Chapter 286

Time flew, and a year and a half later, Nuolun Academy No. 147 welcomed another freshman recruitment.

Jie Ming was still sitting behind his cold Alchemy sect recruitment desk, and the result was still without suspense—zero harvest.

Regarding this, he could already face it calmly, and even began to feel that this "leisure" might be the greatest hidden benefit of his role as an instructor.

Another five years passed, and when Jie Ming was immersed in a deduction regarding the stability of the energy transmission network and its adaptation to plane laws, the unique fluctuations of the encrypted communicator interrupted his thoughts.

The light screen unfolded, reflecting the dignified and steady face of Dean Avery Knight.

"Jie Ming," the Dean went straight to the point without any pleasantries, "Prepare yourself; half a year from now, the graduation trial for the academy's first batch of apprentices will be held, and you need to participate in the relevant preparatory work."

"Graduation trial?" Jie Ming was slightly surprised, "Our new academy also needs to do this?"

According to what Jie Ming knew, the Nuolun Academy under the Nuolun Workshop didn't have such a thing as a graduation trial a long time ago; wizard apprentices who finished their ten-year study period at the academy were generally sent directly to the front lines of the plane battlefield, and as long as they survived, it counted as graduation.

By his batch, because screening was needed, there was such a thing as a graduation trial.

He immediately thought of a deeper level: "After the trial ends, will those who qualify also have to participate in the 'elite screening' of the Nuolun Workshop like other Nuolun Academies?"

"Of course." Dean Avery affirmed, "The process and ratio are the same as the convention; only one-tenth of the outstanding ones can obtain the qualification to participate in the subsequent screening."

Regarding the content of the graduation trial, after years of evolution, the numerous academies under the Nuolun Workshop had long formed a set of mature and efficient formulas.

First, select a small plane with a lower energy level and controllable danger, and clear out in advance any high-level threats that might exist beyond the apprentices' ability to handle.

Then let the apprentices enter it to conduct a simplified version of a "plane war," using this as the final assessment and practical rehearsal of their academy career.

"Regarding the trial venue," Dean Avery continued, "I will select a suitable one from my private plane collection as the trial plane. I will try my best to find some small planes with low enough energy levels and environments that are not too harsh, and then release some domesticated servant races whose strength matches those little ones as 'opponents'."

Jie Ming nodded in agreement upon hearing this; this process was indeed efficient.

Dean Avery Knight doing this was much more cost-effective than temporarily going to the void to find and conquer a natural low-energy-level plane.

Moreover, Dean Avery Knight's private plane had perfect infrastructure, making spatial projection and monitoring more convenient.

Otherwise, it would be like Jie Ming's batch back then, consuming a large amount of extra energy and resources to complete a graduation trial.

But Jie Ming immediately thought of a key problem and showed a troubled expression: "Dean, the insurance measures for the trial... when I participated in the trial at Nuolun No. 13, it was high-level alchemists who mass-produced life-saving rings containing spatial teleportation wizardry. With my current alchemy attainments, I'm afraid I cannot independently complete such scale and high-level refining."

Jie Ming himself was only a Tier 2 wizard now, after all; although he had mastered certain spatial knowledge, it was definitely impossible to achieve the situation of the trial back then.

Dean Avery seemed to have anticipated this: "No matter, this kind of standardized life-saving prop can be purchased in bulk directly through the workshop's internal channels. After all, a long time has passed since your batch, and the workshop has already formed a complete sales system."

"The key point you need to be responsible for is ensuring the stable operation of the trial broadcast and monitoring system. We need to clearly and in real-time observe the performance of every apprentice in the trial; this is the key to evaluating their grades and dealing with emergencies."

Hearing this, Jie Ming breathed a sigh of relief.

This kind of broadcast system is usually composed of complex detection magic orbs, information flow transmission hubs, and large-scale imaging arrays.

