Chapter 11: Legendary Equipment? A Gift from the Teacher!!

——The Age of Pioneering…

The age of the Dwarves came quietly, and went quietly. Their departure was very sudden. When new protagonists rose, they naturally gave up their position as protagonists. However, people seemed to understand, because Dwarves had never been ambitious. Becoming the protagonist of an era was entirely a matter of timing and fate. Now that destiny had shifted, they did not seem to have any intention of struggling against it.

They just kept hammering away, drinking fine wine, silently becoming the protagonists of the continent, and silently giving up that position, leaving behind countless divine artifacts. But the Dwarves never admitted that what they forged were divine artifacts. They always believed that what they forged were merely legendary equipment. Divine artifacts… in the eyes of the Dwarves, that glory belonged only to the Goblins!

At some unknown point in time, the Dwarves gave up their position as protagonists, just as they had first taken that position. It felt like overnight, the protagonist of the continent had become the Winged Race.

The new protagonist of the continent, the ninth protagonist of Amelia, was the proud Winged Race!!

The Winged People’s temperament was as proud as the sky. The greatest feature of their rule was order. The Winged People’s pursuit of order reached the point of stubbornness, but at the same time, they could also guarantee their own fairness and justice. It had to be admitted… actually, they did a pretty good job!

These warriors who crossed the skies were also the ones who most loved expanding territory. This was a great era, an age of pioneering that belonged only to the Wind Whisperers, the Sky Walkers, and the Wanderers. It was they, not others, who expanded the ruling territory of the Amelia Continent by a full half. Countless small islands and even sub-continents were incorporated into the Amelia Continent’s domain. Population pressure and territorial conflicts were alleviated, but this also allowed countless weak races that were originally few in number to continuously gain new members, slowly growing stronger, and eventually even beginning to threaten the Winged People’s ruling position.

Among these was the Elemental Race! The tenth protagonist of the Amelia Continent!!

“The Protagonist of a Hundred Thousand Years Later — Walking Under the Wheels of History”

…

Seeing Luo Yan’s elemental affinity as high as 83%, everyone felt very excited. Witnessing the birth of a genius was always thrilling. However, because of this, Old Strom, amid his excitement, also felt somewhat uneasy, because he couldn’t be sure whether, after seeing that Luo Yan possessed such talent, Luo Pei would still maintain his earlier words and let him continue to be Luo Yan’s introductory teacher.

But before Old Strom could think of what to say, Luo Pei had already laughed heartily and said: “I never expected this brat to have such talent. Mr. Strom, our Luo Yan is entrusted to you from now on. Please give him plenty of guidance!”

Hearing this, Old Strom couldn’t help but blurt out in surprise: “Director… you still intend for me to guide Luo Yan?”

Luo Pei heard this and said heartily: “Of course, didn’t we already agree on that just now?” Saying this, Luo Pei turned to Luo Yan and said: “Come, Luo Yan, go greet your teacher properly.”

In fact, this was exactly what Luo Pei had in mind. He was a man of experience and insight, so naturally he wouldn’t think like the ordinary villagers. Finding a teacher wasn’t like hiring a bodyguard. Strength was certainly important, but knowledge was even more important. Although Old Strom was only a first-level Magic Apprentice, he came from a family with deep scholarly traditions. When it came to guiding students, he was actually far more suitable than many high-level Magic Professionals who came from humble origins. He was the most fitting choice to be Luo Yan’s introductory mentor.

But when he said this, it made Old Strom very happy. A fallen noble like him placed even more value on others’ respect toward him. Luo Pei’s willingness to entrust his genius son to his guidance truly won Old Strom’s favor. His gaze toward Luo Pei now carried more warmth, no longer the slightly formal respect as before. In certain situations, that kind of respect undoubtedly also signified a sense of distance. It was only at this moment that Old Strom truly regarded Luo Pei as a friend, not merely as “Director.”

Seeing this scene, Luo Yan also smiled. This was exactly the effect he wanted. The “Number One Clan of the Imperial Capital” twenty years from now, yet now befriending each other in obscurity — what a “precious” friendship this was!

Satisfied, he nodded. Luo Yan grinned and slipped out from behind Luo Pei, obediently approaching Old Strom. With one hand placed in front of his chest and the other extended straight, he actually performed a very formal “Apprentice’s Salute” and said clearly: “Teacher Strom, please guide me well from now on~~”

This kind of “Apprentice’s Salute” was a standard ancient ritual. Nowadays, except for some great nobles or very formal occasions, no one would use it at all. It immediately astonished everyone. Old Strom, in particular, repeatedly praised Luo Yan for his good upbringing, which made Luo Pei chuckle continuously. For the moment, he completely forgot to wonder where Luo Yan had learned this ritual.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Strom felt sorry for her new little apprentice. Seeing this, she nudged Old Strom and said crossly: “Go on, old man, stop just standing there grinning like a fool. Go prepare a welcome gift for little Luo Yan.”

