I'm grinding for Marvel attributes

Chapter 318 Bertrand Russell: A man should be viewed with new eyes after three days of separation.

Pride bordering on arrogance is one of the underlying characteristics of Strange's personality.

Before entering the halls of magic, Strange had already achieved success in another field.

He is a renowned neurosurgeon with exceptional abilities, a legendary figure in the hospital and the entire medical community.

After entering the hall of magic, he never experienced any setbacks in his studies.

Theoretical knowledge is easy to grasp, and runic language is mastered quickly. No matter how obscure or difficult the spellbook is, it can be understood and memorized at a very fast pace.

Strange was full of confidence. He imitated Mordo's earlier movements, waving his fingertips through the air while visualizing his residence in his mind.

The image of the residence in Strange's mind became clearer and clearer, and he didn't miss a single detail.

Not one or two laps, not three or four laps, but seven or eight laps.

There wasn't a spark in Strange's eyes.

He couldn't help but look around and noticed that several of the other mage apprentices who were studying with him all had a few sparks flickering in front of them.

Ta-da-ta-ta~~

A faint sound of footsteps approached, and Mordo's ears twitched. He looked toward the entrance of the training ground and called out to Strange and the others to stop.

blah blah~

The footsteps grew closer, and soon a figure dressed in a plain-colored robe appeared, accompanied by a voice.

"Perhaps you can continue, so that it will be easier for me to provide guidance."

"Yes, Sorcerer Supreme." The mage apprentices responded and began practicing the portal spell again, and sparks once more ignited in the training ground.

There were only twinkling stars, but no portal formed.

"Master Russell, you..." Mordo hesitated, though a long time had passed, he still remembered Russell's teaching level.

Russell smiled confidently: "Master Modu, one should look at a person with new eyes after three days of separation."

If Russell were to start from scratch and teach someone who knows absolutely nothing about magic, he would be better off than Mordo.

However, if it were to teach a mage apprentice who had already grasped the basics of magical theory, Mordo would be better than him.

Russell had been cramming on a lot of spell knowledge over the past few years, but he still knew nothing about the key points and difficulties that needed to be paid attention to in regular spellcasting.

This means that if he were to teach a complete novice in pure magic, he would likely encounter numerous obstacles and difficulties that could have been avoided.

Although Russell's expertise lies precisely in helping mage apprentices solve difficulties encountered in spellcasting, this is somewhat like forcing oneself to endure hardship.

Strolling among the mage apprentices, Russell explained, "The portal spell uses a slingshot to borrow the power of the Vishanti to connect two points in the multiverse and open a teleportation channel."

"This can be roughly divided into two steps: finding and connecting."

"The first step is to search. As the name suggests, it's about finding that point. The clearer the image in your mind, the easier it is to find. Controlling one's own thoughts is not an easy thing, but for a mage, it is a required course."

"The second step is to connect."

Russell stopped and stood to the right of Strange.

"This requires the use of mental power to activate the sling ring. Although the Vishanti has already set up the conditions for casting the portal spell, the mage still needs to pay for the journey himself, and that journey fee is the mage's mental power."

"The movements taught by Master Modu are a way to concentrate spiritual power into the ring on the fingertip through body language. With these movements, it is easier to access spiritual power."

Strange suddenly realized why there wasn't a single spark in front of him; he had instinctively controlled his mental power.

With that in mind, Strange controlled his mental power and headed towards the Sling Ring.

As his spiritual power surged into the ring, sparks began to appear before him, but the portal still failed to materialize.

Russell observed the new problems Strange was facing but did not offer any further guidance.

Anyone with eyes could see that his rare morning visit to the training grounds was for Strange's sake, but as the Sorcerer Supreme, he couldn't be biased in his actual teaching.

Apart from Strange, the other mage apprentices are still at the first step.

Russell continued to walk around and continue to speak.

"In my hometown, there was a writer named Zheng Tuo who proposed a view on reading—not seeking thorough understanding."

