VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

"Everyone, everyone, I'm thankful for everyone who made it here to congratulate my son. Time always flies by so fast, and some of us will inevitably reach a point where we are unable to cast magic. Bo City's future will inevitably be seized by those younger, and ever more outstanding youths. You may think that I have invited everyone here for my son's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. That is a mistake."

Mu Zhuoyun's voice boomed through the grand hall of Mu Manor, filled with esteemed guests from all corners of Bo City. His face, flushed with a red hue from the wine in his hand, carried the aura of someone who commanded respect. The goblet in his hand shimmered in the soft glow of the chandelier as he raised it high for all to see.

"I have always believed in the students surpassing the master. I, Mu Zhuoyun, am only able to do this much for Bo City. I am only able to help preserve the current state of this Bo City that has given birth to many Magicians and outstanding, talented people. However, in the next ten to twenty years, Bo City will be in the hands of the young and will become even more prosperous. Becoming an increasingly flourishing Mage City is definitely possible. Don't you think that I should be holding a majestic banquet for the future of Bo City, so everyone can witness it together?" he continued, a smile curling at the edge of his lips as he surveyed the guests.

Yang Zuohe, one of the prominent figures of the city, stood up first. "Alright, let's give a toast for the future of Bo City!" he said, raising his own goblet and toasting Mu Zhuoyun.

"The people present are all those who have the qualifications to discuss our Bo City. Master Mu Zhuoyun is not the only one who is looking forward to the future of our Bo City. This toast, I will drink all at once!" Yang Zuohe declared as he downed his glass in one go, setting the tone for the rest of the gathering.

The present guests, filled with both respect for the host and the hopes of maintaining strong ties with the Mu Family, followed suit, standing up to toast before drinking their glasses to the last drop. It was a gesture of unity, of shared ambition for the city's future.

Realizing his ambitions had been broadcasted to everyone present, Mu Zhuoyun's heart swelled with pride. This feast, held in the illustrious Mu Manor, was more than just a display of wealth. It was an assertion of dominance, a claim that Bo City's future lay in his hands and in the hands of the Mu Family. As the impassioned banquet concluded, with music and conversation dying down, the true event everyone had been waiting for began—the Magic Duel.

Many of these guests had not come to hear Mu Zhuoyun's speech. The real draw was the battle—one that would settle many things. More than just a duel, it was a contest over a valuable treasure that lay beneath the city, hidden from all but the most privileged.

Everyone was eager to see who would emerge victorious and claim the prize—The Underground Holy Spring. Many had dreamt of it, a treasure that promised to infinitely increase a Magician's chances of reaching the Intermediate level. For the young and talented of Bo City, it was the ultimate prize.

However, the Holy Spring wasn't for everyone. Only the youngest Magicians, full of untapped potential, were allowed access to it. Even then, only one could claim it each year. Traditionally, it had always gone to a member of one of Bo City's Ancestral Families. The disciples of these powerful families, groomed from birth in the ways of magic, had always triumphed in the past.

As the guests finished their wine, anticipation filled the air. The time had come.

Light, the youngest of his prestigious family, had already been waiting in the inner arena, his heart pounding with the rhythm of the approaching duel. The stage had been set by none other than Mu Zhuoyun, who had made sure every detail of the duel was arranged to show the superiority of his family. Light knew this was no simple fight—it was a stage for him to prove his worth in front of the entire city.

The duel arena emerged before him, grander than the training grounds he had been accustomed to. It was a vast, elliptical space, reminiscent of a sports stadium. The seats around the arena ascended in tiers, packed with the influential and powerful of Bo City, all eyes fixed on the coming battle.

Light stood in the center, calm and focused, though his mind raced with possibilities. He had been standing there for quite some time now, waiting for his opponent. But it was all part of Mu Zhuoyun's plan. Yu Ang, the favored son of the Mu Family, was late—deliberately late. His entrance would be grand, a spectacle of power and wealth designed to intimidate Light and dazzle the crowd.

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as they speculated about the outcome of the duel.

"I will bet on it—Yu Ang. I have heard of Yu Ang's abilities many times before," one guest said confidently.

As the conversation continued, Yu Ang finally made his appearance. Dressed in an elegant, tailored garment adorned with shimmering runes and symbols, he looked every bit the prodigy of an Ancestral Family. His arrival was nothing short of majestic.

"Crap, this old guy Mu Zhuoyun is really going all out. Are you able to count how much Magic Equipment and how many Magic Tools are on his body?" Deng Kai, one of the respected figures from Tian Lan Magic High, almost jumped from his chair as he saw Yu Ang step into the arena.

Principal Zhu, standing beside Deng Kai, repeatedly shook his head. "The reason why so many students from our school can't beat the disciples of these Ancestral Families isn't just because of their cultivation. Their equipment is worlds apart from ours."

The reality of the situation was apparent. Yu Ang had been equipped with the finest Magic Tools and Magic Equipment that the Mu Family could offer. At this Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Mu Zhuoyun had spared no expense in outfitting his adopted son for victory.

"Deng Kai, since this duel was approved by you, you can be the referee this time," Mu Zhuoyun's voice cut through the whispers, filled with confidence and anticipation. He was eager to see his carefully laid plans play out.

"The two are both well-known figures among the younger generation. Having the duel is to motivate you to work even harder on your cultivation… Either way, take your positions!" Deng Kai commanded, stepping between the two young Magicians, his voice ringing across the arena.

Light and Yu Ang approached each other, extending their hands in a formal gesture before the duel. The tension in the air was palpable. This wasn't just a duel—it was a battle for pride, for the future of their families, and for the Holy Spring.

"Duel, begin!" Deng Kai's voice echoed through the arena, signaling the start of the long-awaited match.

Yu Ang wasted no time.

