C2 Talent Double Arcane

In August 2019 of the Common Era, the field at Jixledo's Arcane High School was teeming with a sea of people, primarily the parents of the senior students. According to the Arcane Agreement, only adults are permitted to wield arcane arts. Thus, the Coming of Age Ceremony is the time when the arcane students receive their Awakening Stones.

The rationale behind this is twofold: minors' bodies are unable to cope with the mental strain of arcane arts, and their values are not yet fully formed, preventing them from using the arcane responsibly. Moreover, the supply of Awakening Stones is limited, reserved for only half the population—specifically, the seniors.

The other half often drop out before reaching their final year, opting to work in factories or as laborers instead.

Previously, individuals would use their psychic force to break through their limitations. However, with the advancement of modern arcane arts, Magic Stones were mined to create the invaluable Awakening Stones, which are tightly controlled by the military and the Arcane Guild. Only those who complete their high school education are eligible to receive an Awakening Stone.

"Look, that's Xia Yuze, the heir of the Xia family. Rumor has it that Jixledo's most powerful fire arcanist is from the Xia family," a group of young girls gossiped excitedly.

"Wow, he's so handsome, and with such an impressive background. Imagine marrying him..."

"You're daydreaming again. How could someone like him ever notice you? Prestigious families seek equals in status," her friend interjected, bringing her back to reality.

"Hmph, haven't there been stories of noblemen falling for their maids?"

"Hey, doesn't that guy look familiar?" a bespectacled guy remarked.

"Yeah, isn't that Liu Feng?"

"Didn't he skip the exam? Why is he here? We worked so hard to earn our right to awaken."

"Hmph, he must have used his connections."

"Keep it down. His brother is an arcane representative. You don't want to cross him."

Liu Feng overheard their comments but remained unfazed. Sometimes, having a powerful background is a form of strength. What else could he have done, especially since he had been unconscious and missed the exam? Besides, having traveled through time, Liu Feng was determined not to settle for an ordinary life.

"Please, everyone, quiet down. Now, I'd like to invite the principal to address us," the director announced into the microphone, his voice booming until the crowd's murmur subsided.

Principal Zhu Fengyu, impeccably dressed in a traditional suit, approached the podium. His white hair was perfectly combed, and he exuded a vigor that belied his age. His voice thundered out, clear and powerful.

"Children, today you are about to set foot on the path of the arcane. This journey may not be as glorious as you envision. You might find yourselves halted at a certain stage, face life-threatening dangers, or be forced to make decisions that could haunt you with regret for a lifetime. For instance, if the city is under siege, will you choose to abandon it, allowing the arcanists to fend off the beast tide while the common folk flee? Or will you decide to activate the arcane barrier and engage in a battle to the death against the beasts?"

"These are the challenges you will inevitably confront. Sometimes, fleeing is not a sign of desperation but a strategic move for the greater good. Yet at other times, fighting to the death signifies not only the resolve of an arcanist but also the spirit of a city stained crimson by battle."

The principal's words struck a chord with every student, prompting a period of profound reflection.

"Each Awakening Stone is incredibly valuable, and I wish to entrust them to those who truly need them. Take five minutes to consider your choice. If you prefer a life of tranquility, then please step back—there is no dishonor in that. If you are ready to face all that I have described, then stand your ground."

Time seemed to stand still on the school playground. Those five minutes stretched on, feeling like an eternity as everyone pondered their decision.

"Excellent, no one has withdrawn. Distribute the Awakening Stones!"

The military unloaded carts filled with Awakening Stones, and the school leaders handed them out to each student. The stones, palm-sized and cool to the touch, felt as smooth and comforting as jade—their first impression on everyone.

"Children, immerse yourselves in the spiritual world," the principal instructed, his voice gentle.

The spiritual world he referred to is the inner realm of the mind. For most, closing their eyes and emptying their thoughts leads to a sense of void, akin to a universe devoid of celestial bodies. To awaken is to cultivate these celestial bodies within one's spiritual world, ranging from the smallest fly ash to nebulae and fixed stars.

