"Wayne, do you want to be my student?"
"To be honest, not really..."
Wayne curled his lip. Xifei's playbook for taking on an apprentice was far too outdated, and her single attempt at showing off had ended in complete failure. She hardly looked like a renowned master.
She was just too young!
In his imagination, a mentor should have a long, flowing white beard, spectacles as thick as the bottom of a bottle, and the erudite, weathered look of someone who had weathered decades of wind and rain.
There should also be an unkempt, scruffy robe, an unpretentious greatsword, and a mighty dragon to sit on.
Whether there was a greatsword didn't really matter; what mattered was the dragon under his rear!
While an alluring, mature mentor like Xifei was certainly pleasing to the eye, magic was a lifelong pursuit that could never be treated lightly. As for mature beauties, the three boats he was currently paddling would grow into them in a few years anyway.
Sensing the disdain in Wayne's tone, Xifei smiled faintly. Surging spiritual energy rippled outward, churning the tides of mana and dragging Wayne's consciousness into a bizarre, kaleidoscopic realm.
A starry cosmos!
Wayne recognized it at once: the world behind the Gate of Truth!
*Big Sis, you're late again. I've already seen this view.*
Unaware that her attempt to show off had fallen flat yet again, Xifei withdrew her mana and the illusion of deep space, saying proudly, "Don't let my youth fool you. I may only be two years older than you, but I'm quite well-known in the magical world. What you just saw was the Gate of Truth, a sacred realm countless mages dream of reaching. I once set foot inside and returned safe and sound."
*Who hasn't!*
Xifei took Wayne's nonchalant expression as the ignorance of youth. It was only natural for a novice to be unaware of the terror and preciousness of the Gate of Truth. Halting her rambling lecture, she gave an odd smile. "How about this: I'll introduce my daughter to you. In exchange, you become my student. What do you say?"
"You have a daughter?"
Wayne was deeply shocked. He wondered which lucky bastard had managed to dig up such a fine cabbage. At the same time, he was astonished by Xifei's utter shamelessness. Was her daughter even five years old? Trying to set her up with a boyfriend—didn't her conscience hurt?
"Yes, she's nineteen this year."
"And how old are you?"
"Twenty!"
"It's getting late. Let's talk another day..."
***
Inside the manor's main villa.
Faced with Xifei's invitation to become her apprentice, Wayne neither refused nor accepted, nor did he show any intention of handing the spellbook back.
In all fairness, he recognized Xifei's strength. That brief glimpse of her mana tide had set off frantic warning bells in his supernatural perception; its level of danger was second only to the Gate of Truth itself, proving beyond doubt that she was a formidable mage.
It was just that...
Something felt completely off!
Wayne racked his brains without finding an answer, ultimately chalking it up to Xifei's eccentric unreliability. At the same time, he finally understood why she had been so enthusiastic when they first met. It wasn't that she lusted after his body; she was thirsting for his physical aptitude.
Wayne undeniably craved magic. He was desperate to gain powerful strength—ideally overnight, surpassing Veronica and the other two to reach the caliber of an exceptional graduate.
Weighing his options repeatedly, he realized he didn't have many alternatives. An exceptional and powerful mage had delivered herself to his doorstep, even going to the trouble of staging an elaborate inheritance scenario. Putting on airs would only make him look pretentious. He decided to simply acquiesce to Xifei styling herself as his teacher.
"I know. You think I'm too young, and that being my student would hurt your pride. You've got sharp eyes; I really am very young..."
"How about this: from now on, we can each address the other our own way. You call me Big Sis, and I'll call you..."
When she mentioned 'Big Sis,' who knew what crossed Xifei's mind, but her eyes lit up and she giggled incessantly, looking for all the world like a man-eating witch.
*This teacher doesn't seem like one of the good guys. Could she be worshipping some evil god?*
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. Xifei Valentine, believer of the Goddess of Nature. I've returned to Londan to assume the post of regional high priest, representing the Church's supreme authority in the Kingdom of Windsor, as well as its highest combat power here."
At this, Xifei radiated absolute confidence. "Well? Do you still think I lack the qualifications to teach you?"
"You definitely have them!"
Wayne's expression changed at the speed of light, and he respectfully addressed her, "Teacher."
Xifei waved her hand, covering her mouth with a coquettish laugh. "Big Sis is fine. That title is much more fun. I can hardly wait."
Wayne had no idea what she was talking about. Late at night, an isolated man and woman sharing a room—he suspected Xifei was venturing into indecent territory. He silently urged his teacher to remain virtuous; this student held very conservative views on romance and could never accept a teacher-student scandal.
