From the Academy

The final assessment ended.

Wizard Stone announced the results. Eight apprentices, including Luo Lin and Kyle Silverglow, had passed the assessment and received their graduation certification.

There was only one assistant position in Wizard Stone's laboratory.

"I will give the assistant position to Luo Lin."

Wizard Stone announced it without hesitation.

"Although his [Breeze Dust-Cleansing] has a weak effect, it demonstrates his potential for precise control of energy particles and an application-oriented way of thinking unlike that of ordinary people."

"Those are qualities a researcher needs."

The result silenced the classroom once more.

Everyone looked at Luo Lin with complicated expressions.

Kyle Silverglow's face instantly turned livid. His fists clenched, and his gaze at Luo Lin was filled with undisguised anger and jealousy.

He had thought the position was already his for the taking.

Luo Lin rose to his feet and bowed to Wizard Stone again. "Thank you, Wizard Stone."

He knew that from this moment onward, his situation within the academy would undergo subtle changes.

He had gained a valuable opportunity, but he had also drawn more attention—and deeper hostility from people like Kyle.

If this was an unavoidable part of pursuing power and knowledge, then he accepted it calmly.

Obtaining the assistant position in Wizard Stone's laboratory was an important turning point for Luo Lin.

It not only meant that he could gain access to more advanced research into energy particles and receive better compensation, but also that he had officially entered the sight of two Official Wizards and gained a certain degree of recognition.

Of course, some changes came with it.

Kyle Silverglow's hostility toward him was barely concealed. Whenever they met in public, Kyle's eyes were cold.

Some apprentices who had not paid much attention to Luo Lin before also began to reassess this low-key peer who repeatedly did astonishing things.

Lina half-jokingly congratulated him, saying that he was now "a favorite before two wizards."

Luo Lin remained as calm as ever.

He knew that all this outside attention and turmoil was insubstantial. Only improving his own strength was fundamental.

He politely declined invitations from several small groups trying to recruit him and devoted more energy to his new studies and work.

Wizard Stone's laboratory had a completely different style from Wizard Eric's.

This place placed greater emphasis on precise data measurement, quantitative analysis of energy, and repeated verification of models.

Luo Lin's work mainly involved assisting with experimental data, maintaining precision energy-detection instruments, and preparing pure energy-particle environments with specific attributes.

The work was dull and tedious, but it greatly improved his sensitivity to energy and cultivated his rigor.

He applied the precise measurement methods he learned in Stone's laboratory to his own potion research and formation drawing, making his experimental data more reliable.

The efficiency of energy circulation in his formations also improved slightly.

At the same time, he cross-verified the concepts of life fields and macroscopic energy balance he had encountered in Eric's laboratory with Stone's laboratory's research into microscopic particles, deepening his understanding of the nature of energy.

This fusion of knowledge across different fields quietly made his foundation even more solid.

His days passed steadily, filled with research and work in two laboratories.

About half a year later, after a deep meditation session, Luo Lin clearly felt that his Mental Sea had undergone some kind of qualitative transformation.

The thin membrane that had blocked him for so long finally shattered. His mental power became more condensed and well-rounded, and his control over mana rose to a new level.

He summoned the pale blue panel only he could see and examined his current condition:

[Subject: Luo Lin]

[Race: Human]

[Status: Healthy]

[Level: Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice (72%)]

[Attributes:

Constitution: 2.1

Mental Power: 10.5

Mana: 105/105]

[Knowledge Mastered:

Basic Meditation Method (Perfect 5%)

Basic Rune Identification (Proficient 32%)

Basic Magical Botany (Mastery 15%)

Basic Potion Material Processing (Professional 55%)

Analysis of Common Cantrip Model Structures (Mastery 8%)

Fundamental Configuration Theory of Elemental Particles (Proficient 40%)

Basic Formation Analysis (Proficient 25%)]

[Spells: Mage Hand (Mastery 5%), Acid Spray (Proficient 85%), Weak Force-Field Armor (Proficient 90%), Literacy (Proficient 70%), Breeze Dust-Cleansing (Beginner 90%)]

[Specialty: Efficient Scholar (Passive)]

[Basic Meditation Method] had finally broken through to the Perfect level. This was an important milestone.

