Chapter 23.2: So You Are Saying… This Thing Can Be Eaten?
Incantations were fascinating. As mentioned, by continuously reciting the same word and constantly refining the subsequent idea, one could deepen their understanding of an incantation.
Initially, this process was quick; mastering the pronunciation allowed one to grasp the basic meaning.
However, to understand the deeper layers, relying solely on recitation slowed down the rate of information acquisition.
Liu Ji vaguely felt that there must be more efficient ways to learn. Unfortunately, he didn't know them yet, and Yaine probably wouldn't teach him these methods until he had a clear grasp of basic vocabulary.
So, if he wanted to delve deeper now, he could only use the most basic method, which was to keep repeating a word.
To explore whether water elements were edible, Liu Ji had been mentally repeating the incantation word "water element" all day, averaging 30 times a minute. At present, the sun was already setting, and Liu Ji didn't know how many times he had repeated it in total.
In any case, he would just keep reciting. At least now, he had gained a rough understanding about the basic properties of the water element.
The so-called magical elements were indeed not the same as physical substances. These magical elements seemed more like spirits that could manipulate certain substances.
They were formless and omnipresent, and the essence of incantations was actually the language used to communicate with them.
And they were the basis on which magic could be successfully cast. Magic energy was like a form of compensation required to engage them.Of course, this was the most superficial means of understanding; deeper logic was much more complex. And of course, for Liu Ji, this simple understanding was more than sufficient.
At least he now understood many things.
For instance, why utilizing water magic in the desert was so difficult despite the presence of significant moisture in the air?
This was because elemental spirits always chose environments that were more suitable for their existence. In areas like deserts, water elements were almost nonexistent.
Using water magic in such regions was like trying to hail a cab when deep inside a forest. Even if a high price was offered and the search area expanded, the best one might get was a second-hand tractor even if waiting for a long time.
Then, Liu Ji also realized that his idea of consuming water elements raw wasn't very practical. After all, these elements were intangible, making it impossible to physically consume them.
However, that didn't mean that there was no way to consume them.
Liu Ji vaguely sensed that elemental spirits might indeed have a means of appearing in physical form.
As for how to achieve it… he'd probably have to ask Yaine.
Just that he didn't know when there might be another chance for an extra one-on-one lesson like last night…
Crap, when did I become so keen on learning?
Just as Liu Ji's mind was wandering with these thoughts, he accidentally bumped into the bamboo basket on Osar's back.
Looking up, Liu Ji saw that the two ahead had stopped for some reason and were gazing toward the end of the horizon.
Liu Ji followed the direction of their gazes and saw a blood-red crescent moon slowly rising.
Tonight was a blood moon, too.
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Outside the ancient city, Myza withdrew his right foot that had just stepped out.
Watching the slowly rising blood moon, he sighed softly.
Then, he turned toward the city gates, where several dozen caped fighters were engaged in a fierce combat with the stone sentinels.
That's right, these mysterious bunch of caped beings had come again today, and their numbers had even increased.
Although the stone sentinels were powerful, they also appeared overwhelmed facing an assault nearly 10 times their number.
But Myza didn't care at all; the number of these foes didn't matter to him.
This desert had a vast appetite. No matter if they came by the tens, hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands, they would all be consumed by this land, leaving behind no remains.
What Myza was curious about was how these beings had survived the previous night's blood moon.
Or maybe… they hadn't even been in this desert the previous night.
Perhaps they had some means of coming here quickly from somewhere else.
But whatever the case, Myza didn't care.
Since they liked throwing their lives away, he would let them come all they want; he had been bored for too many years anyway. Some things could add a bit of color to his tranquil life, and he was more than happy.
As Myza stepped back into the city gate, a swirl of sand arose from nowhere, blowing all the cloaked figures out, and the few stone sentinels quickly took the opportunity to rush back inside the city gate.
Following that, the massive and thick stone door thunderously shut, completely sealing the entrance.
At the same time, the last ray of sunlight on the horizon also vanished, and half of the blood moon was now visible.
The earth began to tremble as countless skeletal beasts emerged from the ground, continuing their frenzy from the previous night.
Myza looked up at the city walls, where Calidora and Girunini stood.
"Take a good look; this is just a glimpse of the true face of this land," Myza murmured. "I just wonder whether you will still have the courage to face this desert again after witnessing such a scene…"