Chapter 6: Magic Tide

The popularity of this team exceeded Lu Cang’s expectations.

After getting off the carriage, there was no shortage of people crowding around to offer vegetables and fruits.

Chi Cheng, however, did not decline any of it, nonchalantly accepting all the gifts.

After receiving the townspeople’s welcome along the way, Lu Cang and the others finally returned to the inn.

According to Kumironi, they had purchased long-term residency rights at this inn.

However, because of Lu Cang’s arrival, they had opened up an extra, separate room for him.

"Phew..."

"Another world, huh."

After having a light meal with Kumironi and the others, Lu Cang finally returned to his room, took a shower, and lay down on the bed.

This was the first time Lu Cang had been alone since arriving in this world.

"Magic, swords, class changing, adventuring, dungeons..."

A ball of flame appeared, dancing in Lu Cang’s palm.

"Magic..."

Lu Cang repeated the word.

The flame dancing in his palm was a symbol of contact with extraordinary power.

He had spent almost the last two days in a state of unconsciousness.

The first night, he had passed out from drinking during the celebration, and shortly after waking up the next day, he had fallen unconscious again due to overexerting his magic.

In truth, he hadn't been awake for very long.

There were many things Lu Cang hadn't had the time to think through carefully.

Knock, knock, knock—

A knock came at the door.

"It’s me, Iz." Izparut’s voice sounded from outside.

"Ah, please come in."

Lu Cang got up to open the door, but with a *whoosh*, Iz’s figure teleported directly into the room.

Seeing Iz appear, Lu Cang couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Magic... it really is convenient.

Iz let out a long breath: "Phew, finally finished."

Lu Cang asked curiously: "Finished what?"

Iz: "Those students."

"After answering their questions, I rushed back."

"They were all very basic questions."

Tsk tsk, he managed to deal with that many people?

Lu Cang remembered that there were at least dozens of people surrounding Izparut.

Izparut continued: "Never mind that."

"Your mana is too low; you must increase your total mana capacity first."

Oh~ as expected of a professional teacher.

He starts right off with magic-related matters. Is he really that anxious about my mana?

Iz, I get the feeling that you’re more anxious about improving my strength than I am.

Lu Cang couldn't help but think this to himself.

Although Izparut might not be a powerful mage, he was certainly a popular teacher.

He had seen that with his own eyes just a moment ago.

"What should I do, Master?"

Lu Cang sat upright on the bed, asking Izparut for guidance.

Lu Cang himself was very eager to increase his total mana; he didn't want to be a "quick-shot" who went limp after casting a few spells.

A real man should have stamina!

"Heh heh."

The space in front of Iz distorted strangely. He reached into the void and pulled out a book with a white cover.

Another magic book?

Seeing a magic book again, the awe he felt the first time was gone.

In its place was a sense of anticipation.

He only needed to read a few lines to learn a new spell.

That feeling was still quite satisfying.

"This is something I wrote myself..."

"Mana Growth."

Ah...

He wrote it himself?

The sense of anticipation dropped quite a bit.

Even though he thought that, Lu Cang still took the book Izparut handed him.

Compared to "Lightning Strike," this "Mana Growth" was shockingly thick.

It was about as thick as a dictionary, and its length and width were about half the size of Lu Cang’s torso.

It was a book twice as large as a brick.

Iz said proudly: "This is the culmination of my hard work. There isn't a single wasted word; every character has meaning."

"You are the first student to see these notes."

Oh...

It seems I am quite highly valued.

But the talent I’ve displayed should be worth valuing.

There is no master who doesn't wish for their disciple to become a dragon.

Although his anticipation had lowered slightly, Lu Cang still opened the book full of expectations.

The table of contents alone was ten pages long...

However, the first chapter was: [The Best Mana Growth Technique for Level 1 Mages — Mana Tide]

"Keep your mana circulating within your body; do not let it remain stagnant."

"Allow your mana to make more contact with external elements before returning it to your body."

"Imagine a sea of mana within your body that rises and falls like a tide. It is constantly ebbing and flowing; when the tide rises, mana disperses outside the body, and when it ebbs, the mana flows back in. Each rise and fall of the tide will bring about an increase in mana."

These words seemed to have magic of their own. Although there were many, once he saw the first line, he couldn't help but keep reading.

It was indeed as Izparut said; there was absolutely no fluff like [History and Origins].

Every single word was useful, practical information.

As he read, Lu Cang began to mobilize his mana.

He felt the mana that had been scattered and stagnant throughout his body begin to gather.

It pooled into a "sea" within his body.

This tiny bit of mana could hardly be called a sea; at most, it was a pond.

But this pool of mana was indeed under Lu Cang’s control, beginning to rise and fall like a tide.

Under Lu Cang’s control, the mana dispersed outside his body, making contact with the elements in the environment.

Lu Cang felt his mana grow after making contact with the elements.

A portion of the mana underwent a self-expanding growth, as if it were building muscle.

Another portion saw the elements partially converted into mana, which was then brought back into his body by his own mana as the tide ebbed.

[Learned Mana Growth Technique — Mana Tide (Tier 1) (LV: 1)]

[Mana Tide Proficiency EXP +10000]

[Proficiency Level Increased — Mana Tide (LV: 5)]

*Hoo*—

Lu Cang felt his total mana increase. The specific amount wasn't huge, only about 5%.

But this was just a single rise and fall of the tide.

It happened in the span of a single breath.

Moreover, the proficiency level of Mana Tide had also increased.

The second rise and fall became even more turbulent.

Lu Cang’s mana drew in more external elements, converted them into mana, and flowed back into his body.

At the same time, the self-growth of his mana increased as well.

Iz’s eyes revealed a strange surprise.

Although Lu Cang was the first student to see this textbook, the mana growth method recorded in it had actually been studied by more than one person.

This first chapter, [Mana Tide], was theoretically the best mana-boosting technique Iz had selected for Level 1 mages.

However...

Very few people were actually able to master this technique.

Iz had recorded many experiences regarding the failures of different students, summarizing quite a few improvements and solutions.

But even so, only two people had ever truly mastered the [Mana Tide] growth technique.

And as for someone who could understand and learn Mana Tide just from these few opening sentences?

There were none.

But the Lu Cang before him had actually mastered Mana Tide completely just from the first page, which could only be described as a "summary."

This aptitude was truly terrifying...

Beads of sweat formed on Izparut’s forehead, his expression showing joy and excitement.

This child’s talent was truly worth cultivating.

If he nurtured him with care, he would surely become a mage second only to himself!

Lu Cang didn't know what Izparut was thinking; he only knew that with every breath, his mana was growing rapidly.

[Proficiency Level Increased — Mana Tide (LV: 14)]

[Proficiency Level Increased — Mana Tide (LV: 19)]

[Proficiency Level Increased — Mana Tide (LV: 25)]

...

(End of chapter)