In the early morning, dawn had just begun to break, and soft light draped over the Leo Empire's imperial palace like a thin veil. As usual, Lin Tian finished his warrior training at the Martial Arts Arena. Sweat had soaked through his training clothes, clinging to his increasingly muscular body. He then went to take a medicinal bath, completing his daily morning warrior training.
After breakfast, he arrived before the palace gates, where a squad of Imperial Guards stood silently. They wore gleaming black armor, the red plumes on their helmets fluttering in the wind. The spears in their hands glinted coldly beneath the morning sun. Beside them stood an ornately decorated carriage, its body forged from black refined steel and inlaid with golden patterns. Red silk curtains bearing the royal crest hung over its windows, displaying the royal family's majesty and extravagance.
Escorted by the Imperial Guards, Lin Tian boarded the carriage. It slowly set off, its wheels rolling with a steady rumble. The guards rode tall horses and tightly protected the carriage in their midst as the grand procession left the palace. The citizens along the streets stopped to watch, their gazes filled with awe and curiosity.
Lin Tian watched the bustling streets through the carriage window. This was the first time he had seen the outside world since arriving here. The last time he had gone to see Teacher Laun, his grandfather had simply flown him there, so he had not seen any of this.
The entire avenue was paved with smooth red stone, displaying the Leo Empire's fire affinity. The road was even wider than the main streets of the great cities from his previous life. Yet there were no cars here, only carriages, warriors riding towering magical beasts, and magi. Hotels, clothing stores, and taverns lined both sides of the road. Naturally, there were also weapon shops and auction houses unique to this extraordinary world. People flowed endlessly along the streets, creating a scene of prosperity.
The carriage sped onward and soon stopped before the manor where Saint-level Magus Laun lived. Lin Tian stepped out of the carriage and entered the manor alone. After walking along a cobblestone path, he arrived before an ancient, unadorned building. An elderly man with white hair but an energetic bearing had been waiting there for some time. He was Laun, the Fire Saint Magus.
When he saw Lin Tian arrive, the old man revealed a kindly smile.
He said, "From today onward, you will study fire magic under me. Come inside."
The two entered the building. Its furnishings were simple, and an enormous stone table stood in the center. Laun gestured for Lin Tian to sit, then took a seat opposite him.
"Lin Tian, before we begin studying fire magic, let me first explain something about it." Laun looked at Lin Tian, pride showing in his eyes. "Do you know that the ancestor of our Leo Empire, Leo I, was a powerful fire deity? Through his exceptional fire magic, he once became the strongest person on the Maya Continent. Therefore, fire magic is unquestionably the most powerful of all magical disciplines."
Hearing this, Lin Tian could not help recalling how Delin had told Lin Lei that the Laws of Earth were the strongest. He secretly mocked, These Saint-level Magi really are confident in their own cultivation. Every one of them thinks the laws they cultivate are the strongest. However, he did not reveal his thoughts and merely listened quietly as Laun continued.
Laun asked, "Do you know what is most important for a magus casting magic?"
After thinking for a moment, Lin Tian answered, "A magic incantation. Without an incantation, magic cannot be cast."
"Wrong. Magical Power and spiritual force are the crucial factors; magic incantations are secondary. If a magus's spiritual force is powerful enough, he can cast magic instantly without chanting. At that point, incantations merely serve as an aid. Watch."
As Laun spoke, he gently raised his hand. A ball of red flame appeared out of thin air in his palm. The fire flickered and danced, yet it gave off no heat whatsoever. Laun smiled at Lin Tian. "Just like this. I did not chant any incantation. By relying solely on the control of spiritual force and Magical Power, I cast this small Fireball."
Lin Tian stared at the flame in Laun's palm in astonishment, his eyes full of admiration and curiosity. Laun continued, "To cast magic, one must first possess sufficient Magical Power within the body as a foundation. Then, one uses spiritual force to control that Magical Power and draw in the external elemental energy of heaven and earth, thereby increasing the spell's power. Neither can be absent. As long as they cooperate properly, they can produce an effect greater than one plus one."
Lin Tian nodded thoughtfully. Magical Power is gasoline, while spiritual force is the engine. As long as they work together, they can make a car run at incredible speed.
To help Lin Tian understand the might of fire magic more deeply, Laun continued, "Next, I will introduce you to two forbidden fire spells. The first is called Skyfire Blaze." Laun rose to his feet and walked to the center of the room, excitement gleaming in his eyes as though he were recalling the power of that formidable spell.
"Skyfire Blaze is a terrifying spell that summons the endless heavenly fire of the skies. Once cast, an enormous vortex will appear in the heavens, and endless skyfire will rain down like meteors, burning everything across a vast area. Imagine a prosperous city reduced to scorched earth in an instant beneath the sky full of fire. Within a thousand li, there would be nothing but desolation." As Laun spoke, he gestured with both hands through the air, as though painting that awe-inspiring scene.
Lin Tian listened intently. The image of a city enveloped in skyfire emerged in his mind, and he could not help marveling at the power of fire magic. At the same time, he wondered, I wonder which is stronger, this or an atomic bomb. Both fall from the sky.
Laun continued, "Fire magic also has a commonly used forbidden spell called Earthfire Burn City. When it is cast, the earth will shake violently, and endless lava and pillars of fire will erupt from below. Like surging floods, the lava and fire pillars will sweep through the entire city. Whether sturdy buildings or living creatures, all will be reduced to ash."
Lin Tian's eyes widened. He recalled scenes of volcanic eruptions he had seen on television in his previous life, especially that private volcano eruption. He could not help asking, "Teacher, which is stronger, this or a volcanic eruption?"
Laun thought for a moment before replying, "That depends on how much Magical Power is invested. The more that is invested, the greater its power. But the reason forbidden spells are called forbidden spells is that casting them requires not only immensely powerful Magical Power and spiritual force, but also a profound understanding and insight into fire magic. Moreover, casting such magic places an enormous burden on the caster. Unless one has reached a desperate life-or-death situation, it generally will not be used lightly."
Afterward, Laun brought Lin Tian to the manor's backyard. It was an open expanse, and the ground was covered in all kinds of magic arrays. Laun said, "Next, we will begin with the basics of fire magic. First, you must learn meditation."
Before you continue