Feng Ping thought Ah Duan was avoiding mentioning his teacher's name, and didn't think much of it. He smiled and said: "Still a young man who respects the Tao, not bad, worthy of being my Tian Fa Gate's disciple. Come, let's find a place to have a good talk." As he spoke, he pulled Ah Duan's arm and walked off.
Ah-Dai didn't want to go with him, but Owen had instructed him not to be rude to the Tianxia Sword Sect people. Under duress, he could only let Ping pull him along and follow him towards the back of the Mercenary Guild.
The mercenary guild was a large martial arts arena, where mercenaries without tasks would often practice their skills. As he walked into the arena, there were many people practicing their moves, and upon seeing Feng Ping, many of them called out "Feng Big Brother" or "Feng Captain".
Feng Pingyi nodded to the crowd, pulled him to the center of the martial arts arena and said: "Alright, let's do it here." He drew out the large sword from behind his back with a smile: "Since you can't say your master's name, let Master Guan guess. As long as I try a few moves of your Tian Gang Sword Technique, I'll definitely be able to guess which brother's disciple you are."
He stood there stupidly, not knowing what to do. He had just entered society and was like a newborn baby, understanding nothing.
"Feng Pingdao: 'Draw your sword! Let Master Uncle guide you through a few moves.' As he spoke, his hands grasped the sword, and a faint white glow emanated from the tip of the sword, which was precisely the vital energy."
Seeing Feng Ping's vigorous aura, Ah-Dai felt a strange sense of familiarity in his heart, as if Owen had come back to life. Since Uncle said he was from the Tian-Gan Sword Sect, then this person in front of him should indeed be his Shifu (master). Withdrawing his own Tian-Gan sword with a flourish, Ah-Dai respectfully said: "Shifu, please instruct me." The scene of Owen using a tree branch to guide him kept flashing before his eyes. Ah-Dai's eyes reddened, and he raised his hands high, holding the Tian-Gan sword aloft. With a loud battle cry, his aura burst forth in a torrent, accompanied by a wisp of white light, just like when he usually chopped at the waves. The sudden display of power made the red-haired giant take several steps back.
Feng Ping's eyes lit up and he shouted: "Good momentum!" With both hands gripping the broadsword, he suddenly raised it to meet Ah Duan's sword.
A'Dai felt the true energy inside his body rolling out like waves, and a faint ripple appeared on the surface of the white Dou Qi. With a "clang", the two Tian Gang broadswords collided in mid-air, and the recoil force sent A'Dai involuntarily taking a step back. Intuitively, the strength of this Shu Shu (uncle/master) in front of him seemed to be inferior to that of Ou Wen Shu Shu (another uncle/master).
Feng Ping stumbled backward for three steps before regaining his footing, his heart filled with shock. The sword in Ah Duan's hand had unleashed the very essence of the Tianxia Sword Sect's proud "Life-Extinguishing Aura", but what was different from himself was that this child's single slash had simultaneously released three waves of aura, and its intensity was not inferior to his own. The depth of his power seemed to surpass even his own. As far as he knew, none of his senior brothers could cultivate such an exceptional disciple. He retreated in order to advance, his entire body bursting with aura, transforming into a rainbow that suddenly shot towards Ah Duan. It was the Tianxia Sword Technique's "Rainbow Piercing the Sun".
The previous move boosted Ah-Dai's confidence, and he let out a loud roar again, unleashing another sword slash, still using the simplest cleaving technique from his learned Nine Heavenly Swordsmanship.
Feng Ping stared at Ah Diao's Tian Jue sword as it chopped towards him, but he was unable to change his move and didn't know why. He felt that Ah Diao's sword seemed to have sealed off all the angles around him, leaving only a hard fight ahead. Clang, another light sound, Ah Diao retreated another step, but also dissolved Feng Ping's move at the same time. Their exchange immediately attracted many mercenary onlookers, whose levels were relatively low and didn't have high skills, they just knew how to watch the excitement and cheer.
