold coins, and bought a vial. He quickly stowed it away in his bag and continued his journey to the southwest.

Xiao Ling barely left the stall when other players gathered around it. The 30 or so vials of mini rapid-restoring mana potions were swept away by the customers. There were also those who asked for more.

"That's all I have," said the young man drily. He packed his stall and gave his puffy bag a pat. He had a smile on his face. 'With this money, I'll be able to buy a lot of high-level equipment. It's so tiring to level up on my own.'

When the other players heard that, they walked away, appearing slightly dejected.

The morning mist had obscured the Scarlet Monastery. The scarlet buildings could faintly be seen amidst the white mist, making them appear mysterious and peculiar. This being his second time here, Xiao Ling navigated the area with familiarity. However, this time, his destination was behind the Scarlet Monastery. He was heading for the Alterac Valley.

Boar Mine. Coordinates: Tilia 329.238.506.

Xiao Ling ambled along the Scarlet Monastery's perimeter walls. This was a frequent spawning spot for Scarlet Warriors and Mages. He had to be careful.

A solo player would have to prepare for more dangers. Xiao Ling found himself missing the days when he farmed monsters with Luan Ying, Yu Xue, and Fei Yu. He quickly drove the thought out of his mind. He could not allow himself to have a tendency of relying on others. If he got used to working in a team and relying on his teammates, compromising for them, this would mean that he had sacrificed a huge part of who he was.

Teams would usually give rise to brainless spellcasters. This was because they rarely had the need to move about. With a Warrior taking damage in front of them and a Priest Healing them from the back, all they needed to do was locate a remote corner and churn out spell after spell. They just had to be careful to keep the damage within the threat level.

Xiao Ling did not want to become such a spellcaster.

Xiao Ling thought about being a merit-centric player before, but the current levels of the players were too high. He would only be going onto the battlefield to get himself killed instantly. Without another choice available to him, he could only farm monsters and raise his level slowly.

Xiao Ling walked along the Scarlet Monastery's perimeter wall toward the Alterac Valley. The morning mist was still lingering, and he could not see too far ahead. He kept his pace slow so that he would not run into too many monsters and land himself in trouble.

He managed to kill many Scarlet Warriors and Mages along the way. He even picked up an Uncommon equipment piece. It was an unidentified item. 

Xiao Ling chucked it into his bag and navigated through the forest. He could hear raging waters which sounded like the hooves of a stampeding horses from afar. He followed the sound and arrived at a waterfall, dozens of meters tall and four meters wide, situated between two mountains. Water sprayed everywhere in a fine mist. There was a pond at the end of the waterfall, which emptied into a winding stream that disappeared into the horizon. There was a vast plain between the mountains. The green mountains and clear waters resembled something out of a painting. It was beautiful beyond words.

This was the Alterac Valley! A valley dotted with plains and forests. Thin mist hung within the valley, giving it a peaceful and aesthetic quality. If Xiao Ling had to imagine how paradise would look like, this was exactly the way he would picture it.

Xiao Ling stood at the source of the waterfall and cast his gaze to the horizon as he took in the sight of the Alterac Valley. The sharp relief of the mountain walls several hundred meters tall which flanked the valley added a majestic quality to it.

There was a small path leading down to the Alterac Valley beside the waterfall. It was steep and struck fear to those who looked down. One would surely die if they fell from this height.

Xiao Ling was walking down the path into the Alterac Valley when he heard some weird noises from the nearby forest.

The trees parted. A fiery red figure emerged from the mist and moved toward him. The figure wielded a huge sword which shone with a cold gleam. It was coming at him! 

It appeared to be a Scarlet Warrior. If it was a single Scarlet Warrior, Xiao Ling would not be worried. He prepared himself for battle.

A sharp cry rang through the heavens. It sounded like some kind of eagle. A black shadow shot past above him.

Xiao Ling looked up and saw a black eagle. Its wingspan was about one meter, and its feathers were completely black. It circled above Xiao Ling's head.

Xiao Ling hesitated. Was this black eagle a monster too? Was it targeting himself as well?