Chapter 708 - 324: I Reckon This Might Work (Part 2)

"Isn’t it possible as long as one’s spiritual power is strong enough?"

After a class, Lu Wenwu was completely puzzled.

He understood, yet didn’t fully understand.

So, Lu Wenwu directly knocked on the door of the headmaster’s office and asked the question that was lingering in his mind.

"Does the essence of magic depend on the will of the mage himself?"

"If so, why do those inexplicable modifications still enhance the power of magic?"

He had discussed with Isidro many times before, but its research on human magic was still somewhat inferior to the development of bloodline-inherited Dragon Language Magic; he also couldn’t understand the principles of silent spellcasting.

"Why not go to someone who’s of Law God Level to ask, if you have the chance?"

"Your comprehension in magic is much stronger than Isidro’s. This can perhaps be attributed to you not having undergone the orthodox education and training of the Giant Dragons, which has made your outlook different from that of a normal dragon."

In the headmaster’s office, Douglas sat comfortably on a large leather sofa, sipping his tea.

From time to time, he elegantly cut a piece of cheesy potato egg wrap as a snack with expensive silver cutlery.

"To understand the essence of magic after just over six months of study... Such talent can truly be called exceptional genius. At least for me, it was only after reaching the Truth Tier that I gradually began to understand this," the old headmaster said with a smile.

Lu Wenwu pondered for a moment, "So you mean, whether magic can be cast and its power solely depends on the mage’s own will?"

"Exactly." Douglas nodded slightly, "On the continent, because of the gods, even though the written language used by each nation is the same, pronunciations differ every ten miles; likewise, there are differences in the pronunciation of magic spells. This is why mages are able to release the same magic even though the spells differ."

"But those skills written in books... Oh! I understand now!"

Mid-sentence, Lu Wenwu suddenly came to a realization.

The methods used by those seniors did not essentially violate the ’will’ principle in his conception.

Whether it be spells or casting gestures, they merely materialize those abstract, hard-to-understand concepts.

During the chanting of spells and waving of the magic staff, one would subconsciously impose a suggestion to oneself, to execute a command resolutely with one’s own will.

This is quite similar to Lu Wenwu forcibly enhancing with his Soul Power.

It’s just that the book’s methods are more intuitive.

After all, on the Gods Continent, even Truth Mages born among the undead creatures could not control their soul or will so intricately.

Some Magic Masters like to snap their fingers while using silent spellcasting for the same reason—to impose a mental suggestion on themselves.

*Hiss*...

Wait!

If the essence of spells is the mage’s will, then is it conceivable that the essence of magic is actually an idealistic thing?

Are mages essentially a bunch of green-skins with the Power of My Thought?

Lu Wenwu suddenly startled himself with his thought.

So the essence of spellcasting is essentially—thinking to oneself that the magic in one’s body can animate ingredients, and by the caster’s own level cook oneself into a delicious egg wrap?

Damn!

Everything makes sense now!

If it’s the Power of My Thought, then those bizarre support spells indeed make sense.

"But headmaster, there’s one more thing that’s unclear to me."

Thinking of this, Lu Wenwu continued to ask.

"If the essence of spells is the mage’s will plus magic power, then why can’t Arcanists perform magic? And why do using a magic staff and silent spellcasting present different processes of magic release?"

"The reason for the latter, I’m not sure. As for the former, it is because Arcanists lack ’aptitude.’"

"Although we have yet to research the essence of this ’aptitude,’ it can be certain that those with aptitude are born with magic power, just like races with innate magical talents."

Douglas put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with a fine white cloth, and answered seriously.

"Mages being considered as the darlings of heaven is no empty talk."

"We are the oldest cultivation system and profession on the Gods Continent."

"Arcane originated from magic, it is a longing for magic and a kind of imitation of magic."

"Or, rather, not just arcane, in all the cultivation systems in the world, shadows of magic can be found."

"It’s just that arcane was the latest to appear among them, and it seeks most earnestly to restore the power of mages."

"All other cultivation systems originate from magic?" Lu Wenwu was taken aback, "Then physical professions and divine arts are also...?"

There’s no mention of this in books!

Furthermore, such things could not be seen even if one went to the holy land of other cultivation systems.

Even if it were true, who would be willing to admit such a thing?

There’s always been competition between different cultivation systems, each believing they are the best.

Let alone compiling something like this into books, writing it down.

"I can responsibly tell you, these too originate from magic."

Douglas said calmly, a faint smile on his face, with a touch of pride.

A group of people on the continent have been contending for years, without knowing that we mages are the real, undisputed kings!

"The Holy Light Technique of the apprentice tier of the Church of Light is 99% similar to the Lighting Technique; the signature skill of warriors, Shield Block, you can directly deduce from the Iron Shield Spell using arcane principles, and there’s more..."

Listening to the headmaster talk eloquently, Lu Wenwu was overjoyed.

Today was truly the right day to come!

The main storyline progress is advancing like crazy. jpg

Seizing this excellent opportunity, Lu Wenwu straightforwardly proposed another doubt in his mind: "Headmaster, since we mages are already so powerful, what’s the situation with ancient magic?"

"I’ve read some descriptions in books, and I feel that ancient magic seems more akin to the object that arcane imitates, also its power seems greater than our current magic?"

"It seems you have been reading a lot lately, indeed, ancient magic is the basis of everything."

Douglas smiled, affirming Lu Wenwu’s thought.

"Ancient magic is powerful, excessively so, which is why the strength of ancient mages far surpassed current mages, their biographical records seem like made-up stories."

"Modern magic is actually a product of compromise, a simplified version developed by the collective wisdom of almost all mages of the time to enhance humanity’s overall power when there were too few mages."

"Compromise? Simplified version?" Lu Wenwu hesitated a little, "Does that mean ancient magic also required aptitude?"

"Not only required, but to an exorbitant degree." Douglas said with a bitter smile, "In ancient times, those who could practice ancient magic were called ’Heavenly Sons.’ Among the current mages, including myself, in ancient times, we could be considered ’Children of the Earth.’

"True Heavenly Sons, even without any meditation or training, their magic power and spiritual power would continuously grow. And Children of the Earth, which now refers to common mages, would need to strive hard to progress after coming of age."

"Moreover, what’s more disheartening is that even if Children of the Earth exhaust a lifetime’s effort, it is difficult to cast a true ancient spell. For instance, I am called the Fiery Sun Law God because I mastered an ancient spell—Fiery Sun Collapse."

"This is also the only ancient spell I have mastered."

At this point, Douglas sighed with a bitter expression.

"It is said that in ancient times, Fiery Sun Collapse was just a spell that true Heavenly Sons could casually cast, learn by just watching it once, with no difficulty in handling."

"Then headmaster, if I want to learn ancient magic, can you teach me? Or is there any book about ancient magic in our school?" Lu Wenwu asked, "Isn’t our school founded by the God of Magic?"

Douglas shook his head, "Regrettably, no. After the birth of modern magic, the school encountered an accident; the specific cause is unknown, the content of the accident unspecified, but all the teaching materials on ancient magic were mysteriously lost."

"As for teaching... although it’s somewhat embarrassing to say, I must admit, I don’t know how to teach. I also gained this spell accidentally during my youthful experiences, and I honestly don’t know how to manifest it into concepts you all can understand."

"If you are really interested in ancient magic, I suggest you follow Isidro back to Dragon Island after this academic year ends."

"The Dragon Race is akin to the Human Race, one of the oldest races."

"At the same time, although Dragon Language Magic has somewhat changed through bloodline inheritance from the ancient era, it remains the closest existing inheritance to ancient magic."