Physical mage, challenge me to a solo duel!

When Wang Yi opened the office door, the first thing she saw was a burly figure from behind.

If Wang Yi's physique is one that looks well-proportioned and unassuming, but actually possesses superhuman strength, then this person truly belongs to the type that looks exceptionally robust.

Standing nearly two meters tall, with a broad back, a solid waist, and strong legs, even just his back view exuded a powerful sense of intimidation for Wang Yi.

In short, it's probably Qi Xiaohao's dream body.

This is true power and dominance.

Chu Zhaoding waved his hand, and Li Dianwei, who was outside the door, immediately closed the office door and stood obediently outside like a security guard.

Unlike the security guards, in the entire Minshan Military Region, apart from the person in the room, no one has a higher status than Li Dianwei.

"Marshal!" Wang Yi stood ramrod straight and gave a standard military salute.

However, Chu Zhaoding did not move, and Wang Yi did not know what to say for a moment.

A few seconds later, Wang Yi slowly frowned, then looked up at the ceiling, and then kept scanning his surroundings.

The whole house gave Wang Yi a strange feeling; it wasn't exactly oppressive, but rather vaguely dull.

Yes, dull.

Could it be some kind of field?

"You're very perceptive." Chu Zhaoding turned around and looked down at Wang Yi.

It wasn't that Chu Zhaoding was deliberately trying to exert any kind of superior pressure; it was genuinely a physical superior position, after all, he was two meters tall but looked down at someone who was only one meter eighty.

"Even with such a simple trick, the effect is only to block out sound."

"Similar to the Wind Whisper Technique?" Wang Yi asked.

"It's just the Wind Whisper spell," Chu Zhaoding explained. "I've simply amplified the effects of this spell, which is only of rare quality at its highest level."

Wang Yi's eyes widened: "Is it you who's so powerful, or can all extraordinary beings do it?"

"As long as you're not stupid and are willing to put in the effort, you can basically do it." Chu Zhaoding gently raised his hand, and a layer of flowing blue light appeared on the walls, ceiling, and even the floor of the office, dazzling and clear.

The art of wind whispering has been made concrete.

Upon seeing this, Wang Yi couldn't help but stomp his feet twice, but the blue light beneath his feet seemed to be nonexistent, completely unaffected by Wang Yi's actions.

Seeing Wang Yi's actions, Chu Zhaoding's mind stirred, and all the azure light disappeared—or rather, returned to its original state, which amazed Wang Yi.

"Wang Yi, what do you think magic is?" Chu Zhaoding suddenly asked.

Wang Yi was somewhat bewildered by Chu Zhaoding's question.

Wasn't the marshal looking for him to discuss the Huajing Research Institute? Or perhaps to talk about the queen bee egg case in the Minshan Insect Bridge? Why did the conversation start off so strangely?

And why use the Wind Whisper Technique to seal off the entire office? With the Marshal here, who would dare to eavesdrop on their conversation?

"Don't let your mind wander, think about the problem." Chu Zhaoding's words brought Wang Yi's attention back.

Wang Yi unconsciously stroked his chin with his right hand and lowered his head in deep thought.

"Magic, is it a kind of energy?" Wang Yi replied after thinking for a moment.

Chu Zhaoding declined to comment and continued, "Then, what is magic?"

"Magic is probably about utilizing this energy, or a way of releasing energy."

"It's very rudimentary, but it's not entirely wrong." Chu Zhaoding extended his right hand and made a grasping motion.

Although Chu Zhaoding's right hand appeared empty, Wang Yi vaguely sensed that the surrounding magic was constantly gathering towards Chu Zhaoding's palm.

"Magic... let's just call it a thing for now, it doesn't exist in our world." The magic power in Chu Zhaoding's hand gathered more and more, gradually emitting a faint glow like magic crystals.

"All the magic in our world originates from the magical world. As the two worlds intersect and merge, even those of us without magic receive a backflow of magic, like water flowing downhill. Each passage between the two worlds is like a water pipe, whether thick or thin."

"In the first year of magic, after the first humans came into contact with magic, awakened mages appeared, letting us know that humans could also possess magical power. It wasn't until we later studied the principle of awakening that we were able to mass-produce mages."

Do you remember the awakening ceremony you participated in?

Wang Yi's expression remained unchanged, but his heart tightened.

He had no memories of the original owner, so naturally he didn't remember what the so-called awakening ceremony was all about.

Fortunately, Chu Zhaoding did not expect Wang Yi to answer: "That was a small house, built entirely of materials that isolate magic. It was filled with magic, a huge amount of magic, so dense it was like drowning people. I think you must have a deep impression of the moment when you were able to sense the magic after you awakened."

Chu Zhaoding clicked his tongue softly, seemingly reminiscing about the past.

"The principle is actually very simple. In a rich magical environment, if a human can grow a magic crystal, or rather, a human crystal, and sense the magical energy, then he/she is considered to have awakened and can become a kind of... creature qualified to possess magic."

"Creating such an environment is relatively simple. Whether it's piling up a large number of high-level magic crystals or having an extraordinary being who can freely control external magic power condense magic power at regular intervals, either way is fine. Of course, the latter is more cost-effective."

At this point, Chu Zhaoding crushed the solidified ball of magic in his palm with the back of his hand: "Perhaps one day, when the two worlds are completely merged and the magic overflows, there will be no need for the so-called awakening ceremony."

"Moreover, as the magic becomes more concentrated and humans are immersed in it for longer periods of time, even if they themselves do not awaken, their offspring are more likely to awaken. Over the past hundred years, the number and quality of mages have been steadily increasing. Perhaps in a few hundred years, it will truly be an era where everyone is a mage."

"Of course, the prerequisite is that we have the ability to protect the new world after the fusion amidst the overwhelming monsters."

Wang Yi blinked. It seemed he hadn't learned enough and didn't know how to interject, so he simply remained silent.

"We've gone off on a tangent." Chu Zhaoding shook his head with a smile. "As I get older, I tend to talk more."

"I'm not here to review facts with you; I'm here to tell you what the extraordinary is, and how to become extraordinary."

Wang Yi was shocked. After swallowing hard, he finally spoke, "Marshal, I'm still a long way from becoming a high-level mage. Is it a bit too ambitious of me to be considering becoming a transcendent being?"

"No, you already possess the basic requirements to become extraordinary," Chu Zhaoding said with a smile. "I said that in my very first sentence."

Recalling the first words the marshal had said to him, Wang Yi asked hesitantly, "Perceptive?"

"Not bad, insightful." Chu Zhaoding nodded: "There are many different opinions on the key to advancing to the extraordinary level. Some say it's emotions, some say it's life and death, some say it's magic power, some say it's essence, energy and spirit, and some say it's the physical body. Everyone's breakthrough point is different. At present, there is no clear path."

"But I believe that the key to transcendence is consciousness, perception, spirit, or rather, the power of the soul."