Chapter 434: Apprenticeship Ceremony

Early July, the Great Hall of Weizelan Academy.

The circular great hall is open inside, split into two halves; a statue of the God of Magic over twenty meters tall stands on one side, and beneath its feet is a platform holding six tall seats.

In front of the platform, rows of seats are arranged in a fan shape.

Over a thousand seats rise from low to high, and from any angle one can clearly see the platform.

At this moment, more than two hundred people are seated in the hall, scattered in small groups; some silently pray to the goddess, some whisper with friends, and some stare at the platform with tense faces, as if awaiting something.

All of these people are Wizards.

Reslin is also among them; he sits at a high spot farther from the platform, taking the entire hall in his view.

Today is the day when Weizelan's legendary Wizards recruit students.

In the past, Weizelan would hold two to three apprenticeship ceremonies each year irregularly, but Fu Kong Cheng suffered a calamity last year, cutting the number of official Wizards by a third, including many legendary Wizards; over ten thousand residents were killed or wounded, and Fu Kong Cheng's vitality was so badly damaged it has not yet recovered, breaking many customs.

This is the first apprenticeship ceremony Weizelan has held since the disaster.

Therefore, today's ceremony draws special attention.

Just the number of new Wizards is several times larger than before; after all, over two years of accumulation, many Wizards who passed their first Soul Transformation last year have been waiting until now.

The total number of apprentices at Weizelan Academy has long stayed around five hundred, and each apprentice is regarded as a genius by ordinary outsiders.

However, not all apprentices can pass the Soul Transformation ceremony.

Weizelan Academy's Soul Transformation success rate is about eighty percent; of those, only roughly one‑third qualify to practice the Meditation Method and become Wizards—about twenty‑five each year. They stand out from countless candidates, enter the High Tower District, and truly become members of Weizelan's Fu Kong Cheng.

This year's special circumstances have made the number of new Wizards far exceed previous counts.

Reslin quietly activated his Soul Eye and counted: there are nearly seventy new Wizards seated in the great hall, almost three times last year's number!

Unfortunately, not everyone can become a disciple of a legendary Wizard.

Weizelan's rules have not changed in a millennium: survival of the fittest. Only legendary Wizards may recruit students, concentrating resources on a few top talents and meticulously training them into elite Wizards, far surpassing peers among casters and super‑humans.

A legendary Wizard's energy and time are limited, as are Fu Kong Cheng's resources.

A single legendary can mentor at most seven or eight students at once; more would hinder their own progress. Weizelan currently has twelve legendary Wizards, plus GrandSpeaker Anxiwodasi, meaning fewer than one hundred slots in total!

Moreover, some legends dislike teaching; after taking one or two students they remain inactive for many years.

Usually only three or four new Wizards become the lucky ones each year.

The remaining unchosen new Wizards have no master, but that does not prevent them from joining Fu Kong Cheng's six major departments—the Academy Department, Administration Department, Alchemy Department, Secret Arts Department, City Defense Department, and Exploration Department—trading work for pay and resources, gradually building strength.

Entering a department does not mean a Wizard has permanently lost the chance.

Each year during the apprenticeship ceremony, any Wizard without a master may apply to participate.

Weizelan's history includes many successful precedents of Wizards working in departments for years, building up strength, then becoming disciples of a legend, or achieving legend status themselves.

However, some Wizards choose to leave Weizelan and seek other opportunities.

One after another, portals open, and Wizards step out, finding a seat in the great hall.

A moment later, the number of Wizards exceeds three hundred.

Almost all Wizards in Weizelan without a master arrived, and even a few senior Wizards came to join the fun.

Fu Kong Cheng's great calamity claimed many Wizards and freed up slots; this apprenticeship ceremony is a once‑in‑a‑millennium golden opportunity, and no one wants to miss it.

In fact, rumors half a month ago claimed that the legendary Wizards would recruit a large batch of students at this ceremony, no fewer than twenty!

Reslin's indifferent gaze flickered.

The rumor is true.

