More than half a year had passed since Bai Ting left House Bai for the Magic Academy. During this time, Bai Ling had almost spent every day holed up in House Bai's study room. She wanted to understand everything about this world.
She learned this was a magical land called the Gaia Continent. She also sought to grasp this world's "magic arts," as her past life had possessed such abilities. Sadly, this world had no concept of magic arts—only magic. Magic formed from quantum particles in the air, controlled by a mage's mental power to shape Magic Arrays and magical weapons.
Magic ranked into seven tiers, highest to lowest: SS, S, A, B, C, D, E. It split into two main types. First: Gaia Magic—the human-practiced magic. Second: Elven Magic—a higher-tier art exclusive to the Elf Clan. Only elves could cultivate it, requiring their unique physique.
Gaia Magic further divided. First: Elemental Magic, using quantum particles of wind, wood, water, fire, and earth—the Five Elements. Second: Special Elemental Magic. This included dark attribute, light attribute, and healing attribute. Healing attribute mages could resurrect the dead and heal any wound with enough mental power. Even near-fatal injuries instantly restored peak combat strength. Though wood and lightning attributes had minor healing, they paled next to dedicated healing magic. Hence, it was called a "line," not an element. The highest was lightning attribute. Its destructive power was unmatched. At S Rank or higher, lightning mages could sense life within thunderbolts. Grasping life's mysteries, they could imbue lightning with life. Reborn lightning gained the mage's strength, effectively doubling their combat power.
When Bai Ling told her father Bai Mo about studying magic in the library, he felt both pleased and saddened. He was pleased his daughter had grown up. She had dreams and people to protect. Bai Ling had said, "Father, I want to learn powerful magic to protect those I care about." She never wanted to lose anyone important again.
Bai Mo couldn't believe his ears. He didn't know where this "protection" idea came from. Their family had lived secluded on the outskirts of the Beast Forest since before Bai Ling's birth. Even the outskirts saw few visitors. A single low-grade Monster Beast outmatched any same-rank mage. Few dared enter the Beast Forest.
Though puzzled, Bai Mo knew Bai Ling had grown up. It felt odd seeing such a "little adult," but he didn't press further and gladly agreed. He also felt loss. His little girl no longer needed his protection. Her time was stolen by that cursed study room, leaving him with unspoken bitterness.
Over the half-year, Bai Ling absorbed vast knowledge about the Gaia Continent. She immersed herself in the study room. Most books covered magic—predecessors' insights and Magic Arrays. When Bai Ling mentioned learning Magic Arrays, Bai Mo sternly warned her to be cautious. She must stop immediately if she felt even the slightest discomfort during casting. Only same-rank or lower mages could safely use a Magic Array. Using a higher-rank array risked backlash. Mild cases blocked advancement forever. Severe cases caused instant explosion.
Bai Ling obeyed but secretly tried constructing arrays a few times. High-level arrays came effortlessly to her. She wasn't surprised. She'd learned magic used mental power, like her past life's "willpower"—just different terms. What was "magic arts" before was now "magic."
Realizing she could build arrays with willpower, Bai Ling studied every Magic Array book in the library. She didn't have perfect recall, but she remembered everything she saw and practiced. After reading and researching each book once, she memorized all the knowledge.
The Gaia Continent also had magical weapons. Ranks rose from low to high: Wooden, Stone, Iron, Magical, Spiritual, Saintly, Mystic Artifact, Divine Artifact. Each weapon was forged by fire mages shaping the model. Then mages engraved Magic Arrays. Higher-rank mages created stronger weapons with advanced arrays. Lower-rank mages could only engrave same-rank arrays, yielding weaker gear.
Weapons could be enhanced, but it was harder than forging them. Few chose enhancement; most upgraded to stronger weapons. Some, attached to their gear, opted for enhancement. It required strengthening existing arrays or adding new ones without conflict. Any clash shattered the weapon into scrap.
Enhancing gear first demanded deep Magic Array mastery. Only seasoned mages could attempt it. Second, the mage's rank mattered. A high-rank mage with strong array skills produced better enhancements than a low-rank peer. Low-rank mages couldn't engrave higher-rank arrays. Higher-tier arrays were vastly stronger. Thus, low-rank mages always lost out.
