《Magic Academy: My Magic Skills Can Automatically Train Themselves 24/7》 Chapter 1 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Cumulative 10,000 times of meditation has been completed. The magic skills automatic cultivation system is activated!¡± After hearing the long-awaited prompt, Bai Ze slowly opened his eyes and breathed out deeply. He looked at the mottled wall in front of him and muttered to himself, ¡°After eleven years, the system has finally been unlocked.¡± He slowly stretched out his legs, which were numb from meditating for a long time, and initiated the system interface unhurriedly. A light blue, transparent interface appeared in front of him, and there were only strings of text that resembled dark technology on it. [The automatic cultivation system is binding ¡­!] [Binding successful. Next, we will enter the explanation phase: This system can automatically help the host cultivate magic skills 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without rest.] [The system has detected basic meditation skill. Strength level: F-class, Proficiency level: Beginner. Currently in automatic cultivation, cultivation progress increased to 1%¡­ Increased to 2%¡­ Increased to 3%¡­] [The system has detected that the host¡¯s magic power is low. Please condense a sea of magic power as soon as possible.] [The system has detected that the host currently does not possess any rules. Please learn the rules as soon as possible.] In this world, technology was as thriving as the earth, but magic was mainstream in this world. Students went to school, studied magic, and companies had mages backing them¡­ The entire world¡¯s operation was closely related to magic. Magic might seem profound, but after hundreds of years of the magic resurgence and development, the profoundness of magic had been thoroughly studied. Its fundamental principle was very similar to combustion. The three elements of combustion were combustion oxidants, combustible items, and fire sources. And the three elements to produce magic were spiritual power, magic power, and rules. Comparing the two, the spiritual power in magic was equivalent to air, and the medium was the combustion oxidant. So magic power was fuel, alcohol, and firewood, which were flammable. The last item, a rule, was equivalent to a source of fire. Only when all three requisites were met could a spell be successfully cast. The main way to cultivate one¡¯s spiritual power was through meditation, and most of the meditation skills required tools to complement them. All kinds of rare items could improve the effect of meditation. The cultivation of rules mainly relied on inheritances. For example, in order to inherit rules, the use of a quill pen and hand-copying various magical spell books was required to learn them. This method required a certain amount of resources. Potions were the most effective way to increase one¡¯s magic power. Taking potions could expand one¡¯s sea of magic power. Next were all kinds of food and medicine. Although they weren¡¯t as effective as potions, they were still helpful in increasing one¡¯s magic power. The magic resurgence had a 100-year history by now. Although the government had tried to popularize magic in the commoners¡¯ realm as much as possible so that magic did not become exclusive to the nobles, one still had to have a certain social and economic status to learn magic. After all, every mage was created from the use of resources. Whether it was the rare items that meditation skills relied on, the right to inherit the rules, or the potions needed to increase magic power, to obtain these things, one either needed money or connections. No ordinary family could afford any of them. Bai Ze was just an orphan. He had no parents and was only able to survive because of the support from the orphanage. It was already a big struggle for him to stay alive, let alone get hold of any resources. If it wasn¡¯t for the school providing every student with the required F-class basic meditation skill for free, he might not even be qualified to come into contact with magic. In terms of cultural studies, Bai Ze was diligent, hardworking and scored full marks in all subjects. His position of being first in the school was well-deserved. However, in the field of magic, the gap between him and the other students could not be closed by hard work alone. No matter how hard he tried, he was still just a magic apprentice. He couldn¡¯t even successfully condense one magic ring, and he was the last in the school in this aspect. Even though the system had awakened, there wasn¡¯t enough time. Bai Ze was now a Senior High School student, and the college entrance examination was approaching. Could he really condense three magic rings by relying on the automatic cultivation system and catch up to the elite students of the Numero Uno High School? Just as Bai Ze was thinking about how to solve the current predicament, the system¡¯s voice rang out in his mind again. [Your F-class basic meditation skill¡¯s cultivation progress has slowed down due to the lack of supporting treasures. Current proficiency level: Beginner, cultivation progress: 50%.] 50%! This system was really something! This cultivation speed was more than ten times faster than before! The high efficiency of the automatic cultivation system was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for Bai Ze. In the realm of magic powers, F-class was the lowest strength, then in ascending order E, D, C, B¡­ The strongest was the SSS-class. So there were a total of nine levels. However, simply having strength alone was useless. It was just like how an SSS-class forbidden spell was very powerful, but without the proficiency level, it could never be used by you. The realm of proficiency was divided into six levels ranging from unfamiliar to proficient: In ascending order, they were Beginner, Fluent, Familiar, Refinement, Mastery, and Perfection. As long as the proficiency level was at Perfection, even F-class meditation skills would have powerful effects. Now, as long as he could get his hands on a suitable supporting treasure, he would be able to continue his automatic cultivation. Thinking of this, Bai Ze suddenly stood up from the chair and went downstairs. The system was his last hope. No matter what, he had to try again! After leaving the apartment and going downstairs, in the chaotic sea of passers-by, Bai Ze walked towards the black market in his memory. There were many shops selling second-hand magic items near the apartment. Those shops were concentrated on one street, so many people knew about them. Even though second-hand magic items were not as good as new ones, they were very suitable for poor people like him. Bai Ze quickly walked into a second-hand shop. Tinkle! When the bell chime at the door rang, a slightly fat middle-aged man with sparse hair stood up with a smile. However, after seeing Bai Ze¡¯s clothes, the smile on the fat man¡¯s face suddenly disappeared. Bai Ze didn¡¯t care, and his eyes immediately moved to the magic supplies of various shapes. Many items here showed signs of being used before, and some of the magic power stored inside them had been lost. However, second-hand items were less than half the price of brand-new items, so buying such items was an act of last resort. Bai Ze strolled around and found many things he wanted to buy, such as a spiritual candle that could improve the speed of meditation. Although it showed signs of burning, it still had a long way to go, and the effect was good. However, the price of one would cost him half a month of relief funds. There were all kinds of glowing magice staves, potions that could stimulate magic power, and a dizzying array of items that bedazzled Bai Ze. Finally, the three-digit bank balance made Bai Ze calm down completely. After looking for a long time, he could only turn around and leave. The biggest problem in front of him now was that he had no money. Bai Ze had to work long hours every day to earn enough for his living expenses, tuition, and miscellaneous fees. If he got another job, he was afraid he would not even have time to cultivate in the future. Bai Ze walked out of the black market and looked down at the cracks in the bricks on the sidewalk. He was a little depressed. Ring! Ring! Ring! At this moment, the phone in his pocket rang. Chapter 2 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Seeing Wu Feng¡¯s name on the phone, Bai Ze immediately answered the call. Wu Feng shared the same desk with him in Numero Uno High School. The two had similar personalities, so they quickly became familiar with each other and could be considered good friends. ¡°Bai Ze, where are you? Didn¡¯t we agree to celebrate Jiang Qingyue¡¯s birthday together at noon?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t come, what am I supposed to do?¡± On the other side of the phone, Wu Feng rebuked him with veiled criticism. Bai Ze scratched his head. Today, he finally unlocked the system that had been bound to him for eleven years. He was so happy that he had forgotten about this matter. If Wu Feng hadn¡¯t mentioned it, he would have already gone home. It was only now that he remembered that today was the birthday of his childhood sweetheart, Jiang Qingyue. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? I¡¯ll be there in a moment. ¡± After ending the phone call, Bai Ze suddenly had an idea in his mind. He could ask Jiang Qingyue for help to solve his money woes now. That girl¡¯s family was very well-off, and their real estate value was more than ten million. Maybe he could borrow money from her. Right now, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t care so much anymore. If he lacked the nourishment of precious treasures for a long time, his strength would never be able to increase! Thinking of this, Bai Ze immediately walked toward the apartment building. At 11 am, inside Maplewood City¡¯s only riverside villa district. A lively birthday party was in full swing. The three-story villa was luxurious, and the parking lots outside were full of famous luxury cars. The star of this birthday celebration was Jiang Qingyue. Not only were her parents¡¯ friends and connected acquaintances here to celebrate her birthday, there were also many other high school classmates who were of high status. Bai Ze¡¯s figure seemed very inconspicuous in the midst of these people. He was sitting in a corner with Wu Feng, looking at Jiang Qingyue, who was socializing with her parents not far away. Jiang Qingyue was wearing a spaghetti strap long white dress today. Her long hair was scattered over her shoulders, and with her exquisite, prominent facial features, she exuded a kind of fairy-like aura. The pink waist belt revealed her beautiful figure. The lines of her collarbones and neck were very elegant. Although she had only put on light makeup today, she still stood out among all the other girls. After a while, Jiang Qingyue came to the side living room where she received her classmates. At this moment, those classmates who were close to her came up to give her gifts individually. There were many expensive watches, bags, and other luxury items among the gifts. There were also many branded clothes, jewelry, and precious stones. They were almost piled up into a small mountain. There was a faint smile on Jiang Qingyue¡¯s face as she greeted them with respect, but her expression revealed that she didn¡¯t really care for such gifts. Her beautiful eyes seemed to be looking forward to something. ¡°Bai Ze, what gift did you prepare for Jiang Qingyue? I think she¡¯s waiting for you to appear.¡± Wu Feng immediately shook Bai Ze¡¯s shoulder and asked curiously. Bai Ze grinned and then took out a slightly wrinkled notebook. ¡°This is what I¡¯ve prepared for Jiang Qingyue. She will definitely like it.