Translator: AnubisTL
A rare, faint smile appeared on Mentor Clark's face.
He retrieved a brand-new wizard's robe and an emblem that shimmered with a profound light from behind him.
"Jieming, this is the emblem of a first-tier official wizard, along with your formal robe."
Mentor Clark handed the emblem to Jieming. It wasn't simply cast from metal but crafted from a translucent material.
Intricate wizard runes were etched across its surface, and within it seemed to swirl a miniature elemental storm, symbolizing recognition of a first-tier wizard's mastery over the elements.
The robe, woven from special black silk threads, not only effectively shielded against external energy interference but also served as a symbol of a formal wizard's status. It featured large blank areas for wizards to inscribe their own enhancements.
Jieming accepted the emblem and robe, feeling the powerful energy contained within them. A wave of emotion surged through him.
From this day forward, he could shed the title of apprentice and become a formal wizard, recognized by the entire wizard civilization.
This was more than just an honor; it was the culmination of years of arduous training and a passport to a wider, more boundless world.
"Excellent," Mentor Clark nodded in satisfaction. "Your performance has exceeded my expectations. I look forward to even greater surprises from you in the future."
"Thank you for your guidance, Mentor," Jieming bowed respectfully before standing behind his mentor to observe the ceremony.
Except for a few students with exceptionally poor innate talent, all the graduates successfully received their badges and formal robes, signifying their status as first-tier official wizards.
Those who failed to reach first-tier wizard status due to their limited talent wore expressions of stubborn defiance, their eyes frequently darting toward the nearby spatial teleportation array.
This array served as the gateway to other planes where they would soon be sent to fight in the Planar War.
While all students had initially feared military service upon entering the academy, over the years, those apprentices whose innate talent prevented them from advancing beyond first-tier wizard status had ironically become the most eager to participate in the Planar War.
The number of apprentices varied across different departments. The Logistics Department completed its graduation ceremony in a remarkably short time.
The academy wasted no time; wizards who had completed their graduation ceremonies were immediately dispatched.
Thus, even as the Combat Department continued its graduation ceremony on one side of the hall, on the other side, graduates preparing to depart for other planes were already filing onto the massive spatial teleportation array.
Array patterns lit up beneath their feet, their light flickering as each teleportation formation whisked away a batch of young, zealous figures, sending them to planes being conquered or explored by the workshop. There, they would shoulder the responsibilities befitting formal wizards—pioneering new frontiers and gathering knowledge.
Jieming stood behind Mentor Clark, watching the departing figures, a wave of profound emotion washing over him.
He vividly recalled attending a similar ceremony five years ago.
Back then, he had sat in the audience, gazing up at the graduating wizards as they strode confidently toward their destinies, his eyes brimming with awe and curiosity about the wizard world...
Wait, no, that's not right. Did that even happen?
Jieming couldn't help but sink into deep thought.
He remembered... even though he had only studied for five years, he felt he could have easily pinned all the newly graduated wizards to the ground.
The realization made his gaze drift restlessly.
His eyes swept over the other students who, like him, had passed the Noren Workshop's trial but were temporarily staying behind instead of venturing to other planes. Yet, an inexplicable unease lingered in his heart.
It wasn't until he spotted Augusta standing proudly behind the Combat Department mentor that Jieming finally remembered who was missing.
He subconsciously searched for a familiar yet distant figure.
"Oh, right, where's Horn?" Jieming asked casually, his gaze still scanning the crowd.
Horn, the prodigious genius with eighth-tier elemental talent, had been a rising star in the academy during his freshman year. His exceptional talent should have made him one of the focal points of this graduation ceremony.
Amy's expression remained calm, her tone utterly ordinary, as if discussing a trivial matter. "Him? He's dead."
"Dead?"
The simple word struck Jieming's heart like a bolt of ice-cold lightning.
He turned to Amy, her expression unchanged, as if stating a long-accepted truth.
Victor nodded in agreement beside her. "Yeah, he died during the Elosia Plane war."
Horn was dead?
A complex mix of emotions surged through Jieming's heart.
It wasn't regret or fear, but rather the disorienting, complicated feeling that comes with hearing of the death of someone you knew.
As an eighth-tier elemental talent, Horn had been widely regarded as a "prodigy." Many believed he would ascend to even greater heights on the path of wizardry, and he had once been the pride of many, carrying their hopes and expectations.
