Lu Cang was stunned at first, but he quickly understood Izparut’s meaning.

’One question pointed to the true answer: the Root Source, the Root Source of the Demon Dao.’

’The other pointed to what it meant *for me*: the Root Source, the Root Source of the Demon Dao.’

After pondering for a moment, Lu Cang looked up. "Iz, I want to hear your thoughts."

Lu Cang sat cross-legged in the Training Ground.

Iz nodded in satisfaction. "Yes, not bad."

"Learn from the experiences and thoughts of those who came before."

"But everyone’s understanding of the Root Source is different, so the final results are not always the same."

"It won’t necessarily point to the true answer."

"The most important thing is your own thinking."

"Those who can comprehend Root Magic don’t necessarily have the same understanding of the Root Source. Their understanding might even be completely opposite."

"So, I’ll tell you a bit about my understanding of the Root Source."

...

The matter of the Root Source was far more complex than he had imagined.

Listening to Izparut’s explanation, Lu Cang could understand a few words at first, but after just a few sentences, it was all Greek to him.

It was probably like asking an elementary school student to perform theoretical calculations in quantum mechanics.

However, Lu Cang did grasp a few general things.

When he was Level 1-2, Iz’s thoughts on the Root Source were oriented toward the Void.

But after Level 3, he realized his direction was a bit skewed and changed his line of thinking.

This showed that whether one’s final answer was correct or not wasn’t necessarily important for comprehending Root Magic.

"Actually, my thoughts aren’t important for you."

"What’s important is your own thinking..."

"You’re only this far from becoming a Level 3 Mage. As soon as you comprehend Root Magic, you can advance to Level 3 Mage."

In the end...

The question was thrown back to Lu Cang.

Iz wouldn’t allow him to advance before he comprehended Root Magic.

His original words were that he couldn’t tolerate wasting his own talent like this.

Of course...

Lu Cang wouldn’t allow it himself, either.

「The next day...」

Lu Cang learned new Magic from Iz.

At Lu Cang’s request, Iz taught him several primarily defensive Magic spells.

[Resilient Water Ring Shield (Tier Two) (Level 201)]

[Cage Body Stone Shield (Tier Two) (Level 201)]

[Extreme Wind Protection (Tier Two) (Level 201)]

[Water Illusionary Mist Shadow (Tier Two) (Level 201)]

[Dark Erosion Ring Shield (Tier Two) (Level 201)]

These were all Magic spells that Iz had used during their previous spar.

’Master Iz, you were hiding so much Magic from me. Were you afraid you couldn’t beat me?’

The thought of sparring again rose in Lu Cang’s mind.

But then he thought about it. He didn’t have enough souls... There was no Beast Tide right now, so souls weren’t easy to collect.

A single trip to the Dungeon would net him 100 monster kills at most.

The monsters in the wild were pitifully few and far between. Souls could only be obtained by killing intelligent creatures, or at least Tier One Demons.

Killing things like ants... they didn’t have souls.

’They’re alive, but they have no soul... Feels like bullshit.’ But this was an Otherworld, after all, so Lu Cang decided not to judge it by the logic of Earth.

Besides, the concept of a soul on Earth was even more metaphysical than in this Otherworld; it was hard to even say if they existed.

While learning this Magic today, he also discovered something.

It turned out that the Magic, Flame Shield, had already been recorded long ago.

The Flame Shield he had created himself was actually a spell someone else had already invented.

However, because he had created it himself...

...Lu Cang’s version was still a tiny bit stronger than the one he learned.

Because of this, Lu Cang came to roughly understand why Self-created Magic was stronger.

It was because it was attuned to oneself.

Learned Magic involved imitating someone else’s Magic Power flow and Casting method.

But Self-created Magic was invented based on one’s own conditions, so it was indeed smoother and stronger.

Understanding this principle,

Lu Cang realized that he could actually modify all the Magic he had already learned to suit himself.

