It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

“…Many magic arrays, the level is pretty good.” He gave a fair evaluation.

White has never been the color of the sun, but it has always symbolized purity. As a mist-like white light slowly drifted out from the magic circle behind Katie, she opened her eyes. Complex and incomprehensible spells swirled before her, and in a flash, a mask-like magic circle appeared before her.

"The spell hasn't been completed yet, but they've already started preparing for the measurement of auxiliary aiming?!" Moria couldn't help but exclaimed in amazement when he saw this situation.

The gentle chanting grew in intensity as the syllables intensified. The silent white mist, as if possessed of a spirit, gradually coiled into the shape of a mist dragon. The lifeless yet angular white dragon stood silently behind Katie. Katie slowly raised her hand, and a dazzling white light suddenly erupted from it. Her small palm, at this moment, felt incredibly sharp. Even her ears echoed with the piercing sound of air emanating from her surroundings.

The magic circle beneath her feet slowly shrank and rose. The fading main magic circle transformed into white flames, steaming and dancing around Katie. Her figure was gradually obscured by this frenzied calm, but her eyes, emitting a sharp gaze, remained piercing. The temperature around her rose again, but it didn't feel warm at all. The light exuded a threat that instilled fear in all living things.

Moriah no longer cared about competing with Katie for magic power. He quickly chanted a spell, creating a transparent, blocky, spherical magical barrier. Katie, on the outside, finally lowered herself and swung a claw forward. A sharp blade, blazing with white flame, whistled towards its target. The threat emanating from the few breaths before contact was enough to make one's heart beat faster.

However, Katie's magic did not end there. She quickly raised her head, took a deep breath, and tilted her head back. In an instant, all the flames on her body disappeared, leaving only a white light that seemed stable but was still trembling inside, flashing a dazzling light on her chest.

Chapter 172: Flame of the Holy Scar

At the same time, the giant dragon behind Katie raised its front claws and spread its wings. Suddenly, a sense of earth-shaking shook the two of them. The magic-driven light flickered a few times before vanishing, leaving only Katie as a single source of light. Although the attack hadn't yet begun, sparks were already emanating from the magic barrier, revealing the terrifying power it would unleash.

Katie leaned forward and exhaled a long breath. Then, like a scorching breath, a thicker white magic circle instantly appeared before her. Breath swept through the magic circle, creating waves of terrifying white sparks. They quickly tangled together, forming a violent combination of wind and fire, the appearance of a breath.

After launching this attack, the dragon lowered its body, releasing a large gulp of the intense light emanating from its body. The crackling explosions eventually faded, perhaps because the air had been completely depleted by the tossing and turning. But the blazing light, like a meteor in the sky, was enough to convey its terrifying impact and graceful form. The outcome of the impact was no longer important.

The combined breath easily pierced the pitiful earthen wall, simultaneously striking the final barrier, strong enough to withstand a single blow that could destroy the mountain. Blazing white light splattered gaseous sparks, wantonly squandering its abundant heat. The meteor struck the Earth, briefly, but a stalemate worthy of being called a tug-of-war had begun.

As the impact began, the tip of the breath began to reveal a sharp, blade-like white curve. Perhaps it was a recycling of heat, or perhaps it was a modification of the attack due to catching up with the previous claw strike. The white line gradually spread out in all directions from the impact point, continuing to explore the interior of the wall with a cleaving momentum.

However, Bai Lin and Moriah naturally couldn't see the condition of the wall. Not only was their vision obscured by the white light, but the wall was also shrouded in immense magical energy, making it impossible to see clearly. However, the barrier he had created was like a small boat on a stormy night sea, trembling violently under the intense force. This alone was enough to increase his astonishment, which had already reached its peak, by another degree. Perhaps, it also brought a hint of anticipation.

The spiraling curves gradually carved a path through the rock face, its speed and force increasing like a boxer's flurry of blows, each strike challenging the opponent's defenses. Finally, the white dragon ceased its breath, spread its wings again, and transformed into a faint white light, drifting towards Katie. Her eyes, once filled with mystery and knowledge, gradually returned to normal, but the white light still enveloped Katie's body.

Gradually, an endless golden light appeared around Katie once again. Just as the name implies, the divine aura persists forever, undimmed by this single impact.

The tranquility and sanctity here stood in stark contrast to the fierce battle on the other side. The meteor's taillight gradually faded, and the sound of the rock wall loosening finally reached everyone's ears. It was hard to say whether to describe it as joyful or awe-inspiring. In short, this sound meant power, immense power.

