Thanks to Zhan Kong's Wind Track · Floating Shadow, the textbooks I got were badly battered, but at least none of the pages were missing, so they were still usable.
"The most basic magical knowledge was already taught during elementary and middle school, so I won't go over it in detail here. Next, please turn to the first page. Today's lesson is: Release Magic!"
Xue Mu Sheng wrote the topic on the blackboard:
"After more than a thousand years of study, humanity's sages developed a formula for releasing magic. It consists of three steps:
First, meditation.
Second, control.
Third, release!
Meditation is easy to understand. In an undisturbed environment, empty your mind and body. Awakened mages will be able to see Magic Stardust in their Spiritual World. Everyone, give it a try."
Xu Fang closed his eyes and tried to enter a meditative state.
When reading novels, these were nothing more than terms, glossed over in a few strokes.
But when it was his own turn, it wasn't so simple... eh?
Xu Fang stared at the field of stardust before him. He had entered just like that?
The Golden Stardust before him floated in the pitch-black Spiritual World. It was like a speck of dust in the universe—tiny, yet beautiful and enchanting.
There were seven Star Seeds within the stardust. They darted wildly through the Spiritual World, moving without any discernible pattern.
As long as these seven Star Seeds were connected in a specific order to form a "Star Track," one could release Primary Magic.
Once one became an Intermediate Mage, the stardust would transform into a nebula. It would contain seven squared—forty-nine—Star Seeds. Seven Star Tracks would combine into a "Star Map," allowing one to master intermediate magic.
The same applied to Advanced Magic: seven cubed. At that level, some exceptionally talented mages could develop their own combinations according to their needs and release skills better suited to themselves.
Of course, a mage's methods went far beyond that.
Any mage with a little money to spare would usually embark on the never-ending road of spending. Whether it was a Magic Tool with its own skill or a Spirit Seed or Soul Seed that greatly increased one's attributes and power, all of them could let a pay-to-win mage crush those of the same level.
Xu Fang noticed that a crimson Star Ring surrounded these Golden Star Seeds, complementing their golden core.
This was probably his innate talent. As for whether it would be useful in actual combat, he would only know once he released magic.
It should at least be better than a Single Element Dual System, right?
For any magic student who had awakened, being able to make stardust appear from nothing and see the lively, glowing Star Seeds within it was enough to count as completing meditation.
After watching for a while, Xu Fang began trying to touch the Star Seeds with his mind.
Closer.
A little closer.
I'm touching it... fuck!
Xu Fang's mind went blank, as if a powerful light source had suddenly shone on him. He stubbornly held on and only recovered after several seconds.
The first Star Seed had already been forcibly pressed into its designated position. Despite struggling desperately, it still could not move even a fraction.
As for the second, Xu Fang couldn't control it no matter how hard he tried.
"All right, students, wake up."
Xue Mu Sheng clapped his hands and drew everyone's attention back. "Releasing magic isn't something that can be accomplished overnight. Without the guidance of an Awakening Stone, being able to see stardust within a week is already quite impressive."
"Teacher, I can see it right now," Mu Bai said.
The classroom erupted in astonishment. Mu Bai had put on an impressive display and was delighted, lifting his neck like a great white goose.
Xue Mu Sheng smiled. "As expected of a member of the Mu Family. You truly possess extraordinary talent. Everyone should learn from Mu Bai."
Mo Fan curled his lips. What the hell is that Green Tea Man showing off for?
I, mighty Mo Fan, can see it too. I can even control the Star Seeds with my mind. Sure, that mischievous little thing got away, but isn't that ten times more impressive than you?
Am I bragging?
Both of their performances were seen by Xu Fang in the back row. He crooked his mouth into a smile. They're both just little brothers.
......
The day passed quickly. Unlike the technological world, in the Magic Plane, high school students didn't have to attend evening self-study until ten o'clock.
Before five, the teacher announced the end of class and told the students to pack their bags and leave, then meditate on their own at home.
"Let me make this clear: you're meditating for yourselves. The teacher can't get even a single Star Seed out of it. Work hard at meditation and strive to become an Intermediate Mage in the future. Consider it carefully yourselves. Class dismissed!"
Xu Fang was packing up and preparing to leave when Mo Fan walked over and stopped in front of his desk.
"Yellow... Xu Fang."
"Spit it out."
"About the house—thank you."
Xu Fang looked up in surprise. "Uncle Mo told you?"
