Ancient Forest Mountain's Only Rule, Wizard Yis

Ancient Forest Mountain's Only Rule, Wizard Yis

In his Sea of Consciousness, four Wizard Runes glimmered overhead, resonating with one another, sharing the same root and origin. Wang Ya's gains from two months aboard the Wizard Ship naturally amounted to far more than this.

His consciousness returned to reality, to a very simple room layout.

A bed, a bookshelf piled with books, a desk by the window, and a Feather Pen resting in its holder.

The surroundings were largely no different from his room aboard the Wizard Ship.

Of course, the space was somewhat more spacious.

The sea breeze blowing in from the ocean was blocked by rows of ancient trees planted side by side. Forest Leaves trembled between the branches, and the reflected light stretched into shifting patches of shadow that streamed through the window and fell upon his black Robe.

When he pushed open the door and stepped outside, he found a broad cluster of similar houses. They were not densely packed, but scattered among ancient trees and Forest Leaves, connected by winding cobblestone paths.

The trees grew with astonishing vigor. Trees requiring ten people to encircle them were commonplace. Blue flecks shimmered in Wang Ya's pupils. Dense Natural Particle Energy lingered among these ancient trees, while clear traces of wizard array refinement could be seen along the cobblestone paths.

As for their purpose?

The ancient forest before his eyes was merely the tip of the iceberg. Farther away stood trees of even more exaggerated size, some reaching several hundred meters tall.

It was likely related to the concentration of Natural Particle Energy.

This area where Wizard Freshmen lived was called Ancient Forest Mountain. Wang Ya had been here for two days and had roughly grasped the situation.

They were not the only ones here. There were also freshmen from other Wizard Ships, all undergoing a six-month assessment together.

Umbral Wizard Academy lay deeper within the ancient forest. Only after meeting the assessment requirements could freshmen truly become members of The Umbral Expanse and receive an Umbral Wizard Mark.

Ancient Forest Mountain, together with the harbor and a vast stretch of surrounding sea, all fell within the sphere of influence of The Umbral Expanse.

Aside from Ancient Forest Mountain, which was a forbidden zone, Foreign Wizards were not barred from visiting the other areas.

At the foot of the mountain stood Ancient Forest Wizard City. Wizard Freshmen who had been eliminated yet unwilling to leave had multiplied generation after generation, forming Wizard Families.

Wizard City was fairly prosperous. Wilderness Wizards ventured out to sea to acquire Supernatural Resources, then traded them within Wizard City for what they needed.

Within Wizard City, mortals still made up the largest population.

Even among Wizard Families, those with Wizard Aptitude were exceedingly rare. They were often sent to Ancient Forest Mountain in the hope that they would pass the assessment and become members of The Umbral Expanse.

Target: Wang Ya

Spiritual Power: 7.2

Constitution: 6

Particle Energy: 3.2 units

Mastered Wizardry: 'Fearful Flame' 'Fire Elemental Particle Energy Shield' 'Scarlet Heat'

Wang Ya had mastered all the Wizard Knowledge in the foundational section of the Legacy Wizardry Book and could cast every wizardry spell with great fluency.

Naturally, the Particle Energy Units within his body could only barely support two spell casts.

Wang Ya had not attempted to study the Wizard Knowledge in the advanced section.

His Supernatural Basic Knowledge was far too weak; the drawbacks outweighed the benefits.

He had already met the requirements to enter Wizard Academy. What mattered most now was making up for this weakness.

The enormous arched structure was built entirely from wood. Its exterior seemed to have been coated in some substance, making it look like metal as it absorbed the light and remained cast in dark tones.

Quite a few Wizard Freshmen arrived one after another and entered the building known as Ancient Forest Pavilion.

There were many unfamiliar faces, and their number far exceeded a hundred. Wang Ya was utterly inconspicuous among them.

After Wizard Tuta delivered the Wizard Freshmen to Ancient Forest Mountain, he never appeared again.

