Chapter 22 - Hidden Enemies

Seven months quickly went by since Li Fen joined the Academy, and during this time she has made great progress within her studies.

She already felt that she had developed an understanding of her elements, apart from darkness and space. Although, this was merely basics, and at a foundational level in becoming a Mage, she already felt she was a step closer to the intricacies of Mages.

Previously, the whole cultivation system of Mages remained a mystery to her, despite Warriors being similar, in terms of being a unique and foreign concept to her, at least she had an idea of their path due to their sense of belief that martial arts and strengthening their body being the way to move forward. However, Mages seemed like a complete enigma to her and was something she didn't understand.

At the very least for a Warrior, she had a reference to, such as the men in the Village who received basic Warrior training, and the martial art techniques which were passed on to her by Zhang Wei. Though, in comparison to Mages, she felt as if this was her first opportunity to learn about them.

Therefore, she didn't want to squander such a chance at all and eagerly put all of her efforts into learning about the path of becoming a Mage. Through her endeavour, she gained a new-found respect and admiration for Mages, and it has allowed her to discover the true profoundness of their path.

Learning and researching on Mages allowed her to understand exactly why they are so revered and highly regarded within the World. Li Fen remained unbiased towards both paths, believing neither deserved to be viewed as superior to the other and instead viewed that only by combining the strengths of both will you truly become an expert.

Her time spent in the Academy had allowed her to know the importance of cultivating your soul as well as your physical body and demonstrated to her the capabilities both paths can grant you.

Only a true expert is one who has dually cultivated, as the glaring weaknesses of the two are apparent.

The one unfortunate thing though was that she could not gather much information on the Space and Dark element, simply because the two are too rare. There a few space mages in the Kingdom, but they have both to high of status and are to valued to become a full-time Lecturer within an Academy. The Dark element, on the other hand, was frowned upon and is not a common attribute found in Humans, although there are a select few who possess this talent, it is both uncertain if this is either a blessing or a curse. Anyone with such an element is both viewed as ominous and evil, as it is the attribute which reminds most people of the Devils, who from birth has a great innate talent within this element.

It is a dangerous and feared attribute, and not even the four Empires admit to having subordinates who have the dark element under their employ, as people with this attribute are considered a countries trump care, and are a secret weapon used against their enemies.

Additionally, most assassin organisations members contain dark element experts, making it be even more viewed as an attribute associated with wickedness.

This made it clear why Li Fen couldn't learn anything about the two elements, much to her disappointment. One was forbidden, and the other was too rare, she was lucky in even having a good lecturer on the Light Element, as all Light Mages generally have a higher status and it is one of the rarer elements.

Though she felt she has gained much during this period, and not only this she felt that her cultivation has also benefitted.

It already has shown her the advantageousness and perk of being supported by a power within your cultivation, reinforcing her decision in joining the Academy. Furthermore, she has already felt that she could begin to learn her first spell, which was around a few years earlier than most students.

Zhang Wei highlighted this was mainly because of her strong soul as a result of her reincarnation, and it also helped that she had the mentality of an adult.

Most students right now would also be worried about their cultivation and would be putting all of their focus onto cultivating, Li Fen was a definite oddity, in the fact that she was putting most of her attention onto learning spells and understanding her elements.

It was relatively quiet in this time also, she had seen more of her dorm mates and became friendly with them, apart from the quiet Wei Giuyue, who still had yet to speak a word to her.

To her surprise, she wasn't disturbed by anyone else apart from the earlier meeting with the Kung Families Young Master, likely because it was merely the introductory period of the Academy, and the time they truly become a Student was in a few years when they cull the Students who had not met the Academies standards.

Though it was a pleasant surprise to Li Fen and is one she knew will not last, because in the future people will be invited into the factions of the older students, causing a clear divide among the younger students.

However, this was quickly put into the back of her mind, as the time for her to go out once again to experience a battle against demon beasts. Wang Jian had already invited her seven months earlier, and now it was time to leave.

Bidding farewell to Xue Mingxia and Yan Chunhua, who were the two she was most familiar with in this Academy, she left to meet up with Wang Jian.

Arriving on time, she found Wang Jian, who besides him stood an entourage of guards. One of them was dressed differently in comparison to the others, adorning a luxurious looking robe instead of wearing armour.

Upon noticing her, Wang Jian greeted her enthusiastically, as he introduced the group accompanying them on this trip. Through his introduction, she found just what a formidable line up there is, with each of the guards being a journey-man ranked cultivator and the man dressed in a robe was a genuine Master Ranked Mage.

Sucking in a breath of amazement, she breathed inwardly thinking, 'How extravagant! He sure is from a powerful noble family.'

To Li Fen, sending such a powerful line up to just accompany a noble heir in hunting a bunch of Magic Beasts, was definite overkill.

"Anyways, we should get going, Elder Li has said we need to leave as soon as you arrive." Wang Jian said.

Nodding in agreement, they began to head out of the City, towards the hunting ground that was targetted.

Apart from her, no other person would be accompanying Wang Jian this time, she did offer Hui Bai, Xue Mingxia and Yan Chunhua, but each of them had to refuse for different reasons.

Hui Bai was to focus on cultivation at the moment, and both the girls' families did want them to leave at the moment as they were worried about them being able to remain the Academy as they are still a bit away from the cultivation level needed, so it left Li Fen and Wang Jian to be the only ones participating on this hunt.

Hurriedly, an ordinary-looking man entered a room, and voiced, "Master, the Wang Clan's youngest has just left the City, as you have ordered we have reported the information to that person."

Smiling in response, a cloaked figure said, "Good. You have done well, the Wang Clan recently have been to ascending too rapidly, if given enough time they may prove a threat to us. Soon after the task is accomplished, Wang Gang will know the price of his ambition and if he wants his son to remain unharmed, he would better follow what we ask of him."

A bit hesitant, the ordinary-looking man said, "Master, we have also received other news. The Guang Academy recent prodigy, the white-haired girl is also with them. We want to know what we should do with her once the task is accomplished."

"Hmm?" The cloaked figure said a bit surprised, "We will just have to change our plans a bit, we have already had a plan on how to deal with the girl, but I guess this means we would just have to act a bit earlier. I was planning to leave her be in the Academy, but I guess this is her fate that we will meet sooner. Capture the girl alive, and make sure to emphasise this to that person especially. He is a useful tool, but his habits against young children, are especially violent, I want to avoid this possibility."

"Yes, Master! We will make sure to deliver your orders perfectly, that person may be bold, but he won't dare disobey you. After all, we are the only reasons why he still runs rampant around the Kingdom, with the Wang Clans idea of hunting down cultivators from the bounty list ended up with a few tools being killed. He can only remain alive due to our protection, so I'm sure Masters order will be delivered perfectly." Replied the ordinary look-man fawningly.

"So be it, leave." The cloaked figure finished, leaving the ordinary-looking man scrambling out the door as he left.