NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Practice Test
Lu Mei decisively refused, "The City Monster-Hunting Team is out of the question. You're still too young. Monster hunting isn't child's play; it's war. Using the Metal Element is also too dangerous."
In a magical world teeming with monsters, activities like monster hunting naturally evolved. A city generally has five major forces responsible for using magic to protect it:
1. The most powerful Magic Association,
2. The Government, including city councilors,
3. The Military, including soldiers,
4. Powerful families and clans,
5. The Hunters' Alliance, essentially a guild of mercenaries, mainly consisting of freelance mages.
The City Monster-Hunting Team is a semi-civilian, semi-official group registered under the Hunters' Alliance but hired by the government. They primarily operate within city limits, dealing with monsters that accidentally stray into the area—essentially a magical version of city management.
Most high school graduates start with the City Monster-Hunting Team to gain experience before venturing beyond the city's safety zone to face monsters directly.
Hearing this, Lu Jun felt helpless. His older sister was sometimes overly protective. Of course, at the age of sixteen and as a first-year high school student, no reasonable adult would allow him to join a monster-hunting team.
Even school-organized field training wouldn't occur until his second year, during the winter break. Even Mo Fan, the protagonist in the original story, only joined the City Monster-Hunting Team during the summer break before his third year and had to disguise himself to look older.
People don't achieve success for no reason; Mo Fan was the ultimate overachiever who studied even during summer and winter breaks.
However, Lu Jun was no slouch either, getting a head start by a year and a half.
He decided to persuade his sister: "You've seen the power of the Metal Element. You can't dismiss it just because it's dangerous. No magical element is invincible. If it has advantages, we must also accept its drawbacks."
"Moreover, the Metal Element has four subsequent spells. It's possible there are ways to address its weaknesses, and its potential is enormous, especially when fused with various metals to greatly enhance its power."
"In the future, I'll have to face monsters anyway."
Lu Mei pursed her lips, reluctantly softening her stance.
Seeing this, Lu Jun pressed further, "My other element is Water. As long as I use the Water Barrier to block a monster's first attack, my Metal Element can take care of the rest."
"Oh, right." A sudden thought struck him, and he said, "Sister, aren't you a Wind Element mage? You can add Wind Path for speed enhancement, giving me dual-layered protection."
Finally, Lu Mei sighed and agreed reluctantly, "Fine, but only under my supervision. At least this way, your survival chances are slightly higher."
Lu Jun curiously asked, "You broke through to the Intermediate level six months ago. Have you mastered the Intermediate Wind Spell, Wind Disk? What element are you planning to awaken as your second?"
"I mastered it long ago. The 49 stars were a breeze," Lu Mei replied with a smug hum. "As for my second element, I awakened the Earth Element. I wasn't satisfied at first, but now I see it can save your life countless times."
The Earth Element's basic spell, Earth Wave, is both a movement and control spell. When upgraded to level three, it becomes a quagmire trap that can immobilize monsters.
"You're unbeatable, Sister," Lu Jun flattered her obediently but then asked in confusion, "At the Intermediate level, you can awaken rarer elements. Why stick to the elemental ones?"
"You think I don't want to?" Lu Mei's eyes filled with mock resentment. "Awakening costs 100,000, let alone the cost of a specialized guidance stone. You spent millions; I have to save where I can."
Lu Jun looked awkward and felt guilty upon hearing this.
"Forget it. The Earth Element isn't bad. At least it scales well with investment," Lu Mei said, brushing the topic aside. Then she changed the subject: "If you want to join the City Monster-Hunting Team, you have to pass my test first."
"What test?"
"Follow me."
Soon, the two arrived at a forested park with a wide 400-meter area, dotted with tall trees.
Lu Mei, dressed in a flowing white dress, exuded a high-class elegance that drew countless gazes. She stood tall and cold, her demeanor like that of a snow lotus atop a mountain peak.
Meanwhile, Lu Jun stood beside her with a troubled expression.
