Chapter Summaries

Jiuyou Academy freshmen received their badges from Dean Yao during the opening ceremony. Old Yao declared Jiuyou’s ideals of equality, justice, and diligence, leaving the freshmen standing together under the scrutiny of the other academies.

• Zheng Qing and the other freshmen gathered with their pets, while Fatty Xin joked about Ilena’s pet crow and Tuantuan the Orange Cat suffered indignities.
• The master of ceremonies called Jiuyou Academy’s freshmen forward to receive their badges and the dean’s blessing.
• Old Yao appeared as Jiuyou’s dean, and Liu Feifei bowed deeply as she received her badges.
• Zheng Qing nervously approached Old Yao, received two badges, and returned to the line with Poseidon hiding in his hood.
• Old Yao proclaimed that all living beings were equal and introduced justice, equality, and diligence as Jiuyou’s philosophy.
• The freshmen silently faced the other academies’ appraising gazes, and Zheng Qing felt they had briefly received a will from the void.

During Starry Sky Academy’s freshman ritual, Xiao Xiao explained to Zheng Qing how rituals and rules gave people a sense of security and order. Their conversation ended when a tall wizard and a familiar chubby figure appeared in the First Grand Hall.

• Starry Sky Academy’s president led the freshmen in a ritual proclaiming their commitment to battle and enduring life.
• Zheng Qing questioned why people would yearn for rituals, and Xiao Xiao explained that people valued order, rules, and the security they provided.
• Atlas’s president led the Yellow-robed Wizards in a sacred covenant, and golden lotuses sprang from the Magic Circle before vanishing.
• Xiao Xiao compared the security offered by rules to the authority of examinations at their academy and family pedigrees at Alpha Academy.
• A tall wizard entered the First Grand Hall with a chubby figure behind him, and Zheng Qing recognized the latter as familiar.

At First University's opening ceremony, Zheng Qing panicked after realizing he had forgotten his award speech, then learned he would be publicly honored for fighting a demon. The ceremony left him exposed to the attention of the freshmen as the professor announced his heroism.

• Zheng Qing realized he had left his award speech at home and asked Xiao Xiao if he had one to borrow.
• Zheng Qing identified Agent Andrew as a Wizard Alliance investigator, while Xiao Xiao corrected Zhang Jixin's confusion between him and Andrew Taylor.
• Jiang Yu silenced the boys and took Poseidon and Tuantuan away after warning she would stew them if they kept making noise.
• The professor praised the freshmen who fought the banshee aboard the Special Plane, drawing attention to Zheng Qing and his companions.
• The professor described Zheng Qing's actions during the Four Seasons Market demon attacks and announced him as a hero, leaving Zheng Qing blushing under the hall's gaze.

Zheng Qing received a Merlin Bronze Medal at First University’s opening ceremony, though the award praised him for fabricated heroics. He accepted it in silence, burdened by the lie and the medal’s cost to his conscience.

• The chapter explained the Merlin Medal’s history, its reforms, and the different ranks of awards.
• The master of ceremonies announced Zheng Qing as the youngest Merlin Medal recipient in twenty years, and Jiuyou Academy’s students celebrated him.
• Zheng Qing recalled that Old Yao had warned him the school’s version of his deeds would differ from his memories, and he struggled to deny the false story.
• Robert Nude presented Zheng Qing with the medal as the crowd cheered, and Zheng Qing gave an acceptance speech he could not remember.
• After the ceremony, Zheng Qing stuffed the certificate and medal into Fatty Xin’s arms and sighed with relief.

After the opening ceremony, Zheng Qing struggled with the Merlin Bronze Medal and his growing resentment toward First University while Xiao Xiao hinted that the whole school had serious problems. The house party continued until Zheng Qing recognized Thomas, his entrance-interview examiner, standing before him.

• Dr. Xiao returned the Merlin Bronze Medal to Zheng Qing, who felt weighed down by the honor.
• Dr. Xiao asked Zheng Qing to look around the hall, but Zheng Qing focused on Starry Sky Academy students wagering on a fight and condemned the school’s lax rules.
• Dr. Xiao argued that everyone overlooked the university’s problems, while Zheng Qing agreed that the school was sick.
• Fatty Xin brought Zheng Qing Poseidon and the dorm’s Orange Cat after rescuing them from curious girls.
• Zhang Jixin suggested bringing students from different academies together to party, and Zheng Qing recognized the teaching assistant Thomas as his entrance-interview examiner.