"Ice Spread!" he shouted, his voice laced with power as he controlled his stars with expert precision. Spirals of cold air swirled around him, wrapping him in an aura of freezing energy.

"Ice Spread, Coagulate!" Yu Ang continued, his voice steady as he layered more magic into the spell.

The arena's temperature dropped drastically, turning the hot midsummer air into a cold, biting winter in an instant. Snowflakes began to fall, and frost spread across the ground like a creeping tide. Within moments, the air was filled with icy motes, the entire space transformed into a frozen battlefield.

The cold snow and frost descended upon Light, threatening to freeze him solid in seconds. The speed of the Ice Spread was impressive. If Light remained in the area for more than three seconds, his legs would surely be frozen, leaving him vulnerable to Yu Ang's follow-up attacks.

Yu Ang's Ice Spread was an area spell, one that covered a wide radius and made it difficult for his opponents to move freely. It was a common tactic used by Ice Element Magicians to trap and disable their enemies. Once caught in the Ice Spread, escape was nearly impossible unless one had a movement spell from the Wind or Earth elements. And Light, as a Space Element user, had no such spells.

Or so everyone thought.

Light didn't move.

Where any other Magician would have started running, desperately trying to escape the freezing zone, Light stood his ground, his face calm and expressionless.

"Shit, has this kid gone crazy? Why is he still standing there?" one of the spectators muttered, his voice filled with confusion.

"If it were me, I'd be running by now. The second you get frozen, it's over," another guest added.

But Light remained still, his eyes focused on Yu Ang, who had a smug look on his face, confident that his Ice Spread would soon turn Light into a frozen statue.

Light raised his hand slowly, his fingers flexing as he whispered the words to a spell of his own.

"Telekinesis: Scatter!" Light's voice echoed, his hand extending forward as he activated the basic spell of the Space Element.

Immediately, an invisible force field rippled through the arena, pushing away the encroaching ice shards that Yu Ang had conjured. The scattered shards fell to the ground harmlessly, and the immediate threat of the ice was neutralized. Light stood calmly within the protective bubble of space energy.

"Yu Ang's Ice Spread was broken, now he will be more passive," Guo Caitang said, her voice tinged with worry.

"Don't worry," Mu He countered, his demeanor calm and assured.

Mu Zhuoyun, seated next to him, carried his accustomed smile. He appeared completely unbothered, as though everything remained firmly under his control.

Light, still exuding confidence, smiled playfully. He shifted his stance. "Telekinesis: Punch!" he called out, sending a wave of energy toward Yu Ang. The force slammed into Yu Ang, but it wasn't enough to hurt him—just enough to show that Light was playing with him.

But then, in an instant, Yu Ang vanished from his place.

Magical Boots, an Earth Magic Equipment with the Earth Ripple spell!

The unexpected appearance of the Earth Ripple spell caught Light off guard, causing his plan to go awry. Yu Ang reappeared a distance away, now safely out of reach of Light's earlier attack.

Suddenly, the temperature of the arena plummeted as the sky above seemed to open up, unleashing a violent blizzard. Snowflakes descended rapidly, and even the flames conjured by the duel's heat began to flicker out, unable to withstand the biting cold.

"This cold… it's as if it's freezing the very air," Light muttered to himself, feeling the chill in his bones.

"Ice Spread, Blizzard!" Yu Ang shouted, his voice ringing through the arena. The snow intensified, and Yu Ang stood at the center of the storm like a Snow Beast, his presence dominating the battlefield.

The entire duel arena was transformed into a frozen wasteland, the snow ruthless and unforgiving. The cold was so overwhelming that it felt like no living creature could survive within its grip. The spectators seated nearby could only shiver as the chill reached them, their teeth chattering uncontrollably as they hugged themselves for warmth.

Looking at the surrounding guests, Light noticed how utterly dumbstruck they appeared, their eyes wide with shock.

"Hahaha, I bet you didn't think Yu Ang, who has just turned eighteen, would have already grasped the third level of Ice Spread!" Mu He's voice carried through the cold air, triumphantly announcing Yu Ang's impressive feat.

Generally speaking, for a student to master the second level of magic before graduating from Tian Lan Magic High, they'd be considered a top student. If they scored well on their Practicals, they'd likely earn a spot at a prestigious Magic University. But the third level? That was another realm of skill entirely. It often took years, sometimes decades, to reach such a level.

And yet, Mu Zhuoyun's adopted son, Yu Ang, had grasped the third level of Ice Spread by the age of eighteen, surpassing not just the fifteen hundred students of Tian Lan Magic High, but all of the other powerful young disciples in Bo City.

Mu Zhuoyun, however, still held some tension. He knew that Light's three sisters had already mastered the third level during their battles at UHS. He had expected Light to be no different, believing he too should have reached this level by now.

"Nevertheless, the Mu Family can still produce these talents. Admirable," someone muttered from the crowd, impressed by Yu Ang's abilities.

"Old brother Zhuoyun, this move of yours was a little unexpected. Third level of Ice Spread, you sure hid that one deep," an old married woman laughed bitterly to herself, shaking her head.

"With the third level of Ice Spread appearing, he's essentially now in control of all the younger generations of Bo City. Indeed a hero of the young," another spectator added.

The guests in the arena began to congratulate and flatter Mu Zhuoyun, acknowledging the strength and talent of his adopted son. The intimidation factor of the third level Ice Spread was clear, and it felt as if the duel was no longer in Light's favor.

Mu Zhuoyun savored the attention, pleased with how the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was unfolding. This grand display had been meticulously orchestrated to show Bo City the overwhelming strength of the Mu Family's younger generation.

But Light wasn't finished. Despite the chilling winds and the oppressive snow, his eyes remained sharp, filled with determination. There was still a plan forming in his mind.