Chapter 329: The Cost of Friendliness

In the world of the extraordinary, is power more important, or technique?

"Why not have both? It can't be done." Although wanting everything is clearly the common path, time and energy are limited; sometimes one must make trade-offs.

The dispute between the "One Force Overcomes Ten Skills" school and the "Watch Me Play with Tricks" school is endless, but Li En is a realist who uses whatever works and whatever is effective.

Li En originally thought spellcasting was a "mathematics," often having an optimal choice.

If it is, it is; if not, it is not. But now it seems I was shallow.

"Simply looking at a spell model, the one with the greatest power, lowest consumption, and best cost-performance ratio might be the so-called optimal choice. But in reality, the foundation of many quite practical, high-level techniques lies in those 'errors' and 'outdated things'."

Li En thought the Fireball spell, optimized by countless predecessors, had reached its limit; whether in mana consumption or destructive range, it had reached the best. But now it seems the best might also mean mediocrity, meaning the loss of higher-level plasticity.

"They call our school the Star-Burning School. But I feel it should be the Star-Shaping School. No, I don't mean we must shape fireballs like stars. 'Compressing' and 'fusing' fire elements to make them infinitely approach the essence of a star is one of our paths."

This set of the mentor's is actually a branch of the Elf school. Elegant Elf Archmages like to have several elemental spheres floating above their heads when they go out, whether fire, ice, or lightning.

This is a technique for training mana control ability and a requirement for instant-casting spells in actual combat. Beastmen spellcasters find it hard to achieve this because it requires continuous and stable spiritual energy output; mastering it might take ten years or even decades.

The relatively shorter lifespan of half-elves compared to elves makes them prefer "explosive power." Within this system, they conducted deep research on "spell sphere fusion," which conforms to the general laws of "scientific" research.

The more one specializes, the narrower the path becomes; more branches arise within the specialized sub-disciplines.

The more one studies in detail, the harder it is to progress, but the results are astonishing.

"Our system has a history of roughly fifteen hundred years. Most Archmages are half-elves or elves; it requires high elemental affinity and mana control. But I think you should be able to learn it."

The most basic training is to let fire exist between the palms in the form of a "Burning Fireball," neither exploding nor extinguishing.

"Uh, looking only at this spell ability, it might only be two and a half tiers higher in mana consumption, lower in explosive power, and smaller in destructive range."

Li En was confident he could learn this, and he unexpectedly found this system suited him very well.

"The hardest hurdle is actually multitasking to maintain several fireballs."

After a fireball is released, it does not require spell focus (spiritual energy maintenance); once thrown, it is done.

But since the Burning Fireball involves spell fusion, it naturally requires maintaining spell focus to let the fireball float in mid-air, keeping a stable state where both sides touch without exploding. At least, maintain the spell focus of both sides.

This is also the reason why the mentor tested Li En on this ability in the first place; this is the core ability of this system.

If one cannot draw a circle with one hand and a square with the other, this path is doomed to fail; do not waste everyone's time.

"Evocation schools actually all require multitasking ability. You must simultaneously maintain the summoning, conversion, compression, and fusion of energy; a single thread should not be enough."

The further Li En walked the path of the mage, the more he understood the hardships of this road. I fear that so-called "mortals" truly cannot walk it; there are too many talent requirements that force people beyond their limits.

"Your talent is somewhat beyond expectations. Are you really an ordinary 'Orc'?"

The half-elf hinted at something; looking at Li En's round ears, he spoke with a smile. Li En also smiled in response but said nothing.

Li En estimated the mentor had actually seen through it long ago but simply chose not to expose it.

As long as it is not exposed, I, Li En Sudar, am on the Pseudo-Dragon evolution path and not a Dragonborn!

Given the number of dragons on the Prime Material Plane, Dragonborn are rare but not extinct. However, the basic traits of Dragonborn actually correspond to high resistance of the corresponding attribute and increased spell damage.

Multitasking like Li En clearly exceeded expectations.