Initiate Mage's Battle

Cultivation of the mind and spirituality? Lynn really was somewhat tempted.

These two abilities were crucial for mages. The former could help one focus, strengthen control over magic, and reinforce the will to resist mental shocks.

The latter leaned toward connecting with the outside world. Those with powerful spirituality could often comprehend more of magic's mysteries, thereby obtaining many wondrous powers.

For example, communicating with spirits, controlling magical creatures, establishing connections with mysterious existences, and so on...

Seeing that Lynn was somewhat moved, Adolph chuckled and said, "Our Blue Tower focuses on excavating inner strength and holds the most top-tier meditation cultivation methods. This is precisely the path best suited to mages."

So he was from the Blue Tower? Lynn weighed it in his heart. The yellow, white, and blue towers held the highest status in the Yaxia Kingdom. The Golden Tower sought wealth, the White Tower pursued innovation, while the Blue Tower focused on inner cultivation. Each had its own strengths.

It really was hard to choose...

Just then, Barton glared at Adolph until his beard seemed to bristle. "Old thing, aren't you a little too shameless? Snatching someone right in front of me?"

Barton had originally planned to make the mission to investigate the Corruption Cult a test for Lynn. Once he passed, Barton would give him a second-ring magic book to help him advance to Initiate Mage, and after that he could introduce him into the White Tower Society fair and square.

After all, the minimum requirement for a Mage Tower to recruit members was Initiate Mage. With Lynn's current status as an Apprentice Mage, he could not even obtain a professional badge, and forcing him to join would not follow the rules.

Colin Town was remote and close to the Demonic Beast Forest. Few mages were willing to set foot there. Ever since Barton had been transferred here to work, he had barely seen a few good seedlings in all these years.

On a sudden impulse, he had said a few words to Adolph.

Adolph seemed long used to his colleague's fiery temper. He did not get angry, merely gave Lynn a deep look.

"The two of us don't get to decide this. It all depends on what this child intends."

Hearing him say that, Barton also glanced at Lynn.

Lynn immediately said respectfully to Barton, "I have always heard of the great reputations of the Blue Tower and White Tower, but Mr. Barton has helped me many times. I'll just follow your arrangements."

The moment these words came out, old Barton's face broke into a beaming smile, the pale flesh on his face squeezing into several folds.

"Good, good, good." He patted Lynn on the shoulder. "Aren't you here to participate in practical magic combat training? I'll take you up right now. Follow me."

With that, he led Lynn toward the third floor of the Golden Tower. Old Adolph followed as well.

There were guards watching over the gate to the third floor. When they saw the two elders of the Magic Association arrive, they hurriedly saluted with respectful tones. After checking the professional badges issued by the association, they quickly opened the gate.

The Golden Tower in Colin Town occupied quite a large area. The upper and lower floors were basically the same in terms of space, but their layouts were different. The circular area on the third floor had been divided into three fan-shaped sections.

Standing before the central staircase, Barton introduced them to Lynn. "The two combat training grounds on the left and right are Initiate Level and Veteran Level respectively. The one in the middle is the Personal Training Ground, with specially made dummies placed inside."

At least Initiate Level? Then as an Apprentice Mage, didn't that mean he could only go to the Personal Training Ground and hit dummies?

Seeing Lynn's hesitant expression, Barton smiled and said, "Don't tell me you want to challenge above your level?"

This joking remark instantly enlightened Lynn.

Lynn nodded firmly. "I want to try."

The moment these words came out, old Barton's brows slowly furrowed. In his heart, he thought, Sigh, he's still young after all. His temperament and experience are still lacking.

Other professions aside, the rankings of the mage profession were divided as clearly as the Jing and Wei rivers.

Ring level was the only standard. With each level raised, one had to be two ring levels higher than the previous level.

As an Apprentice Mage, Lynn at most had mastered first-ring magic, but an Initiate Mage had at least mastered second-ring, or even third-ring magic!

This gap was not something simple talent and hard work could make up for.

"Interesting." Adolph stroked his long beard, looked at Lynn with deep meaning, then turned and walked toward the Initiate Level training ground on the left, beckoning for Lynn to follow at the same time.

