Chapter 163: New Spells

Chapter 163: A New Spell

The sixth floor of the Mage Tower.

A level belonging solely to Torasta.

No one could reach this floor without his summons.

Even if one flew straight upward from outside, they would find themselves unable to rise beyond the fifth floor.

The sixth and seventh floors seemed not to exist at all—

a matter involving spatial principles.

Li Wei walked along the red carpet toward Torasta.

He remained seated cross-legged at the tower’s center,

just as he had been during their last meeting,

as though he had never moved an inch,

still turned away from Li Wei.

Li Wei gazed at Torasta, suddenly overwhelmed by intense curiosity about his true appearance.

What did he truly look like?

Every time Li Wei had seen him before—it had all been illusion.

Without turning around, Torasta spoke: “You’ve done well. Better than I expected.”

“I’ve already secured for you, under the name ‘Kai,’ a place to study at the Elemental Spire through the Mages’ Association.”

Li Wei asked, puzzled: “The Elemental Spire?”

Torasta replied: “There are five supreme mage towers in the world—the Elemental Spire, the Phantasm Spire, the Summoning Spire, the Spatial Spire, and the Alchemy Spire.

Each represents the pinnacle attainable within its respective branch of magic.

The Elemental Spire commands the forces of elements; the Phantasm Spire delves into illusions and the mysteries of the soul; the Summoning Spire focuses on pacts and summonings; the Spatial Spire preserves arcane laws of space and teleportation; the Alchemy Spire gathers the greatest masters of alchemy, potioncraft, rune-arrays, and enchantment.

I once studied at the Phantasm Spire myself—greatly enlightened.

It was there that I conceived the Illusionary Form Technique.”

Li Wei asked curiously: “But didn’t you wish for me to inherit your legacy?

Shouldn’t you send me to the Phantasm Spire, then? Why the Elemental Spire?”

To Li Wei, going to the Elemental Spire was clearly preferable.

After all, fire magic was his core strength.

Illusionary Form was merely auxiliary.

By all logic, Torasta should have wanted him at the Phantasm Spire.

Torasta said: “Yes. At first, I intended for you to study at the Phantasm Spire, hoping you would carry on my teachings.

But after witnessing your true potential, I changed my mind.

You are better suited to become a powerful fire mage than a master of the spirit arts.

As your teacher, I cannot let personal desire hinder your path.”

Li Wei felt deeply moved.

Torasta continued: “Moreover, going to the Elemental Spire doesn’t mean you can never study at the Phantasm Spire.

Each year, the five great towers exchange students. Outstanding apprentices may travel to other towers to learn deeper knowledge.

If you excel at the Elemental Spire, you’ll earn the chance to become an exchange student at the Phantasm Spire.

Then, you’ll still have the opportunity to master its secrets.

But if it were the reverse—you might never leave the Phantasm Spire.”

Now Li Wei understood.

Torasta had not abandoned the hope of passing on his legacy.

Indeed, Torasta had thought carefully for Li Wei’s sake,

considering every angle, watching over him with quiet care.

Li Wei nodded. “I understand. When do I leave? And for how long?”

Torasta replied: “I will inform you of the exact time. As for duration—it depends on your progress.

Normally, graduation takes ten years. Given your talent, however, you should advance swiftly in fire magic—perhaps finishing in six or seven.”

Li Wei was surprised. “That long? What is the standard for graduation?”

“Not long at all,” Torasta said. “The sea of magical knowledge has no end. Even a lifetime grants only a glimpse of its depths.

Ten years is barely enough to master all magic beneath the rank of Archmage.

Graduation means reaching the threshold of Archmage—proving you have the potential to achieve that rank within the next decade.

Once you become an Archmage, you may choose to remain at the Elemental Spire for further study. Within a century, you might even ascend to Legendary Mage.”

He fell silent. Then asked: “How is your Illusionary Form technique progressing?”

Li Wei activated the spell, conjuring a notebook—

mimicking the training notes Torasta had once given him.

Torasta’s creation had been indistinguishable from reality.

Li Wei’s, however, possessed only outward form—no content.

When opened, the pages were blank, uneven in thickness.

Torasta nodded. “Acceptable progress. Less than two months of practice, and you’ve reached this stage—not bad.”

Li Wei humbly replied: “All thanks to my teacher’s guidance.”

Torasta chuckled softly, saying nothing.

After a moment, he asked: “You broke through to the second tier after using the Elven Springwater?”

Li Wei wasn’t surprised.

Torasta was a spirit mage—his perception was extraordinarily keen.

Given the gap in their power, it was only natural that Torasta would sense his advancement.

“A fortunate breakthrough,” Li Wei said.

Torasta sighed. “Your talent… truly stirs envy.

A second-tier mage at sixteen.”

Slowly, he added: “Throughout the history of mages, prodigies like you are counted on one hand.

Those who survive their youth almost invariably become legendary figures whose names shake the world.”

Torasta’s expectations for Li Wei were immeasurably high.

No matter the era, legendary mages were exceedingly rare.

Legendary mage was synonymous with immense power.

Even the weakest among them could easily defeat a dragon.

The greatest of legendary mages could stand above even deities.

Leaving the sixth floor,

Li Wei returned to the third-floor library.

Only Toresta knew his true identity.

To everyone else, he remained the prodigious mage from Maple City.

Many greeted him upon seeing him approach.

"Hey, Li Wei, come to study too?"

"Mm."

Partly because of his reputation as a genius,

and partly because word had spread that his master was the Tower Lord.

Even those who didn’t seek favor dared not provoke him.

"Li Wei, here to learn a spell?"

Erl, spotting Li Wei walking toward him, asked casually.

He held a spellbook in hand, seemingly studying a new incantation himself.

Li Wei nodded. "Yes, I'm looking for something suitable."

His gaze swept over the shelves holding second-tier and third-tier spellbooks.

Erl reminded gently, "First-tier spells are over here."

Li Wei smiled. "Thank you, Mage Erl."

He picked up a first-tier spellbook, pretended to read for a moment,

set it down, then lifted another.

After finishing his studies, Erl departed.

Glancing around to ensure no one watched,

Li Wei swiftly slipped two books into his robes.

Second-tier fire spell: Explosive Fireball!

Third-tier fire spell: Blazing Inferno!

Learning a second-tier spell cost 100 merits.

A third-tier spell demanded 200 merits.

Higher-tier spells possessed increasingly complex models, making mastery more difficult.

Under normal circumstances, one needed at least seven or eight attempts to grasp them—

some required over ten, while others never succeeded at all.

But Li Wei?

Only once.

(End of Chapter)