"——So this is my strength and combat power after breaking through to Tier Three..."

Andrew subdued Fleur with an Illusion Magic while carefully sensing his strength and methods after the breakthrough.

The cultivation principles followed by Water Mages are, in general, in line with the universal magic cultivation principles of the Flame Realm.

That is:

From a Magic Apprentice to a Tier One Mage, the main task is to construct magic power and initially master the first spell.

From Tier One to Tier Two, the focus is on further enhancing magic power and complicating the spells that can be cast after the enhancement. It's important to know that a Tier One Mage can typically only cast one spell at a time, but by Tier Two, they can start forming spell combos.

Upon reaching Tier Three, one's magic power will further increase, not just in "quantity" but also in a "qualitative" transformation.

Magic power for a Tier Three Mage will not only emanate "elemental power" but also more "soul power."

Take Andrew, for instance—

The water magic power inside Andrew is the product of combining his first basic ability "Water Spirit Technique" with his second basic ability "Water Soul Constitution" when he was a magic apprentice.

Magic power itself is the combined product of soul and flesh.

But at the magic apprentice stage, the magic power within is more reflected in the part of "physical strength;" upon reaching Tier One, more of the "elemental power" part of magic power comes to light; upon reaching Tier Two, the "elemental power" part further emerges, and because Andrew transformed from a conventional mage to a Magic Lord, the form of magic power changed, allowing the magic power to switch between "normal state" and "hyper state" via the "Gate of Enlightenment."

Now, with the breakthrough to Tier Three, the "soul power" part of magic power has finally truly emerged.

In simple terms, it's only after Tier Three that magic power genuinely possesses the threefold attributes of "physical strength," "elemental power," and "soul power," and these three attributes have reached a relatively balanced and stable state amongst themselves.

And this internal attribute change in magic power leads to the external change in the magic that can be cast—

A Tier Three Mage is truly able to cast soul magic in the real sense!

"I heard Barbara mention before that among the top young figures in the Flame Realm, including Barbara herself and Rose, more than half major or minor in soul magic.

Even those who don't know soul magic—like the Saintess of the Magic Guild who isn't a mage at all but a Flame Warrior—grasp soul defense techniques to counter soul magic."

Andrew murmured, "Now I truly understand why it's so important, why most of the young warriors who are predominantly Tier Three value soul magic so much!

Simply put, if you don't know soul magic, you basically have no resistance when facing someone who does!"

The Illusion Andrew cast on Fleur just now was a water soul magic unlocked from the "Water God Mark."

Fleur is also Tier Three and a standout among the young generation, although not the strongest group, strong enough to be in the second tier of young elites.

Without soul magic, Andrew knew he wouldn't be able to subdue Fleur so easily.

But after using soul magic, he basically crushed Fleur!

"In other words, whether a Tier Three fighting another Tier Three has soul magic or at least a soul defense technique almost directly decides the battle's outcome.

As for a Tier Three against someone below Tier Three, because of the advantage of soul magic, it can almost be said to be an unconditional crush!"

After Andrew realized this, he felt a vague sense of fear and relief: Luckily, his first unlocked basic ability was the "Water Spirit Technique," a soul defense technique, or in theory, when he first faced Humboldt's "Heart Fire Eyes" or met Barbara's more genuine "Heart Fire Eyes," he would have had no resistance.

The Water Spirit Technique was precisely the soul defense technique that silently protected him before reaching Tier Three.

So is this one of the natural advantages of Water Magic? Weaker in soul offense compared to Fire Magic, but significantly stronger in soul defense?

Or is it... that unknown existence that left me this "Water God Mark" golden finger, intentionally preparing a safeguard for me as the inheritor of the Water God's Inheritance and the Fire Extinguishing Saint Son?

Andrew felt that both possibilities might be there. Both are correct!

Thus he further understood why, after he blocked Barbara's "Heart Fire Eyes," the girl's eyes flashed with that look of disbelief.

What Andrew didn't know is that, even until now, this is an unresolved doubt hidden deep in Barbara's heart.

Because in this Flame Realm, according to common sense, facing a Tier Three mage's soul magic below Tier Three—regardless of whether it's the strongest soul magic series like "Heart Fire" or "Desolate Language," just ordinary soul magic—should also be without any resistance!

