Lu Cang had never stopped thinking about the Root Source.

The Root Source evolves all things and all laws...

Flesh and blood could be changed by Magic Power, and they were the very foundation of the body, the basis of strength and Physique.

Combat Skills were fighting techniques that pushed the body to its limits.

’Are Magic and Combat Skills truly incompatible?’

Magic Power was already stored within the human body.

Magic, too, was controlled and released through one’s own body.

’If the Root Source evolves all things...’

’Doesn’t that mean my body is itself a part of Magic?’

The mind and body unite to comprehend the Extreme Intent in battle.

Kai Jia was a tough opponent.

Its Combat Skills could be described as having reached perfection.

Honestly, even though he was killed by it time and time again, he found the Combat Skills it used to finish him off aesthetically pleasing.

And from Lu Cang’s perspective, with his Extreme Intent of "Unyielding Heart," all of its Skills became nourishment for his own improvement, providing him with profound insights.

It was because of this that Lu Cang was able to clash with it for longer and longer with each exchange.

His use of Magic was also improving rapidly in battle.

However, compared to the current Kai Jia, his own Speed was still too slow.

’Why am I so much slower than him?’

Lu Cang didn’t simply blame it on the opponent having a stronger body and higher stats.

Instead, he was seriously contemplating the reason for its strength.

Caught!

Block, shattered!

The longer the battle went on, the slower Kai Jia’s movements became in his eyes.

’My thought process has sped up.’

’It’s gotten so fast that my Magic Power circulation and even my Casting can’t keep up with my thoughts anymore.’

But the sensation was wondrous.

His thoughts raced. He saw every single one of Kai Jia’s movements.

Through perfect coordination, it unleashed the most extreme power with every instantaneous action.

’He can do it...’

’Why can’t I?’

’Why can’t my Magic?’

’Why is the mobilization of my Magic Power so sluggish? If this Magic Power is inherently within my body... then what is making it so slow?’

’Magic can transform freely, so what about my body?’

’Is it because he’s a Warrior?’

’But Magic Power can also mobilize flesh and blood. The myriad laws evolved from the Root Source should also include the physical shell.’

Countless insights coalesced in his mind.

Lu Cang thought of Xu Zhou, of the Void, of Iz’s teachings, of the insights from drinking from the Spring of Origin, of the clarity of his Battle Intent, and of the notes left behind by that Root Mage.

He thought of the Kai Jia before him.

Countless inspirations intertwined. He felt as if everything in the world had slowed to a standstill; even the incredibly fast Kai Jia before him seemed to have frozen in place.

’This is the feeling of one’s mind pushed to its absolute limit!’

Lu Cang felt his mind become completely clear, and the Magic Power around him surged and rippled violently.

’That’s it... My Body is Law!’

’Magic Power is born from the body, and Magic is released from my body.’

’My body should have always been a part of Magic, coexisting with it!’

’This is my Tier Three Root Magic!’

「Source·Body is Law (Tier Four)」

WHOOSH!

Kai Jia closed in again.

It had already swung its War Axe, with the force of cleaving a mountain!

And in that very instant!

「Source Body·Instant White Flash」

CRACKLE—

Lu Cang’s body instantly transformed into a flash of pure white light!

In a flicker, he reappeared a great distance away!

BOOM!

The War Axe fell!

It had struck nothing but air!

This was the first time Lu Cang had "dodged" its attack!

Kai Jia looked toward Lu Cang again.

It saw an ethereal clarity emanating from him. Lu Cang’s brow was no longer furrowed, and his eyes were as calm as a lake’s surface.

He met Kai Jia’s gaze.

There was not the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Thank you."

The moment his thoughts cleared, Lu Cang felt as if his body had truly come alive!

BOOM!

’If a Warrior can comprehend Extreme Battle Intent, why can’t a caster achieve mental clarity?’

A thick fog suddenly arose!

Kai Jia instantly expanded its five senses, perceiving any movement or change within the fog!

However, this time, it was completely different from before.

Its keen five senses actually detected dozens of Lu Cangs within the fog.

「Mirror Illusion Water Dream Shadow (Tier Three)」

Keen five senses could distinguish subtle differences.

But they only work by identifying those differences to tell the real body from the fakes.

’As long as I erase all the differences... it will be impossible to distinguish them.’

Lu Cang simply felt that his understanding of Magic was now incomparably clear.

However, Kai Jia only took an instant to identify him!

It charged toward one of the bodies!

’I was found out?’

’Is there still a difference?’

’Sigh, don’t be so discouraging. I thought my Control was perfect...’

SWISH!

Kai Jia closed the distance again in an instant! But this time, its War Axe struck Lu Cang’s Shield!

「Thousand Waves Resilient Water Protection (Tier Three) (Level 301)」

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG—

Layer after layer of the Shield exploded!

This single strike was like cutting into a thousand layers of steel!

Breaking one layer of the Shield only revealed another. This was no longer a simple Fifty-Six Layered Shield!

After each layer shattered, it would instantly undergo Rebirth!

With that one attack, it actually shattered several hundred layers of the Shield!

Its immense power was spent.

As the opponent pursued and attacked, Lu Cang retreated using the wind!

A small distance opened up between the two.

This also provided more space for the Shield’s Rebirth.

This attack had failed to truly hit Lu Cang, blocked by his Shield!

"Heh... It seems I really am a little stronger than you."

’My Casting Speed is so much faster than before.’

’A single thought is all it takes.’

’If my previous Casting was like Magic Power flowing like a river along a path...’

’...then my Casting now is like a bolt of lightning flashing along that same path.’