Feng Ping's feet landed on the ground, his breathing a bit uneven. He dispersed the surrounding mercenaries and pulled Ah Dai to one side, praising: "Good swordsmanship, young man! You must be one of the best in our Sword Sect's fourth generation. Quickly tell me, which senior brother taught you?"
Ah-Dai put the Tian-Gang sword back into the large leather pouch on his back, and with a dull expression thought for a moment before saying: "I... I don't know my teacher's name either. He just taught me swordsmanship."
Feng Pingdao said, "Then tell me, where is your teacher now?" In his mind, the few senior brothers with higher kung fu skills were all secretly cultivating within the sect. As long as this foolish little kid in front of him revealed where his teacher was, he would definitely be able to guess which senior brother it was.
His eyes turned red and he said, "My teacher, he...he's already dead." Thinking of Owen's death, Ah-Dai couldn't help but feel a deep sorrow, tears streaming down his face.
Feng Ping's heart skipped a beat, and he involuntarily exclaimed: "What did you say?" He kept asking Ah Dun questions, but no matter how hard Feng Ping racked his brains, he couldn't figure out who this deceased fellow disciple was. It seemed that he could only wait until they returned to the mountain and ask Master again.
"Ah-Dai, how did your master die?"
He hesitated for half a day before saying, "He was killed by a group of men in black. I don't know why either. Before he died, my teacher told me to wander the mainland, so I ended up here."
Feng Ping patted Ah Dai's shoulder and said, "Alright, don't be sad anymore. How about this? In a few days, you come with me back to the mountain, I'll take you to see Tai Shizu, he will definitely help your master get justice."
He stared blankly, thinking to himself, "Could Uncle's master also have a master?" But he didn't dare ask and said instead, "Master Shu, I...I still can't return with you now. Before my teacher passed away, he instructed me to do a few things. Once they're done, I'll follow you back." What he wanted to do most right now was to register as a magician, and the other thing was to hurry back to the Mystic Forest to see his teacher, Goris. If he followed Feng Ping to the Tianxia Sword Sect, it would inevitably delay him for some time.
Feng Ping furrowed his brow and said: "What's so urgent that it can't be done immediately?"
"Uncle Master, don't make things difficult for me. These are some masters' private matters, and he specifically instructed me before his death that I must do it as soon as possible."
Feng Ping let out a sigh and said, "Alright then, follow me." He led Ah-Dai into a small room behind the Mercenary Guild. Feng Ping's Red Lion Mercenary Corps was a first-rate mercenary corps, with some reputation on the continent. He had originally wanted to recruit Ah-Dai into the corps, but seeing his current state, he could only dispel this idea.
Feng Ping took out a small cloth bag from the cabinet and handed it to Ah Dai, saying: "Take it with you on the road, after you've finished your master's business, come back here to find me. I'm usually here, even if I'm not, I'll definitely be back within a month. Then, I'll take you back to the mountain. Be careful on the road, the mainland is not very peaceful now."
Ah-Dai held the heavy cloth bag, and as a former thief, he only needed to touch it to know that it was a bag of money. "Master Uncle, thank you, but how can I take your money?"
Feng Ping's face sank, and he said, "Why be polite to Master Shu? We're all family, and helping each other is a given. By the way, Ah Dai, don't you have a great name?"
"From as far back as I can remember," Ah-Dai said with a shake of his head, "I've always been called Ah-Dai."
Feng Ping sighed and said, "You must have suffered a lot when you were young. Ah-Dai, just now although I only exchanged two moves with you, but I feel that your innate vital energy is not weaker than mine. How many levels have you practiced to now? It seems that in the aspect of 'life and death' you are doing better than me."
Ah-Dai scratched his head and said: "My True Qi cultivation has reached the fourth stage, it should be close to the fifth stage now."
Feng Ping's heart skipped a beat, he was also only last year that the true energy of life had been cultivated to the fifth heavy, this child looks silly, how can progress so fast? It is worth noting that after the third heavy of Shengsheng, every rise in one heavy is extremely difficult. Even among his own master's generation, only one or two people have cultivated up to the eighth heavy, and the highest ninth heavy has only been reached by his master's ancestor. At this child's age, he was just entering the third heavy realm, and his master was already very satisfied.
