Starting with Proficiency Panel

Zhuang Xu lowered his hands, very interested as he said, "So, as a human with only a short lifespan, what talents have you awakened since becoming a Mage at the age of thirty?"

Without waiting for Li Qing to reply, he shrugged and said, "Okay, let's not talk about this. What do you need to find in the library?"

Li Qing, slightly more relaxed, answered, "Master Rosen said my progress is good, and I can come to the library to borrow the 'Level 0 Magic Encyclopaedia.'

Zhuang Xu's expression was indescribable, whether in agreement or not; he merely said mockingly, "That guy who should be hanged in Wailing Hell actually said that... Well, maybe because you are human."

He raised his sharp, dark fingernails, and a book slowly floated down from the topmost shelf of a very high bookcase, moving beside Zhuang Xu.

Zhuang Xu reached out to grab the magic book and asked, "How have you been doing with Magic Rune studies?"

"No problem for usual applications."

"Not bad."

Zhuang Xu's indifferent words were unclear if they were just ordinary praise or truly impressed.

He handed the book to Li Qing, "Take it."

Looking at the book held by that sharp dark hand, Li Qing instinctively swallowed, then took it with both hands.

"Thank you!"

Zhuang Xu's laugh was hard to listen to, hoarse like two dull metal rods constantly clashing, grating on the ears.

"When you get promoted to a First-Ring Mage, you can come to the library again. Now is not the time. Maybe when you advance, you'll have a surprise. After all, it's very rare for a human to qualify as a Mage by thirty."

"Thank you." Li Qing slightly bowed, "Tutor Zhuang Xu, I'll be leaving now."

"Hmm."

As Li Qing turned to leave, pushing open the library door, Zhuang Xu's ethereal voice came through.

"One more thing, please return the borrowed book before the second lesson, or you'll be watched~"

Li Qing's heart tightened, "I understand, thank you for the reminder."

Quickly leaving the library, Li Qing only let out a long breath once he safely returned to his safe house.

It was really too oppressive.

Although Zhuang Xu seemed to be showing great goodwill in his actions, only Li Qing, who faced him directly, knew what kind of pressure he was under then.

The look in the other person's eyes was entirely that of treating him as an interesting toy.

An intriguingly different gaze – at least, in Li Qing's thirty years of life, he'd never received such a look.

Calming down, Li Qing understood it was because his strength was insufficient. Newly arrived, he had no other choice but to endure.

In a place filled with such strangeness, one can never be too cautious.

As for why he was not yet qualified to wander inside the library, Li Qing was not curious. For him, all curiosity is built on the foundation of strength. Without strength, going in would only lead to harm.

He spent several days in the safe house studying the 'Level 0 Magic Encyclopaedia' until the time he spent with Gray reached its current limit, then he reluctantly returned with the magic book to the safe house.

For several consecutive days, Li Qing immersed himself in studying the 'Level 0 Magic Encyclopaedia', particularly the Level 0 Magic spells Magic Reading, which aids comprehension, and Repairing Minor Injuries, which intrigued him.

Even more surprising was that Repairing Minor Injuries had visible effects on bodily healing; small cuts could visibly heal.

Very magical!

However, Li Qing had some difficulty with Magic Reading, a Level 0 Spell; its construction nodes numbered over a hundred and were more challenging than many Second-Ring Magic levels.

It's just so troublesome!

As Li Qing pondered, he suddenly heard a 'boom' outside the window, and he turned his head to look. A colorful firework burst slowly in the sky.

What day is today?

Li Qing instinctively checked the calendar – today is the 29th. The Shu Capital recently reissued a policy lifting the ban on New Year's fireworks.

"It's almost New Year..."

Boom! Bang!! Bang bang!

Li Qing went to the window, watching the fireworks continuously launch into the air and explode.

His expression was somewhat obscure, or perhaps already calm and unchanged; years of spending New Year's alone had made him accustomed to this life.

Sometimes it's melancholy and lonely, but more often it's enjoying solitude.

Buzz!

A slight vibration came from his phone. Li Qing looked, raising an eyebrow at the message.

Chen Chencheng: Happy New Year!!

Li Qing: Happy New Year!

Chen Chencheng: Where are you planning to spend New Year's?

Li Qing unconsciously swiped the screen, slowly replying, "Planning to buy some New Year's goods at the supermarket."

After a while, Chen Chencheng replied, "Alone?"

Li Qing: "Yes."

After confirming no further messages from Chen Chencheng for one or two minutes, Li Qing put his phone aside. Glancing at the 'Level 0 Magic Encyclopaedia,' he hesitated before deciding to relax for a bit with a few months of unplayed game sessions.

He still picked his favorite champion, the Blind Monk, but during an in-game explosion combo, he kicked the enemy the wrong way, causing dissatisfaction from his teammates.

Ren'ai Hospital's Chief Physician Shen: "Blind Monk, are you blind? I could get a chicken to play better by pecking the keyboard!"

Li Qing frowned, replying without hesitation.

"Sweet as honey."

"Damn?! I love you!"

"I wish your family good health, an awesomeness gift for you!"

"Your mom is beautiful."

"I'm the plumber for your house."

"Your hands are as nimble as a butterfly flitting among flowers!"

"My awesomeness gift for you to enjoy..."

In the end, Li Qing simply stood at the fountain, releasing all his recent stress until the game was lost.

Feeling refreshed, Li Qing closed the opponent's friend request and prepared to continue practicing Meditation.

Daily persistence in Meditation to refine his Magic Power allowed Li Qing to feel his Spiritual Power growth also promoted incremental increases in his internal Magic Power, gradually increasing the number of times he could cast magic daily.

At least now, Li Qing could maintain the Mage's Hand Level 0 Magic for eight hours before exhausting his Magic Power.

It's a good improvement, though Li Qing found his body seeming too weak.

He looked down at his two ribs, feeling dissatisfied.

Previously, he was neither fat nor thin, but due to concentrating Magic Power, much energy was consumed from his body.

He needed to find a place to exercise, preferably to learn some combat skills too. After all, the Apprentice examination in two months would likely be dangerous. Otherwise, Rosenberg wouldn't have that eager-to-see-them-fail look.

"Steel pot, tears reluctantly passing by..."

Li Qing checked his phone; it was a call from Chen Chencheng. He answered it.

"Look out the window!" Chen Chencheng began with this sentence.