His true self participated in the Six‑person Council; this is the teachers' stance—each legend must strive to train students and restore Fu Kong Cheng's power—and it was unanimously approved by all Speakers with a raised hand.

A few young voices reached Reslin's ears, catching his attention.

"Alas, I really hope I get chosen—God of Magic bless!"

"Me too..."

"If you could decide, whose student would you most want to be?" the speaker asked.

Another replied without hesitation, "Of course, GrandSpeaker!"

"Who in the Empire wouldn't want to be GrandSpeaker's student! But do you think that's possible?" a third person beside them sneered, "I think you should lower your expectations—what about a second choice besides GrandSpeaker?"

"Lei En Speaker!" a man and a woman replied in unison.

Someone else disagreed, murmuring, "Um... Lei En is so young, and he only became a legendary Wizard a few months ago, lacking enough teaching experience..."

"But Lei En has money!"

"Yeah, yeah, Lei En is Count Gan La Morgan, owning a huge estate, reputedly generous; last year he gave the Alchemy Department a green dragon's corpse, providing Wizards with plenty of magical potion gear. Becoming his student would make you rich!"

"And Lei En is so young, only a few years older than us. He's the youngest legendary Wizard in history, likely to achieve Holy Soul Ascension soon—almost as good as being GrandSpeaker's student. Then we can bask in his glory, huh..."

The new Wizard speaking was quite excited, his tone full of yearning.

Such discussions occur frequently in the great hall.

Reslin listened quietly for a moment, realizing he was very popular among the new Wizards, especially the female Wizards, who almost all hoped he would take them as students, and he couldn't help but smile smugly.

I finally got a taste of the "tall, rich, and handsome" treatment.

But taking disciples is no child's play; Reslin, while the ceremony hadn't started yet, quietly activated his Soul Eye to observe the Wizards in the hall.

The application data for Wizards had been submitted to each legend a few days earlier.

Information written on paper is never as clear as direct observation.

Reslin, seated high up, let his Soul Eye work like radar, swiftly probing the details of the Wizards present, and he already had a clear target in mind.

It must be said, Weizelan's Wizards are far stronger than outside super‑humans.

Even brand‑new Wizards who have just passed Soul Transformation, only at the first level, some having only recently mastered the Meditation Method, have soul strength several times higher, with potential far surpassing ordinary super‑humans!

Among these new Wizards, two stand out the brightest.

One is a high‑ranking elf from the far western Old Continent, hailing from Demith.

Mo Du often sees elves, and Wizards in Fu Kong Cheng have long become accustomed to them; elves lack the Blood Soul Curse and have far better innate talent than humans, though not every elf can become a mage, as their talents vary.

This high elf named "Da Lamma" has extremely high talent; at twelve he had already mastered the meditation method and became a formal wizard. This year, at just twenty, he is already a third‑rank wizard. By elf standards he is still underage, but his mind is as mature as a human's.

Da Lamma, for reasons unknown, left the elven realm and entered Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng to study.

Three years ago, his arrival caused quite a stir.

This proud high elf declared that he would only become a disciple of the GrandSpeaker or of Kelaoaosi, who is also a high elf and a Speaker.

Obviously, Da Lamma does not know that Kelaoaosi is a dragon; the elf is merely a disguise, and he has no intention of taking him as a student.

And Anxiwodasi also did not favor them.

Previously, a legendary wizard had offered to take Da Lamma, but was rejected on the spot; this is already his third time participating in a master‑apprentice ceremony.

Da Lamma sits in the front row, close to the central platform, with no friends beside him; his handsome face is full of defiance, as if he cares little for anyone, yet his silhouette hints at a touch of lonely desolation.

The second figure drawing everyone's attention is a female wizard.

Her talent is astonishingly high; she is the first new wizard in Weizelan in nearly a century to achieve a perfect Soul Transformation. When the news broke a few months ago, it shook Fu Kong Cheng, and even Anxiwodasi praised her a few times.

People do not know that she is actually the second perfect Soul Transformation.