If it was just maintaining and ensuring the normal operation of the broadcast system, this was entirely within his ability range.

He immediately guaranteed with full confidence: "Please rest assured, Dean; leave the broadcast system to me, absolutely no problem!"

Having finalized the main task, Jie Ming's thoughts drifted uncontrollably to a more distant place.

He recalled the reason why all academies under the Nuolun Workshop suddenly reformed and added graduation trials—that rumor shrouded in fog about the Star Ring Alliance possibly taking action.

"Dean," Jie Ming couldn't help but ask, "Regarding that 'rumor' that prompted us to add graduation trials back then... there doesn't seem to be much follow-up movement so far? As for the Star Ring Alliance..."

Dean Avery looked at Jie Ming with deep eyes and did not deny it, only responding in a calm tone: "That matter, for wizards with talent and potential like you, if it really happens, it might not be a bad thing; perhaps it is even an opportunity. As for why there have been no waves so far..."

He paused, explaining with a detached perspective belonging to a high-level wizard that spanned long periods of time:

"You need to understand that from the time perspective of high-level wizards, especially decision-makers who can influence the direction of civilization, unless it involves an immediate crisis of life and death, otherwise, a major strategy that may have far-reaching influence can be gradually implemented and show results within a few thousand years, which can already be considered 'swift and decisive'."

"Conversely," the Dean changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of warning, "If such events develop rapidly and advance quickly in a short period of time, it often means that the wizard civilization is facing an unimaginable huge threat, forcing us to respond in a hurry."

"The current way of slowly paving the way through gentle and long-term methods like modifying the education system precisely shows that this is more likely a forward-looking layout made by certain Tier 8, or even some Tier 9 wizard lords based on their peeking into the future destiny. We still have sufficient time to prepare and grow."

Jie Ming felt slightly at ease upon hearing this, but another question emerged: "Then, Dean, where will this batch of students from our Elosia Academy who pass the graduation trial and subsequent elite screening eventually go?"

After all, the academy in the Elosia plane itself was built with that batch of outstanding wizards who passed the screening back then as the cornerstone.

He continued according to what he knew: "As far as I know, for many years, wizards who graduated from various academies and passed the screening have been continuously pouring into the Elosia plane..."

This was also an important reason why the plane transformation and construction speed of the Elosia plane was so fast.

Otherwise, not to mention the large amount of manpower needed when transforming the plane and the large number of instructors needed to establish the academy, just the number of wizard lords needed to maintain such a vast territory was an astronomical figure.

Even so, the Nuolun Academy in the Elosia plane still seemed too immature compared to other academies.

The number of wizards from high-level to low-level in wizard civilization is not the traditional pyramid type, but more like a pear shape.

The largest number is undoubtedly Tier 1 and Tier 2 wizards, but the number of Tier 3 wizards that follow is smaller than Tier 4 and Tier 5 wizards.

This is because once wizards reach Tier 4, general plane wars are no longer enough to put wizards in danger; accumulated over the years, the total number of Tier 4 and Tier 5 wizards actually exceeds Tier 3 wizards.

And this level of wizard is also the backbone of wizard civilization.

Like the Nuolun Academy No. 13 where Jie Ming once stayed, the instructors inside the academy were basically wizards of this level.

It is not until Tier 6 wizards that the number will decrease again due to the difficulty of promotion.

And in the Elosia plane, the vast majority of wizards are still at the Tier 1 and Tier 2 level, including many instructors who are also at this level.

Dean Avery nodded slightly and revealed the answer: "The workshop's high-level has already made a resolution. The framework of the Elosia plane cluster has been basically built, and Nuolun Academy No. 147 has also stepped onto the right track."

"Therefore, new blood that passes the talent trial from now on will be mainly transported to new, undeveloped plane clusters, responsible for pioneering and building the next Nuolun Academy."

Jie Ming was stunned upon hearing this: "Could it be that..."

