Chapter 463: Magic Duel
Chapter 463: Magic Duel
Chinese Wizards, known as Sorcerers, use Magic Bracelets to assist with their gestures when casting spells. A bracelet can be seen as a bent wand. According to historical records, Chinese ritualists have used a variety of tools for casting spells. However, over time, they chose bracelets as their primary tool due to their balance of convenience and magical power.
If there's one defining characteristic of Chinese ritualists, it's their use of casting materials. For example, they use various powdered or liquid Magic herbs, pre-prepared charm papers with runes, or Talisman Tiles. This method has its drawbacks, as the type of spell that can be cast is limited by the materials prepared beforehand, and the costs are higher. However, the benefits include a higher success rate and increased spell power.
Liam had previously attempted to use casting materials based on the knowledge from the Maoshan Daoist Techniques. However, due to different worlds having different rules that sometimes conflict, his methods had many flaws and were generally ineffective. Now, the books in the Library are helping him a great deal.
Hermione also found some magic involving souls in the Library, which she can use as another angle to study the rules of life and death more conveniently.
While Liam and Hermione were engrossed in the Library, the Miniature Dolls found a place that was useful to them as well. During their stroll around the campus, they met Professor Yan Yun, a descendant of the Puppeteer Clan. Rose Crystal, who shares all her knowledge with Liam, found common ground with Professor Yan Yun in puppet-making. As a result, Professor Yan Yun shared his ancestral puppetry secrets with the little dolls. He also had his puppets spar with Rosary Maiden to help the freshmen's Miniature Dolls improve their combat and spellcasting skills.
After spending half a month reading the books they wanted, Liam and the others naturally became familiar with many Chinese ritualists who were also using the Library during the holiday. So, one afternoon, when these Sorcerers suggested going to the arena for a duel, Liam and Hermione joined them.
"Arena combat is our favorite activity, far more popular than Quidditch, which we adopted from you", said Yan Yue, a young female Chinese Sorcerer. She was a sixth-year student at Kunlun Academy and had met Liam and the others while reading. She was at the school during the holiday because she planned to transfer here after graduating from Kunlun Academy, and her family's financial situation allowed her to come early to experience the atmosphere of the highest institution for Chinese ritualists.
The arena is actually set up in a sunken stadium, divided by a Magic barrier into several grounds, each about the size of a basketball court. Each ground has people dueling, either individually or in small teams of two to three. The stadium has ten grounds in total, and four people who look like professors are ready to intervene if any spells become too dangerous.
"Alright, I'm going in", Yan Yue said, waving to her friends as she entered an arena. As soon as she and her opponent were in position, she saw her opponent raise a hand and shoot a red light. Yan Yue quickly raised a blue, translucent shield the size of a plate to block the red light.
"Another ambush. Is that all you learned at Jiuli? Can't you be more straightforward?" She pointed forward with a sword finger, and a transparent Qi Sword shot out. The male Sorcerer with a ponytail quickly sidestepped to avoid it. The Qi Sword struck the specially treated stone ground, producing a metallic sound.
"I can ambush because it's a skill!" The Jiuli Sorcerer, who seemed to be a friend of Yan Yue, occasionally released red or green beams to obstruct her movements. However, Liam could sense that he was using these spells as cover to secretly release small insects and sprinkle various powders.
Due to his divided attention, Jiuli Sorcerer was gradually forced to the edge of the arena. Just as it seemed he was about to fall out of bounds, he smiled at Yan Yue. "Five Spirits' Gathering, you've fallen for it."
With a gesture, the items he had placed on the platform were activated. A green smoke, like petals, erupted from the ground and enveloped Yan Yue, closing in on her forcefully.
"Ha ha, I win." But just as Jiuli Sorcerer was celebrating, a clear, crisp voice came from within the green smoke sphere. "My foolish brother, do you really think you've won?"
Before he could react, a soccer-sized transparent orb slammed into Jiuli Sorcerer, exploding on impact. The previously jubilant sorcerer was blown into the air and landed on the ground, covered in dust and dirt.
"Feels like a broken bone, Yan Yue, you were too harsh." The young Jiuli Sorcerer stood up, brushed off the dust, and complained to Yan Yue, who emerged from the smoke.
"Ever since you used this trick last time, I've been on guard. Don't treat others like idiots." Yan Yue cleaned the dust off her clothes and grabbed his ear. "In real combat, you need to adapt. Repeating the same trick over and over is the most foolish thing you can do."
Next, at the invitation of the Yan siblings, Liam and Hermione engaged them in a two-on-two duel. The Yan siblings indeed had some practical combat skills. The younger brother released a fog to obscure vision, while the sister hid in the mist and launched an attack.
However, Liam and Hermione easily used their Magic to sense the siblings' positions within the fog, which blocked ordinary Magic Surveillance. They then used two consecutive silent Stunning Spells to hit the same point. The first spell broke through their defensive Magic, and the second spell knocked them out.
The battle lasted less than a minute. Afterward, Liam and the others fought several more volunteers, but whether in one-on-one or team battles, they ended each fight within a minute. Some opponents didn't even know how they had been defeated.
The surrounding students looked somewhat dejected. Yan Yue, being very outgoing and having become close with Liam and the others during the past half-month of Library study, stepped forward and asked, "Are all British Wizards this powerful?"
"No, no, no!" Hermione explained, seeing the disappointed looks on the faces of the surrounding Wizards. "We're just exceptional cases. For example, Liam won the Triwizard Tournament two years ago, where he single-handedly brought a Western Dragon to near-death in the first task. This year, we managed to survive a battle against the most powerful terrorist organization in our country, the Death Eaters. According to one of our Aurors, our strength is on par with some professional Aurors. You don't need to see us as ordinary students."
After briefly explaining what an Auror was, a pair of Weasley Twins approached. "May we have the honor of sparring with you?"
"Wang Brothers, why are you adults bullying my grandson and granddaughter-in-law?" Uncle Liang pushed through the crowd and looked at the Weasley Twins. "I remember you both ranked third and fourth in the Inspector exams last year and were awarded a third-class commendation within a year of joining. Isn't it a bit much to bully my not-yet-graduated grandson and granddaughter?"
"Professor Liang, it's actually like this—" another professor who had observed the entire process explained. After listening, Uncle Liang laughed. "Alright, you two seem much stronger than I imagined. If so, let's have a match. We professors will act as judges."
Soon, the professors connected four arenas and created some cover and obstacles. Amid the cheers of the surrounding students and faculty, the four walked onto the arena to begin their sparring.
(End of Chapter)
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