Perception

Yulan Calendar 9992, April 2.

On the eighteenth day after the system's notification, I finally got the chance to go alone to the waterfall in the back mountains.

Linley had been busy with something lately. He left early and came back late every day; Yale and Reynolds had gone to Fenlai City to have some fun; George was practically living in the library. That left me alone in Dorm 1987.

"Today's the day."

I slung a small bundle over my back and headed alone toward the back mountains.

The back mountains of Ernst Institute stretched for dozens of miles, growing more secluded the farther in you went. I followed a forest path for nearly an hour before the rumble of water finally reached my ears.

I'd arrived at the waterfall.

It was a thirty- or forty-meter-high cliff, with water pouring down and crashing into a deep pool below. The water was clear enough to see the pebbles on the bottom. Dense woods surrounded it, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the surface.

"Not a bad view." I looked around, thinking to myself, "System, is this the sign-in location?"

[Beep—Host has reached the designated location: Back Mountain Waterfall.]

[Would you like to sign in?]

"Sign in."

[Sign-in successful.]

[Reward obtained: Sword and Fairy Spirit Wheel (incomplete)—Can absorb the energy of the five elements between heaven and earth and convert it into the host's own magic power. Current state: Incomplete; only the Fire Spirit function is activated.]

A warm current surged into my body and gathered in my chest, forming the faint shadow of a wheel. It was divided into five sections, but only one glowed—a fiery red.

The Five Spirit Wheel.

A classic item from Sword and Fairy, it could absorb the power of the five elements and convert it into spiritual power. In this world, spiritual power should be the same as magic power.

"Now that's a good thing." I couldn't help feeling pleased.

Though it was only an incomplete version and could activate only the Fire Spirit, it meant I could absorb the fire element in the world around me and directly convert it into my own magic power. That was like getting another cultivation accelerator.

The Fallen Heart Flame plus the Five Spirit Wheel. Double the fun.

"Phew—"

I took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and tried to activate the Five Spirit Wheel.

The wheel-shaped shadow in my chest turned slowly. The fire elements around me seemed drawn to a magnet, rushing toward me. I could clearly sense them being refined by the Five Spirit Wheel as they entered my body, becoming the purest magic power and flowing into my middle dantian.

The speed... was nearly twice as fast as my usual meditation.

With the Fallen Heart Flame cultivating automatically too, that made for three times the speed.

"I'm rich." I couldn't help grinning.

Just then—

"Third Bro?"

A familiar voice came from behind me.

I jumped, quickly stilled my energy, and turned around.

Linley stood not far away, Bebe perched on his shoulder. He was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"Fourth Bro?" I was a little surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I've been cultivating here." Linley walked over. "It's quiet, and no one bothers me."

Remembering that Linley really did often cultivate in the back mountains in the original story, I couldn't help laughing.

He found a flat rock nearby, sat cross-legged, and quickly entered a meditative state. Bebe jumped down from his shoulder and sprawled on the rock, but its round, bright eyes stayed fixed on me.

Its stare was making me uneasy. "What are you looking at?"

Bebe turned away and ignored me.

I smiled, not taking it to heart, and continued studying the Five Spirit Wheel.

Time passed slowly.

The waterfall roared, mist filled the air, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

I didn't know how long had passed when—

"Linley."

An old voice suddenly sounded in my mind.

I froze.

I whipped around to look at Linley.

His eyes were still closed, but his brow was faintly furrowed, as if he were listening to something.

Doehring.

It had to be Doehring talking to him.

I felt a little nervous. Doehring was a Saint-level Magus, and his soul perception far surpassed that of ordinary people. Would he notice something strange about me? Would he discover the Fallen Heart Flame and the Five Spirit Wheel?

"Linley." The old voice sounded again, this time with a hint of puzzlement. "That roommate of yours has a very strange aura of flame about him."

I pretended I hadn't heard and continued meditating.

Linley opened his eyes and glanced at me before lowering them again.

"Grandpa Doehring, what is it?" he asked in his mind.

"That flame... I've lived for over a thousand years and have never seen anything like it." There was a note of gravity in Grandpa Doehring's voice. "It doesn't seem like ordinary fire-element magic power. It's more like... a natural spirit born between heaven and earth. I've only heard of such an aura in legends."

Linley was silent for a moment. "He's my friend."

Grandpa Doehring fell silent too.

