The Magic Test

A month later.

On an early morning in late autumn, just as dawn was breaking, several people had already gathered in front of Baruch Manor.

Hogg stood on the steps in a nobleman's robe faded from many washes, his gaze complicated as he looked at his two sons. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only sighed.

"Father, we're leaving." Linley had a small bundle on his back, but his eyes kept drifting toward the rear courtyard.

"Go on." Hogg nodded. "When you get to Fenlai City, listen to Hillman and don't cause trouble. Come back after the test. I'll be waiting for you at home."

"Understood, Father." Lin Yun slung his bundle over his back and stood beside Linley.

Hillman led the two boys out of Wushan Town. Just as Linley and Lin Yun were about to leave, Bebe—the only other God-Eater Rat in the Coiling Dragon World—finally signed an Equal Contract with Linley, becoming his magical beast!

Over the past few months, whenever they weren't training, the two boys had been catching all sorts of little animals to feed the Shadow Mouse. At last, their efforts had paid off: just before they left, the little Shadow Mouse had taken the initiative and signed a contract with Linley. Another member had joined them for their trip to Fenlai City!

The three of them and the mouse walked north along a winding dirt road. Endless fields and sparse woods stretched along either side. The fields had already been harvested for the late autumn, leaving only bare stubble and the occasional crow passing overhead.

Bebe perched on Linley's shoulder, curiously taking in the scenery around him and letting out a "squeak" now and then.

"Linley," Doehring's voice sounded in Linley's mind, audible only to him. "When you get to Fenlai City for the test, make sure Lin Yun doesn't reveal his Seven-Element talent."

"Your younger brother's talent is far too astonishing. If it gets out, it'll bring unnecessary trouble." Doehring's tone was grave. "No one in the history of the Yulan Continent has ever practiced all seven elements. Your Baruch Clan has long since fallen into decline, and you don't have the strength to protect a genius like that. You can imagine what might happen if the wrong people find out."

Linley's expression grew serious.

Though he was still young, he understood the principle that a man could be innocent yet still invite disaster by possessing a treasure. What would the great powers do if they learned that a child from a fallen clan had an affinity for all seven elements? Try to recruit him? Or... destroy him?

"I understand," Linley said quietly. "Then Lin Yun..."

"I've already explained it to him through you," Doehring replied. "He understands the stakes better than you do. As long as he controls the magical elements the way I taught him, he shouldn't reveal his Seven-Element talent during the test. With his talent, even showing a little will be enough to attract the Magic Academy's attention."

Linley nodded and repeated Doehring's advice to Lin Yun.

By evening, the outline of Fenlai City finally appeared in the distance.

Fenlai City was the capital of the Fenlai Kingdom and one of the most prosperous cities on the entire Yulan Continent. Its towering walls were built from blue-gray blocks of stone and stood ten zhang high. An arrow tower rose every hundred meters, while fully armed soldiers patrolled and inspected people at the gates.

The three of them walked through the gate, and Linley and Lin Yun couldn't help looking around.

The city was even more prosperous than they had imagined. Shops lined the broad stone streets, their signboards fluttering in the breeze. The streets teemed with people: nobles in elegant robes, mercenaries carrying weapons, merchants leading camels, and mages dressed in robes of every color.

"So many mages!" Linley exclaimed.

Bebe poked his head out from Linley's shoulder and looked around curiously, his little paws clutching Linley's collar.

The three stopped in front of a small inn called the Golden Oak Leaf. It was a moderately priced place, not too expensive and fairly clean. Hillman had arranged the rooms in advance: one double room for the brothers and one single room for himself.

"Get a good night's rest," Hillman said. "We'll go to the Radiant Church for the test first thing tomorrow morning."

"All right, Uncle Hillman," Linley replied.

After dinner, the brothers returned to their room. Linley leaned against the window, gazing at the brightly lit street outside with wonder in his eyes. Bebe crouched on his shoulder, looking around too.

"Lin Yun," Linley asked suddenly, "are you nervous?"

"A little." Lin Yun wasn't lying. He knew his talent was exceptional, but deliberately hiding his abilities was actually harder than giving it his all.

