I pulled out a book titled "A Comprehensive Guide to Beginner Wind Magic" from the shelf. It was quite thick. Flipping through the table of contents, I found it quite comprehensive, covering topics like an introduction to wind magic, how to use wind magic, a complete list of beginner wind magic spells, and examples of their usage.
I found a well-lit spot and sat down, eager to dive in.
It turned out that wind magic was quite straightforward. It involved invoking the natural element of wind through certain incantations to achieve the caster's desired effects, provided the caster had sufficient magical and mental energy.
I tried chanting, "Oh free winds, heed my command, coalesce into a shield to fend off intrusion. —— Aero Shield." As soon as I finished the incantation, I felt the airflow in front of me accelerate, forming an invisible barrier of air. My interest was immediately piqued; it seemed I could use magic from other schools as well. How fascinating!
I spent a day practicing all the beginner wind magic spells, and I was starting to feel quite adept at them.
At the staircase landing, I found a meal and some water had been delivered to me at some point. After finishing my meal, I peeked through the ventilation grates and noticed that it was already dark outside. The lighting in the library relied mostly on magic stones. I cast a basic wind magic spell, Flight, on myself and began zooming around the 8th floor of the library. It was exhilarating! Although called Flight, it didn't actually make me fly; it simply accelerated my movement speed.
Since I couldn't risk damaging anything here, I refrained from experimenting with offensive magic. After playing around for a while, I stopped and repeated the incantations of the beginner wind magic spells several times to ensure I wouldn't forget them. Little did I know, the Celestial Demon Technique itself was a form of magical cultivation. I had been practicing it for four years now, and even though I was only at the second level, my magical power was at the level of an advanced mage, which allowed me to easily use beginner wind magic.
Now that I had mastered beginner wind magic, I decided to experiment and see if I could use magic from other schools. I picked up a book on beginner fire magic from the shelf...
And so, during the day, I practiced magic, and at night, I practiced my Celestial Demon Technique. It took me five days to learn all the beginner-level magic spells of the wind, fire, earth, and water schools. However, I couldn't grasp light magic at all. I simply couldn't control the light element. I figured it might be due to some conflict with my Celestial Demon Technique. But I decided not to dwell on it. Learning so many types of magic already made me quite content.
Having mastered the beginner-level spells of the four schools, I began to advance to intermediate-level magic. By the way, on the continent, magic is divided into ten levels: three levels of beginner magic, three levels of intermediate magic, three levels of advanced magic, and the tenth level consists of forbidden spells.
Learning intermediate-level magic posed a challenge for me. I could manage to use fourth-level magic spells, but after casting a few, I felt physically weak and unable to concentrate. Fifth and sixth-level spells were completely beyond my reach. Perhaps my magical power had reached its limit. Since I couldn't practice them for now, I decided to jot them all down for future practice when my magical power increased. It took me half a month to transcribe all the level 1-9 spells from the four schools of magic in the library, preparing to practice them slowly as my magical power grew.
Unknowingly, it had been over 20 days since I arrived here. These 20-plus days were crucial for me, as they led to significant breakthroughs in my understanding of magic. Thanks to my diligent study of magic every day, my Celestial Demon Technique finally broke through to the third level from the second. Once I completed the third level, I could undergo the transformation into a Fallen Angel, marking a qualitative leap in my abilities.
Having recorded all the spells, I spent two more days reviewing them to ensure I wouldn't forget. By human standards, I was now considered an advanced mage. After nearly a month of practicing magic, I found my senses had become much sharper than before, making it easier for me to focus. Some of the dark magic spells I couldn't use before were now within my grasp.
Improving my magical abilities wouldn't happen overnight. With two more months to spare, I decided to explore some martial arts techniques that might suit me.
Learning martial arts wasn't as straightforward as studying magic. It took me two days to search for a martial art style that suited me, but most of the ones I could understand were relatively basic, while the advanced ones were beyond my comprehension, and they mainly focused on techniques. This posed a dilemma for me. Martial arts were fundamental to me, and with my robust physique compared to the Mengzu, it would be a waste not to learn advanced techniques.