"The fifth rank is already quite good. You must work hard and in the future you will surely expand our Tian Gang Sword Sect's reputation."
"Ah-Dai nodded and said: "Master Shu, I definitely will." He had already thought it out, after finding Master Gori, he would cultivate well for a few years.
Feng Ping said, "Since you still have a lot of things to attend to, I won't keep you any longer. Let's catch up again sometime." Feng Ping escorted Ah Dai out of the Mercenary Guild before stopping in his tracks. Under his concerned gaze, Ah Dai didn't dare go directly to the Mage Guild and instead walked far away, turned a corner, and stood there for half a day before turning back. This wasn't because Ah Dai had become smarter, but because he instinctively felt that letting Feng Ping see him enter the Mage Guild was still somewhat improper.
"Hey kid, you're lost, aren't you?" a low voice said.
As Ah-Dai walked into the Magic Guild's entrance, he was still thinking about his enthusiastic Shifu. Suddenly, he heard a voice and jumped in fright, looking around to see a huge magic hexagram drawn on the floor of the main hall. On the wall opposite him, there was a large white wooden board with dozens of names written on it, categorized from top to bottom. The highest title was "Magic Guide", but no name was listed, only two words: "Vacant". Below that was "Great Magic Master" followed by a single name, and below that were "Senior Magic Master", "Intermediate Magic Master", and "Junior Magic Master", with the most names listed under Junior Magic Master. Underneath the wooden board was a counter, and behind it stood an old man wearing a yellow magic robe, who had clearly been the one to speak just now.
A'Diao rubbed his head and asked cautiously: "Isn't this... isn't this the Mages' Guild?"
The old magician remained seated and said, "Very well, this is the Magician's Guild. You may leave now. We have no magicians here who are willing to become mercenaries."
He stared blankly, the old magician in front of him apparently taking him for a mercenary. He hastily shook his head and said, "No, no, I'm not a mercenary, I'm here to take the magician's test and receive my reward." Finally found the Magician's Guild, wonder what he would look like wearing a magician's robe.
The old magician was taken aback and said, "You're not kidding, are you? Warriors also learn magic? That's really rare."
Ah-Dai blinked his eyes and said: "Why can't warriors learn magic? And I'm actually a magician! Uncle said that my level is already that of a primary magician."
The old magician frowned, the little warrior in front of him didn't seem to be joking around, but since he had a broadsword on his back with the emblem of the Tianxia Sword Sect, he should have decent skills. How could he possibly go learn magic? Magic isn't something just anyone can learn, you need extremely high talent to do so. Thinking about how he himself had practiced for many years and was only a novice earth-element magician, without any noble title, he could only work as a gatekeeper here. Looking at the silly little guy in front of him, there's no way he'd be stronger than himself. He beckoned to Ah-Dai, saying "Come over here."
The fool took a few steps forward and walked up to the old magician. The old magician carefully sized him up, saying: "No matter how I look at you, I think you're like a warrior. However, since you're willing to take the test, first pay the testing fee. If you pass the test, the fee will be returned to you. If you don't pass, the money will naturally belong to the guild."
"Ah, stupid!" he exclaimed, losing his voice. "Does the test cost money too? I didn't hear Uncle say that. How much does it cost?"
The old magician stretched out five fingers and shook them slightly, saying: "Not much, just five gold coins."
Five gold coins, Ah-Dai counted on his fingers, one gold coin is ten silver coins is a hundred copper coins, and one copper coin can buy two buns. So five gold coins can also buy a thousand buns. A thousand buns? That's enough for himself to eat for several months. He couldn't help but stutter: "Uncle, c-can you give me a discount?"
The old magician snorted disdainfully and said, "Less? How less? This is a rule. If you don't have enough money, hurry up and leave. Come back when you have enough."
