Wizard Landi

Chen Chuan studied Vera's sister, silently assessing her.

Judging by the fluctuations of Magic Power she gave off, she was at least as strong as a First-Class Wizard Apprentice, considerably stronger than Vera.

"You're Chen Chuan?" The woman turned to him, her tone softening somewhat.

"I'm Alia Madison, Vera's older sister.

"Lord Alex mentioned you. He said you had a great talent for potion-making."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly. "Yes, Lord Alex gives me too much credit."

"The environment in the planar ruins is complex. You'll need to be careful."

Alia handed Chen Chuan a small silver amulet.

"This is an Interference-Resistance Amulet I made. It can resist mental interference no stronger than the first tier.

"Consider it compensation for my sister's rude behavior."

Chen Chuan had intended to refuse, but considering the mission, he accepted it. "Thank you, Miss Alia."

He took the amulet and felt the powerful magical fluctuations coming from it. Running a hand over its metal casing, he estimated that it was worth at least 1,000 low-grade magic stones. Chen Chuan couldn't help marveling at how rich the great families were, giving away so much as an apology.

Vera's expression grew even uglier when she saw her sister treat Chen Chuan this way, but she didn't dare act up.

"We should reach our destination in three hours."

"You can meditate and rest for a while to conserve your strength," Alia instructed.

With that, she turned and left. Vera hurried after her, glaring at Chen Chuan before she went.

Chen Chuan put away the amulet and took a deep breath. The sudden appearance of the Madison sisters made him realize that at the academy, connections and background were just as important as strength.

But Chen Chuan was also absolutely confident in his own strength. Even if he had to fight a First-Class Wizard Apprentice, he had nothing to worry about.

The airship sailed steadily through the sky. In the observation hall on the third floor, Chen Chuan found a seat by the window and gazed at the ever-changing sea of clouds outside.

On the distant horizon, the outline of the Osteka Plain was already faintly visible, a vast expanse of green stretching to the edge of the sky.

Chen Chuan closed his eyes and focused his mind on the Seed of Life, checking his condition.

The images of three Vitality Magic Mushrooms, each a different color, flickered in and out of sight in his mental world, each giving off a different aura.

The recovery type emitted a soft green glow, the attack type was surrounded by a sharp red light, and the defense type shone with a steady golden radiance.

Chen Chuan had chosen all three Magic Mushrooms long ago. Their target levels were all at the First-Class Wizard Apprentice level, and their combat strength was not to be underestimated.

Time passed, and three hours had nearly gone by in the blink of an eye.

The Duchy of Wus was the most powerful duchy around the Osteka Plain and controlled most of its land. The planar ruins they were headed to this time also lay within its sphere of influence.

Looking down from the sky, he could see a massive wall stretching across the mountains, separating the Osteka Plain from the Duchy of Wus.

The outline of the Osteka Plain was now clearly visible, and patches of vegetation began to appear on the ground, revealing an ecosystem completely different from the academy's.

"Attention, passengers. We are about to arrive at the Duchy of Wus airship station. Please prepare to disembark."

A mechanical voice came from the top of the airship. Chen Chuan straightened his blue robe, got up, and left.

When he reached the hall on the second floor, his gaze swept over the other apprentices. Vera was speaking quietly with her sister, glancing at him from time to time with an unmistakably provocative look.

Chen Chuan ignored her and headed straight for the airship's lower level.

By the time he reached the assembly point on the lower level, a First-Class Wizard Apprentice was already counting heads.

The only Formal Wizard stood at the front of the group, his aura steady and imposing, making it hard to look directly at him.

"Chen Chuan, stand in the middle of the group." The Formal Wizard pointed out his place.

This Formal Wizard was named Camila. He was an elemental wizard whose primary focus was the earth element, with the life element as his secondary focus.

Before his advancement, he had often ventured out on adventures and had extensive experience with this kind of mission.

Chen Chuan took his place as instructed, aware of the gazes the apprentices around him directed his way.

Some were curious, some appraising, and a few, like Vera's, were full of hostility.

He adjusted his breathing slightly, all the while remaining silently on guard. The airship slowly descended, and when the hatch opened, a scent of earth and vegetation rushed toward him.

The Duchy of Wus airship station was more rudimentary than the academy's, but the ground was exceptionally clean.

The nineteen-person team made its way down the tower to the assembly and waiting area outside, where they waited for another Formal Wizard who had already arrived.

Before long, the Wizard Apprentices saw a dark figure flying toward them from the distance.

A middle-aged man in a black robe descended rapidly from the sky and landed before them.

The middle-aged man swept a sharp gaze over the group, finally stopping on Camila.

"Camila, thank you for your efforts." The middle-aged man's voice was hoarse, but carried an unquestionable authority.

"Lord Randy, all eighteen apprentices are here. We can set out at any time."

Camila bowed respectfully.

Chen Chuan was secretly startled. It seemed that this Formal Wizard named Randy either possessed extraordinary combat strength or was a higher tier than Camila, a First-Tier Wizard. Otherwise, Camila wouldn't have bowed so respectfully.

Randy swept his gaze over the group. If the academy hadn't sent its elite apprentices this time, he wouldn't have wasted his time coming to protect them.

Randy's gaze suddenly turned to Chen Chuan, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Why is there a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice who has only just advanced?"

After looking in the direction of Randy's gaze, Camila replied softly.

"My lord, this is Chen Chuan, the herbal consultant Alex recommended."

Hearing Alex's name, Randy's expression visibly improved.

He nodded.

"Someone Alex thinks highly of shouldn't be lacking." Randy's tone was flat, but it carried an invisible pressure. "Remember, any carelessness in the planar ruins could be fatal.

"Especially you. As the herbal consultant, you must be extra careful when collecting samples. Don't touch unknown plants out of curiosity."

Chen Chuan nodded in acknowledgment. "Understood, my lord."

Randy said no more and turned toward the front of the group. "Follow me. I just rented some Griffins from the Duchy of Wus. They're already waiting at the entrance to the Osteka Plain's wilderness."

The team followed Randy out of the assembly point and plunged straight into the wilderness of the Osteka Plain.

Sure enough, seven Griffins were waiting at the wilderness entrance, lying on the ground and gnawing on pieces of meat.

Under Randy's direction, everyone split into seven groups and mounted the Griffins. "Hurry up, everyone. We expect to reach the entrance to the ruins in three hours."

The Griffins beat their wings, whipping up a strong gust as they flew into the sky.

Chen Chuan instantly felt as though he were back on Blue Star, when he had likewise ridden a Griffin to see Elder Gu.

He wondered how his family on Blue Star was doing now.

As Chen Chuan rode a Griffin over the Osteka Plain, he discovered that the trees here grew in twisted shapes and with astonishing vigor. Rustling sounds from unknown creatures came from the bushes now and then.

Vera's Griffin was just ahead of Chen Chuan's, and she looked back at him provocatively from time to time.

Chen Chuan acted as though he hadn't seen her. He quietly spread out his mental power, sensing changes in the surrounding environment. His Seed of Life formed a subtle resonance with the plants on this land, allowing him to sense the auras of life hidden deep within it.

After about three hours of flight, a stretch of crumbling walls and ruins appeared ahead. Vines covered the walls, and fluorescent moss grew in the cracks between the stones, giving off an eerie green glow.