Practical Class

Melinda and Isabel got the group organized, then led Fini and the others out of the academy toward the practical class site beyond the city.

The main purpose of this so-called practical class was to assess what the students had learned over the semester, while also serving as a reference for the magic systems they would choose for further study next term.

To Chen Cheng, it was somewhat like the midterm and final exams from his student days in his previous life.

The academy uniforms on the students displayed their status. As they walked along the road out of the city, the commoners all stepped aside, and some shopkeepers remembered that today was the day the academy had organized an outing for practical classes.

"Hey, I wonder what new tricks the academy teachers will come up with for this year's practical class."

"Oh, I wouldn't count on it. Earl Huidun, who was originally supposed to attend this practical class, suddenly had business and left the city early a few days ago. From what I know, the Earl won't be taking part this time.

Without the Earl, I'd say the academy will merely go through the motions. Who would truly dare let these young masters and young ladies of noble families get hurt?"

The gossiping merchant shook his head as he spoke, though it was unclear whether he was disappointed by the academy's false show.

The group of students thus left Hui Dun City, and along the way, the differences between them became plainly apparent.

Take Fini, for example. She had entered the Sea of Magic on her own, and she had even comprehended a Wind Magic spell within it. Thus, after walking all this way, a light breeze still circled around her; her face was not red, nor was she out of breath.

Among her classmates, however, a large number were panting heavily because mages did not train their bodies.

Only two or three exceptionally gifted students, with Melinda and Isabel's help, had outlined Fundamental Magic Runes and were able to circulate magic power through their bodies to ease their aching muscles.

Chen Cheng was not surprised by this situation. These students were all under ten years old, and every one of them had been raised in luxury.

Learning magic at the academy did not require them to temper their bodies like warriors did. Furthermore, before coming out today, they had not been allowed to have their slaves or servants carry them. Naturally, after walking several miles, they were panting like this.

When those students progressing somewhat faster saw Fini using magic, they thought of themselves as well. Although the magic they had inscribed did not have a lightening effect like hers, they could likewise circulate magic power through their entire bodies to reduce fatigue.

Walking at the front, Isabel was quite pleased with those students who used magic power to ease their exhaustion. Of course, the one who pleased her most was the genius young lady, Fini.

As for Chen Cheng beside her, though he too was neither flushed nor breathless, and there was even a faintly perceptible flow of special magic around him that was exceptionally good at concealing itself, Isabel had never shown him a pleasant expression.

This was not merely because of Chen Cheng's identity. More importantly, it was because of the glasses Chen Cheng had made for Melinda, which had made both him and Melinda the recent talk of the city's upper circles.

Whenever someone linked Chen Cheng, a slave, with Melinda in front of her, even if they said nothing unpleasant, Isabel's expression would immediately darken.

Fortunately, Earl Huidun had left Hui Dun City two days ago. Otherwise, for the sake of her closest friend, Isabel might truly have gone and killed Chen Cheng, the slave who had tarnished Melinda's reputation.

Naturally, Chen Cheng knew nothing of this. He could only sense that this one-legged teacher was rather hostile toward him, but considering she was a disabled girl, he would not stoop to arguing with her. That was what Chen Cheng thought.

At this moment, Chen Cheng began using his mind to sense whether the magic he had developed himself was showing any signs of collapse, while also observing whether its magic power circulation still had the obstructed feeling from before.

Chen Cheng had now inscribed the results of his recent research within his body. He had dismantled every Magic Rune Corridor of those basic minor spells, then used different Magic Rune Corridor combinations in the Sea of Magic within his dreams to study the flow and conversion of magic.

He had failed many times during this process, but fortunately, he had the convenience of entering and leaving the Sea of Magic at will.

In the end, he had still managed to tinker out a few things, such as the conversion directions of several Magic Rune Corridors. What he had inscribed upon himself now was a basic spell he had most recently succeeded in researching.

However, he had made a slight modification to this Magic Rune Corridor's inscription, turning it into a basic spell capable of minor variations.

What he had just used was a recovery spell, instantly restoring his fatigue.

Feeling the changes in his body, this was the first time Chen Cheng had seriously experienced the benefits brought by magic power.

The Magic Markings Corridor had been constructed successfully. Magic power injection was normal. Magic power release was normal. Corridor dismantling was successful.

