Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 352 The Way Has Not Been Far Away
The spellcaster studies and memorizes spells, constructing the structural model of the spell within their own consciousness. This is inherently a process of mutual adjustment and refinement.

You think you've mastered it, that you've embraced it, but at the same time, you've become its shape.

Through years of research and development of a particular school of magic, one's own spirituality and spirit will become more aligned with it.

A deep and specialized understanding of a particular school of thought is enough to make the spells of that school far more effective in the hands of the caster than those of an unfamiliar school.

As for the opposing schools of thought, needless to say, the inconsistency between their own structural models and the spellcaster's spirit makes mastering them somewhat inefficient.

After careful consideration and weighing the pros and cons, this is the true nature of the conflict between specialization and academic schools of thought.

Of course, Zhang Yuan's knowledge was not enough to understand the intricacies of the matter. This was something that Tyrantir had specifically instructed him on, for fear that his disciple, who was greedy and wanted more than his share, might produce some kind of all-around mage.

"Teacher, I've heard that a well-prepared mage is invincible, so why are all-around mages in the minority?"

"How about I give you one night to prepare, and tomorrow I'll use magic to duel you?"

The person didn't dare utter a single fart on the spot, waiting patiently to hear what was happening.

Tyrantir looked at his apprentice, who had transformed from a complete novice to a fifth-circle spellcaster in just one year, and sighed with mixed feelings of joy and worry.

“Chanem, you do have undeniable talent, whether in theoretical learning or in mastering spells. Apart from being a little clumsy in your techniques during experiments, you can be said to be the kind of ideal apprentice who makes his mentor worry-free.”

Hearing the praise, Zhang Yuan smiled politely, his heart remaining calm.

There's usually someone waiting for this kind of statement...

Sure enough, it happened.

"But I don't want you to fall into that trap called talent."

Tyrantir looked directly into the eyes of his disciple, his gaze no longer revealing the usual sternness and coldness, but rather a hint of reminiscence and gentleness, the former icy resolve turning into a wisp of smoke.

"On the path of arcane magic, some people lack the aptitude and physical strength to go very far; others, however, rely on their speed and quick thinking, and end up lingering on the road for too long, only to realize their mistake when it is too late to turn back."

Having discerned the truth, Zhang Yuan repeatedly agreed and revealed his plan to focus on the three disciplines of incantation, energy manipulation, and transformation.

"It's good that you understand the importance of it. The path of arcane magic is not simply about piling up spells. Even the most versatile mage, if he can only replicate the achievements of others but cannot understand his own path, will ultimately have limited success."

"Does the teacher mean we have to develop our own spells?"

"That's only one aspect. Spellcasters who can go far on this path all have their own insights and research directions on arcane magic. It's not just about how many spells you've mastered or whether you have the ability to develop new spells. If you're only obsessed with these skills, you're at best a bricklayer who can only cast spells."

"All skills return to their origins, and in the end only wisdom and knowledge endure. You must recognize yourself and not get lost in the vast sea of ​​mystery."

These somewhat cryptic words were Tyrantir's parting words a few days ago. The archmage, who had stayed in Neverwinter for nearly a month, spent his time, besides exchanging ideas with the old headmaster and his former classmates, instructing his last disciple. Although the words were profound, Zhang Yuan understood their meaning; in his previous life's parlance, it was the distinction between a scientist and an engineer.

While various applied technologies and inventions are certainly welcome, and we should not reject their flexible application, we must not forget that the foundation of all inventions and creations lies in the preliminary process of scientific discovery, theoretical hypothesis, demonstration, and refinement.

It's easy to talk about it, but when faced with the fact that knowledge and skills can bring real and powerful strength, how many people can settle down and study the seemingly unprofitable principles behind magic?

Wouldn't it be better to use that time to learn more spells and meditate more deeply into the magic network?

It is not until they enter the higher realms, where the structure and complexity of spells far surpass what they once were, and even the affinity of the magic network becomes increasingly obscure and difficult to penetrate, that the true test of a spellcaster's skill will come.

Mages are not sorcerers; their hard work earns them flexibility and room for adaptation. Even if they take the wrong path, they still have the opportunity to turn back and correct their mistakes, but...

All mortals must die!
The teachings from my mentor cannot be ignored. After calmly examining the mysterious path I have walked, I suddenly realized that I am the same.

Zhang Yuan ultimately couldn't avoid the mistakes and wrong paths others had taken.

Perhaps out of excessive curiosity or even fascination with the wondrous power of arcane magic, or perhaps to have more trump cards in this adventurous journey, the study of spells, the honing of spellcasting skills, the mastery of super magic techniques, and the attempts to improve and innovate spells—in short, almost all of Zhang Dafashi's efforts in the field of arcane magic were closely related to practicality.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to summarize it in one sentence—the art of killing.

This is actually beyond reproach. If even the safety of the present cannot be guaranteed, how can one talk about future achievements? It's just that at this point, Zhang Yuan has enough to protect himself and has a foothold, so he has the energy to think about and look forward to his future.

This is also an advantage of having a mentor. The timely guidance from his mentor gave him ample room to maneuver before his problems became insurmountable, and allowed him to plan his future from a higher perspective.

This is precisely why Zhang Yuan insisted on keeping control of the territory's development plan.

The fundamental research in these arcane fields is even more expensive than spell development and alchemical experiments. The more one delves into the essence of the mysteries, the more difficult it becomes to observe and touch upon them.

Only with massive investment of resources and money can one hear a sound; this is an insurmountable barrier that no mage aspiring to reach this peak can bypass.

With his background, Zhang was not unable to obtain a considerable amount of resources from Wudong Academy and his teachers. The trusteeship and operation plan that Balas and the others had devised was also intended to effectively utilize his existing conditions to support his future personal development.

In fact, the academy also had another concern: these otaku who were obsessed with magic might do something ridiculous, like draining the pond to catch all the fish, due to their lack of management experience and their eagerness for quick success.

They consider themselves guardians, so they can't make things too ugly for others.

The two paths mentioned above are not bad, just not enough.

There is an undeniable fact that while the academy is rich in resources, it would never recklessly favor one person for their extravagance, even if that person was a student who joined the academy halfway through the program.

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(End of this chapter)