C3 The Ideal Is Not Reality

Liu Xiaobao brimmed with confidence about his future; he knew an extraordinary life awaited him. As the protagonist of his transmigration tale, he saw himself as an exceptional being, almost like a cheat code in human form. The question was, should he become a knight? Perhaps a Mage? Or maybe pursue the challenging path of dual mastery of magic and martial arts? Regardless, his innate talent was extraordinary, and he was certain that mastering the formidable dual path would be no issue for him.

"It's settled then. Hahaha, a few years from now, I'll be both a War God and an Arcane Sage," Liu Xiaobao chuckled with pride. "First things first, I'll head to the Knight Alliance to test my combat prowess. It's high time I changed how everyone perceives me."

The Knight Alliance, established by the legendary War God Otto a millennium ago, had its headquarters in the Magic Kingdom, a neutral territory dedicated to upholding fairness across the world. The Alliance's influence spread across two major empires, with a presence in nearly every city. Its primary function was to assess the level of martial practitioners and award them corresponding medals. The Alliance's longevity, spanning a thousand years, was not just due to its esteemed reputation but also because it undertook missions to generate income. Relying solely on reputation would have left its members destitute.

A subsidiary of the Knight Alliance was the Mercenary Alliance, tasked with the financial sustenance of the main organization. People could assign any task to the Mercenary Alliance, which would then be evaluated by their mission specialists, with a fee set accordingly. The Mercenary Alliance would then publish these tasks, allowing mercenaries to undertake and complete them, while taking a commission for their services.

As Liu Xiaobao strolled through the streets, he couldn't help but feel a cut above the rest. Passersby gave him curious glances, their eyes seemingly mocking, "Look at that spendthrift, out to squander his wealth once more."

"You clueless mortals, I, the young master, am on the verge of an ascension. I hardly have time to bicker with you," Liu Xiaobao murmured under his breath. His memories revealed that he was the subject of ridicule throughout the capital, unnoticed and uncared for, the butt of everyone's jokes. "Wow, the original owner of this body really knew how to make a name for himself. If he were on Earth, he'd surely be the most famous live streamer, with a channel titled 'Daily Life of the Prodigal Liu'—wouldn't the screen be flooded with planes and rockets?"

"Hmm, not a bad idea. If you see something you like, just buy it. Guys, check out this broken bowl. Two hundred gold coins. Two hundred gold coins and it's mine. Guys, let's hit it with a plane rocket!"

Liu Xiaobao never cared much for those quirky streamers in his past life who would disregard all morals just for a laugh, and yet, they had a surprising number of fans. As a self-proclaimed homebody with a strong sense of justice, Liu Xiaobao had little respect for them.

"Justice? I'd rather focus on staying alive," Liu Xiaobao thought to himself. Despite his online persona, where he often shared and commented on positive content, in real life, he was admittedly a bit of a scaredy-cat.

Taking his time, Liu Xiaobao savored the hustle and bustle of the city streets and the warmth of the sun. After spending over half a month in hellish darkness, he was more than ready for some light.

After asking around, Liu Xiaobao finally made his way to the Knight Alliance at the very edge of West City. The only thing that set the Knight Alliance apart from a regular house was its slightly larger size and a modest sign that hung over the door, which was easy to overlook.

"What's the deal? Is this really one of the two most famous alliances on the continent? If the Knight Alliance is like this in the capital, I can only imagine what the others are like," Liu Xiaobao mused, realizing he had no further information about the Knight Alliance in his memory. He guessed that in his past life, he was too insignificant to have any connections with knights or magic.

Inside, there was a spacious courtyard with several large black stones scattered about. On either side of the courtyard were six rooms. Following the signs, Liu Xiaobao made his way to a room on the left, closer to the entrance. Inside, a burly man was slouched over a desk, looking as though he was on the verge of falling asleep.

"Still asleep? It's nearly noon!" Liu Xiaobao exclaimed, startling the man into yelling, "What's going on? What happened?"

With a hint of confidence, Liu Xiaobao declared, "Uncle, I'm here to test my strength. Get everything ready for me, please."

"Oh? You're here to test your strength?" The man, now identified as an Aeseaba, seemed to recognize Liu Xiaobao. "What's the matter? Has the prodigal son decided he wants to become a knight?"

Indeed, Liu Xiaobao's fame had spread far and wide.

"Don't worry about that; just help me with the test," Liu Xiaobao responded, unfazed by the Aeseaba's ridicule. What good would getting angry do? As any recluse would tell you, anger only leads to more trouble, while a calm demeanor is key to handling matters effectively.

"Take this," the Aeseaba said nonchalantly, tossing a longsword to Liu Xiaobao. "Go outside and hack at those black rocks."

Struggling to hold the longsword, Liu Xiaobao inquired, "Why is this sword so heavy? Isn't there a lighter one?"

