Chapter 2: Soothing Incense (Please Bookmark!)

Chapter 2: Calming Incense (Please Add to Favorites!)

The next morning, Li Wei jolted upright in bed. Sunlight poured through the window.

"Damn! I overslept!"

After a hasty cleanup, he dashed toward the classroom.

As he approached the door, he heard the teacher’s voice from within. He hesitated for a moment, mentally reviewing the consequences of being late. Finding none too severe, he stepped inside without further pause.

"Sorry, Master Gu Ze, I'm late."

Gu Ze held a book in his left hand and a teaching ruler in his right. He glanced at Li Wei, then said coolly, "Return to your seat quickly. Don’t waste others’ time."

Li Wei hurried to his desk. Only after sitting down did he realize he’d forgotten his textbook, and he glanced around awkwardly.

He rummaged beneath the desk and pulled out a random book, holding it up as if studying.

*Legends of the Mage*

He glanced down at the title, surprised—it was a novel.

Flipping it open, he was instantly drawn into the story, captivated beyond resistance.

When he finally came to his senses, the morning class had already ended.

Master Gu Ze was gathering his books while the other students filed out.

He paused, looked back at Li Wei, and said, “Li Wei, there are still six months left. Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t abandon hope so easily.”

Startled, Li Wei shot to his feet. “Master, I won’t give up. I will become a mage!”

Gu Ze nodded slightly, then turned and left without another word.

Yet in his heart, his opinion of Li Wei sank.

Once, he had pitied the boy’s circumstances. He had seen how hard Li Wei worked—how he struggled to keep pace not from laziness, but because of innate limitations. That had earned him sympathy.

But now, those words rang hollow. To Gu Ze, they sounded like surrender—a desperate attempt to justify idleness, to coast through the final half-year with empty promises.

Because becoming a mage was *hard*.

Li Wei was merely an apprentice, not even having cultivated a trace of magical energy.

Not even a true apprentice, yet daring to speak of becoming a mage?

Gu Ze had spent twelve years in the Tower and remained only a probationary mage.

Three years as an apprentice, three as a mage-in-training, three more as a probationary mage.

For an ordinary person, the path from first learning magic to becoming a true mage took no less than nine or ten years—even that considered swift.

Some, like himself, lingered far longer. Five years stuck at probationary mage, still not a true master.

Once one became a probationary mage, one could remain in the Tower indefinitely, serving in various roles, contributing to its work.

And yet, though Gu Ze was young among probationary mages, many were in their thirties or forties, still waiting.

One word separated probationary mage from mage—but that gap was a chasm.

Many, seeing no hope of crossing it, abandoned their studies and turned to other arcane professions.

It was precisely because Gu Ze had labored for twelve years without success that Li Wei’s bold claim stirred such disdain.

Li Wei watched Gu Ze’s retreating back, tucked *Legends of the Mage* away, and headed toward the dining hall.

At noon, he ate lightly—overeating would dull his focus, hinder cultivation.

After the meal, he returned to his dormitory and immediately sat cross-legged, preparing to train.

Half an hour passed as he calmed his breath, stilled his thoughts, and slipped into meditation.

When the session ended, Li Wei exhaled deeply.

Words shimmered into view upon the wall before him:

[Basic Meditation Method (Beginner)]: 84/500

"One more session tonight. Maybe I can break a hundred."

After meditating, he grabbed his textbook and went to class.

This afternoon’s instructor was another probationary mage stationed in the Tower.

Teaching apprentices didn’t require a true mage—someone at the probationary level was sufficient.

True mages would never waste time on beginners.

Even probationary mages rarely received guidance from a true master.

Today’s lesson covered magical artifacts and enchanted items. Li Wei noticed two things that caught his interest.

"Calming Incense is a vital aid for mages during meditation. It helps them enter a meditative state swiftly, saving precious training time..."

"Magic cores harvested from monsters contain concentrated magical elements. Potions made from these cores greatly accelerate a mage’s cultivation of magical energy..."

"Calming Incense... potions?" Li Wei’s eyes flickered with thought.

After school, once he finished cleaning the classroom, Li Wei left the Tower for the first time.

In the upper district’s shops, he found Calming Incense.

"Ten silver coins per stick? That’s outrageous!"

He checked his coin purse and sighed inwardly.

Cleaning classrooms paid nothing. But occasionally, apprentices or probationary mages in the Tower hired help—running errands, carrying goods.

Over two and a half years, he’d scraped together a meager sum.

Never spent a copper. Total: two silver, fifty-six copper.

Not enough.

Defeated, Li Wei turned back toward the Tower.

Back in his room, he sat on the bed and began meditating.

"Every time, half an hour just to settle my mind. Such a waste."

"Though not truly meditating, that half-hour still drains spiritual energy. If I could cut that time, my efficiency would rise by at least ten or twenty percent."

"Calming Incense… I wonder how well it really works?"

"Pity. No money."

He steadied his emotions, cleared distracting thoughts, and sought inner calm.

The more he strained, the harder stillness became.

Only after wasting time did he realize this truth.

Emptying his mind completely, releasing all desire, he finally slipped into meditation.

After training, he ate, studied magic theory, read *Legends of the Mage*, and trained again late at night.

Finding the results unsatisfactory, he changed his plan—now cultivating once in the morning and once at dusk, twice daily.

Li Wei’s life became rigorously disciplined.

Every day he rose early, cultivated for an hour, then washed up, ate, and went to class.

After school in the evening, he would eat, cultivate for another hour, then read.

He was utterly consumed by novels, unable to break free.

After finishing *The Legend of the Mage*, he went straight to the library and found *The Legend of the Mage 2*.

Thirteen days later, he had already reached *The Legend of the Mage 5*.

That evening, Li Wei sat on his bed, cultivating.

Suddenly, he sensed a faint, almost imperceptible force stirring within him.

"Mana!"

Li Wei perceived the elusive presence of mana inside his body, his heart surging with excitement.

All these days of effort had finally borne fruit.

Unfortunately, this thread of mana was far too weak—even detecting it required great focus, let alone using it to cast magic.

[Basic Meditation Technique (Mastery)] 0/1000

"So it's true—the Basic Meditation Technique has leveled up!"

Li Wei gazed at the words appearing before his eyes, confirming his suspicion.

Previously, he had been unable to generate mana because his mastery of the technique hadn't been sufficient to convert enough magical elements into usable energy.

Now, his task was clear: strengthen the mana within until it could be used to cast spells!

"Now that I've cultivated mana, I can ask my teacher for an actual spell," Li Wei thought.

But he shook his head, deciding to wait.

The mana was still too feeble; even if he obtained a spell now, he wouldn't be able to begin practicing it.

He resolved to wait until his mana grew stronger before seeking instruction.

With the Basic Meditation Technique reaching mastery, meditation efficiency doubled—now one-fifth of the absorbed magical elements remained, transforming into mana.

His rate of mana cultivation accelerated dramatically.

(End of Chapter)