"I should tell you, Kumironi didn’t awaken for me because it thought I had Talent."

Lu Cang finished speaking.

The Thunderstorm beside him instantly exploded!

Monsier—defeated.

’So this is a so-called Level 2 Mage who needs to comprehend Root Magic...’

Lu Cang was genuinely disappointed.

He continued to queue for matches but still didn’t encounter any worthy opponents.

He effortlessly achieved a 50-win streak.

A dazzling Crystal Stone fell from the sky.

Magic Expansion Crystal

It increases one’s maximum Magic Power Value.

This was the win-streak reward.

It took him just over 20 minutes to fight 50 matches, an average of 6 seconds per battle. How could it be any faster?

The most time-consuming part, ironically, was that the matchmaking time grew longer as his win streak increased.

Lu Cang glanced at the rankings and was surprised to see he had already broken into the top 50.

The rankings were based on a point system.

The more consecutive wins you had, the more points you gained.

A normal win was worth 1 point, and a loss was -1 point.

After a 5-win streak, a win became worth +2 points.

After a 10-win streak, a win was worth +4 points.

After a 100-win streak, every victory was worth +20 points.

So, without achieving a win streak of more than five games, a 50% win rate would have you hovering around 0 points.

Additionally, a coefficient would be slightly adjusted based on battle performance and the point difference between the two combatants.

His current coefficient was 1.2.

His base score was 178 points.

His final score was 213.6.

He ranked 44th among all Level 2 Professions and 3rd among Level 2 Mages.

Lu Cang took a pocket watch from his Space Ring and glanced at the time.

’It’s still early.’

’Might as well grind for a while longer, then.’

...

In the next 50 matches, he still didn’t meet any real competition. He did run into the 9th-ranked Assassin, but unfortunately, they couldn’t even break through Lu Cang’s Shield.

They were simply burned to death by the Sea of Fire that flooded the entire arena.

[100-Win Streak]

Total score: 567.

First among Level 2 Mages, third in the overall rankings.

’After all, the number one player had fought over 4,000 matches, losing only 16 times. Not even counting win-streak bonuses, they should have over four thousand points. Plus, to only lose sixteen times, their win streaks couldn’t have been short.’

’Forget it.’

Lu Cang had no intention of grinding his way to first place in a single day.

’I didn’t get much inspiration from today’s battles... Could it be because I’m winning too quickly?’

’Chi Cheng said I should experience more battles, that I might find inspiration for Root Magic in combat. It seems a bit difficult, though.’

It was only after seeing Monsier’s flyer that Lu Cang had thought to try and find inspiration here.

Still, he did get the win-streak reward.

100-Win Streak Reward: *Ancient Root Mage’s Notes*

Lu Cang opened the notes and glanced through them briefly.

’But I can’t even recognize the script... I guess transmigrating to this world doesn’t mean I’m automatically fluent in every language.’

After reaching this rank, he was also getting a little hungry. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He decided to go get something to eat first.

He left the Gate of Battle.

On his way out, Lu Cang stopped by the front desk to register for the competition.

A little over an hour ago, Lu Cang had just registered as a new Athlete.

An hour later, Lu Cang already had a 100-win streak and was ranked third in the City in the Circle.

The receptionist’s lip was twitching nonstop.

’Kid...’

’Isn’t your record a little too dominant?’

...

’The City in the Circle really is huge. It’s worlds apart from a small town like Raine Town, where you can see from one end to the other with a single glance.’

’I heard the city’s population is a full fifty million.’

’I think Chongqing, the most populous city in China, only has about thirty million people... In that case, there really are a lot of people here.’

’To have so many people without being crowded just proves how vast this city is.’

Dinner was a specialty of the City in the Circle—roasted Fragrant Beast. It tasted pretty good, but the price was a bit steep, a surprising 25 copper.

’But it’s not a single serving. I’ll pack it up and see if the others want any. If not, it’ll be my midnight snack.’

By the time he returned to the hotel, night had fallen.

Lu Cang thought for a moment and decided to go check out the Library.

’The library in Raine Town was obviously much older.’

’Some of the editions there were from the last century.’

