Magic Testing

West of the Yulan Magical Beast Mountain Range, the lands were divided between the Holy Union and the Dark Alliance. The leading kingdom in the Holy Union was the Fenlai Kingdom!

Fenlai City was the capital of the Fenlai Kingdom.→

It was also the "Holy Capital" of the Holy Union, because the Radiant Church's headquarters stood in the western part of the city.

Fenlai City was divided mainly into two sections: the eastern city and the western city. The Fenlai Kingdom governed the eastern city, while the Radiant Church governed the western city. Since Fenlai City was both a royal capital and a holy capital, its prosperity was second to none throughout Yulan.

Fenlai City covered an enormous area and housed more than a million residents. It ranked among the top five supercities in all of Yulan.

At dusk, Lin Feng and Hillman entered Fenlai City.

Walking along the eastern city's main thoroughfare, Champs-Elysees Avenue, Lin Feng could hardly take it all in. The ancient-looking walls and buildings were unlike those of a modern city; instead, they gave off an air of weight and grandeur.

When he had read the original story, Lin Feng had been deeply impressed by Champs-Elysees Avenue in Fenlai City. Now that he was standing there in person, the reality surpassed even its reputation.

Beibei, hiding in Lin Feng's clothes, also peeked outside. Like Lin Feng, this was his first time in a city, and he couldn't help feeling like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in town.

"Lin Feng, what do you think of Fenlai City? It's the biggest city in the Holy Union." Hillman walked beside Lin Feng along the street. As he watched warriors pass by, and occasionally a mage or two, he remarked, "Powerful warriors and mages are very common here."

Lin Feng smiled and nodded. "The books say Fenlai City is the political, economic, and artistic center of the Holy Union."

"This is paradise for the wealthy and influential." Hillman nodded with a sigh.

Elegant carriages frequently rolled along bustling Champs-Elysees Avenue. After showing Lin Feng around the city's main thoroughfare, Hillman took him straight to an ordinary inn, where they settled in.

There was a small restaurant beside the inn, and Lin Feng and Hillman ate dinner there.

That night, in the inn,

Lin Feng and Hillman shared a room with two beds. As soon as they entered, the Shadow Mouse Beibei leaped out from inside Lin Feng's shirt and scampered around him, squeaking incessantly.

"I know you're hungry. Go ahead and eat." Lin Feng tossed the whole roast duck he had brought back from the restaurant onto the floor. Beibei eagerly tore into it.

"Lin Feng, get some rest early. You have your magic test tomorrow morning," Hillman reminded him.

"I know, Uncle Hillman." Lin Feng answered, then climbed onto his bed and sat cross-legged, beginning to meditate and train his mental strength.

Early the next morning, as the first ray of sunlight passed through the curtains and into the room, Lin Feng finally opened his eyes. At the same time, Doehring Cowart flew out of the Coiling Dragon Ring. Looking at Lin Feng, he praised him. "Lin Feng, I never thought you'd reach the level of a third-rank mage before your magic aptitude test. It seems your future achievements won't stop at the Saint Realm!"

Doehring Cowart sighed with admiration. He had been exceptionally gifted in his own day; otherwise, he would never have cultivated to the Saint Realm. But comparing himself to Lin Feng now, he realized he was not even as good as an ordinary person. At Lin Feng's age, he had only just reached the level of a first-rank mage.

Lin Feng felt a little proud at those words. In the book, Lin Feng was still only a first-rank mage at this point, while he himself had already reached the third rank. But with his mature mind, he naturally didn't show even a hint of smugness. Instead, he said humbly, "Grandpa Doehring, it's all thanks to your guidance."

Green Leaf Road in eastern Fenlai was one of the city's several main thoroughfares. Most of the buildings lining the road were luxurious mansions, along with a number of buildings belonging to the kingdom. The tallest of them was the Radiant Church's cathedral.

The Radiant Church controlled the entire Holy Union, which consisted of six kingdoms and fifteen duchies.

The Pope of the Radiant Church held the highest position and had the authority to depose the king of any kingdom! Thus, even in eastern Fenlai City, the tallest building was the Radiant Church's cathedral.

That morning, a large crowd gathered outside the cathedral. Most were nobles dressed in fine clothes, and their carriages had nearly filled the spacious square in front of it. The nobles chatted with one another.

Lin Feng and Hillman arrived as well.

Even Lin Feng, who had expected it, was astonished by the sea of people. He hadn't realized magic was so popular in this world. At the same time, he knew that if even one in ten of the children waiting for the test became a mage, that would be an excellent result.

Two warriors in battle armor stood at the cathedral entrance, barring outsiders from entering.

After a while, a priest in a black robe walked out at an unhurried pace. He stopped at the entrance, smiled, and announced loudly, "The magic test will now begin. The recruitment representatives from the various magic academies are ready as well. Anyone who wishes to take the test, please follow me into the hall."

Guided by the priest, everyone in the square entered the cathedral hall in an orderly line.

Inside the cathedral's hall,

The enormous hall had a polished marble floor and a huge crystal chandelier hanging overhead. Even with hundreds of people inside, it wasn't crowded at all.

A row of chairs stood at the front of the hall, occupied by recruitment representatives from the various academies. The testing area was in the very center.

The black-robed priest smiled and announced loudly, "The testing area is in the center. Those taking the test should enter one at a time. Everyone else must stay outside the circle. Those preparing to take the test, please line up. Parents and relatives, please wait to the side."

"Lin Feng, here's the testing fee, and here's your identification. Go on. Oh, and leave the Shadow Mouse with me for now. It'll be a bit of a hassle if it follows you during the test," Hillman said.

"Beibei, stay with Uncle Hillman for now. I'm going to take the test." Lin Feng spoke to Beibei telepathically. Beibei shifted unwillingly in his arms, but after Lin Feng insisted again, the little Shadow Mouse darted into Hillman's clothes.

Lin Feng took the ten gold coins and joined the line. Some of the boys were seventeen or eighteen, while the youngest were only six or seven. The children formed two long lines as the church clerics collected the testing fees.

The central circle was ten meters in diameter. Three adults stood inside: two handled the tests, while the third recorded the results. The testing equipment consisted of a crystal ball and a complex hexagonal magic array.

"The first."