Afterglow Secret Realm

Time passed, and Luo Lin's sixth year at Gray Tower Outpost quietly began amid tension and anticipation.

His spiritual power had long reached its limit of 10 points, like a raging flood held back by a dam—surging fiercely yet unable to break through.

He kept that Mind-Calming Crystal safely stored away as a trump card for a critical moment, rather than a resource to be used lightly.

This year, Luo Lin devoted more of his energy to strengthening his foundation and planning for the future.

The perfect-grade [Basic Meditation Method] operated without pause. Though it could not increase his spiritual power, it made that power increasingly pure and condensed, as easy to control as his own limbs.

He could feel the density of his Mental Sea increasing, albeit at an extremely slow pace.

That barrier also seemed to have become clearer for this reason, and he could even vaguely sense its resilient texture.

The [Weak Force-Field Armor], optimized based on the principles of ancient scrolls, finally achieved preliminary results.

The new armor structure incorporated greater understanding of energy deflection and structural resilience. Its defensive power had increased by roughly twenty percent, and it had gained an initial adaptability against different kinds of energy attacks.

Although it was still far from a qualitative transformation, this path combining ancient and modern ideas showed him another possibility beyond simply pursuing greater power.

Baha's growth was even more pronounced.

It had grown as large as a large raven, its feathers jet-black and glossy. The gray patterns at the base of its wings and across its tail feathers resembled natural magic runes.

Its three pairs of eyes had become increasingly adept in use. Not only could they give precise warnings, perceive energy, and see through falsehoods, but those dark-gold eyes had also greatly expanded their range of precognition for "malice" and "deadly danger."

Baha had even begun displaying a faint ability to interfere with the mind, influencing the thoughts of weak magical creatures at extremely close range and giving Luo Lin more tactical options in battle.

The power of Dark Insight fed back through their contract bond had now become quite distinct, continually nourishing Luo Lin's Mental Sea and making his perception of energy far surpass that of others at his rank.

As for resources, Luo Lin did not rush to risk exploring deadly places like Deathwhisper Marsh or Shipwreck Bay.

He continued accumulating contribution points and general resources through Outpost missions and limited trades with Mason, while closely following every lead related to advancement materials.

Using Baha's abilities, Luo Lin successfully found several low-grade substitute materials with similar properties during a number of resource-gathering missions. He used them to practice and verify his understanding of energy properties, especially to gain experience for preparing Origin Ink in the future.

However, the peaceful accumulation was soon shattered by a notice from the main campus of Shadow Crow Holy Tower Arcane Academy.

The notice arrived at Gray Tower Outpost through a long-range communication formation. It concerned a coming "Secret Realm Exploration Qualification Selection" to be held at the Academy's main campus.

So-called secret realms were small demiplanes dependent on the main world, with incomplete rules or unusual environments.

The secret realm opening this time was called the Afterglow Secret Realm. It was said to be a fragment of an ancient fallen wizard's experimental grounds. Not only might it contain ancient knowledge and rare materials, but more importantly, its core region had a certain chance of producing pure Elemental Essence.

Furthermore, the notice stated that those who performed exceptionally in the exploration would receive additional rewards from the Holy Tower besides whatever they gained within the secret realm. These included an opportunity to exchange for a designated faction's First-Circle Meditation Method!

The news was like a massive boulder rolling down a tranquil mountaintop, causing a tremendous uproar throughout Gray Tower Outpost and among all dispatched apprentices who had received the notice.

Elemental Essence!

A qualification to exchange for a First-Circle Meditation Method!

These two things were exactly what countless Third-Rank Apprentices stuck at a bottleneck dreamed of obtaining!

The latter especially represented the possibility of acquiring a legitimate path of advancement without signing a two-hundred-year contract!

As Luo Lin looked at the copy of the notice personally delivered by Captain Holm, his heart began beating faster of its own accord.

This was undoubtedly an enormous opportunity!

As long as he could enter the secret realm and achieve sufficiently outstanding results, the two greatest obstacles to his advancement to Official Wizard—the Elemental Essence needed as a Crystallization Medium and an Advanced Meditation Method—might be resolved in one stroke.