After all, they were at the Radiant Church's headquarters. He didn't just have an affinity for the Light Element—he also had an affinity for the Dark Element. If he accidentally revealed that affinity during the test, things would get ugly. The Dark Church and the Radiant Church were mortal enemies!

"I'm nervous too," Linley admitted. "What if my talent isn't good enough and I can't get into the Magic Academy?"

"That won't happen," Lin Yun said confidently. "You have great talent. Grandpa Doehring said you're a genius."

Linley smiled and reached up to stroke Bebe on his shoulder. "That's good, then."

Night fell, and the bustle of Fenlai City gradually subsided. Lin Yun lay in bed, but he didn't fall asleep. His consciousness swayed gently between two worlds. In the Swallowed Star World, his other body was sleeping in a low-rent apartment in Yangzhou City. He still had to go to school tomorrow.

He closed his eyes and soon entered a meditative state.

Green Leaf Road lay in eastern Fenlai City and was one of its main thoroughfares. Most of the buildings lining the street were luxurious mansions, along with a few buildings belonging to the kingdom. The tallest building among them was the Radiant Church's cathedral.

The six kingdoms and fifteen duchies of the Holy Union were all under the Radiant Church's control.

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

That morning, a large crowd gathered outside the Radiant Church's cathedral. Most of those present were nobles dressed in fine clothes. Carriages nearly filled the spacious square in front of the cathedral, and the nobles exchanged greetings with one another.

Hillman brought the brothers there early.

Hundreds of people had gathered in the square. Most were children like Linley and Lin Yun, brought by their parents or teachers to have their talent tested. They ranged in age from seven or eight to their teens. Some looked nervous, while others were eager to try.

The tests began soon after. They took place in the center of the cathedral's main hall. Only those taking the test were allowed inside; everyone else had to wait around the edge of the hall. Lin Yun and Linley paid the testing fee, presented their identification, and joined the line. Bebe stayed with Hillman for the time being.

The magic test had two parts: Elemental Affinity and Spiritual Energy. Neither posed much difficulty for the brothers. Elemental Affinity went without saying. When Linley had first begun studying magic six months earlier, his Spiritual Energy had been about ten times that of others his age. After more than half a year of meditation, it had reached seventeen or eighteen times the average, far above the passing mark. Lin Yun went without saying; half a year ago, his Spiritual Energy had already reached the level of a Level 4 Mage. Though he'd spent most of the past six months refining magical power, his Spiritual Energy had also improved somewhat.

The tests proceeded in an orderly fashion. Dozens of people were tested, but only one girl had barely met the threshold to become a mage. Everyone else's Spiritual Energy fell short of the passing mark.

Soon it was Linley's turn. He calmed himself and stepped forward. Doehring Cowart remained beside him. In Doehring Cowart's view, only a Saint Realm expert could barely sense his presence. Ordinary mages like these had no chance of noticing him.

Linley placed his hand on the Crystal Ball.

In an instant, the Crystal Ball blazed like the sun. Earth-yellow and green light shimmered together, with even the occasional tiny thread of fiery red mixed in. The dazzling light was so bright that the people nearby couldn't help squinting.

Everyone in the hall froze at the sight of the Crystal Ball blazing like the sun.

The bald old man glanced at the paper in his trembling hand. It clearly stated that Linley was only eight years old.

"Age: eight. Elemental Affinity: Earth Element and Wind Element, exceptional! Fire Element, intermediate." The bald old man's heart pounded. Most mages had an intermediate Elemental Affinity. A high affinity was already quite rare, while an exceptional one was rarer still.

In other words, if it took other people ten hours to refine magical power, Linley would probably achieve the same result in just one.

"Whoa!" The entire hall erupted in astonishment. His Elemental Affinity was exceptional—and for two elements at that. It was terrifying.

After the Elemental Affinity test came the Spiritual Energy test. As expected, Linley's Spiritual Energy measured nineteen times that of others his age, a high rating!

Several Magic Academy recruiters immediately offered Linley positions, promising generous terms: full scholarships, private instruction, and recommendations to join the kingdom's mage corps after graduation...

Linley politely declined each offer, saying he wanted to wait until his younger brother had finished testing before making a decision.

