Xu Zhou issued a duel request!

[Battle Start]

PUFF!

The Elements around Lu Cang trembled, collapsing inward to form a continuously shrinking void!

However, in the next instant, Lu Cang vanished from his spot.

He reappeared in front of Xu Zhou.

However, Xu Zhou raised a hand, and dozens of black spikes materialized from all directions, shooting toward Lu Cang!

Tier Four Void Magic!

Void Needle!

During this time, he had also practiced his Tier Four Void Magic to the point of No Chanting!

His rate of growth could be called astonishing!

However, Lu Cang simply watched the spikes piercing toward him, neither dodging nor evading.

"Tier Five Root Magic—Magic from My Heart."

Gain Control over all non-Root Magic of an Equal Tier or lower.

This was Jie Zhu’s Root Magic.

’Although I easily one-shot Jie Zhu the first time we met...’

’...his Root Magic is really powerful.’

’Jie Zhu himself was actually quite strong—the most powerful Level 5 Mage in Lorren. It’s just a shame... he ran into me.’

The dozens of Void spikes instantly changed direction!

They shot back toward Xu Zhou!

Xu Zhou retreated continuously through the Void, unleashing more and more Magic!

Void Thunder, Void waves, Void slashes!

However, the moment these spells were cast, Lu Cang seized Control of them, instantly turning them into attacks against Xu Zhou!

’Root Magic?’

’More Root Magic?’

SWOOSH!

Lu Cang’s figure appeared before him again.

His body flickered with faint lightning, while the Source appeared in his left hand and the Core in his right.

Root Magic!

’Still more Root Magic! And these spells... he didn’t evolve them!’

Having discussed the Root Source with Lu Cang many times, Xu Zhou was already very clear on what Lu Cang’s Root Magic was.

But what he was seeing this time was completely different from before.

He could tell that this time, it was Root Magic that Lu Cang had mastered himself, not an incarnation of the Source!

’What the fuck, are you even human?’

"Spiral Ball."

Lu Cang thrust out a single hand, pressing down with the multicolored Core!

Xu Zhou exploded on the spot!

After the battle, Xu Zhou’s body reformed.

When he looked at Lu Cang again, it was as if he were gazing upon a towering, majestic god.

The gap between them hadn’t shrunk in the slightest. In fact, it had grown so vast that Xu Zhou couldn’t even see his back anymore.

Just thinking of him as a goal to strive for was an extravagant hope.

Filled with confusion, Xu Zhou asked, "Lu Cang, is all of this Root Magic your own?"

Lu Cang smiled openly and replied, "Yeah, I discussed it with someone recently and had a bit of an epiphany."

Xu Zhou’s large eye twitched. "When you say you had a bit of an epiphany... you mean you grasped Root Magic?"

Lu Cang shrugged, giving him a ’what do you think?’ sort of smile.

’Fuck me... Is that a human’s Talent?’

"Brother, you didn’t come looking for me today because you want to learn my Root Magic, did you?" Xu Zhou paused, then asked.

The reason Root Mages could so freely discuss Root Magic with each other was that it couldn’t be learned by others.

If anyone could learn it, then they certainly wouldn’t go around teaching people their ultimate trump cards.

But now...

...someone who could learn other people’s Root Magic had appeared.

Lu Cang, however, walked over to Xu Zhou and patted his shoulder. "We’re brothers. If you don’t want to teach me, I obviously won’t force you."

’Brothers. Back then, we could indeed call each other brothers.’

’But now... can we still be called brothers? The gap is too big. The distance between us is too vast.’

In Xu Zhou’s eyes, Lu Cang suddenly seemed like a stranger.

’He doesn’t really need my single Root Magic anyway.’

’Perhaps if I miss this chance, it’ll be difficult to associate with him in the future.’

’Associate with him?’

’To think that I, a genius others wanted to associate with, would one day be so anxious about a relationship.’

