Chapter Fifty-Nine: Joy Descends from Heaven

Xu Wen had pored over countless documents, hoping to uncover the details of the battles between the four great nations centuries ago. Yet the accounts from that period were all exceedingly cursory: there were only depictions of the darkness of the empire and its aggression, followed by praise for the other three nations. Not a single useful piece of information could be found. Unable to openly ask others, Xu Wen could only keep his doubts to himself and continue absorbing other knowledge.

On the fifteenth day, Xu Wen woke early as usual, preparing to go to the library once more. Unexpectedly, he found Vice Dean Harman sitting on a nearby chair, his face clouded with worry.

“I heard you haven’t sought out your two instructors these days, but have been alone in the library. What are you looking for?” Harman’s perceptive voice reached him as soon as Xu Wen opened his eyes.

Xu Wen hurried over. “Good morning, Dean. My cultivation has slowed lately, so I wanted to look up records to see how many others have encountered circumstances similar to mine.”

“Oh, that’s a reasonable approach.” Harman nodded in sudden understanding, his gaze tinged with appreciation. “Not acting blindly, yes… If not for that accident when you first enrolled, with your aptitude, you would have had a remarkable future ahead of you!”

“You flatter me, Dean.”

Harman waved his hand regretfully. “I seldom praise anyone. No need for false modesty in front of me. Unfortunately, if your advancement continues to stagnate, you might miss this year’s enrollment. I’ve been discussing your situation with several magisters these past days! But time is short, and we haven’t been able to devise a suitable solution.”

“I appreciate your concern, Dean.”

The boy’s unusually calm and respectful demeanor made Harman feel uneasy. Remembering the directive the academy had assigned him, he sighed, unsure how to broach the true purpose of his visit.

“Dean, are you about to travel?” Xu Wen glanced at him and suddenly spoke.

“Oh? How did you know?” Harman was taken aback, looking at him with a peculiar expression. He had only been secretly notified by the dean last night.

Xu Wen pointed to Harman’s attire and explained, “You’re wearing travel clothes. Normally, as Dean, whether in the academy or the imperial capital, you would don your magister robes. Today, you’ve switched to ordinary noble garments… Also, you’ve come early to seek me out, so it must be an urgent matter, requiring a long absence. Otherwise, you could have chosen another day.”

Xu Wen calmly exposed the flaws in Harman’s actions, and the latter grew increasingly astonished, regret deepening in his eyes.

Harman let out a heavy sigh. “Were it not for the gravity of this matter, I would have stayed today to help you uncover the cause of your declining cultivation. Alas!” Students as observant and meticulous as Xu Wen were rare, and he possessed a rare equanimity—essential traits for a successful mage. Three years in the Fire Magic Division of Qingyun Academy would have made him a dazzling gem of the Qingyun Empire.

Such a pity!

Every detail of Harman’s expression was caught by Xu Wen.

“Dean, you needn’t worry too much. Although my cultivation has decreased, I can still summon three-star basic magic. Perhaps this decline is only temporary; once you return, my ailment might be cured.”

Xu Wen’s ‘optimism’ and comforting words won Harman’s favor once more. Harman pondered for several seconds, then seemed to make a decision.

With a turn of his palm, a small booklet appeared. Harman walked over, holding it out.

“I have devoted my life to the study of fire magic, have no kin, and never taken a single disciple. Keeping this with me serves no purpose. Here, little one, it’s yours.”

“Thank you, Dean…”

Xu Wen accepted it with both hands, opened it, and found it filled with handwritten insights into fire magic, signed by Harman!

“This is your life’s work, Dean—immeasurably precious. How can a student accept such a gift?” Xu Wen drew a sharp breath. He had always thought Harman was a kindly old man, but now realized he had underestimated Harman’s generosity.

“Take it,” Harman said firmly. “You certainly won’t enter Qingyun Academy this year. If you have time, read through these magic insights—they may be of help to you.”

Xu Wen was deeply moved. He knew Harman was compensating and comforting him in his own way, but the magister’s magic insights were priceless—such a gift was weighty beyond words!

Harman could easily see what Xu Wen was thinking, and, finding him increasingly likable, nodded with a smile. “Keep it for now. I’ll be back in three to six months. If you recover as you suggest, I want to see just how far the brightest talent in the Hortonklin family in a century can progress with self-study.”

“I will not let you down, Master!” Xu Wen spoke sincerely, and now addressed Harman as ‘Master’—receiving the magister’s life’s work was tantamount to apprenticeship.

“Haha!”

Harman stroked his beard repeatedly, his aged face breaking into a kindly, gratified smile. “To take on a disciple before I leave puts my mind at ease…” He patted Xu Wen’s shoulder. “I haven’t time to prepare a formal gift. If you need anything, seek out the two people I mentioned yesterday—they’ll help you.”

“I understand, Master.”

With Xu Wen’s affairs settled, Harman felt a great weight lift from his heart. Smiling, he flew from the tower, vanishing into the distance, leaving Xu Wen to pore over the magic insights Harman had left him, his heart surging with excitement, unable to calm for a long time!

The notes of the Fire Magic Division’s Dean, the magic insights left by an eighth-level magister—these were nothing like the common magic manuals in the library!

Many of the insights focused on unconventional combat magic, each one meticulously annotated, most bearing the marks of ‘Earth Sovereign’ and ‘Celestial Mystery.’

“This…”

Xu Wen’s hands trembled slightly…

This was essentially a compendium of Earth Sovereign and Celestial Mystery magic!

Heavens!

Xu Wen’s breathing grew rapid; after a quick calculation, he hastened to shut his door, unhesitatingly activated the teleportation array in the adjacent room, and entered the underground training chamber beneath the tower.

What need was there for ordinary classes?

He had a ring stuffed with ordinary fire magic books. Now, with Harman’s insights from one-star to eight-star, and a trove of advanced Earth Sovereign and Celestial Mystery magic, what was the point of going to the library? He had already gathered most of the information about this world, and the remainder of his cultivation could be managed alone.

He made up his mind: seclusion! As long as he could master the profound magic Harman had devoted his life to, it would be a hundred times more effective than conventional classes!

No need to endure the prying eyes in the library, nor to avoid entering the second floor for fear of exposing his chaotic sea of consciousness.