Lying on the ground, staring at the ceiling, I pondered over what to learn. Suddenly, as I turned my head, I noticed something in the corner under a bookshelf, partially obscured by its shadow, making it hard to discern. Curiously, I walked over and retrieved a dusty iron box from under the shelf. On it were three conspicuous words — "Mad God's Decree." Opening the box, I found a yellowed book inside, its title boldly inscribed as "Mad God's Decree." My heart raced with excitement; even the name hinted at its secretive nature. Flipping through the first page, I found the text written in large letters, titled "Overview of Mad God's Decree": "Mad God's Decree, also known as the Emperor's Domination, is the ultimate martial art technique. It can be practiced regardless of one's previous training. This technique harnesses the practitioner's innate potential as a unique form of combat Qi. Only those with strong willpower, robust meridians, and the ability to undergo a frenzy should practice it. Women should abstain."
Flipping to the next page, it warned that without a frenzy-prone constitution, the body would be unable to withstand the immense power of the Mad God's Decree. Once cultivated, the practitioner's body would be overwhelmed by the combat Qi, leading to self-destruction. It cautioned against weak-willed individuals, as they risked being controlled by the immense power and driven to madness. Those who practiced the decree had to control themselves to avoid succumbing to bloodlust, as it could lead to irreversible consequences and eventual madness and death.
The Mad God's Decree comprised twelve levels, with the first being the most challenging as it involved converting existing techniques into the Mad God's Decree. It advised against forcibly continuing practice if the conversion wasn't achieved within a year.
Following were the methods of cultivation. This technique seemed suitable for me since I could undergo a frenzy. I was thrilled to have finally found a martial art that suited me.
Excitedly following the instructions in the book, I began practicing. I attempted to channel the Thunder Armor technique along the path of the Mad God's Decree. An hour later, drenched in sweat, I snapped out of meditation. Flinging the book away in frustration, I cursed, "What kind of rubbish technique is this? It's impossible to practice!" During the practice, the channels through which my Qi flowed throbbed in agony, and only about a tenth of them were activated. Continuing to practice would risk rupturing my meridians.
I picked up the book again, feeling both drawn to its promising descriptions and unwilling to give up. As I carefully read through it once more, I noticed that it mentioned completing one full cycle of energy circulation would count as completing the first level. So, by that logic, I had already completed one-tenth of the first level. This realization restored some of my lost confidence.
Taking a deep breath, I calmed the roiling energy within me and started afresh with the exercises outlined in the book. The meridians that had been obstructed before now cleared swiftly, but when I reached one-tenth of the cycle, the intense pain returned. Gritting my teeth, I persevered and pushed forward a little more before finally stopping when I couldn't bear it any longer.
This time, I didn't throw the book away. I figured that if I kept at it like this, making incremental progress each time, I could still cultivate this technique. I decided to take a break for now.
As I lay on the ground, I flipped through the pages of the book. It described how mastering the first level would enable me to project my energy outward, for both offense and defense. Attached was the first move of the Kicking God Fist — the Furious Storm. This technique involved striking the ground with the energy of the Kicking God Fist, turning the surrounding ground into countless particles for an all-encompassing attack, ideal for when one is surrounded. Below were instructions on how to execute it… Once mastered, it would allow me to control the ground within a 15-meter radius from my body, causing it to burst and scatter at will for attacks.
Reading through the descriptions in the book, I couldn't help but marvel at its power. If I could master it, I wouldn't have to fear being surrounded or outmatched by opponents anymore.
This time, my interest in the Kicking God Fist was piqued more than ever. I took a deep breath and settled back into my meditation pose, starting my third attempt at mastering the technique. Again and again, I surged the energy through my meridians. A month passed, and miraculously, I broke through 99% of my meridians. Just one final push, and I would complete the first level of cultivation.
