Li Wei left the Mage Association, with many people chasing him out.

Many nobles invited him to their homes, hoping to get to know him.

Li Wei quickly said, "Teacher, I’m heading out first."

With that, he quickly ran toward a small alley.

The crowd chased after him, ignoring Gu Ze who stood off to the side.

Gu Ze could only look on helplessly.

’Being too outstanding isn’t always a good thing.’

The crowd chased him into the alley, only to find it empty.

"Where is he?"

"Where’d he go?"

"He’s gone! Don’t tell me he flew away?"

Li Wei, wearing an Invisibility Cloak, walked among the crowd.

’This is a pain. I should’ve just refused my teacher.’

Back at the inn, Li Wei pushed open the door and stepped inside, stopping just at the entrance.

There was someone sitting in the room, a person he didn’t recognize.

An old man dressed as a woodcutter was sitting in Li Wei’s room. When he saw Li Wei return, he spoke. "Come in. Close the door."

Hearing the familiar voice, Li Wei froze for a moment before it dawned on him.

He entered and closed the door.

He asked, somewhat uncertainly, "Tower Master?"

"Yes. Sit down," the old woodcutter said, perfectly composed.

Li Wei sat down obediently at the table and asked, "Tower Master, you came to Flying Flower City as well?"

The old woodcutter shook his head. "No, this is my Illusory Body."

"I came to see how your practice of the Illusion Technique is coming along," Torresta said.

Li Wei demonstrated his progress.

The objects he conjured were already extremely realistic; it was difficult to tell them from the real thing with the naked eye.

Torresta smiled and said, "Not bad. You’re truly talented to have reached this level so quickly."

"Keep up the hard work. Don’t slack off," he added encouragingly.

"I came to see you for another reason as well."

Hearing this, Li Wei sat up straighter. "What is it?"

Torresta’s expression turned serious. "Go ahead and display your talent. Don’t worry about danger. As long as I’m here, no one can harm you!"

"The more outstanding your talent becomes, the more the Mage Association will value you. Once you gain their recognition, you’ll get access to things ordinary Mages never see. This will be a great benefit to you."

"I can’t tell you the specifics just yet. You’ll find out when the time is right."

Li Wei was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Torresta to encourage him to reveal his talent.

He was deeply moved to hear that Torresta had come specifically to ensure his safety.

But he was still unwilling to expose his true strength.

’At least, not under my real identity.’

Li Wei looked down, thinking for a moment before asking, "Teacher, does the Young Mage Association allow anonymous competition?"

Torresta smiled when he heard Li Wei call him "Teacher."

He said, "You can. Competing anonymously won’t affect the Mage Association’s evaluation of you."

"I’ll speak with the Mage Association. You can just compete anonymously when the time comes."

Li Wei smiled. "Thank you, Teacher."

With Torresta as his backer, Li Wei had far fewer worries.

’The only thing left is how to explain this to Teacher Gu Ze.’

’Actually, it should be easy enough to explain. I’ll just put it all on Torresta.’

’I’ll just tell Gu Ze that Torresta forbids me from participating.’

’He wants me to preserve my strength, focus on my cultivation, and wait to make a stunning debut at the next competition.’

When Li Wei finished his train of thought and looked up, he found that Torresta had vanished.

He walked to the window and looked down.

To his eyes, any of the pedestrians coming and going on the street below could be one of Torresta’s Illusory Bodies.

’Is this also the Illusion Technique?’ Li Wei thought, deeply shaken.

Li Wei had escaped.

But Gu Ze, who had come with him, was mobbed by the crowd.

It wasn’t until evening that he finally shook off the persistent crowd and returned to the inn.

The moment Gu Ze saw Li Wei, he started complaining. "You just ran off by yourself and left me to deal with that mob! So many people, all surrounding me... they nearly tore me to pieces."

Li Wei quickly put on a placating smile. "Teacher Gu Ze, please don’t be angry. You know I’m not good at handling situations like that."

"Here, here, have some water and an Osmanthus Cake."

Seeing this, Gu Ze just laughed it off.

In truth, he wasn’t really complaining; he was actually quite pleased.

After all, Li Wei was his student.

Seeing Li Wei be so popular reflected well on him.

A little while later, once Gu Ze had calmed down, Li Wei brought out his prepared story.

"So, that’s the situation. The Tower Master told me to focus on my cultivation and hone my strength for now, and not to be in such a rush to compete... He said it’s better to lie low now and make a stunning debut later!"

Li Wei finished and looked at Gu Ze.

Gu Ze lowered his head and thought for a long time, then sighed.

He said, "The Tower Master has a point. I didn’t think it through properly."

"Someone with your outstanding talent shouldn’t have a failure staining their record."

Li Wei shook his head. "Is there anyone in the world who never fails?"

"You’ve misunderstood, Teacher. That’s not what the Tower Master meant. So what if I fail? As long as I can get back up and keep moving forward, it doesn’t count as a loss!"

"The Tower Master just meant that I’m still young and have plenty of time. There’s no need to rush things."

Torresta: ’No, I’m in a huge hurry.’

He was counting on Li Wei to inherit his mantle, so of course he was in a hurry.

Gu Ze nodded. "I understand."

After seeing Gu Ze out, Li Wei wasted no time and got back to his cultivation.

After cultivating his Mana, he immediately entered the dream to practice the Illusion Technique.

The next morning, Li Wei opened his eyes.

[Illusion Technique (Tier Zero)] 7920/10000

’Just a little more. I should be able to level it up in the next two days.’

The first three days of the Mage Conference were for the main festivities; the Young Mage Tournament would begin on the fourth day.

The tournament would continue until the end of the conference, lasting for about ten to twelve days.

The exact duration wasn’t fixed, as it depended on how the matches progressed.

If there were any particularly drawn-out matches, it might be extended.

But it would not exceed half a month at most.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The sound of ceremonial cannons echoed from outside, carrying with it a fragrant floral scent.

Li Wei pushed open the window and looked out to see a shower of petals falling from the sky, as if scattered by fairies.

The annual Flying Flower Festival had begun.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Gu Ze knocked, and Li Wei opened the door.

Gu Ze said, "Let’s go. Time for the Mage Conference opening ceremony."

The Mage Conference was held in Flying Flower City’s largest square: Crystal Flower Plaza.

Li Wei and Gu Ze arrived at Crystal Flower Plaza.

The place was bustling with activity, and the perimeter of the plaza had been cordoned off by soldiers.

Only Mages or those with an invitation could enter.

Wearing their Mage Robes, Li Wei and Gu Ze were allowed through by the soldiers without any trouble and walked right into the plaza.

"A Magic Hall?"

Li Wei looked up. A palace constructed from pure Magic Radiance stood in the middle of the plaza.

It was a large-scale composite spell.

It required the coordinated effort of multiple Tier Four or higher Grand Mages to cast.

The effect was breathtaking.

The internal space of the Magic Hall was far larger than it looked from the outside.

It involved Space Magic.

’How extravagant!’

Li Wei had only ever read about this kind of magic in books.

He never expected to one day see it with his own eyes.

Compared to the Magic Hall, spells like the Fireball Skill, Wind Blade Technique, and Rock Spike Technique were nothing more than parlor tricks.

This was true magic.

It broke the rules of reality and created the impossible!