Four Chapters, Two Transmigrations

The scene before him felt somewhat familiar to Li Feng. Tilting his head, he thought, There seems to have been a scene like this in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. If I remember right, Balthazar Blake and the villain Horvath, two of Merlin's three apprentices, were both imprisoned in a jar after fighting ten years ago.

Ten years later, Horvath escaped the jar first. After confirming that Balthazar Blake was still inside, he threw the jar off a tall building, hoping to shatter it and imprison Balthazar Blake in Otherspace for good.

Honestly, when Li Feng had watched the movie, he had found it rather baffling. Balthazar Blake had several chances to kill Horvath, yet he simply refused to do it. Horvath was the same way. The two of them were so passionate, as though they were in love and couldn't bear to kill each other.

Suspecting that he had transmigrated again, Li Feng curled his lip. While watching Balthazar Blake's expression, he quickly extended his left hand toward him and used his right hand to continuously draw circles before himself, casting the Portal spell he had yet to master.

He wanted to save Balthazar Blake before he escaped the jar himself, using that opportunity to get close to him and learn the secret of conjuring Fireballs.

Of course, if possible, he wanted to learn more than that—for example, how to store Mana within his body instead of borrowing energy from other dimensions, or how to inscribe Merlin's Ring.

That was an excellent item capable of helping him gather energy and accelerate his spell cultivation.

There were also the Plasma Blast spell that Mages in this world surely mastered, as well as spells that accelerated and slowed time.

Think about it—in the Marvel Universe, aside from the Ancient One and Doctor Strange, who knew where he was wandering around now, what other expert could control time? The very thought of learning to accelerate and slow time made Li Feng excited.

As for the two old men in the movie loving and fighting each other over a woman, Li Feng had no interest in it. He would help if he could. If not, he would sit nearby with popcorn and enjoy the show.

Just as Balthazar Blake prepared to grab the balcony and pull himself out of the jar, a swirling orange-yellow Portal appeared beneath him. He could only watch helplessly as he passed through its center.

The other end of the Portal was in front of Li Feng. He only had time to say, "Uh-oh," before the massive jar slammed down on him.

But the outcome was different from what Li Feng had expected. The jar passed directly through his body and landed steadily on the street.

Balthazar Blake let out a breath, laboriously climbed out of the jar, and walked over to Li Feng. He examined the naked Li Feng, stared at the Sling Ring, and said, "Thank you for saving me, but could you use a different method next time? The jar nearly shattered. And are you performing street art? Rookie Mage."

Li Feng was still focused on how the jar had passed through his body and did not notice Balthazar Blake's question at all.

His eyes unfocused, Li Feng stared blankly at Balthazar Blake and asked, "What happened to me now? Did I become a ghost?"

Balthazar Blake narrowed his eyes and sensed him for a moment. Rolling his eyes, he pointed his right hand at Li Feng to stabilize his body and said, "Time Energy is wrapped around you. It's a minor problem. Didn't your teacher tell you that you must be cautious at all times when practicing magic?"

With Balthazar Blake's help, the tearing pain throughout Li Feng's body gradually faded. He frowned. Time Energy? Where did I get Time Energy? Wait, when I cast the Portal in my room, I seemed to sense enormous energy coming from the abandoned train station on the other side. Don't tell me I was unlucky enough to run into the Ancient One researching time over there.

Was I really that unlucky? The first time I used a Portal, I ran into a big shot.

Seeing Li Feng deep in thought, Balthazar Blake glanced at Li Feng's pale Little Belly. He took off his trench coat and draped it over Li Feng, then turned to see the surrounding crowd watching them with strange looks. "This isn't a good place to stand around spacing out."

Feeling slightly better after putting on the trench coat, Li Feng looked around and instinctively said, "Then where am I supposed to space out? I don't even know where this is."

Who cares where you space out? I still need to find the Matryoshka Doll imprisoning Morgana le Fay. I don't have time to deal with you.

Glancing at the distant Empire State Building, Balthazar Blake made up his mind and said, "I have business to attend to. I hope we can meet again when we both have time. Goodbye, little rookie."

With that, Balthazar Blake headed straight toward the Empire State Building.

You want to leave before teaching me magic? No chance.

Without another word, Li Feng followed behind Balthazar Blake barefoot and at a brisk pace. "You're Mr. Balthazar Blake, right? I know you, and I know what you're busy with."

Balthazar Blake had been searching for Merlin's Heir for who knew how long. Even he himself could no longer keep track of all the legends that had been left behind. Since the other party was a Mage, Balthazar Blake was not surprised at all that Li Feng recognized him.

He glanced back at Li Feng but kept walking forward. "Little rookie, you should go home and find your mentor. What I'm doing is not something you can take part in."

"I don't have a mentor." Li Feng shrugged and stayed close behind Balthazar Blake. "I learned magic from a spell journal left behind by my late grandfather. Portals, the Mirror Dimension, and Astral Bodies."

Balthazar Blake's reaction was exactly as Li Feng had expected. Especially after learning that Li Feng practiced Astral Body magic, his expression was precisely what Li Feng had anticipated.

"Astral Bodies?" Balthazar Blake stopped and narrowed his eyes at Li Feng.

Others might not know what Astral Bodies were, but he knew perfectly well what spirits were.

He had spent his entire life searching for Merlin's Heir, all to completely destroy the evil Mage Morgana, who intended to use the Summoning Ritual to recruit an undead army. More importantly, Morgana's ritual was called spirit summoning.

