Sunset Warrior Chant - Chapter 45 - The Misfortune of the Silver Finch

Fu Feng stood tall and straight in the center of the laboratory, seemingly oblivious to those around him. Lu Xiner wasn’t worried about him though. Being a fifteen-year-old level 6 mage was too conspicuous. Following his father’s advice, Fu Feng had registered as a level 5 mage for the entrance exam, one level lower than his actual abilities. The academy staff hadn’t detected the deception. After all, Fu Feng was only fifteen, and no one would believe that a rare level 6 mage would attend the Yan Mountain Academy entrance exam. A level 6 mage could practically graduate-why would someone of such high caliber pretend to be a lesser mage just to idle away his time at the academy?

For a level 5 mage, the academy was expected to release a level 4 magical beast. Dealing with a level 4 beast seemed like an underuse of Fu Feng’s talents. The stone door opened, and everyone stared into the darkened doorway, wondering what kind of beast would appear.

Casually using a level 4 beast as a test subject was a show of magnanimity from Yan Mountain Academy. The magic core of a level 4 beast was worth a bottle of fine Spirit Gathering Pill.

Expecting a massive creature to match Fu Feng’s prowess, the crowd waited eagerly. Just then, a crisp chirping resonated, and a small, bright figure darted from behind the door and flew straight at Fu Feng. It was a surprise, but within the blink of an eye, Fu Feng recognized it as a Silver Finch, its body covered in silver fur.

With a flick of his hand, Fu Feng unleashed a level 3 fire magic, the “Fire Sword,” which at one foot long was several times larger than the Silver Finch. The Finch, seeing the Fire Sword, flapped its wings lightly, smoothly dodging and circling back towards Fu Feng’s head.

A voice from among the candidates exclaimed, “It’s just a tiny sparrow with hardly two ounces of feathers. Isn’t the academy going easy? What’s there to watch?”

“That’s a formidable Silver Finch, you fool. It’s not easy to hurt it, let alone pluck its feathers.”

“Then Yan Mountain Academy is clearly making things difficult on purpose. Let’s see how this genius manages to pluck its feathers. But if all the beautiful feathers of the Silver Finch are gone, might it not seek its own demise?”

“My mother once said that when she loses even a single strand of her beautiful black hair, she can’t eat.”

Fu Feng had heard about the Silver Finch from his father, although he had never actually seen one before. It was known as a typical magical beast that gave people headaches due to its tricky nature. The Silver Finch, embodying both light and wind magic, could grow into a level 7 magical beast upon reaching adulthood.

As a creature of wind magic, the Silver Finch’s speed was extraordinary, making it nearly impossible for mages of the same level to even touch it. Additionally, as a level 4 light magical beast, it possessed the “Glowing Silk Shield” for protection, making it difficult for mages of the same level to inflict any damage. Even if it were slightly injured, the Silver Finch could heal itself, as long as the wounds were not too severe, due to its innate light magic healing abilities.

At the moment, Fu Feng was in the laboratory, appearing relaxed but actually under the watchful eyes of several proctors, acting as a level 5 mage. He had to be careful with every move, as any excessive display of strength could reveal his true power. Injuring the precious Silver Finch severely would cause embarrassment to Yan Mountain Academy by losing such a delicate magical beast.

Damaging the Silver Finch might be easy, but obtaining its feathers was another matter. Its small body was highly resistant to blows, its skin tougher than that of a Grizzly Bear, and its speed several times faster. If the Silver Finch were to face a Grizzly Bear, the bear would stand no chance and would merely be beaten helplessly. Fu Feng was somewhat troubled about how to proceed.

Fu Feng repeatedly unleashed the Fire Sword, a spell from a “level 5 mage”, which should not be underestimated. Every sword created a piercing sound that could be heard even outside the glass walls of the laboratory. Yet, the Silver Finch was incredibly agile, darting through the “whooshing” Fire Swords without a single feather falling, sometimes even deliberately brushing its tail against the swords and bouncing off instantly.

Observing the beautiful feathers of the Silver Finch, Fu Feng cast a level 4 fire magic spell, “Blazing Eruption”. The laboratory echoed with loud booms as several fiery orbs exploded around the Silver Finch, dancing flames reflecting off the glass walls in a red glow.

Suddenly, the Silver Finch’s form brightened as it conjured the Glowing Silk Shield around itself. A Blazing Eruption exploded near its small body, and like a dragonfly, it glided away, making a turn in the air and shooting towards Fu Feng’s eyes.

Fu Feng finally experienced its power firsthand. Being cautious, he surrounded himself with a level 3 Fire Wall instead of using the more powerful level 5 Flame Shield. Many eyes were watching from beyond the glass wall, and he felt embarrassed to use such force against a mere sparrow.

The level 3 Fire Wall provided a solid defense, and he was confident that the level 5 Fire Meteor could defeat his opponent in one move. However, considering the immense power of Fire Meteor, he feared accidentally crushing the Silver Finch into a pulp. After some thought, he decided to unleash his level 5 wind magic.

Having made up his mind and feeling certain of victory, Fu Feng suddenly launched the Thousand Wind Blades. From outside the glass, Fu Qiruo saw the spectacle, which was ten to a hundred times more impressive than his own efforts. Hundreds of wind blades swirled towards the Silver Finch, seemingly on par with a level 4 tornado and the level 5 Storm Spell. Fu Feng’s Thousand Wind Blades truly lived up to their name.

