Iz said, "When exploring a Dungeon, mastering a means of lighting is essential."
"Repeat after me."
"O light that illuminates the world, grant all things their color."
He wasn't speaking the common tongue.
But the language of Magic.
Along the way, Iz had taught Lu Cang a lot about Magic.
Lu Cang had only just learned that Chanting for Magic used a separate, exclusive language.
[Root Language]
Only by Chanting a spell in this language could one communicate with Magic Power, resonate with the Elements, and complete the casting.
Only a very small number of people could achieve No Chanting.
These people were either exceptionally talented with a certain type of Magic, or they had practiced a spell tens of thousands of times, studying it to its absolute extreme.
Lu Cang repeated the chant in Iz's language.
Lu Cang: "O light that illuminates the world, grant all things their color."
Iz: "I pray to Zuya for a source of light to illuminate the path before me."
Lu Cang: "I pray to Zuya for a source of light to illuminate the path before me."
'Huh...'
'This chant feels different from the other Magic chants.'
'Praying to Zuya?'
[Lighting Technique]
DING—
A bright point of light materialized and hovered above Lu Cang's head.
[Lighting Technique (Level 5) — Chant Shortening]
"Iz, this spell's chant..."
BANG!
However, before Lu Cang could finish his question, a ball of flame exploded right next to his ear!
The scorching heat made Lu Cang instinctively gather Ice Element around him to defend himself.
It nullified the wave of heat.
He whipped his head around.
Just in time to see a bat, now burnt to a crisp, fall to the ground.
Iz's expression was grim. "Lu Cang, we are now inside the Dungeon."
"Dungeons are places where Demons gather."
"Letting your guard down in a dangerous place is an act that could cost you your life."
Lu Cang swallowed and nodded. "I'll remember that, Master Iz."
This world had no status panels, nor were there any concrete stats for Lu Cang to check, like "Life Value" or "Constitution Value."
Lu Cang didn't know how strong his body was, but from the looks of it, apart from the massive increase in his Magic Power, his Constitution was no different from when he had just arrived in this world.
'A normal human body... if I get stabbed by a sharp blade, I'll really die.'
'I have to change my mindset...'
'This isn't a peaceful zone without Demons anymore. If I get killed, I'll really die.'
Lu Cang took a deep breath.
He looked ahead again.
He suddenly realized that the countless black shapes reflected on the upper part of the cave wall were not shadows cast by the light.
They were black bats, one after another.
As if sensing Lu Cang's gaze on them, they unfurled their wings one by one, revealing blood-red eyes.
"Shadow Bats. They live in dark caves and blend in perfectly with the shadows when they're not moving."
"They're one of the weakest Tier One Demons. You can find them in most cave-type Dungeons."
"Their method of attack is to bite with their sharp teeth and suck blood."
"They carry weak pathogens, but the Priests of the Life Church can easily cure the diseases, so their infectiousness isn't usually a combat consideration."
Iz explained from Lu Cang's side.
"Elite Level Shadow Bats can attack with sonic waves, and a King Level Shadow Bat Monarch often exists as the Dungeon's Lord."
As he spoke, Iz tossed a Magic Staff to him.
Lu Cang caught the Magic Staff.
It was the same slender Magic Staff he had used for the Thunder Strike Skill yesterday.
'Bats, huh?'
'I should use a Fire Element attack.'
[Fireball Technique (Level 80)]
WHOOSH!
Lu Cang gave his Magic Staff a light wave, and five massive, scorching Fireballs formed around him!
BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Almost instantly, the Fireballs slammed into the cave wall.
One by one, the bats turned to charcoal and plummeted before they could even take flight.
[Fireball Technique Skill EXP +12,000]
[Fireball Technique Skill EXP +12,000]
[Fireball Technique Skill EXP +15,000]
...
The Fireballs erupted!
Flames splashed out!
Explosions!
A chain of fiery explosions tore through the passage, wiping out all the Shadow Bats before they could even attack.
Not a single bat could withstand a single Fireball explosion.
'Killing these monsters with Magic gives Skill Proficiency too!'
'And it seems the Skill EXP gain isn't a one-time thing.'
After clearing out this whole swarm of bats...
Lu Cang had gained 680,000 Skill EXP for his Fireball Technique, raising it from Level 80 to Level 82.
However, a sigh came from Iz beside him.
"What a pity..."
"You burned these bats to a crisp."
"Otherwise, their corpses could've sold for a good bit of money."
'So that's how it works.'
"But it's normal for a Demon's corpse to get damaged in the process of killing it."
"Besides being a Level 5 Warrior, Chi Cheng is also a Level 3 Gatherer."
"He usually gathers our materials. If you explore a Dungeon without a Gatherer, your loot will be greatly diminished."
'So there are Profession divisions like that.'
'It seems a gathering Profession is really necessary.'
"However, the main purpose this time is to help you break through your Magic Limit."
"It doesn't matter if we get a little less loot."
Lu Cang nodded.
He and Iz continued deeper into the cave.
At the same time, Lu Cang practiced his [Lighting Technique] along the way.
[Lighting Technique (Level 30) — Shortened Chant, Longer Duration, Softer Light Source, Illuminates More Shadows, Dispels Darkness]
The Lighting Technique was different from other Magic.
Even after reaching Level 30 in Skill Proficiency, it still required Chanting.
However, he only needed to silently recite the word "Light."
And the spell would be cast.
It always felt like the Lighting Technique was more special than other Magic.
A Level 30 Lighting Technique was like a shadowless lamp; within the area it covered, there were absolutely no shadows.
As they explored deeper, they encountered a few dozen more bats scattered about.
After killing them all, he gained another five hundred thousand or so Skill EXP.
This time, however, Lu Cang used Wind Blades to kill them.
That way, their corpses were left behind.
They were sliced to pieces, but at least they weren't charcoal.
Their value went from roughly a 0 to a 1.
Iz collected the Demon corpses into his Storage Space.
They continued onward.
The space suddenly opened up. The cave's ceiling became much higher, and Lu Cang could see numerous rock protrusions on the walls.
It was as if barbs were growing inside an overturned bowl.
If his Lighting Technique's Level were lower, the light hitting these protrusions would have created deep, dark shadows.
And at this very moment, behind these protrusions, stood pitch-black panthers.
"Panthers hiding in the shadows, huh?"
Lu Cang could easily imagine what would have happened if he didn't have a High Level Lighting Technique.
He most likely would have been ambushed by these creatures.
Lu Cang raised his Magic Staff.
He lifted his hand and swung!
[Ice Cone Skill (Level 90)]
BANG!
The panther's eyes widened in disbelief.
Its abdomen had been pierced by a sharp, spinning Ice Cone.
The Ice Cone tore through its body and struck the cave wall, spattering blood and frost.
Seven Ice Cones pierced seven different panthers.
SWOOSH~!
Almost in the next instant, the panthers hiding on the walls lunged down.
However, their numbers had already been severely depleted.
By striking first, he had completely turned the tables.
They were fast, but not so fast that his eyes couldn't follow.
And they were in mid-air.
Lu Cang raised his hand again.
More Ice Cones formed in an instant. Suspended in mid-air with no way to evade, they were nothing but living targets.
BANG!
In mid-air, five Ice Cones instantly pierced their chests, abdomens, and heads.