Chapter 5: Spiritual Power Level Two Guidance?

A black military SUV, rumbling with a low growl, pulled up at the entrance of a dark, dense forest on the outskirts of Jianghai City.

The door opened, and Ye Hongyu stepped out first.

She scanned the surroundings warily, confirmed it was safe, then opened the rear door.

“Young Master, we’ve arrived.”

Lin Mo stretched lazily and got out of the car.

He stared at the forest, perpetually shrouded in mist.

A cold wind blew through, rustling the leaves, and occasional roars of wild beasts echoed from deep within.

【『Fireball Spell』 let out a cackling laugh: Dark Forest, little Fireball is back—tremble, beasts! Fear, ants! My wrath shall once again purify this land of sin!】

“...”

“Keep it down. You’re a skill, not a villainous final boss.”

Lin Mo’s lips twitched as he silently grumbled in his mind.

The two walked into the outer edge of the forest, one behind the other.

As she walked, Ye Hongyu expertly drew two gleaming daggers and said:

“Young Master, to maximize your leveling efficiency, I won’t team up with you.”

“Team-up splits experience, and higher-level players leading lower-level ones reduce the experience gain.”

“My plan is for me to lure and control the monsters, bringing them to near-death—then you land the final blow, so you get 100% of the experience.”

“Understood, Sister Ye. Thanks for the effort.”

Lin Mo nodded, his expression relaxed.

Ye Hongyu watched his casual demeanor and sighed inwardly.

She had watched this young master grow up.

Though he’d always been lazy since childhood—preferring to lie down rather than sit up—he’d never been the spoiled, arrogant type common among wealthy heirs.

He was always courteous and humble to servants; everyone in the household adored this little young master.

She’d expected this awakening setback to depress him for a while, but he’d shown unexpected drive—jumping straight into an all-night leveling session after awakening.

Too bad... he’d awakened as a blank-element mage.

Ye Hongyu’s eyes flickered with regret.

In this world, the mage class prized “elemental affinity” above all.

Affinity determined not only damage output and skill-learning probability, but also “control” over magical abilities.

A flame mage with fire affinity—even a beginner—could make fireballs obey his will, striking exactly where he aimed.

But a blank-element mage? It was like wielding a gun with massive recoil—whether it hit depended on fate.

The gap in control grew more obvious the higher the level.

The young master had the will, but this innate deficiency was too difficult to overcome...

Ye Hongyu thought silently.

She’d done her best to help him level these past few days, but reaching the legendary “Capital Supreme Academy” was impossible.

That academy had stood for centuries—and had never admitted a single blank-element mage.

As she pondered, the two had advanced deeper.

Ye Hongyu halted, her expression growing serious:

“Young Master, ahead is the territory of Shadow Wolves. They’re also level 3, but famed for speed and agility—extremely troublesome.”

She turned to Lin Mo and suggested:

“With your current control over Fireball Spell, even if I reduce it to near-death, you’ll likely miss such a fast target.”

“Missing wastes mental energy and time.”

“My advice: bypass this area and head west for ‘Ironhide Wild Boars.’ They’re slow-moving, thick-skinned—perfect for practicing your aim.”

Lin Mo listened, then shrugged indifferently:

“We’re already here. If we run into one, just weaken it for me—don’t waste the experience.”

“But—”

Ye Hongyu still tried to persuade him.

“Relax, Sister Ye. I’ve got some confidence in my aim.”

Lin Mo grinned, radiating confidence.

After all, last night little Fireball had already cleared this whole area—Lin Mo had zero worries.

Ye Hongyu froze, staring at his confident expression, a flicker of doubt rising in her.

Where did he get this confidence?

Probably never faced a high-agility monster before.

Even an S-rank fire-affinity mage, on their first day of class, would barely hit a Shadow Wolf.

But then Ye Hongyu reconsidered.

True—wild monsters in Verdant Grassland weren’t nearly as fast as Shadow Wolves.

He must’ve never seen one, hence this misplaced confidence.

“Fine. Since you insist, let’s try.”

Ye Hongyu said no more, gripping her daggers tightly, “If you miss, I’ll finish it immediately—no danger to you.”

“Got it, Sister Ye. Thanks, Sister Ye.”

Lin Mo slapped her shoulder with a smile.

The moment he spoke—

Swish—!

Thick bushes on the left exploded open as a gray-black shadow shot out like a released arrow!

【Shadow Wolf, Level: Lv.3】

“Watch out!”

Ye Hongyu’s eyes sharpened—her body moved faster than her voice.

She kicked off, her figure darting like a ghost, daggers slicing through the air with icy gleam.

“Aow!”

The Shadow Wolf mid-leap let out a shriek.

Ye Hongyu precisely slashed its front leg and belly, then delivered a sharp side kick to its waist.

Thud!

The wolf crashed to the ground—alive but battered.

“Young Master, now!”

Ye Hongyu shouted, stepping back to clear the killing zone.

Though wounded, as a speed-focused beast, its survival instincts remained formidable.

Would the young master seize this chance?

“Go, little Fire.”

Lin Mo gave the command.

【『Fireball Spell』 barely glanced at the wolf: Hmph. A stray dog? Let me grant you a glorious death!】

Whoosh—!

An orange-red fireball shot from Lin Mo’s palm.

At the instant it launched, the Shadow Wolf—renowned for its agility—even in its wounded state, sharply veered right, activating its innate skill “Shadow Flash.”

The roll perfectly evaded the fireball’s original trajectory.

“Damn! Missed!”

Ye Hongyu’s heart sank.

So it really won’t work?

Blank-element Fireball’s trajectory was too straight—utterly useless against sudden directional changes.

She prepared to intervene, ready to finish the wolf before it threatened the young master.

But the next second—

Ye Hongyu froze, eyes widening as if witnessing the impossible.

The fireball, which had just missed, suddenly halted mid-air.

Then—

It violently reversed direction, executing a U-turn and streaking straight toward the Shadow Wolf.

【Fireball Spell sneered: You dare dodge? Did I give you permission?! Die, fool!】

Though Ye Hongyu couldn’t hear little Fireball’s inner voice, she sensed a furious, indignant aura in the fireball’s turn.

Boom!

The spinning fireball struck the Shadow Wolf with pinpoint accuracy.

Already near-dead, the wolf exploded into bloody shreds.

【Killed Shadow Wolf (Lv.3), +20 EXP gained!】

After killing the Shadow Wolf, little Fireball vanished on the spot, true to its word.

“!”

At that moment, Ye Hong, standing beside him, stared fixedly at the still-unfading flame.

“This… this is…”

“Second-stage mental guidance?!”