The Academies
"Heh heh heh, welcome, Black Wizard Seeds. I'm Bell, a first-class wizard apprentice and your guide. Follow me."
When Chen Chuan and the others opened their eyes, they found themselves standing in a room. A silvery-white runic array flowed slowly across the floor, making it seem as though they were standing in a white ocean.
A young man in a red robe stood before them.
His voice was harsh and grating. Whenever he spoke, it sounded as though something were lodged in his throat, making their eardrums ache.
"Yes, Lord Bell."
Chen Chuan and the others hurriedly bowed to Bell.
They had learned that the hierarchy in the Wizard World honored the strong.
Bell was a first-class apprentice who had already changed classes to become a wizard. He was far beyond the reach of uninitiated Black Wizard Seeds like Chen Chuan and the others. Showing respect to the strong was one of the rules for surviving in wizard academies and even the Wizard World itself.
After successfully changing classes to become a wizard, one became a wizard apprentice.
Wizard apprentices were ranked from lowest to highest as third-class apprentices, second-class apprentices, and the highest, first-class apprentices.
People like Chen Chuan and the others actually had another name: black wizard reserve apprentices.
Chen Chuan and the other six followed Bell out of the room, and their view immediately opened up. Buildings in a distinctly Western fantasy style lined both sides of a long avenue.
All sorts of tents stood along both sides.
On the road, humans, fishmen, beastmen, and other strange intelligent beings came and went, packed shoulder to shoulder. The cries of vendors, haggling, and general clamor never ceased.
Chen Chuan also spotted the fierce, burly man he had encountered in the second trial. He was studying the sign and introduction in front of a tent.
"This is the wizard academies' talent market. Each tent is an academy's recruitment point. You can freely choose the academy you want to attend and study the most basic wizard courses."
"Once you become peak first-class apprentices at the other academies, you can apply to return to the Black Tower Academy and advance to become first-tier wizards, allowing you to learn black wizard techniques."
"Here are seven Black Wizard Seed badges and seven black wizard apprentice cards. The cards bear your names and some information about you. Once you've chosen the academy you want to attend, the black wizard apprentice card lets you skip the examination and enter the academy directly."
As he spoke, Bell reached into a cloth pouch at his waist and took out seven black badges and seven black cards. The surface of each card and badge bore a twisted rune that looked very much like a seed.
Chen Chuan and the others exchanged glances. The tall young man, who had remained silent until now, was the first to reach out and take his badge and card.
The others followed suit, taking the badges and cards that belonged to them.
"Heh heh heh, here's an extra piece of information. You'd best not lose your Black Wizard Seed badges. As a benefit for Black Wizard Seeds, once you've chosen an academy, you can exchange this badge there for 100 low-grade magic crystals and three free exchanges for spellbooks at the third-class wizard apprentice level."
"Magic stones can be used as currency here and at the academies. All the paper currency from your own planes is useless, but if your currency is made from special materials, you can exchange it for magic stones at the currency exchange center. The exchange rate varies according to the special materials you provide."
With that, Bell turned and vanished into the crowd.
Chen Chuan rubbed the badge and card in his hands, his mind filled with thoughts. When he came back to his senses, the others around him had already dispersed and walked away.
Chen Chuan immediately put away the Black Wizard Seed badge in his hand, then looked at the information on the card. On its surface were his name, a string of numbers, his examination results, and a spiritual power value of 19.9, which was 0.1 higher than before the examination.
Chen Chuan did not dwell on it. He spotted a tent nearby with a sign at its entrance.
He walked over. On the sign was an introduction to an academy called the Starfire Academy, along with its requirements.
"The Starfire Academy was founded by Volk, Worm of the Solar Eclipse, a fourth-tier elemental wizard of the Wizard World. It was established approximately 1,300 years ago. The academy currently has over 600 wizard apprentices, five first-tier wizard instructors, two second-tier wizard directors, and a third-level wizard as its dean. It specializes in fire magic and recruits reserve wizard apprentices interested in developing their skills in fire magic. Applicants must have spiritual power above 7.0. Please enter the tent for details of the examination."
