Perception

April 2nd, 9992, Yulan Calendar.

Eighteen days after the system prompt, I finally waited for an opportunity to head to the back mountain waterfall alone.

I don't know what Linley has been busy with lately; he leaves early and returns late every day. Yale and Reynolds have gone to Fenlai City to enjoy themselves, and George is buried in the library. I am the only one left in Dorm 1987.

"Today is the day."

I strapped on a small pack and headed toward the back mountain by myself.

The back mountain of the Ernst Institute stretches for dozens of miles, becoming more secluded the deeper one goes. After walking along the forest path for nearly an hour, the rumbling sound of water finally reached my ears.

The waterfall.

It is a cliff thirty to forty meters high, with water cascading down to strike a deep pool below. The water is clear enough to see the pebbles at the bottom. Surrounded by dense woods, the sunlight filters through the leaves, casting mottled light and shadows upon the water's surface.

"The scenery is quite nice." I looked around and muttered to myself, "System, is this the check-in location?"

[Ding--Host detected at designated location: Back Mountain Waterfall.]

[Do you wish to check in?]

"Check in."

[Check-in successful.]

[Reward obtained: Sword and Fairy · Five Spirit Wheel (Fragmented)—Capable of absorbing the five spirits of heaven and earth and converting them into personal magic power. Current status: Fragmented, only the Fire Spirit function is activated.]

A warm current surged into my body, condensing into a faint, wheel-shaped phantom at the center of my chest. The phantom was divided into five segments, but only one was lit—a fiery red.

The Five Spirit Wheel.

A classic item from the Sword and Fairy series, capable of absorbing the power of the five elements and converting it into spiritual energy. In this world, spiritual energy should be equivalent to magic power.

"Good stuff." I felt a surge of joy.

Although it is only a fragmented version that can only activate the Fire Spirit, it means I can absorb the fire elements from heaven and earth and convert them directly into my own magic power—this is effectively an additional cultivation accelerator.

Fallen Heart Flame plus the Five Spirit Wheel—double the happiness.

"Hoo—"

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

The wheel-shaped phantom on my chest rotated slowly, and the surrounding fire elements were drawn toward me as if by a magnet. I could clearly perceive them entering my body, being refined by the Five Spirit Wheel, and turning into the purest magic power that flowed into my middle dantian.

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

Combined with the automatic cultivation of the Fallen Heart Flame, it was equivalent to triple the speed.

"I've hit the jackpot." I couldn't help but grin.

Just then—

"Third Brother?"

A familiar voice came from behind me.

I was startled, quickly reined in my aura, and turned around.

Linley was standing not far away with Bebe perched on his shoulder, looking at me with confusion.

"Fourth Brother?" I was somewhat surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I've been practicing here all along." Linley walked over. "It's quiet here, and no one disturbs me."

Recalling that Linley did indeed often practice in the back mountain in the original story, I couldn't help but chuckle.

He found a flat rock nearby, sat cross-legged, and quickly entered a state of meditation. Bebe jumped off his shoulder and lay on the rock, but those dark, beady eyes kept staring at me.

I felt a bit unnerved by his gaze. "What are you looking at?"

Bebe turned his head away and ignored me.

I smiled, not minding it, and continued to study the Five Spirit Wheel.

Time passed slowly.

The waterfall rumbled, mist filled the air, and sunlight cast mottled shadows through the leaves.

I don't know how much time had passed—

"Linley."

An aged voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

My entire body stiffened.

I whipped my head around to look at Linley.

Linley remained with his eyes closed, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were listening to something.

Doehring.

It must be Doehring talking to him.

I felt a bit nervous. Doehring is a Saint-level Magus, and his soul perception far exceeds that of an ordinary person. Would he notice my anomaly? Would he discover the Fallen Heart Flame and the Five Spirit Wheel?

"Linley." That aged voice sounded once more, this time carrying a hint of confusion, "This roommate of yours, the aura of fire on his body... is very strange."

I pretended not to hear it and continued my meditation.

Linley opened his eyes, glanced at me, and then lowered his gaze again.

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

"That fire, I have lived for over a thousand years and have never seen it before." Grandpa Doehring's voice carried a touch of gravity, "It is not like ordinary fire-style magic power; it is more like... a spiritual object naturally nurtured by heaven and earth. I have only heard of such an aura in legends."

Linley was silent for a moment: "He is a brother."

Grandpa Doehring was also silent.