¡± As he spoke, Bai Ze stood up from his chair and quickly walked towards Jiang Qingyue, who was surrounded by countless girls groveling around her. Jiang Qingyue was talking to the girls around her at this moment, but she noticed Bai Ze¡¯s presence at a glance. She pushed away the girls beside her without hesitation, and the two of them came to the center of the side hall. ¡°Where have you been hiding? Did you just arrive?¡± Jiang Qingyue¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed with a hint of slyness as she pretended to be a little unhappy. Bai Ze still had a comfortable smile on his face. He pointed in Wu Feng¡¯s direction and explained softly, ¡°I saw that you were so busy just now, so I didn¡¯t have the heart to interrupt you. Today is your birthday. I wish you a Happy Birthday and a perfect score for the cultural studies in the next mock exam.¡± As he spoke, Bai Ze immediately took out the notes he had copied at noon and handed them to Jiang Qingyue with a solemn expression. The surrounding people immediately turned their attention to it, only to find that it was not a precious item. It was just an old notebook. When the people nearby saw that Bai Ze actually gave such an item as a birthday gift, they immediately jeered at him. ¡°Are you trying to send off a beggar? You are giving something like that to Jiang Qingyue on her birthday?¡± ¡°At the very least, you should give her a limited edition notebook. The paper quality is too poor.¡± A chorus of dissatisfaction and ridicule rose around him. However, not only was Jiang Qingyue not angry, she accepted it with a smile. She lowered her head and looked at Bai Ze¡¯s precise and unique handwriting, then hugged it in her arms like a treasure. The onlookers could not help but open their mouths in surprise. They immediately began to speculate about the relationship between the two. ¡°Ahem, Qingyue, you must have misunderstood. I gave you my notebook as collateral to borrow money from you. Isn¡¯t the mock exam coming up soon?¡± ¡°I had my eyes on a magic staff yesterday, which was very effective. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been a little tight on money recently, so I wanted to borrow some money from you to help me tide over this period.¡± Bai Ze blinked, and the smile on his face grew wider. When the people around them heard this, they stared at Bai Ze with wide-open eyes. ¡°Is there something wrong with this person? No one wants this lousy notebook even if it¡¯s given to them for free, yet he still wants to borrow money using that as collateral?¡± ¡°Fuck, he¡¯s so poor that he¡¯s going crazy. He came all the way to Jiang Qingyue¡¯s house to borrow money, and he¡¯s even doing it during her birthday party. He has no common sense at all!¡± The crowd reacted strongly, Even the intelligent Jiang Qingyue was stunned. However, she quickly recovered and said with a smile, ¡°Sure. Based on the value of this notebook, I am the one getting a good deal.¡± ¡°But I have to make it clear that this money is not a loan. After all, I have been using your cultural studies notes before. Consider it my private tuition fee for you.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you for your generosity, Ms. Jiang. I¡¯ll accept your offer.¡± Jiang Qingyue¡¯s beautiful eyes glared at Bai Ze, and she smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be cheeky. Let¡¯s eat the cake together. ¡± Jiang Qingyue pulled Bai Ze away. The people around them widened their eyes in disbelief at what had just happened. The talented, beautiful Jiang Qingyue, the youngest fourth ring mage in Numero Uno High School, was so nice to Bai Ze, someone with no magic power. At this moment, Wu Feng, sitting not far away, also secretly gave a thumbs up. He thought inwardly that his Brother Bai certainly lived up to his expectations. He was the expert when it came to living off a woman. The afternoon birthday party ended at 1:30 pm. Bai Ze bade farewell to Jiang Qingyue and left the villa district. He hurried back to the black market not far from the apartment building. He entered a second-hand magic staff specialty store. Bai Ze began to choose a suitable staff. The reason he promised to pay back the money after the mock exam was that he wanted to get good results in this mock exam. The rewards for the top ten students in the mock exam were very generous, starting from a minimum of ten thousand bucks. However, it was very tough to enter the top ten. Without a good magic staff, it would be very difficult to make it to the end. With Jiang Qingyue¡¯s help, Bai Ze¡¯s bank account balance had broken the 5,000 mark. He could even afford a staff with decent effects. The owner, wearing a leather jacket with his bald head exposed, immediately stood up from his chair. ¡°Little buddy, what kind of staff do you want to buy? I have a lot of good stuff in my shop,¡± he asked Bai Ze eagerly. Bai Ze looked at the boss¡¯s bald head and couldn¡¯t resist mocking silently in his heart. Is the price of opening a second-hand shop in the black market a completely bald head? Chapter 3 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation He didn¡¯t say anything but simply strolled around the shop. The shop that sold magic staves was not big. It was only about 80 square meters in total. There were three display cabinets with all kinds of magic staves. Some of them had a rough surface and were quite heavy when lifted. Others were embedded with gemstones, yet they only weighed a few hundred grams. Just as he was choosing thoughtfully, an ethereal voice suddenly rang out in his mind. ¡°Ethereal elements have been detected. Your basic meditation skill has been nourished, and its automatic cultivation progress has increased by 30%.¡± When the voice suddenly rang out, Bai Ze stopped in his tracks. He looked curiously at the magic staff entwined with purple motifs in his hand. The staff was no more than 70 centimeters long, and its overall shape was similar to a thin sword. However, its surface had been severely weathered and looked quite ancient. Upon hearing the system prompt, Bai Ze was slightly surprised, but his outward expression remained calm. He knew that in this black market, once the buyer showed interest, the next thing he would face was the store¡¯s sky-high price. So he put the magic staff back and started to check the surrounding staves, but the system didn¡¯t respond anymore. ¡°How is it, little buddy? Did you take a fancy to that staff?¡± The middle-aged boss was thin, but his eyes were extremely sharp. He stared at Bai Ze as if looking at a fat sheep. Bai Ze calmly took down the thin sword-like staff and then asked casually, ¡°Boss, what¡¯s the background of this staff?¡± The black market¡¯s boss saw that the young man seemed interested and immediately said, ¡°Little buddy, you have good taste. This is a good item in our shop. It¡¯s called the Ethereal Magic Staff, a relic left behind from ancient times.¡± ¡°Look at the purple motifs on the staff. Each line represents around a hundred years, which means it¡¯s at least ten thousand years old. And it¡¯s a staff used by a Holy Archmage. It contains infinite magic power!¡± ¡°I can see you¡¯re fated to be with this staff, so I won¡¯t ask for more. I¡¯ll give you a discounted price of 3,500 bucks on account of our friendship.¡± The black market boss said this with a pained expression and then glanced at Bai Ze. ¡°Tsk, tsk.¡± Bai Ze sighed without a trace. He thought to himself, ¡°There¡¯s really no such thing as an honest merchant. He pretended to be distressed outwardly, but in reality, he treated me like an idiot to be conned.¡¯ ¡°Your price for this¡­ should be a zero.¡± Bai Ze didn¡¯t cut the other party any slack at all and immediately stated the price he had in mind. When the black market boss heard this, he immediately frowned and said with a pained expression, ¡°Ah? 3,000 bucks then. I¡¯m just running a small business¡­¡± When the boss said this, his heart was extremely excited. He only needed to pay around 100 bucks for this kind of staff. Selling it for 3,000 bucks was equivalent to 30 times the profit. It was simply too satisfying. However, before he could finish his words, Bai Ze immediately interrupted his daydream. ¡°What are you thinking? Zero! If I had 3,000 bucks, would I still come to you?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ How about 350?¡± The boss¡¯s forehead creased with worry lines. He found it hard to accept such a huge difference, but he could still make a profit at 350 bucks. ¡°35¡­¡± Bai Ze made a hand gesture, and the boss¡¯s face completely froze. ¡°3,500 is reduced to 35. You call this zero?¡± The boss looked at Bai Ze in disbelief, thinking that he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong recently, so why did he bump into such a living King of Hell? The two of them exchanged words fiercely, and finally, Bai Ze got the Ethereal Magic staff for 130 bucks. Before he left, the boss¡¯s eyes were still filled with resentment. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. If others didn¡¯t know, they¡¯d think I slept with you. ¡± Bai Ze shot him a scornful retort, then left the black market with the staff. Bai Ze quickly returned to the apartment, then sat cross-legged on the sofa, wanting to see how much his meditation had improved. [Your basic meditation skill has sensed the Ethereal Magic Staff. In jubilation, the cultivation progress has increased by 100%.] [Your proficiency has reached Beginner¡¯s level 2¡­ level 3.] Sensing the increase in his meditation skill¡¯s proficiency, a trace of joy was revealed in the corners of Bai Ze¡¯s mouth. He stroked the staff in his hand. At this moment, there was still a steady stream of magic particles in the air that were being absorbed, helping Bai Ze to improve his magic power. This was the power of automatic cultivation. Even if Bai Ze was walking and eating, his meditation skill would still be cultivating, which saved him a lot of time. At six o¡¯clock in the afternoon, when Bai Ze finished his dinner, the system prompt rang out in his mind again. [The proficiency of basic meditation skill has broken through the Beginner¡¯s level 9. Successfully advanced to the Fluent level. The sea of magic power has awakened!] At the same time, Bai Ze suddenly felt a burning sensation in his dantian. He looked surprised. Bai Ze, who had scored full marks in cultural studies, naturally understood this feeling. It was a sign that the sea of magic power was opening up! When the meditation skill had advanced to the higher proficient levels, the body would have accumulated enough magic power, and a sea of magic power would open up in the dantian location. The magic power drifting in the four limbs and various bones would gather there and condense into richer magic power. Only by awakening the sea of magic power could one be considered a true mage and be able to unleash some simple magic. However, this was only the beginning in the field of magic. If one wanted to reach a higher level, he had to condense six magic rings. Only with such strength would he be respected by thousands of people in society and become an indispensable part of the country. In the entire Maplewood City, there were less than a hundred mages who were at the level of sixth ring and above. After all, this was only a third-tier city. Those who were stronger would have long since leaped out of this small world and gone to a more progressive place to develop further. Bai Ze slowly opened his palm and manipulated the magic power in his body according to the control method he had learned before. After a few breaths, a ball of luminescent light appeared in his palm. That was magic, the mainstream element of this world! Taking a deep breath, Bai Ze withdrew the magic power back