Chapter 160: with translation of chapter title

Congratulations

Lin Ke, following convention, first politely congratulated, then expressed his stance, saying, "Congratulations on your successful promotion, becoming……"

Don't be nervous

Paro Wizard gave him a look, indicating Lin Ke should relax and not stand on ceremony, then said, "The gift you gave me, many friends have been eagerly awaiting it; please open it for me."

Yes

Lin Ke nodded in agreement

Now that it's come to this, what can Lin Ke do?

Of course, he just follows orders and carries them out

He broke the seal of the gift box, lifted the lid, took out the thirteen puppets one by one, and placed them on the cart's surface

They are merely thirteen thumb-sized puppets, and they look nothing special from the outside

Moreover, no matter how fine the craftsmanship, the basic materials are what they are—how precious could they be?

One would expect a wizard apprentice couldn't afford to give anything valuable

He could only take a different approach, striving to be original

Unfortunately, it didn't turn out to be remarkable

Many people present showed disappointed expressions

Those who knew Paro Wizard's past, such as the Third-circle Wizards and a few Senior Second-circle Wizards, became somewhat interested

These puppets are quite interesting

If the effect truly matches their guess, then 'Big Mouth' Kodel really wasn't bragging this time; these puppets could very well strike Paro's heart's desire

In terms of affection, they would indeed prefer it over Percy Sage's drill staff

They couldn't help but feel some anticipation

The two groups' mindsets are in stark contrast

May I demonstrate it?

Lin Ke naturally knew that just displaying the puppets like this wouldn't be much to look at

One must demonstrate the actual effect to reveal the charm of this set of puppets

However, without obtaining Paro Wizard's consent, Lin Ke dared not use his mental and magical power under the watchful eyes of so many wizards

If it were seen as a provocation or a sneak attack, it could provoke an unconscious counterattack

That would be disastrous

Certainly

Paro Wizard directly agreed

Thank you, Paro Wizard

Lin Ke expressed his thanks, then, following the notes he had taken, activated the master puppet and the first deputy puppet with mental and magical power of a specific frequency

The thumb-sized puppet receives its command and power, and immediately springs into action.

The master puppet, which looks 90% like the young Paro Wizard, leaps first from the cart.

It floats in midair, its body expanding in the wind until it reaches half a person's height.

The master puppet assumes a precise stance—left hand behind its back, right hand spread and stretched forward diagonally—as if inviting the opponent to strike first.

Suave and handsome, with a dignified bearing.

Here, Lin Ke models his appearance after Jet Li's portrayal of Wong Fei-hung.

All to bring out the master puppet's demeanor.

The first deputy puppet follows right behind, leaping out and undergoing the same transformation.

Its craftsmanship is also exquisite, though its face is slightly blurred.

Only those familiar with it can barely make it out.

Those unfamiliar with it will think it's a stranger.

"Begin."

At the command.

The master puppet and the first deputy puppet immediately start fighting.

No one knows how the shop owner, "Big Mouth" Kodel, crafted them.

The two puppets can actually cast zero-circle sorcery, and they do so with striking realism.

Although it is merely a visual effect of sorcery, an illusion lacking any real power.

Even so, the puppets' fight nearly recreates the full course of that arena duel.

They went back and forth, staging in midair a clumsy fight of zero-circle sorcery.

The wizards present—especially Paro Wizard himself, as well as the third-circle wizards familiar with his past and some senior second-circle wizards—watched with great interest.

The fight blazed fiercely, building to a climax.

The master puppet began to frequently display its highlight moments.

At this moment, explosive background music began to play.

The master puppet, firmly holding the upper hand, grew ever more spirited.

"Fall down!"

With the master puppet's angry shout, a zero-circle sorcery struck the first deputy puppet's lower knee.

With a thud, the deputy puppet's knees buckled, it knelt on the ground, head bowed.

The master puppet arrogantly looked down at the kneeling subordinate puppet, speaking with a disdainful hum: 'Rukia, that's all!'

Yes, the Paro Wizard, back when he participated in the Two Districts Grand Comparison, his first opponent he defeated was none other than Suo Lun Lucia.

He indeed said something after defeating Suo Lun, but it wasn't this line.

This was modified by Lin Ke himself.

Both to show off the Paro Wizard's flair and to subtly let Suo Lun Lucia embarrass himself in public.

If I can't beat you, can't I still smear you?

Only then did the wizards who had originally looked down on things recognize that the first puppet, with its blurry visage, was actually modeled after the young Suo Lun Lucia.

Only then did they truly consider the impact of the background material of this puppet set sent by Lin Ke on the Paro Wizard.

Only then did they truly consider Linke Grand, a mere first-year wizard apprentice.

That little guy is really brave.

This is charging full throttle down the road of mortally offending the Lucia family, with no brakes at all!

"Not bad, I really like it!"

