Chapter 47 0049: Ah! My Eyes

Guanshan Territory.
The Lord’s Manor.
A man, about sixty years old, energetic and full of vigor, wore the robes of a lord, exuding both elegance and authority. He sat upon a tiger-skin grand chair, engaged in a virtual video call. This man was Qin Shan, one of the twelve lords governing the six cities and one territory of the Hope Continent.
Opposite him was an elder, well over a hundred, dressed in a purple mage’s robe. The man was thin, his hair snowy white, seated on an even more magnificent golden throne within a great hall. He was none other than the Vice President of the Mage Guild.
“Honorable Vice President, greetings. How have you been lately?” Qin Shan, as soon as the call connected, bowed slightly to the elder opposite him.
The white-haired elder nodded, smiling faintly. “Lord Qin, greetings. I am well. May I ask what matter prompted this call?”
“There’s something I wish to discuss with you.” Qin Shan replied, sending a video through the remote connection. “This is footage from your evaluation of that young man. His opponent is a prodigy born in Watchtower City, the most gifted talent in a century—at seventeen, already a warrior of considerable strength!”
The elder watched the fight between Chu Yun and Duanmu Ci. After viewing, his expression was one of surprise, but not awe.
He looked back at Qin Shan, asking, “What is your purpose in showing me this video, Lord Qin?”
Qin Shan coughed lightly. “Forgive my boldness, but did you not notice this young man’s martial talent far surpasses his magical aptitude? Magic is important, of course, but should our continent produce a top-tier warrior, it might tip the balance of power in these turbulent times.”
The elder pondered. “I understand. You’re suggesting we let him pursue martial arts instead of magic, correct?”
Qin Shan bowed again. “I sincerely apologize. I know you’ve always aspired to raise the next generation of distinguished mages for the continent. You are admirable, but this youth is far better suited for the path of the warrior.”
He finished, watching the elder cautiously. Truth be told, even Qin Shan felt uncertain when facing this old man.
The Vice President’s face indeed darkened, but he remained silent.
“Wait a moment.” At last, he said to Qin Shan, and seemed to instruct his apprentices off-screen.
Soon, in the video, apprentices arrived carrying a magic sphere and several instruments.
The elder picked up the sphere, addressing Qin Shan, “I have something to show you as well. Do you know what this sphere is?”
Qin Shan replied, “Is it the guild’s device for measuring magical talent?”
“Correct,” the elder said. “It’s a sphere left behind by high-civilization mages who departed last century. Its purpose is to measure a mage’s affinity for magic—their innate understanding of the arcane. You know, the arcane arts are a branch of advanced mathematics, and this sphere tests the upper limit of a person’s knowledge and aptitude for the arcane. It can measure anyone below the rank of senior mage; unless your power reaches that level, you cannot make it shine at full brilliance. To be candid, my current strength is that of an intermediate mage. Let me demonstrate.”
He placed his hand upon the sphere. It glowed, but not fiercely; its brightness reached about fifty-five percent.
“Our knowledge is limited. We often use this sphere to gauge magical levels. Presently, only the guild president can barely achieve eighty percent brightness. I can resonate with fifty-five percent. Others fare even lower.”
Qin Shan nodded, asking awkwardly, “But, Vice President, how is this relevant to our discussion today?”
“It’s very relevant!” the Vice President replied sternly. He used tweezers to extract a strand of hair from a box. “This hair was collected by our red-robed mage from Chu Yun’s dormitory at Lanwind Academy. Now, I’ll show you why we have chosen this person. You’d best close your eyes.”
Qin Shan, puzzled, had no time to react before the Vice President placed the hair upon the sphere.
Instantly, the sphere erupted in dazzling brilliance. Even through the virtual call, the intense white light pierced Qin Shan’s eyes.
His eyes widened, but soon could no longer endure; he shut them tight and turned away. The force of the light robbed him of the courage to return its gaze.
He had no idea what caused this, his breathing grew rapid and uneasy.
The Vice President removed the hair, observing Qin Shan, who still struggled to open his eyes. “I’m telling you, this child’s affinity for the arcane is monstrous. The light has even exceeded one hundred percent. If we compare to martial ranks, at seventeen he would be at the pinnacle of warrior rank nine. So tell me, defeating a rank-one warrior prodigy means nothing! If he chooses magic, he will become the continent’s sole senior mage!”
Qin Shan’s pupils contracted.
Though Chu Yun’s actual power was still modest, his comprehension and intuition for the arcane were extraordinary; thus, the sphere’s brilliance far surpassed the norm. A king’s understanding measured by a mere golden device—it’s no wonder it nearly burst from the strain.
The Vice President snorted. “Let me be clear: anyone who tries to take this youth from me will have to take my life first!”
Qin Shan wiped the sweat from his brow, disbelief and embarrassment coloring his face as he tried to argue again, “Vice President, are you certain there’s no mistake?”
The Vice President slammed his desk. “The red-robed mage tested him personally. His eyes were nearly blinded and he’s still in hospital for eye repair. You ask if there’s a mistake? If you push me, I’ll revoke Guanshan Territory’s transportation usage rights! I warn you, try to compete for this youth again and I’ll fight you to the death!”
Qin Shan was utterly humbled.
He dared not provoke further.
“I trust you’ll delete all traces of this call,” the Vice President said.
Qin Shan nodded. “Understood.”
They could not let the exiled civilizations learn of this, or Chu Yun would be eliminated before he could take root. For a century, Hope Continent had resisted suppression, and now, at last, there was a glimmer of hope—they could not afford to lose it.
After disconnecting, Qin Shan wiped away his sweat. Remembering the Vice President’s disdainful look before ending the call, he felt thoroughly humiliated.
No wonder the old man had scoffed at his video.
“Someone, call my personal physician. Ah, my eyes…”