Cleared

Mentor Clark keenly noticed the change in Benjamin's mood.

Seeing the relief of having survived a disaster on Benjamin's face, a teasing glint flashed through Clark's eyes. It was something Benjamin had never seen from him before.

"What?" Mentor Clark leaned forward slightly and, for once, made a joke. "You didn't think we went to such lengths to bring you here, mobilizing so many resources and people, just for that little bit of knowledge about new materials in your head, did you?"

Benjamin lowered his head awkwardly and scratched it, using the gesture to hide the lingering relief in his eyes. "Uh... I was a little worried at first... that I'd be questioned about it."

Mentor Clark did not comment on his "worries." Instead, he began explaining on his own, his tone returning to its usual steady cadence.

"You may not realize this, but the resources the Academy mobilized to confirm your 'purity' and potential far exceeded your imagination. Examining your soul, social connections, and karmic threads required at least five wizards above Level 4, including experts proficient in rare schools."

"Even checking the Plane Origin data required the Dean's authority. The magical power and manpower consumed in the process were no small expenditure, even for Noren Academy."

"We did not do this because your materials were particularly valuable. Level 5 materials are certainly good, but they are not irreplaceable to us. What truly mattered was eliminating every hidden danger that could affect the Academy's security and determining whether your potential was worth the investment."

Mentor Clark paused, his gaze seeming to pierce through the walls of the secret chamber and look toward the distant void.

"Besides, we also held a faint, unrealistic expectation."

His tone suddenly became complicated, carrying both disappointment and the regret of a seeker of knowledge.

"To be honest, quite a few of us hoped that you might be connected to some foreign, unknown existence—beings that, in certain planes, could be called gods."

"Uh..."

Benjamin was briefly at a loss for words, unsure how to respond. Fortunately, Mentor Clark had not intended for him to respond anyway.

"Wizards pursue knowledge. But our knowledge is not rigid dogma. Like life itself, it constantly absorbs, digests, and transforms, ultimately becoming our own power and understanding," Mentor Clark continued. "Thus, even knowledge regarded as contamination in many fates can be swiftly used and transformed by wizards."

"Long ago, not long after Wizard Civilization first stepped beyond the Origin Plane, it encountered a special cluster of planes. A group of gods lived there, beings with the trait of being 'indescribable.' They had no fixed forms, no clearly defined rank, and enjoyed forcibly dragging mortals into their understanding of 'truth' or 'knowledge,' driving them mad or killing them because they could not bear such excessive information and concepts."

Benjamin swallowed. For some reason... those gods sounded awfully familiar.

"They were... dangerous gods, but ones filled with knowledge." An indescribable fervor actually seeped into Mentor Clark's voice. "Later, the wizards of that era destroyed that cluster of planes and 'devoured' those gods."

"We analyzed their forms of existence in the way of wizards, absorbed their power and knowledge, and completely integrated them into the system of Wizard Civilization."

"And through the legacy of those gods, Wizard Civilization ultimately gave birth to a new Level 9 Wizard."

A Level 9 Wizard!

Even in his current state, Benjamin could not help but feel a surge of longing.

"So, if you truly had some connection to foreign gods capable of bringing unknown knowledge and concepts..." Mentor Clark's tone carried a trace of regret.

"Just reporting the matter would ensure that our Academy had no need to worry about resources for a very long time. If the enemy were strong enough, it might even result in the birth of another Level 9 Wizard, and the boundaries of Wizard Civilization could expand once more."

He looked at Benjamin and calmly concluded, "So when we discovered that you were very 'clean,' merely a gifted native apprentice with good luck... to be honest, quite a few wizards among us, myself included, were rather disappointed."

Listening to Mentor Clark's "disappointment," Benjamin felt the clothes on his back become completely soaked with cold sweat!

He decisively resolved that, no matter what, he had to keep the Great Dao Library in his mind hidden beyond all doubt!

He absolutely could not let anyone notice its existence!

After all, even Benjamin himself did not know whether, if this thing were exposed, the wizards would classify it as knowledge possessed by him personally or as some hidden scheme left behind by an unknown divine existence.

However, after the fright passed, Benjamin calmed down as well.

From what his mentor said, it seemed that he had already been reviewed once without even knowing it, which was why he had received the Level Two Training Agreement.

And that agreement had been initiated by the Star Ring Alliance.

If Noren Workshop was the superior organization of Noren Academy, then the Star Ring Alliance was the superior organization of Noren Workshop.

The entire Star Ring Alliance was formed by many powerful wizard factions sharing common beliefs. It was one of the four major camps of Wizard Civilization.

For Benjamin, the greatest benefit of this training agreement was not the access it granted, but the fact that it meant his identity had been completely cleared!

On top of that, there were the convention restrictions of the Star Track Tribunal.

Provided he was "neither a spy nor a traitor," no wizard could forcibly deprive him of his knowledge.

This meant that, as long as he was careful enough and did not expose the Great Dao Library, his greatest secret, he could gradually reveal more things in the future under the identity of a "genius."

As long as he systematically disguised the vast knowledge of the Immortal Cultivation World as knowledge and materials from the Wizard World, he could obtain more benefits and resources for himself!

This was an excellent opportunity!

Benjamin took a deep breath and calmed his pounding heart.

"Thank you, Mentor!" He sincerely bowed to Mentor Clark. "I will not disappoint the Alliance's cultivation!"

"This has nothing to do with me. It is your own ability." Mentor Clark nodded, returning to his usual expressionless self.

"The Level Two Training Agreement will officially take effect within a week, and the relevant permissions will be issued to your personal account. Remember, the opportunity has been provided. How far you go depends on your own capability."

With that, Mentor Clark stood up. Without saying anything further, he turned and left the secret chamber.

The heavy metal door slowly closed once more, and silence returned to the chamber.

Benjamin sat in his chair, feeling more relaxed than ever before.