Full-Time Magister: Can My Magic Cultivate Itself?

That being said, the slogans were shouted loudly, but when the day of Lunar New Year's Eve actually arrived...

When the entire city was enveloped in deafening firecrackers and fireworks.

"Forget it, a string that's stretched too tight will break easily. A balance between work and rest is the key."

Lin Chen stretched out a big yawn in the empty training room, his bones cracking like popping beans.

He pushed open the heavy stone door and decided to give himself a day off.

Stepping out of the underground, the outside world of Shanghai is already a completely different realm.

Although many shops were closed, the large shopping malls in the city center were still brightly lit and bustling with people.

The mall was much more crowded than Lin Chen had imagined. Everywhere there were families with children, dressed in festive new clothes, and the air was filled with the mixed aromas of barbecue, hot pot, and desserts.

Lin Chen strolled leisurely up to the third floor with his hands in his pockets.

I found a well-regarded barbecue restaurant that was still open, enjoyed a delicious meal, and experienced the long-lost warmth of everyday life.

He then took the escalator to the luxury goods and jewelry section on the first floor, as a way to digest his meal.

The lights on the first floor were dazzling, reflecting off the polished marble floor and making people dizzy.

As Lin Chen passed by a jewelry store with extremely luxurious decor and a sign inlaid with tiny magic stones, he casually glanced inside and out.

That one glance was quite something.

"Oh, isn't this a coincidence?" Lin Chen stopped and raised an eyebrow slightly.

In front of the crystal display case in the jewelry store stood an extremely tall and graceful figure.

The girl wore a beige haute couture wool coat over a fitted black turtleneck sweater, which perfectly accentuated her stunning figure.

Her long, flowing black hair cascaded casually over her shoulders. Her profile, with its cool and exquisite beauty and the unique air of a noble lady, could only belong to Mu Nujiao, the undisputed school beauty of Shanghai No. 3 High School.

Beside Mu Nujiao stood a girl of similar age, whose appearance was seven or eight parts similar to hers, but whose temperament was completely different.

The girl was wearing a playful red short down jacket, and her bright, intelligent eyes were sparkling with shrewdness and curiosity as she intently selected something from the counter.

Perhaps it was the keen senses inherent in the bloodline of a high-level mage, or perhaps it was the unique, intense heat emanating from Lin Chen's body, which he had just brought from a training room with extremely high concentrations of fire elements.

As if sensing something, Mu Nujiao in the jewelry store glanced through the transparent glass window and looked directly outside.

Eyes facing each other.

A clear look of surprise flashed across Mu Nujiao's eyes.

Lin Chen wasn't embarrassed at all that he'd been caught "sneaking a glance."

A sunny smile curved his lips as he casually pulled his hand out of his pocket and waved to Mu Nujiao through the glass, as if to say hello.

Seeing Lin Chen's carefree demeanor, Mu Nujiao was slightly taken aback, then turned her head and whispered a few words in the ear of the girl in red beside her.

Immediately afterwards, she took long strides, pushed open the shop door, and walked out.

The girl who remained in the shop immediately looked up, like a curious cat, and peered at Lin Chen through the glass.

"Lin Chen? What are you doing here?"

Mu Nujiao walked up to Lin Chen, her cool voice carrying an undisguised curiosity.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying with it the faint, fresh fragrance of Mu Nujiao, like the budding of plants in early spring.

"Just came out for some fresh air and grabbed a bite to eat," Lin Chen said with a smile.

"But you, instead of staying home during the Lunar New Year, why are you out shopping?"

Mu Nujiao frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her beautiful eyes: "Today is New Year's Eve, you... didn't you go back to your hometown to reunite with your family?"

She vaguely heard her best friend Ai Tutu gossip that Lin Chen transferred to Shanghai from a small city in another province.

Logically speaking, students like Lin Chen should have been eager to go home by now, as soon as winter break begins.

"The situation is special this year, so I won't be going back. I'll stay at school for extra training." Lin Chen shrugged, casually brushing it off, then gestured with his chin toward the shop.

"Is that your sister?"

Mu Nujiao followed Lin Chen's gaze, nodded, and a gentle look flashed in her eyes:

"Yes, this is my younger sister, Mu Nuxin. She needs to buy a pair of jewelry recently, and she had some free time today, so she insisted that I come out with her to look at some."

The two stood in the bustling mall corridor and exchanged a few simple pleasantries.

There was no excessive formality, nor the slightest affectation.

"Alright, you guys take your time browsing. I won't bother you anymore; I need to go back and continue my 'prison' duties."

Lin Chen waved the half-cup of milk tea in his hand, laughed heartily, and took the initiative to say goodbye.

"Okay, Happy New Year." Mu Nujiao nodded slightly.

"Happy New Year."

Lin Chen turned and left, his steps still graceful, and soon he blended into the bustling crowd.

