Chapter 38: Spider Web

Chapter 38: Spider Web

The moment the spell was cast, Suye felt the Tree of Magic within the Magic Tower light up, and the magic array on the leaves of the Tree of Magic was activated, with magical energy flowing through it.

The magic array burst into endless white light, shooting up to the sky above the Magic Tower and disappearing.

Two and a half seconds after Suye chanted the incantation, a faint white light suddenly enveloped the surface of the Demon Ox Rope, which then leaped like a flying venomous snake, heading straight for Niedern's neck.

"You..." Niedern was startled, and a ring on his left hand flashed, casting a bright yellow egg-shaped shield around him.

The Demon Ox Rope landed with a snap outside the egg-shaped shield and coiled around it, squeezing tightly like a living snake.

The egg-shaped shield remained motionless, and the magic rope had no effect on the magical shield.

Suye sensed that something was off with Niedern's mood and asked, "Teacher, did I do something wrong?"

"The Demon Ox Rope is primarily used to bind enemies. Why did you aim for my neck?"

"Isn't it more effective to strangle someone?" Suye asked in confusion.

Niedern paused for a few seconds and said, "You have a natural talent for harming others."

Only then did Suye say, "When you used the Demon Ox Rope before, wasn't it just to bind people's limbs?"

Niedern replied, "Most people start fighting as Black Iron mages, where Black Iron spells are far stronger than apprentice magic. Using the Demon Ox Rope to kill is inefficient. Of course, if one has special talents, it's different."

Suye nodded and said, "I understand. Each spell has a wide range of applications, but the best scenarios are relatively narrow. For example, this Demon Ox Rope might be a lethal weapon for magic apprentices, but for Black Iron mages, its power is limited, making it unsuitable for combat and only useful for binding things."

"Very well said," Niedern praised.

"Can I try again?" Suye asked.

Niedern thought for a moment and said, "Wait a moment."

As he spoke, a one-meter-high pale white staff appeared in Niedern's hand. The staff was slightly curved, with an eye-sized amethyst embedded at its tip. The staff had three spiral knots, each emitting a faint glow. He chanted an incantation, and the amethyst glowed softly. Just one second later, three magic arrays appeared on the ground in front of Niedern.

The magic arrays emitted blue light, and within each array, a colorful leopard materialized.

The three leopards stood quietly in the magic arrays, their tails swaying gently, their eyes fixed on Suye.

Niedern put away the staff and said, "This is the Summon Leopard spell, the most common apprentice summoning spell, typically used by Black Iron mages. Each leopard possesses the strength equivalent to an ordinary warrior apprentice. I've instructed them not to attack you, but they will still move. You're not allowed to use magic; experience this feeling."

As soon as Niedern finished speaking, the three leopards slowly walked out of the magic arrays and roared at Suye together.

Suye had seen these animals in zoos before, and since Niedern said the leopards wouldn't attack, he wasn't afraid.

The three leopards continued to growl while approaching Suye, circling him slowly.

When some of the leopards moved behind him, out of sight, Suye's mind entered a state of high alert, instinctively sensing danger. His muscles tensed, and his throat went dry.

Niedern said, "Remember this feeling and learn to manage it! Mages are different from warriors. Warriors gain experience through prolonged battles, while mages spend more time studying and have fewer real combat opportunities. Masters have done statistics showing that over 50% of apprentice, Black Iron, and Bronze mages die due to panic and mistakes, not lack of skill. Even if your talent is ten times greater, a sudden attack could lead to death from a misjudgment or panic, even at the hands of an ordinary warrior with a spear."

"You're doing well. Now, continue to feel," Niedern said, moving his fingers, causing the three leopards to pounce at Suye from different angles.

Suye found it hard to remain still and instinctively rolled to avoid the leopards.

"Don't move. Feel the wind as the leopards pass by, feel the bloodlust of their claws, feel the stench of their breath, feel the savagery in their gaze! Only by experiencing and feeling this repeatedly can you stay calm and avoid mistakes when facing opponents."

Suye quickly steadied himself, using his thumb and index finger to adjust his posture, regulate his breathing, and recompose his mindset.

At the same time, Suye's mind raced.

"Teacher wants me to experience the power of the leopards, which is a simple form of desensitization therapy. It's psychological resilience training, or perhaps a form of antifragility. By continuously experiencing this stimulus, I'll become stronger and won't let such threats affect my mindset, allowing me to perform better."

Using the basic "Spider Web Learning Method," Suye connected new knowledge with existing knowledge, forming a web of understanding that aligns with the brain's structure. This not only helps him remember and understand faster but also convinces his brain to accept the knowledge, increasing confidence and improving learning efficiency.

Understanding the context, Suye immediately calmed down and quickly asked himself the Lajin question.

"What should I do right now?"

"Perceive! Observe! Feel!"

A faint smile appeared on Suye's lips.

As his teacher had said, finding the same answer gave Suye an unprecedented sense of security, making it easier to act.

In the next instant, Suye felt like a visitor outside a zoo cage, his muscles relaxed, but his gaze was clearer and his thoughts sharper.

Suye perceived the changes in his body, observed the fierce eyes of the leopards, smelled their stench, felt the wind from their pounces, and listened to their footsteps...

The three leopards continued to circle Suye, occasionally brushing against his clothes or hair, but never attacking fully.

Niedern watched Suye intently, his eyes filled with disbelief.

From the first glance, Niedern could tell that Suye had no combat experience and was certainly not a powerful mage or a divine spirit possessing his body. A person's reaction to danger cannot be faked, and anyone who has experienced combat would recognize it.

While Suye's ability to adjust his state in mere seconds and remain calm was impressive, it was not what truly amazed Niedern. What truly astonished him was Suye's immediate correct judgment, swiftly observing, feeling, and experiencing everything.

"Does he have the talent for beastly intuition? No, he seems even more advanced than that. Genius!"

Niedern thought for a moment, and the magic book suddenly floated and focused on Suye.

Every movement of Suye was recorded by the magic book.

Only Suye knew that this was not some beastly intuition but a habit formed through repeated failures and procrastination, using the Lajin question.