Chapter Two: Is the Tower of Sorcery a Game or Not?

It was only at this moment that he finally had the time to examine the parchment and see what it was all about.

[The painstaking work of a chef in pursuit of culinary perfection. He recorded a lifetime of experience on this parchment, but, with his strength spent and light extinguished, he could not pass on his legacy.]

[A peculiar chef wanders the shadowy world, seeking a kindred spirit who truly appreciates his cuisine.]

[For you, my friend—a gift from the Eerie Chef!]

Three messages appeared in succession. Only then did he realize that it was the Eerie Chef who had saved him.

After the prompt, the writing on the parchment shifted and transformed into characters he could understand. He discovered, to his surprise, that these were recipes—including the ramen and fried rice he had tasted before. Each dish possessed its own unique attributes.

In addition to the various properties, the parchment also listed the required ingredients and other details.

Once he had read through the parchment in its entirety, it dissipated into smoke and vanished from his hands.

[You have become a Chef.]

[You have learned Golden Fried Rice, which will enhance your attributes for a period of time. Required ingredients are…]

[You have learned Healing Ramen, which will slowly heal your wounds over the next ten minutes. Required ingredients are…]

[You have learned Vitality Seaweed Soup, which will restore your stamina for a certain duration. Required ingredients are…]

…

Seven consecutive prompts swiftly updated Mu Rongxun’s secondary profession records.

He stood there stunned, realizing for the first time the distinct differences between the seven dishes—not only in flavor, but also in their effects.

With little money to his name, he shook his head, choosing not to dwell on it for now. It was better to go out and see what the Magic Tower Amusement Park looked like.

Pushing open the door, he was instantly enveloped by the clamor of voices, as if he had stepped into a bustling marketplace.

A vast expanse of buildings unfolded before Mu Rongxun’s eyes, and to his astonishment, the architectural styles varied wildly. Some were forged entirely of steel, others built from brick and stone, and some appeared to be constructed from the remains of unknown creatures, making onlookers hesitant to approach.

Between these diverse structures, streets extended in all directions.

Looking upward, he saw a towering spire piercing the clouds. They were only at the very base of the Magic Tower, not yet having set foot into its true depths.

Strolling along a road of uncertain composition, Mu Rongxun took in the sights as if on a leisurely tour.

The Magic Tower’s grounds were immense—so vast that, for now, Mu Rongxun could not even guess the scope of its outer perimeter.

The streets bustled with people of all appearances and attire: some in flowing scholar’s robes, resembling literati; others clad in full armor, like generals on campaign; and still others in long cloaks, unmistakably dressed as mages straight from the realm of fantasy.

Witnessing this scene, Mu Rongxun felt as though he had wandered into a comic convention, surrounded by every kind of costume imaginable—nothing too bizarre to be seen.

Yet what surprised him most was not the attire, but the fact that some people were openly squatting at street corners, hawking all manner of wares.

This thoroughly shattered his initial illusions about the Magic Tower!

“White-grade godly firearms! Top-tier starter weapons, only five hundred Park Coins—interested parties come quickly, paupers keep walking!”

“Three percent instant health potions, one thousand coins a bottle—buy five or more for a twenty percent discount. Bulk orders negotiable!”

“Hiring elite bodyguards for generous pay—heading to a Level 4 Mage World next run, price negotiable!”

Listening to the cries of the vendors, Mu Rongxun felt as though he were playing a game, setting up a stall or recruiting teammates.

Wandering aimlessly with the flow of people, he kept exploring—he needed to adapt quickly to this world and learn its rules.

“Hey, buddy, want to come take a look? I’ve got some good stuff here—all at low prices. I’m about to start my next mission and urgently need Park Coins!”

At that moment, a man wearing a scholar’s robe, his face shrouded in mist, called out to Mu Rongxun.

Mu Rongxun turned, but no matter how he tried, he could not see through the swirling haze to discern the man’s features.

With no particular goal in mind, he paused and browsed the man’s stall.

But when he saw what was on offer, Mu Rongxun finally understood why the vendor was so eager to stop passersby.

[White Beast Bone: The bone of some unknown wild beast.]

[Quality: Non-graded.]

[Type: Material.]

[Description: Perhaps you can use it to decorate yourself as a symbol of valor.]

[This item belongs to another and cannot be taken without purchase of ownership.]

Upon reading the last line, Mu Rongxun realized why these street vendors were so brazen—there was a layer of protection that prevented theft.

Yet, seeing the man’s wares, even Mu Rongxun, with his steady temperament, couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of his mouth.

“What’s the use of this thing?” he asked.

The man in the scholar’s robe gave an awkward laugh, though his tone was tinged with displeasure.

“This is the hard-won trophy I obtained after great hardship defeating that monster. I nearly lost my life for it! Tell you what, friend, twenty coins—this beast bone may not be highly rated, but it’s extremely tough, perfect for forging weapons. For twenty coins, you can’t go wrong!”

Mu Rongxun shook his head and set the bone back down.

He’d seen swindlers before, but never someone who could lie so brazenly. It was his first time in the Park, but he wasn’t naïve! The evaluation was right there—the item wasn’t even of the lowest grade. Even if it could be used to make weapons, how high could their level possibly be? Besides, the bone was brittle, not a high-quality material. He didn’t believe for a second that it could be used to forge weapons.

As Mu Rongxun wandered on, a shout drew his attention.

“Hey, you there—the newcomer! Yes, I’m talking to you, stop looking around!”

A silver-haired, red-eyed youth called out to Mu Rongxun and hurried over.

Mu Rongxun raised an eyebrow at the boy’s unusual appearance; in the real world, such looks would surely cause a sensation. But after wandering a while and seeing so many beautiful people, he’d long since become immune.

“Want me to help you understand the Magic Tower?” the youth asked, grinning as though he’d just spotted a fat sheep.

“For just one hundred Park Coins, you can learn everything you wish to know.”

“Alright,” Mu Rongxun replied with a nod.

He needed to learn everything about the Magic Tower, and if someone was willing to help, he would not refuse.

“Fifty, then!”

“Aren’t you worried I might trick you?” the youth asked, surprised by Mu Rongxun’s decisiveness.

“There are plenty of con artists in the Magic Tower, you know.”

Few newcomers were bold enough to spend their Park Coins on information right away; most only grew wiser after suffering enough losses.