Chapter 159: 163. Chapter 163: Amidst Great Anticipation, Making an Appearance

163. Chapter 163: Amidst Great Anticipation, Making an Appearance

Thursday.

The sun was setting.

Lin Ke walked into the doll shop feeling a bit desolate.

These past few days, not only had Serlin Wizard contacted him last Sunday, giving him a reminder.

Shaliya, Tina, and Ela successively expressed curiosity.

Luo Ken Wizard sent a string of hehe laughter.

Even Ke Di Wizard, who never smiles, subtly expressed his anticipation with a few old friends.

This put a lot of pressure on Lin Ke.

How did a preparation that should have been kept secret become known to everyone?

Lin Ke was puzzled.

Lin Ke did not understand.

The cramped little shop had no one attending.

A carefully wrapped but unsealed gift box sat on the shop's only square table.

"Boss, boss..."

?? c〇

Lin Ke shouted a few times, but there was no reply.

No sign of the boss.

Lin Ke then stepped closer to the table.

A note lay on the gift box, reading: "Take the gift, leave the magic stone."

Obviously, the boss did not want to see Lin Ke at this moment.

It was unclear whether he didn't want to be embarrassed or had other reasons.

Lin Ke lifted the lid of the gift box and saw thirteen thumb-sized dolls neatly lying inside.

Beside it was also an instruction manual.

In the center was the master doll, made of the finest materials and craftsmanship, bearing a 90% likeness to Pa Luo Wizard in his youth.

The other twelve were companion dolls, exactly the twelve opponents Pa Luo Wizard faced during the Two Districts Grand Comparison back then.

Lin Ke took out the thirteen dolls one by one and, following the manual's hints, inspected them all.

There were no problems.

The effect was excellent.

He put the dolls back in place, folded the manual neatly, closed the lid, and sealed the gift box.

Lin Ke placed two hundred standard-grade magic stones down, picked up the gift box, and left.

Soon after, the boss sneaked out from the resting room behind the shop.

After peeking out to make sure he had gone far away, the boss finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As a senior, he almost delayed the junior's important matter.

If it were for a legitimate reason, that would be fine, but it was actually because of his own 'big mouth.'

He really couldn't save face.

Fortunately, he strictly kept his promise not to divulge the dolls' specific information, so no worse outcome occurred.

It's just……

The boss couldn't help but feel guilty.

After his such 'promotion,' many people now eagerly await the legendary gift said to be even more powerful than Perseus Sage's Drill Rod.

What if Pa Luo doesn't buy it, making that kid lose face? Then this braggart of his would be terribly at fault.

"I told you to keep quiet, I told you to keep quiet."

The boss lightly slapped his own mouth several times, countless times as a warning.

Lin Ke held the gift box and returned to the dormitory, sitting in the study, just dazedly sitting there, sitting dazedly.

His mind went blank, thinking of nothing.

These past days' experiences are truly indescribable; he needed to relax properly.

After a moment, Lin Ke came to, his consciousness sinking into his mental sea; he organized his memory palace once, making the memories of these days about the gift somewhat dimmer.

This way, it's not easy to recall, nor will he forget.

When needed, a slight recollection can still retrieve it.

Having done these, Lin Ke used his portable smart brain to send a message to Mo Li, letting her preside over the advanced studies of the Benevolent Brother Group and the Social Anxiety Group.

He himself, however, rare as it was, lay back and relaxed, stealing half a day of leisure.

He lit a stick of Lixuan Grass incense essential oil, picked up a leisurely book detailing specific events of Wizard Continent history, and began reading contentedly.

Time passed in the blink of an eye.

Friday.

The daytime ended amid a mysterious restlessness in the surroundings.

Mo Li, the Benevolent Brother Group, and the Social Anxiety Group showed even greater concern for this observation ceremony than Lin Ke did.

It was as if Lin Ke had gone, which was even better than them going themselves.

To share in the honor is just what this means.

The horizon glowed with evening clouds.

Lin Ke, under the gazes of Mo Li, the Benevolent Brother Group, and the Social Anxiety Group seeing him off, held the gift box and walked toward the hall where the promotion ceremony was held.

On the way to the hall, Lin Ke met three acquaintances: Shaliya, Tina, and Aila.

Lin Ke hurriedly greeted them one by one.

"Is this your gift?"

Tina and Lin Ke had worked together the longest and knew each other best.

Upon meeting, she waved and immediately asked curiously.

She also showed an eager look, as if she couldn't wait to see the gift.

"Lin Ke, long time no see."

The gentle older sister Shaliya gave a sweet greeting.

Her eyes also immediately glanced at the gift box.

"Hello, Lin Ke."

At some point, Aila Wizard's attitude toward Lin Ke became much gentler.

She responded politely but friendly to Lin Ke.

This made Lin Ke feel rather "overwhelmed by favor".

"Yes, this is the gift I prepared."

Lin Ke lifted the gift box he was holding, gestured, and couldn't help but explain, "It's not as mysterious as the rumors say; it's just a token of my feelings."