’The ones here should be newer.’

With that thought, he arrived at the Library on the 30th floor.

As soon as he reached the Library, he saw a young woman sitting at the front desk, reading a book.

"..."

Lu Cang said nothing, but his Magic Staff had already appeared in his hand.

"What are you doing here?"

"They were hiring a Level 4 Scholar as a librarian here, so I came."

Pari.

The librarian from Raine Town.

She was here.

Given that she had the Divination Master Profession, and could even be a high-ranking one, Lu Cang absolutely refused to believe this was a mere coincidence.

Lu Cang turned and left without a second thought.

"Iz."

"Pari’s here. In the hotel Library on the 30th floor."

Lu Cang whispered to the empty air.

Iz had said that as long as Lu Cang called his name within his Perception Range, he would be able to sense it.

POP!

Almost instantly, Iz appeared by his side.

’Iz, your presence is so reassuring.’

’While it felt a bit shameful, like a kid tattling to his parents, I have no desire to play games with someone from a mysterious Profession like a Divination Master, not with my own fledgling experience.’

However, after Iz appeared, he looked at the young woman reading her book, and a complex expression crossed his face. "Betti?"

"You two... know each other?"

Pari put down her book as well, calmly looking at Izparut.

Izparut took a deep breath, as if trying to calm his emotions.

He turned to Lu Cang and said, "This is the... fri—end I told you I was looking for."

He said the word "friend" through gritted teeth.

Lu Cang had rarely seen such emotion from Izparut.

Iz’s expression darkened as he recalled his recent journey to find her.

When he went to her residence, a note on the door read: "Out on business. Find me at 1224 Pingyue Street."

He teleported over in a flash.

Only to find another note on that door: "If you’re still looking for me, go to 52 Ancient Port Street."

Heh heh...

He followed the trail, and just when he wanted to give up, he saw one that read: "If you don’t look for me now, you’ll never see me."

When he found the last one, it read: "This is really the last time." There was no address.

But then he suddenly heard Lu Cang’s call.

And when he arrived at Lu Cang’s side, there she was, right in front of him.

Pari waved and greeted him, "Yo, Paru."

Izparut: "Can I blast you away?"

Pari: "I don’t think so. This is a Library."

...

’They seem to know each other well.’

Iz took a deep breath and asked, "So, you were in Raine Town from the beginning."

Pari nodded.

"You knew Meiser would go after Lu Cang."

Pari nodded.

"Why didn’t you warn me?"

Pari: "A Divination Master is merely an observer of Destiny."

"You didn’t seek me out, so naturally, I wouldn’t seek you out."

A Divination Master does not actively interfere in the destinies of others.

Iz was exasperated. He really couldn’t win an argument against her.

This was indeed the code of conduct for a Divination Master.

"Fine. I need a Divination."

A Divination Master does not actively interfere in the destinies of others.

Unless someone actively asks for a Divination Master’s help. When someone takes that initiative, it becomes their own Destiny.

A slip of paper appeared in Iz’s hand.

"Help me divine Meiser’s whereabouts."

This slip of paper was the one Meiser had left for Lu Cang.

"50 million gold coins," Pari said.

The exorbitant demand startled even Lu Cang.

’Fifty million?’

’Are you trying to buy the entire City in the Circle?’

However, Iz paid without the slightest hesitation.

He tossed out a money pouch that was clearly a Space-type Magic Tool.

Pari caught the pouch, weighed it in her hand, and took the slip of paper from Iz.

She glanced at it for a moment.

He didn’t see her take out a Crystal Ball, Tarot Cards, or anything like Turtle Shell Trigrams.

Then she handed it back and said, "Northwest, to the Valley of Dusk... If you chase after him directly, you’ll eventually meet him at the Secret Sea, at the western edge of the Ruelun Continent."

"Want to ask about the outcome?" Pari asked in return.

Iz chuckled and shook his head. "No need."

Pari: "A pity. I missed out on another fee."

"He has likely sensed the divination by now. If you delay, the chase will be longer."

Iz nodded, then looked at Lu Cang and said, "Chi Cheng and Kumironi will protect you."