His mental power and constitution had steadily increased through continuous training and resource investment.

His proficiency in all kinds of knowledge and spells had also improved significantly, especially the knowledge related to energy particles, runes, and formations, which had progressed rapidly.

Because [Breeze Dust-Cleansing] was a self-created spell, its progress was relatively slow, but it was also close to the Proficient level.

The increase in strength brought greater confidence and a broader perspective.

Luo Lin was no longer satisfied with merely studying within the academy and completing assistant work.

He longed to experience the real world, test what he had learned, and seek more opportunities and resources.

Just then, the academy issued a mandatory recruitment mission notice aimed at all Senior Third-Rank Apprentices.

The notice stated that magical creature activity at the Black Forest Frontline Outpost, located on the southwestern frontier of the continent, had recently become unusually frequent, causing pressure to surge.

The academy had decided to dispatch a group of senior apprentices to provide support, rotate out some of the stationed personnel, and serve for ten years.

A ten-year term was not particularly long for wizards with their lengthy lifespans.

But for apprentices, it was no short period.

The announcement caused quite a stir among the senior apprentices.

The Black Forest frontline was fraught with danger, but it also meant opportunity.

There were rare resources that were difficult to obtain within the academy, more realistic combat environments, and possible clues to ancient ruins.

The support mission was primarily based on voluntary enrollment, but if too few qualified individuals signed up, the academy would forcibly recruit them.

The registration requirements included:

Having been a Third-Rank Apprentice for a certain number of years, mastering at least three zero-ring spells to the Proficient level, and possessing practical combat experience.

Luo Lin carefully read the notice.

He met the registration requirements.

Ten years would mean temporarily leaving the academy's relatively safe environment and favorable learning conditions.

But the challenges and opportunities of the Black Forest attracted him just as strongly.

Luo Lin realized that this might be an opportunity to leave the academy greenhouse, temper himself amid real danger, and accelerate his growth.

He did not make a decision immediately. Instead, he first sought the opinions of Wizard Eric and Wizard Stone.

After hearing his thoughts, Wizard Eric pondered for a moment before saying:

"The situation in the Black Forest is complicated. It is not only magical creatures; there are also fugitives and other races active there."

"The danger is considerable, but it can indeed help people grow quickly."

"Your foundation is already quite solid. It is time for you to go out and see the world."

"But remember, returning alive is what matters most. I can keep your laboratory assistant position for you."

Wizard Stone's answer was more direct.

"Go experience a real chaotic energy field. It will benefit your understanding of particle stability and model adaptability."

"Bring your [Breeze Dust-Cleansing]. It may be useful in certain environments."

"My laboratory will keep a place for you as well."

The attitudes of the two wizards were both clear. They did not object and even offered a measure of encouragement.

After receiving their approval, Luo Lin went to the mission hall to learn in detail about the Black Forest Frontline Outpost's specific conditions, supply provisions, mission responsibilities, and possible rewards.

He also specifically consulted information about magical plants, minerals, and potential dangers unique to the Black Forest region.

After considering everything, Luo Lin made up his mind.

He went to the registration office and recorded his information.

The steward in charge of registration checked his records, confirmed his spell mastery, and nodded.

"You meet the requirements. Registration successful."

"Wait for notification regarding the specific departure date and batch. It is expected to be within three months."

News of his successful registration quickly spread within a small circle.

Some admired Luo Lin's courage, some thought he was taking too great a risk, and some secretly rejoiced at his misfortune, believing that going to such a dangerous place was asking for trouble.

When Kyle Silverglow learned of it, he merely snorted coldly, seemingly feeling that Luo Lin leaving the academy was exactly what he wanted.

Luo Lin ignored the discussions.

Since he had made his decision, he began preparing for his ten-year departure.

He first took stock of his assets.

After this period of accumulation, along with selling some stored materials and potions, his total contribution points had reached eight thousand.

That was no small fortune.