The Mysterious Mage

As he ventured deeper, Alex encountered no danger at all. That struck him as very strange, making him even more cautious.

Gradually, Alex realized he had reached the center of the valley. A Taoist priest sitting cross-legged appeared before him. He wore a blue-gray robe, its long hem draped over his legs; his snow-white hair was casually tied into a topknot, with loose strands hanging down his back. His face was rosy and as soft as a baby’s, truly white-haired yet youthful-faced.

Alex’s knowledge of Marvel came only from a handful of Marvel movies, but he knew very well that the Marvel Universe was at least a science-fiction world. For someone with such an immortal bearing to suddenly appear was clearly out of place!

After hesitating for a moment, Alex carefully stepped closer and called softly, "Excuse me…"

"Young man, who are you?" The Taoist priest slowly opened his eyes. A trace of surprise flashed through his clear gaze, and as he looked at Alex, something indescribable entered his eyes.

Alex was startled, but he immediately came to his senses. Taking a quiet breath, he answered in Chinese as well. "Hello. I am a traveler who accidentally entered this valley. I apologize for disturbing you and hope you will forgive me." There was not the slightest trace of energy on the Taoist priest, but that fleeting glint in his eyes was clearly not something an ordinary person could possess. Alex was afraid.

"Oh, you’re from China?" The Taoist priest curiously looked Alex over from head to toe, his eyes full of deep confusion. Then he praised, "You speak Chinese very well!"

"My mother is Chinese." Under the Taoist priest’s gaze, Alex did not dare conceal anything. He honestly told him everything. "My name is Alex. My Chinese name is Zhang Xuan."

The Taoist priest chuckled, nodded, and asked again, "I am very curious. How did you pass through my formation?"

Looking at the Taoist priest’s gentle smile and calm eyes, Alex felt as though he had been seen through completely. It made him extremely uncomfortable. He had wanted to hide it, but when he spoke, he honestly confessed, "To be frank, sir, my mother is a mutant, and my father is an Inhuman." Alex did not know why he was saying all this. Nor did he care whether the Taoist priest knew what mutants and Inhumans were. He had simply said it for no apparent reason.

The Taoist priest’s realization after his initial shock told Alex that he knew exactly what mutants and Inhumans were.

What surprised Alex, however, was that after learning his identity, the Taoist priest suddenly fell silent. He merely observed Alex from time to time before finally speaking after a long while. "My name is The Ancient One, an ancient Eastern sorcerer."

"An Eastern sorcerer?" Alex stared at the Taoist priest who called herself The Ancient One in astonishment. Images of the immortal-cultivation novels he had read in his previous life surfaced in his mind again. Could this Taoist priest be one of those legendary immortals?

A faint smile rested on The Ancient One’s face as she gazed at Alex and explained, "There is magic in the West and sorcery in the East. Western magic focuses on the four elements of earth, fire, water, and wind. It uses one’s own magic to connect with the elements of heaven and earth, launching attacks or defenses. There is also that sinister dark magic, where one feeds one’s body to demons in exchange for powerful demonic strength."

Alex stared blankly at The Ancient One, growing increasingly shocked. He could not understand what this Taoist priest was trying to do. Why was she suddenly telling him about Western magic and Eastern Sorcery?

The Ancient One seemed not to notice Alex’s expression and continued her explanation.

"Eastern Sorcery encompasses the five elements of heaven and earth: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It draws the power of heaven and earth into one’s body, overturning the world with every movement and stillness. There are also mysterious formations, which use little strength to borrow the power of heaven and earth and wield its might, changing without end."

Alex froze again. The thought from earlier resurfaced uncontrollably. Could she really be an immortal?

Just as he was confused, The Ancient One’s voice rang out again.

"I intend to take you as my disciple. Are you willing to enter my tutelage?"

"Take a master?" Alex looked at The Ancient One with a helpless smile. So all that talk had been for the sake of recruiting him! Still, with his abilities to copy and control energy, Alex felt he had no need to take any master. As long as he trained those two abilities well, he could roam freely beneath the heavens.

The Ancient One did not know why she had suddenly entertained the thought of accepting a disciple, but she firmly believed in fate and destiny. Destiny had brought Alex into the valley where she cultivated. Destiny had made her want to accept him as a disciple when she saw him. Therefore, he was meant to be her disciple.

However, The Ancient One soon noticed that Alex seemed rather conflicted.

Could it be that he doesn’t want to become my disciple? The Ancient One looked at Alex across from her with a gloomy expression, feeling somewhat resentful.

The Ancient One was versed in both Eastern and Western learning, proficient in Western magic and Eastern Sorcery, and renowned throughout the world as the "Sorcerer Supreme." Countless people wanted to enter her tutelage. It was no wonder she was somewhat displeased by Alex’s hesitation.

Then The Ancient One thought of Alex’s unusual identity. He possessed both mutant and Inhuman bloodlines, so it was understandable that he was so proud. Still, that did not satisfy her. She decided to teach this reckless Alex a proper lesson.

"You think your abilities are powerful?" The Ancient One’s expression suddenly turned cold, and her voice lost all warmth, making one feel as though they had fallen into an icy abyss.

Alex was frightened and could not stop himself from shivering. He wanted to shake his head, but instinctively chose to nod instead.

The Ancient One rose to her full height, casually brushed her robe, then turned to look at Alex. With a soft snort, she said, "In that case, this old woman shall have a taste of your skills!"

Before Alex could react, The Ancient One had already attacked. There were no dazzling magical effects, nor any earth-shattering changes.

Just as Alex was about to think she was merely a fraud, his entire body suddenly tightened, as if he had been tightly bound by a rope. He could not break free in the slightest.

Teleportation failed completely for the first time. He could not even activate it. The mysterious invisible thing binding him seemed to have bound his mind as well, preventing his thoughts from functioning properly and leaving them fragmented.

Carefully sensing the position of the mysterious invisible things binding him, Alex tried to use steel balls to sever them, but that too yielded nothing. With Energy Control, Alex could sense those mysterious invisible things, but he could not control them at all, much less escape from them.

"What exactly are you trying to do?" Alex looked at the Taoist priest before him in panic, his eyes filled with fear. The fact that she could bind him so easily was simply terrifying.

The Ancient One smiled unhurriedly as she explained, "This is a very simple spell. Both East and West have it: Wind Bind."

Alex froze upon hearing that, then instantly understood. So this was all because she wanted to take him as her disciple!