Jonathan and the others waited in the square for a while.
Before long, Brown, the vice dean, the dean, and a crowd of instructors and students who had heard that Jonathan was applying to graduate as a Level Seven Mage all came rushing over.
The number of onlookers continued to grow.
The dean stroked his beard and looked at Jonathan. "Have you really reached Level Seven?"
"I wouldn't dare deceive you, Dean. I have. I had an opportunity while in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, which is why my trial was delayed."
"Hahaha, that's all right. A good delay, in fact!" the dean said. "Since you say you've reached Level Seven, we'll take your word for it. There's no need for a test. Just cast a Level Seven Earth Magic or Dark Magic spell."
Everyone looked eager, longing to witness a historic moment.
Jonathan smiled faintly, then stepped forward and quickly drew in the Heaven and Earth Elements around him. A dozen or so breaths later, a flash of yellow light flickered around him, and armor carved from jade appeared on his body, fitting him perfectly.
One instructor exclaimed, "A jade Earth Guardian Holy Armor! He really has reached Level Seven!"
"Second in history! He's the second-ranked mage in history!"
"Our Ulada Magic Academy has produced a genius mage ranked second in history. Who says we have to be inferior to Ernst?!"
Several instructors began murmuring excitedly.
The other students were equally abuzz, talking among themselves. Every face showed utter astonishment.
A seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mage of two elements—this was absolutely a historic achievement!
They had actually witnessed it!
Once the news got out, not only would all of Black Phoenix City be shocked, but the Dark Church headquarters would send someone immediately.
The dean burst into laughter. "Wonderful! Truly wonderful, Jonathan. You're remarkable!"
"A mage ranked second in history—you've brought great honor to our Ulada Magic Academy!"
"It's all thanks to the academy's support!"
A Level Seven Mage of two elements was nothing extraordinary, but a seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mage of two elements had a 99 percent chance of reaching the Saint Magus realm in the future.
Even the Dark Church would make every effort to recruit him, sparing no expense.
Collette, Ford, and Charles exchanged glances. Seeing everyone's reactions, they couldn't help laughing. They figured the others looked exactly as they had imagined.
They winked at Jonathan, who smiled back.
"Jonathan, I, Mels Morinster, dean of Ulada Magic Academy, hereby announce that you may graduate. Congratulations!"
"Thank you, Dean. Thank you, Vice Dean, and thank you to all the instructors."
The dean continued, "However, given your remarkable achievement, could you stay at the academy for a couple more days? I plan to hire a master sculptor from Black Phoenix City to carve a statue of you, which we'll place permanently at the academy for future students to admire and learn from."
"I'll leave it in your hands, Dean." Jonathan didn't refuse.
News that Jonathan had graduated as a Level Seven Mage of two elements spread through Ulada Magic Academy at astonishing speed, and even reached Black Phoenix City.
The palace.
"What? Jonathan has graduated, and he's a Level Seven Mage?"
Prell looked stunned. "Didn't he only become a Level Six Mage in the second half of last year?"
"I heard he came across some kind of opportunity in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I don't know the details."
He wasn't even listening to the guard's report. He kept repeating, "A seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mage of two elements, the second-youngest in the history of the Yulan Continent to advance to Level Seven! A genius!"
"Go! Hurry to the entrance of Ulada Magic Academy and wait there. The moment he leaves, report back to me. I want to be the first to visit and congratulate him."
He wanted to congratulate Jonathan, of course, but he also hoped to win him over.
Before long, the Dark Church headquarters would surely send someone as well. A genius of this caliber had a great chance of reaching the Saint Magus realm in the future, and might even become a major figure in the Dark Church.
Whether in the Dark Church or the Light Church, the leading figures were all at the peak of the Saint Realm.
Two days later, Jonathan left Ulada Magic Academy and returned to the Bred Mansion. Before long, Prell came to congratulate him, quickly treating him like an old friend.
"Jonathan, you're truly incredible. Do you have any idea how remarkable this achievement of yours is?"
"Your Majesty, you're exaggerating. I've only cultivated a little faster than other people."
"I told you, when we're alone, just call me big brother."
Jonathan's mouth twitched. "I consider Charles a brother, but you..."
"Fine. If you don't want to call me big brother, just use my name."
"By the way, now that you've graduated, what are your plans? Would you like to come to my palace and serve as chief mage?"
"Your Majesty, don't joke around. A Level Seven Mage probably isn't quite enough to serve as the chief mage of a kingdom. Level Eight, perhaps."
"Others might not qualify, but you do. If you're willing to come, I guarantee no one will dare criticize you."
Jonathan smiled faintly. "Thank you for the kind offer, Your Majesty. But I'm still young and don't want to enter government service so soon. I'd like to spend some time cultivating in peace first."
"Fair enough. Cultivation is what matters most. You're nowhere near the limit of your potential. You probably won't slow down properly until you reach Level 9 Great Mage."
"Still, a Level 9 Great Mage..."
A kingdom couldn't hope to recruit a Level 9 Great Mage. Even in the Four Great Empires, such a person would be revered. And as for money—once you had strength, would you really be short of it?
"I understand what you mean. But no matter what, the door will always be open for you to become the chief mage of my kingdom, Bandas. Whenever you decide you want the position, all you have to do is say the word."
"Thank you for your favor, Your Majesty."
Before long, Prell returned to the palace.
As the news spread throughout Black Phoenix City, more and more nobles came to pay their respects. Among them was Collette's father, Marquis Hudson.
Jonathan didn't even meet with most of his visitors.
But for Marquis Hudson, out of consideration for Collette, he sat down and chatted with him for a while.
Several days later, a visitor arrived whom Collette had expected.
The visitor was Wesport, a black-robed archbishop of the Dark Church. His hair was a mottled gray-brown, and he wore a black robe embroidered with gold patterns. Thin and hawk-nosed, with slightly sunken eyes, he had a rather gloomy air about him.
A black-robed archbishop ranked just below the Church's handful of leading figures. Every one of them was a Level 9 Great Mage.
Three gray-robed priests followed behind Wesport.
"Greetings, Archbishop."
"Jonathan, I hope you don't mind my showing up unannounced."
"Not at all. Someone of your esteemed status has honored my humble home with your presence."
"Hahaha! I expected the second-ranked mage in history to be a proud young man. You're much more mature than I imagined!"
"Children from poor families grow up early. Perhaps it has something to do with what I went through as a child."
Wesport said, "I've heard about your circumstances. Fortunately, the truth has now come to light. You've become head of the Bred Family and inherited the marquis title. Your parents and family can rest in peace."
"Thank you for your concern, sir."
"I'm here on behalf of the Dark Church to recruit you. I hope you'll join us."
"I can promise you that if you join, you'll be made a gray-robed priest immediately, and you'll have access to all kinds of cultivation resources."
The three gray-robed priests were slightly taken aback.
"You've reached Level Seven now, but you probably haven't learned the higher-level Earth Magic or Dark Magic spells yet, have you?"
"Besides, the Dark Church also has fighting spirit manuals that can take you all the way to the Saint Realm. If you need one, you can switch to that as well."
Before you continue