As the breath disappeared, the world, shrouded in a hazy white light, returned to its normal colors. Moria immediately released the barrier, eagerly glancing at the wall from a distance before rushing to Katie's side, following Bai Lin, who had already rushed out.

"Are you okay?" Bai Lin asked with concern, interrupting Moria.

"It's absolutely fine. I just mobilized a bit too much magic power at once, so I feel a little dizzy." After Bai Lin approached, the light around Katie completely dissipated. She relaxed her body and leaned freely in Bai Lin's arms.

Moriah looked at the scene before him and naturally confirmed that the student was in good condition. Then, behind his concern, he was immediately driven by his curiosity as a teacher and a scholar. Moriah breathed a sigh of relief and said in a hasty but steady tone,

"Then let's go and see the specific results."

Hearing this, Katie stood up with Bai Lin's help. After confirming that Katie could walk on her own, Bai Lin released her hands and walked towards the far wall with Moria.

As they approached, they saw faint traces of heat and wafts of gunpowder on the charred rock walls. Although Bai Lin knew nothing about magic, after Ah Jun bestowed divinity upon her, she seemed to have a slight understanding of it.

To use an analogy, Bai Lin could only sense the danger, not the underlying context, only the resulting physical effects. It was like she only knew the answer to a mathematical equation, but couldn't see the process. But now it was different. She had seen the process, but she couldn't understand it at all. Seeing those chaotic runes gave her a headache.

In simple terms, she can change the compliment from "that's amazing" to "well, the spell is very difficult to cast" while still maintaining her own style.

Apart from the scorch marks, the deep dent in the center of the wound was also shocking. Moria couldn't help but smile bitterly and expressed his thoughts. This was the first time he showed obvious emotional fluctuations.

"It was my oversight... Oh no, perhaps it would be more accurate to say you're simply too powerful. This type of attack technique requires an excellent casting environment and rigorous preparation. But whether it's the complexity of multiple castings, the massive amount of mana conversion, or the sheer amount of computing power required to calculate the stability of combined spells, you've already far surpassed most fifth-year students, and even some of the teachers."

Given Moria's personality, even though his tone wasn't particularly volatile, the fact that he was so generous with his praise was enough to demonstrate Katie's magical prowess. However, upon hearing about the fifth-grade student and teacher, Katie couldn't help but be slightly surprised.

You know, this little girl originally thought that all spellcasters were roughly at her level. Gradually, as she came into contact with more people, she realized that although she knew she was quite strong, she didn't know where she stood. Now, hearing this, Katie had only one thought in her mind -

I'm actually so awesome.

In fact, her attack this time was not at full strength. Not only did she not mobilize the dragon's power, but even at the end of the spell, she could have used the phantom dragon to make another move, but she held back.

Chapter 173 Comprehensive Development of Multiple Subjects

Bai Lin, who was beside Katie, had always judged her abilities based on the magic of her own worldview. He had always considered her an excellent magician, but this was the first time he'd seen her at full power, and he was startled.

Perhaps because she didn't want to expose her sensitive secrets, Katie didn't use her dragon power, Bai Lin speculated. However, it seemed clear that her attack would be no less effective than sharing her magic power. Why didn't she do it herself last time? That remained unknown.

"I'll report it to the school. You don't need to worry about the damage here. I'll handle it. There's a physical fitness test coming up. Do you need some rest?"

Moriah quickly regained his composure, straightened his back, which was still a little hunched, and spoke to the two of them. Katie and Bai Lin asked in unison,

"Physical fitness?"

In response to the two's surprised expressions, Moriah calmly explained, "People with this level of magic probably rely heavily on using magic to strengthen their bodies. But our institute also has requirements for pure physical fitness. Research has shown that the physique required to use magic is largely related to physical strength."

"But you are allowed to use magic to enhance yourself during the exam, so there is no need to worry." Even Moriah couldn't help but soften his tone at this comforting sentence for such an excellent student like Katie.

Bai Lin and Katie were still looking at each other. After staring at each other for a while, Katie turned around and said,

"Teacher, my level of magic-enhancing body skills is a bit low. Maybe I haven't grasped the trick yet, but I should have no problem starting the exam now."

Bai Lin, upon hearing this, seemed to have a clue. Wasn't she completely unaware that magic could enhance the body? Kong seemed to have mentioned this before. Perhaps she had grasped it on her own, but she didn't know the situation well enough to comment on it.

