Becoming a Disciple

Lin Tian's extraordinary talent revealed during the magic test shone like a brilliant star, illuminating the entire imperial palace.

On the evening of the magic test day, the palace was bedecked with lanterns and colorful decorations as a grand banquet was underway to celebrate Lin Tian's astonishing magical aptitude. Tables were laden with fine wines and delicacies, the aroma of rare dishes mingling with the rich fragrance of spirits, permeating the entire banquet hall.

The Leo Emperor raised his goblet high, a proud smile spreading across his face as he declared to the assembled crowd, "Today, my son Lin Tian has excelled in the magic test. This is not only his supreme honor but also the glory of our Leo Empire! Let us raise our glasses together and wish Lin Tian smooth sailing on his future cultivation path, becoming the pillar of the empire!"

All present raised their cups in unison, cheering, "May the Third Prince's cultivation go smoothly, and may the empire prosper!" Their voices rang out, as if to pierce the palace's very dome.

After the banquet ended, Lin Tian returned to his bedchamber. He lay quietly on the bed, gazing at the moonlight streaming through the window lattice onto the bed, his thoughts tangled like a mess of threads. He understood in his heart that while he possessed outstanding magical talent—with Fire affinity at Super Grade and Spirit at Super Grade—he only had talent in the laws of Fire. This meant he could never follow Lin Lei's path to become a Hongmeng Controller. His greatest future achievement might be becoming a Fire-type Sovereign, or perhaps at most reaching the Grand Perfection realm. At this thought, he couldn't help but feel conflicted. "What are the profundities of Fire again? I only remember Fire Element, Fire Body Art, and Explosive Flame—those are definitely there. What else is there? There should be one related to the soul. What's the rest? I can't recall." He muttered to himself, pulling the blanket over his head and tossing and turning in bed. "Forget it, I won't think about it. Father and Mother told me to see them tomorrow morning—probably to discuss choosing a school. Time to sleep, time to sleep." Eventually, caught between frustration and exhaustion, he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, sunlight gently streamed through the window, falling on Lin Tian's face. He slowly woke up, washed up briefly, and headed to his father's bedchamber. When he stepped into the dining room, his father Hubble Leo, mother Nicole Rossi, older brother Mickey Leo, and older sister Fanny Leo were already seated at the table.

The table was covered with all kinds of exquisite breakfast items: golden, crispy toast, eggs exuding an enticing aroma, and fresh, dewy fruit. Yet Lin Tian's mind was not on the food.

The Leo Emperor looked at Lin Tian, his eyes full of affection and expectation, and spoke first: "Lin Tian, yesterday you displayed remarkable magical talent in the test. It's time to consider receiving a more systematic magical education. Your mother and I have discussed it, and we want you to attend the Royal Magic Academy with your brother and sister. There, you'll have access to a rich, structured education and guidance from many excellent teachers, which will greatly benefit your growth."

Lin Tian frowned slightly, setting down his utensils, and said seriously, "Father, Mother, I understand your thoughts, but after careful consideration, I don't want to go to the Magic Academy. I feel that in the academy, I might be constrained by many rules, and the learning pace would follow a uniform schedule. I want to invest more energy into cultivation, exploring the mysteries of magic at my own pace."

Nicole Rossi furrowed her brow gently, a look of concern on her face: "Lin Tian, the Magic Academy has a well-established teaching system that can lay a solid foundation for you."

Lin Tian looked at his mother firmly and said, "Mother, I understand your worry. But I have confidence in my talent and abilities. Besides, I've read many magic books in the Library Pavilion and have some understanding of magical cultivation. I believe I can plan my own cultivation path."

Mickey Leo chimed in from the side, "Little brother, there are many peers your age at the Magic Academy. You could make like-minded friends, learn together, and progress together—wouldn't that be better?"

Lin Tian shook his head with a smile: "Brother, I know you mean well. But I prefer to focus on cultivation without too much external distraction."

Fanny Leo said gently, "Little brother, the academy also has rich practical activities and exchange opportunities, which would help broaden your horizons."

Lin Tian gave his sister a grateful look and replied, "Sister, I understand these activities have their benefits. But for now, I want to devote myself entirely to in-depth research into magic. I believe that once I have a certain level of strength, these things won't matter."

The Leo Emperor looked at Lin Tian's determined eyes and thought to himself: This child, though young, has a clear plan for his future and a strong will. Perhaps I should respect his choice. So he said slowly, "Since you've made up your mind, we won't force you. But we're still a bit uneasy about you cultivating alone. Let's go discuss this with your grandfather and see if there's a better solution."

Later, the Leo Emperor and Nicole Rossi went to Porter Leo's residence outside the city. Since breaking through to the Saint Domain, Porter had moved to a mountain outside the city for easier cultivation. He was sitting in his study, flipping through an ancient tome. Seeing his son and daughter-in-law enter, he looked up with a hint of confusion: "What brings you two here? Has something happened?"

The Leo Emperor recounted in detail Lin Tian's outstanding performance in the magic test and his desire not to attend the Magic Academy but to cultivate alone. After hearing this, the old emperor couldn't help but show a gratified smile: "I didn't expect my grandson to possess such remarkable talent—truly a blessing for our Leo Family! His wish not to go to the Magic Academy and to cultivate alone, though somewhat bold, shows he has unique insights into his own cultivation path."

The Leo Emperor's face showed concern: "Father, we worry that he might encounter difficulties cultivating alone, since he's still young and may not consider everything thoroughly. Is there any way to let him cultivate as he wishes while still receiving professional guidance?"

The old emperor pondered for a moment and then said slowly, "I have a good friend, Laun, a Fire Saint Magus. He has profound expertise in fire magic, is extremely kind, and doesn't adhere to traditional teaching methods. If we could invite him to teach Lin Tian, it might be a good choice."

A glimmer of hope flashed in the eyes of the Leo Emperor and Nicole Rossi. The Leo Emperor said, "Father, then please contact Archmage Laun and see if he's willing to teach Lin Tian."

The old emperor nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take Lin Tian to see him right away. Given our long friendship and Lin Tian's outstanding talent, I'm sure he'll agree."

Subsequently, the old emperor took Lin Tian to Laun's residence. As Lin Tian was carried through the sky, experiencing a sensation completely different from flying in an airplane, his resolve to cultivate only grew stronger.

They arrived at Master Porter's dwelling—a Magic Tower beside a volcano. Lin Tian felt a wave of heat different from the imperial capital's climate and marveled, "No wonder he's a Fire Saint Magus—even his residence is filled with the aura of flames." Laun wore a red magic robe with golden flame patterns embroidered on the hem. His black hair cascaded to his shoulders like a waterfall. His face was kind, yet his eyes held wisdom and depth, showing none of the volatility typical of those who cultivate the laws of fire.

After learning the purpose of their visit, Laun was very pleased with Lin Tian's talent and agreed to teach him. Since Lin Tian was still young, Laun returned with him to Blazing Flame City and settled down as Porter's neighbor outside the city, making it convenient for Lin Tian to come and seek his guidance in the future.