In a serious tone, Lu Mei said, "If you can, while under the speed enhancement of a Level 3 Wind Path - Drifting Shadows, move through the dense forest without harming yourself and hit the target leaf, I'll let you join the City Monster-Hunting Team and permit the use of Metal Element close combat."
Her aura shifted as she extended a slender, fair hand. Her eyes glowed faintly with a green light, and a star path appeared beneath her feet. Her dress fluttered in the wind, highlighting her perfect figure.
The surrounding area was swept by a sudden gust. Trees trembled, leaves scattered, and bystanders were startled.
"Wind Path · Swiftness!"
The elder sister called out crisply, deliberately holding back and only using the first-level Wind Path spell.
With her command, the swirling leaves and dust in the park were immediately directed into a specific trajectory.
The forest revealed a unique airflow path, layered with swirling red leaves, forming what seemed like a blood-red tunnel.
This path started from Lu Jun's position, stretching to the end of the forest. Along the way, trees swayed violently in the wind, leaning as if to make way, while leaves fluttered down in a storm.
Lu Jun instantly felt a powerful gust of wind propelling him from behind. His body became extraordinarily light, as if he could move with just a thought.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
His body blurred for a moment, and suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, he dashed forward into the red-leafed wind path at full speed. His velocity reached its peak.
Experiencing magic for the first time, Lu Jun's vision became a blur. He was moving so fast that everything ahead became indistinct. Before he could react, a tree blocking the path loomed in front of him.
By the time he realized it was a tree, his body could no longer adjust. He crashed straight into it.
Thud!
The tree trembled from the impact, and a loud crash echoed. Lu Jun let out a cry of pain as his forehead hit hard, blood trickling down. His whole body collapsed to the ground, his head spinning.
Lu Mei stopped her magic and started walking over. The surrounding onlookers—uncles, aunts, children, and elderly men—were all stunned and began discussing animatedly.
"Whoa, a mage!"
"Is that a Wind Element path spell? So cool!"
"Ahhh, powerful big sisters are the best!"
Ignoring the chatter, Lu Mei quickly approached her brother. Seeing him in such a state, her heart ached, but she kept her expression neutral. Instead, she harshly reprimanded him:
"Did you see what just happened? If that tree had been a demon instead, you'd already be dead! And you still want to engage in close combat?"
Half-conscious, Lu Jun heard his sister's scolding. Fortunately, as an elemental mage, his body was naturally strengthened by the magic energy, comparable to that of a trained athlete. He recovered quickly.
After a moment of silence, he reflected on her words. Most mages didn't train like this. Wind Path was typically used for retreating and maintaining distance. Wind mages would carefully plan their escape routes to avoid obstacles.
Only a few elite fighters trained in this manner, but that was something done at the intermediate or advanced level.
However, Lu Jun was different. His aim was to charge straight at demons, engaging them in close combat. This required flawless mastery—any deviation could cost his life!
Suddenly, Lu Jun remembered a saying: "Precision determines the difference between slaughter and butchery."
To wield the Metal Element meant accepting its flaws.
He stood up resolutely and declared, "Again!"
Lu Mei smiled faintly but replied, "This is only the beginning. I'll make you practice running on the Wind Path while simultaneously casting Water Barrier and wielding a sword. You'll keep at it until it becomes muscle memory."
Most mages, when facing a demon, would struggle to maintain the mental clarity needed to align their stars and cast spells. Their star paths would often collapse midway. Being able to cast spells steadily was already the hallmark of a skilled mage in smaller cities.
But Lu Jun needed to go a step further. His mental fortitude had to be as unshakable as a mountain.
Under the winter sunset, the siblings trained together—one casting magic, the other adapting to its effects. Passersby watched curiously, and the scene was frozen in time like a painting.
(Note: In the original story, Mo Fan joined the City Demon Hunting Team in the second semester of his second year of high school, after the school's wilderness training event. To keep the storyline consistent here, it has been set around the winter break of the first semester of the second year.)