The Paro Wizard burst into applause, his face showing an obvious bright smile.

It seems he genuinely likes this puppet set, "Any more? Show another one."

"All right."

Lin Ke agreed and recalled the first puppet.

After thinking, he skipped over the ten middle puppets and directly sent out the twelfth puppet.

As soon as it appeared, it immediately drew exclamations.

The wizards, having composed themselves, immediately recognized the prototype of the twelfth puppet, which likewise had a blurry face.

"Interesting."

"That little guy's got guts."

"I really want to see Bi De's face when he finds out."

"Hehehe..."

"Hehe uh uh..."

The Paro Wizard didn't stop the crowd's low murmurs, letting the atmosphere ferment.

Lin Ke focused intently, not letting distractions divide his attention, and once again initiated the puppet duel.

This time, the background music started from the very beginning.

At first it was a leisurely, tranquil style, with an ethereal heavenly melody humming softly.

The duel between the two puppets lacked passion—you take a few steps, I turn around.

You throw a water ball, I shoot a wooden arrow.

Back and forth, it was all probing, with no hostility.

In this way, over a minute passed.

The background music suddenly burst forth.

The female vocals shifted to a soaring, exalted tone, as if narrating a grand war recorded in an epic.

Lin Ke here adapted part of the melody from 'Victory'.

Under the atmosphere of 'it's either you die or I die,' the battle between the two puppets entered a stage of fierce collision.

Attack-type zero-circle wizardry rained down like it didn't need mana.

Each was trying to suppress the other.

However, mental strength and mana are limited.

High output in a short time comes at the cost of rapid depletion of mental strength and mana.

In less than a minute, the casting speed of the two puppets slowed at a visible pace, seeming to return to the initial sluggish rhythm.

Who would have thought the two puppets were of the same mind? Almost simultaneously they launched another fierce assault.

Then both mental strength and mana were completely exhausted.

When wizardry proved useless, they resorted to close-quarters punching.

The two puppets threw wild punches, tumbling and flopping in the air.

The wizards present, including the Paro Wizard himself, couldn't help but feel slightly amused.

Is this what a duel between wizard apprentices looks like?

It's not even as exciting as a mundane knight's battle.

In the blink of an eye, the main puppet pulled a sneaky maneuver.

With both hands gripping the twelfth puppet's arms, the right leg's knee shot up hard, delivering a heavy blow.

The background music cut off abruptly.

Switching to dubbing, a crisp 'crack' sounded, clear yet with a hint of contradictory muffledness.

It blatantly told everyone.

The egg broke!

The main puppet glanced contemptuously at the twelfth puppet, which clutched its crotch in pain and twisted in anguish, then looked around and shouted arrogantly, 'Who else?'

The battle ended here.

The demonstration also ended here.

"Good, good!"

The Paro Wizard was amused by that final shout.

He recalled that back then his shout had actually been 'Fuck your mother, wanna fight me?', equally arrogant but somewhat vulgar.

After this revision, the arrogance remains, even greater, yet the wording is elegant and domineering.

Not bad, not bad.

Paro Wizard repeatedly praised, saying, "I like it, I really like it. Lin Ke, you put your heart into it."

As long as you like it.

Lin Ke recalled the master puppet and the twelfth puppet, placing each of the 13 puppets back into the gift box one by one, then closed the lid.

At the same time he spoke the carefully prepared blessing: "May you wander half your life and return still a youth!"

Paro Wizard heard this and was stunned for a moment.

He quickly came to his senses, muttering twice a blessing that matched the puppet set extremely well, and the smile on his face grew even brighter.

He patted Lin Ke's shoulder and said softly, "Thank you for your blessing, I know your intentions. Now go rest first; come find me later, and we'll have a good talk."

Yes, Paro Wizard.

Lin Ke obediently accepted the arrangement and walked back to Selin Wizard's side.

He's been in the spotlight enough tonight; he must not upstage the host.

Paro Wizard chatted with the guests for a few sentences, easing the atmosphere, then seemingly casually put the doll gift box into his own spatial storage wizard device, personally keeping it to avoid loss.

Next, he began to unpack the gifts sent by the second-rank wizards.

How do you feel?

Selin Wizard asked in a low voice.

As if facing a deep abyss, as if walking on thin ice, trembling with fear.

Lin Ke thought for a moment, adapting a phrase often heard in his previous life to express his current mood.

Anxious, nervous, uneasy, afraid of making a mistake.

Maintain this mindset, don't relax.

Selin Wizard's lips curled into a faint smile as she advised, "Paro's public display of favor toward you today will reduce hostility from other forces and other wizards greatly. However, Lionel, Lucia, and their allies will be more hostile toward you. This is both good and bad. It all depends on how you respond. This mindset is quite good."

Lin Ke heard this and fell into contemplation for a moment.