"I was transferred back to Londan from Paris headquarters to clean up an enormous mess. Otherwise, our apprenticeship ceremony would have been far more sacred. But as things stand..."
*You're already dating my daughter anyway. As family, who cares about a ceremony? Just be a good boy and listen to Veronica from now on.*
"Originally, I planned to spend a great deal of time tutoring you, but the situation in Londan is more critical than I anticipated. I must return in three days to oversee the big picture. You'd better prepare to go without sleep for these next three days."
Xifei admitted to herself that she coveted Wayne's talent, which was why she was willing to stay behind and guide him for three days. She hadn't enforced that condition demanding Wayne honor his promise and become her student.
It was plain to see that Wayne had shown reluctance during her little scheme. Under such circumstances, forcing the matter would never work.
He had to be coaxed!
The results were quite satisfactory. Wayne had been coaxed into high spirits; his mouth might still be stubborn, but his actions were honest enough, passively accepting her as his teacher.
Xifei thought to herself: *Damn scoundrel, coaxing tactics work this well on you? You're so practiced at this—did you have other women pampering you before me?*
Straightening her posture into that of a proper mentor, Xifei set aside her playful tone and turned serious. Directing Wayne to open the hexagram spellbook, she said, "This is the crowning masterpiece of the Church's legendary mages, summarizing over a thousand years of magical cultivation experience. It contains the finest meditation techniques and the most comprehensive training system. It will save you from taking countless wrong turns..."
Following Xifei's instruction, Wayne opened the spellbook. The very first page depicted a hexagram drawn from six straight lines. The two triangles were not merely overlaid geometric shapes, but lines interwoven and mortised into a unified whole.
"The Darkforged Hexagram, the Silver Cross, and the Golden Triangle. You don't need to worry about the latter two for now. Master the hexagram first. Only once you illuminate the hexagram can you touch upon higher tiers."
Sitting opposite Wayne, Xifei pointed at the design. "Commit what I say next to memory. The hexagram represents Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Void, and Self...
"Earth, the bedrock of life, representing the body's muscles, bones, and internal organs.
"In nature, Earth is the land. All life—you, me, and everything else—originates from the earth. The earth is the foundation and the paramount key to harmony within the hexagram system.
"By communing with nature, you will learn to converse with the earth, thereby drawing more of the earth element into your body..."
Xifei's words seemed imbued with magic, causing visions of the natural world to sweep before Wayne's eyes. He roamed through mountain forests and open plains, walking barefoot across the soil, maintaining an unbroken connection with the land and absorbing its wisdom and memories.
"Fire, the energy of life, representing human desire.
"Human desires are boundless. The life energy within you is already abundant, so a mage does not need to draw fire element from nature. What we must do is learn to balance desire, and even suppress it.
"The fire of wrath, the fire of greed, the fire of lust, the fire of sloth, the fire of pride... We harbor far too many desires. If a mage cannot maintain inner serenity, the flames will consume the other five lights of the hexagram, tainting your mana and plunging your mind into chaos.
"At the same time, if serenity is taken to an extreme, a mage loses desire and, with it, the momentum that drives life forward. Maintain balance and face yourself honestly..."
As Xifei spoke, Wayne felt himself plunge into a sea of fire and molten magma. The searing heat warped his thoughts while simultaneously tempering his resolve.
"Water, the source of life, representing the body's blood and fluids, keeping our minds clear and balancing our desires.
"The water element is tranquil, gentle, and utterly pure. Bathing in water, you will attain the greatest balance in this world. It teaches us the preciousness of life and reminds us that desire is not the ultimate pursuit. Life stands above all else...
"Water will help you quench the flames, but remember what I said: the fire must never be extinguished entirely!"
Wayne swam freely through a cerulean ocean. He was in the sea, yet he also felt as though he had become a vessel containing the water. The two achieved a harmonious equilibrium. In that moment, his thoughts remained absolute and crystal clear. The raging blaze receded, no longer dictating his desires.
"Wind, the breath of life. You can understand it as the breath you draw at every single moment.
"The wind element is inconspicuous in nature, yet it is the most dynamic element of all. It is influenced by the other three elements while simultaneously altering them...
"Your breathing shifts according to your flesh and your desires, dictating your physical condition. If your flesh and desires corrupt, your breathing will grow sluggish and foul.