into his body. Now that he had successfully opened up the sea of magic power, he had met the conditions for the cultivation of the rules. Tomorrow, he would submit his request to go to the Manuscript Library to his teacher. Only by learning the rules could one be considered a true mage. Otherwise, it would still be useless to guard one¡¯s magic power without being able to utilize it. At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Bai Ze washed up and went back to bed. The night passed uneventfully. When Bai Ze woke up from his deep sleep, the sky outside had already turned bright. He excitedly initiated the system interface, wanting to see how much his meditation skill had improved after one night. The dark blue system panel emerged, and a message was reflected into Bai Ze¡¯s eyes. [System message: After one night of practice, F-class basic meditation skill has been upgraded to the Familiar level.] It was only now that Bai Ze finally realized the system¡¯s power. In just a dozen hours, his basic meditation skill, which had been stagnant for more than a year at the Beginner¡¯s level, had advanced to the Familiar level! Furthermore, he had also opened up the sea of magic power last night. If he did not rely on the system, he would not be able to achieve this in five or even ten years. Chapter 4 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation [System message: Due to the lack of guidance, your cultivation of basic meditation skill has temporarily halted.] ¡°Guidance? So, even the system can¡¯t directly break through the Familiar level. ¡± Bai Ze frowned slightly and began to think about how to solve the new problem. It was very difficult for ordinary people to cultivate ordinary rules or meditation skills to the Refinement level. This was a difficult point that needed to be nudged by a stronger person before an epiphany was possible. After all, the power and effect of the same spell would be utterly different if unleashed by someone at the Refinement level compared to another person at the Familiar level. Although spells determined the upper limit, proficiency levels determined the lower limit. If a person could cultivate an F-Class rule to the level of Perfection, its effect would never lose out to an A-class rule at the Beginner¡¯s level. However, seeing that there was not much time left in the morning, Bai Ze didn¡¯t have time to think too much. He immediately put on his coat and rushed to school. It was eight in the morning. Bai Ze came to his classroom for lessons. The Numero Uno High School was a key high school in Maplewood City. The teachers here were strong, and there were a total of ten professors at the level of the sixth ring mage. The school covered a vast area, and the teaching facilities were also very advanced. It was funded by Maplewood City¡¯s government. He passed through several teaching blocks and a tree-lined path filled with chirping birds and blooming flowers. Bai Ze came to his class and sat down in his seat. Jiang Qingyue¡¯s seat was not far in front of him. Beside him, Wu Feng was staring out the window with a tired face. When the teacher entered the classroom, the students who were discussing immediately quieted down. Teacher Fang Yu was very famous in the school. At the age of only 25, she had reached the strength of a fifth ring mage. Today, Teacher Fang Yu was wearing a white ladies¡¯ shirt and a black skirt, showing off her long and beautiful legs. She had an exquisite figure and beautiful dewy eyes. With her high nose bridge, red lips, and white teeth, she exuded an aura full of intelligence and charm, and countless teachers secretly had a crush on her. Teacher Fang Yu opened her textbook and started giving the students a lecture as usual. Bai Ze sat upright and still while Wu Feng, sitting beside him, supported his chin with one hand, his eyelids a little heavy. It looked like he had been playing games all night. ¡°Magic power is the most important part of casting spells. It is related to the speed and power of the spell, so students should not blindly pursue high-level rules.¡± ¡°Although the book of meditation is boring, it¡¯s very beneficial for improving one¡¯s strength. The more abundant the magic power, the better the rule¡¯s effect. Moreover, the magic power has no attributes, so it can be molded at will!¡± As Teacher Fang Yu said this, she immediately stretched out her hand and waved it slowly in the air. The students in the first row instantly felt the temperature around them drop. Then, everyone saw the magic power in Teacher Fang Yu¡¯s hand slowly condense into an icicle that was dozens of centimeters long! ¡°As expected from Teacher Fang Yu, her D-class icicle can be so powerful.¡± Bai Ze murmured. Wu Feng, who was beside him, also became interested at this point, and he stared at the icicle with bright eyes. [System message: Your basic meditation skill seemed to have gained some enlightenment after listening to the lecture. It has automatically started to deduce the D-class Icicle.] [Due to the lack of potion nourishment, the deduction time has been greatly extended. Remaining time: 1,085 hours 47 minutes 05 seconds.] Looking at the notification interface that popped up in front of him, the long string of numbers before Bai Ze¡¯s eyes made him dizzy. He roughly calculated the time required. ¡°Damn, it takes forty-five days to deduce a D-class icicle. I won¡¯t make it in time,¡± he thought. He couldn¡¯t help feeling a little disappointed. It seemed that if he wanted to learn magic spells, he had to go through the path of inheritance. However, the only way for him to obtain through the inheritance method now was to copy the parchment scrolls with a quill pen in the school¡¯s Manuscript Library to gain an epiphany. However, students only had one chance every month to enter a place like the Manuscript Library, and they still had to get the teacher¡¯s permission. When he thought of this, Bai Ze¡¯s eyes locked onto Teacher Fang Yu as he got ready to ask her for help after class. About 20 minutes later, Teacher Fang Yu closed her book. The bell for the end of class finally rang. Bai Ze immediately stood up from his seat and walked straight to Teacher Fang Yu. ¡°Bai Ze, is there anything I can help you with?¡± Teacher Fang Yu looked at the student walking over and said in surprise. The reason she was surprised was that during her three years in high school, Bai Ze hardly talked to her. She did not know much about this student. She only knew that the other party was a student who tended to overemphasize certain subjects. He had not yet awakened his sea of magic power and had a rather dull personality. ¡°Ms. Fang, I wish to go to the Manuscript Library to learn the rules. I hope you will approve it.¡± Bai Ze¡¯s words attracted the attention of many people in the class. Those students knew Bai Ze was just an apprentice without magic power. He didn¡¯t even meet the conditions to learn the rules of magic. Going to the Manuscript Library under such circumstances was simply a waste of limited quota! In the eyes of the classmates, Bai Ze¡¯s behavior was obviously designed to attract the attention of Teacher Fang Yu! The male students instantly looked at Bai Ze with vigilance. ¡°I say, you haven¡¯t even opened up the sea of magic power. How can you have the guts to ask for the teacher¡¯s approval?¡± ¡°A person like you will never have a chance to learn magic. I advise you to give up on it. You might as well give this opportunity to our class monitor.¡± ¡°Our class monitor is a third ring mage. If you do this, not only will you be doing her a favor, she might even be happy and take care of you in the future.¡± At this point, a pale, feminine-looking man stood up and looked at Bai Ze with a sneer. Bai Ze didn¡¯t speak but stared at the other person with an icy cold expression. ¡°What are you looking at? Don¡¯t look for trouble. The class monitor, Liang Rou, is a water-type mage. Her future is limitless. I¡¯m giving you a chance now, so don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡± The feminine-looking guy saw that Bai Ze did not do as he was told and instead cast a hostile look at himself, which immediately made him angry. The surrounding students immediately quieted down and turned their eyes to the long-haired girl sitting in the first row. ¡°Zhang Xian, hurry up and sit down. I¡¯m not as powerful as you say. Since Bai Ze isn¡¯t willing, of course, we can¡¯t force him.¡± The class monitor, Liang Rou, slowly stood up and said with a serious face. However, her expression when looking at Bai Ze was somewhat hostile. ¡°Hehe, the two of you are echoing each other just so that you can obtain the qualification in my hands? You should stop dreaming.¡± Bai Ze gave a scornful snort. Even in the face of these two people, his momentum did not diminish in the slightest. ¡°The Manuscript Library isn¡¯t open today, so stop quarreling.¡± Teacher Fang Yu saw that the situation was not turning out well and immediately gave a low shout, interrupting their conversation. When the class monitor, Liang Rou, saw that the teacher was not very pleased, she immediately lowered her head and sat down. However, her expression turned sinister. Seeing that things had settled down, Fang Yu turned to Bai Ze and said, ¡°Bai Ze, there are certain prerequisites for entering the Manuscript Library. When your first magic skill has reached the Beginner¡¯s level, you can come back to me and apply for the qualification.¡± Chapter 5 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Bai Ze suppressed the hostility in his heart and nodded in agreement. Teacher Fang Yu picked up her textbook and said as she walked, ¡°The next class is self-study. All of you can head to the field to train on your own.¡± Upon hearing this, the students stood up from their seats unanimously and walked out of the classroom. Most of the self-study lessons were arranged between various theoretical lessons so that students have time to digest and absorb the knowledge for their own use. ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged. I have a few beginner¡¯s level magic books at home. You can still learn magic even if you can¡¯t go to the Manuscript Library.¡± Seeing Bai Ze¡¯s thoughtful look, Jiang Qingyue immediately comforted him. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go to the field to train together.¡± Bai Ze took off his coat and said with a smile. The two of them left the classroom side by side, and it didn¡¯t take long for all the students to gather at the field not far from the classroom. In the past, the class monitor was the one who organized the self-study sessions. During the three years of high school, everyone had already chosen a suitable sparring partner. By now, most of the students had already found partners, and they began to cast spells and practice. Looking at the glowing magic spells, Bai Ze was about to find a place to meditate, but before taking a few steps, he was stopped by the class monitor, Liang Rou. ¡°What is it?¡± Bai Ze turned back to look at Liang Rou, his tone cold and emotionless. Liang Rou gave a scornful snort, then pretended to be concerned and said, ¡°Bai Ze, everyone else in the class already has a sparring partner. You can¡¯t be an exception.¡± ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll get Zhang Xian to spar with you.¡± Liang Rou¡¯s lips curled into a sneer, and her expression contained a hint of unfathomable meaning. As soon as she said this, the people who were practicing stopped their actions at once and turned to look at Bai Ze as if they were watching a show. Everyone knew the class monitor¡¯s intention. Although Zhang Xian was only a student with average abilities in the class, he had already condensed two magic rings. However, Bai Ze was just an orphan. His family background was not well-off, and he had no way to learn magic at all. He only knew a basic meditation skill. If these two people were to fight, wouldn¡¯t it be a case of outright bullying? At this time, Zhang Xian immediately walked out of the crowd. He shook his wrists and looked at Bai Ze with a smirk. ¡°Come on, Bai Ze. I¡¯ll practice with you today.