Chapter Four: Students and Teachers

At this moment, Chu Tian’s mood was like that of a patient with diarrhea who, after enduring for an hour, suddenly discovers a restroom—sheer relief! Ever since the stagnant blood was released, the dragon’s body recovered at a visible speed, prompting Young Master Chu to marvel at the resilience of the dragon race. What astonished him even more was that Scarlet Flame was actually a ninth-tier fire dragon, a figure of considerable renown even among dragons.

When Scarlet Flame unfurled its wings, stretching over a dozen meters, bowed its head, and thanked Chu Tian from above, the innate majesty of the dragon kind made his legs tremble uncontrollably, and even his usually glib tongue twisted into knots. Meanwhile, Little White, with a leisurely air, extended a short, thick forepaw, smoothed the fluffy white fur atop its head, waved its paw dismissively, and accepted the thanks on Chu Tian’s behalf as though nothing had happened. Chu Tian cursed inwardly at the creature’s nerve—indeed, it was thick-skinned!

What irked Chu Tian more was that, save for that moment of gratitude, Scarlet Flame typically acted haughty, as if everyone in the world had stolen its mate. Of course, this was only toward ordinary people; it remained respectful to Anthony and Canas. Yet, in these wild, desolate mountains, aside from those two, only one ordinary person remained—himself.

Scarlet Flame’s attitude was easy enough to explain; pride was a dragon’s nature. Besides, though Chu Tian had saved it, he had also stabbed it once. On the Phantom Beast Continent, no one had ever made a dragon bleed and lived comfortably afterward. The proud dragon race would never permit such desecration of their bodies.

Fortunately, Canas’s demeanor soothed the wounds in Chu Tian’s heart. As his mount grew stronger day by day, Canas’s smile toward Chu Tian grew brighter. When Scarlet Flame was fully recovered, the excited Canas, in a burst of impulsiveness, wanted to swear brotherhood with Chu Tian; Young Master Chu immediately agreed, leaving Canas no time for regrets. Ha! To be a sworn brother of a Dragon Knight—that was a blessing people would laugh about even in their dreams.

As for Anthony, he made Chu Tian even more excited. The moment Chu Tian regained consciousness, the old priest summoned him.

“Young man, thank you. You accomplished what I could not.” The Saint Priest possessed generosity far greater than his appearance, holding no grudge that Chu Tian had stolen his role.

“Oh, not at all, you’re too kind. I was merely lucky, hardly comparable to your boundless skills,” Chu Tian replied, full of flattery, while inwardly he sneered at the old man’s image and wondered how to forge a connection with this big fish before him.

“By the way, where did you learn the method you used to treat Scarlet Flame? Are you a priest?” Anthony stroked his goatee and eyed Chu Tian with suspicion.

“No, I’m not a priest. I just suddenly felt compelled to act that way, as if someone told me what to do…” Chu Tian no longer knew what he was saying—he certainly couldn’t admit he was a veterinarian from Earth.

“Just by intuition?” A cold, sharp light flashed in Anthony’s murky eyes as he scrutinized Chu Tian.

“Really, it was just intuition.” Under the old man’s gaze, a chill crept up Chu Tian’s spine, and he hurriedly tried to explain, “I saw Scarlet Flame’s condition and felt pity, so I just did what I did, almost unconsciously. Now, thinking back, I realize how risky it was—what if it hadn’t worked…”

“You truly have the priest’s talent!” Anthony finally confirmed that Chu Tian had no magical or martial aura—just an ordinary person. He withdrew his gaze and uttered a sentence that baffled Chu Tian.

“Would you like to be my student?”

Still pondering the previous statement, Chu Tian was hit by another bombshell.

“What a pity!” Seeing Chu Tian’s lack of response, Anthony assumed he was unwilling. “You’re unusually sensitive to injuries, and you have compassion. With your aptitude, not becoming a priest would be a waste.”

Little White, knowing Chu Tian was too excited to think straight, poked him secretly with its paw and winked, urging him not to miss the opportunity.

“I’m willing!” Chu Tian finally came to himself and answered eagerly. To be the Saint Priest’s student? Chu Tian could almost see gold coins and beautiful women flying toward him.

“To become your student is my honor! Praise the Goddess of Life! I am willing to dedicate my life to the noble profession of priesthood!” he said, wearing a sanctified expression. Chu Tian realized he had a knack for being a charlatan.