Dean Avery Knight summarized: "That's right, in short, our Nuolun Workshop has currently entered a rapid expansion development stage. Continuously establishing new talent cultivation bases, absorbing and incubating more fresh blood to support the continuous growth of our civilization's territory and influence."

Jie Ming understood completely.

This is like an endless pioneering tide; successful graduates will become new sparks, scattered to more distant unknown places, lighting up one knowledge lighthouse after another belonging to wizard civilization.

And the Elosia where he is located is just a wave that has already taken shape in this grand tide.

"I understand, Dean. I will do my best to ensure the graduation trial." Jie Ming responded solemnly.

The graduation trial-related tasks entrusted by Dean Avery Knight, with Jie Ming's ability and caution, naturally did not have any accidents or omissions.

The broadcast system operated stably, clearly presenting every move of the apprentices in that carefully arranged low-energy-level plane to all the instructors.

However, the final trial result made most instructors, including Jie Ming, unable to help but shake their heads secretly.

The performance of this batch of apprentices was truly hard to satisfy.

Whether it was on-the-spot adaptability, tactical cooperation, or the application and development of their own abilities, they all seemed immature and lacked highlights.

This is also understandable; the human civilization transformation of the Elosia plane has been for a short time.

This batch of earliest emerging seedlings, whether in terms of talent foundation or growth environment, had a not-so-small gap compared to the apprentices carefully cultivated within the traditional sphere of influence of the Nuolun Workshop.

What's more, the instructors present were all geniuses who participated in the elite trial and passed back then; which one wasn't killed and screened out from countless geniuses?

Their eyes were naturally sharp.

Let alone these immature students, even many true geniuses were ordinary in their eyes.

Only Dean Avery Knight remained calm throughout, seemingly having anticipated this long ago, and did not reveal the slightest disappointment.

After the trial ended, he followed the regulations and personally led the graduates who ranked in the top one-tenth to the Nuolun Workshop headquarters to participate in the "elite trial" that would decide their future destiny.

With this matter concluded, Jie Ming's life rhythm returned to the familiar track.

Except for needing to participate in apprentice recruitment routinely every five years, and regularly maintaining that graduation trial broadcast system that was almost never used, he had large segments of undisturbed free time.

Of course, more importantly, after so many years, Jie Ming still hadn't recruited any apprentices willing to learn alchemy.

It wasn't that no apprentices came to ask, but after Jie Ming explained truthfully, many apprentices backed out on the spot.

However, not having students to guide was, for him, a pleasure of leisure.

This meant he didn't have to worry about teaching problems and could devote himself entirely to his endless research list.

Analyzing samples, optimizing rune-seal wizarding tools, deducing cultivation techniques, transforming cannon fodder...

Time passed quietly in the laboratory's lights and various energy fluctuations.

Spring went and autumn came, and another forty years of time flowed like water.

On this day, Jie Ming was fully focused on analyzing a sample called "Void Jellyfish" brought back from the airspace plane, when the encrypted communicator placed in the corner of the laboratory bench once again emitted soft yet persistent fluctuations.

Jie Ming frowned slightly, temporarily withdrawing from the complex data stream, and connected the communication.

The light screen revealed a middle-aged wizard with a steady face and deep aura.

Looking at the other party's somewhat unfamiliar face, Jie Ming was slightly stunned, then retrieved the relevant information about the other party from his memory—it was precisely the captain of that plane transformation engineering team he had spent a huge sum to hire through the official channels of the Nuolun Workshop back then, a veteran Tier 6 wizard.

Seeing the other party suddenly contact him, a long-awaited thought flashed through his mind like lightning, and his expression was instantly replaced by huge excitement!

Sure enough, the other party didn't have any pleasantries and directly informed him straightforwardly: "Lord Jie Ming, the second and third phases of the comprehensive transformation project of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane you entrusted have all been completed and passed the preliminary quality inspection. They are now officially delivered; please accept them."

