Preparing for the Examination

Back in his dormitory, Chen Chuan sat cross-legged on his bed and lightly touched the badge on his chest, feeling the faint fluctuations of magic power coming from its deep black patterns.

Advancing to third-class apprentice was not just a change in status; it was also the first step toward the academy's core.

He closed his eyes and focused his attention on the badge on his chest.

As he infused it with spiritual power, the black patterns on its surface gradually lit up, forming a miniature rune array.

A warm current spread from the badge and flowed through his limbs and bones. Chen Chuan felt the magical energy around him gather slightly.

Chen Chuan opened his eyes, a trace of satisfaction flashing through them.

He stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the snow-covered courtyard.

Moonlight fell on the snow and reflected a silvery glow, making the whole world seem peaceful and mysterious.

The potions examination was tomorrow, and Chen Chuan knew it was more than an ordinary test.

The formulas and parchment Alex had given him, as well as the promise of a research assistant position, made this examination anything but simple.

In particular, the look from the formal wizard made him feel that a larger game might be hidden behind it.

He returned to the desk and carefully reread the formulas for the three potions.

He marked every precaution and every key step in red pen.

Around the edges of these notes, Alex had also left some seemingly casual annotations, such as "controlling the heat is more important than timing" and "the activity of Silver Moon Grass depends on the phase of the moon." All of them were practical insights that could not be found in books.

Time passed bit by bit, and the temperature in the dormitory gradually dropped.

Chen Chuan took out a small stove and began warming a pot of tea. As he poured it, he noticed that the tea was a brighter green than usual and gave off a faint, fresh fragrance of vegetation.

"Is this the influence of the Seed of Life?" Chen Chuan took a thoughtful sip of tea.

Ever since resonating with the Seed of Life, his ability to perceive plants and potions of all kinds had noticeably improved.

Even ordinary tea leaves could radiate a different kind of vitality in his hands.

Putting down his cup, Chen Chuan decided to turn in early. He lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state.

The source of magic power within him circulated slowly, while his spiritual power nourished his consciousness like a trickling stream.

In meditation, he seemed to hear a distant voice, as though it were calling to him.

After an unknown length of time, Chen Chuan woke from his meditation.

The moonlight outside the window had shifted westward. It seemed to be late at night.

He sat up, intending to check tomorrow's materials again, only to find that his formula booklet had somehow been opened to the last page.

In a blank space on that page, a line written in silver ink had appeared. The writing closely resembled the runes on Alex's parchment: "The true test has never been in the making of potions."

Chen Chuan frowned deeply and brushed his fingers lightly over the silver writing.

The ink seemed to retain a trace of warmth, just like the runes on the parchment, yet it was a little more mysterious.

He recalled the look in Alex's eyes when he handed him the formula booklet. It had not been simple appreciation, but an assessment.

Could this formal wizard have anticipated this moment all along?

The next day.

Chen Chuan washed up early and had magic wheat bread and a glass of Augu cow milk for breakfast, which he had brought back from the bakery on the corner of the commercial street.

After clearing away his dishes, he headed straight for the association gathering place on the east side of the academy.

It had been built among enormous, interwoven trees, and by the time Chen Chuan arrived, a long line had already formed outside the Potions Association.

Many students were already waiting. Chen Chuan noticed that, apart from a few blue-robed wizards, the people in line were mostly gray-robed and black-robed wizard apprentices.

While waiting in line, Chen Chuan saw his neighbor Lili standing ahead, accompanied by several gray-robed young men.

Since the basic meditation class in the first week, Chen Chuan had attended the four basic courses only once and had hardly seen Lili again.

The few times Lili had come to see him, he had put her off by saying he was busy researching potions.

Seeing that Chen Chuan was clearly treating her coldly, Lili did not persist and instead struck up conversations with other new students.

When they met, they merely exchanged greetings.

Now Lili seemed to notice something and looked in Chen Chuan's direction. When she recognized him, she was visibly startled.

After all, the gray robe Chen Chuan had worn was gone, replaced by a brand-new black one.

"What's wrong, Lili? What are you looking at?"

The long-haired young man beside Lili asked. His face was deathly pale, his eyes had an effeminate look, and a faint white mist seemed to curl around him.

"Nothing. I just saw an old classmate, another new student, but he seems to be a third-class wizard apprentice already."

There was admiration in Lili's eyes as she spoke, making the long-haired young man beside her jealous.

"Oh, that's impressive. Let's see, he advanced to third-class wizard apprentice in less than three months. My cousin took about the same time back then. Lili, could you introduce us?"

The long-haired man was Feierte, a new white-robed wizard. His cousin had entered a year before him and was already a first-class wizard apprentice.

The line slowly moved forward. Chen Chuan noticed the occasional glances from those around him, all falling on his brand-new black robe.

"Chen Chuan, are you here for the examination too?" Lili cut in beside the line with several people, a polite smile on her face.

"Yeah, I'm going to give it a try." Chen Chuan nodded in reply, his expression calm.

"I heard three formal wizards are presiding over this examination. It's harder than in previous years."

Lili lowered her voice. "When my cousin took it last year, there were only two formal wizards."

Chen Chuan was inwardly stirred, but he showed no sign of it.

He recalled the silver writing in the formula booklet and Alex's meaningful look.

"I see," Chen Chuan replied briefly, saying nothing more.

Lili seemed to sense his distance. She did not press him, instead turning to look at Feierte.

Feierte's eyes were cold and sinister as he raised his chin slightly.

"Hey, kid, I hear you're a genius. You advanced to third-class wizard apprentice in less than three months. Not bad."

Chen Chuan merely glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and ignored him.

"Are you mute? I'm talking to you. Didn't your parents teach you how to speak politely?"

Seeing that Chen Chuan was ignoring him, Feierte flew into a rage. He took a sharp step forward and reached out to grab the sleeve of Chen Chuan's black robe.

The instant his fingers touched the robe, an invisible force appeared and slammed Feierte away.

The elementary spell Ring of Repulsion pushed surrounding enemies more than three meters away.

Chen Chuan had used his variant, controlling most of the Ring of Repulsion's invisible force to keep it in front of him. It was also one of the few elementary spells Chen Chuan had mastered; after all, his short-term goals had all been focused on improving his potion-making skills.

Feierte staggered backward and collided with the apprentices in line, drawing a flurry of discontented whispers.

Chen Chuan looked at him expressionlessly, his hand beneath his black robe already clenched around the badge on his chest.

"Can I help you?" His voice was calm but carried unquestionable authority.

Feierte's face turned livid, and he forcibly suppressed his anger. "I just wanted to be friends."

He forced a smile, but his eyes were full of malice.

"No need." Chen Chuan turned away and stopped looking at him, directing his gaze toward the association entrance.

In the distance, three wizards in dark green robes were walking slowly toward them. Alex was at their head.

His gaze crossed the crowd and landed squarely on Chen Chuan, and he gave a slight nod.

Chen Chuan felt his heartbeat quicken slightly. He knew the true test had only just begun.