Nevertheless, this does not affect everyone's expectations of this female wizard; every wizard with a perfect Soul Transformation is a once‑in‑a‑century prodigy. If nothing goes wrong, she will surely rise to legendary status, and whether she becomes a Holy Soul Wizard depends on her fate, giving her a few more chances than other legends.

The wizard's name is "Po Laruisi".

She sits not far from Da Lamma, surrounded by a large crowd, like stars gathering around the moon, forming a stark contrast to Da Lamma's situation.

Reslin looks toward Po Laruisi in the crowd.

The Soul Eye sees through; she practices the "Wheel of Stars" meditation, indicating she has already switched to an Arcane.

In just a few months, Po Laruisi advanced a rank and is now a Level Two Wizard, having mastered nine spells, with four more Law Seal slots than a normal Level Two Wizard!

"Truly a perfect Soul Transformation; this talent is almost catching up to me," Reslin mutters.

Po Laruisi's talent is outstanding, but the greater reason for her popularity is her beauty.

Just over nineteen, she has a slender figure; the fitted magical robe outlines alluring curves, her neck is long, her flawless skin gleams, and her black hair is tied back, giving a fresh, crisp look. Her features are exquisitely crafted like a deity's masterpiece; when she smiles, her bright eyes narrow into a pair of charming crescents. She moves gracefully, radiates a bright aura, and every smile or frown tugs at the heart.

From Reslin's position he can only see her profile, yet this angle possesses a breathtaking beauty.

"What a face!"

"Not worse than Xi Li Ya, no wonder she's so popular, surrounded by a flock of suitors…"

Reslin's gaze carries meaning; this witch with city‑toppling beauty is not as simple as she appears. Her soul remains constantly calm, with almost no ripple, starkly different from her outward charming smile, clearly indicating her own scheming and depth.

"A wizard who simultaneously possesses talent, beauty, and wisdom is destined for limitless prospects."

Reslin silently praises.

In a world where strength reigns, beauty alone is useless and can even bring disaster, but beauty combined with power or wisdom is truly formidable.

Po Laruisi has just become a wizard, yet her fame already rivals that of legendary wizards.

Even beyond Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng, rumors about her circulate.

Po Laruisi's admirers call her "Lady North Star", which is the brightest star in Ai Lun E Si's night sky, its meaning self‑evident.

Reslin glanced at her a few more times, seemed to be noticed, and turned his head back.

He averted his gaze early, his expression indifferent.

Po Laruisi withdrew her gaze; after a moment, curiosity flashed on her face as she whispered, "Who is the wizard sitting at the back? He looks unfamiliar; why haven't I seen him before?"

The nearby wizards all looked toward Reslin; most shook their heads, indicating they did not know him.

Only one male wizard replied courteously, "Madam, I saw him last month at the registration office of the Administration Department. He is not a graduate apprentice of our academy, but entered Fu Kong Cheng via a recommendation letter; his name seemed to be Reslin, though I can't recall clearly."

"So he's an outsider new wizard, no wonder…"

The crowd was suddenly enlightened; their gazes toward Reslin grew solemn, and no one dared to look down on him.

Anyone capable of writing a recommendation letter for Weizelan must be at least a legendary wizard and have close ties with the upper echelons of Fu Kong Cheng; otherwise the Six-person Council would not readily agree to let an outsider wizard join Fu Kong Cheng.

Every wizard recommended to Fu Kong Cheng is, without exception, far from mediocre.

The most famous example is Lei En Speaker.

He entered Weizelan with a recommendation letter from the Silver Star Duke; this matter has already become the Silver Star Duke's laughingstock in the Empire, handing over a Holy Soul Wizard prospect.

Of course, to the wizards of Weizelan, this is considered a fine story.

Po Laruisi seemed thoughtful, but did not ask further.

Reslin naturally heard their conversation, but did not take it to heart, continuing to observe other newly arrived wizards with outstanding talent.

After a moment, it was precisely noon.

The great hall rang with the sound of bells.

As the bells ceased, the hall fell silent; all wizards sat upright, eyes fixed on the platform, where six shafts of light gradually materialized, and six wizards of varied forms stepped forward, led by Anxiwodasi GrandSpeaker.

