25 Advancement

"Enroll at Azure Flame Academy and place in the top three of this year's Magic Martial Tournament!" Bluebeard fixed his gaze on Xia Ming and spoke slowly.

Xia Ming asked curiously, "Go to Azure Flame Academy and place in the top three of the Magic Martial Tournament? Why?"

Bluebeard gave a cold, mocking laugh. "That involves the struggle between our Sacred Council and the Holy Temple. Though our Sacred Council has always been the continent's strongest force in name, those fellows from the Holy Temple have been biting at our heels these past years, and the open and covert battles have never stopped..."

Bluebeard abruptly fell silent halfway through. After a moment of quiet, he said, "This involves confidential matters of the Sacred Council. You'll gradually understand in the future. In short, do everything you can to place in the top three of this year's Azure Flame Academy Magic Martial Tournament. Are you in?"

Xia Ming vaguely understood what Bluebeard meant. This so-called Holy Temple was much like Christianity in medieval Earth—spreading its doctrine and worshipping vague, intangible gods.

In recent years, the Holy Temple's influence had expanded at a staggering pace, faintly showing signs of overtaking its rival. Naturally, the Sacred Council would not sit still and await death. Friction between the two great powers was unceasing, and this Magic Martial Tournament was likely only the tip of the iceberg...

As Xia Ming pondered, Bluebeard continued, "Kid, if you can place in the top three of the Magic Martial Tournament, I'll make an exception and promote you to a Three-Star Deacon. By then, there won't be many people in the entire Dark Hall ranked above you. Are you doing it or not?"

That was quite a good deal. Besides, failure would not cost him anything.

Xia Ming nodded. "All right."

"Excellent!" Bluebeard nodded in satisfaction. "Take this. It's your proof of admission to Azure Flame Academy. You'll still need to pass a series of assessments before you can officially enroll, but that won't be a problem for you, kid. Don't worry—I'll stay in touch with you at all times!"

Bluebeard handed Xia Ming a gilt-edged document. It was his proof of admission to Azure Flame Academy.

The two discussed the details for a while longer, then drank Ice Lotus Flower juice and chatted with laughter.

"When do you plan to leave?" Anthony gulped down mouthful after mouthful of Ice Lotus Flower juice, making Bluebeard's heart ache fiercely. Smiling, he asked Xia Ming.

Since he was going to enroll at Azure Flame Academy, he could not stay here any longer. He needed to hurry over and report in.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xia Ming said, "Tomorrow." He was not someone who liked to drag things out.

Taking the opportunity, Xia Ming poured out every difficulty he had encountered in cultivating magic and questioned Anthony about them. Anthony answered them one by one. At first, Anthony could respond without thinking, but as Xia Ming's questions grew progressively deeper, even Anthony had to pause and consider some of them before giving precise answers. This left Bluebeard astonished beyond measure.

Anthony, however, was quite gratified. "Going to Azure Flame Academy is a good choice. Its title as the foremost of the four great academies is not for nothing. And being around young people is always better than listening to worn-out old men like us lecture you all day..."

Bluebeard was an important figure in the Sacred Council, so naturally he did not have much leisure time to remain here. After chatting a little longer, he hurriedly departed.

Anthony and Xia Ming also discussed magic for a while. By then, night had fallen, and they went to meditate and rest early.

Xia Ming neither meditated nor rested. Instead, he looked forward to the academy life that would begin tomorrow. Tang Ge, Sherlock, and Su Weiwei were all students of Azure Flame Academy. Even three thousand years ago, Orlando, the Starry Legend and God of Mages, had been a student there. How could Xia Ming not eagerly anticipate such a school?

Amid that anticipation, the sunlight of the next day spilled through the window.

Early in the morning, Anthony directly pushed Xia Ming out the door. The old mage casually tossed him a thick notebook of magical notes, then instructed him, "These are the magic notes I organized last night. Keep them and use them. If there's anything you don't understand, come find me. Also, Rogge, the headmaster of Azure Flame Academy, is an old friend of mine. If anything happens, go to him and mention my name..."