He felt the pouch of money that Fang Ping had just given him, gritted his teeth, and took out the pouch. Hopefully, there were silver coins inside, which should be barely enough to make up for five gold coins. He placed the pouch on the table, untied the knot on top, looked at the old magician again, and opened the pouch. As soon as the pouch was opened, both Ah-Dai and the old magician were stunned, because inside, it was filled with a full bag of gold coins, among which there were seven or eight purple crystal coins.
The old magician couldn't help but say: "Looking at your outfit, it sounds shabby, I didn't expect you to be so rich."
Ah-Dai didn't care about the amount of money, as long as he could take the magic test and become a magician to fulfill Owen's wish. He handed over five gold coins to the old magician and said, "Can I take the test now?"
The old magician hummed and said, "I couldn't tell you were so wealthy from your shabby clothes. Alright, wait here for a moment." He then walked towards the back hall through a small door on the side.
After a while, the old magician and a blue-robed magician came out and said: "Branch President, it's him. Look at his warrior attire, how can he possibly be a magician?"
The blue-robed magician, who looked to be only in his forties or fifties, glared at the old magician and said, "Old Huang, you're getting more and more presumptuous. Although we magicians are a noble profession, you can't treat outsiders like this! If other branches find out that we're tarnishing the reputation of magicians, I'll be in big trouble. Don't you want to guard the front gate anymore?"
The old magician hastily smiled and said: "No, no, President Fen, I know I was wrong, I guarantee it won't happen again."
The blue-robed magician nodded in satisfaction and walked towards Ah-Dai, who clearly felt a strong spiritual fluctuation on the body of this blue-robed magician.
The blue-robed magician said with a smile: "Young man, is it you who wants to take the magician test?"
Ah-Dai nodded and said, "Yes, I've already paid the money. Shouldn't we start now?" With the money given by Ping, he wanted to quickly finish things here and return the money to the owner of the steamed bun shop. Since they had been so good to him, Ah-Dai always felt that he owed them a lot.
The blue-robed magician smiled slightly and stretched out his hand in front of Ah-Dai, saying: "Take these five golden coins back first."
"Ah, stupid!" he exclaimed hastily, "I, I really am a magician! I don't want any money, you quickly test me now."
The blue-robed magician smiled, pointing at the old magician and said: "Young man, I apologize for his behavior earlier. We don't charge any fees for the magician test. He was just trying to make things difficult for you because he didn't think you looked like a magician. Here's your money back, and I'll give you the magic test right away."
The foolish Ah only then received the gold coins from the blue-robed magician's hands, carefully putting them back into his money bag. Before he could even urge him, the blue-robed magician said: "Follow me." Under his lead, the two of them entered the rear hall.
The back house was a square room. As soon as he entered, Ah-Dai felt that the walls and ceiling around him had very strong magical fluctuations.
Noticing Ah-Dai's confusion, the blue-robed magician said: "This place is used for testing, so defensive seals have been applied to the walls. You can do whatever you want later without worrying. My name is Kigu, and I am the branch president of this city's Magic Guild. Alright, you can start now."
"Ah, stupid. How do I start? What should I begin with? He, who came to the Magic Guild for the first time, how would he know how to proceed with the magic test?" "Uncle Kigg, I...I don't know where to start."
Kieger slightly furrowed his brow, he was the only great magician in this city, usually whoever saw him would respectfully address him as Great Magician Sir, but this little kid actually called him "uncle", couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. However, being the easy-going person he was, he naturally wouldn't bother with a child, calmly saying: "Just bring out your most skilled and powerful magic, whatever system of magic you are, just use that."
"Oh." Ah-Dai responded with a single word, the most skilled and powerful one should be the Fire Meteor. After recalling the incantation, he was about to chant it, but found Kigu still standing in front of him. He said kindly: "Uncle Kigu, could you please move aside? I'm afraid the magic might hurt you."
Keel smiled slightly and said, "If your magic can't harm me, go ahead and cast it." In his opinion, at Ah-Dai's age, he was probably just a novice magician at best.