But opportunity also came with extreme risk.

The exploration qualification required selection, which meant fierce competition.

Those eligible to take part in the selection were all the finest Third-Rank Apprentices from various branches and Outposts. There would even be no shortage of geniuses with powerful backgrounds and abundant resources.

Moreover, the secret realm itself would be anything but smooth sailing. Ancient wizard experimental grounds were often filled with unknown dangers and bizarre rules.

The selection method was soon announced:

All applicants would be transported to a designated assessment demiplane for a comprehensive evaluation of their abilities, covering survival, combat, reconnaissance, deciphering, resource gathering, and more. They would ultimately be ranked by overall performance, with the top one hundred gaining entry to the Afterglow Secret Realm.

"Are you going to participate?"

Captain Holm looked at Luo Lin with a complicated expression.

He knew Luo Lin's strength and potential well, but he also understood the brutality of the competition.

"This is an opportunity I can't afford to miss."

Luo Lin's gaze settled on the lines reading "Elemental Essence" and "Meditation Method Exchange Qualification." His tone was calm but resolute.

"The competition will be extremely fierce."

"I heard that even those arrogant people from the Elemental Ring, along with several direct descendants of ancient wizard families, will be participating."

Holm reminded him, referring to apprentices with exceptional backgrounds such as Kyle Silverglow.

"I know."

Luo Lin nodded.

He had never underestimated any opponent, especially competitors with deep foundations.

But he had confidence in himself as well.

Six years of tempering in the Black Forest, the foundation laid by his perfect-grade meditation method, his seamless coordination with Baha, and the different perspectives he had drawn from ancient knowledge—all of these were sources of confidence.

"Good!"

"I'll make the arrangements for you here at the Outpost.

When will you leave?"

Holm patted him on the shoulder.

"As soon as possible."

Luo Lin said.

The selection would begin at the Academy's main campus in one month. He needed to leave early, familiarize himself with the environment, and make his final preparations.

In the days that followed, Luo Lin entered the final sprint.

He carefully inspected and maintained all his equipment, reorganizing the supplies in his dimensional bag to ensure nothing could go wrong.

Luo Lin underwent intensive, targeted training for every possible part of the selection, especially coordinated combat with Baha, striving to bring their tacit understanding to its fullest potential.

He contacted Wizard Eric and Wizard Stone again, informing them of his decision.

Neither wizard was surprised by his choice. Instead, both offered him a measure of support.

Wizard Eric reminded him to beware of ancient traps and distorted rules that might exist within the secret realm, while Wizard Stone focused more on changes in the energy environment and reminded him to flexibly apply his knowledge of Particle Manipulation to handle different situations.

Both said they would provide him with information support within the limits of their authority.

On the night before his departure, Luo Lin tucked the Mind-Calming Crystal close to his body. It was one of his most important trump cards.

He stroked Baha's smooth feathers, conveying his determination through their mental bond.

Baha rubbed its beak against his finger, its dark-gold eyes gleaming with the same light as his own.

Early the next morning, Luo Lin bid farewell to Captain Holm and several team members he knew well, then stepped onto the teleportation formation back to Shadow Crow Holy Tower Arcane Academy.

As light flickered around him, he took one final look at Gray Tower Outpost's familiar black-and-gray silhouette.

A new stage, fiercer competition, and a crucial step on the path to becoming an Official Wizard lay before him.

When the teleportation light faded, a familiar environment carrying the scent of order and dense energy particles rushed over him.

Luo Lin had returned to Shadow Crow Holy Tower Arcane Academy.

After six years away, the place seemed not to have changed much. The towers still rose high, and apprentices still hurried about, but there was an unusual tension in the air, clearly connected to the coming selection.

Luo Lin first went to the Administrative Tower to report his return and update his information.

When the steward detected the surging fluctuations of Luo Lin's spiritual power, which had already reached the limit for an apprentice, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes, and his attitude grew somewhat more respectful.

After settling in, Luo Lin wasted no time and immediately began gathering intelligence on the selection and his competitors.

He went to the crowded mission hall and library, listening to apprentices' conversations and reviewing recent Academy notices and certain information bulletins permitted for circulation.