Translator: AnubisTL
A high-rank wizard, clad in magnificent wizard robes and with snow-white hair and beard, floated above the teleportation formation.
His voice, amplified by sonic runes, resonated across the entire area, silencing all the apprentices.
"The trial is about to begin!" the high-rank wizard declared with solemn authority. "The location for this trial is a newly acquired minor plane by Noren Academy No. 13—codenamed 'Greyrock Realm'!"
"The trial's objective is simple: collect the merit tokens distributed by the academy throughout Greyrock Realm. The value of each token varies depending on the danger level of its location. Your final ranking will be determined by the total merit points you accumulate upon your return."
"Greyrock Realm remains largely undeveloped and uncleared. The plane teems with native beasts and complex environmental hazards. This trial serves as a comprehensive assessment of your accumulated knowledge, as well as a test of your survival skills, judgment, and teamwork abilities."
"In addition to collecting merit tokens, you may also gather unique resources within the plane. Upon your return, you may choose to keep these resources for yourselves or submit them to the academy, which will purchase them based on their value."
"For this trial, apprentices may carry any apprentice-level equipment and potions, without quantity limits. However, any formal wizard-level equipment must be personally refined or concocted by the apprentice themselves! Any cheating will result in immediate disqualification and severe punishment!"
The lack of restrictions on apprentice-level equipment might seem unfair to some poorer apprentices, but it came as no surprise to most. After all, for wizards, wealth itself was a form of power.
As for apprentices crafting formal wizard-level equipment... while it sounded absurd, the truly exceptional geniuses might actually be capable of it.
Take Jieming's rune-imbued magical artifact, for example.
"Participation in this trial is voluntary," the high-rank wizard announced. "All participating apprentices must have reached the level of a third-tier wizard apprentice."
This rule filtered out apprentices with weaker aptitude or insufficient effort.
After nearly five years of rigorous study and meditation at Noren Academy, the apprentices had developed solid foundations. Except for a few who couldn't break through, most had reached the level of third-tier wizard apprentices.
Jieming noticed that many seemingly more mature apprentices were also standing in the queue to enter the teleportation formation as the high-rank wizard spoke.
"Those people..."
Amy popped up beside him, following his gaze. "They're probably from the previous cohort."
Noren Academy admitted new students every five years, and apprentices typically stayed for ten years, so the academy usually had two cohorts simultaneously.
"For some reason, the academy has allowed these older students to participate in this trial as well," Victor said quietly as he approached.
He scrutinized Jieming and Amy, assessing them with a critical eye. After a moment, he shook his head.
"These older apprentices are under immense pressure, knowing they'll soon be heading to the battlefield. Each of them must have accumulated countless hidden cards. If you encounter them, it's best to surrender immediately."
Jieming and Amy exchanged glances, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his suggestion.
In theory, there was no limit to the number of Witchcraft Models a wizard could construct.
Even a wizard apprentice, disregarding the mental power required for casting and the limitations of their mental strength, could employ a somewhat "unorthodox" method—directly purchasing Witchcraft Models—to construct an unlimited number of them within their mental sea.
However, constructing a Witchcraft Model consumed a portion of mental power, permanently solidifying it within the mental sea. Moreover, if a Witchcraft Model collapsed, it would inflict a significant mental shock on the mental sea.
In essence, each Witchcraft Model constructed reduced the wizard's maximum mental power capacity by a small amount.
Constructing too many Witchcraft Models would inevitably hinder cultivation speed.
Nevertheless, veteran apprentices had long since reached the third-tier wizard apprentice stage. Once they accumulated enough mental power to advance to first-tier wizard status, any additional mental power they gained could be used to construct Witchcraft Models.
Even if these veteran apprentices used unorthodox methods to construct their Witchcraft Models, while their spells might lack finesse in manipulation, their destructive power remained formidable.
The older apprentices had five years of accumulated merit points, equipment, knowledge, and Witchcraft Models, putting them far ahead of the newcomers.
Despite everyone being third-tier wizard apprentices, in a real fight, the older apprentices would undoubtedly have the upper hand.
Victor's words might have been harsh, but they rang true for many of the new apprentices.
As they spoke, the high-rank wizard above suddenly waved his hand, and a shower of starlight descended.
Each pinpoint of light landed precisely before each apprentice. Jieming reached out and gently touched the glowing speck, which instantly transformed into a ring that coiled around his finger.
Looking up, he saw that every light had found its target, turning into a ring upon contact.
"Such exquisite alchemy!" Jieming exclaimed, unable to contain his awe.
He wasn't alone. Amy and Victor, both alchemy apprentices, also wore expressions of astonishment.
The glowing specks weren't mere raw materials; they were pure energy. This single demonstration of alchemical skill—the transformation of energy into matter—already dwarfed their combined abilities.
Moreover, Jieming sensed a complex magic formation composed of numerous runes within the ring. After the energy-matter conversion, the remaining energy perfectly activated this formation.
Combined with the large crowd gathered in the plaza...
It was clear that what appeared novel to the untrained eye was merely a flashy display of skill to those in the know.
"This is an emergency escape device. In dangerous situations, you can activate it with your mental power to immediately withdraw from the plane. However, doing so will invalidate your trial results."
Upon hearing this, many in the plaza exchanged meaningful glances, as if realizing something.
"...That concludes the rules for this trial. Good luck."
The high-rank wizard finally finished speaking, and the teleportation formation beside him began to glow softly.
"All apprentices who have registered and passed the qualification verification, please prepare to enter the teleportation formation!"
The wizard apprentices began to move toward the teleportation formation in an orderly fashion, the atmosphere growing tense once more.
Jieming nodded to Amy. "Go ahead. Be careful."
"You too! Don't push yourself!" Amy said earnestly, then followed the crowd toward the teleportation formation.
Jieming stood in the queue, his heart calm and steady.
He stepped into the center of the massive teleportation formation, and blue light instantly enveloped him.
Violent spatial fluctuations surged around him, his body feeling as if it were being torn apart and kneaded by invisible giant hands.
An overwhelming sense of weightlessness and dizziness washed over him, leaving him with only dazzling light and distorted visions.
(End of the Chapter)
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🔓 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 — 13 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily | 7,200+ FREE