Just as Ah-Dai was about to take the magician level test, Feng Ping was filled with regret in the mercenary guild, pacing back and forth in his room, muttering to himself: "I'm so stupid! How could I let that little brat Ah-Dai leave? The death of a fellow disciple is a big deal in our sect, I should have gone back to report first. Alas, I was too foolish, I must hurry back now and report to Master Ancestor, otherwise, if it's investigated later, my responsibility will be huge." Ah-Dai had already left for a while, forget it, no time to look for him, I'll just go back to the sect and report first. Thinking of this, Feng Ping simply packed his luggage, gave some instructions to his subordinates, mounted a fast horse, and sped towards the city gate.
Magic Guild Back Hall.
"Ahh, the fire elements that fill the heavens and earth! Grant me the power of burning flames, in my name, with your strength, appear before me, scorching hot flames!" With a whooshing sound, two deep blue flames suddenly appeared in Ahh's palms.
Kieger was startled, able to release blue flames, proving that the magician who cast the spell had reached an intermediate level or higher. He didn't dare to be careless and hurriedly chanted a spell, casting a water shield in front of him. As he sang the incantation, a pale blue pattern appeared before him, and the heat emitted by Ah-Dai's fire magic was instantly blocked outside.
However, Ah-Dai's magic was far from over. He slowly brought his hands together towards the center and loudly chanted: "Rise up, Flame Ball!" Under the astonishing spiritual force, small blue flames condensed into numerous tiny fireballs about three centimeters in diameter, floating in mid-air. A glint flashed across Ah-Dai's eyes as a massive wave of blue flames surged towards Kigg.
"Alright, Flowstar of great power, Guardian of Water, in your name, I borrow the water element from heaven and earth, condense... Ice Wall!" Under the effect of the incantation, a thick layer of white solid ice condensed before Kaito in an instant.
"Boom, boom, boom, boom..." The blue fireball kept hitting the ice wall in front of Ah-Dai, each one leaving a deep mark on it.
Originally, Kieger thought that the fireball was just a wave of attacks, but he didn't expect it to be endless, constantly bombarding him. In an instant, cracks appeared on the ice wall and it began to collapse. Helpless, Kieger retreated two steps and conjured up another ice wall.
Ah-Dai wasn't unwilling to stop the Flame Meteor, his heart was anxious and worried, his magical power was rapidly depleting under this intense usage. The ice wall in front of him blocked all his attacks, he could only keep controlling the Flame Meteor to attack continuously. In his mind, he must break through Kaito's defense to pass the test.
Ah-Dai successfully broke through two ice walls, but when he released the third one in Kiggs, his magic finally ran out. His face turned pale and the blue flame in his hand gradually went out. His whole body felt weak, and a strong sense of fatigue made him stop involuntarily, panting constantly. Ah-Dai's heart was extremely distressed - why? Why couldn't he even pass the primary magic test?
Kieger's surprise was even greater, although he had exhausted Ardy's magical power, but his resistance was not very easy, of course, this had something to do with the fact that he was just defending.
Withdraw the ice wall, Kigg walked in front of Ah-Dai and praised: "Young man, you're really good, at such a young age, you have such magical powers, your future is boundless! With your magical powers, why don't you use more powerful magic? Although Fire Meteor will become stronger with the increase of magical power, it's still only an intermediate-level magic and can't exert too much power.
A'Dai lowered his head and muttered, "I... I can only use Huo Liu Xing. This is my best magic. I'll go first." After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked away.
Kieger hastily stopped him and said in surprise: "You haven't received the magician's badge and monthly salary, why are you leaving in such a hurry?"
"Ah, stupid!" he said, pointing at his own nose, "Can I still get a magic badge even if I didn't pass the test?"
Kieg finally understood that the talented young man in front of him actually thought he hadn't passed the test. He smiled slightly and said, "Kid, your performance was already very good. With your magical abilities, you've completely reached the level of a mid-level magician. If you can master even bigger magic, who knows, maybe you'll reach the realm of a high-level magician too. Go back and ask your teacher for more guidance, I hope that next time you come to take the test, you'll pass the review of a high-level magician. Kid, at your age, aside from clergy, it's really rare to see someone achieve such a level."
