Lena's Magic Test

The priests of the Radiant Church stepped out from the cathedral in time to maintain order, allowing the magic aptitude test to proceed normally.

Everyone entered the cathedral, and the boys and girls took turns undergoing the test.

Most of them failed to meet the requirements; their elemental affinity was either medium or low, and their spiritual energy generally did not exceed five times that of their peers.

Those who possessed the aptitude to become mages were few and far between; it was considered good if one out of every ten succeeded.

"Next."

It was Laina's turn.

Laina held Liewen's hand, feeling somewhat nervous.

"Laina, don't be afraid. Just do as the priest instructs," Liewen said softly.

Laina nodded, walked up to the crystal ball used for testing, and placed her hand on it according to the priest's instructions.

Suddenly, the crystal ball emitted a dazzling white light, forcing those nearby to squint their eyes.

Seeing the crystal ball shining as brightly as the sun, everyone was stunned.

The priest in charge of the test was a white-haired old man. Seeing Laina's elemental affinity, he said with a trembling voice: "Elemental affinity, light-style super-grade!"

"It's actually super-grade?" Liewen was also somewhat surprised; when he took the test years ago, his light-style elemental affinity was only high-grade.

"Isn't she Duke Andrew's sister?"

"Duke Andrew is a rank nine powerhouse, and his sister actually has such high elemental affinity. It's truly enviable."

The people in the cathedral began to whisper among themselves.

"Quiet!" the priest responsible for maintaining order shouted. Only after the cathedral returned to silence did he continue the test.

"Please step into the magic array over there. Remember, the longer you can hold out, the better," the white-haired priest said to Laina, his voice much gentler than when he spoke to the others.

Laina nodded and walked to the center of the cathedral to stand in the magic array.

A white light illuminated the magic array.

Light-style magic—Deterrence.

This was a type of magic that could suppress the soul. The longer one could hold out under this magic, the stronger their spiritual energy was.

Years ago, when Liewen took the test, he had collapsed to the ground after only a short while.

At this moment, seeing Laina standing in the magic array, Liewen felt a bit nervous. If Laina's spiritual energy failed to meet the minimum threshold to become a mage, it would be a great pity.

Time ticked by second by second. Laina stood in the magic array without any reaction; instead, she appeared extremely at ease, like a fish in water.

Her originally light blue eyes turned white, and her expression became indifferent, resembling the image of an angel in the cathedral's murals.

"Clang."

The white-haired priest in charge of the test stood up abruptly from his chair, knocking it over in his haste.

"That's enough, no need to test further!" The white-haired priest stared at Laina without blinking, his expression filled with excitement.

The white light in the magic array vanished, and Laina's eyes returned to normal. She looked around in confusion, feeling somewhat at a loss.

"Laina, come back," Liewen said.

Hearing this, Laina hurried back to Liewen's side.

"Brother Liewen, how was it? Can I become a mage?" Laina looked at Liewen nervously.

Liewen didn't know how to answer; he had never encountered a situation like the one just now.

What he found most incomprehensible was that the white-haired priest in charge had actually called a halt to the test.

Those being tested were all children. Logically speaking, no matter how strong one's spiritual energy was, there was always a limit, and a result could only be obtained by testing until the end.

Among the students of the Ernst Institute in Linley's batch, the one with the strongest spiritual energy was Delia's brother, Dixie, whose spiritual energy was 68 times that of his peers.

Even with such strong spiritual energy, he had tested until the end and was not stopped midway.

Liewen looked at the white-haired priest in charge of the test. The man's expression was agitated, clearly knowing something.

"Priest, may I ask what my sister's spiritual energy score is?" Liewen asked.

Seeing that it was Liewen asking, the white-haired priest bowed and said, "Duke Andrew, Laina is extremely suited to learning light-style magic. I wonder if she could be sent to the Holy Island? The best light-style mages of the Radiant Church are there, and they will certainly cultivate her with all their might."

Seeing the white-haired priest evade the question and instead show urgency in wanting Laina to go to the Holy Island, Liewen felt a sense of wariness.

"No, I have no intention of letting Laina leave my side for the time being," Liewen said indifferently.

"Duke, shouldn't we hear Laina's opinion?" The white-haired priest was unwilling to give up.

Laina held Liewen's hand, pressing tightly against him: "I listen to my brother."

"Since the test is over, we will be leaving now." Liewen took Laina's hand and prepared to leave the Radiant Cathedral.

The white-haired priest was clearly anxious and blurted out: "No, you cannot leave!"

"Oh?" Liewen turned back, looking coldly at the white-haired priest. The man clearly had ulterior motives.

"I wonder what the priest needs us to stay for?"

The white-haired priest realized he had been impulsive just now and shifted his gaze evasively: "No, it's nothing. Please go ahead, Duke."

Liewen took a deep look at the other party before leaving with Lena.

The white-haired priest watched the backs of Liewen and Lena as they departed, then beckoned another priest over, whispered a few instructions in his ear, and hurried toward the back of the Radiant Cathedral.

"Alright, continue the testing!" that priest called out to the crowd, and the testing resumed.

Liewen and Lena boarded their carriage and returned to the manor.

The more Liewen thought about it, the more something felt off. He looked at Lena; the little girl was leaning against the carriage window, curiously watching the street scenes outside, her pale blue eyes clean and clear, devoid of even a trace of impurity.

Could it be... A sudden thought struck Liewen. Could Lena also be a person with a pure soul?

In the original work, there was no detailed description of how the Radiant Church searched for those with pure souls, but after so many years, the Radiant Church must certainly have a method for identifying them.

Otherwise, how could they search the entire continent for people?

Thinking of the magic testing held every year, Liewen couldn't help but wonder if that magic array also had the effect of testing the purity of one's soul.

He couldn't be sure, but the unease in his heart refused to dissipate.

I should take Lena and leave.

Hess City was, after all, the territory of the Radiant Church. Although Liewen was confident he could fight an ordinary Saint-level expert, the Radiant Church had dozens of Saint-level powerhouses, and he was not yet capable of contending with them.

His current physical strength had reached the peak of the ninth rank, and magic beast cores below the Saint level were of little use to him; there was no longer any need to remain in Hess City.

Fortunately, he had already instructed his servants to pack their luggage two days ago, so they could depart immediately.

By the time Liewen returned to the manor, the white-haired priest had run to a quiet room behind the cathedral.

The Radiant Cathedral was vast; besides being used for magic testing and believer worship, it also served as the residence for the Radiant Church's personnel in Hess City.

The white-haired priest knocked on the door of the quiet room.

"Lord Gilmer, Erwin has an urgent matter to report."

"Come in."

Erwin pushed the door open and entered; Gilmer was in the middle of cultivation inside the quiet room.

Erwin did not waste words and spoke immediately: "Lord Gilmer, a person with a pure soul was discovered during the magic testing!"