With everyone watching expectantly, Lin Yun walked toward the testing platform.

With a trace of nervousness, he placed his hand on the Crystal Ball and closed his eyes. Following Doehring's method, he carefully guided his Spiritual Energy, letting only Light Element and Thunder Element particles flow into the Crystal Ball while suppressing the other four elements with all his might.

But controlling magical elements was easier said than done.

The Crystal Ball suddenly blazed like the sun again. White and purple light shone together, and the dazzling radiance made the people nearby squint.

To Lin Yun's dismay, a faint trace of fiery red and water blue had mixed in, too!

He still hadn't managed to control it completely.

He sighed to himself, but could only maintain the situation as it was. He didn't dare make any further adjustments, for fear of revealing more.

Everyone in the hall froze again at the sight of the Crystal Ball blazing like the sun.

The bald old man's hands were now trembling uncontrollably. He looked at the paper in his hand, which clearly stated: Lin Yun, eight years old, the twin brother of Linley, who had just been tested.

"Age: eight. Elemental Affinity: Light Element and Thunder Element, exceptional! Fire Element and Water Element, intermediate." The bald old man felt as if his heart had almost stopped beating.

Two exceptional talents in a row—and they were twin brothers. From their information, they appeared to be minor nobles from the countryside. What a promising future that little clan would have!

Lin Yun felt a lingering fear. He had followed Doehring's instructions and only absorbed Light Element and Thunder Element particles, yet the other elements had still slipped in. Fortunately, the results rated them as merely intermediate. If all four elements had been exceptional, he would have been in trouble.

That was why Doehring had warned him so sternly. The talent he had revealed was strong, but not enough to make the various powers fight over him frantically. A genius with two exceptional affinities and two intermediate ones was rare in the history of the Yulan Continent, but not unheard of.

"Please step into the Magic Array," the bald old man said kindly, treating Lin Yun even more warmly than he had treated Linley.

Lin Yun stepped into the Magic Array. Warm white light glowed around him, and a force of oppression acted directly upon his soul.

A Light Element spell—Deterrence.

As expected, I don't feel a thing. This level of magical Deterrence had practically no effect on him. His soul had been tempered by the accumulation of three lifetimes and the Small Cauldron, making it far stronger than anyone could imagine.

But he couldn't let that show.

As time passed, the Magic Array grew brighter, and the force of the Deterrence intensified. Lin Yun gradually began to show signs of weakness: his brows furrowed slightly, his breathing grew heavier, and his body swayed a little.

He silently kept track of the time. Falling too soon would arouse suspicion; waiting too long would also draw attention. He needed to choose just the right moment.

Finally, when the force of the Deterrence had reached a considerable level, Lin Yun pretended he could no longer hold out and dropped to one knee.

At the same time, everyone's gaze turned to the bald old man once more.

The bald old man took a deep breath and announced loudly, "Spiritual Energy: twenty-four times that of others his age, rated high! High Spiritual Energy, exceptional Elemental Affinity."

The hall erupted into another commotion.

Two geniuses in a row, both with high Spiritual Energy and exceptional Elemental Affinity—and they were twin brothers. Everyone was green with envy. With talent like that, they were certain to become high-level mages! Many people were already eager to approach and make their acquaintance.

Several Magic Academy recruiters gathered around again, offering even better terms than before.

But Linley and Lin Yun had already made up their minds.

"We choose Ernst Institute," Linley said on behalf of them both.

The choice came as no surprise. As the foremost Magic Academy on the entire Yulan Continent, Ernst Institute had resources and a history that no other Magic Academy could match.

The bald old man nodded and stamped their test results with the Ernst Institute seal. "The spring term starts next year. You can report to the institute then."

After the test, Hillman set off with the brothers to return to Wushan Town. Linley couldn't wait to share the good news with his father!

In the Swallowed Star World, Lin Yun's other body was attending classes at a school in Yangzhou City. In a few years, he would join the Limit Dojo and begin training as a Warrior. In the Coiling Dragon World, he and Linley were about to enter Ernst Institute and set out on the path of magic.

The test in Fenlai City was only the beginning. The real journey still lay ahead.

Until then, he had half a year to continue building up his strength in both worlds.