Sparring

Lin Lei was startled, then abruptly looked at Fengyun. "You can tell I'm a mage?!"

Fengyun clicked his tongue. "You haven't concealed your magical aura at all. Isn't it normal that I can tell 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 flicked toward Grandpa Delin. Delin promptly explained, "Being a mage isn't anything shameful. 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 head to the royal capital for a magical aptitude test after some time, so revealing that he was a mage really did not seem like a big deal.

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 used magic to fight anyone before!"

Fengyun shrugged. "It's not impossible. But if we spar 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!"

At Fengyun's words, Lin Lei recalled the sword fingers that had silently appeared at his throat earlier. Though he was reluctant to admit it, that speed was indeed something he could never keep up with.

Once they decided to have another round, Lin Lei quickly pulled away from Fengyun and began chanting a spell. Fengyun simply stood quietly opposite him, making no other move as he watched with a faint smile.

Only when Lin Lei shouted "Earth Stab!" and controlled the earth elements to form a stone spike that was about to burst from the ground toward Fengyun's shin did Fengyun calmly step back one pace, causing the Earth Stab to miss entirely.

Lin Lei's expression turned serious. Though he did not know how Fengyun had timed his retreat so perfectly, he understood that Earth Stab alone would likely not even be able to injure Fengyun.

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

At the same time as he was about to finish chanting, Lin Lei charged toward Fengyun with the physical capabilities of a Level 1 Warrior.

Yet Fengyun still made no major move. He remained standing quietly in place. Only when Lin Lei rushed before him and shouted "Earthquake Spell!" did he raise a hand to block the fist Lin Lei swung at his face. "You don't need to hold back. The gap between our strength is too great."

"A punch of yours that uses only around thirty percent of a Level 1 Warrior's strength can't inflict any substantial damage on me, much less secure victory."

Seeing Fengyun remain calm amid the trembling ground caused by the Earthquake Spell, without showing the slightest instability in his footing, Lin Lei no longer dared to underestimate him in the least.

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

Fengyun, meanwhile, calmly used the same level of strength and speed as Lin Lei. Relying on technique, he caught every single attack with only one hand.

Other than taking two steps to evade Earth Stabs twice, he did not even move from his spot 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 an upright palm, knocking Lin Lei off balance and sending him stumbling to the ground.

Having expended a great deal of stamina in a short time, Lin Lei's forehead was slick with sweat. He panted as he propped himself up into a seated position. "Brother Fengyun, why didn't my Earthquake Spell affect you at all just now?"

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

Fengyun laughed loudly. "What's so strange about that? I've encountered plenty of Earth Attribute 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 controlled the spikes to emerge beside my feet and strike my shins rather than erupting directly beneath my feet."

"Heh. The moment I notice a spike, it means that spike can no longer hurt me. With my reaction speed, it would be strange if I couldn't dodge it."

"I can easily handle even the stronger 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 need to adapt to it."

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

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

But Fengyun extended his hand. "Give me your hand."

Lin Lei froze. Looking down at his right hand, he realized that when he had stumbled and fallen earlier, his palm had been cut open by a sharp little stone. It was bleeding now.

The fight had been so intense, and his blood had been pumping so fiercely, that he had not felt it at all!

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

Fengyun then began chanting the spell for Healing Spell, gathering Light Attribute elements from heaven and earth around Lin Lei's palm to heal his injury.

That was right. Fengyun had already begun cultivating Light Attribute magic. Since he had tested positive for Light Attribute magical aptitude, it would be a waste not to cultivate it. Besides, the Special Warfare Camp also offered courses for mages.

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

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

That evening, Fengyun left Wushan Town with the tax official. Yet after walking some distance away, he turned back to look at Wushan Town behind him and thought, At this point, 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.

This is the safest time for me to approach Lin Lei. If I establish an initial friendship with him now, it will be much easier to interact with Lin Lei and Beibei later on!

Still, to avoid any accidents, I shouldn't have any more contact with Lin Lei for the time being.

It's a pity, though. I'm not confident I can deal with 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 tame Beibei!

Ah, for the time ahead, I'd better focus on undergoing Monster Trials in the Monster Mountain Range!