Recruitment Notice!

The gem setting at the tip of the Dragon Blood Purple Sandalwood staff spread open like a lotus flower, allowing the Soul Gem to be placed inside with ease.

After securing it with both hands, Li Yao closed his eyes. His mental power flowed like water, seeping into the staff.

Under the perception of his mental power, the spell formation circuits engraved within the staff became clearly visible. Li Yao controlled his mental power, gradually filling every circuit from the base to the tip. Then, through the setting at the top, it seeped into the Soul Gem. The psionic energy contained within the Soul Gem was guided by his mental power and slowly permeated the spell formation inside the Dragon Blood Purple Sandalwood.

Once the Soul Gem's energy had completely seeped inside, the lotus-shaped gem setting at the tip of the Dragon Blood Purple Sandalwood slowly closed.

It firmly secured the Soul Gem at the top.

It was done!

Li Yao let out a long breath. The process had been even easier than he had imagined.

The world Lin Xiaowei came from had indeed reached an extremely advanced level in its application of psionic technology.

This staff contained Li Yao's Mental Imprint, making it naturally highly compatible with him.

The staff was around ninety-five centimeters long, matching Li Yao's height. Its thickness and shape resembled an ordinary walking cane.

The Soul Gem itself was a clear, lustrous pale blue. The spell sealed within it glimmered with faint spiritual light and seemed deeply mysterious. From the outside, it looked like an exceptionally expensive aristocrat's cane.

After playing with it for a while, Li Yao felt immensely satisfied.

Just in appearance, Dragon Blood Sandalwood looked incredibly precious—subdued and restrained, with luxury hidden beneath the surface.

And the Soul Gem at its tip...

Was an absolute top-grade gemstone by Earth's standards.

Of course, it was different from a certain Soul Gem from Marvel.

According to Lin Xiaowei, these Soul Gems were actually condensed from the blood marrow of psionically gifted races—such as brain membranes, Mind Flayers, or Beholders.

The power contained within them to amplify consciousness and mental strength was quite considerable.

Li Yao gave it a try. With the staff's enhancement, Mage Hand could be cast instantly.

Frost Death's Wrath could almost be cast instantly as well.

Feeling that silky-smooth sensation, Li Yao was practically intoxicated.

No wonder so many mages liked developing toward equipment builds, item builds, or spell-burst builds. The feeling of being able to unleash attacks like crazy was fucking amazing! Oh, and plenty of elementary school kids liked playing basic-attack heroes in LoL too...

Li Yao made himself calm down.

He absolutely could not let a momentary thrill fool him! He had to remember what kind of person he was!

You weren't a basic-attack player! Li Yao took several deep breaths, then headed downstairs with his cane.

He sat at the far end of the long table in the main hall, occupying the seat of honor with the air of a bandit chief! Hehe.

After admiring himself for a while, Li Yao took his staff outside.

It was already late autumn. The area in front of the Lost Tavern was completely bare, though a tall ginkgo tree had been planted outside the Midnight Bar. At this time of year, however, ginkgo leaves were rustling down, carpeting the ground.

Yet the golden ginkgo leaves covering the ground actually looked rather beautiful.

Li Yao looked at the entrance to his own place and began considering whether he should buy a tree to plant as well.

What should he plant?

A Chinese parasol tree? Or a locust tree?

Li Yao tucked the matter away in his mind, then unconsciously began practicing the weapon techniques from the Qi Refining Technique with his cane as a weapon.

What Martial Monks excelled at most was "using qi"! In close-quarters combat, they used qi to sever veins and cut off meridians!

Although its immediate destructive power was not particularly shocking, its sustained damage was extremely impressive.

Of course, a Martial Monk's most important qualities were not destructive power, but control and endurance.

It didn't matter if I couldn't beat you. I could wear you to death.

Qi was an energy contained within the body, so Martial Monks usually did not use weapons. Their bodies were the weapons most suitable for them, and the strongest weapons they had.

But qi would eventually be depleted, so the Qi Refining Technique also contained sections on weapon combat methods.

What Li Yao was practicing now was a short-weapon combat technique.

He swung the cane with such force that it whistled through the air, and he felt utterly invigorated.

But just then, the old man next door—no, uh, Lu Xingshen from next door had somehow come out. He had set up a café parasol outside the Midnight Bar, with a table and chairs beneath it. Dressed in a well-fitted suit, he had a pot of freshly brewed coffee on the table.

Lu Xingshen lifted his cup and took a delicate sip.

Ahh... so comfortable.

Then he set down his cup and said, "That set of... uh, calisthenics you were doing was rather interesting, little brother."

Li Yao: "???"

When had he come out?

And besides...

Was this fucking calisthenics?!

After Old Man Lu put it that way, Li Yao immediately lost interest.

He lowered his stance, leaned on his cane, and looked toward Old Man Lu. "Hello, sir."

Lu Xingshen chuckled. "Hahaha, good, good, good. That set you were doing just now, little brother... uh, does it have a name?"

Li Yao said, "Dog Beating Stick Technique."

Old Man Lu said, "Emmmmm..."

Li Yao said, "Pretty good, right?"

This was genuine supernatural power!

Even if it was far inferior to the power on the mage side.

Old Man Lu nodded, looking thoughtful. "It seems you have a lineage too, little brother. But this... Dog Beating Stick Technique? It's actually not that good."

As he spoke, Old Man Lu rose from his chair.

He too leaned on a cane, but his bearing surpassed Li Yao's by far.

Lu Xingshen suddenly raised his cane and made a feinting thrust toward Li Yao...

In an instant, boundless killing intent swept toward him, wrapped in razor-sharp force. Li Yao's eyes widened. Before him seemed to appear countless iron cavalrymen, warhorses crossing frozen rivers, cold wind and rain chilling the heart. The endless killing intent charged toward him with a howl, its shocking force piercing straight into his soul!

"Thud!"

The cane struck the ground, producing a dull yet crisp sound.

With that single sound, the black-armored cavalry whose battle cries shook the heavens vanished in an instant. Li Yao regained his clarity and saw Old Man Lu still standing where he was, leaning on his cane.

He gave a slight nod. "This is swordsmanship."

Li Yao froze. This was swordsmanship?

It was that fucking awesome?! He darted over and grabbed Old Man Lu's hand. "Will you take disciples, sir?"

Old Man Lu shook free of Li Yao's hand and smiled. "Your natural aptitude is no good. I won't teach you."

Li Yao: "???"

That hit right in the heart, old man! Were you fucking looking down on me?!

I was a man with a cheat ability!

Yet Old Man Lu paid Li Yao no attention at all. After saying that, he turned around and went back into the Midnight Bar.

Li Yao watched Old Man Lu's retreating back, somewhat dazed.

Holy shit...

This wasn't how things were supposed to go! Wasn't I the fucking protagonist!? Didn't Grandmasters in other stories all cry and beg to take the protagonist as their disciple? Why was it different when it came to me?!

Oh, right.

His best friend had crossed over with a cheat ability, his best friend's little sister had absurdly good fortune and who knew what trouble she was causing now, and his seemingly most ordinary roommate was actually hiding incredible depths... This world was insane! Li Yao pressed his lips together.

Forget it!

Trying to learn too much would get him nowhere. He would focus on the path of the mage for ten thousand years!

I'll show you what it means for mages to be daddy! He turned around indignantly and returned to the tavern.

Not long after, he put up another recruitment notice: Hiring one Yingying Monster. As long as she's got more than the neighbor, she's in! Second update complete... tips appreciated!