Lin Lei's excitement surged within him like a volcanic eruption, instantly overwhelming him.
"Grandpa Doehring, can you really teach me magic?" Lin Lei stared at the elderly Doehring, his exhilaration barely containable.
Doehring Cowart, seeing Lin Lei's fervor, twitched his white beard. "Lin Lei, your grandpa Doehring is a Saint-level Grand Magus. Even if your talent is mediocre, I can still make you learn magic. Of course... with low talent, your achievements will likewise be limited."
Had other mages heard Doehring Cowart's words, they would have been astounded.
In the mage community, innate talent was considered paramount—without it, becoming a mage was impossible. This was a universally accepted truth!
Yet Doehring Cowart dared claim that even someone with mediocre aptitude could be molded into a mage. If spoken by anyone else, such words might be dismissed as bravado. But coming from a Saint-level Grand Magus who had lived over five millennia ago, they carried weight.
"Low talent... low achievements?" Lin Lei's heart clenched faintly.
His reason for pursuing magic was to restore the glory of the Baruch clan. At the very least, he hoped to fulfill the centuries-old aspiration of his ancestors—to reclaim the family's heirloom treasure. Achieving even that required considerable strength.
"Lin Lei, don't fret. Your magical aptitude hasn't been tested yet. Who can say whether it's high or low? Perhaps it will prove extraordinary." Doehring Cowart stroked his beard, smiling soothingly.
The elder's calm demeanor steadied Lin Lei's nerves.
"Grandpa Doehring, how does one test magical talent?" Lin Lei asked eagerly.
"Testing magical aptitude is quite simple," Doehring Cowart began, but then—The sound of footsteps echoed outside the door, startling Linley, who hastily whispered to Dulin Cowart, "Grandpa Doehring, hide quickly! Someone's coming!" If this Saint-level Grand Magus from the Prouang Empire of over five thousand years ago were discovered, disaster would surely follow.
Dulin Cowart merely smiled faintly, remaining utterly motionless.
"Grandpa Doehring—!" Linley urged anxiously.
*Creak.* The bedroom door swung open. The butler, Hiri, peered inside and, seeing Linley already awake, smiled warmly. "Young Master Linley, I hadn't expected you to wake so soon. How are you feeling now?"
Linley forced a smile and nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Grandpa Hiri. I'm much better now."
Internally, however, panic surged. He couldn't help glancing repeatedly toward Dulin Cowart's direction. The old magus still stood there, smiling serenely. *What's wrong with Grandpa Doehring? If he's discovered, explaining this will be a nightmare,* Linley fretted.
"Young Master Linley, lunch is ready. Since you're awake, please join us," Hiri said courteously.
"Ah—yes," Linley replied, stealing another glance toward Dulin Cowart. Confusion flickered through him. *Why doesn't Grandpa Hiri seem to notice him at all?*
Noticing Linley's repeated glances toward an empty space beside the bed, Hiri frowned slightly. "Young Master, what are you looking at over there? Did something fall? Shall I retrieve it for you?"
"N-no, it's nothing," Linley stammered, scrambling out of bed. "Let's go to lunch, Grandpa Hiri."
Though puzzled by the boy's odd behavior, Hiri asked no further questions and nodded amiably. As Linley dressed, he cast one last worried glance toward Dulin Cowart. The old magus grinned at him and—with a faint shimmer—vanished from sight.
*He's returned to the Coiling Dragon Ring,* Linley realized, now distinctly sensing a spiritual presence within the artifact.Unlike the past, after the blood-binding ritual, Linley's understanding of the Coiling Dragon Ring had clearly reached a new level.
"Linley, there's no need to speak aloud. You can communicate with me directly through your thoughts. As the master of the Coiling Dragon Ring, and me being its spirit, we can converse effortlessly through our minds," Delinkewote's voice echoed in Linley's consciousness.
This startled Linley.
"Grandpa Delin?" Linley tentatively "spoke" in his mind.
"I hear you," Delinkewote's voice responded within his thoughts.
Linley felt a surge of joy, but in his excitement, he failed to watch his steps and tripped over the threshold. The steward, Hiri, turned around and chuckled, "Young Master Linley, do watch your footing."
"Understood, Grandpa Hiri," Linley replied with a smile.
Continuing his animated mental conversation with Delinkewote, Linley entered the dining hall and took his seat. Today's lunch was unusually lavish, featuring a fragrant roasted lamb. Upon seeing Linley, Hogg smiled and said, "Linley, sit down quickly." With that, he personally tore off a roasted lamb leg and handed it to Linley.
"Thank you, Father."
Linley was slightly surprised. Given the family's financial situation, their meals were typically simple. Today, they were serving an entire lamb.
Unbeknownst to him, during the meteor shower that had struck Wushan Town, not only people but also livestock had perished. Today, not just the Baruch family—even ordinary townsfolk were indulging in rare feasts.
