Spellcraft

July 31.

Li Fei arrived at the Military Academy early in the morning and entered Hao Yi's office.

"Teacher, good morning."

Li Fei greeted Hao Yi with a smile.

"Sit."

Hao Yi gestured for Li Fei to sit first. "There's been a change to today's monthly exam."

"Hm?"

Li Fei was startled when he heard that. He then sat upright on the sofa, waiting for Hao Yi to explain.

"An imperial minister made a recommendation to Your Majesty."

Hao Yi told Li Fei all about the news he had learned the night before. "So if you want to receive a score for the monthly exam, you must participate in this operation."

"I'm willing to participate."

Li Fei answered without hesitation.

Although he was a cautious person, once he set his sights on a goal, he would never give up easily. Since he had decided to earn a place at a university next year, he had to obtain a monthly exam score. Therefore, he had to participate in this operation.

"Mm."

Hao Yi was not surprised by Li Fei's choice. "Although this is a joint operation between the Cessation of Hostilities Bureau and the Overseeing Bureau, and we have a considerable degree of confidence, no one can say what accidents might occur. You must prepare yourself mentally to face danger. You'll be going into actual combat this time, and any outcome is possible."

"I understand."

Li Fei nodded, then asked, "Teacher, I heard that people from the Tranquil God Sect can use spellcraft. Could you tell me what spellcraft is?"

He had learned some things related to spellcraft from Li Lei before, but Li Lei's knowledge was limited. Li Fei felt that Hao Yi certainly knew much more.

"Spellcraft also originates from implants."

Hao Yi said, "Martial arts and spellcraft are two different paths, but fundamentally, both are applications of implants. To practice spellcraft, one must first implant the corresponding implant into the brain. The first two stages of spellcraft cultivation are the same as those of martial arts: the Embryo Nurturing Stage and the Body Breaking Stage.

"Spellcasters in the Body Breaking Stage can use rituals and special materials to cast spells. One step higher is the Spirit Transformation Stage. Unlike martial artists in the Qi Transformation Stage, those in the Spirit Transformation Stage do not cultivate Innate One Qi. Instead, they mutate their mental power, allowing them to release spells directly without relying on external objects.

"Spells of the Body Breaking Stage and Spirit Transformation Stage can only affect living beings on a mental level. In essence, they are a form of illusion, such as Ghost Wall, Nightmare Technique, and Summoning Little Ghosts. These illusions are usually difficult to use against people with strong willpower. Besides that, a martial artist's vigorous Qi and Blood can easily affect the rituals of spellcraft, so the stronger the martial artist, the more effectively they can restrain spellcraft."

Li Fei listened and nodded repeatedly, deep in thought.

Hao Yi's explanation was the same as what Li Lei had told him back then: both of them were saying that martial arts were stronger than spellcraft.

"Teacher, in that case, the threat posed by the Tranquil God Sect isn't that great?"

Li Fei asked.

Hao Yi shook his head and said solemnly, "Spellcraft is best at influencing people's hearts. An evil cult like the Tranquil God Sect poses an enormous threat to the common people at the bottom! That's why, no matter when, an evil cult like this should be wiped out at the first opportunity! Although your original reason for joining this operation is to obtain a monthly exam score, what you're doing is meaningful in itself."

From Hao Yi's expression, Li Fei could tell that his teacher seemed to detest evil cults with every fiber of his being. "I understand. I'll do my best."

"Mm. Also, although martial artists restrain spellcraft, you must be especially careful if you face a Grand Mage in the Possession Stage."

Hao Yi said.

"Spellcasters in the Spirit Transformation Stage are called mages. One level higher, when they reach the Possession Stage, they become Grand Mages. Martial artists build their martial foundation after the Qi Transformation Stage by incorporating more implants. Spellcasters also use more implants after reaching the Spirit Transformation Stage, but they don't incorporate them into their bodies. Instead, they fuse these implants into special objects, such as Talisman Paper or peach wood, thereby refining magical artifacts."