¡± Bai Ze narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing the two people¡¯s malicious gazes. Just as he was about to make a move, Jiang Qingyue stood up from the side. ¡°Liang Rou, what kind of ill intentions do you have? The training between the two of them is not fair at all!¡± ¡°Zhang Xian, you¡¯ve already condensed two magic rings and become a junior Mage. How can you have the nerve to fight Bai Ze, who¡¯s still a magic apprentice!¡± Jiang Qingyue didn¡¯t show them any courtesy and immediately exposed their scheme. Zhang Xian¡¯s expression changed slightly when he realized that his good plan had been disrupted. With his plan exposed in front of everyone, he felt somewhat humiliated and immediately shouted, ¡°Bai Ze, what¡¯s so great standing behind a woman? Come out and fight if you have the ability!¡± Standing at the side, Liang Rou saw that the situation had developed beyond her expectations. She immediately took a step forward and said indifferently, ¡°Since Qingyue feels that it¡¯s unfair to compete in magic power, then Zhang Xian and Bai Ze will compete in meditation. After all, everyone knows how to meditate, so there¡¯s no problem!¡± After Liang Rou finished speaking, she immediately looked at the people behind her. Most of the students didn¡¯t want to cause trouble, so they all agreed. Even though Jiang Qingyue wasn¡¯t afraid of Liang Rou¡¯s family, the truth was that meditation was indeed the fairest way. In today¡¯s world, meditation was a skill that all students knew. After all, meditation was a stepping stone to the field of magic. Only after learning to meditate could one attract the magic particles in the air. Conducting magic particles into the body was the most mainstream way to improve spiritual power. When one was meditating, other people could see with their naked eyes that the magic particles were converging into the mage¡¯s body like a trickle of water. It was easy to judge the strength of a mage¡¯s meditation skill based on the number of magic particles. However, meditation was usually carried out alone. If two people meditated in the same place, the magic particles in the air would be insufficient, and they would be grabbing each other¡¯s magic particles. If such a phenomenon occurred, then it meant that one could compete for the particles. The one who absorbed the most magic particles would be declared the winner. Everyone agreed that in this situation, competing in meditation was the best choice. They could easily determine the outcome of the competition without any danger. Even so, Jiang Qingyue was still a little worried. She was Bai Ze¡¯s childhood friend, so she naturally knew that Bai Ze practiced the worst level of F-class meditation skill. His efficiency in absorbing magic would definitely be inferior to Zhang Xian. However, at this moment, Bai Ze gave her a look, hinting to her not to worry. Jiang Qingyue still felt that it was inappropriate, but she decided to trust Bai Ze in the end. [System message: your basic meditation skill is facing a challenge, and you are eager to try it out. The automatic cultivation progress has been increased by 100%.] It was because of the system¡¯s sudden prompt that Bai Ze thought he could accept the competition. However, he didn¡¯t want to reveal his trump card so readily. At the very least, he wanted to gain some benefits. Thinking of this, Bai Ze raised his head and looked at Zhang Xian, who was eager to try, and said calmly, ¡°I can agree to your challenge, but what benefits do I get if I win?¡± Seeing Bai Ze¡¯s confident look, Zhang Xian suddenly burst into laughter. ¡°Bai Ze, are you crazy? I¡¯m practicing a D-class breathing technique, and to nurture this technique, my family spent tens of thousands of bucks to buy a soul-storing lamp. Now, my meditation skill has been upgraded to the Fluent level, which you¡¯ll never be able to reach in your life, understand?¡± ¡°And I¡¯ve already obtained the right to go to the Manuscript Library last week, and I have the ability to condense three magic rings. If you can beat me, I¡¯ll give up the right to go to the Manuscript Library.¡± Zhang Xian¡¯s face was full of arrogance, and his eyes were full of disdain as he looked at Bai Ze. He paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°But I¡¯ll say this upfront. If you lose, you¡¯ll have to kneel down and apologize to the class monitor and me. Do you have the guts?¡± Zhang Xian¡¯s words made many students look at him with a hint of envy and surprise. If this guy could successfully condense the third magic ring, he would probably soar to the sky and become the school¡¯s top student. On the other side, Bai Ze¡¯s expression did not waver at all in the face of Zhang Xian¡¯s hostile words. Instead, he immediately nodded in agreement. ¡°Very good, let¡¯s start the competition now!¡± Seeing that Bai Ze had agreed, Liang Rou immediately urged them on. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Zhang Xian immediately sat cross-legged on the smooth marble, then closed his eyes and began meditating. In just a few breaths, magic particles that sparkled like tiny stars began appearing around him. Seeing this scene, the surrounding people immediately sighed. ¡°As expected from a D-class skill, the magic particles absorbed are quite a lot.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. How can Bai Ze win when the D-class breathing technique is combined with the Fluent level?¡± Chapter 6 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In everyone¡¯s eyes, Bai Ze had already lost. At this moment, Bai Ze gave Jiang Qingyue a reassuring look and then sat down cross-legged. As he entered a state of meditation, many magic particles appeared around him. It was just that the quantity and spread of the magic particles were much lower than Zhang Xian¡¯s. Just when everyone thought Bai Ze would lose, the quantity of magic particles around Bai Ze suddenly increased, and even those containing Zhang Xian¡¯s energy were directly seized and devoured by Bai Ze. [System message: your basic meditation skill has sensed the D-class breathing technique and is trying its best to catch up. The automatic cultivation progress has been increased by 150%.] Feeling the sudden increase in energy in his body, Bai Ze raised his eyebrows and began to concentrate on absorbing. At this point, the people standing him around found that all the magic particles were floating in Bai Ze¡¯s direction! And the absorption range even included the entire field! The students who were not optimistic about Bai Ze¡¯s chances were surprised to find that they could no longer sense the existence of magic particles in the air as if Bai Ze had completely absorbed them! And Zhang Xian, who was sitting side by side with Bai Ze on the marble slab, looked even more troubled. Not only could he not absorb any magic particles, but he also felt that the magic power in his body was being torn apart as if it was about to be sucked away! Noticing this strange sensation, Zhang Xian¡¯s eyes immediately snapped wide open, and he stared at Bai Ze in disbelief. At this moment, he found that the power of the meditation skill of the young man in front of him had completely exceeded his own, and it seemed to have reached the Familiar level! This was the only way to explain why his D-class breathing technique had lost to the other party! When he thought of this, his face was filled with resentment. He had lost to a piece of trash who didn¡¯t even possess a single rule! At this moment, Bai Ze slowly opened his eyes. He stood up and stared at Zhang Xian with a burning gaze. ¡°The outcome has been decided. Please hand over the proof of qualification to enter the Manuscript Library!¡± His voice was wavering a little, but his tone was very firm. If the other party refused to give it, Bai Ze didn¡¯t mind posting this on the campus forum. At any rate, there were so many witnesses, so he was not afraid that the other party would deny it. At this time, Zhang Xian gritted his teeth. The qualification to enter the Manuscript Library was something he had obtained with great difficulty. He was extremely unwilling to give it to Bai Ze. ¡°Ahem.¡± At this moment, Liang Rou, who was standing to the side, cleared her throat. This seemingly unintentional action was obviously a signal to Zhang Xian. He clenched his fist and struggled inwardly for a moment. In the end, he handed over a piece of jade about the size of a coin. This thing was the proof of qualification to enter the Manuscript Library. As long as one had it, he could enter at any time during the opening day. ¡°Today¡¯s matter isn¡¯t over yet. You better watch out in the future!¡± Zhang Xian flung the jade token down and said with a red face. Bai Ze casually held the jade token in his hand and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll play with you anytime, but you¡¯ll have to prepare the next prize first. I don¡¯t want to do meaningless things.¡± ¡°You!¡± Zhang Xian¡¯s face was livid, and he said indignantly, ¡°You won this time purely by luck. After all, people like you have nothing else to practice, so you can only put all your energy into meditation.¡± After saying those hurtful words, Zhang Xian immediately ran away like a dog with his tail between his legs. Seeing this, Liang Rou smiled at Bai Ze and said, ¡°You¡¯ve cultivated your meditation skill well, but¡­ No matter how strong your meditation skill is, it¡¯s still worthless on the battlefield. If you can¡¯t learn the rules, you won¡¯t be able to find a good job in the future. Maybe you¡¯ll have to borrow money from Jiang Qingyue in the future, hehe!¡± After Liang Rou spoke, the crowd immediately fell silent. Jiang Qingyue, who was standing at the side, saw this and immediately defended Bai Ze by saying, ¡°Liang Rou, don¡¯t get it wrong. He didn¡¯t borrow money. I was paying school fees. I want to learn the meditation skill from Bai Ze, so of course, I have to pay some fees.¡± ¡°After all, in the entire Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School, only a few had practiced the meditation skill until they reached the Familiar level.¡± Jiang Qingyue¡¯s words made the people who were watching the show exchange glances with each other. They had initially treated Bai Ze as a clown. However, when they saw that Jiang Qingyue was so supportive of him, they began to feel that they were the clowns themselves. In the entire Numero Uno High School, Jiang Qingyuewas not only pretty, but she also attained the third ring half a year ago. Her family background was also something few in the school could compare to. In the entire school, she was a first-class existence. By comparison, the class monitor, Liang Rou, was much more ordinary. With Jiang Qingyue backing Bai Ze up, Liang Rou knew she was on the losing end and could only leave in defeat. As for those who took Bai Ze as a joke, their hearts were filled with envy and jealousy. After a while, the self-study session ended, and the other students left one after another. Just as Jiang Qingyue was about to leave, she heard Bai Ze calling her. She turned around and looked at Bai Ze. She thought that Bai Ze was going to thank her for helping to defend him. However, Bai Ze simply smiled and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say just now that you wanted to learn the meditation skill from me? I¡¯ll teach you, but you must remember to pay the rest of the money first.