Silently recalling the casting process his consciousness had just observed, the corners of Chen Cheng's mouth could not help but curl into a smile.

His research had truly succeeded.

Soon, everyone caught sight of the academy's military camp outside Nanmu Forest. Soldiers sent by the Earl guarded both inside and outside the camp, ensuring the camp's safety.

At the same time, these soldiers could act as support, stepping in to protect the students should they encounter beasts stronger than anticipated within the forest.

After entering the camp, Chen Cheng saw a raised platform. Remembering that the Earl was supposed to come here today to present Fini with her reward, he assumed it had been prepared for the Earl.

Chen Cheng was not the only one with that thought. Seeing it, the students all cast envious looks toward Fini.

After reorganizing the group, Melinda led the students to the tent belonging to their class. The half-month-long outdoor magic practical class now began.

However, while everyone was discussing when the Earl would arrive, the camp's highest-ranking officer came over and informed Melinda, who was leading the group, that a major incident had occurred in Nanmu Forest yesterday.

Two days ago, the Earl had already led his Imperial Knights into the mountains to handle the matter, so today's award ceremony might have to be canceled.

Upon hearing this news, those jealous people each secretly snickered, while those who had some friendship with Fini came forward to comfort her.

Watching the students' differing reactions, Isabel shook her head repeatedly. Those snickering fellows had no sense whatsoever of collective honor as members of the class, which was what she, a former military woman, disliked most.

Isabel clapped her hands to draw everyone's attention, then began assigning tents to the students.

Afterward, Melinda and Isabel found Fini and comforted her properly, telling her that Earl Huidun would not go back on his word. The honor that belonged to her would always be hers.

Seeing both teachers comforting Fini, Chen Cheng went to arrange Fini's tent first.

Those who had been waiting to enjoy the show saw that Fini not only had teachers comforting her, but that her servant Chen Cheng was also an auditing student and could come here to help arrange her tent.

Their own servants, on the other hand, were not enrolled academy students and had all been stopped outside by the soldiers.

At this moment, these young masters and young ladies were truly turning into lemon spirits, sour enough to die.

"Keep being smug. Let's see whether a lowly thing like you dies during this practical class."

Coles, who had been staring at Chen Cheng the entire time, held a jet-black Magic Crystal in his hand and muttered to himself sinisterly.

After the students had settled their tents, Melinda took the lead in bringing them to the outskirts of Nanmu Forest, where she gave them an on-site lesson in magical herbs.

Naturally, the herbal knowledge taught here was very superficial. It merely gave these students an opportunity to learn about it. As for studying magical herbs in depth, that would be something for after they became true mages.

Chen Cheng had also borrowed and read several basic books on magical potion studies, the field to which magical herbs belonged. For now, he only intended to leave his knowledge of it at the level of having read about it.

Because according to what his sworn friend from his previous life, Old Ke, had told him about the medical field, Chen Cheng knew very clearly just how enormous a pit it was.

He did not want to jump into that huge pit himself.

For now, he would continue researching his Magic Rune Corridors.

The group did not venture far from the camp. Melinda only introduced several common magical herbs nearby that possessed basic healing properties, then explained their habits, appearances, and simple effects before the class ended.

This allowed the students to gain a basic understanding of several common magical herbs, so that if they were injured during their upcoming free hunting class, they would know that nearby herbs could treat them.

Time passed quickly, and three days vanished in the blink of an eye. Yet Earl Huidun had still not returned from Nanmu Forest.

As a former member of the military, Isabel found this strange. She also asked the camp officer whether the Black Dragon of Nanmu Forest had emerged.

However, the only answer she received was that it was not the Black Dragon. If the Black Dragon appeared, they would have to report it to the King, who would then dispatch the kingdom's two strongest Legendary experts. Wisdom Shield would not foolishly lead his knights into Nanmu Forest because of it.

After thinking it over, Isabel felt that made sense. Moreover, she herself was a Level 10 Gold Warrior, and her senses for battle auras had not warned her of any signs of warfare.

Perhaps something within the forest had merely delayed the Earl.

But if someone were to venture deep into Nanmu Forest at this moment, they would see the perilous danger lurking in its depths: a great tree wrapped in dragon-shaped vines.

At this moment, vines had formed a cage within several hundred meters around it, and inside lay dozens of knights in armor, dead miserable deaths.