After a long while, he sighed. "Very well. The boy's aura is pure; he doesn't seem like someone with ill intentions. Since you trust him, I won't say more. Just keep an eye on him from now on."

"Mm."

Linley answered silently and closed his eyes again.

I secretly cracked open one eye. Seeing him calm again, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Doehring had indeed noticed. But he hadn't called me out, probably for Linley's sake.

"Thanks, Fourth Bro," I said silently to myself.

At dusk, Linley and I returned to the dorm together.

When we got back, Yale and Reynolds had already returned. They were chatting with George in the courtyard.

"Third Bro, Fourth Bro, you're back!" Reynolds was the first to rush over. "Where'd you go today? Why are you all damp?"

"The waterfall in the back mountains," I answered honestly.

"The waterfall?" Yale's eyes lit up. "Is it fun there? Take us tomorrow!"

"What are you going for? You can't even swim," George teased.

"I can learn!"

The five of us fell into another bout of laughter and noise.

That night, I lay in bed studying the Five Spirit Wheel.

The wheel-shaped shadow in my chest had stabilized, and the Fire Spirit section glowed with a faint red light. I could sense that as soon as I activated it, the fire elements around me would rush toward me on their own.

"Too bad it's only an incomplete version," I lamented silently. "If the Five Spirit Wheel were complete, it could absorb the elements of earth, fire, water, wind, and thunder. Then it really would be a cultivation artifact."

[Beep—The incomplete Five Spirit Wheel can be repaired through sign-ins or special opportunities. Next repair hint: Unknown.]

The system added helpfully.

"At least there's hope."

I rolled over and closed my eyes.

The moonlight outside was like water, spilling through the window onto my face.

At some point, Bebe had crawled out of Linley's bed and curled up on the windowsill, watching me with those round, bright eyes.

I smiled at it, closed my eyes, and went to sleep.

The next morning, when I woke up, Bebe had already returned to Linley's side.

"Third Bro, get up!" Yale called from the courtyard. "We've got fire-element class today. I heard they're teaching a level-two spell!"

I sat bolt upright.

A level-two spell? Just the thing to test the Five Spirit Wheel.

After hurriedly washing up, the five of us headed to the classroom.

There were quite a few more people than usual in the first-year fire-element classroom. They'd all heard that a level-two spell was being taught today and had come to sit in.

Teacher Alison stood at the lectern, as cool and composed as ever.

"Today we'll learn the Fire Snake Technique." She got right to the point. "It's a level-two fire-element spell. The key is precise control over the flame's shape. I'll demonstrate it first."

She raised a hand and chanted softly. A thick, arm-sized fire snake shot from her palm, circled through the air, then slowly faded away.

"Who'd like to give it a try?"

The classroom was utterly silent.

Most people needed at least half a year to master a level-two spell. It had only been a little over a month since the term began. Who would dare try?

"I will."

I stood up.

Alison glanced at me and nodded.

I walked to the lectern, took a deep breath, and began chanting.

The Fallen Heart Flame inside me stirred, and the Five Spirit Wheel began turning at the same time. Fire elements rushed toward me from all around. I raised my hand—

A fire snake shot from my palm.

It was a little thinner than Alison's, but a faint milky-white glow edged its flames. It circled through the air three times, then hurtled headfirst toward the test target in the corner.

"Boom!"

A number lit up on the magic sensor attached to the target: Temperature—1,320 degrees.

The classroom fell completely silent.

A regular level-two Fire Snake Technique reached about 800 degrees. Mine was a full sixty percent hotter.

"Good." A hint of approval flashed in Alison's eyes.

I lowered my hand and returned to my seat.

Countless gazes followed me on the way back. Some were shocked, some admiring, and some jealous.

"Third Bro, you're ridiculous!" Reynolds whispered.

I smiled and said nothing.

After class, the five of us went to the dining hall. People kept pointing and whispering as we walked.

"That's him, Aikesi Yan. He came first in yesterday's arena match, and now he can cast level-two spells."

"He can cast level-two spells at nine? That talent is terrifying."

"I heard he, Linley, and Dixie are called the three great prodigies. I think he's even better than Dixie."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Dixie's right there."

I turned to look. Dixie was passing nearby. He glanced at me, expressionless, then walked away.

"That guy's so cold," Reynolds muttered.

"That's just how he is," George said.