Chapter Twelve: Master Crane in Seclusion

He Yin nodded and said, "Yes, not bad. Your talent is excellent, and your attack speed is very fast. However..." he changed his tone, "The magic of the Dark Elf clan is not about attack, but about control. It emphasizes speed, precision, and the element of surprise. How can you win with frontal attacks?"

Ling Xiaole tilted her head, pondering deeply, but couldn't figure out how to adjust her attack pattern.

He Yin reached into his robe sleeves and drew out a wand, exquisitely crafted from yellow crystal.

The weapons used by mages are generally divided into wands and staffs. Wands are relatively short and are often made from powerful magic crystals. Their advantage lies in enhancing mana amplification and casting speed, but their fragility makes them unsuitable for close combat. On the western continent where the imperial capital is located, mages prefer wands.

Staffs, on the other hand, are longer and sturdier, usually made from wood or metal, with a gemstone inlaid at the tip. Although they can't match real swords in close combat, they can still be used for blocking strikes.

He Yin tapped several points around himself with the wand, and twelve runes of varying shapes blossomed like flowers on the ground, forming a circle.

"Binding, restraining, entwining—these are the hallmarks of the Dark Elf binding arts. Try again: infuse your mana into these runes and observe the changes."

Ling Xiaole understood and divided her mana into twelve portions, injecting each into a rune point. Instantly, twelve violet chains erupted from the ground. Not a single chain tangled, twisted, or contracted; they acted as a unified whole, encircling He Yin and suddenly closing in, like a hunting trap triggered by its prey.

"This..." Ling Xiaole hesitated and quickly withdrew the spell.

He Yin remained composed, lightly tapping the chains with his wand to dissipate their energy, preventing them from touching his body.

Ling Xiaole breathed a sigh of relief and stood anxiously.

"Very good. Next, show me your barrier spell."

"My barrier spell?" Ling Xiaole thought for a moment.

A barrier is a magical shield created by dividing space and its energies. Both Light Elves and Dark Elves possess barrier magic, though each in their own way.

She had learned some barrier spells at the elementary magic academy, but only at a basic level. Since the teacher wanted to guide her, she could only muster her courage.

"Shadow Barrier!"

A flash of light appeared at the tip of Ling Xiaole's staff, unfurling a rectangular purple shield before her, tall enough for a person and as wide as outstretched arms.

He Yin nodded, "Hmm... Could it be better?"

"Better?" Ling Xiaole was flustered. Maintaining such a shield was already at her limit. She forced more mana into it, but the length and width expanded by barely an inch, and the shield started to shrink, its purple glow flickering with instability.

"That's enough for now." Ling Xiaole withdrew the spell.

He Yin traced a line beside him with his wand. A string of golden runes stretched from the classroom door, crossing the dais to the window, then swiftly turned along the wall toward the back of the classroom. All the students’ heads followed the path of the rune.

They tried to decipher the mysterious runes on the ground but gained nothing. The four golden lines circled the classroom, then returned to their starting point. He Yin said:

"Now, once more, cast your barrier spell. Infuse your mana into these runes and see how your barrier changes."

Ling Xiaole nodded and complied. She walked to the front of the dais, facing all the students, and raised her staff high.

A cluster of violet light gathered at the staff's tip, growing brighter like the morning star rising in the night sky—vivid and dazzling. Her bangs fluttered without wind, and her robe swirled gently at her feet.

Following He Yin's instructions, she illuminated the runes on the four walls in sequence. She discovered the runes became incantations that flowed directly into her consciousness. She silently recited them, and then, front, back, left, and right—four barriers rose abruptly, spreading at an equal pace along the walls and extending all the way to the ceiling.

Finally, the violet shield converged and closed atop the room, forming a perfectly sealed, square space.

"That's incredible," someone exclaimed.

The entire classroom was enveloped in mysterious purple light. Everyone looked up, gazing at the ceiling. Meanwhile, Black Feather, having witnessed this, began plotting something. His fingers tapped the desk one by one, a sly smile playing at his lips.

Ling Xiaole stepped back, amazed at the powerful magic she had conjured with her own strength.

"This is the importance of magical theory!" He Yin concluded at just the right moment. "When magical theory is inscribed in runes, spell strength is greatly enhanced. Runes, incantations, and chanting—all are essential for constructing barriers and magic circles, and their foundation is a deep understanding of magical theory!"

Ling Xiaole could no longer maintain the vast barrier; she felt as if all her mana had been drained. Her hand trembled, and the spell broke.

The four walls of the shield cascaded down like flowing water, disappearing as soon as they touched the ground, leaving those nearby unharmed.

"Now, Dark Elf girl, are you willing to follow me and learn the magic of the Dark Elves?" He Yin asked again.

This time, Ling Xiaole nodded enthusiastically, replying without hesitation,

"I am! It is my honor to receive your guidance!"

"Good. My office is in the library. Aside from special training sessions, if you have any questions, you may find me there," He Yin said, stroking his long beard with satisfaction.

After returning to her seat, Ling Xiaole was still unable to calm her excitement. Thanks to He Yin's personal guidance, the other students now looked at her with a hint of envy in their eyes.

"Teacher Shi, please continue the lesson with the students. He Yin and I will visit the other classes," said Dean Yun Lan, and he and He Yin left the room together.

In the corridor, Yun Lan and He Yin walked side by side, laughing and chatting.

"You've wanted to take this Dark Elf as your apprentice for some time, haven't you? Is it her talent in magical theory that caught your eye?"

He Yin placed his hands inside his wide sleeves and replied slowly, "This lesson was also a test. She could instantly decipher the runes I wrote on the floor—remarkably impressive, a testament to her outstanding talent!"

"But Yi Xin's magical theory grades are also S. Why not pursue him?"

"Yi Xin... I do admire him as well. However, he is already being personally guided by the Lord of Scarlet Flame City; I have nothing more to teach him! If I wanted to compete, I’d have to go to the city lord’s house and snatch his son!"