"Grandpa Delin, why couldn't Grandpa Hiri see you earlier?" Linley inquired mentally.
"Let me explain," Delinkewote replied patiently. "To everyone except you, I am invisible. My current existence is that of a soul—intangible, imperceptible to ordinary eyes. Only you, as the Coiling Dragon Ring's master, can perceive me."
Linley silently grasped this revelation."Grandpa Doering once said that he had long passed away, and what exists now is merely his soul."
"Grandpa Doering, does that mean you can appear by my side anytime now?" Linley felt a surge of joy in his heart.
As soon as Linley finished speaking, he saw an elderly man in a moon-white robe with white hair and a white beard materialize abruptly beside him. It was Dellingcovot. At that moment, Hogan, the steward Hiri, and his younger brother Warton continued chatting over lunch, completely unaware of Dellingcovot's presence.
"Wow—"
Hearing about it was one thing, but witnessing firsthand that everyone at the table remained oblivious to Grandpa Doering's existence filled Linley with astonishment.
"Not everyone is incapable of sensing my presence. Those whose soul strength matches mine can perceive me. Of course... as long as I retreat into the Coiling Dragon Ring, no one will detect me," Dellingcovot's voice echoed in Linley's mind.
"Those with soul strength comparable to yours, Grandpa Doering?" Linley mumbled through a mouthful of food, communicating mentally with Dellingcovot.
"Individuals with soul strength on par with mine would likely be Saint-level experts. Only Saint-level experts can vaguely sense my presence—provided I remain outside the Coiling Dragon Ring. If I enter the ring, they cannot detect me," Dellingcovot explained with a smile.
Linley nodded inwardly while gripping a roasted lamb leg and devouring it voraciously.
"Linley, slow down," Hogan advised, chuckling at his son's haste.
Linley grinned at his father but continued eating rapidly. Soon, the entire lamb leg was gone. Letting out a contented burp, Linley wiped his hands and mouth with a napkin, stood up, and announced, "Father, Grandpa Hiri, I'm finished. My head still feels a bit foggy, so I'll go rest now. Warton, goodbye." He was the first to finish.
"Still dizzy? Then hurry and rest," Hogan urged anxiously.
The morning's incident had shaken Hogan deeply. For a moment, he had feared Linley might be crushed to death. Since then, his attitude toward Linley had softened noticeably.
"Bye, brother," piped up little Warton, his chubby face beaming as he waved a greasy hand.Linley rushed straight back to his residence, then closed and locked his door from inside.
Quickly kicking off his shoes, he leaped onto his bed and sat down casually. "Grandpa Doehring, come out quickly! Help me test my magical aptitude!" Linley's heart burned with urgency. Throughout lunch earlier, this matter had occupied his thoughts incessantly.
A hazy stream of light shot from the Coiling Dragon Ring, coalescing beside the bed into the form of Dylin Kevoto.
With a kind smile, Dylin Kevoto said, "Linley, no need for haste. First, you should know... Without specialized testing tools, I can only determine whether you possess talent for becoming an 'Earth-element Mage'. As for other elements, lacking instruments, testing is impossible."
"Only Earth-element magic aptitude?" Linley's heart sank with disappointment.
He'd heard that testing aptitude required special tools, but had hoped Dylin Kevoto, as a Saint-level Grand Magus, might possess alternative methods.
"What's wrong with Earth-element?" Dylin Kevoto declared proudly, his face radiating confidence in the Earth element. "I tell you, Earth-element stands as the mightiest among all elements - Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, Light, and Dark!" After all, Dylin Kevoto himself was an Earth-element Saint-level Grand Magus.
Linley was somewhat skeptical.
Shouldn't all elements remain balanced? How could Earth-element reign supreme?
"Grandpa Doehring, I've always heard Fire Mages possess the strongest attacks. Some say Dark-element attacks are most sinister. How does Earth-element claim superiority?" Linley frowned.
The usually amiable Dylin Kevoto now appeared indignantly displeased. "Linley, hear this! Among magical elements, offensive power varies uniquely across disciplines!"
"For Fire-element, consider the forbidden spell 'Heavenly Flames Scorching the Plains' and 'Earthly Flames Burning the City' - entire metropolises reduced to ashes! For Water-element, the forbidden spell 'Absolute Zero' instantly freezes hundreds of thousands. For Lightning-element, 'Celestial Thunder Annihilation' summons ten thousand bolts to smite all existence. For Wind-element, 'Apocalyptic Tempest' fills heaven and earth with blade-like storms - who could survive?"Delingcovort let out a long sigh.
Lin Lei's heart trembled deeply.
He had always believed fire-element magic possessed the strongest offensive power, but now it seemed laughable. No matter which element, once reaching the level of forbidden spells, each held cataclysmic, world-shaking might.