"Conversely, if you can keep the wind element within your body perpetually vibrant, you can influence your flesh and desires in turn, staving off corruption or even eradicating it entirely. An exceptional mage who maintains the perpetual vitality of the wind element can preserve eternal youth.
"It is the breath of life—it is vitality itself!"
Wayne felt the rhythm of his breathing exchanging with nature. Impurity and purity cycled within and without, keeping his body sound and robust.
"Void is both energy and matter, knowledge and objective natural laws.
"The first four are the basic elements of life. Void stands above those four elements and is the most difficult concept to master within the hexagram system. It lies beyond nature; it is the cosmos, also known as aether.
"The energy of the four elements is finite, but the expanse of aether is boundless, possessing supreme wisdom. By establishing contact with the Void, your thoughts, your wisdom, and even your mana will be guided and gradually magnified by it.
"Void is intimately bound to the four elements. The four elements constitute your life, and they determine how much wisdom you can glean from your communion with the Void.
"To put it simply: Void is knowledge. Only with knowledge does magic exist. Commune with the Void through your life, and your magic will blossom into miracles, reshaping reality."
This time, everything around Wayne turned into a blank expanse of pure white. Looking upward, he beheld what seemed to be a boundless starry sky, where countless stars represented the universe's ultimate wisdom, holding all knowledge and truth.
"Self: the true self, thought, faith—a mage's lifelong pursuit.
"We govern mana with thought, drive magic with mana, and alter reality with magic. Thought is founded on perception yet transcends its boundaries, encompassing all cognitive and intellectual activity. Without thought, we are nothing.
"In the process of acquiring knowledge, our minds endure violent impacts. To ensure our thoughts remain rational at all times, we must restrain ourselves through faith and seek the protection of gods to master higher wisdom."
A mirror materialized before Wayne. In the reflection, his eyes were vacant, and his entire body displayed a sickly, unnatural pallor.
A complexion belonging only to a corpse!
Suddenly, the sunburn marks across his chest tore open. A colossal eyeball opened wide, rotting his flesh and transforming him into a viscous, eldritch monstrosity of writhing tentacles and eyes.
Just then, a beam of emerald light shone down, dispelling Wayne's monstrous shroud and restoring him to human form.
The green radiance was holy and pure. Vaguely within it, Wayne glimpsed an elegant, graceful silhouette.
Wayne: "???"
*Teacher, you're packing way too much private agenda into this. Aren't you embellishing a bit much?*
"The foundation of the hexagram rests on the four great elements, the bedrock every mage must solidify. By mastering the four elements, you can cast the corresponding spells. But magic and divine arts involving faith require a heart filled with devotion."
Teacher Xifei had clearly added her own ingredients. To make Wayne feel the greatness of the Goddess of Nature and draw him into her embrace, she had spared no effort, expending considerable mana to craft these illusions with her words.
These visions allowed Wayne to intuitively perceive the four elements, Void, and Self—a remarkably sophisticated method of guidance, akin to an enlightened transmission, teaching Wayne step-by-step how to sense and balance the four elements and comprehend Void and Self.
This was the true benefit of having a renowned master. In a night school, Wayne would have had to spend at least an extra year to grasp this.
"The four great elements have strengths and weaknesses depending on your innate talent. Some are born with fierce ambition—that is Fire. Some are born peaceful and serene, leaning toward Water. Others are born outstanding athletes, representing Earth. Those blessed with longevity and eternal youth represent Wind...
"The reverse holds true as well: the intensely lustful are Fire, the cold-hearted are Water, the frail are Earth, and the aging are Wind!
"There is no need to deliberately chase a perfect balance among the four elements; that kind of genius is an absolute monster. What you must do is master the four elements, integrate them with the knowledge you learn, and sketch the hexagram alongside your mind."
Xifei raised a finger and lightly tapped Wayne's chest. A hexagram faintly shimmered into view. "Once you complete this hexagram, you will be a qualified mage, and your mana will see tremendous growth. After that, I will explain what realms the Silver Cross and Golden Triangle represent. Don't rush; this road is still very long."
Wayne was thoroughly convinced. He hadn't chosen the wrong teacher; she genuinely possessed real ability.
Suddenly, something occurred to him. "Uh, Teacher, I already have a faith. It's the Goddess of Moonlight. I promised..."
"Are you registered?"
"Registered for what?"
"Then you aren't a believer of the Goddess of Moonlight. Switch over. Follow Big Sis and walk the path of the Goddess of Nature."
"..."
*So casual about it? Are you a mage from the Free Alliance or something?*
Chapter 33