Moonlight filtered through the window, casting its glow into the room. From the bed, Green’s snores occasionally sounded, interspersed with murmurs from his lips. “Jiji…” He was probably still lamenting the unexpected end of his first love. This left Ye Dui, sharing the room, feeling a deep sense of helplessness. Poor boy.
Having slept all day, Ye Dui was wide awake. He remained vigilant against any moves from the Blue Fox Mercenaries while flipping through his iPad grimoire. After unlocking files in the media library, Ye Dui could not only summon heroic spirits but, more importantly, watch those unlocked works from another world.
Having unlocked the One Punch Man heroic spirit, he had already watched seven or eight episodes of the anime. Unfortunately, others could neither see the screen of his grimoire nor hear the audio. Otherwise, he could discuss Saitama sensei’s path to showing off with someone.
It was deep into the night. Life in this other world felt rather dull. Now that he had finished the final episodes, boredom set in. He began studying the iPad grimoire.
Since emerging from the ruins, aside from unlocking the media library and One Punch Man heroic spirit, he had not unlocked or downloaded other functions or spells. Mainly, there had been no time for serious consideration. Now, with Nanfeng Watchtower approaching, he started pondering his next steps.
His remaining points stood at 500 (originally 490, with an additional 10 from the recent clash with the Blue Fox Mercenaries). Should he continue unlocking other heroic spirits, or learn more spells?
Ye Dui had mastered a total of twelve spells so far. They included lightning element [Lightning] and [Strike of Lightning], water element [Water Flow] and [Dance of the Water Serpent], fire element [Flame] and [Serpent of Flame], earth element [Earthquake], wind element [Gale] and [Windstride], darkness element [Shadow Stealth], and space element [Storage Space] and [Space Blade].
For a novice magic tutor to master so many spells at once would absolutely drop jaws if spoken of.
These were either basic elemental spells or novice-level ones. However, disregarding Ye Dui’s ability to summon heroic spirits and cheat the spell capacity, he remained technically a novice magic tutor.
Novice magic tutors were those limited to basic and novice spells. If a magic tutor gained deeper understanding of elements, such as inducing transmutation in single-element spells or fusing elements from dual, triple, or multiple systems, they could advance to intermediate magic tutor. The grimoire would awaken more powerful spells. Further insight into magical elements allowed creation of personalised spells, marking one as an advanced magic tutor.
Beyond advanced magic tutors lay even higher ranks. At those levels, the grimoire itself underwent secondary awakening, tertiary awakening, with changes to its appearance and such.
Yet rank did not equate to strength. A magic tutor’s true power lay in “mastery through fluid use, not mere accumulation of knowledge.”
Ye Dui awakened spells via battle points, but the spells listed in the app store were all novice ones. Thus, relying on battle points, even if he unlocked every spell, he could only linger in the novice domain. He could not access more powerful spells or mixed-element ones.
“After gaining enough points, the media library unlock prompt appeared. Perhaps meeting certain thresholds unlocks more functions, allowing the app store to offer intermediate spells. But figuring out that boundary is no easy task. The priority remains bolstering my own strength.”
Ye Dui pondered inwardly. Powerful heroic spirits abounded, of course. The media library brimmed with heroic films, mythological dramas, and anime galore. Yet unlocking them demanded astronomical points. Those requiring few points felt rather useless. With Dragon Treasure and One Punch heroic spirit as aces up his sleeve, that sufficed for now. Enhancing his practical combat ability took precedence.
With that thought, he resolved. He flipped to the app store page. White light flickered across his face, dimming and brightening. New spells materialised one by one on the iPad surface. When his 500 points dwindled to 125, he stopped.
By then, his grimoire boasted thirty-three more spells, totalling forty-five. He had swept up every novice and basic spell!
A true all-round magic tutor.
“Now, what to do with these hundred-odd points?”
Ye Dui browsed other apps, like the browser, WeChat, messaging, and calls. What would their final magical modifications yield?
