Chapter 6: This is Strange! Could Tang Si Really Be a Genius?

“I teach the physical concept of voltage, and you comprehend ‘Electric Claw’?”

“What does this mean?”

“You are definitely the most… peculiar student I’ve ever taught!“

Ren was speechless as he watched Tang Si wave his crackling lightning claws like a child showing off a new toy. It was as if Wolverine had just gotten his adamantium claws.

Tang Si excitedly scratched the ground a few times with his electric claws, leaving deep, charred marks about ten centimeters deep. If not careful, even the most experienced hunter might mistake this for the marks of some lightning beast.

“Master! Master! Does this mean… I’ve passed?” Tang Si asked eagerly as he ran over, looking at Ren with a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was clear he was desperate for his master’s approval.

After mentally flipping a table in frustration and cursing inwardly, Ren kept a serious expression.

“Ha! That’s it?” Ren slapped the ‘blackboard,’ making the whole wall shake. ‘The concept of ‘voltage’ can be extended to at least 100,000 applications. You’ve only grasped one and you’re already pleased with yourself? You have a long way to go.’

This wasn’t an exaggeration or an attempt to make it sound more mysterious.

“It’s just that physics and magic are entirely different things!”

To Tang Si’s ears, this meant that the principles of voltage could be extended to 100,000 kinds of magic.

Tang Si’s still-maturing heart was immediately struck with awe again, feeling an overwhelming sense of admiration.

Master Ren is truly the legendary Archmage!

Shocked and inspired, Tang Si clenched his fists, his blood boiling with excitement. He desperately wanted to master stronger lightning magic and get closer to his god-like master!

With a serious expression, Tang Si bowed deeply. “Master, you are right. I was too shallow.”

At this point, Ren’s stern demeanor softened. He took Tang Si’s charred right hand and sighed, “Did your hand go numb earlier?”

“Ah!” Tang Si hadn’t noticed until Ren mentioned it. He initially thought the tingling was a natural effect of the magic, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed both numb and prickling with pain.

Did ‘Electric Claw’ hurt him as well?

Seeing his stunned disciple, Ren was utterly speechless.

Does the ‘Electric Claw’ zap the user first, emphasizing its self-destructive trait?

Luckily, Tang Si’s injury wasn’t severe. Maybe he truly had the rumored lightning resistance. His nails and fingertips looked charred, but his flesh was unharmed.

After a bit of first aid, Ren silently decided to change the lesson plan.

He slapped the blackboard, “Let’s pause the discussion on electrical principles. First, we need to conduct an Electrical Safety Training.”

“Master, you’re so good to me,” Tang Si said.

“No! I just don’t want to see you die in front of me. If you must die, do it far away, so I don’t have to witness it.” Ren’s words were heartfelt. Ever since taking on Tang Si as a disciple, Ren felt that sooner or later, this overly reckless student would scare him to death.

Tang Si thought to himself: As expected, Master has a hard mouth but a soft heart!

“Master, boo hoo hoo…”

“Stop crying, you big baby! You are by far the worst disciple I’ve ever had!” Ren couldn’t help but curse.

Tang Si seemed to have a masochistic streak; the more Ren scolded him, the happier he looked.

Perhaps it was because he had made continuous progress in such a short time.

Progress provides a positive feedback loop for the psyche.

When you feel that you are improving, all the effort, worries, and pain you endure transform into the sweetness of victory at the moment of success.

As a staunch materialist, Ren didn’t truly believe in this sudden enlightenment approach.

Ren habitually started reinforcing his own defenses: “A person’s ability to comprehend is limited.”

Some people can accept new things and understand new knowledge and skills even as they age. Others reach a certain point and can no longer progress. If you ever reach a time when you can’t learn anymore, don’t blame me or yourself. It’s because your talent only goes so far.”

“Huh?” Tang Si exclaimed softly.

You managed to have an epiphany once, but do you think you can always find shortcuts, understand things on your own, and keep leveling up?

I, Ren, do not believe it!

In the howling wind, Ren stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an aura of profound mystery: “A master is just a guide, as the saying goes, ‘A master leads you to the door, but you must walk through it yourself.’ I can only introduce you to the basics. What you ultimately learn depends on your own comprehension.”

Tang Si nodded vigorously, “I understand, Master! But I think, as long as I’m alive, I won’t give up.”

“…”

Are you determined to crash into a wall and not turn back? Do you have to keep trying until you break through?

Ren felt like he was going to be driven mad.

Fine!

I’ve said my piece. If you fail someday, it’s not on me.

Then, after Ren had imparted a lesson on electrical safety, Tang Si unusually asked a question: “Master, is it true that as long as I find an insulator, I can block lightning?”

“That’s right! But insulators are not absolute. When faced with a stronger electric shock, there’s still a risk of being pierced through.” Ren glanced at the clearing sky and noticed the sun was already high. “Alright, that’s it for this morning’s lesson.”

“Master, what are you going to do?”

“Fishing! Otherwise, what will we eat?”

With that, Ren patted his backside and walked away, leaving Tang Si standing there, still yearning for more.

“Although Master doesn’t say it, he definitely hopes I’ll become a grand mage. Even if I can’t shatter stars like the gods, I should at least be able to summon lightning as effortlessly as he does. How can I be worthy of being his disciple otherwise?”

“As for understanding magic, Master said it’s not just about persistence and talent. Others might comprehend ten thousand spells. I’m a bit slow, so how about starting with a hundred?”

“Master mentioned that air is an insulator, but wind elements are not just simple air. So if I block the air outside and remotely control the wind elements, I won’t get electrocuted, right?”

With that thought, Tang Si closed his eyes and began what he called “meditation.” Gradually, he resonated with the wind elements in the surrounding atmosphere, continually imagining, ‘Wind is wind, thunder is thunder, wind and thunder are two different things.’

This method of operation through sheer willpower was somewhat overly idealistic.

In reality, the initial progress was very slow. Until a certain moment, a meter in front of him, in mid-air, there was suddenly a peculiar sensation like a structure had been stripped of its bones, leaving only its shell.

Even though it wasn’t happening to his own body, Tang Si could feel a vague sense of his magic being forcibly divided into two distinct types.

The feeling was rather uncomfortable!

Still, Tang Si gritted his teeth and persisted.

“Master said, ‘everything relies on comprehension!’ This must be it, I am comprehending it.”

Under the scorching sun, Tang Si was numb and itchy due to the mutation of magic power in his body, mixed with a little stinging pain, as if hundreds of ants were biting his flesh and blood.

If it were Ren, he would probably regard this as a magical version of being possessed.

However, Downs was still insisting on separating the wind element into pure air and the so-called [thunder element].

He gritted his teeth and persisted, his eyes firm.

Not long after, Ren, who was fishing by the cold pond, suddenly received a reminder.

[Congratulations to the host, your eldest disciple has created his own level 2 protective magic (protection against lightning and arrow shield)! 】

Ren’s eyes widened: “No – it’s – right -“

End of Chapter 6