That shouldn't be right. Based on his understanding of Mo Jiaxing, Mo Jiaxing cared deeply about Mo Fan's pride and had always presented himself as an omnipotent father. How could he possibly have told Mo Fan about this?
"Yesterday, we went to a food stall to celebrate successfully awakening. I drank a couple extra cups and let it slip." Mo Fan said seriously, "Xu Fang, I'll consider this a debt of gratitude. I'll definitely repay you in the future."
Xu Fang rubbed his arms, wearing a constipated expression. "Brother Fan, are you all right? Are you all right? Aren't you ashamed of saying something so disgusting? I've got goosebumps all over."
Mo Fan was already embarrassed, and after hearing that, he immediately lost his composure. He cursed angrily, "Damn yellow hair, you don't know how to appreciate kindness. Just pretend I never said it! If you ever come begging me, Mo Fan, for help after getting beaten up, and I don't laugh you to death, I'll change my name! Monkey, let's go!"
He left first. Zhang Xiaohou hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Brother Fang, don't overthink it. Brother Fan didn't mean anything by it."
"No need to explain. I understand." Xu Fang waved his hand. "He's always been like that, from childhood to now."
Mo Fan's sense of shame was like Schrödinger's cat. When facing Mu Ningxue and Ye Xin Xia, his skin was thicker than Bocheng's city walls. He would shamelessly act weak and beg for affection, one trick after another. When extorting resources from all kinds of big shots, he never even blushed.
But with other people, Mo Fan would rather die than lose face. Especially when facing Xu Fang and Mu Bai, saying "no" was more painful to him than being killed.
This time, Mo Fan had accepted the favor in his heart. The two of them understood each other without needing to keep mentioning it. If there was a chance to repay him in the future, that would be enough.
That evening, Xu Fang carried a box of liquor and took a car to Mo Jiaxing's new home.
Before transmigrating, Xu Fang's hometown had a tradition called "warming the stove," also known as "warming the house." It meant visiting someone who had moved into a new home to offer congratulations, symbolizing that many hands made light work.
The Mo family's home was lively at that moment, everyone bustling around as they tidied the place. Mo Jiaxing, Mo Fan, Zhang Xiaohou, and Ye Xin Xia were all in the not-so-large main room.
Bocheng clearly didn't have the tradition of warming the stove. Everyone was somewhat surprised to see Xu Fang arrive.
"Three meals a day, warm stove and hot hearth." After offering his blessing, Xu Fang looked around the house.
The Mo family really was capable. In just one day, the entire family had already put everything in perfect order.
His gaze paused briefly on the pure and beautiful girl sitting in a wheelchair. Before he could look any longer, Mo Fan stepped forward and blocked his view.
"Is that really necessary? Don't be so stingy. It's not like I didn't see her when we were kids," Xu Fang said with a laugh.
"Guard against fire, thieves, and yellow hair." Mo Fan refused to budge.
Xu Fang rolled his eyes and decided not to argue with that siscon. He had looked at Ye Xin Xia simply because she was pleasing to the eye. As for actually marrying her, forget it. Just her tangled background would be enough to torment him.
Besides, one was a brocon and the other a siscon. They were mutually devoted, closer than childhood sweethearts. If he made a move, wouldn't that confirm his reputation as a yellow hair?
I, Xu, am not that kind of person!
Ye Xin Xia watched the two bickering without saying anything, lowering her head and secretly giggling.
As evening fell, Mo Jiaxing warmly invited Xu Fang to stay for dinner, and Xu Fang didn't refuse.
The liquor they had just brought over was opened. The four men each filled a cup, but before they had even made three rounds, Mo Jiaxing and Zhang Xiaohou had collapsed face-first onto the table, while Mo Fan was slurring and spouting nonsense.
Xu Fang remained perfectly composed, picking up peanuts one by one with his chopsticks. He shook his head disdainfully. "With drinking skills like this, go sit at the children's table."
"Yellow hair!" Mo Fan smacked Xu Fang on the shoulder. "Although we used to fight all the time, I, Mo Fan, recognize you as a real man. You're much better than that Green Tea Man Mu Bai!
"From now on, mighty Mo Fan will have your back. Once I open with lightning on the left and fire on the right, you just follow behind and loot the corpses."
"I don't need you. I'll do it myself." Xu Fang slapped his hand away. "I'm planning to go to the Ancient Capital to kill undead creatures. When I come back, I'll show you why flowers are so red."
"Get lost!"
Mo Fan gave a foolish laugh. He finally couldn't hold on any longer and thumped face-first onto the table. Before long, loud snores rang out.
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