It could only be said that the two worlds used different names for the same things. At least in Balthazar Blake's eyes, spirits had another name in this world: the undead.

He instinctively felt that Li Feng did not understand the dangers and difficulty of Astral Body magic. In particular, Li Feng had plainly stated during his introduction that he had no mentor and had been researching it alone.

With a stern face, Balthazar Blake felt it necessary to let this little rookie understand what danger was. Just like how the little rookie had been bold enough to experiment with Quantum Energy—if not for his help just now, the entanglement of Quantum Energy would have caused the little rookie to disappear from this world completely before long.

Before Balthazar Blake could speak, Li Feng understood from his eyes that he had misunderstood something about the Astral Bodies Li Feng had mentioned. Li Feng did not want Balthazar Blake to develop any misunderstanding about him. He still wanted to learn magic from the man.

Li Feng hurriedly explained, "The Astral Body I mean is basically a projection of the soul. In a sense, an Astral Body can affect the soul, but an Astral Body is not the soul itself. After Astral Projection, a person won't die. Of course, staying out too long isn't good either, since it will affect the soul remaining in the body."

As Li Feng continued his endless explanation, Balthazar Blake began to understand what Li Feng meant by Astral Bodies.

An Astral Body isn't a soul?

Balthazar Blake silently considered whether Li Feng's Astral Body magic could rescue his beloved. His beloved, Veronica, had used her physical body to seal Morgana, so it was somewhat connected to Astral Bodies.

After looking at Li Feng, Balthazar Blake turned, grabbed Li Feng, and asked as they walked, "What's your name?"

While inwardly celebrating that he had finally established a connection, Li Feng said, "Li Feng. You can also call me Austin."

Before Li Feng explained exactly what Astral Bodies were, Balthazar Blake did not want him wandering around. He felt it was necessary to teach this little rookie. He was already planning to find Dave, and besides locating the Matryoshka Doll imprisoning Morgana, he also intended to train Dave into Merlin's Heir.

Since he was teaching apprentices, teaching one was teaching, and teaching two was teaching. There was not much difference.

Besides, it could keep Austin from going down the wrong path. Right, and that Portal spell seems rather interesting too. I wonder whether Austin will explain it to me in as much detail as he explained spirits.

While thinking this, Balthazar Blake said, "All right, Austin. Until you explain clearly what an Astral Body is, stay with me. But I have something to handle right now, so please shut up and move those little legs of yours."

Li Feng shrugged, indicating that he would immediately shut up and get moving. Are we going to save the male lead, Dave? Come to think of it, has Dave been targeted by Horvath already? Being chased by several wolves is not exactly a pleasant memory.

The two went straight up the Empire State Building. Li Feng watched enviously as Balthazar Blake casually raised his hand to locate Dave, then easily awakened a statue, Iron Eagle, and turned it into his mount.

Standing on Iron Eagle, Balthazar Blake beckoned to Li Feng. "Hurry up, little rookie. I'm in a rush."

He had already sensed Horvath's presence near Dave, along with Merlin's Dragon Ring. If he did not get there quickly to rescue Dave, not only would Merlin's Heir be finished, but the Matryoshka Doll imprisoning Morgana would fall into the other party's hands as well.

He had just found a glimmer of hope for rescuing Veronica, only for Morgana to emerge and rule the world. Could anything be worse?

Once Li Feng climbed onto Iron Eagle with a grin, Balthazar Blake impatiently ordered Iron Eagle to fly toward Dave.

Before long, Li Feng leaned over and looked down at Dave, the protagonist being chased onto the subway by a pack of wolves, as well as Horvath in the distance, wearing a top hat and smiling maliciously.

Just as the wolves prepared to tear the fallen Dave to pieces, Balthazar Blake pointed at them, turning them into little puppies, then ordered Iron Eagle to attack Horvath.

Having recovered from his fright, Dave instinctively looked toward Horvath, who had been pursuing him. Ignoring Balthazar Blake's question about the Matryoshka Doll's whereabouts, he pointed at Horvath and shouted, "Watch out!"

Having lived for who knew how long, Balthazar Blake sensed the danger behind him and instinctively fired a stream-like spell at Horvath.

Li Feng saw it clearly. The instant the stream touched Horvath, the flow of time around him slowed, and the energy that reduced time's flow felt strangely familiar to Li Feng.

Realizing that this was not a suitable place for conversation, Balthazar Blake called Dave onto Iron Eagle, intending to ask about the Matryoshka Doll after the three returned to the Empire State Building.

As Iron Eagle took off, Li Feng's lips twitched slightly. He glanced at Horvath, who had broken free from the Time Slowing Spell, and grumbled inwardly, Balthazar Blake, oh Balthazar Blake. You claim to love Veronica, but look at Horvath just now, standing there dazed. One Fireball could have finished him off. Such a perfect opportunity, and you still didn't kill him? I think you and Horvath are the ones in love. Veronica is only an excuse to avoid society's judgment.

Come to think of it, is there a spell that can turn a man into a woman? If you turned Horvath into a woman, wouldn't all this trouble disappear? If that doesn't work, you can become a woman instead. Anyway, all I want is your magical knowledge. I won't interfere with your pursuit of true love.

Maybe when the two of you get married, I'll even give you a grand gift—like the legal provisions for same-sex marriage in Denmark, Thailand, and other countries. What do you think?