Lu Cang interrupted. "Xu Zhou, are you really content with just this?"

Lu Cang said sternly, "I came here to discuss the Root Source with you, not to hear you give up like this."

"You’re the first one I’ve discussed the Root Source with. And even though you’re not human, I’ve always considered you a close friend."

In truth, they weren’t extremely close, but Lu Cang did genuinely see it as a friend.

"Must you be guaranteed success before you even try?"

"From the moment you set foot on this path, you knew it wouldn’t be an easy road, right?"

Lu Cang sat down cross-legged on the level ground.

"I only recently became a Level 4 Mage. What was it like for you when you first reached Level 4?"

Xu Zhou replied, "It was marvelous. I could see the very structure of Space."

"And the first time you grasped Root Magic?"

Xu Zhou said, "Hmm... I was ecstatic, I guess. It felt like finally solving an impossible puzzle."

But then a bitter smile touched its lips. "It also felt like it was proof that I was unique."

Lu Cang asked, "And is that not unique enough?"

"You’re already a Mage capable of grasping the Root Source. In my homeland, out of a population of forty billion, only three people have ever done so."

’Excluding Iz and myself, it really is just three people.’

"If a Root Mage like you is going to be so self-deprecating, what are all the Ordinary Mages supposed to think?"

Xu Zhou repeated, "Ordinary Mages?"

"But they aren’t pursuing..."

Lu Cang cut in. "The Mage’s creed. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten it."

Xu Zhou’s head snapped up.

Lu Cang continued, "Every Mage, no matter how weak, is on the path to the Root Source.

Even knowing they may never see the Root Source in their entire lifetime, they still walk this path, upholding their creed.

And yet you, a Mage who is far closer to the Root Source than they are, you’re going to talk about giving up?"

Xu Zhou’s hand trembled slightly.

"My master once told me of a certain Mage. Back in ancient times, there was one named Chaotic Demon."

"He spent his entire life trying to grasp the Root Source, and his path was fraught with setbacks. Every Mage he encountered was stronger than him, more talented than him, but his resolve to walk the path never wavered."

"In the end, all of his rivals perished on their journey to the Root Source. Only he, and he alone, truly became a Level 9 Mage... and witnessed the Root Source itself."

’Well... Iz had never actually said any of that.’

’It was all a story Lu Cang had fabricated, based on a character named Luan Gu from a novel he’d read in his past life, *Heaven’s Cover*.’

’I originally just wanted to ask Xu Zhou for a friendly spar and learn about its Root Magic. I didn’t expect to completely shatter my bro’s confidence. If I just pretend I didn’t see and let it leave like this, I’ll probably feel guilty for a long, long time.’

"Brother."

"Of everyone I’ve ever met, apart from my master and myself, you have the greatest talent for Magic."

"Maybe you’re not that far from the Root Source at all. It could just be that I’ll see it effortlessly, while for you, it’ll just be a little bit harder."

Lu Cang pinched his thumb and forefinger together, making a gesture for "a little bit."

"But even if it’s hard, you can still get there in the end." Lu Cang offered a bright, earnest smile.

Light rekindled in Xu Zhou’s eyes. "Is what you’re saying... true?"

"My talent for Magic... is the strongest, apart from yours?"

’No, I’m totally lying to you.’

Lu Cang looked completely serious and replied in a resolute tone, "Yes. It’s true."

Xu Zhou stood rooted to the spot, saying nothing.

But Lu Cang could see a complex storm of emotions beginning to stir within it.

’Bro, I’ve said all I can. If you’ve truly lost the will to seek the path... then no matter what else I say, it probably won’t make a difference.’

’We’re friends, after all. I really don’t want to be the one who ends your journey as a Mage.’

Xu Zhou slowly closed its eyes.

It thought for a long time, and Lu Cang didn’t disturb it.

He watched as the storm of its emotions shifted from complex and agitated to gradually calm and peaceful.

When it slowly opened its eyes again, only serenity remained within them.

"I was being too hard on myself."

Xu Zhou also sat down cross-legged. "Brother Lu Cang, are you still willing to share your understanding of the Root Source with me?"

Lu Cang laughed heartily. "Of course. I hope that one day, we can both witness the final Root Source together."

...

He had finally managed to pull Xu Zhou back from the brink.

This time, Lu Cang’s explanation of the Root Source was even more profound. He focused on re-examining and expounding upon the very Root Source that Xu Zhou itself had already grasped.

He had now grasped his opponent’s Tier Five Root Magic.

In fact, his understanding of this particular Root Source now surpassed Xu Zhou’s. When this shared understanding was fed back to Xu Zhou, it caused countless of its doubts to be resolved in an instant, as if a great weight had been lifted.

Their discussion continued for another four days.

In the end, Lu Cang also obtained several ancient texts from the Void.

The Void was ancient and held many treasures from a bygone era. Unfortunately, most of these Ancient Magic Books could only be used for historical research, as their principles were vastly different from the Laws of the current age, making them impossible to learn.

Coincidentally, however, Lu Cang was perfectly able to learn from these Magic Books, whose magic was based on the obsolete Ancient Laws, and master their contents.

Many of the books also had missing words, were blurred, or were otherwise illegible.

Fortunately, his Information Tracing could restore them. The Information Tracing Talent was perfectly suited for reading ancient tomes with large sections missing.

’Without this Talent, I probably wouldn’t be able to read most of these ancient books.’

...

By the time he had learned three types of Root Magic, more than half of the month of life was already gone.

He had spent six days with Xu Zhou, five with Jie Zhu, and two with Dusk.

Root Magic really was a tough nut to crack.