Follow-up Rewards

Frank got dressed and turned toward James. Hope had filled him with drive; at a time like this, rest was the last thing on his mind. He did not even care about being around James, whom he detested.

Another five days passed as the research slowly progressed. The time Frank could endure each day was limited, and the two of them were even slower at constructing the Meditation Method. Frank had only successfully outlined four runes, while James needed an amplifier's help even to construct them.

Over those five days, the surprise Adam had caused in the Outside World gradually subsided, and everyone returned to their original routines. Yet one piece of news spread without wings—the assessment nine months from now would not consist solely of a written test!

And this, too, was related to Adam.

Many of the apprentices in Adam's batch were actually unqualified. However, after Mordo had lost the war and Monte Carlo had seized nearly all of its native recruitment grounds on the Mage Continent, Mordo Academy could only grit its teeth and bring back every apprentice who met the standards. Clearly, that did not align with the academy's elite-oriented criteria.

Because the Telekinesis Meditation Method was highly valuable, the Fifth Element Holy Tower had decided to reward the Mordo Element High Tower. The specifics of the reward were unknown, but one part of it was an expansion of recruitment grounds. In other words, the academy would recruit many high-quality apprentices in the coming year. Therefore, the academy had decided to weed out the chaff and preserve the essence, using a trial to eliminate unqualified apprentices.

This decision caused a tremendous uproar among the apprentices. Trials inevitably came with death. After several months of peaceful living, the apprentices had practically come to believe the academy was a paradise, where they could become Mages step by step. They had never imagined that even after entering the academy, they would have to fight for the right to continue living.

Some apprentices began to lose heart and wanted to leave, but they had clearly overestimated the Mages' moral standards. The Formal Mages rejected their requests without hesitation, then casually killed several apprentices whose minds had collapsed and who had been disrespectful to them. From that point on, everyone accepted this dreadful news.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy and awkward. The "classmates" they had been in contact with for three months might become mortal enemies in nine months, and they no longer trusted one another.

Adam was probably the last person to learn of this news, and he learned it from the dean of Mordo Mage Academy.

"Adam, Adam!" That afternoon, Elliot rushed excitedly to Adam's laboratory, pounding on the door and shouting, "Open up! Good news!"

Adam was carrying out his daily experiments. Hearing the shouting, he gestured for the two others to continue their work, then went to open the door and found Elliot.

Elliot's shifty eyes roamed everywhere as he clicked his tongue. "Tsk tsk, worthy of a genius apprentice. Your first laboratory is already this big. Whoa, an Energy Fluctuation recorder—I don't even have one in my laboratory!"

Adam blocked his way and said coldly, "What is it?"

Elliot had long grown used to Adam's attitude. He did not mind as he said, "Good news. Victor Dean has summoned you personally. You're going to strike it rich, Adam!"

Adam knew that the Follow-up reward for the Telekinesis Meditation Method was probably about to be issued. For Adam, who was currently short on money, this truly was good news. He could not help smiling. "It is indeed good news."

The two left the laboratory and flew toward the Tower. Along the way, Elliot chattered nonstop. "It's unimaginable! Telekinesis was actually created by you. Do you know how amazing you are? From now on, I'll never have to worry about not being able to obtain precise measurements for potions directly!"

Adam asked strangely, "You've already constructed it successfully?"

Elliot looked embarrassed. "Uh... not yet, but soon! All the Senior Apprentices are studying your Meditation Method now, though everyone is only using it for reference. No one will completely switch over. After all, the most popular and authoritative one is still Mage's Armor."

Adam was not surprised. As he himself had said, the Telekinesis Meditation Method had ultimately been modified according to his own circumstances. The emergence of telekinesis was, in essence, the result of quantitative change triggering a Qualitative Change. Without boasting, its requirements for innate aptitude were simply too high, making it difficult to apply to everyone. Adam knew this problem, but he had no intention of modifying it for universal use. That would be far too troublesome, and he had no desire to establish a School of Thought.

Elliot said enviously, "I've been in Mordo for over forty years, and I've never once been summoned by the dean alone."

Adam was somewhat curious. "What level Mage is Victor Dean?"

Elliot said worshipfully, "Level Four. Just one step away from becoming a Hyperdimensional Mage!"

Adam was filled with respect. From apprentice to Formal Mage was one elevation of life's essence; from Mage to Hyperdimensional Mage was another. Victor Dean was a powerful figure at the Critical Point of his second elevation. Adam could not imagine how strong he must be.