"Finally... waited for it!" Jie Ming's expression looked very calm, but there was still some excitement in his voice that could not be covered up.

He immediately set off, crossed the teleportation array, and arrived at the coordinate point provided by the other party.

Then, following this captain and the core members of the engineering team, he conducted a comprehensive and meticulous final acceptance of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane.

The plane that was originally barren and had severe energy dissipation was now brand new.

Under the earth, crisscrossing energy conduits were like the meridians of a human body, efficiently gathering the fire element plane projection energy that was originally scattered everywhere.

In the sky, invisible energy beam arrays were like huge funnels, also incorporating more distant and finer energy fluctuations into the collection range.

Several key energy hub nodes exuded stable and powerful fluctuations, jointly forming an efficient energy network covering the entire plane.

Because the energy had been completely guided once, even the environment of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane seemed to be developing in a better direction.

Jie Ming looked at it cursorily and nodded with satisfaction.

Overall, the third phase of the energy beam and scheduling system perfectly achieved the design goals!

Sending off the engineering team that had successfully completed the mission, Jie Ming stood alone in the slightly empty core area of the plane, unable to suppress rubbing his hands hard, his face filled with the pure joy of a researcher seeing the experimental conditions he had dreamed of finally being met.

He almost couldn't wait to walk quickly to the huge black giant incubation pool.

Inside the pool, the scene was still somewhat "desolate."

Except for the two old partners who had followed him through many battles and were covered in scars, and the two new black giants that were barely incubated during the period of energy scarcity, there were no other figures.

And because of insufficient energy, these two new black giants were only Tier 1 by birth.

Energy shortage had always been the biggest bottleneck limiting the growth of his core combat power.

But now, everything is different!

Jie Ming's eyes were burning, and he took out several black giant core chaos crystals of the best quality he had prepared long ago from the specially made storage space.

These crystals were red and white, with dark luster flowing on the surface.

He carefully put these cores into the nutrient- and energy-rich liquid of the incubation pool.

Immediately after, Jie Ming took a deep breath, went to the control console next to him, and connected his will to the array core of the entire plane.

"Activate—Global Energy Mobilization!"

Hum...

The entire Purgatory Sulfur Plane seemed to shake slightly!

The energy collection arrays spread all over the plane lit up with faint light at the same time, and the sulfur smell permeating the air seemed to have faded a bit.

Visible red energy flows were like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, gathering from all directions, and through the preset energy channels, continuously injected into the complex energy conversion and supply array at the bottom of the incubation pool.

The liquid in the incubation pool instantly rolled like boiling, exuding astonishing heat and spiritual light.

Those few black giant cores that had just been put in began to expand and soften at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Countless fine energy tentacles stretched out from the surface, greedily absorbing the surging energy, quickly forming embryonic tissues that wrapped themselves, and began to grow toward the predetermined huge humanoid outline!

Jie Ming closely monitored the energy input and data feedback, quickly estimating in his heart: "According to this energy infusion speed and stability... about every year, a complete black giant can mature!"

This speed, compared to the previous predicament where it might not succeed even after decades or centuries, was simply a world of difference.

"Great!" Jie Ming couldn't help but wave his fist.

Leaving two black giants here to watch the incubation process, Jie Ming, with excitement that was hard to calm down, turned around and turned into a stream of light, rushing back to his core laboratory.

Abundant controllable energy is the accelerator of research and the cornerstone of concepts turning into reality!

Various experimental concepts, technical optimization schemes, and design blueprints for new cannon fodder that had been accumulated in his mind for decades or centuries... were now like shackles being unlocked, eager to move.

"Finally can... do a big job!"

Jie Ming looked at the dazzling array of instruments and materials in the laboratory, his eyes burning with intense thirst for knowledge and desire for creation.

(Just this chapter today, a bit stuck, a bit conflicted about the subsequent plot.)

(End of chapter)