Zheng Qing questioned Thomas about the school’s false heroic narrative and learned that Thomas had accepted the arrangement in exchange for help with his research. The conversation ended with Thomas explaining how student badges grew more powerful over time, prompting Zheng Qing to consider how to wear his Merlin Medals discreetly.

• Zheng Qing told Thomas that saving the sprites was not an investment and challenged the school’s pursuit of positive publicity.
• Thomas explained that the Wizard Alliance, the school, and the wider Wizarding World needed a hero to distract from a series of crises.
• Zheng Qing accused adults of putting interests above right and wrong, while Thomas admitted the school and Wizard Council had offered him favors he valued more than public credit for the thunder spell.
• Fatty Xin asked Thomas why his badge looked less attractive than Nicholas’s, and Nicholas said he had not paid attention to the badges because of his studies and caring for Liz.
• Thomas explained that protective spells made badges grow more brilliant with long-term wear, and Zheng Qing considered how to wear his Merlin Medals without drawing attention.

At Jiuyou Academy’s opening ceremony, Nicholas reflected on his two failed years at other academies and his difficult path to a fresh start. He left the celebration early and returned to his dormitory, where he began preparing to write a letter.

• Nicholas recalled how he had left Alpha Academy after attacking a student who insulted his mother, then failed to fit in at Starry Sky Academy because he refused to risk his life in pointless fights.
• Nicholas explained that Jiuyou Academy had accepted him as a third-year freshman on the condition that he met its academic and conduct requirements.
• Zheng Qing found Nicholas standing alone at the party, but Nicholas declined to join the festivities and pointed him toward Fatty Xin.
• Nicholas left the hall without saying goodbye to Liu Feifei and returned to his exclusive student dormitory to calm himself by writing a letter.
• Nicholas took out stationery, ink, and a Quill Pen, then sat by the window as the pen began drinking the ink.

Nicholas wrote a letter to his deceased mother about Liz, his life at Jiuyou Academy, and the capable girl who had become his close companion. He put the letter away with many others, leaving his feelings for her unspoken.

• Nicholas wrote to his mother that Liz was thriving and that he had been accepted into Jiuyou Academy after nearly being expelled from Starry Sky Academy.
• He described Jiuyou Academy’s exam-focused system and praised the first-year top student who helped him study.
• Nicholas recalled how the girl he called Feifei and Idiot had teased him, tutored him, and shared everyday moments with him.
• He told his mother he felt a greater sense of belonging at Jiuyou Academy and promised to keep going.
• Nicholas folded the letter, placed it in the desk cabinet, and revealed that it was already filled with letters.

First University's leaders debated the Under the Moon Council's demand for support in conducting Forbidden Curse experiments and agreed to uphold the ban while negotiating for the Council's aid against an anticipated demon attack. They left Vice Principal Ruo Yu to coordinate with the Council, with the school's hunting teams barred from use in Wizard Alliance civil conflicts without unanimous approval.

• Old Yao, Professor Emma, and the deans opposed the Under the Moon Council's request to conduct experiments that could lead to Forbidden Curses, while Starry Sky Academy's dean advocated force.
• The leaders recognized they needed the Council's strength because the early Silent Forest tide had stretched the school's forces thin and a future demon assault was highly likely.
• Vice Principal Shi Hui said First University needed five Archwizard-level combatants from the Council to defend the perimeter at a designated time.
• The leaders reaffirmed that Forbidden Curses must not proliferate and that the ancient contract with the Council had to be honored.
• Master Ruo Yu stipulated that the school's hunting teams could not be used in Wizard Alliance civil wars without all six leaders' signatures, then agreed to coordinate with the Council.

As the party at First University neared its end, the Misty Captain received a message from the school via a black butterfly and explained to Nikita how it had bypassed the Guardian Formation. He named the creature the 2.5-Dimensional Butterfly and ended the conversation by praising Nikita’s pastries.

