Compared to the young wizards by Crescent Lake, the elders on Centimeter Mountain have a wider perspective.

"Too fast."

The elder wizard leading the O’Brien family frowned slightly as his gaze fell on Zheng Qing’s sleeve. A flash of light crossed his eyes and his frown deepened.

"What is too fast?" The attendant standing behind did not understand the elder wizard’s words.

"That young man casts spells too quickly."

The other family elder next to him explained simply: "Using a transformation spell to analyze a talisman is not a simple task. Previously, when he performed magic on stage, he needed to calm himself, prepare the talisman, open the law book, and chant the spell... Even under very smooth circumstances, the whole process would take more than five seconds."

"But just now, in the blink of an eye, that Silent Bird darted out of his sleeve." A moment of realization appeared on the attendant’s face, and he looked at Zheng Qing with a bit more confusion: "... How did he do it?"

...

...

"No cheating."

The Three-Eyed Clan’s advisor toyed with his jade-studded forehead band, the gleam in his third eye shimmering, and he spoke with certainty: "Though I don’t know what skill he used, I’m sure he didn’t manipulate anything inside his sleeve..."

"Earlier on stage, he was clearly not very skilled, probably just recently started on the skill of talisman fusion." The Duo Nuo Clan’s representative rubbed the auxiliary brain on the other side of his cheek, speaking hesitantly: "But just after a few minutes... his second fusion spell was almost instantaneous!"

"So, he comprehended and mastered a deep magic skill in a very short time?" The Multi-arm race’s consul raised two goblets, clinking them together and praised with a sigh: "Such an astonishing talent... No wonder he was chosen by the upper house member of the Moon Council."

...

...

Zheng Qing was naturally unaware of the evaluation by those elders on Centimeter Mountain, otherwise, he would internally praise, "Old ginger is spicier," no wonder they became elders of various families.

Of course, he didn’t cheat nor did he manipulate anything in his sleeve.

But he didn’t completely rely on his own abilities just now—just like those elder wizards on Centimeter Mountain mentioned, he too had just barely grasped the skill of talisman and transformation spell fusion, and couldn’t use it at will, how could he respond so proficiently on site?

The reason he didn’t use the Charm Gun was because in the recent duel he unexpectedly ’borrowed’ a force he hadn’t foreseen. Or more accurately, it was the Little Green Snake residing in his ear voluntarily lending him a bit of power.

Previously shocked awake by the trembling heartstrings, the Little Green Snake flicked its tongue and sent him onto the magic stage, and did not fall back into slumber. The vibrant atmosphere permeating Shanglin Garden nourished its increasingly parched spirit, allowing it to become much more alert.

These energies stemmed from both the natural breath of spring, and the vital spiritual energy from young wizards. To an entity born to end, nothing is more desirable than vitality.

Therefore, it urgently needed this aura to be thicker.

And Zheng Qing was the best raft.

...

...

In comparison to others watching the spectacle.

The witches from the Qingqiu Family were feeling rather conflicted at this moment.

On one hand, they were eager to see a certain scoundrel being harshly taught in public; but on the other hand, they did not wish for the person teaching that guy a lesson to be from the Tu Shan Family.

This subtle emotion was difficult for outsiders to feel.

The two young wizards on the magic stage naturally were unaware of the disturbances outside.

When the hot waves from the collision between the fireball and the little blue bird subsided, their figures reappeared, clearly visible. Tushan Chujiu looked at Zheng Qing and shook her head slightly:

"If you are only at this level..."

She didn’t finish her sentence, but the disappointment in her emotions was palpably evident, although she quickly gathered herself, her attitude becoming calm and her aura growing more dignified.

Zheng Qing looked at her, for some reason suddenly thinking of Jiang Yu, thinking of Su Shijun, thinking of many young wizards he had seen from prestigious families.

They were proud enough normally, cautious enough in battle, guided by elders patiently teaching, supported by rich magical resources provided by family. Compared to them, what more did the kids from Edge Academy have other than some persistence, resilience, and perseverance?

In the moment such thoughts flashed through his mind.

Tushan Chujiu made her move.

Her actions were crisp yet left some leeway, her hands gliding across the law book, her fingers spinning like flowers, three fox tails behind her raised high, chanting a spell with a gentle whistle, and dozens of fireballs floated in the air, compared to the fireball she previously flicked carelessly, the ones currently floating mid-air far surpassed in both temperature and size.

At Crescent Lake.

Jiang Yu’s dark eyes narrowed, her fingers tightening on the jade railing.

Having just faced off against Tushan Chujiu, she could best perceive the danger in those fireballs.

Not only that, she suspected that Tushan Chujiu secretly mixed the ’Peach and tender’ fragments into the Fire Rain Spell Formula, as those fireballs weren’t rigidly staying mid-air but were hauntingly changing positions, every shift and flicker leaving a trail of pink petals falling.

When the fire rain began to patter down, Zheng Qing still stood motionless, seemingly dumbfounded, perhaps unable to follow the trajectory of the fireball migration, or maybe mesmerized by the beautiful sight of falling fire rain.

Young wizards at Crescent Lake prematurely let out rounds of sighs and laughter.

They seemed to see the upcoming scene—the dense fire rain descending from the sky, likely halting collectively at the last moment of hitting the warlock, which was due to the Spring Hunting etiquette of stopping at the point.

Of course, in the process, to enhance persuasion, there would inevitably be a few fireballs ’carelessly’ hitting the warlock, burning off a sleeve, singeing his hair or blackening his face.

Then Tushan Chujiu would gracefully bow and say ’Congratulations on your loss,’ ending the challenge here.

But this scene did not happen.

A series of sharp cries sounded from the sleeve of the male wizard, clear and light.

Under the astonished eyes of the spectators, one after another light blue birds emerged from Zheng Qing’s robe sleeve, without a trace of hesitation, they soared skyward, flying directly towards the fireballs whose positions were unpredictable, their movements agile and swift, easily colliding one by one with those fireballs.

Throughout the whole process, the warlock did not flip a single page of the law book, did not pinch out a single spell formula, nor did he utter a single spell.

Everyone was shocked looking at this scene, no one knew what was happening.

Jiang Yu’s grasp on the railing slightly relaxed, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Although she didn’t know how he accomplished it either.