Inside the sealed laboratory, wind blades shimmered everywhere except where Fu Feng stood. There was not a palm-sized gap to be found, and the sounds of cutting air combined into a chorus like the clanging of metal.

The proctors were visibly moved. One of them thought to himself, “In all the years at Yan Mountain Academy, the older students who never amounted to much could not muster such fierce wind magic. Fu Feng, merely fifteen, displays such skill-a true testament to the difference between genius and mediocrity.”

Surrounded by Thousand Wind Blades, the Silver Finch raised its Glowing Silk Shield for defense. Hindered by the swirling wind blades, it chose not to struggle but to drift with the wind currents. The wind blades shattered against the Glowing Silk Shield without harming a single feather. Fu Feng, untroubled, thought to himself, “Perhaps a level 4 magical beast like the Silver Finch could roam freely before level 4 and level 5 mages, but how long can it last against me?”

He stood motionless in a corner of the laboratory, his hands waving through the air as hundreds of wind blades surged forth like a mighty river towards the Silver Finch. The Silver Finch employed a Phantom Spell from its wind magic arsenal. Fu Feng’s movements remained unchanged. He could almost close his eyes and continuously cast countless wind blades, indifferent to whether he was targeting the Silver Finch’s real body or its illusions. There was simply no place in the laboratory for the Silver Finch to hide. After a few flashes, the bright shadows of several Silver Finches vanished into thin air.

Undeterred, the Silver Finch screeched and launched a Holy Light Arrow at Fu Feng using its light magic. Fu Feng paid it no heed; the arrow, two feet long, burst from the Silver Finch’s mouth, dazzling even amidst the sparkling wind blades, breaking through them and steadily advancing towards Fu Feng’s chest.

Outside the glass walls, the candidates watched as the Holy Light Arrow closed in to just twenty centimeters from Fu Feng. Just as it seemed the arrow would pierce his chest in the blink of an eye, Fu Feng smiled, shouted lightly, and a red glow flickered around him. The energy of the Fire Wall surged outward automatically to meet the brilliant arrow. A loud “boom” echoed through the laboratory as the Holy Light Arrow disintegrated, and the violent shockwave triggered the magical barrier on the glass walls, causing lights to flicker and a continuous rumbling sound.

At this moment, Fu Feng intensified his counterattack, adding force to his hands, and the wind blades suddenly doubled in size, leaving the candidates gaping in awe. The Silver Finch swayed in the air, its Glowing Silk Shield shrinking to half its original size, struggling to maintain itself. Seeing victory within reach, Fu Feng pondered how to pluck it-deciding that using fire would be most appropriate. As the Silver Finch’s magic began to wane, a level 5 fire magic would surely strip it bare.

Fu Feng then launched two more wind blades, suddenly activating the level 5 fire magic “Fire Meteor”!

Outside the glass walls, the spectators saw Fu Feng’s hands form an empty embrace, with sparks flickering between his palms. As the laboratory’s wind blades faded, a surge of red light rose up. Before the Silver Finch could react, Fu Feng pushed his hands forward, and the Fire Meteor erupted, instantly filling the laboratory.

In an instant, the laboratory was engulfed in a sea of flames, Fu Feng and the Silver Finch obscured within it. After a moment, only a faint screech from the Silver Finch could be heard-a sound no longer as crisp or melodious as before.

The red flames slowly softened and finally vanished. Fu Feng stood dazed in the distance, the Silver Finch no longer in the air. Everyone’s eyes swept across the entire laboratory, searching for the silvery Silver Finch, but not a single shining feather could be found. At last, in a corner on the floor, they discovered a dark lump thrashing about, like a black fish accidentally leaping out of its tank.

“Look! The Silver Finch’s feathers have all been burned off, its skin and flesh turned to ash!”

“It seems to still be alive, still jumping!”

The proctor opened the glass door, stepped quickly inside, and crouched down to examine the Silver Finch. He touched it with his finger, then stood up and shook his head, saying, “The Silver Finch is nearly meeting its maker.” He paused, as if reaching the main point, “The Silver Finch is mortally wounded, its channels and meridians completely severed, beyond saving. Unfortunately, Fu Feng’s use of Elemental Manipulation lacked restraint, resulting in his failure in this exam.”

No one expected such an outcome, the Silver Finch that had just been aggressively attacking was now on the brink of death, and Fu Feng felt even more guilty, though it was too late to change anything. As an already qualified super-genius, Fu Feng thought to himself, “There was no need to overdo it, what would it matter if I didn’t pass, given my performance in the first round, getting into Yan Mountain Academy would have been more than sufficient. This round of the exam, winning or not, really didn’t matter.”

Fu Qiruo felt pity and approached, saying, “Maybe the Silver Finch was just hungry, let’s give it some meat to eat.”

The proctor had a sudden realization, shaking his head and muttering to himself, “We should feed it some meat, see, I’m not even as thoughtful as a new candidate.” He immediately ordered the stone door to be opened, brought in some cooked meat, and personally took the now darkened Silver Finch behind the stone door.

As the stone door closed, the janitors cleaned up the battlefield, and the proctor loudly announced, “Next…”