When mentioning this, Shaliya, Tina, and Aila all let out clear but unpleasant-to-Lin-Ke laughter.

After laughing, Shaliya, the kindest, reminded: "Everyone who came tonight are friends of Paro Wizard, or like us, junior wizards in his faction. Their attitude toward you isn't entirely friendly, so you'd better watch out."

"Mm, thank you, Sister Shaliya."

Lin Ke nodded and thanked sincerely.

These past few days, he also sensed something.

Logically speaking, even if the big-mouthed shop owner said a few words, it should have been limited to just one or a few small circles.

For example, Selin Wizard and Cody Wizard, who are third-rank wizards.

But Shaliya, Tina, and Aila, who had just graduated from the Advanced Academy as first-rank wizards, also found out quickly, clearly because someone was deliberately fanning the flames.

The motive is unknown for now, but the purpose is to push Lin Ke into the "spotlight".

So that more people would notice Lin Ke through this gift matter.

At this moment, Tina walked up to Lin Ke, tapped his shoulder, and in a voice almost inaudible, almost a whisper, said: "Be careful of Loken."

After saying that, she ignored Lin Ke's slightly changing complexion, linked arms with Shaliya, walked a few steps quickly, and entered the hall.

Aila, not to be outdone, linked her other arm with Shaliya.

At this moment, Lin Ke recalled when he first met Loken Wizard, whose casual slap had dislocated his arm.

That experience was truly unpleasant.

Could it be him?

Lin Ke felt suspicious.

He didn't dwell on it, quickly composed himself, and followed the three women into the carefully arranged hall.

First, he went to the place for registering and storing gifts.

As it turned out, Selin Wizard was in charge of registering the gift book.

Seeing this, Lin Ke was very surprised.

"If others did it, I wouldn't feel at ease."

Seeing Lin Ke's obvious shock, Selin Wizard said meaningfully.

Lin Ke realized that it seemed someone from the Paro Wizard faction was secretly targeting him.

To the extent that even Selin Wizard noticed.

Furthermore, she personally stepped in, doing something not quite befitting her status, to give Lin Ke backup.

To prevent anyone from continuing to tamper with Lin Ke's gift.

"Give it to me."

Selin Wizard ignored Lin Ke's genuine feeling of being overwhelmed by favor, glanced at the gift box he was holding in his arms.

"Oh..."

Lin Ke came to his senses, stepped forward, placed the gift box on the table in front of Selin Wizard, and sincerely thanked, "Thank you so much, I'm sorry for the trouble." "Hehehe"

Selin Wizard laughed, producing a melodious voice that stirred righteous fervor, saying, "Little one, don't be too sentimental."

Lin Ke scratched his head, showing a timely bit of embarrassment on his face: "I won't disturb you."

After his words fell, Lin Ke bowed and then walked away.

Even if his earlier speculation didn't match the facts.

No one blames there being many gifts.

For now it's still early, and there aren't many people in the hall.

Shaliya, Tina, and Aila have their own circle, and are chatting with several similarly young wizards.

Lin Ke didn't insist on going up to the three girls; he glanced around the hall and chose a secluded corner to stay in.

He asked for nothing else, only a bit of peace.

As time passed, more guests arrived, and the hall gradually became lively.

Not long after, the promotion ceremony officially began.

Paro Wizard, accompanied by a few wizards relatively unfamiliar to Lin Ke, entered the hall from the backstage, then alone walked to the specially built platform at the center of the hall.

Those few wizards stood guard at the four corners of the platform, appearing somewhat wary.

This is quite normal, and everyone can accept it.

Prevent anyone from deliberately causing trouble and ruining the promotion.

Although it's basically indestructible, if a fuss really kicks up, it looks bad on one's face.

The ceremonial hall instantly fell silent.

Paro Wizard turned in a circle, scanning the ceremonial hall, lips slightly opening and closing, voice booming, transmitting throughout the ceremonial hall: "Thank you all for coming, thank you all for bearing witness."

Just two short sentences, and no more will be said.

Eyes closed, arms spread, head slightly tilted back, Paro Wizard thus began the promotion.

The ceremonial hall instantly fell completely silent.

Everyone unconsciously held their breath, afraid to disturb Paro Wizard.

Nor was there any grand spectacle.

Paro Wizard's body first lightly rippled with a wave that made heartstrings tremble, then instantly subsided.

No, it wasn't subsiding; it was more like a drop of water merging into the sea.

An indescribable wave descended upon the ceremonial hall.

Lin Ke felt his heart swell with boundless emotion.

It felt as if he had become a newborn again, returning to his mother's womb, sensing boundless warmth, care, and love.

This feeling came quickly and left even faster.

Lin Ke felt a sense of loss.

Many people present, like Lin Ke, showed reluctance and regret on their faces.

Reluctant to lose that feeling, regretting not gaining more.

Just now, Paro Wizard completed resonance with the World Will, imprinting his will upon the World Will.