However, Mu Nujiao did not immediately return to the shop. Instead, she stood quietly in place, her gaze fixed on Lin Chen's departing figure.

That usually calm and beautiful face was now turbulent with waves of emotion!

"What's going on with this guy's strength?" Mu Nujiao murmured in disbelief as she parted her red lips slightly.

The two were extremely close just now, and in the instant Lin Chen turned around, Mu Nujiao keenly caught a glimpse of a leaking aura from him!

What kind of aura was that?

Domineering, fierce, like an active volcano compressed deep underground, ready to erupt at any moment!

Mu Nujiao even felt her breath catch in her throat, and a strong sense of crisis from the depths of her soul instantly swept over her entire body!

She had never felt this kind of chilling oppression from Lin Chen before!

There's only one explanation—Lin Chen's strength has increased again!

"How is this possible..." Mu Nujiao's jade-like hand clenched tightly under her sleeve.

She herself is backed by the Mu family, a top-tier family in Shanghai, enjoying vast resources unimaginable to ordinary people. She cultivates day and night, yet she has only barely reached the peak of the third level of the initial stage. Could Lin Chen be stronger than her?

"Could it be that he's already...at the intermediate level?!"

The moment this crazy idea popped into her head, Mu Nujiao shook it off forcefully.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. How old is he? He has no background, how could he possibly break through the mid-level barrier at this age?" Mu Nujiao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in her heart.

"However... even without a breakthrough, he's already incredibly close to the mid-level realm!"

An unprecedented sense of urgency and frustration gripped the heart of this privileged young woman like vines.

With these mixed emotions, Mu Nujiao turned around, pushed open the door of the jewelry store, and returned to her sister's side.

"Sis, what are you looking at so intently?" Mu Nuxin came closer, her big eyes sparkling with gossip, and asked in a low, mischievous voice.

"Wouldn't that handsome guy standing outside just now be my future brother-in-law?"

"Cough cough—!"

Mu Nujiao, who was just picking up her cup to drink water, almost choked to death by those words.

Her usually aloof and proud face instantly flushed with a beautiful blush. She hurriedly waved her hands, raising her voice slightly, "What nonsense are you talking about! That's my classmate, Lin Chen!"

"Oh? Just classmates?" Mu Nuxin narrowed her eyes like a cunning little fox and asked in return.

"Then why do you think I'm talking nonsense?"

"Because..." Mu Nujiao was about to retort.

"Because, sister, you've never before, from childhood to adulthood, stood on the street and chatted for so long in private with a boy who isn't related to you by blood!"

Mu Nuxin pointed out the blind spot incisively, her tone extremely confident.

Mu Nujiao fell silent instantly.

She opened her mouth, but found that she had no way to refute it.

That's absolutely true. With her family background, looks, and talent, she has never lacked ardent suitors.

But when facing those boys, she would at most exchange a few polite but distant words out of etiquette for those from a distinguished family, and then quickly leave.

But when it came to Lin Chen... she not only took the initiative to go out and greet him, but also showed no aversion or defensiveness during their conversation.

"Perhaps..." Mu Nujiao remained silent for a long time, her eyes gradually becoming deep and solemn, before slowly uttering a few words, "It's because of his talent."

"Talent?" Mu Nuxin was stunned for a moment, seemingly unable to believe her ears.

It should be noted that although Mu Nujiao is a girl, among the younger generation of the Mu family in the entire Magic City, her magical talent is undoubtedly the best by a wide margin!

How could my proud and arrogant older sister use "talent" to evaluate a peer?

"Although I really don't want to admit it..." Mu Nujiao took a deep breath, recalling the terrifying pressure of the flames emanating from Lin Chen just now, and her expression became more serious than ever before.

"But that guy's talent is probably... even a few points greater than mine!"

Upon hearing this, a terrifying glint flashed in Mu Nuxin's shrewd eyes.

As a core member of a prestigious family, she has a far greater sensitivity to the concept of "talent" than most people.

"Given his terrifying talent, and the fact that he's just a commoner with no connections..."

Mu Nuxin casually fiddled with a magic stone ring in her hand and uttered a sentence in a low voice.

"Then why don't you recruit him into our Mu family?"

boom!

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Mu Nujiao's mind!

Mu Nujiao froze on the spot, her pupils dilating slightly.

Yes! What is the Mu family lacking most right now?

These are the new generation of powerhouses who have no background but possess extraordinary talent!

If Lin Chen could be bound to the Mu family's war machine...

"Yeah...why don't I give it a try?" Mu Nujiao murmured to herself, her heart starting to pound uncontrollably.

She turned to look outside the mall in the direction Lin Chen had disappeared, and a flame called "ambition" ignited in her originally cold eyes.

"I'll try it when I go back to school..."

"But would someone like him really agree?"