Translator: AnubisTL
"Excellent. A clever fellow indeed. He's saved us a great deal of trouble."
In a hidden chamber within Noren Academy, a group of wizards gathered as usual. The luminous screen above them displayed Jieming's actions within the Greyrock Realm.
Oswald's figure slowly materialized. Though he had already left the Greyrock Realm, he seemed capable of directly observing the plane's events.
As the Old Knight Commander shakily picked up the Sealed Orb, Oswald nodded in satisfaction. "If he lacked the insight, we would have had to eliminate him and pull in new creatures from another plane."
"Thank you for your efforts," a slightly balding wizard said, nodding to Oswald before turning his gaze back to the screen.
Oswald waved dismissively. "It was nothing. These creatures posed no real challenge—merely a warm-up."
Clark nodded briefly, his eyes fixed on the screen.
At Clark's mental command, the playback speed suddenly accelerated, rapidly replaying Jieming's activities over the past few days.
As Jieming soared above the indigenous army, relentlessly unleashing fireball spells, even Clark couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration.
Oswald, standing beside him, watched the replay as well. Though he had been confined to the plane, his initial focus had been on Augusta and Horn. Witnessing Jieming's journey, he couldn't help but marvel:
"This kid's got some serious power. But he clearly lacks any real thirst for exploration. No wonder you contacted me separately to lure him onto the battlefield."
"But the firepower of his fireballs is truly absurd. The casting speed and duration... he's probably already approaching the level of an apprentice who can independently construct a fireball spell model, right?"
Oswald's gaze instinctively drifted toward a wizard in the chamber—a rare genius who had independently constructed an offensive Witchcraft Model during his apprentice stage.
The wizard shook his head slightly. "Close enough. Though the elemental properties differ, resulting in slightly different destructive effects, I could probably match his firepower back when I was an apprentice."
"This kid's sustained firepower is a bit lacking, but his burst damage in short bursts is stronger than mine was back then. Overall, his skill level is quite similar to mine. However..."
Watching Jieming single-handedly wipe out the entire army on the luminous screen, the wizard couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "Besides the fireball spell, this kid's flight and Shield Spell techniques are also ridiculously advanced. I couldn't even come close to that level during my apprentice phase."
Oswald clicked his tongue, his expression tinged with envy. "Tsk tsk tsk... I'm so jealous of geniuses like him. But if I'm not mistaken, the only spells this kid has mastered are alchemy and analysis art, right?"
"Judging by the energy fluctuations... yes," the wizard replied, glancing instinctively at Clark.
Clark nodded without hesitation. "His Shield Spell, flight spell, and fireball spell are all effects achieved through spell artifacts."
"Of course I could tell that much. The kid practically revealed his hand at the end," Oswald said, rubbing his hands together like a fly as he sidled up to Clark, a fawning smile plastered on his face.
"Can you make this spell artifact? I want to commission some and I'll pay ten times the price!"
"No," Clark replied, glancing at him.
"Impossible... you really can't?"
"Really can't!"
"Then this kid must have developed the technology himself?"
Oswald couldn't help but sigh dramatically, looking up at the sky. "Damn it! Does this mean I won't be able to commission any equipment for the foreseeable future?!"
Wizards who specialized in alchemy were skilled at crafting spell artifacts, but certain unspoken rules generally applied.
For standard spell artifacts, there were no restrictions. You could simply find a wizard of the appropriate skill level and commission whatever type you needed.
However, commissioning specialized spell artifacts was more complicated.
Especially when dealing with wizards who possessed proprietary technology. According to the unspoken rules, these wizards typically only sold "products" that posed no threat to them.
By "no threat," they generally meant selling spell artifacts one tier below their own.
As a fifth-tier wizard, Oswald needed at least fourth-tier spell artifacts. This meant he would have to wait until Jieming reached the fifth tier before he could commission anything.
"This is impossible! I have to return to the battlefield in a hundred years!" Oswald looked like he was about to throw a tantrum, completely lacking the composure expected of a high-rank wizard.
Clark glanced at him coldly. "You don't have to go to the battlefield."
"Heh, that's definitely not an option," Oswald said, abandoning his act and cheerfully stepping back into line. "My promotion to sixth-tier wizard depends entirely on this next tour of duty."
The wizard civilization had a peculiar phenomenon: wizard apprentices feared military service and war like the plague, while formal wizards of higher tiers eagerly anticipated the planar battlefield.
The stark contrast in their views on the battlefield had grown so extreme that the Star Orbit Tribunal had to issue regulations requiring high-rank wizards to periodically return to the wizard civilization to mentor their descendants or manage mortal territories.
For wizards of the third tier and above, participating in the Planar War had even become a reward, requiring the expenditure of military merit or contribution points to earn the right to serve on the frontline.
Clark ignored the eccentric wizard and turned to address another wizard:
"I'm entrusting the connection with the Greyrock Realm to you. Ensure they restore their population as quickly as possible, and provide resources as needed for replenishment."
"Are you planning to make this trial a regular part of the academy's curriculum?" the opposing wizard asked, discerning Clark's intent.
Clark nodded slightly. "The quality of apprentices at the academy has been declining in recent years. This trial clearly demonstrates that simply imparting book knowledge is insufficient; practical experience is essential for deep understanding."
"Haha, with the frontline battlefield facing increasing shortages, even the requirements for high-rank wizards to deploy have been relaxed. Training apprentices can no longer involve the same mortality rates as before."
Oswald chuckled, then his expression turned somber. "Annual Cross-Dimensional Trials are a good idea, but they'll require a significant increase in resources."
While apprentices might cross planes with apparent ease, each unit of planar travel consumes vast amounts of resources.
"The materials and energy expended on this single trial alone would be enough for a sixth-tier wizard to conduct two research projects."
"Though the consumption is immense, the results are equally impressive. Let the dean worry about the resource and energy issues."
"Hahahaha! When the dean returns, he'll be furious!"
"Alright, next issue: it's time to administer the aptitude-enhancing potion again..."
(End of the Chapter)
💸 Read More FREE CHAPTERS on the SITE!
🔓 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 — 14 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily | 7,200+ FREE