Apprentice Assessment

Luo Lin cleaned up the stone house, adjusted himself, and brought his condition to its peak.

Then, he sat cross-legged and consumed the remaining [Spirit-Concentrating Potion] along with half a bottle of [Starlight Dew].

The immense medicinal power spread through him like gentle tides pouring into his Mental Sea.

He immediately circulated his master-level meditation method, guiding the surging mental power and medicinal force toward the final sturdy barrier in one last, most ferocious assault!

His Mental Sea trembled, and the barrier shook.

Once, twice, three times...

His mental power crashed against it like waves battering a seawall.

Luo Lin held firm, casting aside every distracting thought and focusing his will to the utmost. He guided all his power into an invisible spike and viciously stabbed at the barrier's weakest point.

Boom!!!!!

It was as if thunder had exploded inside his mind.

The solid barrier shattered in response!

In that instant, Luo Lin felt his Mental Sea undergo an earth-shaking transformation!

Its range expanded sharply once more. His mental power was no longer loose and gaseous, but began condensing into a more concentrated liquid form.

Though it was only an initial form, its quality was already entirely different!

The mana within his body surged as well, becoming purer and more abundant!

He suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them.

Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice—success!

Luo Lin immediately looked at the panel:

[Host: Luo Lin]

[Race: Human]

[Status: Healthy (Mild Weakness)]

[Level: Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice (Progress 1%)]

[Attributes:

Physique: 1.3

Mental Power: 3.5

Mana: 35/35]

[Mastered Knowledge:

Basic Meditation Method (Mastery 70%)

Basic Rune Identification (Beginner 35%)

Basic Magical Botany (45%)

Basic Potion Material Processing (Professional 18%)

Analysis of Common Cantrip Model Structures (Proficient 30%)]

[Spells: Mage Hand (Proficient 82%), Acid Spray (Beginner 20%), Weak Force-Field Armor (Proficient 5%)]

[Specialty: Efficient Scholar (Passive)]

Every stat had undergone a tremendous leap!

His mental power and mana in particular had nearly doubled!

This meant he could construct more complex spells, and his endurance in battle had greatly improved as well.

Feeling the surging power within him, Luo Lin slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

Two months of life-and-death danger and tireless effort day and night had finally paid off at this moment.

Not only had he escaped the fate of becoming experimental material, but he had also entered the upper ranks of apprentices, gaining the initial capital needed to pursue the qualifications of an Official Wizard.

However, after successfully advancing to a Third-Rank Apprentice, Luo Lin did not feel much emotional turmoil.

What he felt more was the calm of something naturally falling into place.

He spent the final three days consolidating his realm, familiarizing himself with his greatly increased mental power and mana, and further practicing his three spells—especially the newly mastered [Weak Force-Field Armor] and the more powerful [Acid Spray].

The day of the assessment finally arrived.

Early that morning, the atmosphere in the central square of the Shadow Crow Holy Tower Arcane Academy was so grave it was almost suffocating.

All fifth-year apprentices facing assessment had gathered there. Their number was somewhat smaller than Luo Lin had expected; clearly, the cruel elimination of the past few months had already weeded out many people.

The air was filled with despair and the last traces of hope.

Some were so nervous their faces had gone pale. Some forced themselves to remain composed. Others had dull eyes, as though they had already resigned themselves to their fate.

Luo Lin wore a clean gray apprentice robe and stood calmly among the crowd, completely inconspicuous.

He could feel several malicious gazes sweeping over him. They came from Frack and his group.

Frack himself, a burly apprentice with a scarred face, stared at him with cold eyes, seemingly surprised by the change in Luo Lin's aura.

But there was even more disdain in his gaze. He did not believe that a previously unknown First-Rank Wizard Apprentice could accomplish anything remarkable in two months.

Several Official Wizards stood impassively on the raised platform at the front of the square.

Wizard Eric was among them. His gaze swept across the crowd, pausing briefly on Luo Lin before moving on.

An old wizard with a stern face presided over the assessment.

"Silence!"

The old wizard's voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached every apprentice's ears, carrying unquestionable authority.

"The apprentice assessment begins now!"

"First item: mental power and mana testing."

"Standard: Third-Rank Apprentice."

His words were like ice, causing many apprentices' faces to turn pale in an instant.

There would be no luck involved. The standard was as strict as ever.

Several crystal pillars inscribed with complex runes rose from the center of the square.