"However, at that time, I had soul defense power, but no offensive ability on the soul level."

Andrew took a deep breath, "Now, I have initially acquired soul-based offensive techniques."

This is the biggest difference between being a Tier Three Water Magic Lord now and before.

This is the main reason I just subdued Fleur effortlessly with a wave of my hand!

Whoosh.

The new Water Magic, infused with a rich essence of Soul Power, surged fiercely within.

After breaking through to Tier Three, the transformation within, unseen by others, only began to stabilize at this point.

"But... why do I always feel that something's still missing, that the new tier state isn't completely stable?" Andrew frowned slightly.

The cultivation path of a Water Magic Lord fundamentally remains within the principles of a traditional Water Mage's cultivation.

The traditional Water Mage's cultivation system is completely compatible with the cultivation systems of Earth Fire Mages and Warm Fire Mages in this Flame Realm.

Andrew was now completely certain: in this Flame Realm, there once were many Water Mages. Perhaps back then, this world wasn't in its current form, not a Flame Realm at all, but a world balanced between fire and water.

One day, due to some reasons, traditional Water Mages were persecuted and disappeared from the world, at the hands of the Flame Warriors and Earth Fire Mages of the mountain sea generation.

However, the seeds of Water Mages did not vanish.

That was the "Tear of the Water God" that I first acquired.

The "Tear of the Water God" contained the traditional Water Mages' path of cultivation.

Coupled with the "Gate of Enlightenment," it constructed an entirely new cultivation path for the Water Magic Lord!

Yes, entirely new.

The path of the Magic Lord is absolutely new.

Andrew was now very sure of this.

Otherwise, after breaking through to Tier Three, he would not be unable to completely stabilize and settle the last trace of Magic Power.

The path of the Magic Lord evidently has flaws and defects, and is not complete.

Or rather... not "completed"!

"Could it be that back then, after traditional Water Mages were persecuted and exiled, they deliberately developed this path of the Water Magic Lord to counter the Magic Guild, but didn't have time to completely finish and perfect it?"

Andrew couldn't help but speculate, "Perhaps before me, no Water Mage had ever trodden the path of the Water Magic Lord?"

In any case, what is certain is that the new Tier Three Water Magic within must be thoroughly stabilized.

If this path of the Water Magic Lord is indeed unfinished, then... just continue to complete and perfect it!

This might also be one of the duties that fall upon oneself after inheriting the Water God's legacy?

As for the method of perfecting it — for now, the way to thoroughly stabilize the new Tier Three Magic Power — it's simple: persist in extinguishing fire, continue extinguishing fire! That's all.

Thinking this, Andrew pulled his attention back from his internal changes to the present —

Fleur's face had already returned to calmness, and she even wore a faint smile.

After futile struggles, she finally and completely fell into the Illusion Realm woven by Andrew for her.

Only when Andrew wished for her to regain consciousness would her senses and perception return to the real world, seeing the truths about the Flame Warriors and Desolate Beasts that Andrew wanted her to see.

Under the blazing sun, on the desert, Fleur stood "obediently" by Andrew's side.

Yet, this scene, completely inexplicable in others' eyes, did not evoke much surprise or confusion.

Only Fleur, trapped within the Illusion Realm, was plunging left and right, unable to break free, her inner panic reaching an unprecedented depth, almost driving her mad.

In the real world, few realized that Fleur had already been completely subdued by Andrew.

That's because after rescuing Barbara, Rose quickly retreated into the Desolate Beast herd.

Then, this guy from the younger generation, who wasn't the strongest but loved to disrupt others, sometimes even for the sake of disruption itself, finally dared not take chances, too busy to show off.

He was going to get serious.

"I see now, retreating into the Sand Tide itself, and directly becoming part of the Desolate Beast Sand Tide?"

"Now, even I can't temporarily lock onto Rose's position. The 'Tear Mark' was consumed after one use, and is not a reusable mark."

Andrew thought to himself.

His face calm, gaze slowly scanning his surroundings.

He saw that on all sides of the Wildfire Territory, an unprecedented terrifying Sand Tide, accompanied by the unified charge of the Desolate Beasts, came under the horrified, fearful, and despairing gaze of the people of the Wildfire Territory.

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