"In the advancement of the magical system, mental strength and knowledge are particularly crucial."
"The former is the key for a mage to connect with the world, while the latter is the manifestation of a mage's understanding of the world."
"The combination of the two, catalyzed and released with magical energy as the source, is what is commonly known as magic."
"Right now."
"I still have a long way to go on this extraordinary path of magic."
Allenson City, Mage Association.
After exchanging for the items he needed, Xu Xi gently ran his hand over the cover of a magical book, feeling its sandpaper-like texture, and couldn’t help but sigh.
No extraordinary path is easy to walk; both luck and talent are indispensable.
Fortunately, he had the help of a simulator.
As long as he lived to a natural old age, even if he didn’t become a god, he could at least achieve the rank of a Saint-level Archmage.
Thinking this,
Xu Xi stored the extraordinary materials and magical books into his spatial ring. As he turned around, he noticed the exquisite walls adorned with candles burning a rare incense from the distant south.
The scent was pleasant, similar to Clear Spirit Grass, refreshing the mind.
At the same time, he could faintly hear a melodious female voice drifting down from the second floor of the association, captivating and enchanting.
The voice was beautiful.
It was likely that the noble mages were holding a banquet.
Xu Xi paused his steps, not because he was drawn to the voice, but because it reminded him of a girl who was waiting for him at home.
"Krisha must be cleaning right now, isn’t she?"
"I can’t help but feel a little worried…"
"Before heading back, I’ll buy her a New Year’s gift. After all, she’s been training so hard in magic,"
Xu Xi turned back.
He walked once more to the transaction window of the Mage Association.
After careful selection,
he chose a necklace that was white on the outside and blue on the inside. The silver outer ring gleamed brightly, with fragments of Starstone embedded at regular intervals, making it quite eye-catching.
The inner groove held a deep blue Aquamarine Pearl, an extraordinary material from the Lesser Britannia Sea, radiant and dazzling.
When light hit it, it shimmered like real waves, rising and falling with a mesmerizing glow.
"I hope Krisha will like it," Xu Xi said, looking at the necklace in his hand.
From his perspective, he felt the necklace suited a witch perfectly. It would look beautiful when worn, and the water-attribute Aquamarine Pearl would also provide some water magic enhancement, a very useful effect.
But when it comes to gifts,
whether it’s liked or not ultimately depends on the recipient.
……
After paying the gold coins for the necklace, Xu Xi left the Mage Association. Someone invited him to join the banquet happening on the second floor, but he politely declined.
Then, Xu Xi headed toward the market.
He planned to buy some ingredients and other daily necessities.
"Hum—"
"Hum—"
The hiss of steam and the howl of cold wind filled the air.
In this harsher-than-usual winter, Allenson City’s steam equipment was operating at a faster pace.
It sounded like thousands of birds were screeching as steam collided with the cold air, forming massive clusters like clouds.
However, it wouldn’t be long
before these clusters were scattered by the massive steam airships or torn apart by high-flying mages.
"Steam and magic flourishing side by side—it’s truly marvelous."
"I wonder how the humans of this world embarked on such a strange and coexisting path."
Xu Xi mused to himself.
He layered himself with multiple protective spells
and used the Wind Riding Technique to fly toward the central market.
He moved quickly, and soon all the items he needed were purchased. He then turned and flew in the direction of his home.
Upon landing,
a small figure had already been waiting for some time.
"Master, welcome back," said the girl with silver-gray hair, standing on her tiptoes to help Xu Xi remove his large robe. She patted it a few times to shake off the snowflakes.
Her expression was serious, as if she were handling a matter of great importance.
"Yes, I’m back," Xu Xi replied with a smile.
……
[This world is vast, vast enough to accommodate even the gods.]
[This world is small, so small that in Krisha’s eyes, there is only you.]
[After finishing the house chores, the young witch stood at the entrance of the courtyard, waiting for your return.]
[She waited for you as she wished, helped you remove your robe, prepared your slippers, and took the ingredients from your hands to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner on her own.]
[You thought for a moment and stopped the girl.]
[After all, the girl had only recently started trying to cook, often making mistakes. Normally, you wouldn’t mind, but tonight was New Year’s Eve, and you felt it necessary to ensure the safety of your stomach.]
[You entered the kitchen at just the right moment, successfully preventing a kitchen explosion.]
[You began to cook yourself.]
[The Wisdom of Mortals activates… The Observer activates…]
[You grasped the entirety of the recipe, you observed the details of the ingredients. From now on, the pots and pans bowed to your will, and your culinary skills ascended to the master level.]
[You asked the girl what she liked to eat, and her reply was, “I like whatever you make.”]
[You shivered inexplicably, feeling as if some gaze was watching you from the unseen.]
[You ignored it and continued cooking. Soon, you prepared a fragrant meal of four dishes and a soup, with a faint golden glow when the lid was lifted.]
[Culinary skills improving further—]
……
Nighttime.
In the winter streets of Allenson City, there were few pedestrians.
A cold mist enveloped everything, obscuring the world, but the laughter and celebratory joy of people were still connected.
"Praise the God of Fire…"
"Praise the God of Blacksmiths…"
"Praise the Goddess of Harvest…"
"His glory, His deeds, His radiance, all gather here, in gratitude…"
Led by the three divine churches in the city,
praises rose from all corners of Allenson.
In stark contrast was the quietness in Xu Xi’s home, empty and cold, with every corner filled with the chill of winter.
Only the dining table, laden with delicious food, held a hint of life.
Xu Xi sat at the head of the table, Krisha to his right. A few glass lamps cast their light, illuminating the glistening surfaces of the dishes and the intricate textures of the large table.
"Another year has passed. Next year will be the seventh year in this simulated world."
Suddenly, Xu Xi felt a sense of disorientation.
The life simulation was too real.
Although he still had memories of the real world and his first simulation in his mind, and he could summon the simulator interface at any time,
having lived in Allenson for so long, Xu Xi often subconsciously forgot that this was a simulation.
"It’s not necessarily a bad thing."
"As a child, I always dreamed of crossing worlds. Now, in a way, that dream has been fulfilled."
Xu Xi exhaled lightly, his expression relaxed and content.