¡± Bai Ze blinked a few times after saying that. Jiang Qingyue was a little shocked, but she still nodded doubtfully. Seeing this, Bai Ze immediately spread open his right hand, and then a ball of magical power converged in it. ¡°I don¡¯t know what level your meditation skill is now, but I think meditation should stop all intellectual and rational activities. Focus on loosening up the nerves, let the body be deeply relaxed, and concentrate on sensing the energy around you. If you encounter problems in meditation, don¡¯t lose your concentration because of it, but feel its existence, adapt to it, or let it fade away.¡± Bai Ze¡¯s voice was neither fast nor slow but soft and powerful. The two of them walked on the field in a single file. The breeze was gentle, rustling the leaves in the trees in their surroundings. Jiang Qingyue slowly closed her eyes and entered a state of shallow meditation according to the tips provided by Bai Ze. She kept trying. A few minutes later, Bai Ze¡¯s voice gradually stopped. Jiang Qingyue felt as if she had woken up from a dream, but the scene in front of her suddenly became extremely clear! At this moment, she was surprised to find that Bai Ze¡¯s seemingly ordinary meditation knowledge could correct the mistakes she had accumulated in the past and improve her meditation skill to a higher level in such a short time! In just a few minutes, her meditation skill had already reached Fluent level 3. This change was enough to shock people! After feeling the growth of her spiritual power, Jiang Qingyue¡¯s jaws dropped slightly in surprise, and she stared at Bai Ze with joy. ¡°My meditation skill has really improved, Bai Ze¡­ I¡¯ve never heard of your insight before. Can I look for you for private lessons regularly in the future?¡± Jiang Qingyue paused for a few seconds after she finished speaking. Then, feeling that she had said something wrong, she added, ¡°As for the school fees, how about 1,000 bucks per hour?¡± Upon hearing this, Bai Ze raised his eyebrows slightly. He was surprised by the price Jiang Qingyue offered, but he was even more surprised by the system¡¯s prompt. [Your basic meditation skill has been improved due to teaching someone else. The automatic cultivation progress has increased by 100%. You have broken through the Familiar level¡­ Your current level is Refinement Level 1!] [System message: Due to the upgrade of meditation skill, the time needed to deduce icicles has been reduced to 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 7 seconds.] Chapter 7 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The breakthrough in the meditation skill was something Bai Ze did not expect. He did not expect that imparting knowledge to others could also advance his own progress. He immediately pulled Jiang Qingyue along and prepared to go to a special meditation room to teach her more knowledge. He had only explained some general directions just now, but many things still needed to be taught in practice. Jiang Qingyue was a little surprised, but the breakthrough just now gave her a lot of confidence, so she didn¡¯t refuse and followed him readily. The students nearby who had not gone far saw the two of them leave side by side, and their hearts were filled with envy. They didn¡¯t know if they should be envious of Bai Ze for being favored by the school belle or envious of Jiang Qingyue for being able to receive Bai Ze¡¯s guidance. At noon, Bai Ze and Jiang Qingyue parted ways in the school cafeteria. As there were still two hours before the afternoon class, Bai Ze planned to go out. An hour ago, the system had given him a notification that the deduction of the icicle had been successful. Although Bai Ze had learned the Icicle Technique, he had been unable to successfully cast it due to the lack of accumulated magic power, let alone proficiency levels. Due to this, Bai Ze planned to go to the magic potion shop, the orthodox kind. After leaving Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School, Bai Ze strolled around the commercial streets for a while and quickly found a store that sold magic potions. These shops were different from the black market shops. They were hundreds of square meters in floor area and the decorations inside were also extremely luxurious. Two tall security guards were standing at the door, looking around vigilantly. Bai Ze pushed open the heavy glass door and entered the shop. The lights here were dazzling, and the ground was covered with soft carpets. There were glass cabinets on both sides of the shop resembling jewelry displays, and potions of different colors were displayed inside. A line of explanatory text was at the bottom of each transparent or colored glass bottle. Some potions could grant a temporary ability, while others could expand one¡¯s magic power and even gain affinity with certain elements. However, the price was equally shocking. A small bottle of potion that increased spiritual power cost more than 10,000. In addition to potions, there were also crystals that contained magic power. These magic crystals were formed by the precipitation of magic power in the natural environment, most of which were from mineral veins. There wasn¡¯t much magic power inside, but they were pure enough that they could be used without the need to absorb it. Even the most basic low-grade magic crystals cost more than 3,000. This store was equivalent to a luxury store, and only middle-class or aristocratic families could afford to come here. Even in Bai Ze¡¯s class, the families who could afford this kind of thing were few and far between. In this world, money was the only almighty pass that could do anything. High-level mages all relied on money to become powerful. Even ordinary potions were extremely expensive. Bai Ze strolled around for a long time and finally chose a bottle of potion that increased affinity with ice. As the increase in effect was not permanent, the price of the potion was not too high, and it was within the range that Bai Ze could afford. However, there was no room for bargaining. In the end, Bai Ze spent 2,100 bucks for this bottle of potion! After putting away the potion and making payment, Bai Ze left the place. Bai Ze returned to the apartment building at seven o¡¯clock in the evening. He hurriedly ate something for dinner, then returned to his bedroom and took out the potion he had bought during the day. As it would only take effect for a short time, Bai Ze had to grab hold of the chance to quickly level up the Icicle Technique to the highest level possible within two hours after consuming it. Twisting the bottle cap open, Bai Ze took a deep breath and poured it down his throat. He only felt an icy sensation spreading to his limbs and bones, and in the next moment, a layer of frost formed on his skin! [System message: D-class Icicle Technique has been nourished by energy. Its automatic cultivation speed has increased by 30%.] When he heard the ethereal voice in his mind, Bai Ze¡¯s heart trembled. He immediately stretched out his right hand and tried to form an icicle. He did this to increase his proficiency level and related knowledge. Bai Ze had already memorized the critical points of the freezing process of the Icicle Technique a year ago. Although it was his first time using it, he was not unfamiliar with it. Not long after, an icicle about ten centimeters long appeared in Bai Ze¡¯s palm. However, the size and sharpness of the icicle were far inferior to the one Teacher Fang Yu had conjured during the day. Seeing that he managed to form real icicles, Bai Ze immediately felt a sense of accomplishment in his heart. He took advantage of the fact that the potion¡¯s effect had not yet disappeared and unleashed it again. After two hours of uninterrupted practice, the icicles that Bai Ze had conjured became larger and larger. They were as sharp as knives and could easily cut paper. [System message: D-class Icicle Technique has achieved enlightenment. It has broken through the Beginner¡¯s level and advanced to the Fluent level!] After hearing the system announcement, Bai Ze felt the cold sensation in his body dissipate. He felt a little tired, but the excitement in his eyes was still strong. At this rate, the Icicle Technique would definitely reach a new level tomorrow, and he would be qualified to enter the Manuscript Library. Touching the piece of jade token that he had gotten from Zhang Xian and feeling the smooth pleasing texture on it, Bai Ze laid down on the bed in satisfaction. Perhaps because he was too tired, he fell asleep before taking off his coat. The moon was shining brightly outside, but Maplewood City was still brightly lit. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next day. As soon as Bai Ze opened his eyes, he heard the system¡¯s voice. [System message: After a night of cultivation, your D-class Icicle Technique has broken through its constraints and has been upgraded to the Familiar level.] [Due to the lack of guidance, the cultivation of D-class Icicle Technique has been suspended.] Upon hearing this, Bai Ze¡¯s sleepy eyes immediately widened, and he sprang out of bed eagerly. He immediately mobilized the energy from the sea of magic power. The next moment, an icicle about a meter long materialized behind him, emitting a constant stream of cold air! This icicle was extremely sharp and shone so brightly that it made people shiver and lit up the whole room. Hiss! This was not surprising for a Familiar level. Even Teacher Fang Yu would find it difficult to achieve such power. Bai Ze muttered to himself, then casually waved his hand. The icicle floating in the air vanished immediately as if it had never appeared. At 10:30 in the morning, the second lesson in Numero Uno High School ended. Bai Ze immediately left the classroom and went to the office where Teacher Fang Yu was. After a while, he found Teacher Fang Yu. She was in the office at the end of the second floor. Teacher Fang Yu looked at Bai Ze in surprise. ¡°Bai Ze, I told you to wait until your magic skills reached the Beginner¡¯s level before coming again¡­ Have you reached the Beginner¡¯s level so quickly?¡± Bai Ze shook his head and said, ¡°No.¡± Seeing that Bai Ze did not lie to her, Fang Yu¡¯s expression softened. She patiently advised him, ¡°It¡¯s normal not to reach the Beginner¡¯s level. Rules need to be inherited. It¡¯s possible to take half a month or even a few months to reach the Beginner¡¯s level.¡± ¡°How about this? What rules have you been practicing recently? I can give you some guidance.¡± Chapter 8 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Bai Ze immediately nodded as soon as Teacher Fang Yu finished speaking. He mobilized the energy in his body to cast the spell. In the next second, a white pillar immediately materialized in the air between the two. And in a breath¡¯s time, it continued to expand and change shape before finally condensing into an icicle about a meter long! The icicle was extremely solid, and its sharpness was terrifying. The cold air even froze the pages of the book on the table mid-air, and the trophy on the side looked like an ice sculpture! Gasp! Fang Yu was shocked when she saw how easily Bai Ze conjured up an icicle that was more than a meter long. She stared at the icicle suspended in the air. For a moment, she thought this was a rule of A-class and above. ¡°You¡­ How is this Beginner¡¯s level? This is clearly Fluent¡­ No! It¡¯s Familiar!¡± Teacher Fang Yu was so surprised that her words were somewhat incoherent. In her opinion, Bai Ze was only a student with some talent. How could he have mastered the Icicle Technique in one day and shot all the way to reach the Familiar level from the Beginner¡¯s level? It was simply unbelievable! Bai Ze was happy to see his teacher¡¯s surprised look, but he didn¡¯t forget the purpose of this trip. He immediately asked, ¡°Ms. Fang, can I learn the inheritance rules now?