• The Misty Captain received a black butterfly carrying news from First University and showed it to Nikita.
• Nikita wondered how the butterfly had escaped the university’s Guardian Formation, and the captain explained that it existed between two and three dimensions.
• The captain described how the butterfly’s unusual nature let it evade protections meant for ordinary lifeforms and named it the 2.5-Dimensional Butterfly.
• Nikita served the captain pastries made from memories and other ingredients, and he praised her cooking.

Nikita shared news from First University with Harry and Ryan, including signs of trouble around the school and a possible deception involving its old leader. Harry proposed that the Misty crew might seize an opportunity to attack the academy, but the old one-legged man warned that the captain had ordered the sails raised.

• Nikita told Harry and Ryan that a butterfly from First University had reported a Wizard Alliance investigation team, activity at the Under the Moon Council's Beta Town office, and a shortage of staff at the school.
• Harry and Ryan realized the opening-ceremony speech attributed to First University's old leader might have been faked, supporting the captain's suspicion that the leader had long been absent.
• Harry suggested the captain was gathering battle captains to exploit the possibility of First University disappearing and attack the academy.
• Nikita eagerly agreed to join the attack, and Harry promised to help with her blood-cloth matter.
• The old one-legged man told them the captain had ordered the sails raised, frightening Harry and Ryan and sending Nikita back toward the kitchen.

Zheng Qing discussed his recent fame as a hero with Fatty Xin, who wanted to interview him for an article to help him join the school newspaper. The chapter ended with Zheng Qing agreeing to answer questions on a three-minute deadline.

• Zheng Qing and Fatty Xin waited in the quiet dormitory while Doctor and Dylan were away.
• Zheng Qing ate Fatty Xin's grapes and complained about him using Zheng Qing's name to get photographs with girls.
• Fatty Xin asked Zheng Qing what it felt like to become a hero, and Zheng Qing said the attention had mostly left him annoyed.
• Fatty Xin explained he wanted to write an interview piece for Linda to help him join the school newspaper.
• Zheng Qing agreed to be interviewed and gave Fatty Xin three minutes to ask questions.

Zheng Qing discussed his Merlin Bronze Medal with Fatty Xin and learned from Dylan why the award had taken months to arrive. Dylan explained the medal’s lengthy review and paperwork process, leaving Zheng Qing to realize that Andrew’s efforts had helped speed things along.

• Zheng Qing told Fatty Xin that his Merlin Medal carried a summoning spell and that Old Yao had informed him of the award after the class meeting.
• Dylan emerged quietly from his coffin and joined Zheng Qing and Fatty Xin’s conversation about credits and the delayed award.
• Zheng Qing complained that the Wizard Alliance had taken too long to notify him, but Dylan said fewer than a hundred days had passed and explained that Bronze Medals required extensive reviews and paperwork.
• Dylan described the Wizard Alliance’s institutional tiers and the many reports and approvals required to grant a Lesser Merlin Medal.
• Dylan said Zheng Qing should thank Andrew for helping secure the necessary approvals, while Fatty Xin continued taking notes for his interview draft.

Tuantuan licked a paper crane until Zheng Qing rescued it and found the Student Union’s rejection of his application. Discouraged, Zheng Qing left early to meet Jiang Yu and test a spellbook for Old Yao’s assignment.

• Tuantuan licked a red paper crane, and Fatty Xin tried to pin the cat down so Zheng Qing could retrieve it.
• The paper crane unfolded into a reply from the Student Union rejecting Zheng Qing because his overall evaluation was insufficient.
• Zheng Qing accused the Student Union of rigging the recruitment and grew more discouraged.
• Zheng Qing told his roommates he would be out late to test a spellbook with Jiang Yu for Old Yao’s assignment, then left the dormitory.

Yao Xiaomi explained Silence Theory to a packed Magic Philosophy lecture after Professor Sima’s history lesson had prompted students to ask about it. He left the class with the theory’s central argument, though the students struggled to understand it.

