While the people of Douluo Continent were still immersed in the might of the Dimensional Demon God that The Ancient One had described, Huo Yuhao had already joined the Sacred Hall as a formal Mage Apprentice in the Heavenly Screen.
[The image shifted, and the scene changed.
Inside the Sacred Hall's deep and quiet Library, Huo Yuhao, dressed in a blue-gray Mage Robe, gently set several hefty Magic Classics on the counter.
The slender librarian took the Magic Classics from him, looking somewhat surprised. "I remember you. Weren't you the newcomer who arrived half a month ago? You've finished all these already?"
"Yes." Huo Yuhao pointed to his temple. "I was born with strong Spiritual Power, so I memorize things quickly."
The librarian nodded, then casually asked him a couple of questions to assess his current knowledge. Afterward, he told Huo Yuhao to wait and walked into the rows of shelves behind him.
The librarian's old robe sleeves brushed against the shelves, stirring up a little dust. He picked out several new Magic Classics, registered them, and handed them over. "These will be good steps toward advancing your studies."
"Thank you!" Huo Yuhao took the books, but his gaze lingered on an unusually striking shelf deep inside the Library.
That shelf seemed like a forbidden zone all on its own. The books displayed there had covers that exuded luxury and mystery. Some were encased in Dark Metal, while others were studded with gems as deep as the night sky. They stood in stark contrast to the plain, yellowed books around them.
Most importantly, every book on that shelf was tightly bound by chains that glimmered with a faint light.
"May I ask you something, sir?" Huo Yuhao's gaze remained fixed on the unusual shelf as he asked the librarian curiously, "What are those special books?"
The librarian followed his gaze and adjusted the Crystal Spectacle Lens slipping down the bridge of his nose. "Oh, those... They're Venerable Gu Yi's private collection."
He paused, then continued, "Although the Sacred Hall makes its knowledge available to all Mages, the power and knowledge contained in those classics are simply too profound for anyone but the Supreme Mage to understand."
"The Supreme Mage's collection of profound knowledge?" Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. He couldn't help asking, "Could I... take a look at them?"
"Of course, my boy." The librarian smiled knowingly, as if he'd seen this sort of thing many times before. "In fact, plenty of young Mages like you have been drawn to their mystery and tried to approach them. However..."
He shook his head gently. "For most people, even a lifetime of study might not be enough to reach the threshold of understanding these Secret Tomes."
With permission granted, Huo Yuhao walked over to the shelf. Carefully, he reached through a gap in the chains and took out a tome with a huge gem set into its cover.
When he opened it, he found no ordinary words. Instead, mysterious symbols flowed across the pages like the paths of stars. Just one look at their complexity made his head spin.
Huo Yuhao flipped through a few more pages at random, then returned it to its place with a bewildered look.
In the end, he left the Library in silence, carrying the "safe" books the librarian had selected for him, suited to his current level of study.
Huo Yuhao devoured the Magic Classics, soaking up their knowledge and the basics every Novice Mage needed to know. His learning speed was astonishing.
When he returned to the Library for the second time to give back the books, the librarian took them and ran his fingers over the pages, still warm. He looked up, his deep gaze settling on Huo Yuhao's youthful face.
"Child, if you've mastered all these basics... then it's time."
"...Time to put down the books and truly touch the power of magic."
The scene shifted once more, and Huo Yuhao arrived at a medium-sized square.
Nearly a hundred Mages stood solemnly in Standard Mage Robes, each wearing a Brass Suspension Ring that glimmered with a faint, eerie light.
A middle-aged Mage with a gloomy expression and a chilling aura stood at the front of the square, guiding the Mages through their movements.
Their chants rang through the air. In unison, the Mages raised their arms and began casting.
"Buzz!" In an instant, dazzling golden-red sparks of Magic Power burst from thin air like fragments of ignited stars!
Circles of energy, their edges spitting sparks, appeared before them, but each was a different size.
The largest barely managed to hold the shape of a washbasin, while some struggled to stay stable even at the size of a fist.
Most of the others flickered like candles in the wind, their Light Scraps blinking in and out. They couldn't even form the basic shape of a circle.
The middle-aged Mage leading the group noticed Huo Yuhao, who had just arrived, and beckoned him over.
He led Huo Yuhao to an empty spot. The middle-aged Mage's chilling gaze swept over him. His face was as expressionless as a stone carving as he said:
"The Dimension Door, commonly known as a Portal, uses Cosmic Energy to open a passage. It can be used for travel or to cross between reality and other dimensions. It's highly practical, and most importantly, it doesn't require any extra cost. That makes it one of the best choices for practicing your casting skills."
After speaking, he turned to Huo Yuhao. "To be honest, this spell is quite difficult and isn't especially suited to beginners. Even most formal Mages might not master it perfectly, even after years or decades of practice."
He paused briefly, then continued, "But Kailan says you have a lot of talent, and Venerable Gu Yi has high hopes for you. So I won't hold you to the standards I'd expect of an ordinary apprentice."
The middle-aged Mage added, "My name is Kaecilius. I'll be guiding you for a while."
"Thank you, Master Kaecilius." Huo Yuhao replied respectfully, then asked curiously, "Who is Kailan?"
"He's the librarian. A Magic Master who once helped Venerable Gu Yi fight the Dimensional Demon God," Kaecilius said.
"During that battle, an arrow hit his knee. The Demon God Power on its tip corrupted his mind and soul, so now all he can do is work as a librarian and train newcomers."
Huo Yuhao nodded, took out his Suspension Ring, and put it on his finger. "Master Kaecilius, I'm ready!"
Just then, Kaecilius suddenly smiled faintly. He reached out and drew a Portal before him, sparks of Flowing Fire spraying from its edges. Then he stepped through and beckoned to Huo Yuhao. "Come over."
Huo Yuhao followed him through the Portal and found himself on a Desolate Dark Land, with the starry sky stretching as far as the eye could see.
"Master, where are we?" Huo Yuhao asked, puzzled.
Kaecilius wore a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "This is the place I prepared for your lesson."
"Now, let's see what makes someone so highly regarded by The Ancient One so special... Huo Yuhao, have you ever pushed your limits?"
Before you continue