The Magic Ox Rope

Suye only knew that the Magic Power Tree was every mage's source of mana, and that the mana a mage consumed was provided by this Magic Power Tree. As for anything else, he knew nothing.

"Looks like I'll have to study Basic Magic Study carefully later. Otherwise, I won't even know what any of this is."

The room, the ceiling, Divine Light, the Magic Power Tree, the roots...

Suye suddenly looked toward one of the walls.

There was actually a tiny bird's nest on the wall, and a transparent, two-winged Talent Spirit was sleeping soundly inside it.

"That's the Talent Spirit of my Demon Bull Body." Suye's face lit up with joy.

Suye looked at the Magic Tower, his heart overflowing with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and security.

After enduring the hardships earlier, he had finally reaped a great harvest.

With the Magic Tower and magic, he now possessed the true power to protect himself.

Suye reached out and touched the Magic Power Tree, and a wondrous sensation rose in his heart.

The feeling was far less comfortable than being immersed in Divine Light, but it brought him an immense sense of achievement.

Infinite pride surged through Suye's heart. This was only the true beginning.

He belonged to this world, and this world would surely belong to him.

"World of Gods, here I come!"

Suye took a deep breath and calmed himself before examining the Magic Tower as carefully as if it were a treasure.

Aside from what he had seen earlier, there was nothing new. It looked somewhat crude.

"This is only the beginning. I believe my Magic Tower will grow stronger and stronger!"

After getting a clear look at the Magic Tower, Suye left it and opened his eyes.

Niedern said, "You entered meditation quickly, but you stayed in the Magic Tower for too long. Potion Making class has already begun."

"Huh? Should I go back to class?"

"A supplementary course like Potion Making is not worth attending. Language and magic are the most powerful forces." Niedern offered his assessment without the slightest hesitation.

"That doesn't seem very good..." Suye said.

"Besides, we may need you over the next few days." Niedern looked at Suye as if he were prey.

A bad feeling rose in Suye's heart. He said, "Teacher, what do you mean? What do you mean by 'need'? I don't think a good teacher should use that word."

Niedern ignored Suye's question and said, "What did you see in your Magic Tower?"

Suye had no choice but to answer, "A layer of water mist. I couldn't see it clearly."

Niedern patted Suye's shoulder kindly. "Don't be discouraged. I can't see mine clearly either. As long as you keep working hard, you'll definitely be able to see your Magic Tower clearly, just like the masters. However, can you roughly sense how many sides your Magic Tower has? In other words, how many walls does it have?"

Suye froze for a moment. This was probably material from Basic Magic Study or the later part of Meditation class, so he did not dare answer carelessly. Instead, he asked tentatively, "Teacher, how many walls does your Magic Tower have?"

"Sixteen," Niedern said.

"What about Dean Plato's?"

"Rumor has it that he has thirty-six walls. It's said that Aristotle is even above Master Plato, and that his Magic Tower has roughly fifty walls."

"Does having more interior walls in a Magic Tower mean it's stronger?" Suye asked.

Niedern nodded. "Generally speaking, the more walls a Magic Tower has, the stronger its power. However, more tower faces also mean slightly greater difficulty in advancement. Of course, they also mean greater potential."

"I see. I can't remember how many walls my Magic Tower has, but it should be about the same as yours. But what determines the number of walls in a Magic Tower?" Suye asked.

Niedern thought for a moment. "There's no definite conclusion yet. Or rather, many factors may determine it. For example, the intensity of Divine Light, the strength of the soul, meditation ability, talent, willpower, and so on. All of them may affect the number of walls."

"Thank you, Teacher. I think I understand now," Suye said.

"Once every student becomes a Magic Apprentice, they must find a teacher for specialized guidance. Whom do you plan to choose?" Niedern asked.

"Can I choose Dean Plato?" Suye asked.

"Change," Niedern said expressionlessly.

"Vice Dean Thucydides?"

"Change!"

"What about Aristotle?" Suye asked.

Niedern stared at Suye for a long while before saying, "From now on, I'll personally guide you in magic."

Suye's face lit up with delight. "So I could choose you? Then choosing you is truly my great honor."

Niedern said indifferently, "I told you to watch fewer plays."

"Ahem..." Suye hurriedly climbed down from the magic carpet.

"For today's first lesson, I already explained all the basic apprentice spells. Recite them," Niedern said sternly.

Suye hurriedly replied, "I remember. They are Detect Elements, Detect Poison, Suspended Radiance, Precise Aim, Flying Stone Technique, Flame Arrow, Wind Blade Technique, Water Creation Technique, Ice Magic, and Magic Rope—a total of ten basic apprentice spells."

"You should have a basic understanding of these ten spells. If you had to choose your first spell, which one would you study?"

Suye thought for a moment. "I really have considered it. I would definitely choose an offensive spell. Among them, Flying Stone Technique, Flame Arrow, and Wind Blade Technique have the greatest power. However, Flying Stone Technique is a blunt-force attack. Unless it strikes vital areas like the back of the head, it isn't very effective, so I eliminated it. During the apprentice stage, Flame Arrow flies too slowly and is easy to dodge. Its great power is useless if it can't hit. Wind Blade Technique flies very quickly, and if I choose the right angle, it could even sever a Black Iron Warrior's arteries. I've decided to choose that one first."

"Then I'll teach you Magic Rope," Niedern said.

Suye blinked. Had everything he had just said been for nothing? Niedern patiently asked, "What is the casting time of Wind Blade Technique?"

"At the beginning, about four seconds. After practicing it to perfection, it can reach two seconds."

"What about Magic Rope?" Niedern asked.

"It takes three seconds from the start and can reach two seconds very quickly. I understand now. Thank you, Teacher. I choose Magic Rope. It casts quickly and can bind others, making it extremely useful in battle. However, although strips and bands of various materials can be used, a practical Magic Rope requires excellent material. I can't find any, and I can't afford to buy it." Suye sounded helpless.

"I have a Magic Rope that I've used for many years. It was originally made from the tendon of a Black Iron Demon Bull, but after being immersed in my mana for many years, it's almost equivalent to the tendon of a Silver Magic Beast. A Black Iron Warrior absolutely cannot break free from it. Even a Bronze Warrior would need a long time, and it can restrain a Silver Warrior for at least four or five seconds."

Niedern slipped his right hand into his belt and gave it a gentle tug. A rope as thick as a baby's little finger emerged. It was a full two meters long, brownish gray, smooth and rounded on the surface, like the patina of an antique.

"An heirloom old belt?" Suye asked in a low voice.

Niedern was about to put it away, but Suye hurriedly snatched the Magic Ox Rope back and said with a grin, "Thank you, Teacher."

"Because you advanced to Magic Apprentice so quickly without undergoing systematic study, I can only teach you one-on-one. To cast magic, you need an incantation, and to use an incantation, you must construct a 'Magic Array Diagram.' Do you know where the Magic Array Diagram must be engraved?"

Suye shook his head.

"On the leaves of the Magic Power Tree. A single leaf can hold only one Magic Array Diagram."

Suye nodded.

"An apprentice Magic Array Diagram like this is very simple. Watch." Niedern took out his Magic Book, first drawing an almost perfect circle with his finger, then drawing lines inside it one stroke at a time.

Suye watched silently.