"You want to be a knight? This is the most basic sword there is. If it's too much for you, then leave now and stop interrupting my rest," the Aeseaba scoffed, eyeing the slender Liu Xiaobao. "If someone as frail as you could become a knight, I'd eat a boulder outside today."

"Uncle, make sure you remember what you said. I'm about to make a big splash," Liu Xiaobao retorted.

He went to the clearing, picked a large black rock at random, and asked, "What now?"

"Swing with all your might."

"Any special instructions?"

"Are you going to chop or not? If not, then get out of here."

Liu Xiaobao inhaled deeply, hoisted the longsword with both hands, and yelled out as he swung. The sword's rebound sent him tumbling to the ground, sword and all.

What just happened? Xiaoxiao's attempt at chopping had resulted in a humiliating fall. It was hardly dignified, akin to a dog face-planting. Liu Xiaobao struggled to his feet, ready to give it another go. He had an ace up his sleeve; how could he possibly fail to become a knight?

As Liu Xiaobao readied himself for another strike, the Aeseaba grabbed his hand, yanking the longsword away. "Are you here to make a fool of yourself? Get lost. With your ability, you couldn't become a knight's apprentice in a hundred years. You have no talent."

You have no talent! The phrase echoed in Liu Xiaobao's head. "Could it really be that I'm not cut out to be a knight? Aren't I supposed to have an edge?"

Liu Xiaobao was unceremoniously expelled from the Knight Alliance by a burly man from Aeseaba. He consoled himself, saying, "Maybe it's for the best that I can't become a Knight. Focusing solely on becoming a Mage could speed up my leveling. Not every protagonist can achieve dual mastery of magic and martial arts. Who knows? Perhaps I'm destined to be the most powerful Mage in history."

With a new goal in mind, Liu Xiaobao set off for the Mage League. The Mage League's history was far more ancient than that of the Knight Alliance, having been established by some of the earliest humans. The exact era of its origin was shrouded in mystery—was it from the ancient times or even before? No one could say for sure. Nevertheless, the Mage League had always been the most formidable force among humans. A Level 8 Grand Magus could defeat two Level 8 Paladins in normal combat, and their prowess in group battles was even more impressive. A hundred Level 7 Knights of Glory might struggle to overcome a single Level 8 Grand Magus. Only a legendary Level 9 War God could match the might of a Level 9 Arcane Sage.

It was no surprise that the headquarters of the Mage League was situated in the Magic Kingdom, a nation founded by Mages. They hailed from various countries and races, united by their shared fascination with the arcane. The governance of the Magic Kingdom was unique; their king was an elected representative chosen by the Mages, but the true power lay with the Mage Council.

Upon reaching the Mage League, Liu Xiaobao found himself before a small marble castle that stood out prominently in West City.

"The disparity between the Knight Alliance and the Mage League is staggering," he mused. "It's like comparing a lump of clay to a precious gem."

Eagerly, Liu Xiaobao hastened into the grand hall, which was as spacious as it was opulent, with floors of marble polished to a mirror sheen. It was the epitome of extravagance.

A young woman clad in a Mage's robe approached and inquired, "Sir, have you come to test your magical aptitude?"

"How did you know?" Liu Xiaobao asked, taken aback.

"Because the Magic Alliance isn't a place for just anyone. The Mages who come here all wear the Mage Medal. Ordinary folk only visit to test their magical talent."

It all made sense now. The girl was quite perceptive. Liu Xiaobao, however, didn't dare to gaze at her openly and instead stole covert glances as he followed her to a room on the first floor.

The young woman instructed, "Sir, please place your hand on this magic ball."

Liu Xiaobao did as he was told, resting his hand on a transparent white magic ball. Time passed, but the magic ball remained unresponsive.

"Alright, sir, your test has concluded," she announced.

Liu Xiaobao was perplexed. "Is that it? Why didn't it react?"

"That's because, sir, you lack magical talent."

No magical talent? How could that be possible? Liu Xiaobao struggled to accept what he was hearing. "Are you certain about this? I have no magical talent?"

"Yes, sir. If you're skeptical, allow me to demonstrate what happens when someone with talent uses the magic ball." The young woman placed her hand on the magic ball, and immediately a blue halo encircled it. "As a water mage apprentice, the magic ball shows a blue halo for me. Since there was no reaction during your test, it indicates you cannot become a mage apprentice."

Disheartened, Liu Xiaobao left the Magic Alliance. "Damn, what's going on? No martial talent, no magic talent... how am I supposed to save the world? Yinyin, you malicious woman, if you expect me to save the world, at least grant me some extraordinary talent. Without any power, how can I, a good-for-nothing, possibly save the world?"

Now, Liu Xiaobao's confidence had vanished, replaced only by a profound sense of loss.