At the forest's edge, firelight painted the night sky red.
Several human youths, adventurer-like, gathered around a bonfire, excitedly gesturing.
"Tomorrow let's try Fireball. I heard it works great against goblins."
"Haha, goblins? Those F-rank trash? Even sparks could burn a whole bunch of them."
As they spoke, a boy in an apprentice robe stood by the fire, holding his breath, fingers forming seals, lips chanting slowly.
"In the name of flame, by the power of the elements—burn! Fireball!"
Buzz!
Magical energy swirled in his palm, taking half a minute just to condense into a small fireball the size of his palm. With a weak sputter, it flew out and struck a tree stump not far away.
Boom!
The stump smoldered with a small flame, its bark charred black.
The others, however, burst into cheers, clapping in excitement.
"Well done! You're only E-rank and can already form a fireball!"
"Practice a few more times—when you hit D-rank, maybe you'll be able to cast two!"
---
In the bushes, Ye Xuan stood silently, watching the entire display.
His gaze turned strange as he murmured under his breath:
"This… is what they call magic?"
In the cultivation world, the most basic Fireball Technique could be cast with a single thought.
Yet this youth had to chant for half a minute just to barely form a fireball smaller than a fist.
Ye Xuan's lips twitched, his heart mocking:
"Slow, complicated, weak… how troublesome."
---
At that moment, one adventurer spotted him.
"Eh? There's a goblin over there!"
They lit up with excitement.
"Haha, perfect target for practice!"
The apprentice youth puffed his chest, forming seals again, hurriedly chanting:
"In the name of flame, by the power of the elements—"
Ye Xuan sighed lightly, raising his hand and casually uttering two words:
"Fireball."
Boom!
The air trembled. A fireball half a meter wide burst from his palm, roaring forth with blazing winds.
Rumble—!
The bonfire was instantly devoured, the ground scorched into a blackened pit, flames surging skyward.
The youth froze, stunned in place, his chant unfinished, legs trembling.
"Th-this is impossible…"
"A goblin… actually knows magic?!"
---
Ye Xuan looked at them, face calm, though inwardly he sneered once more:
"This world has magic too? Hah… nothing but half-baked tricks."
"In the cultivation world, even mortals would laugh at this."
He flicked his hand, the flames vanishing as if nothing had happened.
The adventurers, faces pale as sheets, were left with only one thought in their minds:
—This was no ordinary goblin!