C4 Hunter Guild

Qu Qi approached Liu Feng with a warm smile, the earlier chill and severity from battling the demon now completely vanished. "Young man, I noticed burn marks on the beast that's on the verge of becoming a General. You're the only one here with any significant power, so I suspect you're responsible."

Liu Feng simply nodded, feeling utterly exhausted as if he hadn't slept for three days straight. All he wanted was to collapse into bed and rest, free from thought or action. Magicka, in essence, is a human's psychic force. Once depleted, it leaves one's psychic force so frail that it's inferior to that of an ordinary person, marked by an excruciating headache and overwhelming fatigue.

"You've done well, managing to hold out for so long while protecting someone. Thanks to you, she's safe. I've been on the trail of this demon for quite some time."

It would certainly raise eyebrows to hear Qu Qi, the reserved leader of the Hunter Guild, praise a low-level arcanist so highly. Qu Qi was known for his economy of words and for the rarity with which he favored arcanists.

"Little brother, would you be interested in joining the Hunter Guild?"

Liu Feng's eyes sparkled, momentarily forgetting his fatigue. He had witnessed Qu Qi's formidable arcane display: majestic, commanding, and unmatched, eternally subduing the demon beneath the earth. This was the kind of power Liu Feng aspired to on his journey into the arcane—a potent arcane skill! He might not know the ins and outs of the Hunter Guild, but he was certain it housed mighty arcanists with even more potent arcane skills—skills he couldn't learn at school.

"Is that possible, sir?"

Qu Qi nodded affirmatively. "Based on your earlier actions, you've already earned your place. Once you're well-rested, come to the Hunter Guild in Jixledo and mention my name—I'm Qu Qi."

Luo Lingyu, standing nearby, overheard Qu Qi's offer to Liu Feng. Initially filled with immense gratitude towards Liu Feng for saving her life, her expression now turned to one of envy.

Members of the Hunter Guild roamed the Verge of Serenity, tasked with seeking out and slaying demons that slipped past the barrier into the realm. These Hunter Guild members were elite arcanists, capable of engaging demons in direct combat, earning them the reputation as the city's second line of defense. In exchange for braving such perilous missions, they received substantial rewards, including Magic Stones and even advanced Magicka-powered equipment like dark weapons and magic weapons. Yet, joining the Hunter Guild was no easy feat, with intermediate level being the usual starting point. Surprisingly, Liu Feng, still a low-level arcanist, was granted an exception to join!

"Alright, you all can go. I've scouted the area, and there was only that giant rat demon," Qu Qi said, his eyes turning a rich brown as the earth element swirled around him. With a single step, dust billowed, and he was instantly a hundred meters away.

This was the intermediate earth arcane technique, Earth Shrink, which compressed the path with earth arcane to achieve the effect of covering a hundred meters in one stride. Unlike space arcane, which folds space for rapid long-distance travel, earth arcane alters the earth's structure to indirectly change the spatial configuration, enabling teleportation. Each had its own merits: space arcane required more Magicka but had no environmental constraints, while earth arcane, Ground Shrink, used less Magicka but needed an environment rich in earth elements.

Liu Feng and Luo Lingyu exchanged glances, each recognizing the other's yearning for arcane mastery. Luo Lingyu, in particular, had awakened her arcane abilities but was yet unable to harness them.

It was only now that Liu Feng began to truly notice Luo Lingyu, unexpectedly discovering her natural beauty. With her oval face, fishtail braid, and long, willowy eyebrows, she was quite the sight. The earlier encounter with the giant rat demon had been too frantic for him to appreciate Luo Lingyu's looks, but now, he covertly appraised her.

Feeling shy, Luo Lingyu stole a glance at Liu Feng and caught him gazing intently at her. She quickly averted her eyes, her cheeks flushing with a hint of crimson.

Although the man's appearance was nothing extraordinary, he looked incredibly dashing while casting arcane spells. Luo Lingyu couldn't help but think this to herself.

The two remained silent. Liu Feng was admiring Luo Lingyu's beauty, pondering whether she noticed his gaze. Suddenly, with a mischievous smile, Liu Feng complimented, "Fellow student, you are truly beautiful."