That indescribable wave was the World Will's response and attention.

From now on, wherever the World Will of the Wizard World covers the myriad worlds, Paro Wizard need not deliberately adjust his spellcasting to the local world's rules.

How one casts spells in the Wizard World is how one casts spells in the world one inhabits.

Even if some magical principles contradict certain rules of the world one is in, they can still be cast without error.

That's just how domineering it is.

Even when entering a foreign world that the Wizard World's World Will temporarily cannot cover, while conducting interstellar pioneering, one can promptly rely on the World Will to analyze that foreign world's rules.

Only the Sages (4th, 5th, and 6th level wizards) are the pillars of the Wizard World.

Official wizards and below are merely the numbers.

That's why Selin Wizard said, closely observing an official wizard's promotion to Sage is an opportunity many people beg for but cannot obtain.

It lies in the descent of the World Will.

It lies in this being the sole chance for official wizards and below to come into early contact with the World Will.

Lin Ke felt he had gained a lot.

Because he just activated the 'Multithreaded Thinking' state card he had deliberately kept.

The 'Brain Seal Technique' and 'Multithreaded Thinking' state card operating at full capacity is Lin Ke's current strongest form.

Whether for battle, study, or research.

In just three seconds, the consumption of mental power is several times that of previous uses.

Lin Ke was almost drained dry.

But it was all worth it.

In these three seconds, Lin Ke's mental and magical power, like red-hot steel plunged into water for quenching, underwent a qualitative improvement.

And that's not all.

The practical obstacles of the First Circle Wizardry 'Armor Orchid Battle Armor' were swept away;

Even the 'Seed' in the Sea of Consciousness received great benefit.

The first phase of cultivation, requiring resources worth 20,000 standard first-grade Magic Stones, was completed directly.

Fulanduo, as the 'Spirit' of the 'Seed', gained an evolution and fell into slumber.

One could describe Lin Ke's change over a few seconds as a rebirth.

"Great gains?"

Selin Wizard appeared at some point beside Lin Ke, shielding the gaze of several unfamiliar wizards who had noticed Lin Ke's abnormality.

"Hmm."

Lin Ke hid nothing from Selin Wizard, saying, "I feel like my current self could take on five of my selves from just a few seconds ago."

"Then that's good."

Selin Wizard slightly nodded, then raised the cup holding half a glass of red wine, covering her lips, and in a voice only Lin Ke could hear, gave a reminder: "Get ready; before long, you'll have to take the stage."

"Thank you, Selin Wizard."

Lin Ke expressed thanks, took a deep breath, and made preparations.

Paro Wizard then stepped out from the state of savoring the aftermath of his promotion and began to speak.

It took 46 years, from an ignorant newcomer of the Storm Sea, to become a Sage.

The journey was fraught with hardship; many things were not easy.

Looking back on the past, it was like a dream.

Fortunately, effort eventually bore fruit.

Today I share with you my heartfelt joy.

I hope everyone present can gain what they seek.

Thank you.

The molting period ended, and the Paro Wizard's image gradually overlapped with Lin Ke's first encounter on the Kuete Islands.

Solemn, not given to frivolous speech, concise and to the point.

The hall rang with thunderous applause.

The Paro Wizard stepped down from the high platform.

Immediately, wizards pushed out four carts, each sorted and filled with various gifts.

The three front carts, even the first if sparse, each held nearly ten gifts.

The second cart was simply piled full.

Only the fourth cart held a single gift box.

The on-site gift-unwrapping segment, which Lin Ke found awkward, was about to begin.

At first, upon learning that on-site gift unwrapping was the second most important part of each sage's promotion ceremony, Lin Ke's intuitive reaction was bewildering; he could not understand it.

It is still the same now.

The Paro Wizard began by unwrapping the gifts sent by the third-rank wizards who had come to offer congratulations, presenting each one to everyone.

These gifts were characterized by being both valuable and practical.

Almost all were precious magical implements used in battles across the heavens.

From time to time, low exclamations arose in the hall, astonished by the grand gestures of these third-rank wizards.

Each time the Paro Wizard presented a gift, he would quietly converse briefly with the wizard who had sent it, expressing thanks and respect.

After the third-rank wizards' gifts were unwrapped, logic dictated that it should proceed to the gifts from the second-rank wizards.

But the Paro Wizard performed an action that made many people's eyes almost pop out.

He walked straight to the lone fourth cart holding a single gift box.

He glanced around at everyone, the Paro Wizard's mouth hinting at a barely visible smile, and spoke loudly:

"It seems some people have already guessed: the gift I am about to unwrap comes from the Newblood I highly regard, the first-place freshman of this year's two districts, Linke Grand."

Saying this, the Paro Wizard beckoned Lin Ke: "Come, personally unwrap it for me."

Lin Ke, whose face was slightly pale, endured dozens of strange gazes and walked with slightly stiff steps to the Paro Wizard's side.

What the heck, big shot.

Turns out you were playing me!