Chapter 41: A New Beginning: Familiars and Advancement

While Su Liyue and the others were still playfully chatting, a magical voice transmission from the Summoning Department’s instructor suddenly rang out.

“Attention, students, it is time for assembly. Please proceed to the training grounds immediately.”

“Yueyue, we should head over.” Mu Wanqing tugged at Su Liyue’s sleeve.

“Mhm.” Su Liyue naturally took Mu Wanqing’s hand, and the two walked side-by-side toward the training grounds.

Ye Xingchen quietly followed behind them, maintaining a respectful distance, much like a diligent guardian.

“Oh, Yueyue,” Mu Wanqing suddenly recalled something and lowered her voice to ask.

“Ye Xingchen’s great treasured sword… er, I mean, how should we arrange Qizai?”

“Qizai? Of course, she’ll stay with me,” Su Liyue replied without a moment’s hesitation.

Since her male form had no immediate use for the spirit sword, it was better for her female form to have an extra layer of protection.

“Will she just keep floating around, following us like this?” Mu Wanqing glanced back at Qizai, who was hovering in the air, the sword spirit’s illusory form of the Yaochi Saintess idly spinning in circles.

“Uh…” Su Liyue suddenly realized the problem.

A floating sword spirit constantly accompanying them felt like a combination of sword manipulation and an Apiao (TL Note: A common Chinese slang term for a ghost or spirit), which inexplicably reminded her of a demonic scene from ‘Bladedance of Elementalers’ where the male protagonist, Kamito, dual-wielded a white-haired, black-stockinged maiden’s holy sword and a black-haired, barefooted maiden’s demonic sword.

However, that particular character’s actions were truly hardcore; he didn’t even spare his swords, apparently unafraid of harming his ‘good brother’ (TL Note: A euphemism for the male genitalia) while sleeping at night.

“Qizai.” Su Liyue waved her hand.

“What is it, my lady owner~” Qizai immediately floated over, the ethereal figure of the Yaochi Saintess blinking her dewy eyes.

“Can you usually hide yourself, or stay within the familiar space?”

“Why?” Qizai pouted aggrievedly.

“Well… during the day, we have classes, and only in the evenings do we have time to play with you,” Su Liyue quickly improvised.

Mu Wanqing also chimed in, “Exactly, exactly! We’ll play with you after class!”

“Ugh…” Qizai reluctantly pursed her lips.

Having only just been freed from a restrictive alternate dimension, she clearly hadn’t had enough fun yet.

A sudden flash of inspiration struck Su Liyue.

“That’s right! If you’re bored, you can have Jiuwu or Sanzhi play with you in the familiar space!”

Qizai had quite enjoyed teasing that plump hamster before, hadn’t she?

If Jiuwu was entrusted to Qizai… this would not only provide Qizai with a companion but also solve the issue of looking after two “pets.” Wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone?

“Really?” Qizai’s eyes instantly sparkled.

In this alternate world devoid of phones or computers, having a playmate was indeed a fine diversion.

Watching Qizai cheerfully circle Jiuwu, Su Liyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, a philosophical question suddenly occurred to her: if Phoenix Jiuwu and Sword Spirit Qizai were to consistently eat every day… would there ever come a day when they needed to use the restroom?

While cultivation purified even impurities, if Qizai, bearing the Yaochi Saintess’s peerless beauty, were to take a phoenix to the restroom… Stop! What a monstrous thought!

In the distance, Ye Xingchen inexplicably shivered, as if sensing something in the unseen.

If the Yaochi Saintess herself were to know the images currently flashing through Su Liyue’s and Ye Xingchen’s minds… it was likely the entire cultivation spirit realm would tremble.

***

Having arrived and assembled on the training grounds, the Summoning Department instructor meticulously counted the students, then nodded with satisfaction.

“Excellent, everyone is present. Today’s familiar practical lesson marks your first day interacting with your familiars. I hope each of you takes this seriously, for your familiars will be your lifelong companions.”

The instructor’s gaze swept over every student present, his tone growing solemn.

“They are even more intimate than friends; not merely familiars, but your most loyal comrades-in-arms. If you treat them with sincerity, they will undoubtedly repay you with unwavering loyalty.

In the future, whether facing a true battle or a life-or-death duel, your familiars may very well become the crucial factor that turns the tide of the conflict!”

Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen exchanged a knowing glance.

‘Here we go again,’ they thought, ‘the instructor’s lengthy lecture time.’

“More importantly, from today forward, you will officially be promoted from magic apprentices to apprentice mages! Successfully summoning a familiar is sufficient proof that you possess the basic qualifications to become a mage.”

As he spoke, the instructors all began to applaud.

Amidst the fervent applause, Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen, however, fell into contemplation.

‘Apprentice mage… this means…’

“That’s right, the status of an apprentice mage means that starting today, you will participate in more practical combat courses and strive for more cultivation resources through the academy’s ranking competitions.”

As he said this, the instructor’s gaze involuntarily lingered on Mu Wanqing, Su Liyue, and Chixiao.

“If, one day, one of you can break into the top hundred…”

“That will be the glory of our entire grade! And if you can go a step further and break into the top ten…”

He paused deliberately, observing the students instantly hold their breath, before continuing.

“Then you will have the opportunity to represent the academy in the national magic exchange competition, and even—”

“Witness the true world of magic!”

No sooner had his words fallen than the training grounds instantly erupted into a buzz of excitement.

Students whispered amongst themselves, their eyes gleaming with exhilaration.

Representing the academy in a competition! What an honor that would be!

Not to mention the possibility of being noticed by a powerful mage and taken as a direct disciple…

In the future, they might even join the ranks of the strong, discussing profound magical laws with those mighty beings who stood at the pinnacle of magic.

Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen exchanged a smile, tacitly sharing a glance amidst the clamor.

‘Is it finally beginning?’

During their initial years at Starry Firmament Magic Academy, they had been force-fed countless fundamental magic theories and attended innumerable magical physical education classes.

It wasn’t until the second half of their third year that they truly began to touch the threshold of this magical world.

Su Liyue couldn’t help but recall the words of a certain great person.

‘There are two books in this world. One is written in volumes, the crystallization of others’ wisdom; the other requires one to measure with their own feet and practice with their own hands.’

‘Only when the knowledge from both books mutually confirms itself can one truly synthesize their own unique knowledge and experience.’

“Therefore, starting today,”

The instructor’s voice suddenly grew stern, his gaze like a torch sweeping over every student.

“You must exert double the effort. This is not only to do yourselves justice but also to live up to the expectations of the parents who sent you to this academy.

Only by striving with all your might can you change your own destiny, and perhaps even the destiny of your entire family!”

“At the same time, starting from today, your courses will be adjusted according to your individual elemental affinity and actual circumstances. You will be able to choose elective courses better suited for your personal development, no longer bound by those irrelevant subjects.”

Elective courses? Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen’s eyes simultaneously lit up.

This meant that Ye Xingchen could fully immerse himself in the study of alchemy, while Su Liyue, in her female form, could concentrate on elemental magic and practical combat techniques.

As for those inconsequential theoretical classes… they could finally be rid of them!