But reality proved that mastering the first level of the Kicking God Fist was far from easy. Another ten days went by, and I still couldn't break through that final resistance to complete the cycle. Discouraged, I slumped against the bookshelf, slamming the floor in frustration (without using energy).
"Ouch!" A book fell from the shelf, hitting me on the head. I cursed, "Damn it, even the damn book's picking on me."
Picking up the book from the ground, I saw its title: "Military Insights of the Continent." It was a military book. Putting it back, I suddenly realized that one of my main objectives in coming here was to secretly study human military tactics. Yet, with such a perfect opportunity in the library, I hadn't taken advantage of it. It had been over two months already, and time was of the essence.
Hurriedly, I opened the book again and flipped through a few pages, immediately captivated by its contents. Perhaps, I was inherently drawn to warfare. Each example of successful battles and strategic tactics described in the book deeply fascinated me.
With each passing day, I delved into one military strategy book after another. I didn't pressure myself to grasp the strategies of these renowned generals; simply remembering them would suffice. For an orc like me, these things should be the most valuable. As long as I could flexibly apply them, they would undoubtedly be useful.
After ten days, I felt my memory had reached its limit. I couldn't cram any more information into my brain. It was time to stop pushing myself. What I had already memorized should be enough to consider the mission accomplished. My head was bursting from all the memorization over these days.
Today, I decided not to read anything. I'd take a day off from studying and focus on practicing the Kicking God Fist during the day and the Heavenly Demon Technique at night. I cleared my mind of distractions and concentrated on cultivating the Kicking God Fist. The true qi flowed smoothly through the previously opened meridians, but when it reached the final point, the pain was excruciating. If I couldn't break through this last barrier, all my previous efforts would be wasted. Regardless, today, I was determined to overcome the pain.
I circulated the true qi back and forth through the cleared meridians, ensuring they were even smoother. The crucial moment finally arrived. Concentrating all my strength in the middle section of the meridian pathway, I exerted every ounce of effort to push the energy forward. It was like sprinting along the meridian, relentlessly driving the energy to its peak velocity, pushing forward towards the final hurdle.
With a loud "boom," a wave of unbearable pain surged through my entire body. All the energy within me halted, and it felt like my meridians were tearing apart. I convulsed for a moment before blacking out.
"Ah!" I woke up in agony, wondering if the earlier attempt to push through my meridians was just a dream. My body felt swollen, as if every muscle had expanded. The world around me seemed clearer, and I could easily discern textures on the bookshelves 20 meters away. Was it possible that I had succeeded in mastering the first level of the Furious God Technique?
Realizing my clothes were soaked with sweat and emitting a foul odor, I hurried to the restroom to clean them. As I washed, I noticed that my skin was reddened and glowing all over, without understanding why. (What I didn't know was that by breaking through the final meridian barrier, the circulation of qi within me was thoroughly cleansing my body, causing all the capillaries to swell with blood. This redness would naturally fade after some time.)
Returning to the bookshelf in damp clothing, I sat down cross-legged and tentatively tried to activate the Furious God Technique. To my surprise, the speed of the qi circulation was three times faster than before. When it reached the final barrier, it effortlessly broke through. A wave of comfort washed over me, and it seemed like my qi had strengthened slightly. I had truly succeeded. But I couldn't stop there; I needed to reinforce my mastery through further practice.
Like this, I entered a meditative state and practiced the Furious God Technique for a full 49 cycles. My body was filled with qi, and I felt an indescribable comfort. Within the Furious God's qi, there seemed to be a desire for battle urging me on.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered the circulated qi back into my dantian. When I opened my eyes, I felt an abundance of strength coursing through my entire body. With just a slight urge, the qi immediately responded to my intentions, converging wherever I directed it. It was a wonderful feeling.
Glancing through the window, I noticed it was already evening. My clothes had long since dried, indicating that a considerable amount of time had passed. Stretching lazily, I felt tempted to throw a few punches to test the power of the Furious God Technique.
Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly. I was famished! It had only been a day since my last meal, yet I felt incredibly hungry. Rushing to the staircase, I was relieved to find tonight's meal still there. I devoured it eagerly, soothing my hunger. Tonight, I decided to skip training. I had made significant progress, and it was time to give myself a well-deserved rest.
The next morning, I woke up and counted, realizing that I had about 10 days left until the ban was lifted. I spent the next two days rapidly reviewing the magic and military theories I had memorized, like a revolving lantern. During the review process, I noticed that my memory was still quite good, as I hardly forgot any of the material.
Since mastering the first level of the Furious God's Decision, I've noticed that my mana gathers much faster than before. I wonder why? Could it be related to opening up my meridians while practicing the Furious God's Decision? At this rate, perhaps it won't be long before I can complete the third level. Honestly, I really long for the transformation into a Fallen Angel. Because it can bring me tremendous power.
On this particular day, while I was practicing the Furious God's Decision, I suddenly heard footsteps coming from the stairs. Why would anyone be here? It's not time for meal deliveries, and didn't the vice-dean say that students aren't allowed up here easily?
I hurried to the staircase and exclaimed, "Who dares to trespass in this restricted area?"
The towering figure of the vice-dean appeared on the stairs, smiling, "You, little one, are taking your library guard duties quite seriously, aren't you?"
I said awkwardly, "Why are you here? I calculated that there are still 6 days left until the deadline."
The vice-dean looked at me in surprise and said, "What? It's time already. It's been exactly three months today. Are you addicted to staying here or something?"
His words left me stunned. How could it be time already? I shouldn't have made a mistake. Could it be that I entered meditation to practice the Furious God's Decision and lost track of time, practicing for 7 days straight?
The vice-dean continued, "A few days ago, I heard from the administrators that you haven't eaten for several days. Were you practicing during those days?"
I replied, "Maybe. I'm not sure how long I meditated for that time."
"Long meditation is a good thing. Alright, let's go. But remember, you're not allowed to take any books from here."
"Okay, just wait a moment. I'll tidy up," I said. Not allowed to take anything? That wouldn't do. I couldn't leave without the Furious God's Decision. I quickly ran back inside, tucked the book under my arm, and returned to the vice-dean's side. Thankfully, he didn't search me. And so, I followed the vice-dean out of the library.
Stepping outside, I took a deep breath of the fresh air. Bathed in the warm sunlight, I felt comfortably warm all over. It was as if I were a bird released from its cage, ready to soar freely in the vast sky.
"It must have been quite dull these past few months. I can see you've changed a lot since you went in. You must have gained a lot from your time there," the vice-dean remarked.
I replied sincerely, "Yes, I've learned a lot in the library. I owe it to your guidance."
The vice-dean waved off my gratitude. "You don't need to thank me. Your achievements are the result of your own efforts. You're a good kid, eager to improve. In the future, I hope you'll excel in the academy. The four major academies are fiercely competitive right now. I hope you can bring honor to our academy. You have a solid foundation. Do you know why I broke the rules to let you study in the library?"
I looked at him puzzled and said, "I don't know."
He looked at me deeply and said, "Because you're exceptionally talented. You're the first person I've encountered who can use intermediate-level dark magic at such a young age. Dark mages typically achieve success in their seventies or eighties, and even then, they usually focus on other types of magic. But you, you've managed to reach this level through self-study, and that's truly remarkable. What's even more satisfying for me is that I can see you're an honest child, unafraid of authority and willing to stand up to noble students. That's why I want to nurture you into one of the top students of the new generation, with the goal of becoming a dragon knight. I believe you can do it."
I thought to myself, If only you knew I'm a spy sent by the orc tribe, I wonder what you'd think. But I responded aloud, "Thank you for trusting me so much. I won't let you down."