¡± In the office, Teacher Fang Yu composed herself and said with certainty, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take you to the Manuscript Library now.¡± Bai Ze nodded and followed Teacher Fang Yu like an obedient student. He kept his head low and did not talk anymore. Seeing this, Teacher Fang Yu couldn¡¯t help but sigh in her heart. This student, Bai Ze, had concealed himself too deeply. He had such a high level of comprehension. It was really astonishing that he could leapfrog from the Beginner¡¯s and Fluent levels to hit the Familiar level within one day. Although it was only a D-class rule, there was no one else in the entire school campus who could comprehend it so quickly. The two of them walked in a single file, passing through several teaching blocks. Before long, they had reached the Manuscript Library. Looking at the massive building in front of him, Bai Ze could not help feeling awed. The Manuscript Library had three floors and covered an area of at least 1,000 square meters. It was too modest to call it a Manuscript Library, and it was no exaggeration to call it a Manuscript Complex. The Manuscript Library was a building larger than the cafeteria, but because it was one of the most important areas in the school, the security here was very strict. Not only were there mages guarding the area, one could only enter with a jade token. Only teachers could possess this kind of thing, and in extremely limited quantity. This Manuscript Complex was surrounded by a forest on three sides and was futher surrounded by high masonry walls. The moment he entered the courtyard with the high walls, Bai Ze could already feel more than a dozen eyes on him. Teacher Fang Yu led the way in front while Bai Ze followed silently behind, looking around curiously. It was the first time he had come here in his three years of high school. He had no idea what it was like inside the Manuscript Complex until now. When he arrived at the Manuscript Complex, a few middle-aged men were standing at the entrance with magic staves in their hands. Their eyes were exceedingly sharp, and the temples on their heads were full. It was obvious that they were mages of at least the fourth ring and above. Standing in front of the mages was an old man in cotton clothes. The old man¡¯s face was full of wrinkles, but he was in good spirits. He had a thick beard, and his body was slightly hunched, but the expression in his eyes was very gentle when he looked at Bai Ze. He was just like an ordinary old man. ¡°Good Morning, Professor Gao.¡± Teacher Fang Yu immediately walked forward and bowed respectfully to the old man. The old man called Professor Gao immediately waved his hand and said with a smile, ¡°Little Fang, the student you brought today is a little unfamiliar to me. He hasn¡¯t been here before, right?¡± Professor Gao¡¯s voice was as gentle as a breeze. Bai Ze blinked, unable to detect the existence of magic power in the old man¡¯s body in front of him. ¡°Professor Gao, this student¡¯s name is Bai Ze. He¡¯s from my class. Today is his first time coming to the Manuscript Library. Please give him your support.¡± Fang Yu replied in a respectful tone. Seeing this, Bai Ze roughly understood that the old man in front of him must have condensed at least six magic rings to be able to command such respect from Teacher Fang Yu! Professor Gao retracted his gaze and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m just a gatekeeper. I only follow the rules. ¡± On hearing this, Teacher Fang Yu immediately took out a smooth jade token from her pocket. When Bai Ze saw the jade token, he immediately remembered the thing he had gotten from Zhang Xian and hurriedly handed it over. ¡°Professor, I have another one here.¡± Bai Ze didn¡¯t think so much and blurted out directly. Fang Yu was caught off guard totally. These jade tokens were extremely rare, and their value was also very high. She did not know through what means Bai Ze had used to actually obtain one. For a moment, she was at a loss to know what to say. ¡°Sure. I have always followed the rules here to conduct my affairs. You have two jade tokens, so you can inherit two types of rules.¡± After saying that, Professor Gao immediately activated his magic power to disable the array formation guarding the entrance of the Manuscript Library. Bai Ze cupped his hands in thanks and entered the Manuscript Library with his teacher. After passing through the door, Bai Ze was mesmerized by the scene inside the library. The Manuscript Library was extremely spacious and was filled with all sorts of bookshelves. These bookshelves seemed to be operated by some mechanism and could turn in all directions like a Rubik¡¯s Cube. The books above his head would reach the level near his knees on the wall in less than an hour. Inside the bookshelves and cabinets were all kinds of parchment scrolls, each of which was sealed with a thin thread. There were also wooden tables and chairs, as well as quill pens and black ink in the corner. The entire process of inheritance was to copy down the spells and memorize them in one¡¯s mind, after which the inheritance was considered completed. However, obtaining the inheritance did not mean one could use it immediately. Usually, it would take a few days or even a few years to reach the Beginner¡¯s level. The length of this period usually depended on the individual¡¯s talent and degree of compatibility. Moreover, the magic books in the Manuscript Library had an inheritance limit. Once a parchment scroll was read the maximum number of times, it would self-destroy due to the loss of magic power. Looking at the books rolling along the walls and even on the ceiling, Bai Ze fell into deep thought. There were two types of rules that he needed the most now. One was defensive magic. In actual combat, defensive and offensive magic were the most important. He had already learned the Icicle Technique, so he had a greater need for the defensive type. The second was a speed-type spell, which was more compatible with the current Icicle Technique. After making a decision, Bai Ze immediately came to the rolling bookcase and began to observe. Parchment scrolls of different sizes flew past him. Most of them were E to D-class, and very few were C-class. ¡°Rain of Fire Method¡±, ¡°Lightning Bolt Attack¡±, ¡°Coiling Dragon Curse¡±, and other books appeared consecutively in front of him. There was the bursting flames spell, which could deal a tremendous amount of damage instantly, but it consumed too much magic power and could not be controlled at will after the fireball was unleashed, which Bai Ze felt dissatisfied with. There were also spell techniques that could control vines to bind enemies, as well as all sorts of rules that could slow down and knock them back. However, those were not suitable for Bai Ze at the moment. On the contrary, highly powerful defensive spells were more suitable for his combat style. Of course, he could not fall behind in agility either. It would be even better if he could find a higher-level speed-type rule. Bai Ze looked at the scrolls for a few minutes, and finally, his eyes fell on an ancient parchment scroll inscribed with the words ¡°Ice Crystal Armor.¡± Ice Crystal Armor: C-class. It uses magic power to form an Ice Armor. It can withstand two C-class attacks of the same level of proficiency. Its attribute is antithetical to fire. After reading the explanatory text before him, Bai Ze took out the parchment scroll without hesitation. The Ice Crystal Armor was also of the ice attribute and was compatible with the icicle¡¯s attribute, making it very beneficial in battle! Moreover, the strength was not weak, which was very much in line with Bai Ze¡¯s inner expectations. Soon, he found a second speed-type rule that met his requirements. The rule was called Storm Thunder Flash. It was C-class. It could increase speed by 400% for a short time of one second. It didn¡¯t consume much magic power. What caught Bai Ze¡¯s eye was that the cooldown period of this rule was only five seconds. In other words, once he learned it, Bai Ze could use it twice in six seconds, which improved his agility significantly! After locating these two powerful rules, Bai Ze returned with satisfaction. However, when Bai Ze went to Teacher Fang Yu to register, Teacher Fang Yu was astounded. Chapter 9 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Bai Ze, although the rules you¡¯ve chosen are advanced, they¡¯re too difficult to master, and you can¡¯t be too greedy.¡± ¡°It so happens that I¡¯ve found two scrolls on basic magic. They¡¯re D-class and E-class, so they¡¯re very suitable for you to practice.¡± In the face of Teacher Fang Yu¡¯s recommendation, Bai Ze immediately refused and said solemnly, ¡°Ms. Fang, it¡¯s not easy for me to come to the Manuscript Library, so naturally, I have to choose the more challenging books. I¡¯ll just take these two books. Please help me register them, and I¡¯ll go and copy them.¡± After that, Bai Ze carried the two books to the table in the corner of the Manuscript Library and began to grind ink to copy them. Putting the parchment with the Ice Crystal Armor beside him, Bai Ze patiently copied it. After a short while, he felt the temperature around him drop, and some kind of energy seemed to have appeared in his body. [System message: C-class Ice Crystal Armor has sensed the power of extreme cold from the Icicle Technique. Its cultivation progress has greatly increased and has broken through to the Fluent level!] Upon hearing the system prompt, Bai Ze¡¯s confidence grew stronger. After copying the control method for the Ice Crystal Armor, he immediately started copying Storm Thunder Flash without stopping! [System message: Storm Thunder Flash has been stimulated and has entered the Beginner¡¯s level. Due to the lack of actual combat practice targets, the automatic cultivation progress has been halted.] Feeling the power of storm and thunder roiling inside his body, a trace of excitement flashed across Bai Ze¡¯s face. Now that he had learned two C-class rules, his overall ability had greatly improved. In terms of actual combat ability, he might have already reached the level of a second ring mage. It was only because he had yet to condense even one magic ring that he was unable to unleash all of his abilities. However, being able to reach the Fluent level and Beginner¡¯s level in such a short period had already given Bai Ze a lot of surprises. Now that he had successfully inherited them, these books could be returned to their original owners. He put the parchment scroll back in its original place. At this time, Teacher Fang Yu, who had finished registration, came back and happened to bump into Bai Ze. ¡°Ms. Fang, I¡¯ve finished copying. Let¡¯s go!¡± Bai Ze stretched lazily and said with a smile. ¡°Huh?¡± This time, Fang Yu was utterly dumbfounded. She had been to the Manuscript Library with several students, but all of them had stayed in the Manuscript Library for two whole hours, and some of them even wished they could live here. However, now Bai Ze had only been here for less than half an hour, and he said he had completed copying. How could such a speed not be surprising! ¡°Could it be that Bai Ze has already acquired them?¡± Teacher Fang Yu¡¯s expression changed slightly. She scrutinized Bai Ze from head to toe and sensed that the magic power in his body seemed to have become much stronger, and there was even a hint of storm and thunder power! She couldn¡¯t quite believe her eyes. She then thought that since Bai Ze¡¯s cultural studies class was so good, he might have been able to memorize it by heart and inherit the rules much more quickly. Teacher Fang Yu and Bai Ze then left in a state of confusion and parted ways at the entrance. Bai Ze still had a class later, but Teacher Fang Yu had nothing else to do in the morning. ¡°Thank you for your help, Ms. Fang.