After a long while, he sighed: "Very well. This child's aura is pure; he does not seem like a person with ill intentions. Since you trust him, I will say no more. Just be sure to keep an eye on things in the future."

"Mm."

Linley responded in his heart and closed his eyes once again.

I secretly opened a slit in my eyes, and seeing him return to calm, I let out a sigh of relief.

Doehring had indeed noticed. But he did not expose me, likely out of respect for Linley.

Thanks, Fourth Brother, I said silently in my heart.

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

Upon returning, Yale and Reynolds were already back, chatting with George in the courtyard.

"Third Brother, Fourth Brother, you're back!" Reynolds was the first to rush over, "Where did you go today? Why are you covered in water vapor?"

"The waterfall behind the mountain," I answered honestly.

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

"Why would you go? You don't even know how to swim," George retorted.

"I can learn if I don't know how!"

The five of us broke into a noisy mess again.

At night, I lay on my bed, studying the Five Spirit Wheel.

The wheel-shaped phantom on my chest had stabilized, and the fire spirit segment glowed with a faint red light. I could sense that as long as I channeled it, the surrounding fire elements would automatically surge toward me.

It's a pity it's only a fragmented version, I sighed inwardly, If it were the complete Five Spirit Wheel, capable of absorbing the five elements of earth, fire, water, wind, and lightning, it would truly be a cultivation artifact.

[Ding--The Five Spirit Wheel (Fragmented) can be repaired through check-ins or special opportunities. Next repair hint: Unknown.]

The system added at the perfect moment.

As long as there is hope.

I turned over and closed my eyes.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, spilling onto my face through the glass.

Bebe emerged from Linley's quilt at some point, lying on the windowsill, his dark, bead-like eyes staring at me.

I smiled at him and closed my eyes to sleep.

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

"Third Brother, get up!" Yale's voice came from the courtyard, "It's the fire-style class today, I heard they're going to teach Level 2 magic!"

I sat up with a start.

Level 2 magic? It was the perfect time to test the power of the Five Spirit Wheel.

After a hurried wash, the five of us headed toward the classroom.

The first-year fire-style classroom had more people than usual—all of them were there to audit the class after hearing that Level 2 magic would be taught.

Teacher Alison stood on the podium, maintaining her usual cold, detached demeanor.

"Today we are teaching the Fire Snake Technique," she said, getting straight to the point, "A Level 2 fire-style magic. The core lies in the precise control of the flame's form. I will demonstrate it once."

She raised her hand and chanted in a low voice. A fire snake as thick as an arm shot out from her palm, circled in the air, and then slowly dissipated.

"Who wants to come up and try?"

The classroom was deathly silent.

Level 2 magic usually took at least half a year for an average person to master. School had only been in session for a little over a month; who would dare to try?

"I will."

I stood up.

Alison glanced at me and nodded.

I walked to the front of the podium, took a deep breath, and began to chant.

The Fallen Heart Flame within my body trembled slightly, and the Five Spirit Wheel began to rotate in unison, causing the surrounding fire elements to surge frantically. I raised my hand--

A fire snake shot out from my palm.

It was slightly thinner than Alison's, but the edges of the flames shimmered with a faint, milky white hue. The fire snake circled three times in the air before slamming headfirst into the test target in the corner.

BOOM!

The magic sensor on the target lit up with a row of numbers: Temperature—1320 degrees.

The classroom fell into a dead silence.

The standard temperature for a second-level Fire Snake Technique is around 800 degrees. This cast of mine was a full sixty percent higher.

"Good." Alison looked at me, a flash of admiration in her eyes.

I withdrew my hand and returned to my seat.

Along the way, countless gazes fell upon me. Some were shocked, some worshipful, and others envious.

"Third brother, you're a total freak!" Reynolds whispered, keeping his voice low.

I smiled but didn't say anything.

After class, the five of us headed to the cafeteria to eat. People pointed and whispered at us the entire way.

"That's him, Aikesi Yan, the winner of yesterday's arena tournament, and now he's already mastered second-level magic."

"Mastering second-level magic at nine years old, that talent is just terrifying."

"I heard he, Linley, and Dixie are called the three great geniuses, but I think he's even stronger than Dixie."

"Shh, keep it down, Dixie is right there."

I turned my head to look. Dixie was walking past us. He glanced at me once, then left without a change in expression.

"That guy is really cold," Reynolds muttered.

"That's just his personality," George said.