Elliot thought Adam was nervous and comforted him. "Don't worry. As long as you maintain basic manners and do not deliberately offend or anger a Mage, even if you say something wrong, Mages cannot be bothered to hold it against us. Besides, I heard Victor Dean has a good temper."

Adam could roughly understand this way of thinking. When humans walked down the road, aside from those psychologically twisted, most would not deliberately seal up an anthill they passed by—unless the ants failed to recognize the immensity of heaven and earth and crawled onto a human's body.

The two descended outside the Tower and entered it. This was Adam's first time ascending to the Tower's other floors. Neither of them dared look around, but the dense magic around them still placed enormous pressure on them. Unlike the attribute-free magic the apprentices communicated with, every strand of energy here carried a powerful personal will.

As they neared the top of the Tower, Elliot stopped. Panting, he said, "The Second Floor from the top is Victor Dean's room. Only you can go the rest of the way. Good luck."

Adam nodded to him. Here, the concentration of magic instead decreased, replaced by a field that could only be vaguely sensed through Mental Power. He walked step by step toward the top of the Tower. After climbing the final stair, Adam discovered that he seemed to no longer be inside the Tower, but had arrived in another unknown space. Just as he was wondering about it, a voice rang out. "Apprentice Adam?"

Adam was startled. He had been completely unable to sense the owner of the voice just now, but there was clearly only one person who could speak here. "Yes, Respected Victor Mage."

The next second, Adam found himself seated on a chair that had appeared out of thin air. He summoned his courage and looked up, only to find that Victor Mage before him was unbelievably tall. The contrast made him seem utterly out of place with his surroundings, completely different from the feeling Adam had when he saw him three months ago. Just facing him like this, Adam felt everything about himself uncontrollably transforming in a certain direction.

Victor Mage sensed Adam's confusion and explained kindly, "This is my true body. What you saw before was merely an incarnation. The Energy Field of my Main Body is too strong for you, but do not be nervous. You will be fine for a short time."

Adam was horrified. Was this the power of a High-Level Mage? Merely the faint aura leaking from him could assimilate lower forms of life. It was terrifying!

"To make a long story short, Mordo Hyperdimensional Mage and the Fifth Element Holy Tower have given your modified Meditation Method the highest approval. On behalf of the Tower, I have decided to grant you rewards." As Victor Mage spoke, he placed a token, a materialized rune, and a contract before Adam. "With this token, you may read every book in the library except those on the top three floors. Free of charge."

The first reward was knowledge.

"Fuse this rune into your body, and you can obtain a one-cubic-meter Personal Space."

The second reward was a Physical Object.

"This contract... well, Little Fellow, I must say, you are quite remarkable. Your wisdom has won you limitless possibilities. Sign it, and your Meditation Method will be distributed throughout the entire Mage Plane. Every time someone reads it, you will receive a share of ten units of Energy Stone."

The final reward was resources.

Adam signed the contract without hesitation, once again marveling at the Mage World's protection of knowledge and contractual spirit. He knew that, at least until he became a Formal Mage, he would no longer need to worry about Energy Stones. No matter what research he conducted or what path he took, this unceasing income would be enough to support him.

"Thank you, Respected Victor Mage."

Victor Mage said, "You have earned all of this. I did not expect this year's luck to be so good—to find a genius like you among the apprentices. You solved a huge problem for me. Thanks to you, I have escaped an awkward predicament. I need to reward you. Hmm..."

Adam did not say a word. He did not know what huge problem Victor Mage meant, but that was unimportant. A reward from a Level Four Mage would clearly not be shabby.

"This, then. If you are lucky enough, it may perhaps help you nine months from now." Victor Mage made his decision.

A small black-and-red egg appeared before Adam. From time to time, an evil aura leaked from the egg. Adam picked it up and discovered that it was faintly wriggling in his palm, as though trying to invade his body.

"What is this?" Adam asked in confusion.

"It is the egg of an unknown creature I obtained from an Abyss Plane during a Plane War. Once it reaches adulthood, it will probably have strength around Level Two," Victor Mage explained.

Adam treasured it as though he had found a priceless jewel. He had not expected such an unexpected gain. Level Two—that meant that while still an apprentice, he had gained a companion capable of growing to Black Mage's level.

After handing everything over to Adam, Victor Mage waved him away. "Little Fellow, you must leave now. I wish you good luck in the trial nine months from now."

Another spatial shift occurred, and Adam was swept away against his will. When his consciousness returned, he found himself outside the Tower. All four rewards floated beside him, not one missing. He shook his head to Drive Away the discomfort. Just then, Elliot's voice rang out. "Looks like you gained a lot, my friend. Let me see what you got!"