The one responsible for all matters concerning the freshmen was another Wizard named Yis.

They entered a space resembling a large conference hall, with a podium at its center.

Every Wizard Freshman had their own identifying number. Wang Ya's seat was in the corner of the third row.

The seats were nearly full of Wizard Freshmen. Everyone kept their voices low, making the vast space especially quiet.

At some point, a figure had appeared on the podium. He wore a Brown Wizard Robe, had purple hair, looked to be around forty, and wore an incomparably indifferent expression.

A Wizard's true age could not be determined by appearance. There were far too many methods of changing it.

Wang Ya's gaze turned solemn. This was Wizard Yis. When Wizard Tuta had handed them over to him, Wang Ya had observed him from afar with the Eye of Truth.

The Particle Energy within Yis's body was terrifyingly immense, like an abyss. He was not much weaker than Wizard Tuta.

Nor did he possess Wizard Tuta's air of twilight. Like the rising sun, he brazenly displayed his own strength.

He was at least a Third-level Wizard Apprentice.

Wizard Yis's lips moved. His voice was not loud, yet every Wizard Freshman heard him with perfect clarity.

"The assessment lasts six months. Master one wizardry spell and demonstrate it completely before me, and you may take this Admission Ticket to Umbral Wizard Academy."

A floating device filled with astonishing Particle Energy appeared in the palm extending from beneath the Brown Wizard Robe. It was square, similar to the Magic Cube in Wang Ya's memories from his previous life, but the tiny currents of electricity winding around it filled every Wizard Freshman with dread.

Its aura was terrifying, far surpassing the Particle Energy Fluctuation of their current level.

Wizard Yis spoke briefly, but his meaning was precise. "Ancient Forest Mountain has all kinds of facilities to meet your daily needs. There is only one rule: no deaths are permitted on Ancient Forest Mountain. No matter what methods are used, I will uncover the truth. Everyone involved will die, regardless of right or wrong."

Wizard Yis paused, narrowing his eyes and pulling his lips into a stiff smile. "If you have the ability to kill someone and still conceal it from me, then by all means, do it. I am very much looking forward to it."

The Wizard Freshmen present wore varying expressions, but maintained basic silence as they listened to Wizard Yis explain some information about Ancient Forest Mountain.

Ancient Forest Mountain did not restrict the Wizard Freshmen's freedom. They could move in and out as they pleased, but they would lose the protection of the rules.

Even so, it did not dispel some Wizard Freshmen's curiosity about what lay beyond Ancient Forest Mountain—for example, Ancient Forest Wizard City at the foot of the mountain, Wilderness Wizards, and the industries related to Wizards.

Most of them were freshmen recruited by Wizards from The Umbral Expanse across the various Island Continents of the Endless Sea.

Some were of noble status: Princes and Princesses of nations, or the children of aristocrats. Those of lesser standing included Knight Descendants and Sons of Wealthy Merchants. Commoners were relatively few, but they still existed.

Having stepped out of the Mortal World, they yearned for the strange and unknown wonders of the Wizard World.

Lord Yis was exaggerating too much. How could it be that extreme? Talking about killing people and all that. They were classmates—why would they kill each other?

They merely took it as the restraint of a stern teacher who was not good with words, a reminder to earnestly work at mastering wizardry.

Six months to master one wizardry spell—that was all. There was nothing difficult about it.

Most freshmen with even slightly better Wizard Aptitude thought this way.

Only Wang Ya's eyes flashed with a trace of thoughtfulness.

This freshmen meeting gradually drew to a close. As Wizard Yis was leaving, he suddenly added, "I forgot to tell you—the number of Admission Tickets is fixed."

Wang Ya's expression shifted. In an instant, he understood the one and only rule.

Sigh, the pandemic lockdown means no takeout. I stocked up on a ton of instant noodles. (Truly locked in a little dark room to write. I still owe two updates, so I'll make them up today. That makes four updates.)