The vice-dean smiled satisfactorily and said, "Take a day off today. You can go back to class tomorrow. It seems like your teacher in your class likes you a lot; he's asked for you several times. Don't tell anyone about being confined to the library. It's against the rules, and only the dean and I know about it. Do you understand?"
I nodded and said, "Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble for you. You've been so kind to me."
"That's good. Now, go back to your dormitory. I need to get back to my office."
After parting ways with the vice-dean, instead of returning to my dormitory, I headed straight to the stable to see my black dragon. As I approached the stable, I heard laughter like silver bells coming from inside.
"Who would be laughing here? Is it Purple Snow?" I thought to myself. As I entered the stable, indeed, it was her. She was holding onto the black dragon's large head, and the dragon was licking her with its big tongue. She laughed as she dodged, and it seemed like they had a great relationship. She was such a kind girl, and I was grateful for her help in feeding the black dragon these past few days.
The black dragon noticed my arrival first and happily snorted at me. When Purple Snow turned around and saw me, her face flushed red. She awkwardly said, "You're back."
I nodded at her and approached the black dragon, patting its large head. "You rascal, you've been eating well lately, haven't you? You've gained quite a bit of weight," I remarked.
Purple Snow lowered her head and said, "It's all my fault. I've been feeding it too much."
I smiled at her and said, "How can I blame you? Thanks to you for feeding it while I was away. I appreciate it."
It was the first time I saw her smile, and she seemed a bit flustered. "No need to thank me. Where have you been these days?" she asked.
Seeing her shy and adorable demeanor, I explained, "Because of what happened last time, the vice-dean confined me to the library for three months. Today was the end of it, so I'm out now."
"It's all my fault. You've suffered a lot because of me," she said, lowering her head even further.
I sighed softly and said, "No, I want to thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had this opportunity."
She asked, puzzled, "What opportunity?"
Realizing I had slipped up, I quickly tried to cover it up. "Ah, I meant that during this confinement, I had a chance to focus on my training for three months and made quite a bit of progress. So, thank you. Are you interested in taking the black dragon out for a stroll with me?"
Excitement flickered in her eyes, but it quickly dimmed, and she said, "Maybe not. If someone sees us, they'll cause trouble for you again."
Hearing her words, a hint of coldness flashed in my eyes, and I snorted, saying, "Who's afraid of them? Even if they don't come looking for me, I'll go find them to settle scores. If I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of? So, are you coming or not?"
She looked at me, her cold and proud demeanor returning, but there was a hint of confusion in her eyes. Unconsciously, she said, "I'll come." As she realized what she said, a new blush spread across her beautiful face.
I smiled faintly and lifted her onto the black dragon's back, eliciting a gasp from her. "Let's go outside the city where the black dragon can stretch its wings," I suggested.
She frowned and said, "But the academy doesn't allow students to leave without permission."
I smiled mysteriously and replied, "We can sneak out. Just follow me."
Leading the black dragon to the three-meter-high wall, I said to her, "Get on the black dragon and close your eyes." With my protection, she smoothly mounted the dragon's back. Thanks to the regular feeding from Ziyue, the black dragon didn't resist at all. Obediently, Ziyue closed her adorable big eyes. Quietly, I cast a flying spell on myself to lighten the load, then released the dragon's belly with both hands and shouted, "Up!" Lifting the dragon up with a forceful push of my legs, we soared into the air. With a push against the wall for leverage, we smoothly floated out of the academy.
Ziyue felt as if she were flying through the clouds. When she opened her eyes, we were already outside the academy walls. I swiftly jumped onto the horse and said to her, "Hold on tight, we're about to leave." Ziyue quickly grabbed the beam, and with a tap of my legs on the horse's belly, the black dragon obediently charged out, startling Ziyue into closing her eyes again.
