After learning the correct way to practice Magic from Teacher Gu Ze, Li Wei finally started making progress with his Small Fireball Technique.
In mid-November, snow began to fall in Maple City.
From then on, it snowed every day. Even when the sky was clear, the snow rarely melted.
The weather outside was too cold, so Li Wei spent most of his time holed up in the Mage Tower practicing his Cultivation.
The Mage Tower was inscribed with a Constant Temperature Array, keeping it as warm as spring all year round.
On November 21st, Jimmy picked a clear, sunny day to come and hurry Li Wei along with his manuscript.
Only then did Li Wei remember he needed to write.
He spent a little time finishing the manuscript and gave it to Jimmy, who had come to chase him for it again on the 24th.
With the snow and cold weather, most people in Maple City cut back on outdoor recreation. Reading became a popular form of entertainment for many.
Under these circumstances, sales of the *Dragon Knight* novel reached a new high.
Gus was ecstatic. *Dragon Knight* had only reached its seventh installment, but the profits it generated had already surpassed the entire annual revenue of the Xinghuo Literature Society's anthology from the previous year.
He was immensely grateful that he hadn't refused to publish *Dragon Knight* in the beginning.
In the two months since *Dragon Knight*'s explosive success, Xinghuo Literature Society had also begun to receive a steady stream of submissions from other authors.
Of course, ordinary novels couldn't be published as standalone volumes; they were all compiled into the Xinghuo literary anthology.
Gus had a feeling that sales for December's anthology would also soar.
Xinghuo Literature Society was on an upward trajectory.
And it was all thanks to Li Wei's *Dragon Knight*.
On November 25th, the day after he submitted his manuscript, Li Wei successfully cast a spell for the first time.
That evening, after his usual mental practice, Li Wei used his Mana to construct a Magic Model and expend his reserves.
As he grew more proficient with the Small Fireball Technique's Magic Model, he was able to construct it using Mana in under three minutes.
In less than three minutes, the Magic Model was complete.
The free-floating Magic Elements in the air automatically filled the Magic Model, and a tiny spark of light began to glow.
Just as Li Wei thought the light would fizzle out with a POP, the tiny spark rapidly expanded, and in less than ten seconds, it became a fist-sized Fireball.
A small Fireball, composed of Fire Elements, floated before him.
Li Wei stared at the small Fireball, his face alight with joy and surprise.
The Small Fireball Technique was fully formed. With just a thought, he could launch it.
He quickly used his Spiritual Power to support the Magic Model, now brimming with Fire Elements, and carried it out of his room to an open area.
Having been maintained for too long, the Magic Model for the Small Fireball Technique had grown unstable and could collapse at any moment.
He quickly faced an empty patch of ground and thought, 'Launch.'
The Fireball flew for over twenty meters before exploding with a BANG, the flames covering an area over a meter wide.
A large patch of snow on the ground instantly melted.
A cold wind brushed against Li Wei's cheeks, but he didn't feel the chill at all. His face was flushed with excitement.
"I did it! I finally did it!"
Li Wei couldn't wait to cast it a second time.
He now had enough Mana to cast the Small Fireball Technique three times.
Soon, a new Magic Model was successfully constructed, and Fire Elements began to fill it automatically.
POP!
The Magic Model collapsed. The spell failed.
Li Wei frowned and took a deep breath.
The cold air filled his lungs, sending a shiver through his body that jolted him, clearing his head.
After calming himself for a moment, he began his third attempt.
Failure.
Li Wei returned to his room, somewhat dejected. He stamped his feet, trying to warm his freezing body.
One success out of three attempts.
The reality of it dampened his earlier excitement.
Before long, however, Li Wei's spirits lifted.
'If I can succeed once, I can succeed a second time. Eventually, I'll be able to do it with a hundred percent success rate!'
Li Wei took a sip of hot water to warm himself. Two lines of text materialized on the table before him.
[Basic Meditation Method (Master Level)] 712/1000
[Small Fireball Technique (Tier Zero Entry Level)] 423/1000
Nearly a month had passed, and Li Wei's gains were substantial.
The Calming Incense was a huge help!
It was all thanks to the explosive popularity of *Dragon Knight*, which had brought him more than enough money.
It allowed him to burn Calming Incense every day during his Cultivation.
His overall Cultivation efficiency had increased by about twenty to thirty percent.
He estimated that by the end of December, at the latest, his Basic Meditation Method would level up. By January of next year, he could grind his Small Fireball Technique to the Master Level.
In March of next year, the first month of spring, the Mage Tower would hold its apprentice examinations.
The minimum requirement for the examination was to have cultivated Mana.
Li Wei had met that requirement long ago.
He no longer had to worry about being expelled from the Mage Tower for failing the examination.
What Li Wei was looking forward to were the rewards.
The apprentice examination was the final test for the Apprentices, as well as an important exam for the Mage Apprentices.
The Mage Tower would give the most outstanding Mage Apprentices generous rewards.
Among the rewards were Magic Potions that could accelerate one's Cultivation.
His goal was to achieve "Stable Spellcasting" before the examination.
Then he could secure first place and get his hands on a Magic Potion.
The next day, just as class was about to end, Teacher Gu Ze suddenly announced, "The Winter Festival is in a few days. Any students who wish to participate this year should start preparing."
His words sent a buzz through the classroom.
"It's time for the annual Winter Festival! I can't wait!"
"A Snowman Knight appeared last year. The snow is much heavier this year, I wonder if the legendary Snow King, who only appears once a century, will show up?"
"I really want to catch a Snow Elf for a pet!"
...
'The Winter Festival?' Li Wei was intrigued.
He had read about something similar in the novel *Mage Legend*.
The Winter Festival was held annually from November 28th to the 30th, lasting for three days.
For the first two days, grand celebrations were held everywhere. Even the Mage Tower, which was normally in session year-round, would suspend classes for three days.
Even the most distinguished Mages would attend the festivities.
On the third day, November 30th...
...creatures born of ice and snow, like Snow Elves, Snowman Knights, and even Snow Elf Kings, were said to appear.
A long time ago, some weaker cities that couldn't fend off the Snow Elves and Snowman Knights on their own would hold the Winter Festival to attract foreign Extraordinary Professionals, borrowing their Power to eliminate the creatures.
Over time, this evolved into a festival and a custom.
Maple City didn't need to attract outside Extraordinary Beings; it simply held the festival as an annual celebration.
Li Wei had thought it was all just a legend, but it turned out to be real.
After all, the idea of Snow Elves being born from ice and snow once a year sounded rather far-fetched.
But he had been proven completely wrong.
'*Mage Legend* is practically non-fiction!'
Li Wei mused to himself for a moment.
Then, his expression shifted as an idea sparked in his mind.
'Maybe I can write a *Dragon Knight* side story: *The Snow King Saga*. It's sure to be a huge hit after the Winter Festival!'
Li Wei decided to attend the Winter Festival, both to gather material and to see these so-called Snow Elves and Snowman Knights for himself.
For the next few days, Li Wei devoted himself to practicing his Magic, working to improve his Casting success rate.
He waited for the Winter Festival to arrive.
He discovered that with the aid of the Calming Incense, his Casting success rate had improved dramatically.
He could now succeed twice out of every three attempts.