First encounter with magic

Dawn broke, the first rays of light draping softly like a thin veil over the Leo Empire's palace. Lin Tian, as usual, finished his warrior training at the Martial Arts Arena. Sweat soaked his training clothes, clinging to his increasingly sturdy frame, before he headed to the medicinal bath area for a soak, completing his daily morning warrior regimen.

After breakfast, he arrived at the palace gates, where a squad of imperial guards stood in silence. They wore gleaming black armor, red tassels on their helmets fluttering in the wind, their long spears glinting coldly in the morning light. Beside them was a lavishly decorated carriage, its body forged from black fine steel inlaid with golden patterns, red silk curtains on the windows embroidered with the royal crest, exuding imperial majesty and luxury.

Surrounded by the imperial guards, Lin Tian boarded the carriage. It started slowly, the wheels rumbling with a steady sound. The guards rode tall horses, tightly encircling the carriage, and the procession grandly departed the palace. Commoners on both sides of the street stopped to watch, casting awed and curious glances at the imposing spectacle.

Lin Tian looked through the carriage window at the bustling street scene—this was his first time seeing the outside world since arriving here. Last time he went to see Teacher Laun, his grandfather had flown him directly, so he hadn't seen any of this.

The entire street was paved with smooth red stone, showcasing the Leo Empire's fire attribute. The road was even wider than the main avenues of his past life's big cities, but instead of cars, it was filled with carriages, warriors riding towering magical beasts, and mages. On both sides were hotels, clothing shops, bars, and of course, the weapon shops and auction houses unique to the supernatural world. People came and went, presenting a scene of prosperity.

The carriage sped along and soon stopped before the manor where Saint Magus Laun lived. Lin Tian stepped out, walked into the manor alone, and followed a cobblestone path to an ancient building. A white-haired but vigorous old man was already waiting there—he was the Fire Saint Magus, Laun.

Seeing Lin Tian arrive, the old man revealed a kind smile.

He said, "From today onward, you will study fire magic with me. Come inside."

The two entered the room, which was simply furnished. In the center was a massive stone table. Laun gestured for Lin Tian to sit, then sat down across from him.

"Lin Tian, before we begin learning fire magic, let me first give you an overview of it." Laun looked at Lin Tian, a hint of pride in his eyes. "You know, the founding ancestor of our Leo Empire, Leo I, was a powerful fire deity. He once relied on his exceptional fire magic to become the strongest on the Maya Continent. So, fire magic is undoubtedly the most powerful among all magical disciplines."

Hearing this, Lin Tian couldn't help but recall Delin, Lin Lei's grandfather, telling Lin Lei that the earth element was the strongest. He silently grumbled to himself, "These Saint Magi are really confident in their own training—they all think the element they cultivate is the strongest." But he didn't show his thoughts, quietly listening as Laun continued.

Laun went on, "For a mage to cast a spell, what do you think is the most important thing?"

Lin Tian thought for a moment and replied, "The incantation. Without an incantation, you can't cast magic."

"Wrong. Magical power and mental strength are the key factors; the incantation is secondary. If a mage's mental strength is strong enough, they can cast spells instantly without chanting. At that point, the incantation only serves as an aid. Watch."

Laun gently raised his hand, and a ball of red flame appeared in his palm, flickering and dancing without emitting any heat. Laun smiled at Lin Tian. "Like this. I didn't chant any incantation—I just used mental strength and magical power to control it and cast this small Fireball."

Lin Tian stared in amazement at the flame in Laun's palm, his eyes full of admiration and curiosity. Laun continued, "To cast a spell, first you need enough magical power in your body as a foundation. Then, use mental strength to control that magical power, attracting external elemental energy to amplify the spell's effect. Both are indispensable. When they work together, you can achieve a result where one plus one is greater than two."

Lin Tian nodded thoughtfully after hearing this, thinking to himself, "Magical power is like gasoline, and mental strength is like an engine. If they work together, you can make the car run at incredible speeds."

To give Lin Tian a deeper understanding of fire magic's power, Laun added, "Next, let me introduce you to two forbidden fire spells. The first is called 'Skyfire Blaze.'" Laun stood up and walked to the center of the room, his eyes gleaming with excitement, as if recalling the might of this powerful spell.

"'Skyfire Blaze' is a terrifying spell that summons the endless skyfire of the heavens. Once cast, a massive vortex appears in the sky, and countless skyfires fall like meteors, burning everything over a wide area. Imagine a prosperous city reduced to scorched earth in an instant under this rain of skyfire, leaving a thousand miles barren." Laun gestured with his hands as he spoke, as if painting the awe-inspiring scene.

Lin Tian was captivated, a city engulfed in skyfire flashing through his mind. He marveled at the power of fire magic but couldn't help wondering, "I wonder how this compares to an atomic bomb—both come from the sky."

Laun continued, "There's also a universal forbidden fire spell called 'Earthfire Burn City.' When cast, the ground violently shakes, spewing endless lava and pillars of fire from the depths of the earth. These torrents of lava and fire surge through the entire city like a raging flood, reducing everything—solid buildings and living creatures alike—to ashes."

Lin Tian's eyes widened, recalling volcanic eruptions he'd seen on TV in his past life, especially the one from a private volcano. He couldn't help asking, "Teacher, which is more powerful—this or a volcanic eruption?"

Laun thought for a moment and replied, "That depends on the magical power invested when casting. The more you put in, the greater the power. But forbidden spells are called forbidden for a reason—they require not only immense magical power and mental strength but also a deep understanding and insight into fire magic. Moreover, casting such a spell takes a heavy toll on the caster. Unless it's a life-or-death situation, one generally doesn't use them lightly."

Afterward, Laun led Lin Tian to the manor's backyard. It was an open area, the ground covered with various magic arrays. Laun said, "Next, we'll start learning from the basics of fire magic. First, you need to learn meditation."