Magic Power "Loans"

Chen Ji's thoughts raced.

Suddenly, he looked toward the restricted section nearby.

These were the Ancient One's private books.

Among them,

the most eye-catching work was undoubtedly the Book of Cagliostro.

Chen Ji slowly raised his hand.

The Book of Cagliostro contained the mysteries of time, as well as concepts related to the Dark Dimension.

The Ancient One had drawn upon the Dark Dimension's energy to preserve her youth, allowing her to smoothly pass the title of Sorcerer Supreme to Stephen Strange.

If the Ancient One could do it, why couldn't he?

Chen Ji shuddered in alarm.

"What's going on?"

"This isn't like me..."

"Could the Book of Cagliostro, like the Darkhold, also entice people to read it?"

Chen Ji hurriedly withdrew his right hand, cold sweat already beading across his forehead.

That was close...

He had almost fallen for it!

If he had opened the Book of Cagliostro and seen Dormammu's mark,

Dormammu might have noticed him and tempted Chen Ji into corruption through some ritual!

A Mystic Statue alone had sent him into the Marvel Universe.

Chen Ji had no choice but to be cautious!

"Chen."

"Good thing you didn't read that book."

"Your resolve is even stronger than I imagined."

Master Murphyson approached from afar, a kindly smile appearing on his face.

As Kamar-Taj's librarian, he knew full well that books of arcane arts possessed mysterious powers!

Especially the Ancient One's private collection.

That was why they had been sealed with chains!

Yet even that had failed to stop Kaecilius from reading them.

Still, Kaecilius was a Mystic Arts Master. He should have known better than to rashly attempt the rituals described in those books.

But Chen Ji did not possess that capability.

He could easily lose his way!

By Eastern standards, it would be called suffering a deviation in cultivation!

"Master Murphyson."

"Don't worry."

"I only came to borrow some books of arcane arts related to actual combat."

"Do you have any recommendations, Master Murphyson?"

Chen Ji let out a soft breath.

At last, he had regained his composure.

Then, he followed Master Murphyson to a bookshelf.

"The higher the shelf, the more powerful the spells—and the greater the burden they impose."

"I hope you won't rush things."

"Chen."

"I heard you've already become a Formal Mage and will soon head to the New York Sanctum as a Guardian Mage?"

After finishing his introduction, Master Murphyson abruptly changed the subject and gave him a meaningful look.

He seemed to be trying to see through Chen Ji as well.

The talent Chen Ji had displayed was simply too dazzling, too monstrous!

And now he had already begun studying true Secret Art Magic.

One had to know,

even Master Morpheus himself had spent several weeks merely understanding all the Sanskrit.

"That's right."

"Master Murphyson."

"Do you have any advice for me?"

Chen Ji's heart stirred.

"Chen."

"Stay away from Kaecilius."

"His study group..."

"isn't really a study group."

"On the contrary."

"You can trust Wong."

Master Murphyson scanned the area. Once he saw no one else around, he immediately lowered his voice.

He had long noticed that something was off about Kaecilius.

But he had no standing to lecture a Mystic Arts Master.

At Kamar-Taj,

internal sparring matches were held from time to time.

Before this, Kaecilius had defeated him with overwhelming superiority!

And the Secret Art Magic he had used was nowhere recorded in the library!

That meant he had come into contact with other mystical knowledge. The more easily power came, the more terrifying the hidden dangers often were.

Everything came at a price.

The gifts bestowed by fate had long since had their prices secretly marked.

"Wong?"

"I understand!"

Chen Ji nodded.

Even without Master Murphyson's reminder, he knew Wong was trustworthy.

Besides, Wong was the future Sorcerer Supreme and Kamar-Taj's leader.

Though his strength was just a tiny bit lacking!

"Chen."

"In the near future, Kamar-Taj will surely have a place for you."

"I believe that when the Ancient One returns from her travels, she will personally receive you as well."

"I hope you won't be too surprised."

Master Murphyson smiled knowingly.

He had served as librarian for several years and had seen all kinds of Mystic Arts Mages.

Some reached their peak the moment they emerged, only to fade into obscurity afterward.

Some accumulated experience before making a late breakthrough.

Some gave up halfway and returned to the mundane world.

...But he had never seen a monster like Chen Ji!

Temperament!

Willpower!

Talent!

All of it made Murphyson feel inferior.

If the Ancient One decided to step down as Sorcerer Supreme, Chen Ji might be the only one capable of shouldering that responsibility!

If Chen Ji knew what Murphyson was thinking, he would definitely shake his head at once.

Sorcerer Supreme?

Pah!

Not even a dog would take that job!

He had no desire to go negotiate terms with Dormammu.

As the saying went,

the bird that stuck its head out got shot.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to become a behind-the-scenes big shot instead?

"Master Murphyson."

"I've chosen my books."

"Farewell."

Chen Ji selected several books of arcane arts, stepped through a portal once more, and returned to his dormitory.

The sun sank in the west.

Dusk gradually blanketed the earth.

Inside the dormitory,

a bright lamp lit up.

Chen Ji opened the books of arcane arts and immersed himself in them, the rustle of turning pages continuing without end.

A long while later,

Chen Ji put down a book of arcane arts, a trace of melancholy appearing on his face.

This book was called the Book of All-Seeing!

It recorded nearly all of Kamar-Taj's basic Secret Art Magic.

Including but not limited to the Rings of Raggadorr, Winds of Watoomb, Bolts of Balthakk, Vishanti's Sacred Sword, Hoggoth's Body...

In truth, casting arcane arts was simpler than Chen Ji had expected. The key issue was the source of magical power.

A modern financial term vividly described the essence of magic.

"Loans."

Dimension Lords and Magical Entities were like enormous financial conglomerates.

Mystic Arts Mages were equivalent to individual private depositors.

Capital gave magical power to individual depositors, placing it into Chen Ji's account. How could there be no price to pay?

If that magical power could not appreciate in value...

then he would have to sell everything he owned to repay it.

He might even have to pay with his life.

The Magical Entities and Dimension Lords contracted by Kamar-Taj's Mystic Arts Mages were generally lawful-neutral beings.

For example, Vishanti and Cyttorak!

Vishanti shared their magical power not to receive anything in return, but in the hope that Mystic Arts Mages would protect Earth.

If a Mystic Arts Mage committed acts that endangered Earth, Vishanti would reclaim their magical power as well!

The rules seemed reasonable.

Yet they gave Chen Ji no sense of security whatsoever!

Magical power.

They could give it whenever they wanted and take it back whenever they wanted?

Then he could turn into useless trash at any moment!

It was equivalent to placing his entire life and fortune at the mercy of someone else's whim.

How could that possibly work?

"If I establish a Soul Anchor at Kamar-Taj..."

"If Vishanti discovers that I'm a Provisional Weird, then I'll be in serious trouble."

Chen Ji sighed softly.

No wonder.

When he established a Soul Anchor in the Weird World, it had brought about a major turning point in his fate.

So this was what had been waiting for him!