When the Speakers took their seats, seven high‑backed chairs spontaneously appeared on each side.

Beams of light flickered continuously; each chair was occupied by a legendary wizard. On the platform, the twelve legendary wizards of Weizelan plus the sole Holy Soul Wizard were all present.

The wizards rose and saluted, saying, "We have seen you, GrandSpeaker and esteemed teachers."

"Please sit," Anxiwodasi replied on behalf of the legendary wizards. Once everyone was seated, he immediately got to the point, proclaiming, "Today's ceremony is for Weizelan's future development, to rebuild its strength and reputation, which cannot be achieved without the effort of all wizards. Therefore, the Six-person Council has decided to expand the quota, recruiting thirty students this year to help more talented young wizards accelerate their growth."

The wizards below were thrilled; there were indeed thirty slots!

This is twice the expected number, meaning everyone's chance of being selected is higher.

"These thirty slots have already been allocated by the Six-person Council," Anxiwodasi continued, "According to tradition, legendary wizards recruiting students for the first time have priority."

Suddenly, everyone's gaze fell on Lei En and Ao Xiliya.

They have no students.

The majority looked at Lei En; although Ao Xiliya is a Mid-stage legendary with stunning beauty, she acts low‑key, has a cold temperament, dislikes dealing with outsiders, and few know much about her.

In the midst of everyone's anticipation, Lei En made a requesting gesture, humbly saying, "Madam, please choose first."

This inevitably disappointed many.

Ao Xiliya did not decline; she stood, her gaze turning to another equally beautiful witch below, and her clear voice echoed through the hall, "Po Laruisi, would you be willing to become my student?"

A low whirring sounded.

The Wizards all turned to look at PoLaRuiSi, waiting for her answer.

Everyone was clear that this was obviously not the teacher she most wanted. Her first choice was certainly GrandSpeaker, her second choice was Lei En. With PoLaRuiSi's potential, even a poor match she would still want to study under some speaker, and if even the speaker was not Lady Ao Xi Li Ya, it was completely out of consideration.

Weizelan has had people in history refuse to take a master, but it is extremely rare, and usually does not end well, because it leaves a bad impression.

Darama is a case right before our eyes.

PoLaRuiSi's face showed hesitation; although she was still young, she already knew how to read people, yet faced a decision that would affect her whole life, she was a little flustered.

She looked at Ao Xi Li Ya, and on her beautiful face there was not the slightest expression, neither urging nor expecting.

"If only Lei En had been chosen first, why does he insist on giving it to Lady Ao Xi Li Ya?" PoLaRuiSi felt depressed and lost inside, and while struggling she glanced at Lei En beside Ao Xi Li Ya, suddenly noticing that his demeanor bore a hint of smile, not missing the regret of a perfect Soul Transformation student.

"With my talent and beauty, could Lei En possibly not favor me?"

PoLaRuiSi lightly bit her lip.

Since she began to develop at ten, she had been good at using her advantages, always succeeding with the opposite sex, but she hadn't expected it to fail at the most crucial moment. Ao Xi Li Ya is also a lady, and her beauty is even a half step superior; becoming her student would mean losing the weapon for vying for favor.

"No!"

PoLaRuiSi noticed a detail: when Lei En was being modest just now, before his words were spoken, Lady Ao Xi Li Ya had already stood up.

The time gap was extremely brief, perhaps less than half a second, almost no one would notice anything abnormal, yet it was enough to make one suspect a strange tacit understanding between them.

Either they had arranged it beforehand; or they have an unknown relationship.

Regardless of the case, it cannot be refused!

With her thoughts turning swiftly, PoLaRuiSi made a decision in just a few seconds, hurriedly walked up the steps to Ao Xi Li Ya, and respectfully bowed, saying, "I pay my respects, teacher."

Since opening the book, this is Ka wen's most severe case; there was clearly an outline, yet she couldn't write, as if the brain resisted typing, muddled and confused; these past few days she didn't know how to get through, but fortunately she endured… Not becoming a eunuch, the body was just examined and is still fine, recovered and updated!

(End of chapter)