Not only Bai Lin, Moria was also slightly surprised. Even such a complex spell could be constructed with such a short preparation time, but he couldn't master the most basic magic of strengthening himself? It was unbelievable. However, he did not express his thoughts on the surface, but said,

"Okay, let's start the first test now, running."

Running, as the name suggests, involves running around the edge of the field, starting right at the corner. While long skirts are inconvenient for running, Katie currently has no suitable clothing to change into. Bai Lin suggested changing clothes with Katie, but Katie's murderous gaze stopped him, and the proposal was rejected.

Besides, Moriah had said there was no need to be too nervous and just do their best, so he hadn't asked them to prepare any clothes from the beginning. Soon, Moriah pulled out a small, classic pocket watch from his pocket and began giving orders.

"Run!"

Although Bai Lin didn't teach Katie the modern starting position, Katie's running posture was relatively standard. For Bai Lin, she ran very slowly, but in fact, she had been adventuring together for a long time and had a deep understanding of Katie's physical fitness.

Soon, panting, she reached the finish line of the rather large training ground. Katie fell into Bai Lin's arms once again, this time seemingly even more strenuous than the previous spell.

Moria checked his watch, frowned, and glanced at Katie. "Theoretically, even an average person whose magic level is limited to making a fire wouldn't be as exhausted as you after running like this, and would be much faster."

"Is it a special condition? For example, has there been any magical enhancements to the body that weakened the flesh? If there are any special circumstances, please let me know so that I can report it to the school."

But in fact, Moria also knew that most likely, Katie's body had not undergone these changes. The reason was simple. Where she came from was clearly written on the parchment. How could such a small village with such backward civilization have the ability to perform any kind of surgery? However, perhaps there was some secret, thinking of this, he added,

"If it's inconvenient to say, forget it."

Katie, who had just recovered her breath, said breathlessly, "No, teacher, I really don't understand. There's no particular reason."

Moria's already wrinkled forehead furrowed even further. He gave a short "OK" and pointed to the weapon rack beside him.

"Next, we'll conduct the close combat test. Pick any weapon you like and fight me. Again, you don't need to defeat me, just do your best."

He certainly didn't think Katie had trouble mastering her physical enhancements; he simply thought she had a little secret. So, he didn't say anything further, nor did he plan to share his thoughts with the school's higher-ups. He would simply report the truth. So, he proceeded with the next test, business as usual.

Bai Lin couldn't help but interrupt, "Teacher, you're learning magic, running, and fighting, is there really a big connection? I see that Katie is not good at these, but isn't she also good at using spells?"

In reality, Bai Lin had long held strong objections to the exam-oriented education system in her own country, marking the beginning of her tumultuous life. Even to the very end, she couldn't accept the young man's stance. "Study, study. You stay up until two, I'll stay up until three. Whoever lags behind will fail."

Learning all the skills doesn't necessarily lead to practical applications, but you have to learn. While this is the simplest and most effective approach, Bai Lin sincerely despises it. She finds it utterly unreasonable to experience the life of a corporate slave while still in school. She never expected to see "well-rounded development" in a different world.

She couldn't think of anything that could replace the model of well-rounded development; she couldn't change it. So Bai Lin considered herself a weakling, determined to quit without competing. But Bai Lin knew all too well how painful the path she'd already walked was. So when Katie faced a similar situation, she was the first to speak out.

"A magician can strengthen themselves, easily shattering rock with a single punch, their bodies invulnerable to swords and spears, their claws sharp as blades. If such a being doesn't practice close combat, isn't that a huge waste? I don't know what level of knight you are, but judging by your ignorant remarks just now, the close combat you're so proud of might not even compare to a so-called magician like me."

Moriah naturally responded to Bai Lin's contemptuous remarks with contempt. Bai Lin was about to explode, but when she thought about her determination to remain humble in the other world, she loosened her clenched fists and replied lightly,

"One day, you'll have the chance to prove what you said."

Chapter 174: Teaching Martial Arts

But having said that, Bai Lin understood the test's question. After all, in this world, learning magic was beneficial for close combat, so naturally, learning it would be better, unlike traditional magicians. But Katie clearly preferred the traditional bar-casting mage, even seeing the rather complex spellcasting methods involving spell materials and actions.

Therefore, Bai Lin instinctively judged the role of mages in this world. If she had thought about it carefully, she had encountered melee mages before. The Ice Witch, and the magician who excelled at playing with purple flames. Perhaps it was just because she had been with Katie for so long that she had unconsciously overlooked these things.