• Zheng Qing and Xiao Xiao discussed a passage written on the classroom blackboard before class.
• Yao Xiaomi complained that Professor Sima’s history lessons had led students to ask him about Silence Theory.
• Yao Xiaomi asked the class who had researched or understood Silence Theory, and few students raised their hands.
• Yao Xiaomi defined Silence Theory as the principle that, within a certain range of space and time, the intensity of active individuals was inversely proportional to that spacetime’s lifespan.

Professor Yao illustrated his spacetime theory by creating a miniature continent populated by ants, showing how weak inhabitants could fight without harming their world. He left the class considering how the ants’ limited abilities kept their conflict from affecting the White Continent.

• Zheng Qing struggled to understand Professor Yao’s complicated lecture and asked Xiao Xiao whether he understood it.
• Professor Yao explained that stronger active individuals shortened the lifespan of their Small World, then warned that memorizing the conclusion would not build a foundation in magical theory.
• Professor Yao turned a sheet of paper into the White Continent and created black and red ants, along with several exotic beasts, from pipe ash, sparks, and tobacco strands.
• The ants divided by color and fought, leaving a mound of corpses that separated the groups.
• Professor Yao explained that the ants’ limited abilities meant their battle could not harm the White Continent, and Zheng Qing began to grasp the example.

Professor Yao demonstrated how powerful ants destroyed the fragile White Continent, then explained the Silence Theory and its deductions, Ausi Equilibrium and the Observer Effect. He left the students with the Wizarding World's principles for limiting the harm caused by extraordinary power.

• Black ants killed a Tobacco Silk Dragon, and the queen ant grew into a giant after eating its corpse.
• The giant black queen led the black ants to defeat the red ants, but its heavy steps punctured the White Continent.
• A giant red ant emerged, and the two giants fought until their acid and sparks ruined the continent and both fell into the void.
• Professor Yao explained that extraordinary beings increased the risk of a world's destruction and introduced the Silence Theory and Ausi Equilibrium.
• Professor Yao described the Observer Effect, explaining why the Wizarding World avoided exposing ordinary people to extraordinary power.

After class, Professor Yao told Zheng Qing that the School Hospital’s examination results were ready and asked him to discuss them at his office. He brought Zheng Qing there by a shortcut, then asked how he was adjusting to being a hero.

• Professor Yao stopped Zheng Qing after class and told him to come to his office to discuss the School Hospital’s examination results.
• Zheng Qing apologized to Jiang Yu for missing their spellbook study session, and she reassured him they could reschedule.
• Professor Yao finished answering students’ questions after the sun had set, then led Zheng Qing through a shortcut to his office.
• Zheng Qing admired the shortcut, denied selling autographed photos, and answered Professor Yao’s question about being a hero.

Zheng Qing learned that his headaches and nightmares came from an unusually active, chaotic Psionic Field rather than a curse. Professor Yao suspected it might indicate a rare talent and began testing it in his office, leaving Zheng Qing asleep after a spell.

• Professor Yao told Zheng Qing that the School Hospital found no curse shadows but an extremely active Psionic Field in his head.
• Professor Yao explained that Zheng Qing’s irregular Psionic Field fluctuations caused his headaches and nightmares and might indicate a rare talent.
• Zheng Qing asked whether the field could be regulated, but Professor Yao insisted they should investigate its unusual activity instead.
• Professor Yao gave Zheng Qing a sleeping pill, a goblet of lemonade, and a spell to repeat while holding his copper-coin medium.
• Zheng Qing repeated the spell and promptly fell asleep.

Zheng Qing awoke as a translucent ghost beside Linzhong Lake and watched a strange witch interact with a kitten. The witch killed the kitten and turned to face him, revealing a blank, featureless face.

• Zheng Qing woke beside Linzhong Lake without his bag or badges and realized his body was ghostlike and transparent.
• A white kitten hunted a black butterfly while Zheng Qing tried to touch it, but his hand passed through.
• A witch arrived and passed through Zheng Qing, burning him painfully as she washed her face and muttered about the boss’s rules.
• The witch noticed the kitten, stroked it, then snapped its neck after it had crushed the butterfly.
• The witch turned toward Zheng Qing, who collapsed in terror at her featureless white face.