"Why don’t you teach any classes, Mr. Sean?" Li Wei asked, curious.

Sean was silent for a moment before saying, "The path I walk is not one you can follow."

Li Wei looked at Sean. "We just need some guidance on cultivation. Maybe you could share a little, Mr. Sean."

Sean chuckled. "To be frank, I don’t have any cultivation experience worth sharing."

"Because I’m a Bloodline Mage. My Casting Ability is all innate talent and Extraordinary Traits."

Li Wei gave him a surprised look.

’No wonder Sean’s behavior always seemed so at odds with the Mages of the Elemental Tower.’

’So he wasn’t a Mage at all.’

"Actually, I never wanted to be the teacher for the Red Level Class," Sean said.

"An Elder from the Elemental Tower insisted I take the position, so this was all I could do. I was hoping they’d replace me with someone more suitable."

Li Wei understood.

Sean’s slacking off was for the students’ own good.

He knew he was completely incapable of teaching the students of the Red Level Class.

So he acted incompetent to force the Elder in charge of teaching to replace him.

Sean sighed. "I’m very sorry for holding the Red Level Class students back for a year."

"Next year, I won’t be a teacher anymore."

"The Elder has agreed to let me stand guard over the Ancient Battlefield."

"The Elemental Tower has never let me leave here before. Sending me to the Ancient Battlefield is the biggest concession they’ve made."

"At least there, I won’t have to worry about hurting anyone."

Sean spoke for a long time, and Li Wei listened quietly.

Although he didn’t speak of his past, Li Wei could tell that Sean wasn’t free.

To him, the Elemental Tower was more like a cage.

"You’re a good person, Sean," Li Wei said.

Sean gave him a surprised look.

He chuckled. "You don’t pity me, do you?"

Li Wei shook his head. "You deliberately acted incompetent, but you actually care a lot about us."

"Back in the Secret Realm, whenever anyone was in danger, you were always the first one to save them."

"You were always watching out for everyone’s safety."

Li Wei looked at him and asked, "Back when Anthony came after me, you were watching from outside, weren’t you?"

Sean looked surprised. "You noticed?"

Li Wei smiled. "I didn’t attack the Barrier back then, but it shattered anyway. Someone must have intervened."

Sean just smiled, saying nothing.

The two parted ways at the entrance to the Elemental Tower’s academy.

Putting on his usual groggy act, Sean shambled lazily toward the classroom.

Li Wei headed for the Saint Villia Library.

Now that Li Wei was a member of the Hall of Truth, the Saint Villia Library was fully open to him.

Except for a few restricted areas that required special clearance.

Li Wei could read any book in the Saint Villia Library.

He could also stay in the library for as long as he wanted.

You could say that membership in the Hall of Truth carried more weight in the Saint Villia Library than being a student in the Purple Level Class.

Just as he entered the Saint Villia Library, Li Wei ran into Hobbes, who was there looking up information.

Hobbes looked up, his face lighting up when he saw Li Wei.

"Hey, Li Wei, long time no see."

"We haven’t seen you at the Hall of Truth in ages. Everyone really misses you," Hobbes said with a smile.

Li Wei looked a bit sheepish. "I’ve been busy lately. I was even away from the Elemental Tower for a while."

’Enjoying the perks of the Hall of Truth without participating in any of its academic research.’

Li Wei felt a little guilty.

Members of the Hall of Truth enjoyed a fifty-percent discount on Magic and full access to the library.

These benefits were all earned through tangible contributions.

Eighty percent of the new Magic Knowledge and Magic Models the Elemental Tower released each year came from the Hall of Truth.

"Well, when you have free time, remember to drop by the Hall of Truth. We all really miss you," Hobbes replied.

"Are you looking for something in the library?" Hobbes asked.

Li Wei answered, "I’m here to learn a new spell."

"Oh, okay. I won’t bother you then. I have to get back and deliver some materials to the others," Hobbes said.

"Make sure you come to the Hall of Truth when you have time!"

Li Wei watched Hobbes leave the library.

He walked toward the section where the Magic Books were kept.

The Elemental Tower housed a massive collection of Magic Models, far more numerous than in Maple City.

The same spell could have many different versions of its Magic Model.

For the Fireball Skill alone, there were thirteen different versions of its Magic Model.

They ranged from the original, most ancient Magic Model for the Fireball Skill to the latest, most improved version.

Every modification to a Magic Model left a trace in the Saint Villia Library.

Li Wei’s curiosity was piqued seeing so many different Magic Models for the Fireball Skill.

He picked up the first one to examine the original Magic Model for the Fireball Skill.

It cost 3 Credit Points to view a Tier One Magic Model.

Members of the Hall of Truth received a fifty-percent discount, so it only cost 1.5 Credit Points.

Once a Magic Book in the library was unlocked, you could study from it indefinitely without having to pay again.

After viewing the model for the Original Fireball Technique, Li Wei sensed the ancient philosophy behind humanity’s first attempts to control the Fire Element.

As he carefully savored the feeling, his understanding of the Fire Element shifted.

’The Magic Model for the Original Fireball Technique is crude, but it points directly to the essence of the Fire Element: heat and internal energy.’

’The improved Magic Models for the Fireball Skill grew more and more complex. The spell’s power increased dramatically, but in the process, they lost touch with the essence of the Fire Element.’

Li Wei felt he had gained a new insight.

This would be a great help in his efforts to develop his Tier Three Fireball Skill.

’Returning to the essence of the Fire Element was perhaps the only way to seek even greater Power.’

The Blue Fireball Li Wei had created had also, unintentionally, touched upon the essence of the Fire Element.

Before, he had only focused on improving the Magic Model to increase the temperature and power of his Fireball Skill.

’Now he saw that he had it completely backward.’

’The true Path of Fire was contained within the Fire Element itself, not the Magic Model.’

Li Wei glanced around, thinking he should study the original concepts behind every spell.

He placed the Magic Book for the Original Fireball Technique back on the shelf.

’No rush. I’ll come back after I learn the Fire Dragon Skill.’

Li Wei went up to the fourth floor of the library.

This was where the Tier Four Magic Models were stored.

Li Wei found the Fire Dragon Skill.

There were three versions of the Fire Dragon Skill, meaning it had been improved twice.

Normally, it would be most efficient to learn the third version. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Li Wei chose the original version.

He wanted to understand the creator’s original intent.

He could improve Magic Models himself; he didn’t need to rely on the work of others.

Everyone understood spells differently, so their improved Magic Models would also have different effects.

Someone else’s improvements wouldn’t necessarily be right for him.

The Fire Dragon Skill was a Tier Four Spell. After his fifty-percent discount, it cost 40 Credit Points to learn.

His membership in the Hall of Truth saved him a lot of Credit Points.

Li Wei used his Spiritual Power to read the Magic Book, committing the incredibly complex Magic Model for the Fire Dragon Skill to memory.

Text appeared before his eyes as the Magic Model was branded into his mind, never to be forgotten.

[Fire Dragon Skill (Tier Four, Entry Level)] 0/1000