Consequently, the low-level arcane is referred to as fly ash level arcane, the intermediate level as nebula level arcane, and the top level as fixed star level arcane.

With the cracking of the first Awakening Stone, a symphony of "bangs" followed as more stones burst, unleashing a magnificent display of arcane light.

Red flames gushed from some stones, signifying the fire element.

Others emitted a gentle breeze, representing the wind element.

Brown radiance poured out from another, indicative of the earth element.

Violent electric currents burst forth, symbolizing the thunder element.

Pure streams of water flowed, denoting the water element.

And from some, an icy aura emerged, signifying the ice element.

The light from the shattering Awakening Stones, though fleeting, combined to create a spectacular and colorful arcane awakening ceremony—a feast for the eyes.

"Bang!" An Awakening Stone burst open, releasing a pitch-black sheen.

"What is that?" inquired some of the newly awakened, filled with curiosity.

"Shadow element, impressive. It's the shadow element from the black magic category. To awaken the shadow element as the first element shows great potential," the director commented.

Then, a golden holy light flickered and shot skyward.

"Holy light element, from the white magic category! Is this a divine blessing for Jixledo? Not only has someone awakened the shadow element, but now the holy light element as well!" exclaimed a teacher, overwhelmed with excitement.

"This year's students are quite remarkable," the principal affirmed with a nod.

The majority of the first element students awakened to elemental arcane, with only a rare few awakening to white or black magic, or even dimensional magic. Among the three thousand students at the school, merely two had awakened the shadow and light elements, highlighting the low probability of such awakenings.

"The two students who have awakened white or black magic must not become complacent. The arcane itself has no inherent hierarchy of strength or weakness. Without diligent cultivation, you will be just as ineffective on the battlefield."

"Yes, we will heed the principal's guidance," the two students responded, bowing respectfully.

...

Meanwhile, Liu Feng remained in his spiritual world, where a glimmer of starlight sparked but left no change. Liu Feng felt a pang of disappointment, as he had not encountered the fly ash described in the books.

Just as Liu Feng came to terms with being an ordinary person and was about to leave the spiritual world, he felt an icy chill. This wasn't a physical coldness, but rather a deep, soulful kind of cold that left Liu Feng momentarily stunned.

He scrutinized his spiritual world and, in a cramped corner, he finally noticed specks of black fly ash. They were almost indistinguishable from the spiritual world itself, invisible unless looked for with great care.

The fly ash seemed alive, probing into Liu Feng's spiritual world with an invasive consciousness, eager to expand its domain and claim the universe as its own. Yet, it was cautious, aware of Liu Feng's presence.

Liu Feng was ecstatic. He hadn't failed after all; he had succeeded! He truly experienced the elation of regaining what was once lost. The books stated that the appearance of fly ash in the spiritual world, regardless of its nature, appearance, or color, signified a successful awakening.

He sensed that this pitch-black fly ash was both dangerous and mysterious, seemingly possessing immense power.

Withdrawing from the spiritual world, Liu Feng burst into laughter, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief. At last, he could delve into the secrets of the arcane.

Then, Liu Feng's hand grew hot. Looking at the shattered pieces of the Awakening Stone in his grasp, he noticed tiny sparks and a gentle warmth emanating from them. Although he was unsure of what the dark black fly ash signified, he knew it was unusual for the fragments to be red.

Something felt off, so Liu Feng plunged back into the spiritual world, only to discover red fly ash twinkling like little stars. He was dumbfounded. How had the black turned to red? What had transpired?

Liu Feng turned and saw that the dark black, or rather, the dead-colored fly ash, had retreated to the fringes of the spiritual world. Was this black fly ash showing cowardice? In contrast, the red fly ash was energetically bouncing in the center.

But wait, why were there two? No way, could he have awakened two elements?