¡± Bai Ze waved his hand, then walked back to the classroom without looking back. However, before he could take a few steps, a guy came dashing out of the small forest and ran directly towards him. Bai Ze subconsciously wanted to deploy the Icicle Technique, but when he realized that the person charging toward him was Zhang Xian, he immediately dispersed the icicle that had not yet formed. It should be remembered that he got the two chances of inheritance thanks to Zhang Xian. If the other party did not come to find trouble with him, Bai Ze did not want to go too far either. ¡°Rascal, you¡¯re really in the Manuscript Library. I think you¡¯re tired of living!¡± Zhang Xian dashed out of the woods and glared at Bai Ze with a sullen expression. The magic staff in his hand glowed with a layer of light as if he would attack at any moment. Seeing the other party¡¯s menacing face, Bai Ze narrowed his eyes. He quickly guessed the other party¡¯s intention for coming here to look for him. It must have something to do with the jade token and that woman called Liang Rou! ¡°Don¡¯t put on an act. I know who ordered you to do this, and I even know very well what you¡¯re going to do.¡± Bai Ze took out the Ethereal Magic Staff he had bought and prepared to fight at any time. Zhang Xian didn¡¯t expect Bai Ze to guess his intentions, so he simply stopped pretending. He had come here to obstruct Bai Ze because he had received news from the class monitor, Liang Rou, and at the same time, she had entrusted the task to him. Liang Rou and Jiang Qingyue were competitors. Zhang Xian had long known that the two of them were from the same clan but different family branches, so it was not surprising for them to compete with each other. Now that Bai Ze was teaching Jiang Qingyue the meditation skill, Liang Rou had fallen behind in the competition. Naturally, she hated Bai Ze. And as her admirer, Zhang Xian would definitely help her. According to their agreement, his task would be considered completed as long as he beat up Bai Ze so badly that he couldn¡¯t take the college entrance examination. At that time, not only would he be able to hook up with Liang Rou, but he would also be able to take revenge for the jade token incident. Zhang Xian naturally didn¡¯t want to let go of such a great opportunity. ¡°Rascal, you actually used my jade token to obtain the inheritance. I must cripple you today!¡± Looking at the empty road intersection, Bai Ze knew this battle was inevitable. However, now that he had learned two C-class rules, he was not afraid to fight the second ring mage, Zhang Xian. ¡°If you have the ability, then start the battle. Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Bai Ze immediately activated the energy in his body and shouted in a deep voice. Seeing that Bai Ze was still stubborn, Zhang Xian became enraged immediately. He did not care about showing mercy and deployed his most powerful rule straightaway. In the next second, a burst of fire spread around and blocked most of Bai Ze¡¯s escape routes. The intense high temperature caused a burning pain on his skin. Bai Ze no longer held back and immediately counter-attacked with the rule, Storm Thunder Flash! In the next moment, his figure left a long trail of afterimages as he instantly reappeared ten meters away. After avoiding the ring of fire, Bai Ze didn¡¯t wait for the other party to cast a spell and straightaway unleashed the Icicle Technique, condensing an icicle that was more than a meter long to shoot out. A burst of icy cold air spread out, instantly freezing the wild grass on both sides of the road into ice sculptures. At this point, Zhang Xian¡¯s expression changed drastically. He didn¡¯t expect Bai Ze to practice the Icicle Technique to this level in just one day. He knew he could not afford to be careless, so he immediately unleashed the magic ring in his body. A fiery red and dark blue magic ring appeared under Zhang Xian¡¯s feet. At the same time, the concentration of magic power in his body soared instantly. The flames that could have been easily avoided immediately swept out in a radius of seven or eight meters. Although Bai Ze¡¯s Icicle Technique could resist the high temperature, he was still within Zhang Xian¡¯s attack range. Not surprisingly, he did not dare to fight head-on with Zhang Xian. He could only deploy the Storm Thunder Flash again to escape. He was just a magic apprentice who did not even possess one magic ring, while the other party was a beginner mage who possessed two magic rings. The vast difference in power meant that he could only run. However, even with the speed boost of Storm Thunder Flash, his sleeves were still burnt black by the flames. After Zhang Xian unleashed his magic ring, the fireball was much stronger than before in both speed and coverage, making it difficult for Bai Ze to evade. Just as Bai Ze was forced into a corner and the next fireball was about to hit him, a prompt sound suddenly saved him from the dire circumstances. [System message: Storm Thunder Flash has been matched with an opponent of equal strength. Its automatic cultivation progress has greatly increased!] Chapter 10 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation When the system¡¯s voice rang out, Bai Ze¡¯s heart trembled. Then, he looked at Zhang Xian with a hint of pleasant surprise. Sparring partners feeding each other moves could rapidly improve their actual combat ability, but such opportunities were rare. Not to mention that training partners cost hundreds per hour, and finding an opponent with similar strength was even harder. Bai Ze didn¡¯t expect that he would encounter such a great opportunity. Shouldn¡¯t he take the opportunity to give Storm Thunder Flash a thorough practice? After making up his mind, Bai Ze immediately focused on the battlefield. He carefully observed the trajectory of the magic power¡¯s attack. As a second ring mage, Zhang Xian¡¯s combat ability was naturally not weak. He had learned two rules, namely the D-class Fireball Technique and the C-class Magic Power Scattering. During his three years in high school, he had raised his proficiency in both rules to the Fluent level. In the entire Numero Uno High School, he was considered a member with good abilities. However, at this moment, Zhang Xian was somewhat embarrassed. He was surprised to find that Bai Ze¡¯s reaction speed and frequency of Storm Thunder Flash were getting faster and faster, so much so that when his attack had just taken shape, the other party had already escaped out of the attack range. Even using the magic ring was of no use. In contrast to Zhang Xian¡¯s inner frustration and surprise, Bai Ze was getting more and more comfortable in combat. Although he was still unable to retaliate, his Storm Thunder Flash was receiving the requisite training. Its proficiency had increased from Beginner¡¯s level to Familiar level 9. In just a dozen minutes, he had reached the point where he was just one step away from achieving a breakthrough! This speed made Bai Ze more and more excited as he fought. However, after casting magic for such a long time, both of them were physically exhausted. Zhang Xian was panting, and his face was pale. All the magic power in his body had been exhausted. Of course, Bai Ze was not much better, but he still had enough energy to cast two spells, so the difference between the two was obvious. [System prompt: Storm Thunder Flash requires magic crystals to break through.] [System prompt message: Icicle Technique requires magic crystals to break through.] Sensing the strange fluctuation of the rules in his body, Bai Ze was slightly surprised. He did not expect a simple battle would bring him so many surprises. However, the number of magic crystals required for the breakthrough posed some difficulties for him. Nonetheless, because he was still in battle mode, he decided not to get distracted by this for now. Instead, he focused all his attention on Zhang Xian, who was right in front of him, for fear that the other party would suddenly attack. At this moment, he noticed that the magic power in Zhang Xian¡¯s body was empty and that his power was almost exhausted. His defenses were wide open. Bai Ze¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He immediately converged the last of his magic power to cast the icicle. The next moment, an icicle more than a meter long floated in the air and shot towards Zhang Xian¡¯s throat. At this time, Zhang Xian was still immersed in the sense of defeat. He didn¡¯t expect Bai Ze to make the next move first. Catching Zhang Xian off guard, the icicle instantly pressed against his throat. He was so scared that he fell to the ground and stared at Bai Ze in shock. At this point, Bai Ze walked forward slowly, magic power circulating in his hand. With just a thought, he could make the icicle penetrate the other party¡¯s neck. ¡°Still want to fight?¡± Bai Ze looked down at the fallen Zhang Xian and said in an icy cold tone. The icicle suspended in the air was emitting chilly cold air, almost freezing the air. Staring at the sharp point of the icicle, Zhang Xian¡¯s expression was full of fear. His pale face was frozen red and stiff by the icicle hanging in such close proximity. Looking at the other party¡¯s merciless eyes, Zhang Xian gritted his teeth and growled angrily, ¡°Who are you trying to scare? This is Numero Uno High School. If you have the ability, kill me!¡± Looking at the other party trying to act tough, Bai Ze was a little dumbfounded. He then took out his phone and took a picture of the wretched-looking Zhang Xian. ¡°I don¡¯t have the ability to kill you, but I can post your photo on the school forum. What do you think the class monitor, Liang Rou, will think at that point?¡± Seeing Zhang Xian¡¯s face change, Bai Ze taunted him. ¡°You can¡¯t even handle such a small matter. I¡¯m afraid Liang Rou will only think that you¡¯re useless. No girl will like trash.¡± Bai Ze¡¯s words were very casual, but they directly cut through Zhang Xian¡¯s psychological defense, causing him to panic suddenly. When he thought of Liang Rou¡¯s attitude toward him at that point, Zhang Xian only felt a chill in his heart. ¡°Ah¡­ What should I do then? I don¡¯t want Liang Rou to look down on me!¡± He panicked and could only turn to Bai Ze for help. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Bai Ze grinned and said, ¡°I have a way.¡± Zhang Xian saw Bai Ze¡¯s relaxed look and hurriedly asked, ¡°What is it?¡± At this critical moment, Bai Ze kept his mouth shut instead and looked at the other party quietly. Zhang Xian was stunned for a few seconds, then he immediately reacted and said humbly, ¡°Brother, please help me. I can give you anything you want!¡± He had no choice. His feelings for Liang Rou were very deep. He would rather lose money than be looked down upon by Liang Rou. He didn¡¯t want to leave her. ¡°No problem, but if I keep it a secret for you, you should at least show some appreciation, right?¡± Bai Ze rubbed his fingers, and the smile on his face grew wider. Seeing Bai Ze¡¯s confident look, Zhang Xian could only admit that he was unlucky. Without a word, he took out his mobile phone and transferred 5,000 bucks to Bai Ze. Seeing that the money had been transferred to his account, Bai Ze nodded in satisfaction. Then, he looked up and pointed to a corner of the wall not far away. ¡°Do you see that surveillance camera? That surveillance camera is directly connected to the broadcast room. The class monitor will definitely be able to see it.¡± ¡°I can pretend to be defeated by you, and then you just have to show off your power there.