"What about earth element?" Lin Lei hadn't forgotten earth-element magic.
Delingcovort declared confidently, "How could earth element be inferior? When the earth-element forbidden spell 'Meteor Descent' is unleashed, countless massive meteors rain from the sky, reducing an entire city to ruins in moments. And the forbidden spell 'Heaven Collapse, Earth Shatter'—once activated, the earth churns like tidal waves. Buildings crumble, the ground splits into countless fissures, and magma erupts from below, claiming innumerable lives."
Lin Lei held his breath, transfixed.
"Earth element also possesses the large-scale defensive forbidden spell 'Pulsating Guardian.' Once cast, this spell envelops a city in flawless protection—above, below, and in all directions. It can even withstand the 'Heavenly Thunder Annihilation' spell."
Delingcovort spoke with fervor, then added with a chuckle, "Of course… I've been describing wide-range destructive spells, not single-target offensive magic."
Lin Lei nodded.
He understood—Grandpa Delin had been illustrating large-scale annihilation spells.
"Grandpa Delin, why does earth element seem to have more forbidden spells? What's the reason?" Lin Lei asked, puzzled.
Delingcovort smiled confidently. "Lin Lei, you're missing the essence. In truth, all elemental magics are fundamentally balanced. Their dominance depends on environment. For instance, water-element magic reigns supreme in oceans or aquatic regions, while wind-element magic dominates in tempestuous areas. Earth-element magic naturally excels where the terrain provides advantage—mountains, canyons, or solid ground. No single element is inherently superior; their power ebbs and flows with circumstance."Linley felt some understanding dawn within him.
"Linley… across the entire continent, when mages engage in combat, aren't they almost always fighting on land? And when on land, earth-element mages hold the greatest advantage." Delin Kevotte's face bore a faint smile. "With their feet planted on the boundless earth, earth-element mages possess the firmest foundation."
Linley came to a realization.
Mages of different elements each have environments where they excel. Since battles between mages on the Yulan Continent almost always occur on land, earth-element mages naturally enjoy the most favorable conditions.
"Among all elemental magics, earth-element energy derived from the great earth provides the most beneficial physical enhancement when merged with the body. The Earth Mother shows us the greatest benevolence." Delin Kevotte's expression held a touch of reverence. "When we earth-element mages sit upon the ground, we can sense the vastness of the earth, feel its pulsating rhythms, and experience the earth's nurturing care towards us."
"For earth-element mages, in terms of offense, forbidden spells include single-target techniques like 'Earth Guardian' and destructive spells like 'Heaven-Earth Collapse' and 'Meteor Shower'. Regarding defense, forbidden magic contains large-scale protections like 'Pulse Guardian' and single-target defenses like 'Earthguard Saint Armor'. The single-target defense of earth-element mages is the strongest!"
Delin Kevotte's face radiated complete confidence.
"Single-target defense? Grandpa Delin, earth magic has the strongest single-target defense?" Linley looked at Delin Kevotte with puzzlement.
Delin Kevotte smiled and explained: "The defensive methods of earth-element mages initially appear quite ordinary - earthen shields, dirt walls, and such. But upon reaching fifth-level mage status, one can cast 'Earthguard Saint Armor'. This is a magic that continually evolves."
"For fifth and sixth-level mages, this full-body saint armor is composed of rock. At seventh-level, the armor becomes formed from jade. When reaching eighth-level, the armor evolves to crystalline jade. At ninth-level, the saint armor advances to platinum construction. When becoming a Saint-level mage, the 'Earthguard Saint Armor' manifests as diamond. The defensive power..." At this point, Delin Kevotte's face revealed a knowing smile.The Earth-element mage was indeed one of the most formidable disciplines. When the "Earthguard Sacred Armor" reached the Saint-level, it became entirely formed from diamond. Leylin knew well that diamonds were extremely hard. Moreover, the "diamond" in this Earthguard Sacred Armor wasn't ordinary diamond - it was magically formed, making it even harder than regular diamond.
"Ah, right—"
Leylin suddenly recalled the battle between the two Saint-level experts above Wushan Town. He remembered when the green-robed middle-aged man had struck the gray-robed man with a sword aura, tearing apart his outer robe to reveal a dazzling diamond-like armor beneath.
That Saint-level mage named "Rudy" had relied on that diamond sacred armor to withstand an attack from "Dillon".
"So that was the diamond-level Earthguard Sacred Armor?" Leylin thought with inner astonishment.
The fact that it could withstand even a Saint-level warrior's sword aura attack demonstrated its incredible defensive capabilities.
"That's why I say the Earth element is the strongest among all magical disciplines," declared Delin Kevote, his white beard twitching smugly.