He actually had been mentally prepared; when he first accepted Paro Wizard's sponsorship, he already had a vague premonition.

The camp, was already established at that moment.

He would encounter friendliness, but more often hostility.

Lin Ke thanked Selin Wizard sincerely countless times tonight: "Thank you for your advice, I will pay more attention."

Hmm.

Selin Wizard gave a faint response.

After the promotion ceremony finished unpacking gifts, there was nothing special left.

Like other banquets, it entered the stage of idle chatter.

Selin Wizard had her own circle and did not stay in this corner.

Lin Ke remained still until the promotion ceremony ended, when he received Paro Wizard's summons and followed him.

Walk with me.

Paro Wizard indicated others need not follow, leading Lin Ke along a small path toward Boundary Lake.

Lin Ke lagged behind by one body length, following behind.

Would you wonder why I value you so highly, a mere wizard apprentice? Even with your secrets and fortune, you became a third-rank wizard apprentice in less than a year.

Paro Wizard spoke up first, breaking the silence.

Lin Ke replied thus: "Sometimes, I indeed think that way."

Thinking that way is correct. You must have several more minds, guard everywhere, or you'll easily suffer a loss.

Paro Wizard gazed at the mist-shrouded Boundary Lake, his tone filled with sighing emotion.

My line originally had someone else as its leader, not me—it was Cody. He was five years ahead of me, with top-tier talent and disposition. Yet he trusted someone, causing a leak at the crucial stage of advancing to Sage, resulting in failure just short of success. I then had no choice but to step forward, rise to the top, and withstand the pressure from the west coast's local pure-blood families and the indifference of the half-blood families.

Forget it, I won't tell you these things.

Let's talk about why I value you so much instead.

The reason is quite simple.

Because your soul is very special; it likely comes from another dimension.

Saying this, Paro Wizard stared into Lin Ke's eyes, enunciating each word: "Never think you're the most special; people like you, 'transmigrators,' are not uncommon in the wizard world!"

Lin Ke's back instantly soaked, cold sweat pouring.

He murmured a few words with his lips, relying on the "Brain Seal Technique" to steady his emotions, and finally replied steadily: "I will keep your teachings in mind."

Seeing Lin Ke's nervous appearance, Paro Wizard couldn't help but chuckle.

This little guy has many tricks, small in stature but big in scheming; it's rare to see such a panicked expression.

He comforted, "Don't worry, when I discovered your advancement to second-rank wizard apprentice, I deliberately investigated and uncovered your soul's anomaly, and already concealed it for you. Besides me and Selin, even Cody doesn't know your other identity."

Lin Ke couldn't help but let out a long sigh, no longer hiding it from Paro Wizard, and asked directly: "In my situation, how does the academy usually handle it?"

Handle? Why handle? The academy's old fogeys value you highly; they even gave you the primordial seed formed from a shattered world—what do you have to worry about?

Paro Wizard chuckled lightly: "They also hope you grow quickly so you can fight for the academy across the heavens and seize more resource worlds."

Paro, enough!

Suddenly, a majestic voice came from the horizon, audible only to Paro Wizard and Lin Ke.

Paro Wizard looked up and shouted angrily, "Old fogeys, you're allowed to act but I'm not allowed to speak?"

Crack.

A bolt of lightning split the night sky, striking Paro Wizard, who suddenly couldn't move, straight on.

His hair stood on end, his face turned black, his clothes scorched yellow.

Even a Sage, before the academy's 'old fogeys,' besides empty talk, has no power to fight back!

Damn it!

Paro Wizard struggled free of his bonds, curled his lip, and said to Lin Ke, "I'm leaving first; you go back on your own."

After saying that, he didn't wait for Lin Ke's reply and vanished immediately.

Lin Ke gazed at the misty Boundary Lake, remaining silent for a long time.

The 'transmigrator' identity he had worried about for so long was exposed just like that, leaving him still unable to calm down.

The academy's attitude put him at ease, yet at the same time gave him a vague, deeper fear.

Sigh!

With a long sigh, Lin Ke stopped wandering thoughts, left the lakeside, and returned to the dormitory.

What is meant to come will come sooner or later; there's no escaping it.

Just as Paro Wizard and Lin Ke were walking and chatting privately.

Two short videos spread among the circles of senior second-level and third-level wizards.

The two phrases "Lucia, that's all" and "Who else?"

In less than half an hour, they rang out madly throughout the Ruiwosuosi Qu.

It is said that Peter Lionel, who was about to undergo his tribulation and was preparing to hold the sage promotion ceremony, directly had his defenses broken and flew into a rage.

It even affected the tribulation, delaying the promotion time.

A single video and a sentence from a little wizard apprentice had such tremendous power.

It made many people smile.

From the very beginning, they buried the pit that 'transmigrators' are not scarce in the wizard world, and today it has been filled. Sigh, I don't know if this setting will be accepted or not.