The books claimed only one element could be awakened at a time. Could this anomaly be due to his arrival in the arcane world?

Forget it, I've awakened to two elements, hahahahaha, I'm destined to become the God of Arcane!

Liu Feng pondered for a moment. Such a remarkable talent seemed divinely bestowed, so he decided to name it the Twin Innate Arcane Magic. Considering the adage that a man is innocent until proven guilty, but a treasure incriminates, Liu Feng resolved to keep this development under wraps for now. It would be wiser to cultivate his abilities in secret.

The shadow fly ash was too peculiar and could easily draw unwanted attention. Therefore, he chose to reveal only his fire element, which was also indicated by the Awakening Stone he possessed. This explanation would suffice.

"Alright, the Awakening Ceremony is now officially concluded. Everyone, once you return home, dedicate yourselves to diligent practice. The future of humanity rests with you. We, the older generation, will eventually step aside. The task of safeguarding our future will fall to you!"

"Yes, Principal!" The entire assembly of teachers and students responded in unison.

......

At night, the sky was ablaze with stars. Ribbons of celestial light streamed above the city, their brilliance reflected by the clouds, creating a stunning, moving display.

Liu Feng sat cross-legged on his bed, poring over a book. After extensive reading, he discovered that the black fly ash was of the shadow type. Arcanists who wielded shadow arcane were notorious for their eerie abilities, capable of teleportation, swift movement, and even imperceptible assassination.

Liu Feng delved into his spiritual world, where he observed the aggressive fire fly ash cornering the shadow fly ash at the fringe of the realm. He couldn't help but smile.

Within his spiritual world, his spirit manifested as a Thoughtform. Liu Feng took a vast step across the expanse, approaching the two types of fly ash. In this domain, he was the supreme ruler.

Now aware of Liu Feng's presence, the fire fly ash stepped forward, shielding the shadow fly ash behind it protectively, as if guarding a cherished partner, and eyed Liu Feng warily. It showed none of the previous aggression it had displayed towards the shadow fly ash.

The book stated that to harness a celestial body in the universe for one's own use, the methods were limitless. One could employ intimidation, enticement, or outright domination, or even resort to trickery akin to fooling a child, given the limited intelligence of celestial bodies.

Liu Feng held the belief that although he could exert control, as the sovereign of the spiritual world, such dominance did not sit well with his conscience. He resolved to befriend the fly ash instead. Indeed, most Great Magisters approached the celestial bodies of the spiritual world with a sense of camaraderie. Ultimately, this allowed them to grasp the profound mysteries of the arcane.

"Hello, my name is Liu Feng." With a warm smile, Liu Feng reached out his hand in greeting.

The fire-type fly ash conjured a hand in response. But just as they were about to shake hands, it hurled a fireball at Liu Feng and darted away with the shadow-type fly ash in tow.

"Boom!" The explosion left Liu Feng's Thoughtform with a soot-covered face. While it caused no injury, he couldn't shake the feeling of being duped.

Liu Feng bellowed, "Damn it, hold it right there! Don't you run!" This time, instead of harnessing the power of the world, he pursued the elusive fly ash with determined strides.

The fire fly ash would sometimes pause to wait for Liu Feng, only to launch another fireball at him upon his approach, then continue its flight with the shadow fly ash.

On their second encounter, the chase was on again, with the two fly ash leading and Liu Feng in hot pursuit—a scene brimming with drama.

...

Despite the absence of sound, Liu Feng's spiritual world was awash with mirth.

Eventually, Liu Feng settled into a meditative pose at the heart of the spiritual world. The fire and shadow fly ash ceased their escapades and returned to his side, circling and frolicking around him, seemingly overjoyed.

Liu Feng opened his eyes and extended his hands. This time, both the shadow and fire fly ash reached out with their ethereal hands. At the moment of contact, the corners of Liu Feng's mouth lifted in satisfaction.

He knew then that he had officially ascended to the rank of a low-level arcanist. His journey into the arcane was just beginning.