"Ah-Dai's heart was filled with great joy, and he said: 'Are you saying that I have already passed the certification of a primary magician?'"
"Ah, no, you've passed the intermediate magician certification. Wait a minute, I'll go get the registration form and after registering, you'll officially become an intermediate magician."
"Thank you, thank you, Uncle Keqiu."
Kieger frowned and said: "From now on, don't call me Uncle, call me Kieger the Great Magician."
Having passed the magic test, Ah-Dai was overjoyed in his heart. He had finally fulfilled one of Owen's wishes. Excitedly he said: "Yes, yes, thank you, Master Kigg."
Kigg walked quietly to the back wall, muttered a few short incantations, and a blue glow flashed by. A small door appeared, and under Ah-Dai's astonished gaze, Kigg opened the door and walked in.
Ahh, Ah-Dai thought to himself, the magical prowess of Kieger the Great Magician is truly profound! I wonder if Teacher Goris has such abilities. When I return to him, I must study magic diligently. In Ah-Dai's heart, he was more interested in the colorful magic than the dull martial arts training.
Just then, the door from the back hall to the front hall suddenly opened and the old magician rushed in with a flustered look on his face. He glanced at Ah-Dai and asked: "Young fellow, where is the Sect Leader?"
"He said I passed the test and went to get the form."
The old magician's face fell, and he said with a tinge of jealousy: "I didn't think you'd actually pass the test. Young people these days are so impractical, studying both martial arts and magic - be careful that you don't end up mastering neither."
"Ah, yes! My uncle used to tell me that too. Thank you for your teachings."
The old wizard coughed twice and didn't say anything else.
"How can it be so slow! Is the efficiency of your Magician's Guild always this low?" A crisp, silvery voice came from the direction of the main hall.
The door opened, and Ah-Dai felt a sudden brightness in front of him, as if the entire back hall had lit up because of the person who came in. It was a girl who looked like she was 14 or 15 years old, standing there like an angel, with her long, light blue hair tied up in two braids on her head, and wearing a white dress that was spotless, with a pale face and two shallow dimples, and a pair of bright blue eyes that seemed extremely attractive. Her face flashed with a thin layer of anger, one hand was placed on her waist, and the other hand was waving a small magic wand that was only about 10 inches long, looking at the old magician with dissatisfaction. The magic wand was unclear in shape due to her movements, but Ah-Dai vaguely felt that it was definitely not an ordinary wand. What was most strange was that the girl emitted a faintly sacred aura, which made her seem like a fairy.
Ah-Dai's eyes were completely straight, when had he ever seen such a beautiful and elegant girl! Compared to her, Xi Fei was like a firefly compared to the moon. His stupid gaze was suddenly discovered by the girl, who snorted in anger, pointing at Ah-Dai's nose with her staff, saying: "Big fool, what are you looking at? Haven't seen a beauty before?"
Ah-Dai's face turned bright red as he lowered his head, thinking to himself that although this girl was very pretty, her temper was too violent, even more so than Seffi, and that Ya-Tou was still the kindest to him.
The old magician smiled and said: "Little girl, you'd better go ahead and wait, the sect leader has gone to fetch something and will be back soon."
The girl pouted and said, "No, I'll just wait for him here. You go find him quickly, your efficiency is too slow. If it wasn't for Miss wanting to spend money, she wouldn't come to a place like this."
Just then, Kege finally walked out of the door on the wall with a pile of things in his hand. Seeing the situation in front of him, he was taken aback and looked at the angry girl before rushing to Old Huang and asking: "Old Huang, what's going on?"
The old magician saw Kieger and visibly let out a sigh of relief, bitterly smiling: "Today is an unknown day, usually at ordinary times, there wouldn't even be one person coming to take the magic test in a month. But today, suddenly two have come. Here, this young lady also wants to take the magic test. You come, I'll go ahead." After finishing speaking, he hastily walked out.
Ji Ge handed over the thing in his hand to Ah Diao, saying: "Young man, you can only wait now, wait for me to finish testing this girl, and then register you."