Sparring

Lin Lei was stunned when he heard that, then abruptly turned to Fengyun. "You can tell I'm a mage?!"

Fengyun clicked his tongue. "You haven't concealed your magical aura at all. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to recognize that you're a mage? What's so surprising about that?!"

"Is being a mage something that can't be revealed?"

Lin Lei's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Grandpa Delin beside him. Delin promptly explained, "There's nothing shameful about being a mage. Besides, just as this little fellow said, with your mere Level 1 mage cultivation, what is there to hide?"

The corner of Lin Lei's mouth twitched. He now felt that he might indeed have overreacted. He had already planned to go to the royal capital for a magic aptitude test after some time, so revealing his identity as a mage really did not seem like anything worth worrying about.

But since it had already been exposed, Lin Lei simply challenged him again. "Then, Brother Yun, can you spar with me once more? Ever since becoming a mage, I've never fought anyone using magic!"

Fengyun shrugged. "That's not impossible. But if we fight again, I'll still keep my speed and strength at the same level as yours."

"The gap in our actual strength is too great. If I don't restrain myself, your only outcome will be getting instantly defeated by me!"

Hearing that, Lin Lei recalled the sword fingers that had silently appeared at his throat moments ago. Though he was unwilling to admit it, that kind of speed was indeed something he could never keep up with.

After deciding to have another round, Lin Lei swiftly put some distance between himself and Fengyun before rapidly chanting a spell. Fengyun merely stood quietly opposite him without making any other move, watching him with a smile.

It was not until Lin Lei shouted "Earth Stab!" and controlled the earth elements to condense a stone spike that was about to burst from the ground and pierce Fengyun's calf that Fengyun calmly stepped back a single pace, causing the Earth Stab to miss entirely.

Lin Lei's expression turned solemn. Though he did not know how Fengyun had timed his retreat so perfectly, he understood that Earth Stab alone probably could not even injure Fengyun.

Without another word, he began casting the other spells he had mastered.

Just as he was about to finish chanting, Lin Lei also charged at Fengyun with the physical qualities of a Level 1 Warrior.

Yet Fengyun still made no major movement and remained quietly standing in place. Only when Lin Lei rushed before him and shouted "Earthquake Spell!" did he raise a hand to block the punch Lin Lei threw at his face as he closed in. "You don't need to hold back. The gap between our strengths is too large."

"A punch using only around thirty percent of a Level 1 Warrior's strength can't cause me any real damage, much less secure victory."

Watching Fengyun remain utterly composed amid the tremors caused by the Earthquake Spell, without showing the slightest sign of losing his balance, Lin Lei no longer dared to underestimate him in the slightest.

He unleashed all the basic boxing and kicking techniques Hillman had taught him, his fists raining down on Fengyun like a storm.

Fengyun, meanwhile, calmly matched Lin Lei's strength and speed. Relying on technique, he blocked every single attack with just one hand.

Other than taking two steps to evade Earth Stabs twice, he did not even shift from his position again!

Once the Earthquake Spell's effects faded, Fengyun slapped aside one of Lin Lei's punches with his right hand, then pushed out with his upright palm, throwing Lin Lei off balance and sending him stumbling to the ground.

Having expended a great deal of stamina in a short time, Lin Lei propped himself up and sat on the ground, panting with sweat beading on his forehead. "Brother Fengyun, why didn't my Earthquake Spell affect you at all?"

"And why were you able to dodge my Earth Stabs at the very last moment every time?"

Fengyun laughed heartily. "What's so strange about that? I've encountered plenty of earth-element magical beasts in the Monster Mountain Range!"

"Earth Stab is far too straightforward. When you attacked, you were afraid of hurting me, so you deliberately made the spikes appear beside my feet to attack my calves rather than directly beneath my feet."

"Hehe, the moment I notice a spike, it means it can no longer harm me. With my reaction speed, it would be strange if I couldn't dodge it."

"I can even easily deal with the more powerful and faster Earth Spears cast by magical beasts, let alone your Earth Stab!"

"As for the Earthquake Spell, it's even simpler to deal with. You just have to adapt to it."

"Actually, your Earthquake Spell did affect me. It's just that my control over my own body is too strong, so I adapted to the trembling ground very quickly. That's why you thought I wasn't affected!"

Lin Lei nodded in realization. "So that's how it is!"

But Fengyun held out his hand. "Give me your hand."

Lin Lei froze and looked at his right hand. Only then did he realize that when he had stumbled to the ground earlier, his palm had been cut open by a sharp little stone and was now bleeding.

The battle had been so intense and his blood had been pumping so fiercely that he had not felt anything at all!

Only after seeing the wound did Lin Lei feel the pain. He instinctively extended his hand, which Fengyun immediately grasped.

Fengyun then began chanting the Healing Spell, gathering light-elemental energy from heaven and earth around Lin Lei's palm to heal his injury.

That was right—Fengyun had already begun practicing Light Magic. Since he had tested positive for an aptitude in light-element magic, it would be a waste not to practice it. Besides, the Special Warfare Camp also offered classes for mages.

However, just as he had only learned Shadow Hand from Dark Magic, he had only learned Healing Spell, the most representative spell of Light Magic!

Looking at his perfectly restored palm, Lin Lei said in surprise, "Brother Yun, you're a mage too!"

That evening, Fengyun left Wushan Town with the tax officer. But after walking some distance away, he turned back to look at Wushan Town behind him and thought, At this point in time, Beirut definitely hasn't begun paying attention to Lin Lei and Beibei yet. Otherwise, Beirut would never have allowed Beibei, the second God-Devouring Rat in the world, to form a Soul Contract with Lin Lei.

Contacting Lin Lei now is the safest choice. If I establish an initial friendship with him now, it'll be much easier to interact with Lin Lei and Beibei in the future!

But to avoid any accidents, I'd better not have any further contact with Lin Lei for the time being.

Still, what a pity. I'm not confident I could handle Beirut, and Lin Lei will be the golden thigh I rely on to make my fortune in the future. Otherwise, no matter what, I would have tried to subdue Beibei!

Ah, for the time being, I should focus on undergoing Monster Trials in the Monster Mountain Range!