So, based on this, Lu Cang readjusted all the Magic he had learned.

After the adjustments, various aspects of these Magic spells, such as Casting Speed, Power, and control flexibility, were slightly enhanced.

Seeing Lu Cang’s progress, Iz couldn’t help but nod slightly.

’Adjusting learned Magic toward the direction of Self-created Magic.’

’This is a High Tier course at the Magic Academy, and very few people can actually do it.’

’Lu Cang grasped it just through his own thinking and managed to complete all the improvements in a short time. What heaven-defying comprehension.’

’As expected of a magical genius second only to me.’

Iz praised him from the bottom of his heart.

"By the way, Iz."

"During our spar the day before yesterday, after I used Spirit Burst, that spell you used... the one that infuses Magic Power and explodes..."

Iz: "Are you talking about Magic Burst?"

Lu Cang nodded. "I think so."

Iz answered frankly, "That’s a spell I improved upon after learning your Spirit Burst."

Huh?

’Learned? Improved?’

’How did I not get that?’

’When did I ever teach you Spirit Burst? No, wait, how do you know this Death Spell is called Spirit Burst?’

Lu Cang had never said the name of this spell.

Lu Cang: "Master Iz, how did you learn it?"

Lu Cang finally asked the question.

"How else? Of course, I learned it just by watching you cast it."

...

A stunned silence followed. Sometimes, even geniuses are left speechless by each other’s talent.

"Anyway, I’ll teach you Magic Burst."

Lu Cang quickly learned [Magic Burst], the basic version of [Magic Burst].

After evolving its Power twice, he obtained [Magic Burst].

’Iz...’

’The one you improved is also a Beyond Magic?’

’This mysterious Mage... just how high is his Talent for Magic?’

The more he got to know Iz, and the more he got to know this world, the more frighteningly high Iz’s magical talent seemed.

’I wonder how many Divine Talents for the Mage profession I’ll need to obtain to catch up to him on the path of a Mage.’

"Master Iz, did you learn Spirit Burst too?"

Iz: "I learned it, but I can’t cast it."

"Casting a Death Spell requires consuming souls, and collecting souls is a specialized ability of a Death Priest."

"Then, what about the Magic of a Healing Mage?" Lu Cang inferred, thinking about how Healing Mages also use Magic, just of a different type from a Mage’s.

"Hmm... I know those as well, but I can’t cast them either."

"Life Technique requires a Level in Healing Mage to have the casting resources. I don’t have any Levels in Healing Mage, so I can’t cast Life Technique spells."

Lu Cang knew about the characteristics of different Professions.

Healing Mages of every Level have a casting limit. A Level 1 Healing Mage can cast twenty Tier One Life Technique spells a day.

The higher the Profession’s Level, the more Life Technique spells they can use per day, and the faster they can store them.

The usage limit is also related to the assessment for their advancement criteria.

The more they practice the principles of life, the more Life Technique spells they can use, and the stronger the Effect will be.

Of course, besides that, Talents or equipment like a Healing Staff can also have the Effect of increasing the limit. This is a characteristic of the Healing Mage Profession.

Warriors, Assassins, Archers, Defenders, Mechanicians... each had their own unique professional traits.

’Still, it seems that when it comes to Magic itself, all the different forms are connected.’

’Whether it’s Death Spells or Life Technique, they all fall under the category of Magic.’

’A Mage’s Magic can be self-created.’

’Then, can Death Spells also be self-created?’

’Do Death Spells also point to the Root Source?’

’Or is the Root Source itself the Source of all Magic?’

’This so-called Root Source... what exactly does it refer to? Why is there still no precise definition for it? Why do generations of Mages need to pursue it?’

’Why is what Mages pursue not just Magic?’

’But rather an unclear, ambiguous—Root Source?’

Back in his room, Lu Cang gazed at the bright moon as it sank toward the horizon.

Lu Cang was deep in thought...