Chapter Fifty-Five: Imperial Earth Magic

"Where am I?"

Xu Wen opened his eyes and found himself floating in a realm of utter silence and void. There was nothing around him, not a single sound, not even the ability to control his own body—he simply hung suspended in chaos.

He recalled the scenes of entering Azure Cloud Academy, memories flashing by like a film until the moment he collapsed. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"So, this is a dream."

He closed his eyes for a moment, and instinctively recalled the divine statues he had seen in the academy's plaza. Now, as he thought back, he realized just how extraordinary those enigmatic statues were. Every subtle movement, every expression seemed to narrate and convey something profound.

In particular, the mage statue that had so enthralled him—the mage as serene as a maiden, the mysterious arc of magical energy—had held him spellbound for so long that he had even exhausted his magical power.

To think that, even when he deliberately refined the "Devil's Eye," he had never drained his mental energy to such a degree—utterly spent, motionless as a statue himself.

Who could have sculpted such works, capable of eliciting effects like these?

Within the chaos, Xu Wen wore a pensive, contemplative expression, recalling the insights he had gleaned in his trance.

The three-star spell "Ring of Blazing Flame"—its trajectory was graceful and alive.

The variations that emerged from it combined offense and defense, making its combat power no less than a four-star spell.

For the first time, Xu Wen realized that the magic could reach such a level. In comparison, the book's descriptions of this spell felt rigid and lifeless, barely scratching its surface and limiting its application.

As he mused, the image of the Ring of Blazing Flame began to appear before him—whirling, agile, the statue's figure enveloped within the ring, eyes serenely closed, exuding an indescribable grace and composure.

Xu Wen watched the scene, further convinced he was dreaming.

Yet, curiously, everything here was far clearer and more vivid than it had been on the plaza. The statue and the blazing ring seemed more alive, more profound.

It was as if they had come to life.

The three rings of flame sometimes formed a fiery bond, swiftly encircling to protect the body; sometimes they became crescent-shaped arcs of solid fire, sharp and imposing; sometimes both forms coexisted.

Xu Wen quickly lost himself in the spectacle.

Unconsciously, he found he could move his body. Three identical rings of flame appeared around him, perfectly mimicking the mage's magical trajectory.

By the time Xu Wen realized what was happening, he could command the rings with his mind, shifting seamlessly between offense, defense, and combinations of both—a marvelously intricate feeling.

Though he did not understand why these sensations were so clear and vivid within a dream, he couldn't help but want to practice once more, to experience it all again.

He dismissed the spell and summoned it anew, this time following his own intuition, shifting freely between attack and defense.

The further he progressed, the more exhilarated and bewildered he became.

By any measure, this spell had reached the level of a four-star technique, and if fused as one, its offensive power could even reach the upper echelons of that rank. Could it be that the statue in Azure Cloud Academy's plaza was silently demonstrating a three-star imperial spell?

Xu Wen was startled by the thought.

He exhaled sharply.

Xu Wen awoke.

Without pausing to take in his surroundings, he threw off his covers and leapt out of bed. Drawing a deep breath, he closed his eyes.

Calming his mind, Xu Wen did not recite any incantation but relied solely on the feeling he had grasped in the plaza, and the process he had just experienced in the dream. He focused, condensed...

In less than three seconds, a wave of searing heat surged within the room.

He had succeeded!

Xu Wen opened his eyes in delight, gazing at the blazing rings that whirled around him, a smile gradually spreading across his lips.

Fortune was indeed with him. He remembered that before leaving the Hortonklin family, his master had specifically told him that a three-star imperial spell could only be cultivated after reaching at least mid-tier four-star, and only then would he be taught the spell in the imperial capital.

But who could have foreseen this?

On his very first day at Azure Cloud Academy, Xu Wen had mastered a three-star imperial spell!

If the Hortonklin family learned of this, it would surely leave a whole generation dumbfounded. Those old folks treated their three-star imperial manuals as sacred relics.

"Heh," Xu Wen could already imagine that with this spell, his strength had risen to at least a mid-tier three-star. If his mental power kept pace, he could take on a four-star mage single-handedly.

As he pondered this, more than three minutes passed.

His mental energy was soon depleted once again.

Xu Wen had no choice but to dismiss the rings of flame to avoid draining himself dry. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he finally began to survey his surroundings.

"Where am I?"

The room was clean and austere, with nothing but a bed, a table, and a few chairs.

When he opened the door, Xu Wen was startled.

A chill wind howled.

He had been placed atop a very tall tower—at least ten stories above the ground—with only this solitary floor. Feeling his energy wane, he quickly retreated back inside.

"You're awake?"

A stern-faced old man floated up outside the railing like a ghost, exuding a commanding aura. He hovered for a moment before landing lightly before Xu Wen.

"How do you feel?" the old man's gaze lingered on Xu Wen's slightly pale face, tinged with helplessness and pity.

"I'm alright," Xu Wen replied, touching his forehead. He guessed the old man was a teacher at Azure Cloud Academy. Forcing himself to endure the dizziness from his depleted magic and the shock of his surroundings, he waved a hand to indicate he was fine.

Unbeknownst to him, the old man saw this as a sign of stubborn pride.

With a sigh, the old man stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and motioned for Xu Wen to sit.

Xu Wen glanced at the eight stars neatly arrayed on the old man's chest, swallowed hard, and sat obediently—his clan had never produced such a high-ranking mage.

"I've heard about you from your friends. Your name is Xu Wen, the most outstanding disciple in the history of the Hortonklin family... They placed great hopes in you coming to Azure Cloud Academy..." The old man's tone of regret left Xu Wen puzzled. Who was the blabbermouth who had to go telling a grand magus of Azure Cloud Academy such nonsense?

But the old man's next words left Xu Wen utterly bewildered.

"For a prodigy like you, gifted with multiple talents, it's truly rare. Ah! I must admit, in my more than twenty years as vice-dean of Azure Cloud Academy, I've never seen a case like yours—collapsing before the divine statues and... dropping five entire levels."

"What?"

Xu Wen's eyes widened, his face the very picture of someone who had just swallowed a live turtle.