Among them, music stood out as something he could unlock now. The media library held plentiful music resources, all highly popular tunes and scores. Unlocking ranged from a hundred points for cheaper ones to over a thousand for pricier. Films and anime summoned heroic spirits, so what effects might unlocked music bring? If it merely served to listen and pass time, that would be quite the jest.
Ye Dui stared at his remaining 125 points, unable to decide.
The night passed swiftly.
The Blue Fox Mercenaries made no moves. Ye Dui caught a few hours of sleep towards dawn. Upon waking, he felt fairly refreshed. Stepping out, he spotted the little girl emerging from the next room, stretching lazily. They exchanged smiles and headed downstairs for breakfast.
The Blue Fox Mercenaries ate their breakfast in silence at the adjacent table. The wounded one, whose arm Ye Dui had severed with [Space Blade], looked pale. Glancing at Ye Dui, resentment flickered in his eyes now and then, yet he dared say nothing.
After breakfast, Ye Dui’s trio prepared to depart.
The carriage rolled towards Nanfeng Watchpost.
Before they left, the Blue Fox Mercenaries mounted their horses and headed towards Stan Town. However, once Ye Dui’s group was out of sight, the Blue Fox crew doubled back. They trailed at a distance, following towards Nanfeng Watchtower.
Blue Fox leader Nick’s face was grim. “Yesterday, we lost face in front of that kid by accident. Blue Fox is no pushover, especially to these greenhorns. It is just [Shadow Stealth], is it not? I never expected him to learn such a sneaky spell. If I encounter him again, I will not let him succeed! In the open wilds, his [Shadow Stealth] will show flaws more easily…”
With that misconception, he urged his companions to hasten after them.
After the Blue Fox Mercenaries departed, the White Horse Inn returned to calm. Yet soon, a horse galloping from Stan Town appeared outside the inn. Atop it sat a tall, slender woman in a black robe, hood concealing most of her features, revealing only a delicate chin. She dismounted, flipped back the hood, and unveiled a beautiful face.
If Ye Dui saw her, he would surely recognise the strikingly familiar long-legged woman from the street two days prior.
She hurried into the inn, only to rush out moments later.
“A step too late…” She eyed the carriage tracks in the inn’s muddy ground, annoyance flaring. “Damn Wade. After years apart, I planned a serendipitous street encounter, yet he did not recognise me. Yesterday, I visited formally, and he was out on a mission… If I catch him, I will make him pay!”
Muttering fiercely, she glanced towards Nanfeng Watchtower, a trace of worry clouding her eyes.
“Why of all places did he head to Nanfeng Watchtower…”
With a swish, she tore off her robe. Beneath lay a black nun’s habit, modified somewhat. What should have been the world’s most dignified attire now featured a low neckline, short hem with high slits. She donned the nun’s headpiece, remounted the white horse, and spurred it towards Nanfeng Watchpost. A corner of the habit fluttered, baring her long, pale legs.
From her bosom, she drew a brown-red covered book, the Bible. Flipping it open, her lips parted in a clear, melodious chant.
This was no sham incantation like Debbie’s for show. It was song with special effects.
A nun’s chant.
Stan Town had only one elderly nun as a believer, who rarely displayed her faith’s power. Thus, Ye Dui knew little of the believers’ abilities among Casrot Continent’s four professions. They wielded faith through chanted songs.
“Omnipresent spirits of the wind, you who fathom the mysteries of wind, you who know the laws of atmospheric flow.
Heed my call, respond to my faithful prayer.
Grant my plea, bestow upon me the power of wind.
I offer my devotion, I sacrifice with my bloodline.
Spirits of the wind, descend your wondrous power.”
As she chanted, a cyan glow enveloped the nun. She closed the Bible, placed her hand on the white horse beneath her. The glow shifted, wrapping the horse. Its gallop seemed to double, triple in speed, streaking forward as a white blur.
The nun’s chant evidently carried attribute-boosting buff effects. So, what of the music in Ye Dui’s media library?