“At last, someone can inherit my legacy. Praise the Goddess of Life!” Anthony was deeply moved.

“Praise the Goddess of Life!” The old and the young, two charlatans, sighed together.

————————————————————————————

In the ensuing days, Canas and Scarlet Flame took their leave. Canas had a pile of military affairs to handle in the imperial capital. The proud red dragon, Scarlet Flame, after suffering such a defeat, submitted a request for leave and advanced training to its master, flying back to its ancestral lair—Mount Aguila—for intensive training, hoping to redeem itself in the future.

With his sworn brother and the aloof giant dragon gone, Chu Tian built a grass nest for himself and Little White beside Anthony’s hut, embarking on his less-than-perfect apprenticeship as a priest.

“Like other professions, ours is divided into nine ranks: Priest Apprentice, Novice Priest, Junior Priest, Intermediate Priest, Senior Priest, Grand Priest, Priest Mentor, Grand Priest Mentor, and the highest, Saint Priest—which is your teacher, me.” Anthony, newly a mentor, introduced the ranks with gusto, unaware that his student was listening with an earnest yet absent-minded expression, while Little White lay on its back, eyes narrowed, belly up, limbs sprawled, lazily basking in the sun.

“Teacher, are you the strongest on the continent?” Chu Tian cared most about this.

“Yes and no!” Anthony cracked a dry smile. “If it’s about healing, no one surpasses me.”

What was up with that Scarlet Flame? Such a dramatic spectacle, and in the end, it was up to me! Chu Tian grumbled inwardly. “But what about offensive power—burning and killing, I mean?”

“Priests are dedicated to healing, not attack,” Anthony replied, making Chu Tian feel the gold coins and beauties he’d just imagined fly away.

“Of course, we do have some offensive spells for self-defense; otherwise, how could I live alone in this beast-infested Sunset Mountains?” Seeing his student discouraged, Anthony quickly tried to restore his motivation. “But those are advanced spells, usable only by seventh rank and above—Priest Mentors. If all goes well, you’ll master them in ten years.”

Damn! You’re messing with me! Considering Anthony’s reputation and strength, Chu Tian gave up his urge to beat him up. On Earth, he’d been a veterinarian; now, after crossing over, he was to heal people. Was he fated to save lives forever?

“Of course, if you want to boost your offensive power, there’s a way: On the continent, a strong person’s power consists of two parts—personal magic or martial energy, and a magical pet.”

“Magical pets also increase power?” Chu Tian glanced at Little White, sunning itself, and asked.

“Heh, your Little White certainly cannot. I mean high-tier magical pets—a powerful magical pet can match or even surpass its master. Take Canas: on land, his strength equals that of a seventh-tier Grand Swordmaster, but when riding Scarlet Flame, he can contend with eighth-tier Sword Saints as a Dragon Knight!”

Anthony paused, then continued, “With Canas’s talent, he should reach eighth-tier in ten years. Then, paired with ninth-tier Scarlet Flame, our Caesar Empire will have a contender for the ultimate rank—Holy Dragon Knight!”

Holy Dragon Knight? Chu Tian smiled, eyes narrowed. A brother to an ultimate powerhouse—he could walk sideways anywhere.

“How does one catch a high-tier magical beast? Hmm… seventh or eighth-tier would suffice.” Considering Scarlet Flame’s presence, Chu Tian lowered his standards.

Bang! Anthony raised his staff and knocked it hard on Chu Tian’s head, scolding, “Seventh or eighth-tier? Don’t even think about it now. Magical beasts are as strong as their professional equivalents! Seventh or eighth-tier? That’s already at the level of Magic Mentor or above! Our Caesar Empire has only seventeen eighth-tier battle beasts! To make them your pets, you must prove your strength. If Canas weren’t so outstanding, he couldn’t have become a Dragon Knight with his abilities!”

“Teacher, I understand all that. Can you teach me magic directly?” Chu Tian resigned himself to reality.

“Very well. Let’s begin with the priest’s introductory spell—Healing!” The Saint Priest was proud of his diligent student.

“But Healing is for others, and we don’t have a target right now.” Anthony hadn’t expected his student to progress so quickly and was caught off guard.

“Target?” Chu Tian squinted, scanning around, then fixed his gaze on the poor little creature sunbathing.