Hearing this, Old Strom pondered for a moment, then went into the study and brought out a small flat box that looked ancient and elegant. Smiling, he handed it to Luo Yan and said: “Little Yan, this thing has been kept in the Strom family for many years. Today, I’ll give it to you as a welcome gift.”

Luo Yan immediately said seriously: “Thank you for your generous gift, Teacher.” After saying this, he kept a straight face and solemnly received the small flat box with both hands. As it sank into his hands, he realized the box seemed to be made of bronze. The box was carved with many mysterious and profound patterns. The whole box was only the size of a palm, with smooth and rounded edges. Its appearance was ancient and elegant, and its faintly greenish hue was filled with the sense of time’s passage. At the same time, it carried a grand air — clearly a valuable antique.

Now Luo Yan realized how precious this gift was. Just the box alone felt valuable, let alone whatever was inside it. With slight anticipation, he opened the small bronze box, and saw a long needle lying quietly inside. It was about three inches long, and upon its fine surface, countless magic patterns were inscribed, yet it still looked perfectly smooth. Its silvery-white luster was dazzlingly bright. From time to time, a spark of electric arc would leap from the needle’s body, bursting into a small electric spark in the air, with crackling sounds clearly audible.

At this moment, Luo Yan suddenly held his breath, staring at the long needle before him in utter disbelief!

—Could this be… but… that’s impossible…

A legendary name suddenly flashed through Luo Yan’s mind, but he shook his head in disbelief. That can’t be… this is too unbelievable!

[But… this really… looks so much like that legendary “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle”!!]

Fifty years after Luo Yan was reborn, when Luo Yan was 55 years old, a legendary equipment set called “Tears of the Aurora Goddess” was excavated by adventurers. Experts believed that this legendary set should be a technological product of the Goblin era. This was the third “legendary set” discovered in nearly a thousand years, following “Soul of Redemption” and “Knight’s Elegy.” Its appearance immediately caused a sensation across the entire continent!!

A “legendary set” was a combination of multiple different components. Before being combined, these legendary set pieces were mostly just high-grade weapons, equipment, or items. But once combined, they could unleash power several times greater than a single legendary equipment. “Tears of the Aurora Goddess” was composed of seven “flying needles” of different lengths and different names. The first component discovered was called the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle,” which first appeared at an auction. It was the fastest of the seven components of “Tears of the Aurora Goddess.”

—And the silver flying needle before him, covered in magic patterns and occasionally bursting with small electric sparks, looked far too much like the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle” he had once heard about…

But immediately, Luo Yan shook his head with a wry smile. How could that be? Even fifty years later, the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle” could only exist in legends. How could such a treasure that had shaken the entire continent appear in a remote place like Talim Village? That was way too fanciful!!

But at that moment, Old Strom’s smiling voice came from the side.

“Little Yan, according to the research of the Strom family’s ancestors, this long needle should be a product of the Goblin era. It is very sensitive to magic power and Mental Strength. Long-term use is very beneficial for a Wizard’s training in Mental Strength control. Additionally, it seems to have a lightning element bonus. Take it and practice well with it. But be careful — this long needle can only be controlled freely once you reach the third-level Magicist stage. Before that, you must be very careful. It’s best not to use it in crowded places, to avoid accidents~~”

Hearing Old Strom’s words, Luo Yan felt his breathing becoming rapid. “Product of the Goblin era,” “long-term use is very beneficial for a Wizard’s Mental Strength control training,” “has a lightning element bonus”… These characteristics sounded far too similar to the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle.” Combined with its dazzling appearance, Luo Yan felt more and more tremors of excitement. Could this thing really be the top-tier legendary set component that had shaken the entire continent — the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle”?!

At that moment, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Luo Yan. He remembered that the auction where the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle” was sold had been held in the capital of the Davoma Empire, and the timing was exactly three years after the Strom family had their property confiscated. In other words…

[That legendary set piece couldn’t possibly have really been a Strom family collection, secretly kept by someone during the confiscation, and then sent to auction three years later, right?!]

Luo Yan suddenly made a bold deduction that he himself couldn’t believe, but the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. The long needle looked far too similar to the legendary “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle” described in the tales. He couldn’t find any reason to convince himself that this needle was not that needle.

At that moment, Old Strom’s voice came again: “Oh~~ right, I forgot to tell you. According to the research of our Strom family ancestors, this long needle seems to be called… the Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle. It’s a very—”

What?! It really is the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle”?! The top-tier legendary set piece that shook the entire continent — the “Super Electromagnetic Flying Needle”?!

He didn’t hear anything after that. In that instant, Luo Yan only felt that he could hardly breathe!!