Luo Lingyu, hearing Liu Feng's teasing accompanied by a sleazy grin, found her fondness for him halved instantly. He was just another lecher.

"Time to go," Liu Feng said nonchalantly, gesturing with his hand.

Initially indifferent to the lecherous man, Luo Lingyu was eager for him to leave. Yet, his abrupt departure after a compliment left her feeling unexpectedly let down. Were his earlier words just a brush-off? She was conflicted and a little disappointed.

Indeed, a woman's heart can be as unpredictable as a small boat on the vast ocean, swaying and enigmatic.

Luo Lingyu had, in fact, misunderstood Liu Feng. It was his first time using arcane spells today, and after casting them thrice, his Magicka was completely depleted.

Liu Feng had been pushing through, but with nothing left to admire, he knew he had to make a quick exit. If he were to faint, his valiant image would be utterly ruined.

"Hey, what's your name?" she called out.

"Liu Feng," he replied without looking back, his voice weary from exhaustion.

"Thank you so much for today. I really appreciate it and I'll find a way to repay you," she said gratefully.

Liu Feng didn't respond, quickening his pace to leave. He could feel himself on the verge of passing out.

As he entered his home and saw his mother, Lan Rou, Liu Feng knew he was safe. No longer resisting the fatigue, he allowed it to take over, and he collapsed.

Lan Rou rushed to Liu Feng's side, anxiety written all over her face. After a quick check, she realized he had simply exhausted his Magicka. Relieved, she carried her son to his bed.

...

When Liu Feng came to, the first sight that greeted him was the tender smile of a beautiful woman looking down at him—his mother, Lan Rou. The passage of time had left few traces on her, with only a few strands of white hair on her forehead betraying her age.

Feng, moderation is key in your training. You can't be in such a hurry to succeed. Today, you even passed out during practice. You need to think long-term. Do you understand? In the future, you'll need to..."

In the past, Liu Feng would have never entertained Lan Rou's lectures, but knowing she had been worried about him for an entire year, he couldn't bring himself to cut her off. He simply lay in bed, listening quietly, occasionally responding with an "Understood," "Okay," or a simple "Mmm" to show he was paying attention.

"Alright, get some more rest. I'm going to make you something to eat."

Half an hour of Lan Rou's chatter seemed to invigorate her, and she left the room with a smile. Liu Feng breathed a sigh of relief; finally, some peace.

Reflecting on his battle with the giant rat demon, Liu Feng vividly recalled the headache that struck as he delved into the spiritual world, prompting him to venture there once again. The once vibrant fire fly ash now resembled an old man at dusk, its dark red hue not eerie but faded, like the last glows of sunset, signaling frailty.

Startled at first, Liu Feng's concern eased when he noticed wisps of red mist swirling around the fire fly ash, a transformation from the void of the spiritual world. The mist was slowly absorbed, and the fire fly ash's glow began to brighten to a deep red. The change was gradual, yet it reassured him greatly. It was just Magicka exhaustion—nothing serious.

Beside the fire fly ash stood its shadow counterpart, still and silent as if standing guard. "What a loyal companion," Liu Feng mused with a hint of sarcasm. This observation made him realize the need to bolster his fire fly ash. His arcane energy had depleted after just three spells; how could he possibly compete with others?

What Liu Feng didn't know was that a normal person would exhaust their Magicka with a single low-level arcane spell on their first attempt. His soul's transmigration had granted him an extraordinary reserve of Magicka.

In the arcane world, Liu Feng's soul had perished in the accident that claimed his life. It was this demise that allowed the Liu Feng from the technological Plane to seamlessly take his place. Of course, Liu Feng was unaware that he had absorbed another version of himself, but such details were inconsequential.

This incident was a wake-up call for Liu Feng, as it made him aware that the Verge of Serenity wasn't as safe as he had assumed. Demons could potentially breach the barrier, posing a real threat. Moreover, his lack of knowledge had become painfully apparent; he hadn't known that depleting his Magicka could cause him to faint. This realization prompted Liu Feng to acknowledge the urgent need to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience. He could no longer afford to isolate himself at home, solely focused on his training.