Translator: AnubisTL
Time flowed like sand through his fingers, and in the blink of an eye, three years had passed.
Jieming's attempt to combine wizard runes with immortal cultivation talismans proved far more challenging than he had initially imagined.
It required a deep understanding of how the two civilizations perceived and utilized "runes," "energy," and "concepts" differently, and then finding common ground in their underlying logic to construct an entirely new theoretical and practical framework.
With his current knowledge, Jieming couldn't possibly achieve this. Instead, he resorted to mimicking the patterns, constantly experimenting with combinations of talismans and runes to uncover their underlying principles.
For the past three years, Jieming had immersed himself in his laboratory, living like a devout ascetic, tirelessly wading through the vast ocean of knowledge.
A year ago, Jieming's Wizard Meditation Technique had reached the peak of the third-tier wizard apprentice stage.
His mental sea was vast and stable, housing nine core truth runes that formed a complete and powerful runic array. These runes radiated a profound light, representing the fundamental principles of alchemy (transformation, fusion, refinement), potionology (stability, catalysis, creation), and rune studies (resonance, circulation, connection).
After reaching the peak of the third-tier apprentice stage, Jieming ceased further advancement in his meditation technique, refraining from attempting to ascend to a first-tier official wizard.
In fact, Jieming wasn't alone. Many other exceptionally talented peers who had long since reached the third-tier wizard apprentice realm had tacitly chosen to press the "pause" button as well.
The reason was simple: the contract.
The contract they had signed upon entering the academy explicitly stipulated that upon becoming a first-tier official wizard, they would be required to serve on the frontlines of the planar battlefields under the Noren Workshop's command.
Having spent considerable time at the academy and gained access to more information, everyone understood the extreme danger of the planar battlefields.
Even for newcomers like them, assigned to relatively peripheral tasks, the mortality rate remained alarmingly high.
The optimal strategy was to continuously enhance their strength within the contract's ten-year apprentice term, mastering all available knowledge and maximizing their foundational reserves.
Then, as the ten-year term approached, they would unleash their accumulated power, ascending to first-tier wizard in a single breakthrough and heading to the frontlines with sufficient self-preservation capabilities.
For this reason, Jieming channeled all absorbed elemental power into spiritual energy to fuel his qi refining cultivation.
Thanks to the Wizard World's abundant elemental environment, the transformation efficiency was exceptionally high. Within just a year, Jieming's qi refining cultivation had advanced several levels, steadily reaching the sixth layer of qi refining, just one step away from the seventh layer, which marked the late stage of qi refining.
At the sixth layer of qi refining, his true essence surged like a boundless sea, ceaselessly flowing!
The cultivation-driven enhancement of his soul had also continuously expanded the scope of his mental sea. Even his physical resilience had reached a point where he could withstand attacks from some low-level wizardry.
One afternoon, Jieming had just finished an elective rune studies class taught by a rune master-level professor. He was about to return to his intermediate laboratory, as usual, to continue his research on talisman rune fusion.
Amy, who had also taken the elective, hurried after him, her face etched with a solemn expression, clearly having heard some unusual news.
"Jieming!" Amy called out, quickening her pace and lowering her voice. "Have you heard? The academy is holding a major examination!"
"A major examination?" Jieming asked, puzzled.
The academy held end-of-year assessments annually, but no one usually paid much attention to them. Amy's grave tone clearly indicated something far more significant than a routine exam.
"Not that kind of exam!" Amy shook her head. "This is a real trial!"
Amy glanced around to make sure no one was listening before continuing, "I heard they're going to conduct a comprehensive assessment of our learning progress as apprentices. And... rumor has it that a certain level of mortality will be permitted!"
Mortality?!
Jieming's heart leaped in his chest.
While the academy's assessments were rigorous, apprentice safety was usually paramount, with lethal risks being exceedingly rare.
"Do you know any specifics?" Jieming pressed.
"No idea," Amy shook her head. "The information is being circulated very discreetly. All I know is that it's supposed to happen in about six months. Ugh, why did they have to spring this on us now?"
She sighed, her eyes filled with worry.
Jieming thanked Amy for the information and began calculating his next move.
Back in his laboratory, he logged into the magic network and searched for related information, but found nothing.
It seemed the news hadn't been officially announced yet.
After a moment's thought, Jieming decided to consult Mentor Clark.
As one of the heads of the second-tier cultivation protocol, Mentor Clark should have access to more details.
He sent a communication request through the magic net terminal. Soon, a video call connected, revealing Mentor Clark's signature bald head and the neat, austere laboratory behind him.
When Jieming explained the situation, a rare, almost imperceptible hint of seriousness flickered across Mentor Clark's usually expressionless face.
"The news is true," Clark said bluntly. "Strictly speaking, it's not an exam, but a trial. The location is a Wild Minor Plane recently acquired by Noren Academy. The environment is complex and highly dangerous, and there seem to be indigenous people attempting to resist."
A trial?
"Why are we conducting such a trial?" Jieming asked.
Mentor Clark paused, as if carefully choosing his words. "This trial is preparation for a comprehensive assessment in five years."
"A comprehensive assessment?"
"Yes. In five years, the Noren Workshop will conduct a comprehensive assessment of learning outcomes and talent reserves across all 100+ Noren Academies under its jurisdiction. All academy apprentices will participate. This internal trial at Noren Academy can be seen as a rehearsal and selection process for that large-scale assessment."
Five years from now, all 100+ academies will be assessed simultaneously?!
It wasn't just the scale that was concerning; the timing was also strange.
"Five years from now... that leaves only one year before we're sent to the frontline! An assessment right before deployment? Has the workshop gone mad?" Jieming couldn't help but voice his doubts.
Such an assessment would inevitably consume astronomical amounts of resources and energy, significantly impact the apprentices' training, and potentially affect the Noren Workshop's war efforts on the frontline.
Mentor Clark shook his head slightly. "I don't have a clear understanding of the specifics either. After all, I've been away from the frontline for over a century."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the wall, looking toward the distant frontline. A subtle complexity flickered in his eyes as he added, "It's said... that the Star Ring Federation requested it."
The Star Ring Federation?
One of the main factions within the wizard civilization. The Noren Workshop was merely an insignificant wizard force under their command, and Jieming's second-tier cultivation protocol had also originated from this federation.
Jieming's heart trembled.
This meant the massive testing and trials might conceal deeper motives, possibly even involving strategic adjustments across the entire wizard civilization!
Mentor Clark withdrew his gaze and turned to Jieming. "Therefore, strive to improve your performance. Excelling in the overall assessment will undoubtedly benefit you."
As the communication screen went dark, Jieming blinked.
This sudden news carried an unusual weight, leaving him feeling somewhat bewildered.
Though he knew nothing of the future, deep within his heart, Jieming felt little fear.
For his research—his Talisman Rune Fusion Technique—was nearing completion after three years of relentless effort!
"Trials... huh? This is the perfect opportunity to validate my research!"
(End of the Chapter)
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🔓 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 — 13 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily | 7,200+ FREE