Ancient One Admits Defeat

The doorway existed for only an instant, completing its opening and closing in the blink of an eye.

It was so fast that one could almost suspect it had been an illusion—elusive and all the more mysterious for it.

The sight startled everyone present. Even the well-traveled Ancient One could not help showing a flicker of surprise.

Disbelief crossed Wong's face, while Mordo furrowed his brow, his eyes filled with both curiosity and caution.

"It seems what you've learned goes far beyond simply opening doors." Lin Du slowly opened his eyes and calmly met Ancient One's gaze.

"Master Ancient One, if you truly wish to know, I'll gladly demonstrate."

He then revealed the magical techniques he had fused, one after another. First came Space Severing. With a casual wave, the air seemed to be sliced open by an invisible blade, leaving behind a thin yet distinct crack that silently traced the path of power through the void.

Next, the might of the Dark Dimension quietly bloomed around him, as though the surrounding light were slowly being devoured by some indescribable force.

One corner of the training ground was swiftly shrouded in dense shadow, radiating a chilling cold that made hearts tremble.

Finally came the Hypnosis Art he had mastered. Lin Du's gaze deepened, glimmering with a subtle, dreamlike light, as an irresistible magical force spread from within him and silently seeped into everyone's hearts.

Before long, every movement across the training ground began to slow, as if an invisible hand had turned down time's rhythm.

In the end, one after another, everyone fell into a deep sleep.

Even Ancient One, Wong, and Mordo were no exception. Gently embraced by that mysterious power, they entered the realm of dreams.

When Lin Du ended his spell and looked around, he found that everyone, including Ancient One, had sunk into sleep. Satisfied, he withdrew that wondrous power.

Before long, Ancient One slowly lifted her heavy eyelids, like someone awakening from a long and profound dream. The world around her gradually came back into focus.

She unconsciously rubbed her forehead, where the strange sensation left by the hypnosis still lingered faintly. An unprecedented shock churned within her heart.

"Lin Du..." Ancient One murmured softly, the scenes that had just unfolded replaying over and over in her mind.

Lin Du's calm, profound eyes seemed capable of seeing into the deepest reaches of the human heart, while the magic he had displayed had far exceeded every boundary of Ancient One's understanding of magic.

There had been no complicated gestures. The magic had simply blossomed naturally before everyone's eyes.

Ancient One's thoughts were a tangled mess, filled not only with waves of shock but also with an indescribable sense of loss.

At first, she had been full of joy, looking forward to taking Lin Du under her wing and imparting to him the crystallized wisdom of her entire life.

But reality was like a bucket of cold water thrown in her face. The knowledge and power this young man possessed had long surpassed anything she could offer.

Lin Du was like the brightest star in the night sky—shining alone, drawing every eye, yet impossibly distant.

"What... can I still teach you?" Ancient One murmured, her voice carrying a self-mocking bitterness.

She rose to her feet, her gaze passing through the dense leaves toward the boundless horizon as unprecedented confusion roiled within her chest.

As a renowned master of the magical world, this was the first time she had ever felt her own knowledge to be so lacking.

Faced with a prodigy like Lin Du, she could not find even the slightest opening through which to guide him.

Just as Ancient One sank deep into the whirlpool of self-reflection,

Lin Du's voice suddenly drifted over from nearby. "Master Ancient One, you've finally returned to reality."

Only then did Ancient One realize that Mordo and the others were still caught between sleep and wakefulness, not yet fully freed from the shackles of their dreams.

"Through the Light of the Mind, tear apart the bonds of darkness." Ancient One spoke softly, raising her hands before her chest as her fingertips danced lightly.

In an instant, the eyes of Mordo and the other two suddenly flashed with long-lost light. It was as if they had abruptly awakened from a prolonged, bizarre dream. They stared wide-eyed at everything around them, their faces filled with bewilderment.

"We... what exactly happened?" Mordo spoke before the others, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"You were subjected to hypnosis, but now you are free." A smile curled across Lin Du's lips, as if everything had gone exactly as he expected.

Hypnosis? Lin Du had hypnotized them?

The truth struck like a bolt from the blue, exploding across the hearts of Mordo and the other two in wave after wave of shock.

They exchanged glances, each seeing the same astonishment and confusion reflected in the others' eyes.

As mages, they understood perfectly well the weight hypnosis carried in the magical world—it was an exceedingly rare and difficult magical art, requiring the caster's control over spiritual power to reach the pinnacle.

Yet what had happened before them was utterly unbelievable—at some unknown moment, Lin Du had quietly sent all three of them into slumber. Such unfathomable strength was truly terrifying.

The three of them instinctively turned to Ancient One, their eyes filled with a longing for their master to explain.

But Ancient One's expression was even more complicated than theirs.

Her gaze remained fixed on Lin Du, her eyes glimmering with a mixture of awe and concern.

"Lin Du, your mastery of magic has long surpassed the limits of my expectations."

Ancient One's tone was low, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve.

"You have not only mastered the mysteries of space, commanded the depths of darkness, and comprehended the subtleties of the mind. More astonishingly, you can weave these three powers together flawlessly."

"Creating miracles never seen before."

"To be honest, with such talent and accomplishment, even I must admit that I am inferior."

As soon as Ancient One finished speaking, Mordo and the other two were once again left dumbstruck.

They had never imagined that this young man, who had still been regarded as an outsider to the world of magic yesterday,

Actually possessed such astonishing magical potential within him.

Strange's expression grew especially complicated as his gaze locked tightly onto Lin Du.

Thinking back, the two of them had initially been competitors standing at almost the same starting line. Yet now, Lin Du had won Master Ancient One's special favor, and an unbridgeable gulf had opened between them.

This could not help but stir an unprecedented sense of urgency and fighting spirit within him.

He stared deeply at Lin Du for a moment, then resolutely turned to face Master Ancient One and declared in a firm voice.

"Master Ancient One, I beg you—allow me to study twice as hard. My goal is to surpass Lin Du and become a powerful mage capable of standing beside you!"

Master Ancient One nodded gently, a flicker of approval passing through her eyes.