novelz
Chapter 323:
Chapter 323:
Aside from armor and a sword, Xu Xi also prepared a half-length cloak for Sylvia.
The cloak did not possess any supernatural effects, but for Sylvia, it was the most practical item. With the cloak’s cover and the bandages wrapped around her simulated face, she could rely solely on the normal half of her face to move freely within human society.
It was a far better option than the helmet she used before.
[Your training for Sylvia has officially begun.]
[In terms of swordsmanship and close combat, Sylvia has already accumulated sufficient experience.]
[However, in the world of sorcery, one cannot glimpse higher realms without understanding soul power.]
[Soul is the source of truth.]
[Knowledge is the lever that moves the world.]
[Sorcery is the path to truth.]
[A warrior who fights with only a sword will always have severe limitations in the dangerous world of sorcerers.][You conduct a sorcerer aptitude test for Sylvia.]
“Sylvia, let’s begin.”
“Understood, Master Sorcerer.”
“Wait, Sylvia, you don’t need to take off your armor.”
“Eh? I don’t?”
Just before the aptitude test, Xu Xi stopped Sylvia from removing her armor. Seeing the girl’s confusion, he fell into deep thought.
He felt that something about the way he and Sylvia interacted had gone wrong.
He needed to correct it.
With that in mind, Xu Xi took out a crystal ball and a book.
The crystal ball could test soul aptitude.
The book, which recorded knowledge of different fields, could assess comprehension.
It wasn’t the most authoritative testing method, but under current conditions, there was nothing better available.
[You test Sylvia’s aptitude, and the results surprise you.]
[Perhaps because of her unique state—balancing between life and death—Sylvia possesses exceptional soul talent.]
[This means she has the potential to become a sorcerer.]
[However, in terms of knowledge aptitude, Sylvia’s performance is quite average.]
“Master Sorcerer… am I stupid?”
“Of course not, Sylvia. You are outstanding.”
[You develop a suitable training plan for her.]
[You exclude complex studies like potions, magical artifacts, elemental sorcery, and transformation magic.]
[You focus only on teaching her death and soul magic, as well as general sorcery techniques.]
[Due to her unique condition as an undead, Sylvia will naturally gain an understanding of death and souls even without deliberate study.]
[The soul fire flickering within her skull is the best proof of her connection to the soul.]
[In this aspect, even with your own life-and-death experiences, you cannot claim superiority over her.]
[At the same time, there exists a sorcery branch that strengthens the body using soul power. You find this especially suitable for an undead warrior like Sylvia.]
[You begin her formal training.]
“Sylvia, you’ve succeeded in soul meditation.”
“Next, I will teach you your first Zero-Ring Sorcery.”
“By channeling soul power through runic techniques, you can create a simple enhancement to your body.”
“This is Zero-Ring Sorcery: Strength Enhancement.”
In the windswept wastelands, Xu Xi slowly demonstrated the casting of a Zero-Ring Sorcery with a deliberate pace.
The power of Strength Enhancement originated from a deep soul resonance.
It had nothing to do with whether one was alive or dead.
As long as something could move, this sorcery could convert soul power into an enhancement, strengthening close combat ability.
Undoubtedly, for someone like Sylvia, who specialized in melee combat, this was the most useful spell.
“Understood, Master Sorcerer.”
Sylvia remained composed, using her past experience to adjust her physical state and soul fluctuations.
Steady.
Steady.
Steady.
Holding her sword with one hand, she emptied her mind and connected to the tiny rune inside her soul.
Finally, an invisible force field enveloped her body.
“Master Sorcerer, I did it—!”
Snap!
The force field shattered instantly.
Sylvia stared at Xu Xi in confusion. “I think… I failed.”
Xu Xi reassured her, “It’s fine. Failure is the mother of success. Keep trying, and you’ll get it.”
Zero-Ring Sorcery was not complex.
Xu Xi believed Sylvia would grasp it before long.
The real challenges would come later—at the First and Second Rings.
[With your patient guidance and her repeated trial and error, the hero finally learns her first Zero-Ring Sorcery.]
[The process was difficult, but the outcome was rewarding.]
[Due to her exceptional soul talent, the effectiveness of Sylvia’s Zero-Ring Sorcery is several times greater than that of an ordinary sorcerer apprentice.]
[You are pleased and proceed to teach her the second spell.]
Zero-Ring Sorcery: Death Aura Infusion.
Zero-Ring Sorcery generally has limited power.
Among them, Death Aura Infusion is one of the weakest.
At most, it slowly erodes a living being’s strength, making them ill or weak enough to collapse.
Still, considering Sylvia’s undead nature, Xu Xi decided to teach her this spell.
His goal was not to make her stronger.
Rather, he wanted her to start engaging with the forces of death and the soul.
“Sylvia, pay attention to my soul frequency.”
With precise movements, Xu Xi cast a flawless Death Aura Infusion, forming a hazy gray mist that swirled toward a small tree.
Withering. Leaves falling. Color fading.
Before Sylvia’s eyes, the tree’s vitality gradually faded.
She watched with uncertainty.
Lowering her gaze, she studied her hands before making up her mind.
She cast Death Aura Infusion at the tree.
Sylvia’s Death Aura Infusion was instantly dispersed by the wind.
“Hmm, better luck next time,” Xu Xi consoled.
[Whether in supernatural abilities or scientific knowledge, the best time to learn is always in early childhood.]
[Having been raised with knightly education, Sylvia struggles with the study of sorcery. Her progress is slow and clumsy.]
[You patiently teach her.]
[As a Second-Ring Sorcerer, you instruct her, who is only an apprentice.]
[You slowly explain the basics of the sorcerer world, familiarizing her with fundamental knowledge.]
[At last—]
[In the snowy depths of winter, through her remarkable soul talent and your dedicated guidance, Sylvia gradually adapts to the sorcery system.]
[Combining sorcerer techniques with knightly combat skills, Sylvia is steadily evolving into a close-combat sorcerer.]
[The “Undead Sword Saint” you once envisioned seems to be gradually taking shape.]
“Strength Enhancement!”
“Agility Enhancement!”
“Bone Reinforcement!”
“Death Aura Infusion!”
Slash!
A heavy sword light flickered and vanished.
Sylvia slowly sheathed her blade, watching as the massive boulder before her split apart, the cut smooth and precise, wisps of black death aura rising from the surface.
Compared to casting sorcery from a distance—
She still preferred close combat.
Her sword was her wand.
With Xu Xi’s guidance, Sylvia had mastered integrating sorceries into melee combat, making her strength far greater than it had been six months ago.
Now, all she needed was to strengthen her soul enough to naturally step into the First-Ring level.