"It's okay, Bai Lin, we've done our best. But this time, I want to take a break, is that okay, teacher?" Katie stood up again and said so.

Hearing Katie's request, Moria nodded slightly.

Although his conversation with Bai Lin was somewhat confrontational, Moriah's anger was primarily due to the way a teacher might raise meaningless questions about a difficult parent. Given his personality, he naturally wouldn't get angry with someone like Bai Lin.

So, Bai Lin followed Katie to the side to rest. Although there were no seats, there seemed to be some benches scattered around the edge of the field. Perhaps they were used for lazy breaks during teaching, but it was unclear. Anyway, Bai Lin pulled out two stools for the two of them to sit and rest.

"Have you learned how to use weapons?" Bai Lin asked.

Katie shook her head. "I've learned a little swordplay before, but I wasn't very good at it. Look at those weighted wooden swords on the weapons rack over there. They're really putting a strain on my arm strength."

"Well...why don't you try to get some help from an expert before you come? I know a little bit about both short and long weapons." Bai Lin tried to suggest.

Those new to close combat are prone to numerous misunderstandings. They might not know what to do with their weapons, or their feet might become rooted to the ground. Even with considerable strength, the outcome might be decided before the fight even begins.

Simply put, it's "combat awareness," or common sense in combat. Even if there's a significant gap in strength, if one can understand common sense, then one won't be defeated so miserably.

With Katie's consent, Bai Lin let Katie choose a weapon that suits her arm strength.

"A weapon is an extension of your arm. If you can't wield a weapon freely, it's like having a limb disability. You'll have many loopholes in combat."

Bai Lin skillfully swung her thin, medium-length sword into a flower pattern. With her arm strength, the sword felt almost numb in her grasp. Meanwhile, Katie chose a wooden staff slightly longer than Bai Lin's. It was a well-balanced, two-handed weapon. It could also be considered a long weapon, making it a good choice for beginners.

"First, the weapon you hold is longer than mine, but due to the difference in arm span, your attack range may not be longer than mine. Therefore, in the initial battle, you must quickly grasp the attack range of the enemy and ourselves."

Bai Lin pointed his sword at Bifeng and said to Katie, while the latter scratched her cheek in confusion.

"If I just focus a little more on the basic application of the elements, I can figure out the actual length of our attack range. That's not a problem."

Hearing Katie say this, Bai Lin smiled contemptuously, "Really? Then let's give it a try."

As he spoke, Bai Lin raised the blade with one hand, the tip pointing upwards. Katie followed suit, raising her wooden staff with both hands and pointing it at Katie.

"After all, this isn't a real duel. I'll count down. 3, 2, 1, go!" Bai Lin started to close in and swing her sword. As a teacher, she was very measured. Bai Lin chose just the right amount of speed and force, giving Katie a little practice in distance control.

She took a step closer and slashed with her sword. Although her speed wasn't very fast, Katie had to hastily throw her staff across to block the attack. However, this choice implicitly abandoned the advantage of her longer weapon, and Bai Lin's sword blade collided with her staff at a distance of six inches.

"Remember to move your feet more, you have more than just hands." Bai Lin reminded her, and at the same time, she relaxed her strength, and the sword blade was retracted along with her wrist. Katie also retracted the staff directly, as if preparing for the next force.

Bai Lin shook his head helplessly and lunged directly at the blind spot Katie had created by sheathing her weapon. This time, Katie knew to retreat, but simply using her legs to evade would never escape the pursuit. In a few breaths, Bai Lin's blade touched Katie's body. She made a sword flower, signaling the end of the fight.

"When fighting, be bold and don't be afraid to gamble. There's a saying that the best defense is offense, and it's not just a random statement. Just now, when I was sheathing my sword, if you had struck me directly on the forehead, I would have been forced to block, and you would have taken the opportunity to step back, create distance, and seize the opportunity to attack."

"It's a bit difficult." Katie loosened the sticks in her hands with a bit of frustration. "Just these few simple hits made my heart beat so fast. I don't know what to do when facing Bai Lin's attack."

Bai Lin walked over, patted her shoulder, and comforted her, "It's nothing, actually. Mentality problems are something that you gradually adjust to in actual combat. Your situation is normal. But you must try your best to put the rhythm of the attack on your side. If you remain passive, you will be forced into a dead end like just now."

Katie gripped her staff and nodded, seeming to understand something. She wasn't a fool; from the moment Bai Lin pulled her within striking distance, she'd already grasped some of the techniques for managing distance. At least now, Katie had a vague understanding of what weapon combat entailed.

