Blue Talent

After careful consideration, Chen Ji still made this decision.

Rather than gamble on an unknown probability,

it was better to safely upgrade a green talent into a blue talent.

He did not have a gambler's mindset.

He knew all too well that he was cursed with terrible luck.

So he had to spend every point of Luck Value where it counted!

For the sake of cultivating Secret Art Magic in the future, [Minor Affinity] was undoubtedly his first choice!

[Use Luck Value on [Minor Affinity] (Green)?]

"Confirm!"

Whoosh!

A brilliant flash of light erupted.

All 100 points of Luck Value were consumed.

The green talent [Minor Affinity] had successfully upgraded!

[[Minor Affinity] (Green) has evolved into the entry [Self-Taught] (Blue)]

[Self-Taught] (Blue): You possess astonishing talent in the field of arcane arts. No matter the secret art, it is as clear to you as the lines on your palm. You may even receive instruction from spiritual beings.

"Nice!"

Chen Ji's face lit up with delight.

This was the first blue talent he possessed!

[Self-Taught]!

No matter the secret art, it would be as clear to him as the lines on his palm?

He was ecstatic.

After all, he was about to become the Guardian Mage of the New York Sanctum, which stood at the center of the Marvel Universe's stage.

The level of danger and chaos there was almost unimaginable.

What was more, once midnight arrived, he would return to the Weird World.

Diligently studying Secret Art Magic was also his only path to survival.

[Name]: Chen Ji

[Identity]: Formal Mage

[Talents]: Total Recall (Green), Martial Arts Master (Green), Self-Taught (Blue), Fortune in Misfortune (Green), Provisional Weird (Black).

[Luck Value]: 20.9

Chen Ji's talent entries had also undergone subtle changes.

The identity field had risen from Apprentice Mage to Formal Mage!

However, there was a great deal of exaggeration in his status as a Formal Mage.

"To the library!"

"The legend of a god of magic begins here!"

Chen Ji secretly reveled in his excitement.

Then, the outline of the library materialized in his mind, and his right hand slowly moved.

A radiant Mystic Portal condensed into shape.

It opened directly onto the library entrance.

Yet on the other side of the portal,

he did not see Master Murphyson.

Instead, a sinister-looking Westerner with the sharp gaze of a hawk and the calculating air of a wolf stood in the restricted books section, dressed as a Mystic Arts Master with twin blades at his waist.

His expression was filled with gravity.

"Kaecilius?"

Chen Ji's heart jolted.

How had he run into this harbinger of disaster?!

[Name]: Kaecilius

[Identity]: Mystic Arts Master

[Entries]: Heaven-Shaking Magic (Blue), Immeasurable Depths (Blue), Without Any Scruples (Black).

[Heaven-Shaking Magic] (Blue): Though he is also a Mystic Arts Master, his strength can be called the greatest.

[Immeasurable Depths] (Blue): The mysterious knowledge he has mastered has reached unfathomable heights. You are advised to stay as far away from him as possible.

[Without Any Scruples] (Black): To achieve his goals, he will stop at nothing and pay any price. He is highly prone to straying down the wrong path.

"Hiss."

"Kaecilius's Entry Panel..."

"It was absolutely terrifying!"

Chen Ji clicked his tongue inwardly.

Two blue talents!

He had never seen anything like that before!

The moment he saw Kaecilius, he could not help recalling the events surrounding Doctor Strange!

In order to resurrect his deceased wife and children, Kaecilius had offered his soul to the lord of the Dark Dimension!

He had nearly destroyed the Three Sanctums!

And allowed Dormammu to devour the real world!

At a glance, Chen Ji could tell that the forbidden book Kaecilius had touched was none other than the Book of Cagliostro.

This book...

not only recorded the mysteries of time, but also contained knowledge of the Dark Dimension.

Using the ancient ritual within, one could summon Dormammu and wield the power of the Dark Dimension!

But the ritual could not be completed alone.

That was why Kaecilius had formed the Zealots. With his radical ideals, his standing had vaguely surpassed even Mordo's!

"Young Mystic Arts Mage."

"Your name seems to be..."

"Chen?"

"Who taught you to address a Mystic Arts Master by name?"

"You should call me Master Kaecilius."

Kaecilius's gaze flickered.

Then, he returned the Book of Cagliostro to its place and walked toward Chen Ji.

"You seem to have become a Formal Mage?"

"Would you be interested in joining my study group?"

"I will teach you all the knowledge I excel at without reservation."

Kaecilius forced a faint smile.

He had long heard of Chen Ji's talent.

To ensure that his plan went off without a hitch,

he naturally would not let this potential companion slip away.

After all, the wanderers who came to Kamar-Taj were all trapped in the abyss of confusion and pain. He did not mind extending a helping hand to Chen Ji.

"Master Kaecilius..."

"Your study group?"

"May I ask what knowledge I could learn?"

Chen Ji's eyes flickered.

His mind immediately began racing.

He could neither offend Kaecilius nor join Kaecilius!

Because...

it was far too dangerous!

Kaecilius's fate in the story was far more miserable than the Snap!

He had completely become Dormammu's puppet and slave.

He had directly transformed into a dark creature known as a Mindless One.

And Chen Ji had the Entry System, which could upgrade his talents without limit!

Pledge allegiance to Kaecilius?

Why put himself through that?

Would it not be better to lie low until the end of time and upgrade every talent entry to the highest grade?

"Not appealing?"

"What knowledge?"

"Everything."

"My friend."

"You must understand that the Kamar-Taj Library simply cannot contain all the knowledge in the world. Many secrets are recorded on parchment..."

"And I will share everything with you."

"...Free of charge."

Kaecilius smiled and whispered into Chen Ji's ear.

It instantly made Chen Ji's scalp prickle!

The free things were always the most expensive!

He had no desire to accept Kaecilius's gift.

However, from those words, it was easy to imagine that Kaecilius and the Zealots had privately hoarded Books of Arcane Arts seized from the mundane world rather than making that knowledge public!

It completely ran contrary to the Ancient One's teaching philosophy.

No wonder.

Kaecilius had risen so swiftly to become a Mystic Arts Master within a single year. So he had encountered some unknown opportunity?

Chen Ji narrowed his eyes.

He... was tempted!

The blue talent [Self-Taught] could let him achieve twice the result with half the effort.

He might even receive instruction from spiritual beings.

If he could master more mysterious knowledge, surviving in the Weird World would become much easier!

No matter how he looked at it, it was a guaranteed profitable deal.

However...

"Master Kaecilius."

"I do not think I am qualified to join your study group."

"I am afraid I would disappoint you."

Chen Ji shook his head, putting on a self-deprecating appearance.

"Disappoint me?"

"We are all pursuing truth in our own ways."

"Chen."

"My study group will always welcome you."

Kaecilius looked at him approvingly.

Then, he headed out of the library. His towering, muscular figure gradually disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Only then did Chen Ji let out a sigh of relief!

"Whew."

"This guy's presence was way too oppressive!"

"I hope he did not see through me."

Chen Ji silently counted himself fortunate.

He understood the principle that biting off more than one could chew led to trouble.

He had only just begun, and he had not even read through all the Books of Arcane Arts in the Kamar-Taj Library.

If he rashly came into contact with other ancient, mysterious knowledge, his life might be in danger.

That was something he could not accept!

A gentleman did not stand beneath a crumbling wall.

If he wanted to resist risks, he might as well stay away from them!

Kaecilius's rebellion was still at least several years away.

As long as Chen Ji became a Mystic Arts Master and gained strength equal to Kaecilius's, it would not be too late to infiltrate the Zealots.