"What are you doing?" Barton hurried after him to stop him. He did not want the future seedling he had taken a liking to meeting with some accident halfway.

Adolph said indifferently, "What are you afraid of? Anyone who participates in combat will have [Absorption Magic] automatically applied to them by the training ground. It won't hurt him."

Barton naturally knew this rule. What he feared was not that Lynn would be injured, but that he would suffer a setback.

It was common for young mages to be proud and arrogant, and extremely common for them to collapse after encountering a setback.

"Relax." Adolph swept a glance at Lynn, who was currently observing the surrounding environment. "This child's temperament is much firmer than you think. A small matter like this probably won't stump him."

As he spoke, he called Lynn along and walked toward the training ground on the left.

At ordinary times, the third floor of the Golden Tower was very quiet and deserted. The Veteran Level training ground rarely had anyone, and only the Initiate Level training ground would occasionally have a few people inside.

Today was not bad. Including those watching, there were four people in total.

These four should all be Initiate Mages, right? Lynn guessed. Judging from before, people below Initiate Level probably were not allowed in here. He had only been able to enter smoothly because Barton and Adolph had brought him in.

As far as he knew, Initiate Level professionals corresponded to 2-star adventurers, which was the level of Celine, Liam, and Ulshi.

A mage's Initiate Level was even more precious. If they had mastered a few more spells and their types were comprehensive, it would not be strange for them to display the combat power of a three-star adventurer in a team.

Barton had already briefly introduced the rules of the training ground just now.

Combat was mostly one-on-one or two-on-two, with no excessive restrictions.

Upon entering the field, the training ground would automatically apply [Absorption Magic] of the corresponding grade and ring level to the duelists.

Once the [Absorption Magic] barrier absorbed enough magical damage, it would shatter, and that person would immediately be judged eliminated.

The victory condition was for all members of one side to be eliminated.

At this moment, the two people on the field were locked in fierce battle.

A middle-aged man in a deep-blue robe stood at the edge of the dueling field, rapidly chanting an incantation. The short staff in his hand waved, and four missiles blooming with azure radiance shot toward his opponent like meteors.

Is that Ring-Ascended [Magic Missile]? First-ring Magic Missile only has three shots, so this should be at the level of the second ring...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The missiles fired in a chain like a streak of stars. At that speed, only a Shield Spell that could be cast instantly would be able to block them. And judging by the rules, the [Absorption Magic] barrier was essentially the contestants' health bar, so prioritizing the preservation of health was undoubtedly the safest choice.

Lynn steadied his mind and looked toward the other young man in the silver-white top, curious to see how he would deal with the Magic Missiles that were sure to hit.

The young man was not tall, but his build was lean and powerful, with signs of physical training rarely seen among mages.

When he saw the Magic Missiles flying straight at him, he showed no intention of pulling away to cast a shield. Instead, he lowered his body, drove strength through both legs, and rushed at high speed toward the man in the blue robe.

It was as if he had slammed head-on into the Magic Missiles. Four bangs rang out, and a rainbow-colored magic barrier flashed one after another over the surface of his body, signifying that the missiles' damage had been completely absorbed.

The dueling arena had limited space. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of the blue-robed man and swung out the long staff in his right hand. The blue-robed man seemed to have been prepared; the spell he had chanted in advance ended at just the right moment, and his body was instantly wrapped in a current of air. His figure suddenly veered to one side, and his whole body floated half a foot off the ground.

Second-ring [Levitation Spell]?

The long staff in the white-clothed young man's hand looked as if it was about to swing through empty air, but all of a sudden, that dark-brown staff, like a long cudgel, bent and softened.

The young man flicked his wrist, and the staff instantly lashed out in a long strip like a whip, curling toward the blue-robed man's arm. It coiled around him like a snake, then tugged hard, dragging him back along with it.

The man lost his balance and immediately fell to the ground. The white-clothed young man seized the chance to snatch away the short staff in his hand, then gripped his throat like he was pinching a chick, stopping him from chanting spells.

"..." Lynn was left speechless. How was this an internal battle between mages? Wasn't this just a warrior closing in and brutally beating up a fragile mage?