As for why this NPC old gentleman Jadka didn't fall behind, on one hand, it's because of his unreasonable but rarely showcased physical fitness, and on the other hand, it's because he used the Spicy Burn Powder developed by Ji Xiaoge recently to make a breakthrough, allowing his previously decades of futile efforts to blossom anew. His strength rapidly advanced from a clumsy Low Rank Mage to a level comparable to a high-level mage, and as Jadka gradually unearthed his past accumulation, he might even rise another level or several levels.
So although the Old Mage is not a genius, at least not in the path of magic, his decades of tireless effort ultimately began to pay off when the opportunity arose.
And for Ya Ya... it's a bit unreasonable...