"That teacher was so confident that he said I wasn't his match. He must have been a bit overconfident in his own abilities. So, your strategy should remain the same as when facing me: a defensive battle with long weapons. But remember to attack in time. Come, let's try it again."

Bai Lin spoke patiently and gently to Katie, who accepted her proposal with a resolute look in her eyes. Katie didn't possess a vast array of martial arts skills; she could only steadily accumulate combat experience, slowly learning to control her distance until she could predict where an opponent's weapon would strike with a single glance.

Therefore, her efforts were minimal. Even if she understood a little, it was just a matter of exchanging a few more moves with Bai Lin. But to be honest, the result was already very good. Finally, Bai Lin talked about some knowledge about short weapons and ended the short break.

Chapter 175: Changbing Handover

Katie, standing before Moria again, felt more confident. She casually placed her hands and asked the girl, who was a full head shorter than her,

"Are you ready?"

Katie nodded, then raised her staff and asked, "Teacher, don't you use a weapon?"

Moriah held his hands together, holding the air shape, and with two short spells and a gesture, he conjured up a wooden sword that was not too long. "Don't worry about me, you can do whatever you want."

A magical sword? As the sword emerged, Katie narrowed her eyes and began to analyze it. The sword itself was held in shape by magic, not just an ordinary wooden sword as it appeared. The magic within it fluctuated, ultimately settling on a low average.

It seemed this magical power was used to control Moria's attack intensity. He had estimated Katie's combat power at a low level, which was fair, but also underestimated her opponent. This meant Katie had a better chance of winning.

Regardless of the circumstances, underestimating the enemy is always a taboo. Previously, a woman surnamed Bai had been blinded by a flash of light and subsequently beaten repeatedly because of underestimation. Based on Moria's subtle movements and the aura he exuded, Bai Lin also saw that Moria was underestimating the enemy.

She, standing in the audience, couldn't help but clench her fists in joy for Katie. As long as Katie listened carefully to her teachings, then her chances of winning were very high!

"Since you've obviously never been exposed to close combat, you'll have the opportunity to take the initiative and the time to get ready. Show us everything you've learned." Moria said calmly. It seemed that he was very caring towards his student Katie.

Katie smiled slightly, "Then I'm welcome."

After all, she had just heard these words a few minutes ago, so Katie could still remember Bai Lin's words clearly.

First of all, once you step onto the battlefield, you must always be ready to fight, especially when the enemy is standing right in front of you. Although it is more energy-consuming, a one-on-one battle is really not that long.

"The human body is very fragile. A close combat often lasts only a few breaths, or at most ten or even dozens of minutes. Of course, I'm not sure about magic. But judging by his appearance, he probably won't use any spells."

That's what Bai Lin said. Fighting for days and nights? Fighting for three hundred rounds? That's just wishful thinking in novels. Do you think you have a health bar in real life? Gang fights involving dozens of people last less than ten minutes. Combat is ever-changing; one mistake and you're instantly crushed by a wave of attacks—that's all too common.

As for what you said about Bai Lin fighting the minotaur for a long time? That's nonsense. None of them can be considered human.

Katie moved, launching into a standard yet somewhat unrefined chopping blow with her staff. Her raised hands paid no heed to the pattern of her force or the fact that her trajectory had been seen through. Moriah could only offer a single comment on this.

The flaw is too big.

He slashed horizontally at Katie's waist and abdomen with immense speed. Katie was forced to withdraw her momentum, and the same situation recurred. The familiar horizontal sword and vertical staff movement was passive, and Katie was still holding the tip of her staff ready to strike, but it was pinned down by the force of the sword, making it impossible to launch an attack.

"You have a long weapon in your hand. When you are forced to attack, remember to retreat and then counterattack to seize the advantage." Moria increased the strength of his hand while teaching. As Katie listened to his teaching, her face, which was gritting her teeth and resisting, did not change at all, and her tone was a little reluctant.

"it is good."

Moriah deflected his sword, intending to use his speed and strength to strike Katie before she could react. But the moment his strength faded, Katie suddenly shot out from the slope like a fish, her stick also reaching a perfect angle.

One, a suitable angle for the tip of a gun to stab someone.

As a long weapon, if the stick is struck through the middle and two-handed, it's difficult for the sword wielder to exert pressure on the stick. It's a matter of physics. Moriah must have understood this, but judging by Katie's performance, it was simply that she couldn't block it. And the instantaneous speed of that burst was her full strength.