CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 41 BEGINNER FIRE MAGIC

The biggest difference between a Magic Apprentice and a Magician is that a Magician can transform Magic Elements into Magic Attacks.

Yun Sheng had not yet forged her own Magic Wand; previously, she did have a Magic Wand obtained from Yang Shuo, but, unfortunately, that wand could only be used by a Great Magic Director and its Magic Attribute did not match Yun Sheng’s either.

Fortunately, when using Basic Magic, it is not absolutely necessary to possess a Magic Wand. As long as one has sufficient proficiency and chants correctly, they can also release a Magic Attack.

Yun Canghai is a Fire-element Mage, but he also has extensive knowledge of other types of magic, something Yun Sheng has only recently come to know.

The higher the level of a Mage, the shorter the incantation time, and the faster the recovery of Magic Elements.

Yun Canghai’s teachings began with the Fire Magic, which he was most skilled in.

At this time, father and daughter had just arrived at the outskirts of a secluded forest, with no villages or houses nearby where they could stay. Yun Canghai decided that tonight, they would camp outdoors.

With a slight movement of Yun Canghai’s lips, a beautiful fireball, like a shooting star, fell onto the firewood pile.

The fire blazed fiercely, instantly dispelling the chilling cold of the night.

"Awesome!" Yun Sheng clapped and cheered.

But in the next moment, Yun Canghai’s words wiped the smile from her face, "This fire is mine. If you want to keep warm, go make your own."

Yun Sheng, rather cluelessly, picked up a few dry twigs, straining to recall the incantation Yun Canghai had just chanted.

She concentrated hard, imagining the red Magic Elements gathering in her hands.

But when she attempted to condense the Fire Magic Element into a ball and shoot it out, the elements immediately dispersed into a puff of blue smoke.

The night grew deeper, and Yun Canghai roasted rations over the campfire nearby; the fragrance of the warmed food wafted over, tempting and persistent.

Yun Sheng was itching to give in, but as tenacious as she was, she would never easily beg Yun Canghai for anything, not even if he was her father.

After several attempts without success, she still had no results.

Yun Sheng, starving, simply sat in the dark and meditated.

As the night enveloped her, Yun Sheng’s mind continuously replayed Yun Canghai’s movements from earlier.

Not far away, the warm campfire flickered and danced.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Yun Sheng felt a burning sensation at her fingertips. Following her will, the Fire Magic Element took the form of a fist-sized fireball and ’poofed’ onto the pile of twigs.

The fire ignited.

Yun Canghai nodded in satisfaction.

Yun Sheng’s magical aptitude was much better than he had expected. Even he, who was known as a genius of the Yun Family, took a full day to comprehend the most basic Fireball Technique.

In the following days, as the father and daughter continued on their journey intermittently, after Yun Sheng became proficient with the Fireball Technique, she also learned the Earth Element’s most basic Earth Spur.

These two were also the elementary spells that Yun Sheng could comprehend at this stage without the use of a Magic Wand.

"Ahead is Qi City, a medium-sized city much more prosperous than Taishang Town. We have been camping outdoors for several days and our supplies are exhausted. Let’s go into the city to buy some water and food, and after resting for a night, we’ll continue on our way," Yun Canghai said, seeing his daughter following him on the journey without complaining despite the hardships, he felt gratified but also guilty for putting her through this.

Yun Sheng readily agreed.

The father and daughter dismounted their horses and entered Qi City.

Having traveled without stopping for a good while, they both looked disheveled, not much different from beggars.

Fortunately, both had easygoing natures and paid no mind to the pointing and whispering of the city folk.

After buying dry food and water, while looking for an inn to stay, Yun Sheng and Yun Canghai passed by a Magic Artifact Shop.

This was Yun Sheng’s first encounter with a shop related to magic artifacts and many were displayed at the entrance, especially various Magic Wands which were the most eye-catching.

Yun Sheng had learned to use both Fire and Earth Element Magic but had never wielded a Magic Wand to cast spells. Seeing the wands, she couldn’t help but take a few extra looks.

Her subtle interest did not escape Yun Canghai’s notice, and his eyes softened with affection.

"Sheng’er, it’s time you had your own Magic Wand. However, you must earn the title of Magician to be eligible to carry a Magic Wand. There is a temple in Qi City; go take the Magician examination. If you pass, as a reward, father will buy you a Magic Wand," Yun Canghai said, then began to ask passersby for directions to the Qi City Temple.

The temple in a medium-sized city like Qi City was much larger than the ones in small villages like Banana Leaf Village.

It covered more than three acres of land. Beyond the functions of Magic Enlightenment and Basic Magic Healing found in any ordinary temple, Qi City Temple had an extra feature not found in Banana Leaf Temple – it assessed the level of Magicians and distributed corresponding magic stipends, but only Mages registered with the temple were eligible.

"Stop right there, what are you two sneaking around the temple for? Look at how you’re dressed. If you’re here for healing, get in line," Yun Canghai had just intended to enter the temple with Yun Sheng when they were stopped by a Magic Apprentice.

That person, seeing the shabby attire of father and daughter and their unkempt appearance, looked at them with disdain, mistaking them for beggars trying to sneak into the temple to steal offerings.

"I am here to take the magic examination," Yun Sheng said and tried to enter the temple.

"Pah, magic examination? Which one of you is a Magic Apprentice? Him or you? Not even fully grown and one looking like a sly thief, you would sully the temple’s floors," the Magic Apprentice spat a thick gob of phlegm at the pair, attempting to drive them out.

Suddenly, a Fireball flew out and ignited his hair.

The shocked Magic Apprentice was frantically hopping about, slapping at the flames.

Yun Canghai watched his daughter’s mischievous demeanor and, with an indulgent smile, led Yun Sheng into the temple.

In the Qi City Temple, more Mages were stationed than in Banana Leaf Village, including one Great Magic Director and two Magicians overseeing daily operations, whose attitudes were much better than the unreasonable Magic Apprentice.

Hearing that Yun Sheng was here for the magic examination, the overseeing Great Magic Director was quite intrigued.

"How old are you this year? Are you sure you’re here to take the Magician’s exam, not the Magic Apprentice’s?"

Most children of that age were still merely Magic Apprentices.

"Six years old, and I am indeed here for the Magician’s exam," Yun Sheng responded with certainty.

The Great Magic Director couldn’t ask further and brought out a Magic Testing Crystal, "You should have already begun Magic Enlightenment. The Magician examination and the Magic Apprentice’s are largely the same, but to pass the Magician’s test, you must use the power of the elements to illuminate the Magic Crystal for at least half a minute."

With those words, the Great Magic Director took out a sand timer used for measuring the duration and signaled Yun Sheng to begin her magic examination.