Descendant

Li Yan had been in seclusion researching magic for the past few months while waiting for the exam. Both Frieren and Fern were well aware of this and did not disturb her.

"Just a little bit more..."

"A little bit..."

Li Yan sat at the table, tracing the magical trajectory of Eternal Youth Magic. There was nothing magic couldn't accomplish. Holding this belief, and relying on long-term preparation and experimentation, the intense infusion of Mana, and imagining a return to youth, she drew upon ancient texts and the Goddess Magic encountered during her travels...

"It worked?"

A girl with long, leg-length hair on the bed blinked. This groundbreaking magical research was enough to change the world.

"It failed! But it's not a complete failure. I've already copied the magic circle onto my body, so even though it's a failed attempt, it still retains the magical effects of a failed attempt, Zanze."

Li Yan took off her clothes, revealing a green magic circle resembling an ancient tree on her back. This was a nearly successful Eternal Youth Magic Circle, its sole effect being eternal youth. The magic circle provided the Mana to nourish the body, keeping it in a state of perpetual vitality, replenishing life force, and preventing the appearance from aging. However, those whose life force was already weak needed a large amount of Mana, otherwise their appearance could not be restored to youth.

"Master, what do you look like...?"

Sitting on the bed, the long-haired girl Zanze's face changed. Li Yan's appearance had begun to change, gradually changing from a girl in her twenties to a girl in her teens. She seemed to have shrunk, her arms became slender, and her face became more youthful.

"Side effects have appeared; this is a failed product."

Li Yan indifferently used Sealing Magic to seal the Eternal Youth Magic circle, keeping her appearance at the age of twelve. This failed product of the Eternal Youth Magic circle was obviously unstable. The large influx of life energy caused changes in Li Yan's body and appearance. Li Yan's life energy was originally in an infinite ocean, but this suddenly emerging life energy had nowhere to go. After all, it was not produced by her original body. It was completely used to nourish her body, causing her body to gradually begin to develop into a child. Moreover, affected by the side effects of the magic, her body was slowly changing into the body of a child.

"Oh dear, Master, can you really take the First-Class Mage Exam looking like this? I used my power to put you in the exam, which would normally be nobody's concern, but if the Guild Master finds out about you in this state, he'll notice that I used my power to put you in the First-Class Mage Exam."

"Perhaps, Master, you shouldn't participate."

Zanze scratched her head. She hadn't agreed to her master's insistence on taking the First-Class Mage exam, but since he was her master, she had no choice. Now that her master had turned into a child, if he still insisted on taking the exam, things might become very complicated in the end.

"Alright, Zanze, my youthful body is just a result of the failed magic research. You don't need to try to persuade me anymore. In fact, this situation suits me perfectly. I know your guild leader well, and if she knew I was still alive, she would beat me to death."

Li Yan glanced at her current appearance in the mirror. Her childlike physique wasn't a big problem. Magicians value strength, not appearance. However, she hoped that Fern and her Junior Sister wouldn't be too surprised when they saw her.

"Alright, since you put it that way, Master, I can't change your mind. I have to leave; I still have some things to arrange as an examiner for First-Class Mages."

Zanze walked to the windowsill, and his hair instantly grew longer, embedding itself deeply into the wall like steel bars, supporting Zanze body as he stood up.

"Remember to give me special treatment, Zanze."

Li Yan his hand to indicate that although his apprentice was usually expressionless, she was exceptionally serious and obedient when it came to completing tasks, and had not let him down for spoiling her before.

"Then you have to promise me, Master, that next time Linael and I argue and fight, you'll side with me."

Zanze looked at Li Yan with a blank expression. She didn't get along with Linael, who was also a first-level mage. They would either argue or fight whenever they met. Linael was also Li Yan's apprentice. Every time they argued, Li Yan always smooth things over. She wanted to be favored, especially in front of Linael.

OK.

Li Yan chuckled and nodded. Zanze is still just a child, only caring about something like this. What a child.

Seeing Li Yan nod, a small hint of happiness appeared on Zanze's expressionless face. It seemed that she couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of having her master's favor when she quarreled with Linael in the future.

The First-Class Mage exam was about to begin. Frieren and Fern knocked on Li Yan's door. As the door opened, the two women stared in disbelief at the tiny little one in front of them.

"Hey, Junior Sister, you're up so early. Fern, you've grown taller again, much taller than your Godfather."

Li Yan greeted them with a yawn. The two girls blinked blankly, and it took them a while to realize that this must be due to Li Yan's magic, which had deliberately turned them into such tiny forms.

After learning the reasons why Li Yan's Eternal Youth Magic failed, the two women couldn't help but feel incredulous. They never expected that such a legendary magic could actually be researched, even if the side effect was turning them into children. Perhaps countless powerful and influential people in the world would pursue it.

"Let's go, it's time for the First-Class Mage exam."

Li Yan reached out and took Fern and Frieren's hands as usual, but something Li Yan off. Unlike the feeling of holding her daughter's hands, it was as if Frieren and Fern were holding her hands, like taking care of a child.

"Godfather, you're so cute."

A tender look appeared in Fern's eyes as she gently pinched Li Yan's cheek with her delicate hand. Her Godfather, who looked like a child, really did seem like a child.

"Senior brother, I think you should call me sister, that way you won't attract other people's attention."

Frieren patted Li Yan's head. Li Yan's current appearance seemed familiar to her. How long ago was it that her senior brother also appeared by her side in this manner, carrying her away from the village that had been destroyed by the Demons, like a savior.

"You two, don't touch my head!"

Li Yan grumbled unhappily as the two women led him, like a child, toward the First-Class Mage Examination Site.

In the examination hall, seasoned magicians gathered together, each one tall and imposing, exuding an aura of grandeur. Li Yan group entered the hall like elementary school students entering a college entrance examination hall, causing all the magicians to look on in surprise.

A dwarf mage?

"Elf?"

"What a young girl."

"Is this group really here to take the First-Class Mage exam? There are even little kids here."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, all captivated by Li Yan's unusual team.

As the examiner, Zanze glanced expressionlessly at the group of mages discussing the topic, noting down every single one who dared to mock her master in her notebook.

"Is he a descendant of that great man?" Genao blinked. He felt that Li Yan looked somewhat familiar, somewhat like that important figure he seemed to have met before.

"Hmm... more or less."

Zanze blinked and gave an uncertain answer.