Amid Anthony's stream of nagging, Xia Ming waved his hand and bid the old mage farewell.

Azure Flame Academy, foremost among the four great academies of the human kingdoms, had a long history and had always enjoyed the reputation of being the finest institution under heaven. Countless powerhouses had emerged from Azure Flame Academy. Graduating from this place was equivalent to obtaining a golden signboard; in any empire, one could find an excellent job, and becoming a noble would be no difficult matter.

At that moment, Xia Ming stood outside the gates of Azure Flame Academy.

A massive stone stele stood at the academy entrance, bearing the four words Azure Flame Academy carved by magic. Eerie flames rose from the words, drawing side glances from passersby.

Within the academy stood statue after statue. Every person depicted had been a renowned figure on the continent who had graduated from Azure Flame Academy.

The largest and most conspicuous statue of all was that of Orlando, the Starry Legend and greatest mage beneath the stars from three thousand years ago.

Countless statues stood erect, and one could vaguely discern the bearing these legendary figures had possessed in their day. It made one's blood boil, wishing one could have lived in the same era as them.

The academy was bustling with people. It was clearly time for enrollment in the new school year again, with crowds coming and going in an endless stream like crucian carp crossing a river.

Xia Ming found the admissions officer at the academy gate. After submitting the gilt-edged proof of admission, the officer registered it and pointed him in a direction. "Student, there is no problem with your proof of admission. You may now take the pre-enrollment assessment. We will assign classes and instructors based on your aptitudes..."

Xia Ming nodded in understanding. Looking around, he saw an area where an especially large number of students had gathered, forming a long queue. That was presumably where aptitude was tested.

He quickly walked over and saw a scruffy, exceedingly disheveled old man sitting at the very front with his legs crossed and a beaming smile on his face. He held something resembling a ruler, but this ruler was rather unusual. It gleamed like crystal, brimming with the aura of magical elements, utterly unlike anything mundane.

"Students, my name is Lan Ning, and I am your visiting professor. I'll be responsible for testing everyone's talent!" the old man named Lan Ning said with a chuckle.

Lan Ning rubbed his hands together and smiled at everyone. In a bewitching tone, he tempted them, "Do you see this ruler in my hand? It is called the Measuring Sky Ruler! Its purpose is to test every one of your aptitudes with the utmost precision. Don't underestimate this ruler—it is the continent's only treasure of its kind. Even Orlando from three thousand years ago used it to test his aptitude!"

"All right, little ones, do you want peerless martial strength capable of scattering a thousand armies? Do you want to possess a city, become nobles, and hold authority and wealth in your hands? Do you want to possess the continent's most beautiful women and revel in music and feasting every night? Then come test your aptitude! As long as your talent is strong enough, possessing all of this will only be a matter of time!"

The younger students all pricked up their ears at these words, their gazes snapping toward old Lan Ning in unison. Clearly, his words had filled their minds with wild fantasies, and they could hardly wait to rush up and test their aptitude.

Seeing that the fire was hot enough, old Lan Ning pounded his chest and shouted, "My Measuring Sky Ruler is a treasure passed down through generations! It has twelve markings in total, representing twelve levels of aptitude strength! A mortal's talent can reach, at most, the tenth level. But legend says that our academy's most famous student in thousands of years, Lord Orlando, the Starry Legend, possessed aptitude at the eleventh level! Who among you wants to give it a try?"

These words left the younger students eager to have a go.

"I'll do it!"

"Me too!"

"Move aside! I was here first! Go line up!"

The students began clamoring and scrambling over one another, and the scene immediately descended into chaos.

"Don't push, don't push! There's enough for everyone! Line up properly!"

Lan Ning waved his hand with a smile, signaling everyone to maintain order. Then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he made a rather sleazy gesture.

He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, greed flashing in his eyes. Then came a voice so infuriating it made people want to tear their hair out: "One test per student, a mere 100 gold coins. Thank you!"

Xia Ming: "..."