Little White, still basking, suddenly shivered, lifted its head, and met Chu Tian’s mischievous smile…

Raising its rump high, tail drooping, head buried deep in the earth, forepaws covering its round head in agony, Little White trembled, presented before Chu Tian.

“Oh great Goddess of Life! Grant me your power—Healing!” With the incantation, Chu Tian waved his hand at Little White… No response!

Again! Young Master Chu raised his arm high and swung down forcefully…

Still no response!

“Why is this happening?!” After countless failed attempts, Chu Tian was exhausted, and the old priest’s broom-like eyebrows were furrowed.

“Try casting it on me,” Anthony, baffled, decided to experiment himself.

Wiping sweat, Chu Tian recited the incantation once more: “Oh great Goddess of Life! Grant me your power—Healing!” Still no response!

“Woo woo!” Freed from being a test subject, Little White howled gleefully.

“How strange! I didn’t sense any magical fluctuation!” Anthony stroked his sparse goatee and lowered his head in deep thought.

Ignoring his pondering teacher, Chu Tian sat cross-legged, staring at his hands, dazed. The basic spell that others mastered in days was harder than forbidden magic for him. Always confident in his intelligence, Young Master Chu began to worry.

“Come with me!” As if remembering something, Anthony dragged Chu Tian back into the hut.

After a bout of rummaging, the old priest finally pulled out a crystal ball caked with grime from the bottom of a chest, wiped it, and handed it to Chu Tian. “Cast your spell on this!”

“What is it? A magic artifact? Can I use it to unleash forbidden magic?” Anthony’s mysterious manner made Chu Tian hopeful about the unimpressive crystal.

“In your dreams! Forbidden magic? If forbidden magic could be cast easily, I wouldn’t be in this state!” The old priest flushed with anger, raised his battered staff, and struck Chu Tian’s head again.

Hmm? There’s something here. Picking up on Anthony’s implication, Chu Tian leaned in and asked, “Teacher, what happened to you?”

“Have you heard of the Quarry Fortress Campaign?”

“Of course. Back then, you charged alone into enemy territory and saved the empire from annihilation. Your heroic deeds have spread across the continent, sung by bards as legend.” Chu Tian, familiar with the power of advertising on Earth, added mentally that these were likely exaggerated.

“Sigh… In my youth, seeing our soldiers slaughtered on the battlefield, I was so enraged that I ignored my old teacher’s warnings and, at the cost of my own life, cast the forbidden priest spell—Hymn of the Goddess of Life!

In the end, I survived, but my strength was greatly diminished, leaving me as I am now.” Anthony raised his head, reminiscing about past glory. “To maintain deterrence against enemy nations, I kept my injury secret, withdrew to this place alone, seeking a way to restore my power…”

Indeed, Anthony’s efforts had a huge impact. In the thirty years after the Quarry Fortress battle, the Reis Empire, intimidated by the Saint Priest and the ninth-tier Kuata, and lacking advanced battle beasts, dared not make a move. Ten years ago, Canas, then a low-ranking officer in the Caesar army, by chance tamed the ninth-tier Scarlet Flame. Caesar thus became the only country on the continent with two ninth-tier magical beasts, dominating all rivals! With Scarlet Flame and Kuata, Reis despaired, and Caesar’s neighbors bowed in submission. In the past twenty years, only the beast folk, and the distant overseas nation of Sky Sea, dared occasionally harass the empire’s coasts.

Looking at the sighing, shrimp-like, lecherous old man before him, Young Master Chu vowed never to use forbidden magic—though he hadn’t learned any yet.

“Enough of that.” Anthony snapped out of his memories, “This is a magical crystal, used to test your magical aptitude. Go on, test it.”

Chu Tian cradled the crystal ball in his left hand, recited the incantation he’d repeated endlessly these days, and waved his right hand toward it.

No response!

Even a total novice knew what had happened: he was a magical idiot!

“Goddess of Life! I actually took on a student with no magical talent!” Anthony’s face turned iron-gray in despair.

Chu Tian was stunned; the reality of being a magical idiot crushed his fragile nerves!

“No matter! Innate deficiency can be overcome with effort! Believe in the miracle of the Goddess of Life!” The recovered Anthony comforted his student, making a last attempt.

“Woo woo~” Little White trotted over, slapped Chu Tian’s leg with its tail, offering sympathy and encouragement.

“Praise the Goddess of Life!” Chu Tian nodded, full of melancholy.