"The phrase 'not seeking a thorough understanding' has two meanings: first, it expresses humility; second, it explains the method of reading—not to be fixated on a single point or nitpick over every word, but to connect the dots and grasp the main idea."

"In this context, it means to focus on the key points. When a Dharma apprentice is describing a place he wants to go, he should first highlight its most distinctive features and then gradually add the details."

Now, calm down.

A moment later, the starlight in front of a mage apprentice flickered, then stabilized again.

At this moment, the view on the other side of the aperture is no longer that of the Kamar-Taj Arena.

It worked!

The apprentice monk's face lit up with joy. She paused for a moment and then made a gesture of widening the light circle to both sides, turning it from a small circle into a large circle that could allow one person to pass through.

Russell smiled and nodded encouragingly: "After the first success, you'll master it with more practice."

Russell was not surprised that the mage apprentice had almost skipped the second step of opening the portal after solving the first step.

The actions taught by Modu were enough to allow the apprentice mage to unconsciously concentrate their spiritual power into the ring.

Strange couldn't do it because he was too deliberate.

Gradually, the other apprentice mages also completed their first attempt and began to practice continuously.

After a long while, Modu stopped them: "A mage's spiritual power is not inexhaustible. Practicing magic requires restraint. The fact that you don't feel your spiritual power is depleted is just an illusion caused by high mental excitement."

That concludes today's internship. Go back and meditate, noting your level of mental fatigue. This will help you understand your total mental energy and avoid inadvertently overdrawing it and damaging your soul.

"Yes, Master Mordo." Several apprentice monks nodded thoughtfully, as did Russell.

He could directly see the mental energy depletion of the several mage apprentices and knew that they had not yet reached their limit, so he did not call a halt.

But others don't have this ability; they can only find the limits of their mental strength and avoid overexertion by constantly testing and recording data.

After the mage apprentices left, Strange wanted to try again, but Russell stopped him.

"Effort cannot solve all problems; sometimes, the right approach is more important."

"The problem? My hand?" Strange asked.

"Not your hands," Russell replied.

"How could it not be my hands?" Strange refused to believe it.

Russell smiled, and magical sparks flashed in front of him as a golden portal took shape.

Russell said nothing, but Strange gleaned a message from his actions.

Do I need a hand to create a portal?

"You can't cut water with a knife, Strange, you need to learn to go with the flow."

"How can you control it when you're going with the flow? It's simply not going to work."

Russell smiled again, not bothering to argue with Strange. He stepped out and passed through the portal: "Follow me."

Strange followed, and the two went to a classroom and stood on the podium.

Russell picked up a piece of chalk and handed it to Strange: "Draw a straight line."

Strange took it, but his hands were trembling, and he had difficulty even holding the thin piece of chalk steady.

He drew a line on the blackboard, and a meandering line segment appeared that was neither meaningful nor continuous.

Seeing this, Russell handed over a ruler: "Try again."

With the help of a ruler, Strange successfully drew a straight line this time.

"Do you understand?" Russell asked.

Strange argued, "If my hands were normal, I could easily draw a straight line even without a ruler, and I could do it three thousand times without making a mistake."

Russell remained silent, then coughed lightly. "This was just an analogy. What I meant was that back when I couldn't fully control my mental power, I could rely on external forces. Just now, when you used the ruler to draw a straight line, wasn't it you holding the chalk?"

The latest novel is first published here!

"The movements and various spells and hand gestures taught by Master Mordo all serve to guide spiritual power to cast corresponding spells. You can rely on them now."

After a pause, Russell continued, "Strange, I don't think you were born a genius neurosurgeon, capable of performing millimeter-level resections with a scalpel."

Strange remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking, "And you, Mage Russell, why are you able to open a portal without any assistance, or even without using a sling ring?"

Strange pointed to Russell's fingers, noticing as Russell handed him the ruler that Russell was not wearing a sling ring.

"A true master always retains the heart of an apprentice." Russell's expression turned serious as he said, "Strange, put away your pride. You are a legend in the medical field, but in the halls of magic, you are merely a beginner."

