Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

Count Theodore deliberately slowed his speech, ensuring he did not appear too different from his usual self.

It seemed like a very ordinary magic proficiency test. But he couldn't erase the scene he had just witnessed from his mind.

At the moment Yan Xing attracted a peak of magical elements, his consciousness was fully immersed in the illusion magic created. What Count Theodore saw then was a layer of shining armor, formed by a large amount of lightning-attribute magical elements, appearing on the outside of Yan Xing's existing armor. Within the joints of this new armor, lightning flashed and sparks flew. Whirlwinds danced fiercely around it, causing the ribbons on Yan Xing's attire to flutter wildly. Amid the flashing lightning and thunder, the magnetic field on the entire first floor of the Magic Tower became extremely chaotic. Bookshelves shook violently, and the output of the Magic Circles doubled.

What kind of magical talent was this? Count Theodore had never seen anything like it. At least, to his knowledge, he had never heard of a mortal capable of displaying such a high specialized magical affinity. He was a genius! But how should he be nurtured? Count Theodore needed to make a quick decision. The old Earl had decided to take Yan Xing as his disciple partly because he greatly appreciated his talent, but the larger reason stemmed from his own interests. The events at the Temple earlier today were enough to show that the various forces within Nuta City were no longer willing to lie low. They intended to exploit the current war for their own ends. Although this crisis had been navigated smoothly, their opponents' next schemes would only be more meticulous and even harder to counter. The old Earl lacked the energy for these intricate power plays; he needed someone to help him bear the brunt of the pressure from all sides during this period. Yan Xing's performance today convinced the old Earl that he would be a very good partner. Though young, Yan Xing handled problems with considerable skill. Yet, Yan Xing's current level of strength also made him a very vulnerable collaborator. The old Earl's purpose in taking Yan Xing as his disciple was to rapidly enhance his strength, allowing him to achieve a degree of self-protection. But how to teach him? And to what extent? There had to be a standard. The old Earl did not want to cultivate an even more formidable enemy for himself while trying to deal with his current adversaries. However, Yan Xing's display of magical talent forced the old Earl to re-evaluate his newly accepted disciple. Neglecting such profound magical talent would truly be a terrible waste. It would be a sacrilege against magic itself. Moreover, could he even prevent the magical achievements that such talent could attain? For the Theodore family... what was most important?

The old Earl did not struggle with these thoughts for long. He extended his hand, and after a shimmer of emerald green light, a water elemental emerged from the Magic Fountain.

The old Earl said to his elemental servant, "Go to the top floor of the Magic Tower. From the cyan box there, bring me the magic book inside."

The elemental servant bowed to the old Earl and then ascended the stairs built along the wall to the floor above.

Count Theodore said to Yan Xing, "The state you just experienced is known as meditation. The Magic Fountain here can help you enter a meditative state quickly, and the effects of meditation will be much more pronounced here than in other places. I suggest you stay at my Lord's Mansion while you study magic. As for your domain... The Eternal Domain isn't too far from my Nuta City. The Lord's Mansion has Battle Griffins you can ride. You could return to your Eternal Domain daily to handle its affairs, then come back here to practice magic with me. I also hope you can take on more duties in Nuta City. The knowledge and Experience you gain here can better help you develop your own domain."

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Yan Xing had no reason to refuse.

The meditation he had just experienced had awakened his perception of magical elements. He could feel his Magic Power accumulating, a benefit from the Magic Fountain and the high concentration of magical elements here. If he wanted to learn magic, he definitely needed to spend more time by the old Earl's side, constantly receiving his instruction. Having a Battle Griffin for transportation meant he could travel quickly between the Eternal Domain and Nuta City. This way, he could enhance his own strength without neglecting the management of his domain's development. Taking on duties in Nuta City was also a great opportunity. With the development of the Eternal Domain, Yan Xing was already feeling somewhat overwhelmed by his administrative responsibilities. As his domain expanded, more and more management problems were bound to arise. If he could learn from Nuta City's management system, his Eternal Domain could follow its example. This would inevitably reduce errors in domain policies, allowing for smooth and rapid development.

Yan Xing said to the old Earl, "I will follow my Mentor's arrangements. I am willing to do whatever my teacher asks."

Count Theodore said, "Since you've taken on the investigation of the murder of Priest Temple, you should assume the role of a Peace Officer within the Nuta City Defense Forces. I'll grant you command of a Hundred-men Unit. You can recruit its members yourself, and Nuta City will cover all expenses. I am also appointing you as a special advisor to Nuta City's Special Affairs Department, specifically to handle certain matters that I cannot afford to be distracted by."

This appointment granted Yan Xing a legitimate status in Nuta City, which would naturally make his future actions much more convenient.

Yan Xing accepted.

At that moment, the elemental servant returned, carrying a book down from upstairs.

It handed the book to Count Theodore and then dissipated into a spray of water droplets, merging back into the Magic Fountain.

Count Theodore caressed the cover of the magic book and said to Yan Xing, "Many materials can be used to make magic books: ordinary paper, animal skins, fabrics... even metal, stone, or leaves. Magic books made from different materials have vastly different effects. This magic book is one I came across during my early travels. Its pages appear to be made from the skin of some Air-attribute magical beast, and the cover is bound with a branch from the World Tree, one that has grown for over a thousand years. It's an extremely precious magic book with Air-system magical attributes. My specialized magic is Water System, and Hibel's is Fire System. Therefore, I've kept this book treasured until now. It now seems as though it has been waiting for your arrival... It is yours."

The old Earl handed the magic book to Yan Xing.

Holding the magic book, Yan Xing first felt its weight. Magical elements flowed across the red cover, a faint white light shimmering intermittently on its surface. The wood grain seemed to shift constantly, hinting at an underlying pattern and emanating a subtle power.

He opened the cover to find blank pages inside. The pages, made of magical beast skin, were supple yet durable, and also gave off a faint glow.

Yan Xing asked, "Mentor, why are there no words on it? How do I choose which magic to learn?"

Count Theodore replied, "This is not a magic book for study; it is a magic book that will resonate with your consciousness. It will record all the magic you learn and assist you in your spellcasting. What you need to do now is integrate it into your consciousness, to truly make it yours. This is the first lesson I am giving you. Go back to your room. In a quiet environment, establish a connection with your magic book; resonate with it. Once you've merged with it, come find me... and we will continue with the second lesson."

"Yes... my Mentor."

Yan Xing gave the old Earl a Knight's salute, then left the Magic Tower, cradling the magic book in his arms.