[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware-":3,"chapter-just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Just Became a Mage, and My Skills Got Self-Aware? What the Hell?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2356631,4610,"Chapter 21: The Earth Shield Skill Feels a Sense of Danger","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo rolled over half-asleep, his hand instinctively reaching out to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo slowly opened his eyes and saw a delicate, lovely face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young woman in a black-and-white lace maid outfit stood beside the bed, holding a cup of warm milk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Mo awake, she leaned forward slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, you’re awake~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid’s voice was soft as silk, “You were so exhausted last night, you slept straight through until now. Have some milk to replenish your strength?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo sat up, took the milk, and drank it down in one gulp, then automatically opened his status panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Name: Lin Mo】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Class: Mage】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Level: Lv.10 (8%)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa, really level 10?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this what it feels like to just lie around?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While others grind monsters to death, I sleep and level up without lifting a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo glanced around and noticed only his personal maid was present. He asked curiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is everyone else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid took the empty cup and replied softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, about an hour ago, Captain Hu and the others stopped luring monsters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because you slept so deeply, the monsters we pulled over didn’t react at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ye Captain worried about your safety and didn’t want to disturb your rest, so he ordered them to halt. Now some are guarding outside, others are on rotation rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s how it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo nodded after hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looks like Little Fireball also collapsed from exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongyu arrived with Hu and Shi Tou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three clearly looked tired, faint red veins visible beneath their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good morning, Young Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Morning, everyone. You’ve worked hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo stretched, got off the bed, and asked, “I slept so hard last night—didn’t I cause you any trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way! Young Master was in deep meditation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu grinned with a simple, earnest look:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maintaining such precise kill efficiency even while sound asleep, for half the night—you’re practically a god!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo chuckled awkwardly and didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, shall we keep leveling up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongyu glanced at the special troops standing by and asked, “If you want to continue, I’ll have them start luring monsters right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo looked at his skill bar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Fireball Skill Status: Sound Asleep (Drooling)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main DPS is offline—who’s going to level now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manually casting fireballs myself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t make me laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d rather lie in bed and play ranked matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it, Sister Ye. Let’s not level for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo waved his hand and yawned, “Just woke up, head’s still fuzzy. Need a break to clear my mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, we’ll follow Young Master’s lead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Hongyu nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Shi Tou, standing nearby, suddenly asked curiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, since you’ve reached level 10, can you now learn your second basic skill? Yesterday, Commander said you wanted to learn a soil-based skill?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lin Mo remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, level 10 allowed him to learn another basic skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, survival comes first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo pulled out the basic skill book for 【Earth Shield】 that Su Wan had given him yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Hu immediately spoke up:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, you picked the perfect skill—not just for survival, but Shi Tou is the only S-rank elemental affinity mage in our special squad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Hu elbowed Shi Tou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And he’s a soil affinity! When it comes to understanding soil skills, in Jianghai City, Shi Tou’s second, no one dares claim first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou shook his hands frantically:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hu Brother, don’t exaggerate! Before Young Master, I wouldn’t dare call myself S-rank…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master is a micro-control master! I’ve seen his Fireball technique—he’s far more refined than I am after over a decade of practicing Earth Shield!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just… just a little experienced, a little…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he spoke humbly, the confidence in Shi Tou’s eyes was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an S-rank soil affinity mage, his perception of earth elements and his ability to construct defensive skills were Tianfu  beyond ordinary reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough with the modesty, Brother Shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo smiled and patted the skill book. “Since you’re the expert, once I learn it, I’ll need your guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not worthy! Not worthy! Young Master, just try it—any questions, I’ll answer without holding back!” Shi Tou was flattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo didn’t delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This skill was about his life—he wanted it learned as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lin Mo willed it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the skill book dissolved into glowing particles and flowed into his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You have learned basic skill: Earth Shield (Lv.1)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Earth Shield: Summon a soil-element shield to block physical and magical damage from the front.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo didn’t care much about the skill’s effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cared whether Earth Shield could talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tentatively called out inwardly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Soil? You there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone? Hello?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello? Moshi moshi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Earth Shield icon on his skill bar remained utterly still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Little Fireball really the only special one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This skill was mute?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Mo stare blankly after learning the skill, Shi Tou couldn’t help asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master? How’s it feel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou spoke like a seasoned veteran, patiently explaining:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The hardest part for soil mages is communicating with earth elements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fire elements are volatile and eager—they ignite at the slightest touch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But earth elements are calm and steady. Mastering soil skills demands immense patience…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s normal you feel nothing yet, since you’re just starting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo let it go—he couldn’t ignore someone giving him advice right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ohhh… I see. Thanks for the lesson, Brother Shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lin Mo’s humble attitude, Shi Tou’s sense of accomplishment swelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grinned and pointed to the empty space before Lin Mo:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, why not try casting 【Earth Shield】 right here? I’ll watch and give feedback.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo nodded and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the skill was activated, the surrounding air trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint yellow-brown aura appeared around Lin Mo, then coalesced into a semi-transparent earth-element shield, floating before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked… as if a breeze could knock it apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Hu and Ye Hongyu exchanged a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without elemental affinity, just forming the shield on first attempt was already impressive—as for strength… don’t expect much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou, however, took responsibility seriously—he stepped forward two paces and tapped on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… Young Master, for a first attempt, forming the shield already puts you ahead of over 90% of newcomers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he said that, what Shi Tou really meant was: for a blank-slate mage with no elemental affinity, producing this result was already quite good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after all, he was the Young Master—words had to be softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou shifted tone and began instructing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The structure here is still too loose, Young Master. Try calming your mind—don’t think about defense, just feel the earth beneath your feet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Imagine pulling up the rocks and soil beneath you, compressing and stacking them, filling this shield with them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Shi Tou gestured and guided with his mental energy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, Young Master, follow my rhythm—breathe deeply… feel that weight…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo nodded, closed his eyes, and followed Shi Tou’s guidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he lacked elemental affinity, under Shi Tou’s mental guidance, the thin shield began to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also his first fully autonomous skill release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shield’s color visibly darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it still didn’t look particularly strong, at least it now looked like a real shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! That’s it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou’s eyes lit up; he couldn’t help clapping in approval:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, remember this feeling—this shield’s current thickness can easily withstand a basic fireball spell of the same level!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou, eager to test it, suggested:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master, let’s test its actual defense—I’ll strike it with a basic fireball.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing he was about to be hit, Ye Hongyu frowned slightly: “Shi Tou, he just learned this—already testing it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Ye, rest assured—I’ve got control. Just a tiny fireball. With this shield’s thickness, it’ll hold easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou patted his chest, confidently assuring her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his certainty, Ye Hongyu finally nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Shi Tou was a seasoned veteran mage—he had this much control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Ye Hongyu backed away a few steps with Ah Hu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Tou also retreated to a position ten meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh——\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his palm, a ball of orange-red flame instantly flared up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fireball was indeed small—smaller than Lin Mo’s previous ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very moment the flame appeared,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previously unresponsive 【Earth Shield】 icon suddenly trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【The “Earth Shield” sensed a threat.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【The “Earth Shield” let out a pig-like scream: No! Danger! Don’t come closer!】\u003C\u002Fp>",1437,"2026-06-21T04:41:49.398Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e507b94220bdd5d411a8b52391d15a5dc9a94d2aa8c33d8ecd05060087e97572","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-22","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-20",374,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fjust-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--cover.jpg"]