"Of course you can choose not to rely on the movements taught by Mage Mordo, but instead control your mental power through repeated practice to open the portal, but so what?"

"In order to prove one's talent, why not learn the existing writing system and create one oneself?"

Strange paused, then nodded. "I understand, but I have one more question."

"What's the problem?"

"How can I become a master of the magic temple like you?"

"Strange, how did you become a legend in the medical field?"

"Studying diligently day after day, year after year."

Russell glanced at Strange: "Don't you think your talent in the medical field far surpasses that of ordinary people?"

Strange paused for a moment, then nodded proudly. He was a top genius in the field of neurosurgery, hailed as God's gift to the surgical world.

Seeing this, Russell smiled and said, "I have good news for you. Your talent in the field of magic is also far beyond that of ordinary people, and it is in no way inferior to your talent in the field of medicine."

Strange's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Of course." Russell nodded, adding without changing his expression, "But you're not wrong either. To become a true master, in addition to talent, one also needs to study and practice diligently day after day and year after year, and to apply what one has learned."

"Strange, I don't think you became a medical giant right after graduation, did you? Without those surgeries, you wouldn't have become a legend in the medical field."

Strange nodded thoughtfully.

Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. Only by applying knowledge to practice can we test the effectiveness of our learning and thereby continuously accumulate experience and improve our shortcomings.

Patting Strange on the shoulder, Russell said earnestly, "Strange, don't worry. Once you've mastered your skills, I'll definitely arrange a good position for you, so you can showcase your talents and put your knowledge to use."

Strange was moved: "Teacher, you don't have to break the rules for me."

"I am the Sorcerer Supreme, and you are my disciple with exceptional talent. I entrust you with a great responsibility, and no one can say anything about it."

"Besides, as long as you work hard and achieve something, why worry about what others say?"

After he finished speaking, Russell looked up at the clock hanging on the classroom wall.

"The students in the classroom will be back from PE in about half an hour. Strange, you'd better work hard if you don't want to be arrested as a thief or some kind of pervert."

Having said that, Russell left a stunned Strange behind and turned to leave.

Strange tried to follow, but found that Russell hadn't opened the portal at all; he simply took a step and disappeared from the spot.

It turns out that not only can a portal be opened without using hands or a slingshot, but it can also be opened without opening a portal at all.

Russell was not worried about Strange.

Strange's theoretical knowledge and mental strength surpass those of an average mage apprentice. If he changes his mindset and stops excessively pursuing control of mental power, he will soon be able to open a portal.

Even if he fails to open it, it won't have a significant impact.

Russell didn't throw Strange into the Himalayas, so there's no need to worry about him freezing to death; at most, he'll just end up in jail.

After leaving the classroom, Russell did not return to Kamar-Taj, nor did he go back to the bookstore. Taking advantage of his rare trip out, he also took care of other matters.

Avengers Tower was brightly lit at that moment.

Or rather, ever since Tony Stark obtained the data on the spaceship that could sail out of the Marvel Universe and into the world two years ago from the Russell, the lights in the Avengers Tower laboratory have rarely been turned off.

dong dong~

"Please come in."

Good evening, Tony.

Good evening, Ultron.

Good evening, Mr. Russell.

"Hold on."

Seeing that Tony didn't even look up and was focused on his own thing, Russell didn't disturb him. He asked Ultron to bring him a glass of coconut water and then went to wait on the sofa.

A moment later, Tony put down his work, got up, made himself a cup of coffee, and then brought it to the sofa.

Russell asked, "I heard the project is progressing better than expected and has entered the experimental phase."

Tony nodded: "I underestimated my own intelligence."

"Are you sure it wasn't because of Strange's (Supreme Strange) help?"

"Strange? Okay, I admit that charlatan did provide some minor help, even if he deserves one percent of the credit."

Russell's forehead creased with annoyance. "Alright, Tony, I know. It's all your doing. So, what did you call me here for?" he said irritably.

(End of this chapter)