"Magical artifacts?"

Li Fei suddenly felt that the spellcraft of this world had become familiar again.

"Are there flying swords?"

He asked curiously.

Hao Yi nodded. "There are, but implants that can make objects fly through the air are extremely rare. The Tranquil God Sect probably doesn't have such magical artifacts, and the odds of them having a Grand Mage in the Possession Stage are also quite low."

Afterward, Hao Yi explained many common spells and precautions to Li Fei, and taught him several ways to deal with spellcraft.

Before they knew it, an hour had passed, and a bell rang outside.

It was the bell used by the Military Academy to gather everyone, and it also meant that the monthly exam was about to begin.

"Go."

Hao Yi said to Li Fei.

Li Fei rose, bowed to Hao Yi, and turned to leave the office.

Hao Yi watched his retreating figure. As if he had remembered something, he grew slightly sorrowful and thought, I hope you can walk a different path.

Li Fei arrived at a grand auditorium. This was where Rank A Students drew lots before every monthly exam began.

But there would be no drawing lots today.

Li Fei noticed that everyone in the auditorium looked somewhat excited. Some were expectant, while others were nervous.

Clearly, they had all been informed that the monthly exam had changed.

"Xiao Fei, over here!"

Lu Changwu waved to Li Fei from his seat. The people sitting beside him were all members of the Overseeing Bureau's families.

Li Fei walked over and sat in the empty seat beside Lu Changwu.

"Xiao Fei, Mr. Hao must have told you already, right?"

"Mm, he told me."

"Excellent! This change came at just the right time!"

Lu Changwu clenched his fists, his face brimming with excitement. "With the Overseeing Bureau participating in this operation, people like us naturally have an advantage over everyone else. I heard that every monthly exam will use a similar format from now on. We'll act alongside the Overseeing Bureau and the Cessation of Hostilities Bureau. In my opinion, this Military Academy will belong to us from now on!"

He had been suppressed by the Tiger Sabre Gang in the Military Academy for a long time. Now that he had suddenly seen an opportunity to turn the tables, he rarely revealed such excitement—and was somewhat smug.

Li Fei looked around. The dozen or so members of the Overseeing Bureau's families gathered around this area all had shining eyes and faces full of anticipation.

Just then, a group of people entered the auditorium together.

Li Fei immediately looked toward the person leading them. The man wore a small braid, had a fierce bearing, and carried a hint of wickedness in his eyes.

"Is that Yuan Dao?"

Li Fei asked.

Lu Changwu also looked over and said quietly, "Yes, that's him."

Yuan Dao seemed to notice their gazes. He turned his head and looked over, meeting Lu Changwu's eyes.

Lu Changwu wore a provocative expression. Yuan Dao gave a disdainful laugh, then glanced at Li Fei beside him before casually finding a seat in the front row and sitting down.

After he sat, the people who had entered with him took seats around him one after another.

"Let's see how long you can keep acting arrogantly!"

Lu Changwu said coldly.

Not long afterward, Vice Hall Master Wang and the director of the Academic Affairs Office entered.

"Everyone should already know what this monthly exam will involve, so I won't waste time on unnecessary words."

Vice Hall Master Wang got straight to the point, speaking crisply:

"For all students participating in this operation, your performance during the operation will be jointly scored by the accompanying teachers and members of the Overseeing Bureau and the Cessation of Hostilities Bureau. The highest rating is Rank A+. Those who receive a Rank A+ rating will not only receive a bonus, but also one Bitter Essence Pill and one Lucid Pill. There will be only three Rank A+ ratings."

The Bitter Essence Pill was the pill Hao Yi had used when testing Li Fei. It could strengthen a person's resistance to implant mutation—in other words, it increased their ability to endure it.

The Lucid Pill could increase a person's compatibility with their implant, thereby accelerating the implant's growth.

This was precisely the pill Li Fei needed.