Xu Zhou collected his emotions and revealed a frank smile. "It’s just the Root Source, isn’t it? A Mage’s path is the pursuit of reaching the Root Source. To be able to provide Brother Lu Cang with a path pointing toward it would be my honor."

’Someone like Lu Cang is destined to shine brilliantly in the world one day.’

But he only felt that his own heart, the one that sought the Root Source, had, on this day, gradually grown distant.

’The grander stage belongs to geniuses like Lu Cang. An existence like me will probably never be able to glimpse the Realm they inhabit.’

’Once you know the vastness of the heavens, you understand your own insignificance.’

"What’s this about honor? That’s too formal, Xu Zhou," Lu Cang replied.

Xu Zhou gave a wry laugh and took the initiative. "Let me start by explaining my understanding."

...

The two of them stood in the arena, just as they had during their first meeting, talking from day until night.

The entire ground was filled with theories on Magic.

This time, however, it was Xu Zhou who was doing all the explaining.

He carefully explained his ideas about the Root Source to Lu Cang, fleshing out more lines of thought.

When it was finally over, the moment Lu Cang personally used his Root Magic, Xu Zhou was lost in a daze.

"Tier Five Root Magic—Void Loss."

"Brother, you’ve learned it."

"That’s right, this is my Root Source..."

Lu Cang had learned the Tier Four Root Magic, then evolved it to Tier Five through Ascension.

"No, it has already surpassed my Root Source."

It was even stronger than the Root Magic Xu Zhou himself had grasped.

Dejected, Xu Zhou just shook his head.

’Learned... and then surpassed so easily.’

’The difference in their progress was an insurmountable chasm.’

"Brother... since you’ve already grasped it."

"I have things to attend to back in the Void, so I’ll be taking my leave." Xu Zhou’s tone was filled with sorrow.

Lu Cang said, "You’re leaving already?"

"You haven’t even asked about my understanding of the Root Source. That’s not like you."

Xu Zhou replied, "There’s no need for that anymore."

Lu Cang could see the complex turmoil in Xu Zhou’s emotions.

He retorted, "Has pursuing the Root Source also become unnecessary for you?"

Xu Zhou asked, "Do you think you can reach the Root Source?"

Lu Cang answered with certainty, "I can."

Xu Zhou, however, let out a wry, self-deprecating laugh. "I don’t think I can anymore."

He shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. "From ancient times to the present, so many Mages have fallen on the path to seek the Root Source.

I once thought I was special, that I was the one.

I was a one-in-a-million genius, different from everyone else. I had a chance to vie for the most spectacular sights in this world, a chance to see the true face of the Root Source.

Even if there were others slightly more special than me, I believed I could strive to catch up to them until we stood shoulder to shoulder once more.

I am a genius. I am unique. That was why I believed I could surpass all my predecessors and witness the scenery of the Root Source."

Xu Zhou’s monologue was drawn out, and as he spoke, it was as if something called ’faith’ was draining away from him.

He turned his head to look at Lu Cang, his voice thick with unwillingness.

"It wasn’t until today that I realized.

I’m not different. I’m just one of the countless Mages pursuing the Root Source. While Mages who grasp the Root Source are rare, looking at the world as a whole, they are like the countless stars in the night sky. Even though the Star Realm is vast and empty, the stars still fill the heavens.

Perhaps I am a genius in the eyes of others, but that’s all I am—no different from any other fleeting Star.

I, too, will become just one of the countless Mages, eventually fading into the soil of the Void.

The Root Source doesn’t belong to people like me. It belongs to you.

You might truly be able to see the Root Source, but no matter how hard I pursue it, I don’t think I ever will."

Xu Zhou’s final words were incredibly flat. He met Lu Cang’s gaze.

As they looked at each other, the transcendent air of a Root Mage was gone from his eyes, as was the bright light of his pursuit of the Root Source.

All that remained was mediocrity and calm.

He had lost his heart for the path.

After saying those words, he had betrayed the principles of a Mage.

"Goodbye, brother."

"If you ever have time to come to the Void, and you still remember this brother of yours..."