Battle and Enlightenment (Part 1)

Under Porter's guidance, Lin Tian embarked on a remarkably meaningful journey of visits.

Their first stop was a fire-attribute Saint Domain warrior named Gar. Gar was burly, his entire body radiating a scorching aura like a volcano that could erupt at any moment.

"Gar, this is Lin Tian, a rising star in the Leo Family. I've brought him here today to seek your guidance," Porter introduced.

Gar laughed heartily. "Haha, rest assured, Brother Porter. Little friend Lin Tian, I won't go easy on you—prepare to be taught a lesson!"

The three arrived at the training grounds, and Lin Tian stepped into the practice field with Gar to begin their battle.

Gar shot toward Lin Tian like a red bolt of lightning. The heavy sword in his hand blazed with fierce flames, which contained Gar's unique understanding of the Fire Element Mystery—the manipulation of fire elements. He swung his greatsword, and the flames moved at his will, lunging at Lin Tian like agile serpents.

Lin Tian dared not be careless. He focused his mind, his internal magic power spinning rapidly. He too employed the Fire Element Mystery, igniting flames around his body and deftly shifting his form to parry Gar's fire. In the process, Lin Tian carefully observed Gar's method of controlling the fire elements—that precise and fluid guidance gave him new insights into the Fire Element Mystery.

Seeing his strike miss, Gar's assault grew fiercer. He thrust his greatsword into the ground, and instantly a wall of fire erupted from beneath Lin Tian's feet, attempting to trap him. With a firm gaze, Lin Tian instantly activated his elementalization ability, his entire body becoming as light as flame. He merged directly into the fire wall, transforming into a fire elemental lifeform and cleverly evading Gar's attack.

"Good lad, to wield the Fire Element Mystery so adeptly." A glint of approval flashed in Gar's eyes before he launched another attack.

The two exchanged blows, the battle growing increasingly intense. In the midst of combat, Lin Tian continuously adjusted his control over the fire elements, striving to incorporate Gar's techniques into his own.

Gradually, his understanding of the Fire Element Mystery deepened, and the flames became more responsive under his command. Then, using the transformative ability of the fire elements, he delivered a final strike. Before Gar could react, Lin Tian's condensed fire-element longsword pierced through his protective barrier and halted just above his head.

Seeing this, Gar conceded defeat. The two then discussed some application techniques of the Fire Element Mystery before parting ways.

Porter remarked with emotion, "Gar's comprehension of the Fire Element Mystery is already profound, yet you took him down so easily."

Lin Tian replied, "Senior Gar's understanding of the Fire Element Mystery is indeed very deep. After this battle, my own grasp of it has deepened even further."

Porter was deeply impressed by Lin Tian's talent in fire-attribute laws. He then led Lin Tian to a pavilion.

Here lived a fire-attribute Saint Domain mage named Lina. Lina wore a splendid flame robe, her features delicate, and her eyes held wisdom and calm.

"Lina, this is Lin Tian, a rising star in the Leo Family. I've brought him today to seek your guidance," Porter introduced.

Compared to Gar, Lina was more perceptive. She looked at Lin Tian's somewhat youthful face and asked in surprise, "Porter, is Lin Tian your junior? He doesn't seem very old?"

Porter answered vaguely, "Lin Tian is my grandson. He's had some fortunate encounters, so his cultivation has progressed a bit faster."

Lina was greatly astonished. She didn't know Lin Tian's exact age, but Porter hadn't been very old when he reached the Saint Domain, so his grandson's age was easy to guess.

The three then went to the training ground. Lina quickly formed hand seals and chanted incantations. The surrounding temperature soared sharply as she unleashed the Scorching Mystery. Blazing rays of light shot toward Lin Tian, scorching the air in their path and leaving a pungent, burnt smell.

Lin Tian immediately activated his magic power, condensing flames around him into a shield to resist the scorching rays. However, the power of the Scorching Mystery far exceeded his expectations; the shield gradually weakened under the intense heat. Lin Tian knew that if he didn't change his approach, he would be in trouble.

He concentrated, delving deeper into the Fire Element Mystery to find a countermeasure. Just as the shield was about to shatter, a sudden inspiration struck. He merged his entire being with the Fire Element Mystery, transforming into a mass of flames that pulsed with a peculiar rhythm, successfully dispersing the power of the scorching rays and defusing the crisis.

"Not bad. To find a solution in such a short time, you truly have talent," Lina praised before casting another spell.

This time, she compressed extreme heat into fireballs. Flaming bombs materialized around Lin Tian, and at Lina's command, they exploded instantly. The terrifying blast, combined with the searing heat, swept outward, causing space itself to tremble and ripple with visible waves.

Startled, Lin Tian quickly employed the Fire Element Mystery, frantically gathering the surrounding fire elements into a massive flame vortex. This vortex, like a giant black hole, absorbed all the explosive force and flames, cleverly neutralizing the attack.

Through his battle with Lina, Lin Tian's understanding of the Fire Element Mystery ascended to a new level. He felt more keenly than ever the unpredictable nature of the fire elements.

After leaving Lina's pavilion, Porter took Lin Tian to the residence of another fire-attribute Saint Domain warrior named Aaron. Aaron was agile, his eyes exuding determination and decisiveness.

"Aaron, this is Lin Tian, a rising star in the Leo Family. I've brought him today to seek your guidance," Porter said.

Aaron nodded slightly. "The unfamiliar Saint Domain who fought Gar and Lina earlier—that was Lin Tian, right? Come, let me see your strength."

Once Lin Tian and Aaron stepped onto the training ground, Aaron attacked first. He flickered and appeared before Lin Tian in an instant, his long blade blazing with flames. These flames were no ordinary fire—they contained the power of the Explosion Mystery. Aaron swung his blade fiercely, sending a flame blade aura imbued with terrifying explosive force toward Lin Tian. The space it passed through trembled, emitting a low hum.

Lin Tian reacted swiftly, using the Fire Element Mystery to conjure a flame shield before him. But the shield shattered like glass the moment it touched the blade aura. Knowing the might of the Explosion Mystery, Lin Tian dared not slack off. He immediately activated the transformative property of the fire elements, turning himself into fire elemental energy to evade the lethal strike.

"As expected of young friend Lin Tian—quick reflexes," Aaron praised before launching another attack.

This time, Aaron's assault was even fiercer. He swung his blade continuously, sending a storm of flame blade auras—each combining physical and energy attacks—hurtling toward Lin Tian. Lin Tian dared not rely on elementalization to withstand them head-on, so he could only weave nimbly through the gaps between the strikes.