I quickly took Ziyue out of the city gate and into the outskirts. The black dragon, having come out for a rare run, let out a joyful roar and gradually increased its speed to the limit. The surrounding scenery swiftly receded like lightning, and Ziyue nestled tightly in my arms, her face pale with fear. The exhilarating wind whipped against my face, providing an indescribable sense of satisfaction. After running for quite a distance, I finally instructed the black dragon to slow down. I lowered my head and said to the lovely girl in my arms, "Alright, open your eyes now. The speed has slowed down."
Ziyue then opened her adorable big eyes, realizing she was snugly nestled in my embrace, with one of my large hands wrapped around her waist. Blushing, she let out a soft whimper and buried her face in my chest, too shy to come out. Her cute reaction made me burst into laughter, and I found myself enjoying this adorable little creature.
I let the black dragon leisurely stroll back, and Ziyue gradually relaxed. Smiling, she said, "The air here is so nice. Look, those birds over there are chirping so happily. Leixiang, you know, I like seeing you smile. You're so scary when you're cold."
Her words stirred up the emotions I had buried deep in my heart. I sighed deeply and said, "If you had experienced my childhood, you would understand why I am the way I am."
She looked at me with her watery eyes and said, "Can you tell me? It would make you feel better to get it off your chest."
I shook my head and said, "Not now. Maybe later, when the time is right, I'll tell you."
Understandingly, Ziyue didn't press further and leaned against my chest. I gently wrapped my arm around her slender waist, quietly enjoying the serene warmth.
Suddenly, another beautiful figure appeared in my mind—she was wearing a white nurse uniform. Ah, it was Kellan. It had been three months; I wondered how she was doing. Thinking of her lively demeanor made me want to smile. I needed to find an opportunity to see her, after all, she had brought me some warmth when my heart was cold. But what about Ziyue? I couldn't help feeling a bit anxious. I realized I couldn't let go of either of them.
With these conflicting thoughts swirling in my mind, I sighed inwardly. What was the point of thinking about this? I didn't belong here. Eventually, I would have to return to the Orc Kingdom. I couldn't hurt them; it was impossible for me to be with either of them. A bitter taste filled my heart.
Ziyue looked up at my handsome face and asked, "What's wrong? Are you thinking about something unhappy again? By the way, did you know today is my first time skipping class? I was actually planning to go back to class after feeding the black dragon."
I chuckled and replied, "So you're a good girl, aren't you?"
Ziyue said, "Of course, I'm very well-behaved."
"Can I ask you a question?" I inquired.
Ziyue blinked and replied, "Sure, go ahead."
In a calm tone, I asked, "If, I mean if, one day I leave here and never come back, what would you do?"
Ziyue sat up straight, staring at me intently. Her eyes turned red, and tears welled up, silently rolling down her cheeks without a word.
I, who had never experienced such a situation before, suddenly became flustered and nervous. "What's wrong with you?" I asked anxiously.
Ziyue cried, "Everyone, everyone treats me like this. Don't you want me anymore? Why would you ask me such a question?"
I thought to myself, What's going on? I haven't done anything wrong. But of course, I couldn't say that out loud. Hastily, I said, "I meant 'if,' it's not real."
Ziyue looked at me affectionately and said, "Wherever you go, I will follow you." I was surprised by her direct declaration of love, usually being so shy. My heart warmed at her words, and I pulled her into my embrace, kissing her softly on her delicate lips. At first, she trembled, but then closed her eyes, allowing me to kiss her.
I savored the sweetness of her lips, deeply intoxicated by the moment. After a while, I released her and gazed deeply into her mesmerized eyes. Her adorable face blushed, radiating an extraordinary charm.
Firmly, I said to her, "As long as you don't leave me, I will take you with me wherever I go. This is my promise to you."
She nodded gently and shyly replied, "You have to remember what you said." Then, she nestled in my broad embrace and closed her eyes.
When we returned to the academy, she had already fallen asleep. Watching her adorable sleeping face, I gently stroked her smooth cheek. For the first time in my life, my heart was filled with tenderness, telling me that I would protect this lovely angel for a lifetime.