The Starfire Academy's emblem was displayed beneath the sign.
It was a crude design depicting a star wrapped in flames.
After taking a look, Chen Chuan walked away. After all, having passed the second trial, he found the spiritual power requirement of 7.0 too low.
Besides, compared with the Wizard World's 740,000 years of history, 1,300 years was a very short time. Chen Chuan thought the academy probably lacked sufficient foundations.
Chen Chuan then began to browse at a leisurely pace.
"The Abyss Academy specializes in summoning spells. Applicants must have spiritual power above 7.0 and be interested in the study of summoning abyssal demons and devils. Apprentices who have already been tricked into signing a contract by a demon or devil are even better. Enter the tent for examination requirements."
"The Shadow Academy specializes in shadow magic and the study of poisons. Located deep in the Demonized Woodland, the academy has few men and many women and is sincerely recruiting male apprentices. Male applicants must have spiritual power above 7.0; female applicants must have spiritual power above 8.0. Free cannon fodder is provided year-round. Enter the tent to hear the examination requirements."
"The Technology Academy specializes in the technology side and deus ex machina. It is located in Space Fortress 7756-D-223 at the plane's spaceport. Applicants must be interested in machinery and the technology side. Courses require mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering, and more. Applicants must have some practical skills and spiritual power of 10.0 or above. Requirements may be lowered for women. Enter the tent for a private discussion of the examination details."
As Chen Chuan was reading the introductions to the various academies with great interest,
"Hey, kid."
A raspy voice came from behind him. Chen Chuan turned and saw that it was the dwarf. He was staring at the card in Chen Chuan's hand, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his cloudy eyes.
"Which academy are you planning to attend?" the dwarf asked.
Chen Chuan hesitated but did not answer.
The dwarf grinned, revealing yellow teeth. "I suggest you go to the Academy of the Dead."
The Academy of the Dead specialized in necromancy spells and control of the dead, and required spiritual power above 8.0. Located at the River Styx Crossing, the academy maintained a stable passage to the Undead World year-round. It recruited apprentices eager to explore the mysteries of life and death, and particularly favored people with strong resistance to negative spiritual effects.
Chen Chuan frowned slightly. Necromancy? He did not dislike it, but he felt it was too gloomy.
Seeing that he said nothing, the dwarf stepped closer, and the stench on his body washed over Chen Chuan. "Hee hee hee, I hear they don't rely on themselves in battle, but on endless armies of the dead.
"Not only can they bring dead enemies back to life, they can even make them fight for you. It's simply wonderful. Hee hee hee."
Just then, a breeze lifted the flap of a nearby tent. A figure flashed into view inside, then quickly withdrew.
Chen Chuan caught a glimpse of a figure in a black cloak. Under the cloak, the person seemed to be wearing a headband of flower petals.
"What are you looking at?" The dwarf followed Chen Chuan's gaze. "Oh, that's the Life Academy's recruitment point."
"The Life Academy?" It was the first time Chen Chuan had heard the name.
"A niche academy. It's been around for a long time, but it takes very few students."
The dwarf lowered his voice. "I hear they don't accept ordinary apprentices, only people with exceptional spiritual power."
Chen Chuan's interest stirred.
In the distance, Will and Elina were walking in another direction. The book in Will's hand lay open, and he flipped through it as he walked, seemingly looking something up. Eli, meanwhile, glanced back from time to time, her gaze sweeping over the crowd as though searching for someone.
"I have something else to do, so I'll be going," the dwarf suddenly said. "Think it over carefully." With that, he turned and disappeared into the crowded throng, leaving Chen Chuan standing there alone.
He looked up at the sky. In the distance, buildings loomed in and out of the mist. Once a choice was made, there was no turning back.