The Apprentices of the Mage Tower

After changing into one of Ian's apprentice robes and asking for a wizard hat to cover his convict-like buzz cut, Xuan Ye's entire demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation.

Originally, while he wasn't particularly handsome, he still possessed the youthful vitality of a sixteen-year-old, a tender young face. Now, paired with this outfit, he truly transformed from a scavenger into a scholarly figure.

"Not bad, huh. Good thing we're about the same build. Seriously, you have a Spatial Bag, why don't you bring more spare clothes?" Ian remarked casually, marveling at Xuan Ye's transformation.

Well, Xuan Ye's excuse was that his old robe had been torn and discarded on the road, so he wanted to buy a few sets. In the end, Ian didn't charge him.

"Not at all, not at all. By the way, is Senior Brother Jian around? I'd like to confirm the matter of the Magic Core first. Also, do you have any texts on Dragon Clan knowledge here? I'll trade at the usual price."

Praised by the other, Xuan Ye felt quite pleased, but he didn't forget his main purpose. He spoke up, then, remembering the mark on the back of his hand, added another question.

For mages, hoarding knowledge wasn't always the norm. For example, Basic Meditation was widely circulated. Due to the scarcity of mages, they often supported and banded together.

But knowledge obviously wasn't shared for free. Aside from master-disciple relationships or special circumstances, it was usually exchanged for equivalent knowledge or materials.

"Dragon Clan? Are you interested in Dragon Language Magic? That's not really suitable for humans, you know. The teacher isn't skilled in that area either. There are some related documents, but they're basic. Feel free to look at them, no requirements. For now, I'll go ask if Senior Brother Jian is around. He should have a copy of the basic materials too."

Ian showed some curiosity at Xuan Ye's latter question, but then readily agreed. As he spoke, he set down his milk tea and walked over to a desk.

Muttering a single-syllable incantation under his breath, the desk's surface emitted a faint glow. A small spell model formed in the air. With a glance, Xuan Ye's basic knowledge automatically identified the matching spell.

Sound Transmission Spell

Though there were some modifications—a few runic syllables adjusted and three special arrays added—those changes likely served to solidify the model and draw energy, forming a fixed short-range sound transmission formation.

Hmm, moments like this made him vaguely aware of the terror of having five 'Bright Eyes' Talent Runes inscribed. Even without activating his Bloodline Power, he had already reached this level. Of course, even without active activation, the bloodline's auxiliary effect probably contributed to this result.

As these thoughts churned in Xuan Ye's mind, Ian's conversation on the other end was wrapping up.

"...Alright, I'll bring him over now. He's also a bit interested in Dragon Language Magic, so he should get along with Blade."

After speaking, the floating spell model projection faded away. Ian turned to Xuan Ye and said, "Lucky break. Senior Brother Jian isn't in the middle of an experiment or meditation right now. And Blade, the one among us apprentices most interested in Dragon Language Magic, is with him. Blade and I are both Eighth Grade apprentices. You two should have some common ground."

"Uh, alright. Let's go."

Xuan Ye paused for a moment, then came to his senses and nodded. He wasn't interested in Dragon Language Magic at all; he just wanted to find some relevant materials.

From the books Dean had left behind, it was clear that while Dragon Language Magic was one of the oldest and most primitive magical branches, most of it wasn't suitable for humans. With a dragon's magic power and physique, Dragon Language Magic was a straightforward summary of simple violence.

Most spells consisted of short incantations under ten syllables, with simple spell model circuits and fast casting. But the mental drain, elemental magic utilization, and burden on the body were far beyond what a 'delicate' human mage could endure.

Of course, as one of the oldest and finest magical branches, a qualified mage couldn't neglect the study of Dragon Language Magic. Over the years, many techniques had been screened and improved for human use.

Carrying these memories, Xuan Ye followed Ian across the lawn to another small wooden cabin. Ian didn't knock, casually pushing the door open and leading Xuan Ye inside.

Inside the living room, two people were already seated. One was a man who looked about forty, with a gaunt face and slightly sunken eyes, exuding a strong indoor-dweller vibe.

The other was even more peculiar—a burly man even larger than Luo Luoji, nearly three meters tall. Xuan Ye wondered how he'd even gotten through the door. He filled an entire three-seater sofa, looking like a small mountain.

"Haha, Ian, you're here! I was about to leave, but when I heard you were bringing a friend interested in Dragon Language Magic, I decided to wait. Is it him? Doesn't look like it. I can't tell at all," the mountain-like man bellowed in a raspy voice, shaking the cabin slightly. His rough, wild demeanor, combined with his massive frame, made him look like a living, breathing berserker.

But from his words, Xuan Ye deduced this must be Blade, the Eighth Grade mage apprentice Ian had mentioned.

"Don't mind him. Blade has a quarter Barbarian bloodline, possibly even Barbarian Shaman blood. He reached Eighth Grade a few years earlier than me, and he's just like this," Ian explained with a smile, seeing Xuan Ye's slightly stunned expression.

"Haha, that's right! My father was a mixed-blood slave who escaped from the Barbarians. Little guy, not to brag, but when it comes to Dragon Language Magic research at Stanrose, besides the teacher, it's me. Senior Brother Jian can't even compare," the mountain boasted proudly. His words and actions showed no sign of being a mage.

"And this is Senior Brother Jian. He's a peak Ninth Grade apprentice, same as you, planning to take the Earth Star Palace route. He's also the teacher's most faithful successor. His puppet arts are on par with a newly promoted formal mage."

Ignoring the interruption, Ian continued to introduce the cabin's owner—the gaunt-looking man.

Despite his unappealing appearance, Jian gave Xuan Ye a friendly smile, though it was a bit stiff. He had the unmistakable look of a shut-in who rarely left home, which oddly struck a chord of resonance in Xuan Ye.

Thanks to Wushiwudashi, Jidaowuyu, and Yuekongguichen for their tips. There's another chapter today, but it'll be after midnight. Regretfully.