After learning the Fire Dragon Skill in the library, Li Wei spent a little more time and Credit Points studying various primordial magics. He wanted to understand how the original creators of magic had brought it into existence from nothing, as this would be a great help in developing his own magic.

Li Wei realized that the essence of magic was the manipulation of the Elements. At least, this was the essence of all Elemental Magic.

Modern Mages, however, had lost sight of this, focusing all their attention on Magic Models. They believed that the Magic Model was the key to unleashing the power of magic. Having studied the philosophies of the primordial creators of magic, Li Wei understood that the true source of magic’s power was the Elements themselves.

After studying the principles of magic, Li Wei learned that Magic Elements were divided into High-Energy Elements and low-energy elements.

Low-energy elements referred to Magic Elements in a tranquil state.

In this state, Magic Elements had no effect on the outside world.

This was true of the Heaven and Earth Magic Elements that permeated the world, as well as the Magic Elements found within Magic Stones and Magic Crystals.

All of these were considered low-energy Magic Elements.

Through Casting, Mages transform these low-energy Magic Elements into High-Energy Elements.

According to the principle of entropy, High-Energy Elements exist in an unstable state and will eventually release energy, decaying back into low-energy elements to restore equilibrium.

This energy-release process is how magic takes effect.

This was the Elemental Tower’s official explanation for Elemental Magic.

As for Spiritual Magic, Space Magic, Summoning System magic, and Alchemy Magic, those were entirely different matters.

The other top Mage Towers had their own explanations for their respective systems.

Li Wei had yet to study any of them.

But for Elemental Magic, at least, the Elemental Tower’s theory held true.

Low-energy elements were, by definition, Magic Elements in a stable state.

This stable state was unique—the lowest possible energy level.

High-Energy Elements, on the other hand, were not.

In short, the more energy an Element possessed, the more powerful the resulting magic.

The Magic Model was like a lever.

A Mage needed only a small amount of effort to use this lever, prying at the Magic Elements and causing them to transform into High-Energy Elements.

Then, that energy was released.

The levers wielded by the Ancient Mages were very short; some even relied directly on their own power to convert low-energy elements into High-Energy Elements.

They were able to get closer to the essence of magic.

As Magic Models improved, the lever grew longer and longer.

Casting became easier and easier for Mages.

The power of their magic grew stronger and stronger.

And they drifted further and further from the essence of it all.

According to the law of conservation of energy, however, this theory seemed to have a problem.

For a low-energy element to become a High-Energy Element, it must absorb energy. Where did that energy come from?

Finding the source of energy for this transformation had always been one of the Elemental Tower’s ultimate research topics.

If one could grasp its secrets and control this process, then one could leverage the smallest amount of force to unleash the greatest amount of energy.

Li Wei had an unverified hypothesis.

’Isn’t this just like nuclear fission and fusion? The energy comes from the matter itself. Except here, "matter" is replaced by "Element." But who’s to say an Element isn’t a form of matter? After all, the people of this world have always believed it was composed of four basic elements. If Elements can form the world, then they must be a form of matter. That would explain the source of energy for the leap from low-energy to High-Energy Elements. It comes from the fission and fusion of the Elements themselves. This process is just far gentler than atomic nuclear fission and fusion, so much so that Mages can harness it.’

’The process the Ancient Mages used for their magic was the fission and fusion of Elements.’

’Naturally occurring, controllable fission and fusion... this world is truly incredible. What exactly are these Elements?’

’Is the world really made of just four basic elements?’

Li Wei pondered.

He spent the entire day in the library.

He read many books but failed to find an answer.

He did make a few discoveries, however.

The idea that the world was composed of four elements didn’t originate with Mages.

Instead, it came from a tome called the "Book of Genesis."

Legend had it that the Book of Genesis recorded the process of creation.

The first sentence of the Book of Genesis reads, "The world is composed of the four elements: earth, water, wind, and fire."

Some said the Book of Genesis was created by a Divine Spirit.

Others claimed it came into being naturally at the dawn of creation.

Still others believed that whoever obtained the Book of Genesis would become the Creator God, reigning supreme over all other gods and controlling the entire world.

But no one had ever seen the Book of Genesis.

Its contents were known only through word of mouth, passed down through the ages.

Only occasionally, within ancient ruins, could one find mere fragments of its text.

And there was no way to confirm their authenticity.

There were also rumors of a "Book of Destruction," said to have been born alongside the Book of Genesis.

The Book of Destruction supposedly recorded the process of the world’s end.

No one had ever seen it.

Throughout history, people had periodically used the name of the Book of Destruction to prophesy the coming of the apocalypse.

The most famous of these prophecies was Ragnarok.

’The Book of Genesis, the Book of Destruction... do those two books really exist?’

Li Wei was skeptical.

It all sounded a bit too fantastical. Even for a world of magic, the Book of Genesis and the Book of Destruction seemed far-fetched.

Li Wei left the library and headed for his manor, mulling over the day’s discoveries.

’The Power of magic comes from the fission and fusion of Elements.’

’This process is far too gentle, nothing like the violent nature of nuclear fission and fusion.’

’The main reason is the lack of a chain reaction.’

’Each Element is an independent entity, which allows for precise fission and fusion.’

’If I could induce a chain reaction during Elemental Fission, I could create a spell of unparalleled power.’

Li Wei thought of Forbidden Curses.

Every description of a Forbidden Curse was cataclysmic: rending the heavens and splitting the earth, leveling mountains and summoning tsunamis, a world-ending apocalypse.

They could destroy entire cities, level mountain peaks, and vaporize lakes and rivers in an instant.

The most powerful Forbidden Curses were even capable of Godslaying.

The descriptions sounded a lot like a nuclear explosion.

"Master Li Wei."

The Magic Butler, Kuro, greeted Li Wei when he saw him.

Li Wei nodded. "Good evening, Kuro."

"What’s for dinner tonight?" Li Wei asked.

His mind was soaring with grand ambitions, feeling as if he had just grasped the very essence of Forbidden Curses. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

’And yet, here I am, still having to worry about what’s for dinner.’

What he was having for dinner was, at this moment, far more important to Li Wei than the essence of Forbidden Curses.

No matter how much he thought about it now, achieving any of it was impossible.

It was all just a fantasy.

But what he ate had a very real impact on his mood.

Kuro replied, "Diana is making mulberry-fire steak. The main course tonight should be steak. She also prepared the rice you like."

A smile spread across Li Wei’s face. "Oh, thank you."

"Rice is hard to find here, isn’t it?" Li Wei asked.

Kuro nodded. "It is. The most common grain on the market is wheat. Diana had to visit many places before she found someone selling rice."

"Please thank Diana for me," Li Wei said.