Level One: Hundred-Blade Formation

As the teacher's answer fell.

A girl spoke in shock, almost instinctively:

"But the cost is too great. One top-grade magic crystal equals one million low-grade magic crystals.

Not to mention not having a thousand top-grade magic crystals—

Even if someone did, I'm afraid no one would be willing to bear such a cost."

Hearing this,

the teacher chuckled. "That depends on the person; the benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom.

It all comes down to one's own choice.

As for whether it is worth it, I can tell you with certainty: it is!

Because little elves live as long as wizards. Even a level-one little elf can live for a thousand years.

Therefore, it is worth it!

It simply takes time to gradually smooth over the cost."

Listening to the teacher,

Wayne raised his brows. Put that way, it really was worth it.

After all,

even if one only earned one top-grade magic crystal a year, they would earn it back in a thousand years, and the little elf could advance during that time.

The time needed to recoup the investment would be even shorter.

Everything after that would be pure profit, and for Wayne, this cost was practically the same as getting it for free.

After all,

he possessed unlimited top-grade magic crystals.

At the same time,

Wayne planned to visit the special area on the ninth floor of the library that the teacher had mentioned. When he had visited the library before, his rank had restricted him—

he could only enter the apprentice area on the first floor.

So he had not gone up to take a look. After all, if he could not even get in, what was the point of going upstairs?

He had not expected there to be a hidden area. It seemed the academy still had many hidden surprises

waiting for him to explore.

As he pondered,

the teacher's voice rang out once more. "That concludes today's lesson.

Class dismissed."

With that, the teacher left the classroom.

At this moment,

waves of exclamations rose throughout the classroom. Clearly, this lesson

had opened all their eyes.

Even Wayne was no exception. At the same time, he planned to make a trip to the library, so he stood up directly

and walked out.

A quarter of an hour later.

Outside the library building, Wayne entered with practiced ease and took the elevator straight to the second floor.

Although he had not yet met the standard to enter and read within—the realm of a level-one formal lord wizard—

asking about something

should not be a problem.

As he walked in, he found that unlike the apprentice area on the first floor, wizards stood guard right at the entrance here.

One of them was a woman around twenty years old. She seemed to have accepted an academy assignment

to save up contribution points.

"Hello, Senior Sister."

Hearing him, the woman nodded slightly. "Hello, Junior Brother.

You have not yet advanced to a level-one formal lord wizard. What are you doing on the second floor?"

Wayne asked directly.

"I need a level-one wizard formation diagram. Where can I obtain one?"

Hearing this,

the woman gave Wayne a surprised glance. She clearly had not expected a freshman from this year's intake to progress so quickly.

"It seems Junior Brother is a genius as well. Among this year's freshmen, you are the first to come ask about a level-one wizard formation diagram."

She paused as she spoke.

"You can obtain one here, but you may only choose one level-one wizard formation diagram for free.

And you will only receive its catalog entry and introduction.

This is a benefit provided by the academy.

Once you become a level-one formal wizard,

you can enter the library and examine the detailed information

before deciding whether to choose it.

But wizards believe in equivalent exchange. If you want to choose one then, you will need to pay magic crystals or contribution points."

When the senior sister finished speaking,

Wayne raised his brows slightly, but he did not hurry to choose.

Instead, he turned and asked, "Then if I pay magic crystals or contribution points,

can I enter now?"

Hearing this,

the senior sister shook her head. "Of course not. The academy has rules.

Whatever your level, that is the floor you may enter. Of course, the academy is also preventing children like you from aiming too high,

choosing difficult level-one wizard formations,

and thus failing the minor examination three years from now."

Wayne frowned slightly.

It was not that he objected to the senior sister's words, but that he had spotted a loophole.

"Then when a level-one lord wizard advances to a level-two lord wizard, how are they supposed to obtain the required level-two wizard formation diagram?"

Hearing this,

the senior sister chuckled. "Rest assured, the academy has naturally considered that.

When a level-one wizard reaches the end of their path,

they can go to the third floor and receive a level-two wizard formation diagram just as you are doing now, also for free.

This is the academy's congratulatory gift for advancement."

Hearing this,

although Wayne had thoughts in his heart, the pressing matter came first.

So he said directly, "Then please let me see the catalog, Senior Sister.

I would like to choose a level-one formation diagram."

The senior sister nodded slightly, took a booklet from the right side of the desk, and handed it to Wayne.

"This contains the catalog introductions for the level-one formation diagrams the academy has made available for your free selection.

You may take a look.

Once you have chosen,

tell me,

and I will fetch it for you."

Wayne nodded, took the booklet, and sat down in a seat nearby.

Then he began to leaf through it.

Level One: Energy-Gathering Formation. Level One: Hundred-Blade Formation. Level One: Light-and-Heavy Formation.

Looking at the formations one after another, Wayne's eyes were dazzled. But after roughly browsing through them,

he discovered that every formation available for selection

contained around 1,000 to 1,500 runes, with none exceeding 1,600 runes.

Clearly, the academy had calculated based on two runes per day. Taking the formation with the highest number, 1,568 runes,

three years,

after excluding rest and classes, would be just enough to advance if one hurried.

After some simple consideration,

Wayne chose the Level One: Hundred-Blade Formation. After all, he had already chosen the Ten Blades Array, and he would have to choose this Hundred-Blade Formation sooner or later.

He might as well choose it directly.

Moreover, this wizard formation contained only 1,200 runes. It could not be called aiming too high, nor was it at the bottom of the pile.

And for someone like Wayne, who could condense three runes a day without needing to consider mental power recovery,

four hundred days

would be enough for him to advance to a level-one formal wizard.

With that thought,

Wayne closed the booklet, walked over to the senior sister, and placed it on the desk.

"Junior Brother, have you made your choice?"

Wayne nodded after setting it down. "I have, Senior Sister.

I choose the Hundred-Blade Formation.

Please bring me the formation diagram."

The senior sister nodded slightly and beckoned. A booklet flew out from within the library

and landed in her hand.

At the same time, she picked up the crystal ball on the desk and tapped it lightly. A flash of light appeared,

and two rays of light descended respectively onto the booklet and the badge Wayne wore on his chest.

"All right, Junior Brother.

I have registered it for you. This formation diagram now belongs to you, but do not spread it around.

Otherwise, the Sanctuary Will

will mark your Sanctuary Network account with a red name. When that happens, the highest wizard organization—the Tower of Truth—

will send wizards to arrest you.

Your fate will not be pleasant."

Wayne nodded slightly, accepted the booklet, and thanked her.

Then he turned and left.

As for the red name the senior sister had mentioned, it was also recorded in the academy rules. This was a monitoring system established by the Tower of Truth.

People had selfish desires,

so the omnipresent will of Sanctuary World had become the monitor.

After entering the elevator,

Wayne fell into thought. Looking back at how the academy gifted a free formation diagram before advancement at every rank,

aside from being an advancement gift,

there was likely another purpose: urging students to advance quickly. And now, there were no external wars,

nor were there internal wars.

After all, they were currently in the Great Development Era. With factors of war, both external and internal, excluded,

their gaze had to turn toward the profession itself. Lord wizards were hailed as the protagonists of the era.

There was probably

another reason Wayne did not yet know, and that reason was what compelled the academy to encourage rapid advancement.