After all, humans live upon the earth, struggle upon the earth, and fight upon the earth. Naturally, Earth-element mages held the greatest advantage.In truth, whether it's earth-style magic or any other elemental magic, each possesses unique effects. As an Earth-style Saint-level Archmage, Doehringcott naturally held his own element in the highest regard. The eight-year-old Linley found himself thoroughly captivated by Doehringcott's passionate explanations.
"Grandpa Doehring, hurry up and test whether I have talent for earth-style magic!" Linley urged impatiently, his youthful enthusiasm bubbling over.
Doehringcott chuckled warmly. "Very well, I'll commence the examination immediately."
"First, you must understand that magical aptitude manifests in two primary aspects. Therefore, the testing process will occur in two distinct phases," the elderly mage declared with scholarly authority, his eyes gleaming with the vigor of a master finally able to impart knowledge after five millennia of solitude within the Coiling Dragon Ring.
"Magical talent comprises two fundamental components: one's affinity with the elemental forces of heaven and earth, and the inherent strength of their spiritual energy," Doehringcott began his foundational instruction, adopting the measured cadence of a seasoned educator.
"But what practical applications do these aspects serve?" Linley inquired, his brows knitting in characteristic curiosity.
Doehringcott adopted a Socratic approach. "Before addressing that, young Linley, tell me - what essential components do you believe a mage requires to cast a spell?"
"Magic incantations!" Linley answered without hesitation, recalling his observation of the mysterious mage atop the velociraptor chanting spells.
"Fallacy."
"But I witnessed the mage reciting incantations when casting magic!" the boy protested.
Stroking his silken white beard with academic superiority, Doehringcott elucidated: "The true essentials of spellcasting lie in the practitioner's magical essence and spiritual energy. When one's spiritual power reaches sufficient potency, instantaneous casting becomes achievable without verbal components. Incantations merely serve auxiliary purposes.""'Instant cast?'" Linley looked at Deringcott in confusion. At this moment, Linley felt an expansive world of magic gradually unfolding before his eyes, though this magical realm remained hazy. Deringcott was slowly lifting the mystical veil shrouding this world of magic.
Deringcott nodded with a smile. "Correct. To cast a spell, one must first provide sufficient magical energy within their body. Then, through mental focus, control this 'magical energy' to attract greater quantities of elemental forces, thereby forming the spell!"
"Elemental forces?" Linley exclaimed in surprise. "Grandpa Dering, does casting magic require absorbing external elemental energies?"
"Haha, of course! Did you think such immense magical effects could be achieved solely through internal magical energy? Impossible. Take a Forbidden Spell for example - the Saint-level mage's internal magical energy only accounts for one percent, with the remaining ninety-nine percent coming from elemental energy."
"Let me put it this way... The magical energy within one's body is essentially refined and purified 'elemental essence'. This internal magical energy acts as the 'general', while external elemental forces are the foot soldiers. By channeling their internal magical energy outward, mages can command vastly greater quantities of elemental forces to create spells of devastating power. Understand now?" Deringcott smiled as he gazed at Linley.
Linley's brow furrowed slightly.
"Oh... I see." Linley finally smiled in comprehension. "So a mage's internal 'magical energy' is like Uncle Hillman, while the elemental forces are like us trainees. A single Uncle Hillman can lead an entire group of youths in training. He can also command us in coordinated attacks and battles!"
Deringcott nodded approvingly. "Precisely. Therefore, the quantity of a mage's internal 'magical energy' is crucial. If the magical energy is insufficient in volume, spellcasting becomes impossible."
Linley nodded in agreement."Compared to magical power, spiritual power is even more important," Delin Kevott said with a smile. "You now understand that spiritual power is actually 'soul force' - it's a kind of controlling ability!"
"Linley, tell me: if you have vast amounts of magical power that attract even more elemental energies from the world... What would happen without spiritual power to control these tremendous energies?" Delin Kevott stroked his white beard, gazing calmly at Linley.
Linley frowned in contemplation.
"Grandpa Delin," Linley finally spoke hesitantly, "I once read in a military strategy book that to defeat enemies, you should first capture their leader. Like with bandits - if you kill their chief, the entire bandit army collapses. Spiritual power is like that chieftain's ability to control his subordinates. Without spiritual power governing the massive magical and elemental energies, those forces would run wild."
Delin Kevott beamed with delight.
"Haha, brilliant Linley!" Delin Kevott laughed heartily.
"Exactly! The combination of vast magical power and elemental energies, when controlled by spiritual power, ultimately forms magic. Sometimes casting powerful spells requires spiritual power beyond our current capacity. That's why we need the assistance of 'magic incantations'." Delin Kevott explained with a gentle smile.
Linley suddenly felt the fundamental principles of magic becoming crystal clear before him.
With another smile, Delin Kevott continued: "Of course, those are just basic principles. The true world of magic is far more complex than you imagine! The real challenge lies in how to use magical power and elemental energies to actually form a 'spell' - that's what truly matters!"