Are You Stupid?

Mages!

They commanded the Elemental Tide.

Apprentices, Lesser Mages, Intermediate Mages, Advanced Mages, Magisters, Archmages, and Title Magisters.

Their differing ability to command the Elemental Tide created strict divisions in rank.

As everyone knew, the entire world was ruled by the Elemental Tide. To create destructive power, one needed to perceive the elements flowing within the tide, merge them together, and form magic.

But the elements themselves were fixed.

Ordinary elements were fair to all living beings. Any Mage who used mental power to compress Fire Elements together could form a tiny flame.

Archmages were no exception.

If Mage Apprentices sensed flowing elements and entered the realm of commanding the Elemental Tide, then becoming a Lesser Mage meant beginning the long process of elemental shattering and recombination.

They absorbed elements into their bodies, repeatedly shattered and recombined them, and produced elemental power wholly absent from nature.

That was the path of cultivation.

A Lesser Mage had to undergo one shattering. Upon reaching three shatterings, they had to begin their first Elemental Recombination, thereby stepping into the ranks of Intermediate Mages.

To become an Advanced Mage, one needed at least seven Elemental Recombinations.

And for an Advanced Mage to charge toward Magister rank, they needed at least ten rounds of shattering and recombination.

As for Archmages, their recombinations had to reach the terrifying number of fifteen.

Wind Blade and Forbidden Wind Blade were both wind blades, yet their differing internal elemental compositions made their destructive power as far apart as heaven and earth.

As for Title Magisters, they had to undergo at least eighteen recombinations. By then, they had reached the Ultimate Element state. Their elements were already extremely stable and difficult to shatter.

The more stable an element was, the harder it was to damage, and the greater the destructive