VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

"Telekinesis: Void Slash!" Light's voice was calm, but the power of his spell was anything but. With a single motion of his hand, the space before him distorted, creating a vicious slash that tore through the air towards Yu Ang.

Yu Ang sneered with disdain, his arrogance palpable. He didn't seem the least bit phased by Light's attack. He quickly channeled his intent, searching for a defensive Magic Equipment stored within his Spiritual World.

"Ice Dust Shield!" Yu Ang activated the Shield Magic Equipment with practiced ease. In an instant, specks of ice formed in the air, gathering rapidly until a large, curved Ice Dust Shield stood solidly in front of him. The shield shimmered with frosty energy, a thick barrier that Yu Ang believed would completely protect him.

The Void Slash collided with the Ice Dust Shield in a flash of light, and for a brief moment, it seemed as if the shield would hold. But in the blink of an eye, the space-rending energy of the spell shattered the Ice Dust Shield, blasting it apart. The force of the impact surged forward and struck Yu Ang directly, sending him stumbling backward.

The crowd gasped in shock. Yang Zuohe, a senior member of the Magic Association, stared at the scene in disbelief. "Has this kid been pulled in by anyone? If not, then I want him!" he said, his voice laced with excitement.

Zhou Mingjun, a representative from the prestigious Zhou Family, wasn't pleased. "Your Magic Association doesn't have any good Fire elemental resources. You should leave him to our Zhou Family," he retorted, his tone sharp.

Luo Yunbo, an officer from the Bo City Army, was equally determined. "This kid belongs to our army! Don't you steal him from us!" he shouted, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

Yu Ang, who had always been a favored disciple of the powerful Mu Family, had access to the best resources Bo City had to offer. His training was impeccable, and at just eighteen years old, he had already mastered the third level of the Ice element spell. It was a feat that had left many of the spectators in awe.

"Interesting, haha, it really is interesting! It really is too interesting!" Yu Ang, who had been blasted into a humiliating state by Light's spell, struggled to his feet. His body was bruised and battered, but there was a wild gleam in his eyes as he stood in the snow-covered arena.

Light raised an eyebrow. This guy is still conscious? He thought, feeling a flicker of surprise. Although the Ice Shield had absorbed most of the force, the Void Slash should have incapacitated him.

"Is this guy's body made of steel?" whispered a member of the audience, their voice echoing the disbelief of the crowd.

Mu Zhuoyun, Yu Ang's adoptive father and the head of the Mu Family, sat with a dark expression. He let out a quiet snort, frustrated by the turn of events. Fortunately, he had prepared Yu Ang with more than just the Ice Dust Shield. Hidden beneath his clothing was the Magic Armor, a defensive piece of equipment that had absorbed the brunt of Light's attack.

"Magic Boots, Magic Shield, and an extremely expensive Magic Armor… Is there a need to be this luxurious?" Zhou Mingjun muttered, unable to hide his annoyance at the Mu Family's extravagance.

Principal Zhu and Deng Kai, two senior members of Tian Lan Magic High, were equally stunned. Magic Armor was an extraordinary defensive tool. It was far more valuable than a mere Magic Shield, capable of blocking almost any physical or magical attack. It was rare to see one used in a simple duel.

"I forgot to tell everyone," Mu Zhuoyun said calmly to the guests, rubbing his mustache. "For my son's Coming-of-Age Ceremony, I specifically gave him an Ice Silkworm Armor to protect him from any unexpected dangers."

"What's the point of dueling now?" Zhoumin, a student watching from the sidelines, called out in frustration. "His entire body is covered with Magic Equipment! If you really have some ability, then fight without the Magic Tools! How shameless!"

Xu Zhaoting and Wang Sanpang, two more of Light's classmates, shared Zhoumin's outrage, feeling the unfairness of the match.

"Playtime is over, trash," Light finally spoke up, his voice low and dangerous. He had grown tired of Yu Ang's bravado.

Something shifted in the air. It felt like the entire atmosphere around Light had changed. A terrifying energy began to leak from his body, crackling in the air. He raised his hand, and in an instant, Yu Ang was lifted off the ground as if seized by an invisible force.

Yu Ang's feet dangled helplessly in the air, his body jerking as he struggled against the telekinetic grip tightening around his throat. His face turned pale, and veins bulged from his skin as he gasped for breath.

Suddenly, Light brought his hand down. Yu Ang was slammed into the ground with brutal force, as if a massive, invisible hammer had crushed him. The impact left a deep indentation in the arena floor, and blood splattered across the snow.

The crowd fell into stunned silence. Yu Ang's body was embedded in the ground, unmoving, and it was unclear if he was even alive. The once-boastful young disciple of the Mu Family now looked utterly defeated, his earlier arrogance shattered.

"This kid… Our army will definitely have him! Whoever dares to steal him from us, I'll raid their home!" Zhankong, the head of Bo City's Army, had already leapt from his seat, his excitement barely contained.

He, the great Zhankong, feared no one in Bo City. He wanted Light, and he would have him—even if it cost him his entire fortune.

"Brother, Yu Ang is still lying there!" Mu He, Mu Zhuoyun's brother, called out, his voice breaking the stunned silence.

Mu Zhuoyun's face darkened further. Damn it, he cursed inwardly. How had the Coming-of-Age Ceremony for his beloved adopted son turned into this disaster? This was supposed to be Yu Ang's moment to shine, a grand display of the Mu Family's power. Instead, it had become a stage for Light to humiliate them.

Worse yet, they had lost another duel to the Su Family, further damaging their reputation. Mu Zhuoyun felt his blood pressure rise as frustration and anger boiled inside him.

As the tension in the arena grew unbearable, Light's gaze shifted to the towering Silver Commerce Tower in the distance. The structure loomed over Bo City like a guardian, its sleek design a symbol of the city's wealth and power.

Hidden beneath the tower was something far more valuable: the Underground Holy Spring. Light knew that this treasure was what he had come for, and the duels, the displays of power—they were merely distractions.

The Underground Holy Spring was Bo City's most coveted resource, a source of immense magical energy located deep beneath the Silver Commerce Tower. It was hidden on the fifteenth sub-floor, in a secret underground hall that most people didn't even know existed.

An elevator, unlike any normal one, took Light down to the fifteenth sub-floor. The place was impressive, resembling a secret military base. The walls were made from a special crystalline rock, and the entire structure seemed to exude an aura of mystery and power.

The underground hall was heavily guarded, with only a single patrol squad assigned to protect it. Even so, the squad's captain was an Intermediate Magician, showing just how seriously the city took the security of the Underground Holy Spring.

Standing before a massive totem door that led to the spring, the president of the Bo City Magic Association turned to Light. "Behind this totem door is the Underground Holy Spring," he said solemnly. "You are allowed to enter for a period of one week to cultivate. The Underground Holy Spring maintains its own cycle, so do not touch it. All you need to do is sit in the middle of the spring, on the leather mat, and enter meditation."

Light nodded, his mind already focused on the task ahead. The Underground Holy Spring would grant him immense power, but he knew that such opportunities came with their own set of dangers. As he prepared to step through the totem door, he could feel the weight of Bo City's expectations pressing down on him.

Inside, the true test awaited.