Amy continued, "Unfortunately, ever since passing the academy's trial, he became inexplicably arrogant. He focused more on building connections than improving himself, spending his days networking with scions of noble families at the academy and attending endless banquets, neglecting his studies."
"And so, the fool met an untimely end in the previous trial," Victor added, a hint of regret in his voice, though it seemed more for the wasted talent than personal grief.
Jieming felt a pang of melancholy.
Though he barely knew Horn, having had almost no interaction with him, hearing of the sudden demise of a once-renowned genius still stirred a sense of sorrow.
He recalled Horn's confident, even arrogant demeanor at the academy.
Such innate talent, squandered on misguided pursuits of "connections," wasting precious time and energy on trivial matters, ultimately led to his downfall in the brutal plane trial.
In the wizard world, such tragedies were commonplace.
Innate talent is undoubtedly important, but even more crucial are the thirst for knowledge, the pursuit of power, and the unwavering determination to improve oneself amidst brutal competition.
Wizards who become obsessed with worldly power, interpersonal connections, or who rely solely on their innate talent and stagnate, regardless of their initial advantages, will ultimately be eliminated by this cold and efficient system.
Jieming withdrew his gaze and looked down at the formal wizard badge in his hand.
It seemed to remind him that true power always lies within oneself.
Connections, resources, and honors are all external things. Only one's own strength is the foundation for survival in the multiverse.
As the crowd gradually dispersed and the hall regained some tranquility, Mentor Clark's steady voice echoed in Jieming's ear: "Jieming, come to my office."
"Yes, Mentor," Jieming replied respectfully, immediately following his mentor's footsteps through the academy's familiar corridors.
Mentor Clark's office remained as simple as ever.
The mentor walked behind his desk and gestured for Jieming to sit in the chair opposite him.
"Sit down," Mentor Clark said, his voice carrying a subtle hint of relaxation.
He picked up a stack of materials from his desk, and simultaneously, Jieming's magic net terminal received an encrypted message.
"These are the plane data you requested earlier," Mentor Clark said, cutting straight to the point as he pushed the materials across the desk to Jieming.
Jieming's gaze was immediately drawn to the stack.
This was the demon plane he had secured during the Elosia Plane Trial by earning the highest contribution points. The matter had finally been settled!
"Based on the workshop's surveys and evaluations, as well as your own preferences, the demon plane selected for you is the foremost demon plane within the Elosia Plane Cluster."
Mentor Clark's tone remained calm, but the weight of his words made Jieming's heart race.
"This plane is called 'Purgatory Sulfur,'" the mentor continued slowly. "Its physical size even exceeds the surface area of Elosia's main plane. It's a vast and primordial land, teeming with active fire elements and characterized by extremely frequent geological activity."
Jieming's eyes lit up with disbelief.
This meant the plane possessed incredibly rich resources and vast space sufficient to support countless large-scale experiments!
Mentor Clark gestured for Jieming to look at the information on the magic net terminal. "This is a detailed survey report of the plane, along with the coordinates you'll receive. The Noren Workshop has already installed a permanent Spatial Portal within that plane. This coordinate point serves as the 'key' to the portal. Through it, you can travel between the Noren Workshop and the plane at any time."
He paused, then added, "Once you arrive on the plane, you can adjust the exact coordinates of the Spatial Portal as needed, based on your own requirements and safety considerations. Of course, if you have other needs, you can also share the coordinates with people you trust. It's entirely up to you."
Jieming took a deep breath, calming his racing heart.
This meant an entire, genuine plane had truly fallen into his hands.
"Due to its harsh environment, this plane is primarily inhabited by fire-elemental creatures, heat-resistant magical beasts, and a few demons born deep within volcanoes. They are numerous, powerful, and extremely aggressive. You must prepare thoroughly," Mentor Clark warned.
"I understand, Mentor. I'll be careful," Jieming nodded.
"Additionally, if you need it, the workshop can connect you with a logistics and construction team composed of low-tier wizards. They can handle the plane's initial development and resource gathering. The specific permissions have already been sent to your magic net terminal; you can manage them yourself," Mentor Clark continued. "Do you have any further questions?"
"No, Mentor. Thank you very much for your and the workshop's support!" Jieming sincerely expressed his gratitude.
Mentor Clark gave a barely perceptible nod. "Go now. The path of a wizard lies in exploration and practice. Good luck."
"Yes, sir!"
Jieming didn't linger. He eagerly stood up, bowed to Mentor Clark again, and hurried out of the office.
(End of the Chapter)
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