Chapter 131: You Go Ahead and Flaunt, the Old Man Has Your Back!

Chapter 131: You May Roam Freely—Old Man Is Here!

Li Wei left the Mage Association, but a crowd still trailed behind him, refusing to let go.

Noble after noble invited him to their homes, eager to make his acquaintance.

Li Wei hastily said, “Master, I’ll take my leave first.”

And with that, he darted into a narrow alley.

The mob chased after him, ignoring Gu Ze who stood silently aside.

Gu Ze watched them go, his face filled with helpless resignation.

Being too outstanding wasn’t always a blessing.

They reached the alley only to find it empty.

“Where did he go?”

“Has he vanished? Flown away?”

Meanwhile, Li Wei walked among them unseen, cloaked in invisibility.

“What a mess. I should’ve just refused my master from the start.”

Back at the inn, Li Wei pushed open the door and froze on the threshold.

A man sat inside—someone he didn’t recognize.

An old woodcutter, dressed in tattered clothes, sat calmly in Li Wei’s room.

Seeing him return, the old man spoke: “Come in. Close the door.”

That voice—familiar. Li Wei paused, then understood.

He stepped in and shut the door behind him.

Hesitantly, he asked, “Tower Master?”

“Mm. Sit down,” the old woodcutter said, composed as ever.

Li Wei obediently took a seat by the table. “Has the Tower Master come to Feihua City as well?”

The old man shook his head. “No. This is merely my illusionary form.”

“I came to see how your mastery of Illusion Shaping has progressed,” said Torasta.

Li Wei demonstrated his practice.

The illusions he conjured were now so lifelike that even the naked eye could scarcely tell truth from falsehood.

Torasta smiled. “Excellent. Your talent is truly extraordinary—such progress in such little time.”

“Keep striving. Do not grow complacent.” He offered gentle encouragement.

“But I came for another reason as well.”

Li Wei straightened his posture. “What is it?”

Torasta grew solemn. “You may shine as brightly as you wish. Do not fear danger—old man is here. No one shall harm you.”

“The more brilliant your talent, the more the Mage Association will value you. With their recognition, you’ll gain access to things ordinary mages can never reach. This will benefit you greatly.”

“What exactly, I cannot yet reveal. You’ll understand in time.”

Li Wei was stunned. He hadn’t expected Torasta to encourage him to expose his gifts.

Learning that the Tower Master had come solely for his safety stirred deep emotion within him.

Yet still, he hesitated to reveal his true strength.

At least—not under his real identity.

After a moment of thought, he asked, “Master… does the Young Mages’ Association allow anonymous participation?”

Hearing the word *master*, Torasta’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Yes, anonymity is permitted. It won’t affect the Association’s evaluation of you.”

“I’ll inform them myself. Just compete under a veil when the time comes.”

Li Wei smiled. “Then I thank you, Master.”

With Torasta as his pillar, Li Wei’s worries melted away.

Now, only one thing remained—how to explain this to Master Gu Ze.

But that, too, was simple. Blame it all on Torasta.

Tell Gu Ze the Tower Master forbade his participation—urged him to conserve strength, focus on cultivation, and wait until the next tournament to astonish the world.

Having settled on this, Li Wei looked up—only to find Torasta already gone.

He walked to the window and gazed down at the street.

Every passerby below now seemed a possible vessel for Torasta’s illusion.

“Is this also Illusion Shaping?” Li Wei whispered, heart trembling.

Meanwhile, Li Wei had fled.

Gu Ze, who had come with him, was left entangled in the crowd.

It wasn’t until dusk that he finally broke free and returned to the inn.

Seeing Li Wei, he immediately complained, “You ran off alone and left me to face the storm! Everyone swarmed me—I nearly got torn apart!”

Li Wei quickly put on a bright smile. “Master Gu Ze, don’t be angry. You know I’m terrible at socializing.”

“Here, have some water. Try this osmanthus cake.”

Gu Ze saw his sincerity and laughed it off.

Truthfully, he held no real resentment—only quiet pride.

After all, Li Wei was his student.

To see him so sought after brought honor to his name.

After a while, once Gu Ze had calmed, Li Wei delivered his rehearsed explanation.

“That’s how it is. The Tower Master instructed me to focus on training, to refine my strength quietly. Not to rush into competitions—better to stay silent until the moment arrives, then roar louder than any before.”

He finished and watched Gu Ze carefully.

Gu Ze pondered in silence for a long while, then sighed.

“The Tower Master speaks wisely. I was shortsighted.”

“With talent like yours, you shouldn’t bear the stain of early defeat.”

Li Wei shook his head. “Who in this world has never failed?”

“You misunderstand, Master. That isn’t what the Tower Master meant. What does failure matter? So long as one rises again and moves forward—it is not defeat.”

“He means I am young. Time is mine. There’s no need to rush this fleeting moment.”

Torresta: "No, I'm in a hurry."

How could he not be? He still counted on Li Wei to carry on his legacy.

Gu Ze nodded and said, "I understand."

After seeing Gu Ze off, Li Wei hurried into cultivation.

Once he finished refining his magical energy, he immediately plunged into dreams to practice Illusion Shaping Art.

The next morning at dawn, Li Wei opened his eyes.

[Illusion Shaping Art (Tier 0)] 7920/10000

"Just a little more—should reach the next level in a day or two."

The first three days of the Mage Assembly were festivities; the Young Mages' Tournament began on the fourth.

The tournament lasted until the very end of the Assembly, roughly ten to twelve days.

The duration wasn't fixed—it depended entirely on how the matches unfolded.

If a deadlock arose, the event would extend accordingly.

But never longer than half a month.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Firecrackers exploded outside, and waves of floral fragrance drifted through the air.

Li Wei pushed open the window—the sky was filled with celestial maidens scattering blossoms.

The annual Festival of Flying Flowers had begun.

Knock, knock, knock.

Gu Ze rapped at the door. Li Wei opened it.

"Let's go," Gu Ze said. "Time for the opening ceremony of the Mage Assembly."

The Assembly was held at Crystalbloom Square, the largest plaza in Flowerflight City.

Li Wei and Gu Ze arrived to find it teeming with life. Soldiers ringed the outer edges—only mages or those bearing invitation scrolls could enter.

Dressed in their mage robes, Li Wei and Gu Ze passed without challenge straight into the square.

"The Hall of Magic?"

Li Wei looked up. Above the plaza hovered a palace woven from radiant spelllight.

A grand composite spell—crafted by multiple great mages of fourth tier or higher.

Its effect was breathtaking.

The interior space of the Hall stretched far beyond its external appearance,

twisting with spatial magic.

"How magnificent!"

Li Wei had only read of such spells in books.

Never imagined he'd one day stand beneath it, gazing upward.

Compared to this, fireballs, wind blades, stone spikes—mere parlor tricks.

This was true magic.

Defying nature. Creating the impossible!

(End of Chapter)