Chapter 35

Time is like sand between fingers; in the blink of an eye, three years have passed in a hurry.

The attempt to combine wizard runes and cultivation talisman technology was far more difficult than Jie Ming had initially imagined.

This requires a deep understanding of the different perceptions and application methods of "runes," "energy," and "concepts" in the two civilization systems, and finding common ground in the underlying logic to reconstruct a brand-new theoretical and practical system.

Jie Ming's existing knowledge was simply not enough to do this, so he could only copy the patterns, constantly trying combinations of talisman seals and runes to find the laws within them.

During these three years, Jie Ming spent most of his time immersed in his laboratory, like the most devout ascetic, struggling through the ocean of knowledge.

A year ago, Jie Ming's wizard meditation method had already steadily reached the peak of a Tier 3 wizard apprentice.

His spiritual sea was vast and stable, and the nine core truth runes—namely the basic alchemy runes "Transformation," "Fusion," and "Refining," the core potion runes "Stability," "Catalysis," and "Creation," and the core runology runes "Resonance," "Circulation," and "Connection"—formed a complete and powerful rune array in his spiritual sea, emitting a profound light.

However, after reaching the peak of a Tier 3 apprentice, he stopped further improving his meditation method and did not attempt to promote to a Tier 1 official wizard.

In fact, it wasn't just Jie Ming; many geniuses of the same period who had long reached the Tier 3 wizard apprentice realm and had excellent talent also tacitly chose this "pause button."

The reason is simple—the contract.

The contract signed when entering the academy clearly stated that once promoted to a Tier 1 official wizard, one must go to the front line of the plane battlefield ruled by the Nuolun workshop to serve.

After coming to the academy for so long and being exposed to more information, everyone is clear about the danger of the plane battlefield.

Even if newcomers like them only do some relatively marginal work, the mortality rate is quite high.

The best choice is to continuously improve one's own strength within the ten-year apprenticeship period limited by the contract, learn all the knowledge that can be learned, and improve all the foundations that can be improved.

Then, when the ten-year period arrives, accumulate strength and wait for the right moment to promote to a Tier 1 wizard in one go, and go to the front line with sufficient self-preservation ability.

Precisely because of this, Jie Ming turned all the absorbed elemental power into spiritual power to supply his Qi Condensation cultivation.

Thanks to the rich elemental environment of the Wizarding World, this conversion efficiency is extremely high, and his Qi Condensation cultivation has risen several levels in this short year, steadily reaching the sixth level of Qi Condensation, only one step away from the seventh level of Qi Condensation, which represents the Late Qi Condensation Stage.

Sixth level of Qi Condensation, True Essence like the sea, surging and endless!

The soul enhancement brought by cultivation also caused the range of the spiritual sea to continuously expand, and even his physical strength was able to withstand the attacks of some low-level spells.

This afternoon, Jie Ming had just finished an elective course on runology taught by a professor at the level of a rune master and was planning to return to his intermediate laboratory as usual to continue his research on the fusion of talisman and rune.

Amy, who also came to take this elective course, caught up, her face carrying a trace of solemnity; she had clearly heard some unusual news.

"Jie Ming!" Amy walked up quickly and lowered her voice: "Have you heard? The school is going to hold a major exam!"

"Major exam?" Jie Ming was a little puzzled.

The academy has final assessments every year, but generally, no one cares about that thing, and the solemnity in Amy's tone clearly did not refer to that kind of routine exam.

"It's not that kind of exam!" Amy shook her head, "It's a real test!"

She looked around, and after confirming that no one was paying attention, she continued: "I heard people say that this test is to conduct a complete learning achievement check on us apprentices. And... I heard that it seems to allow a certain degree of mortality rate!"

Mortality rate?!

Jie Ming's heart jumped violently.

Although the academy's assessments are strict, they usually put the safety of apprentices first, and there is rarely a risk of death.

"Is the specific content clear?" Jie Ming asked.

"Not clear," Amy shook her head, "The news is very mysterious, only saying that it will be held in about half a year. Sigh, really, to have something like this suddenly."

She sighed, her eyes carrying worry.

Jie Ming thanked Amy for the news and quickly calculated in his heart.

Returning to the laboratory, logging into the magic network, and querying relevant information, he found nothing.

It seems that this news has indeed not been officially announced yet.

Jie Ming thought for a while and decided to ask Instructor Clark.

As one of the persons in charge of the Tier 2 training agreement, Instructor Clark should know more inside information.

A communication request was sent through the magic network terminal, and not long after, the other side picked up the "video," revealing Instructor Clark's iconic bald head and his neat and cold laboratory behind him.

After Jie Ming explained the problem, Instructor Clark's expressionless face rarely revealed a trace of imperceptible seriousness.

"The news is true." Clark got straight to the point, "Strictly speaking, it's not an exam, but a trial. The location is a wild small plane that has just been received by our Nuolun Academy. The environment is complex, the danger level is high, and it seems there are natives trying to resist."

Trial?

"Why hold such a trial?" Jie Ming asked.

Instructor Clark was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words: "This trial is to prepare for a comprehensive check five years later."

"Comprehensive check?"

"Yes. Five years later, the Nuolun workshop will conduct a comprehensive learning achievement and talent reserve check on all more than 100 Nuolun academies under its command, and all apprentices of the academy will participate. This trial held within the Nuolun Academy can be seen as a rehearsal and selection for that large-scale check five years later."

Five years later, more than 100 academies checked at the same time?!

It's not just a matter of scale, this time is also very strange.

"Five years later... isn't there only one year left before going to the front line?! Checking before going to the front line? Is the workshop going crazy?" Jie Ming couldn't help but ask the question in his heart.

The resources and energy consumed by such a check must be astronomical, and the impact on the state of the apprentices is also quite large, which may even affect the battle situation of the Nuolun workshop on the front line.

Instructor Clark shook his head slightly: "I don't know the specific situation very clearly either. After all, I have already left the front line for a hundred years."

His gaze seemed to penetrate the wall and look at the distant front line, and a trace of imperceptible complexity flashed in his eyes:

"It is said... that it was requested by the Xinghuanlian Alliance."

Xinghuanlian Alliance?

One of the main camps of the wizard civilization, the Nuolun workshop is just an inconspicuous wizard force under its command, and his own Tier 2 training agreement also comes from this alliance.

Jie Ming's heart was shaken.

This means that this large-scale check and trial may hide deeper reasons behind it, and may even be related to the strategic adjustment of the entire wizard civilization!

Instructor Clark withdrew his gaze and looked at Jie Ming: "So, work hard to improve your grades. Performing well in that comprehensive check will definitely not do you any harm."

Watching the screen hang up, Jie Ming blinked.

This suddenly obtained news revealed an unusual piece of information, making people feel a little confused.

Although he knew nothing about the future, Jie Ming did not have much fear in his heart.

Because his research, his talisman and rune fusion technology, after three years of unremitting efforts, is about to succeed!

"Trial... huh? It's a good opportunity to verify my research!"