"What are those two doing just sitting there? Why aren’t they fighting?"

"What do you know...? I heard that when two Root Mages meet, they don’t just start fighting immediately."

"They’re both eager to learn the other’s Root Magic."

"Damn... How boring."

"What’s there to learn? Can’t they just figure it out by fighting?"

"Fight? You think fighting will reveal their insights? Magic is something that grows through communication."

"And here I thought the rumor about two Root Mages sitting down for a chat as soon as they meet was fake."

Lu Cang and Dusk sat for three whole hours.

However, the perspective on the Root Source that Lu Cang shared was not his own—not the view of All Transformations.

Instead, it was the concept of consumption that Xu Zhou had told him about.

After returning, Lu Cang had contemplated the theory of Root Source consumption at length. He felt he might have even developed Xu Zhou’s theory of Root Magic more completely than Xu Zhou himself.

But even so, Lu Cang couldn’t use this to learn a second Root Magic.

Because Lu Cang could not convince himself.

A crucial aspect of Root Magic is self-conviction—truly accepting it as a Law of the Root Source, believing in it completely.

However...

Lu Cang had extrapolated Xu Zhou’s theory to its deepest conclusions, yet deep down, he could not truly accept it.

’Sigh... so the requirements for a second Root Magic are just too complicated.’

’Believing in another theory of the Root Source is already this difficult.’

’Let alone a theory that’s the complete opposite of my own Root Magic.’

"Let’s stop here," Dusk said, glancing at the time.

He felt that Lu Cang’s understanding of the Root Source wasn’t particularly profound.

’This Root Magic, Void Reabsorption, is certainly impressive.’

’But hearing Lu Cang explain it, it feels like it’s missing some soul...’

Since Lu Cang could both use Void Reabsorption and explain the theory of Root Source consumption, Dusk didn’t think he was lying. He simply attributed the lack of depth to the fact that Lu Cang was only a Level 3 Mage.

A Level 3 Mage’s understanding of the Root Source would naturally be less profound than that of a Level 4 Root Mage like himself.

"Let’s settle this."

"Winning this fight is very important to me."

"I will defeat Lu Luwei for the both of us."

Lu Cang replied, "Oh, alright."

PFFT!

Before Dusk had even prepared, a beam of translucent white light had already pierced through his body.

Instant White Flash x8

Eight flashes in a single instant.

Dusk’s eyes filled with disbelief.

He had watched all of Lu Cang’s previous fights. Every time Lu Cang used Magic, there was always a brief chant beforehand.

But this time...

Lu Cang had completed the spell instantly, with No Chanting whatsoever.

The Casting was so fast... he hadn’t felt the slightest fluctuation of Magic Power.

’No, that’s not it.’

’It was more like the Magic Power had appeared from nowhere, instantly forming into a spell that pierced through me.’

’I didn’t detect any sign of it beforehand.’

"This... shouldn’t be."

"The outcome shouldn’t have been like this."

Dusk clutched his chest.

But where his heart should have been, there was now only a gaping hole...

A green light glowed in his hand as he urgently tried to heal himself.

The Root Mage was also a Healing Mage.

"Light of Instant Flash."

Lu Cang intoned, his voice as robotic as if he were reading from a script.

WHOOSH!

It blasted straight through his head.

...

That was surprisingly easy.

Dusk had been the one to say they should settle things, so it was only natural for Lu Cang to attack. The guy had been far too relaxed, chatting in an arena without even raising a shield first.

Then again, Lu Cang could guess why. He was probably worried about consuming too much Magic Power by keeping a shield up for that long.

The vast majority of normal Mages struggled with their Magic Power reserves.

Constantly maintaining a spell was just a way of draining their own energy.

[Winner: Lu Cang]

[Your opponent is now ready.]

"Oh..."

"Is the other match over already?"

Lu Cang looked at the tournament bracket.

The defensive Warrior had won his match, taking two hours to do so. Then, in his match against Lu Luwei... she had won. The fight had lasted only 0.5 seconds.

"0.5 seconds."

’To pierce through that turtle-shell of a Warrior?’

The corner of Lu Cang’s mouth twitched slightly.

And just then, Lu Luwei appeared gracefully before him.

Lu Luwei’s expression was icy, her gaze sharp as a blade.

[Countdown: 10]

"I hear you’ve been going around shamelessly boasting that, as a Level 3 Mage, you’re going to knock me flat on the ground..."

Lu Cang replied, "I never said that. It must be a rumor."

Lu Cang didn’t want any strange misunderstandings to arise.

While he wasn’t in the habit of making unnecessary conversation on the battlefield, Lu Cang preferred to clear up misunderstandings whenever possible.

He wanted to avoid some baffling misunderstanding causing him trouble in the future.

"Heh. Then do you think you can beat me?"

Lu Cang said, "I think I can."

Lu Luwei scrutinized Lu Cang’s eyes. Her Perception was also extremely sharp; to her, his mask did nothing to conceal his expression.

His eyes were completely fearless.

They were clear and calm, like the surface of a placid lake.

She saw not the slightest trace of fear.

’He’s telling the truth. He really thinks he can win.’

’And he calls it... a misunderstanding?’

’Aren’t your actions just proving that’s exactly what you think?’

Lu Luwei asked again, "You’ve already grasped Root Magic and created your own spell. What’s stopping you from advancing to a Level 4 Mage?"

Lu Cang thought for a moment.

He obviously couldn’t just tell her about the second Root Source.

’Sigh.’

Lu Cang said, "Because there are still some things I must accomplish first."

Lu Luwei replied, "Oh... Is that so."

’Things he must accomplish... does he mean defeating me while he’s still Level 3?’