A mage casts spells by using mana, and the amount of mana they possess varies from one individual to another. But here's the question, where is this mana actually stored?
In this regard, mages are divided into two types, circle magicians and native magicians.
A circle magician forms rings of mana that revolve around their heart. The number of rings they can maintain directly reflects their mana capacity: the more rings, the greater their magical potential.
Coincidentally, I was already familiar with the concept of circle magicians even before inheriting the life of Ryu Ryeon. From his memories, I recalled seeing this concept pop up often in manhwa stories.
The second type, the native magician, is someone born with magic inherently within them. In simple terms, their heart functions like the rings of a circle magician, it becomes their source of magic. While I don't fully grasp the intricacies, unlike circle magicians who expand their capacity by forming new rings, native magicians naturally grow stronger by repeatedly using their magic and pushing past their limits. I fall into this category.
Despite their different origins, both types use mana in the same way, drawing it from within, channeling it through their veins, and unleashing it as spells.
On the other hand, martial arts are rooted in a different energy qi. Martial artists draw upon immortal qi stored in the dantian. This energy flows through spiritual veins and is used to perform martial techniques. At a glance, the systems seem similar. But in practice, they're very different mainly because the dantian and mana circle are located in different places, and more importantly, the two energy pathways clash.
That's why spellcasters typically can't use immortal qi. Mana veins and spiritual veins don't get along. When mana and qi come into contact, they naturally reject each other unless someone manages to harmonize both energies, like my teacher did with her ether skill.
Still, Ryu Ryeon's memories had their uses. As the Supreme Heavenly Demon, he had mastered an extensive range of internal and external martial arts. What my teacher taught me was just the foundation. But with that solid base, I had an edge in close-quarters combat using mana.
That thought sparked an idea. What if I used the Supreme Heavenly Demon's advanced martial techniques, but fueled them with mana instead of qi?
Normally, replicating such techniques would be nearly impossible, even with a teacher or manual. But thanks to Ryu Ryeon's memories, I had direct experience with real muscle memory of how those techniques worked and how the qi flowed. As long as I followed the sensation, I could substitute qi with mana and pull it off.
My pulse quickened with anticipation. I tossed off the blanket and practically sprinted to the training ground, eager to put my theory to the test.
*
(I completely forgot Mei and, most likely, her fiancé were already there.)
In my excitement to test out a new technique, I hadn't noticed them until I was standing right in front of them.
"Hey, Gai… Here to train too?" Mei asked.
"Uh… yeah," I replied, my eyes shifting to the guy next to her. My expression turned unreadable. Who is this guy?
He met my gaze, clearly nervous, and tried to introduce himself.
"I'm Lin An… from the Lin family. And… um… I'm Yuemei's fiancé," he said, forcing a smile while tugging awkwardly at his collar"
Okay… that wasn't how this kind of scene usually went. I was supposed to be the flustered one, standing in front of a love rival I hadn't realized existed. So why was he acting like he'd just met his future father-in-law?
"Uh-huh… Nice to meet you, Lin An. I'm Gaia Matera. No need to be so nervous around me. I'm not Yuemei's father, so I'm definitely not your future father-in-law."
"..."
Both of them blinked at me, stunned. I tilted my head, feigning confusion.
"Ah, sorry Gai," Mei finally said. "He's nervous because I told him who you are, Elder Jiang Bailou's heir."
"And that matters… how?"
"A-a-apart from being from the Lin family… I'm also a deputy general of Yinzhou Xiexien…" Lin An added awkwardly.
Ah, now it made sense.
Yinzhou Xiexien is one of the factions in the Yinzhou Union led by my teacher, General Jiang Bailou. Although she's been missing for years, her four deputy generals kept the faction running and her name still carries enormous weight. Add to that the rule that a general's title can be inherited by their direct heir, and I get why Lin An looked like he'd just met his commanding officer.
Not everyone in a chain of command automatically respects their superior especially if that superior is a rival in the upcoming general promotion exam. I guess Lin An is just an exception.
"There's no need to act so formal," I said, raising an eyebrow. "We might be standing on the same sides of the chain of command someday but until then, we're just two candidates and a rival at that.
Lin An closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. When he looked at me, he was a different man collected, focused.
"Even so, by Yinzhou law… you're the next general to succeed General Jiang Bailou."
Oh? There's his professional side. The flustered boy is gone and now this is a proper deputy general.
"True," I said with a small smile. "But wouldn't it be better if I earned the title? Let people see my strength first?"
He went quiet at that. I nodded and walked off to a more isolated spot. Not because I was bothered by their presence but because I didn't want to accidentally interrupt their training when I tested my technique.
Still, Lin An didn't seem like a bad guy. He wasn't scheming or fake. I had been using my soul eye since we started talking, watching the flow of his spirit. Not once did I sense any malice. Just another unexpected encounter in a world that keeps rewriting itself.
*
"(Exhales)… That was nerve-wracking," Lin An muttered.
"Did you really need to get that nervous?" Mei teased.
"Can you blame me? I didn't want to screw up my first impression with the heir of General Jiang."
Mei smiled knowingly. She already knew the real reason. Lin An had admired Jiang Bailou since he was a child. It was why he chose Yinzhou Xiexien over his family's home faction in Yinzhou Penglai.
"The heir and the general aren't the same person, you know," she reminded him.
"Maybe. But in my experience… heirs often reflect the generals they inherit from whether they realize it or not."
"Hehe… you might be right," Mei giggled.
They both turned to glance at Gai in the distance, then resumed training.
**
"What!? The special forces were wiped out!?" Fanquang roared.
Xiao Qinsheng flinched at the outburst, having just finished delivering the report.
"According to battle traces at the scene, another elite unit ambushed our team. Judging from the evidence, they used transformation stones to conceal their presence. We believe they were a protection unit assigned to Jiang Bailou's heir," the aide explained.
"Damn it! If he's already within Jiang territory, we're screwed," Fanquang growled.
"What should we do now, Father?" Qinsheng asked.
"You said the heir's induction ceremony is in three days, right?"
"Yes, Father."
"Did you get an invitation?"
"Yes. Though I'm married into the Xiao family, I still carry the Jiang name through our branch. That gives me the right to attend."
Fanquang paused… then smiled, a scheming glint in his eyes.
"Good. Qinsheng… you're going to attend the ceremony. And I have something I want you to do for me…"
**
"What!? Wiped out!? Are you telling me the Cao Clan's elite forces were destroyed that easily!? And by a protective unit guarding Bailou's heir!?" Cao Buorang bellowed, slamming his hand on the armrest hard enough to crack it.
His aura exploded, filling the room with choking pressure. Everyone present flinched, especially the trembling aide who had delivered the news.
"What are your orders, Patriarch?" one of the elders asked.
Buorang slowly calmed his aura and exhaled.
"…Forget it. I originally planned to capture Bailou's heir to use as leverage against the Jiang family. But if he already has enough strength to wipe out our elite forces… picking a fight now would be suicide. Issue a directive to all families: do not provoke the Jiang clan."
"As you command, Patriarch!" Everyone responded at once.
After the elders and aides left, the room fell silent.
"(Exhales)… I pray he never finds out."
Cao Buorang had grown up with stories of how the Jiang family no, how Jiang Bailou herself nearly wiped the Cao clan from existence a thousand years ago after they provoked her not long after her appointment.
That fear lived in his blood. And despite there being no real feud now, it planted a seed of hatred in his heart.
Still, today's failure reminded him that those stories weren't just legends.
He didn't say it aloud, but deep down… that fear was stronger than his hatred.
And maybe just maybe choosing to back off was the wisest thing he had ever done.