Chapter 43: The Ascending “Star”

Some people say talent determines everything.

And some say hard work later in life can make up for talent.

Before meeting Bost, Xingxuan always believed that talent mattered more than effort.

It was because of this belief that he accepted Rain as a disciple—solely because Rain, even as a half-grown kid, could see the rising flow of mana around Xingxuan.

But everything changed when he met Bost.

“I want you to teach me.”

Back then, Xingxuan was not as famous as he was now.

He was merely a middle-aged mage, running around the world in pursuit of his magical career, not yet a full archmage.

And Bost was even worse off.

He was nothing more than a servant boy working in the inn Xingxuan stayed at—doing the lowest tasks, earning no money, and sleeping in a barn with the livestock.

When he brought food to Xingxuan and his two disciples, he noticed the mage hat inside Xingxuan’s bag.

The boy, normally quiet, suddenly spoke.

“Take me as your student.
I’ll follow you.”

The innkeeper was about to kick him for disturbing customers, but Xingxuan lifted a hand to stop him—interested.

“You’re a hybrid dragon?”

At that time, hybrid dragons were still far from being respected.

Not only were they banned from learning magic—they weren’t even allowed proper education.

Xingxuan expected Bost to lie to gain a chance at apprenticeship.

But without hesitation, the boy nodded.

“Yes.
I’m a hybrid dragon.”

“Where are your parents?”

“Never met my mom…
Never met my dad.”

Good grief—another child without parents.

Xingxuan glanced at Rain beside him.

Rain’s parents had supposedly died in an adventure accident.

But at least Rain wasn’t abandoned.

When he grew up, he might travel and find his family through bloodline ties.

Assuming he survived that long.

Not that it concerned Xingxuan.

In the Empire, there were countless dragon hybrids suffering discrimination.

He couldn’t take in every child he met.

“Why do you want me to take you as a student?”

He already planned to refuse, but still asked.

“We don’t even know each other’s names.
Why do you think I’d accept you?”

Xingxuan wanted to see how this unpolished brat would answer.

“Because I want to be strong!”
Young Bost’s eyes were firm.
“Strong enough that no one dares hit me or yell at me ever again!”

“Interesting…”

Xingxuan thought for a moment, then took out two potions and a piece of parchment from his bag, handing them to Bost.

“You have one day.
Follow the formula and make this potion.
Come back here tomorrow.”

“If the purity is above 80%, I’ll take you as my disciple.”

It was an extremely high requirement.

For beginners, even 60% would already be considered a talent.

But the next morning, Bost returned—after a sleepless night—holding a potion of 90% purity.

Xingxuan decided on the spot.

He would take him.

The boy had used five times the normal training amount in one night.

Talent mattered, yes—but effort was just as important.

And then, Xingxuan recalled a project he once abandoned.

A grand plan, almost impossible to realize.

With this child’s help…

Maybe it was no longer impossible.

As for the hatred in those eyes?

Well…

Perhaps that was just how kids from another world thought.

Raised reading Gulliver’s Travels in a family of researchers—

Xingxuan believed that people could understand and change each other.

Time would prove all things.

…

“Hey—hey! Don’t fall asleep!”

Dragging a humanoid figure still emitting white smoke, Sal struggled to crawl onto the lakeside.

The first thing she did was pull the charred figure into her arms, frantically checking his condition.

“You’re okay… you’re definitely okay!”

Sal desperately recalled every basic healing spell she learned over the past month.

Golden mana flowed from her palms, transforming into healing power, entering the scorched, blue-sparking body before her.

“Don’t die on me!
You idiot—if you die…”

She yelled, then bit her lip hard, afraid she would cry again if she continued.

“If you die, then how am I supposed to…”

“How am I supposed to fight that thing, you idiot?!”

As Sal’s screams echoed, the view pulled upward.

A deafening roar split the sky.

Students and staff peeked out their windows in confusion.

From the center of the artificial lake—
A “star” rose.

A blazing sphere of light, more brilliant and massive than any star in the night sky, burst upward, soaring into the heavens.

Not a falling star from the history books.

But a rising one.

“So beautiful!”

Vivian, who had jumped out of bed, shouted to Natiavida to come see the sight.

“Natiavida, quick! Look! The brightness… it’s like a star rising from the ground!”

Natiavida sighed helplessly.

“You’re too old to say things like that.
Did you learn nothing from physics or history?
Stars don’t rise from the ground.”

“I’m not lying!
Just come look yourself!”

“All right, all right, I’m coming.”

At first, Natiavida didn’t care.

But the moment she looked out the window—
She froze.

Was it really…
A star flying upward instead of falling?

Like time reversing?

Just as Natiavida stared in shock, Vivian suddenly shivered violently.

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I don’t feel right.”

Vivian stared at the massive “star” now hovering above the academy.

There was no curiosity left in her eyes.

Only fear.

A deep, primal fear carved into instinct.

“I have a really bad feeling… like that thing is about to—”

Before she could finish the word “explode,”
The star reached its peak—

And burst into a sun-bright fireball.

The explosion expanded instantly, followed by a shockwave louder than thunder.

Students exposed to the blast clapped their hands over their ears, but it didn’t help—the sound and pressure tore through everything.

Many were knocked off their feet.

Some with weaker constitutions fainted on the spot.

Ironically, the one who should have endured the shockwave best—Vivian, the hybrid elf—was the first to collapse, even before Natiavida.

“Vivian! Are you okay?!”

Natiavida pulled her away from the window, laying her on a blanket—

Only to see blue arcs of electricity dancing across Vivian’s body.