The apprentices stepped forward in order according to their numbers, placing their hands on the crystal pillars and channeling in their mental power and mana.

The crystal pillars would light up with bands of different colors and quantities. Only three bands of light signified that one had reached the third rank.

"Number 734. Mental power strength: second-rank peak. Mana purity: medium.

Overall evaluation: Failed to meet the standard!"

The crystal pillar lit up with only a faint white glow, and the recording deacon announced the result coldly.

That apprentice's face turned deathly pale, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Number 512. Mental power strength: mid second rank. Mana purity: low.

Overall evaluation: Failed to meet the standard!"

The testing proceeded rapidly. The vast majority of apprentices were judged unqualified, and the entire scene was shrouded in gloom.

Frack stepped forward. Two solid yellow bands lit up on the crystal pillar, while a faint third band flickered indistinctly, but it ultimately failed to stabilize.

"Number 289. Mental power strength: second-rank peak, close to third rank. Mana purity: upper-medium.

Overall evaluation: Failed to meet the standard!"

The deacon's voice was completely emotionless.

Frack's expression became extremely ugly. His fists clenched tightly, but he did not dare cause a scene.

Soon, it was Luo Lin's turn.

"Number 1023, step forward for testing."

Luo Lin calmly walked to the crystal pillar, stretched out his hand, and placed it against the surface.

He controlled his mental power and mana, slowly channeling them in.

Hum—

The crystal pillar first lit up with an incomparably solid white glow, then swiftly turned yellow. The yellow band was exceptionally bright and stable.

Immediately afterward, under everyone's astonished gazes, a third pale-blue band suddenly lit up. Though it was not as solid as the first two, it was unmistakably clear!

The entire square fell silent for a moment before low murmurs of shock broke out.

A Third-Rank Apprentice!

A Third-Rank Apprentice had actually appeared!

And judging by how solid the first two lights were, his foundation was clearly quite strong!

Even the recording deacon froze for a moment. After carefully confirming the result, he finally announced it loudly, his voice carrying a faint, barely perceptible tremor.

"Number 1023. Mental power strength: early third rank. Mana purity: high!

Overall evaluation: Passed!"

Uproar!!!

This time, the discussions grew even louder.

Countless gazes converged on Luo Lin, filled with shock, disbelief, and jealousy.

A First-Rank Wizard Apprentice who had previously been unknown, even rumored to be on the verge of elimination, had silently advanced to the third rank!

It was simply a miracle!

The muscles on Frack's face twitched, his eyes filled with shock, suspicion, and fury.

He felt as though he had been played.

On the raised platform, the corner of Wizard Eric's mouth lifted into a barely noticeable curve.

The other wizards also cast interested looks his way.

Luo Lin ignored the reactions around him, calmly withdrew his hand, and walked over to stand in the area for those who had passed.

More than a dozen people were already standing there. They were either talented apprentices from previous classes or this class, or apprentices with influential backgrounds. When they saw Luo Lin, their eyes were filled with scrutiny and surprise.

They had assumed that the qualified apprentices would all be familiar faces. They had never expected an unfamiliar Third-Rank Apprentice to suddenly emerge.

When the first round of testing ended, only seventeen out of nearly a thousand apprentices taking part in the assessment had passed.

"Second item: practical combat evaluation."

The old wizard spoke again.

"All qualified candidates, enter the Illusory Maze."

"There are simulated magical creatures within the maze. Defeating them will earn points, and the final ranking will be determined by total points."

"Apprentices are forbidden from killing one another. Violators will be severely punished."

"If you cannot continue or encounter danger, crush your identity plaque to be teleported out."

The ground in the square split open, revealing an entrance leading underground, from which hazy white light streamed.

The seventeen qualified apprentices entered one after another.

As Luo Lin stepped through the light gate, he felt a faint wave of dizziness.

The next moment, he appeared in a dim stone passage covered in moss. The surroundings were utterly silent.

He immediately cast [Weak Force-Field Armor] on himself, covering his entire body with an invisible force field.

At the same time, [Mage Hand] stood ready at any moment.

Before he had gone far, rustling sounds came from around the corner ahead. Two phantom magical creatures formed of energy, shaped like wild wolves, lunged at him.

Luo Lin's eyes narrowed. He did not retreat. Instead, he raised his right hand, and a thought flashed through his mind.

Puff! Puff!!