¡± As soon as Bai Ze finished speaking, Zhang Xian immediately slapped his thigh and said with a happy expression, ¡°That¡¯s good. Brother Bai¡¯s suggestion is very suitable for me. ¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re acting, shouldn¡¯t we make it more realistic? All I¡¯ll say is, if you don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you, I¡¯ll beat you up whenever I see you. How about that?¡± Zhang Xian¡¯s excited look did not escape Bai Ze¡¯s eyes. He thought of a plan and immediately pretended to be caught in a spot. ¡°Zhang Xian, if you want me to cooperate with you and put on an act, I can. But that¡¯s a different price!¡± Bai Ze¡¯s expression was stern, and after a few seconds, he said gravely, ¡°You have to pay more!¡± Zhang Xian¡¯s eyes twitched a little. He wanted to curse out loud, but now that he had a favor to ask him, he had no choice but to transfer another 5,000 bucks to Bai Ze. In just ten minutes, Bai Ze made a net profit of 10,000 bucks. He thought that it was easier to earn money from rich people. He could not even earn this much in three months by working part-time. After receiving the money, Bai Ze began cooperating with Zhang Xian to play act. The two of them exchanged a few rounds of blows, and then Bai Ze fell to the ground according to their agreed procedure. After Zhang Xian fired off a string of cruel taunts, the play-acting ended. In the end, Bai Ze allowed Zhang Xian to go back while he took the money and prepared to go shopping. After all, the Icicle Technique and Storm Thunder Flash both required magic crystals to break through. After returning to the earlier potion shop, Bai Ze bought two low-grade magic crystals straightaway. He still had a few thousand bucks left. Looking at the two palm-sized magic crystals emitting rainbow light, Bai Ze could not help sighing in his heart. It was good to be rich. Chapter 11 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After class, Bai Ze dragged himself back home in the evening with heavy footsteps. Although the afternoon had allowed him to recover a lot of magic power, the physical exhaustion from the battle still made him feel sore all over. Bai Ze placed the two magic crystals on the table and sat cross-legged on the floor. He began to prepare for his breakthrough. In most rules, there was a massive difference between the Familiar level and Refinement level. Only by cultivating the rules to the Refinement level could one be considered to have completely understood the profoundness within, and the damage of the spells cast would naturally be greater. However, there were also risks to breaking through, and the probability of failure was not low. Generally, intermediate or junior mages would only cultivate one rule to the Refinement level in order to reduce the risks. It was extremely rare for someone like Bai Ze, who was only a magic apprentice, to have learned three rules. After all, a person¡¯s time was limited, and one¡¯s comprehension ability was also predetermined by nature. If one learned too many things, it would be even more difficult to increase one¡¯s proficiency. Taking a deep breath, Bai Ze slowly calmed his mind. Then, he extended his right hand and manipulated the magic power in his body to float in his palm, slowly wrapping the five-colored magical crystal in it. The material of the magic crystal was very special. It was extremely hard and difficult to be destroyed physically. It could only be dissolved by magic power. With the constant erosion by the magic power, the pure energy contained in the magic crystal was immediately absorbed through the locus in Bai Ze¡¯s palm. With the input of energy, the bones in Bai Ze¡¯s palm became more compact, and his physique was also constantly changing. [System message: Storm Thunder Flash has been nourished by the energy of the magic crystal. Its breakthrough speed has increased by 300%. It is estimated to break through in two hours.] As Bai Ze continued to absorb the energy, the magic crystals on the table gradually turned white until they were colorless. This cycle continued. Four hours later, Bai Ze had completed a breakthrough in both of the rules he had comprehended! [System message: Storm Thunder Flash has completed its breakthrough. Its current proficiency is Refinement level 1!] [System message: Icicle Technique has completed its breakthrough. Its current proficiency is Refinement level 1!] Sensing the surging energy in his body, Bai Ze¡¯s face could not conceal the hint of joy he felt. In the next moment, his body trembled violently, and his eyelids could not stop trembling. A burst of golden light suddenly appeared under his feet. Then, the magic power in Bai Ze¡¯s dantian suddenly went out of control and gushed directly into the golden light. The magic power continued to condense, and in just a few breaths under the nourishment of the magic power, the bright light instantly formed a dazzling magic ring that rotated slowly! There were even mysterious runes circulating non-stop inside the golden magic ring, adding a sense of holiness to Bai Ze¡¯s aura! ¡°Is that¡­ a Divine Ring?¡± Bai Ze couldn¡¯t quite believe it. He had actually condensed a magic ring unconsciously, and it was of a higher quality than the usual magic ring! The rings condensed via magic power were divided into three types: Magic Ring, Divine Ring, and Holy Ring! Most times, magic rings were the products of many people¡¯s condensation, while divine rings were rare, only about one in a hundred thousand people. The Holy Ring only existed in the Archmage Magister realm. Only when one¡¯s ability had transcended into the Archmage Magister realm could they condense the Holy Ring. The higher the quality of the magic ring that was condensed, the more powerful the magic power provided when it burst out! Bai Ze upgraded two rules to the Refinement level in one shot, and the magic power in his body that had been dormant for a long time condensed into a magic ring at this moment. These were things that happened naturally, and Bai Ze had been expecting this. He didn¡¯t expect the first magic ring he condensed would be at the Divine Ring level! ¡°System message: You have successfully condensed your Divine Ring and obtained an additional ability: lightning affinity. The damage caused by deploying lightning rules has increased by 30%, and the range has increased by 50%.¡± ¡°Hey, there¡¯s an additional reward.¡± Bai Ze¡¯s heart was filled with joy. What happened today had far exceeded his expectations. He obtained the inheritance on the same day, raised his proficiency to the Refinement level, and broke through to the first ring to become a junior mage. He had even condensed a divine ring. Such a bountiful harvest made his heart a little excited. He wanted to use Storm Thunder Flash immediately to see the effect, but it was already 11 pm, and his room was not spacious. If he deployed it forcefully, it was very likely that he would crash through the wall while using Storm Thunder Flash. In addition, the sound insulation here was extremely poor. If he really did that, he was afraid that he would be driven out by the landlord that very night. He suppressed the excitement in his heart, washed up, and laid on the bed. He gradually calmed down and finally fell asleep. The night was quiet, and the sound of a truck passing by could be heard from time to time. Bai Ze was lying on the bed, a smile still on his face. The next morning. As it was a Sunday, the high school was closed. Bai Ze was going to go to Jiang Qingyue¡¯s house for lessons, according to his agreement with her yesterday. However, on the way there, he received a call from Qingyue¡¯s butler. Barely a few steps later, he was picked up by the family car and sent directly to the door of her house. At this moment, Jiang Qingyue was already standing at the courtyard entrance, waiting. When she saw Bai Ze get out of the car, she immediately went up to him happily. ¡°Why are you so happy today? Did you pick up money?¡± Bai Ze asked curiously. Jiang Qingyue patted Bai Ze¡¯s arm. ¡°Go to hell. I have some good news to tell you.¡± After she finished speaking, she pulled Bai Ze into the hall. Seeing that the girl was so happy, Bai Ze didn¡¯t say anything, and the two quickly went to the villa¡¯s living room. At this moment, the butler walked in after parking the car. Bai Ze immediately took out the things he had prepared from his pocket and handed them to Jiang Qingyue. ¡°Qingyue, this is the money I borrowed from you a few days ago. I should return it to you now.¡± The reason Bai Ze was able to pay back the money in advance was also thanks to Zhang Xian¡¯s generosity. In order to beg Bai Ze to play-act, the rich second-generation heir straightaway threw out ten thousand bucks, allowing Bai Ze to solve his debt crisis easily. ¡°Bai Ze, why are you giving me money? Didn¡¯t we agree that this money is for your tuition fee?¡± Jiang Qingyue pouted and said unhappily. The butler, who was standing at the side, quickly walked forward and took out a check from his pocket. He said gratefully, ¡°Young sir, you¡¯re too kind. Our Jiang family has already received your favor. How could we possibly take more money?¡± Looking at the butler¡¯s polite face, Bai Ze was slightly stunned. He was just an ordinary person. How could he possibly give the Jiang family any favors? Jiang Qingyue saw that Bai Ze still did not understand and immediately said excitedly, ¡°Bai Ze, didn¡¯t you give me extra lessons yesterday? I had a moment of enlightenment when I got home last night, and my ability has increased quite a bit. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Qingyue had a breakthrough last night. She¡¯s now at the peak of her third ring and is only one step away from the intermediate mage realm.¡± The butler immediately continued without any pause, ¡°Previously, our Jiang family has invited many teachers and bought many potions, but none of them could improve Qingyue¡¯s ability. Now, after you¡¯ve helped her, she¡¯s on the verge of reaching four magic rings. Isn¡¯t that considered a favor?¡± Chapter 12 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Seeing Jiang Qingyue and the butler echoing each other, Bai Ze eventually understood. He looked at Qingyue in surprise. He didn¡¯t think that this girl¡¯s comprehension was so good. He only explained the main points to her for an hour, but she was able to elevate her ability so much in such a short time. ¡°Mr. Bai, please continue to tutor Qingyue. This is a small gift from the Jiang family. Please accept it.¡± The butler handed the check over with a respectful expression. Bai Ze was a little embarrassed, but when he saw the amount written on the check, his heart was tempted again. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll accept it then. I¡¯ll try to help Qingyue reach the intermediate mage realm before the mock exam.¡± Bai Ze hesitated for a moment but finally chose to accept. Anyway, Jiang Qingyue¡¯s family was well-off. It wouldn¡¯t affect her even if he collected some money from them. In the luxuriously decorated living room, Jiang Qingyue¡¯s smile grew wider when she saw that Bai Ze had agreed. She immediately pulled Bai Ze toward her room. The butler waved goodbye to Bai Ze and walked out into the courtyard. The Jiang family¡¯s river-fronting three-story villa covered a large area. Not only did it have more than a dozen guest rooms, but it also housed Qingyue¡¯s dedicated practice room. Bai Ze followed Jiang Qingyue, and they came to the spacious practice room. Looking at the precious tools and luxurious decorations around, Bai Ze repeatedly sighed in his heart. ¡°Let¡¯s start. I¡¯ll teach you how to quickly convert energy today.¡± Bai Ze sat on the smooth wooden floor and said with a solemn face. Jiang Qingyue didn¡¯t move. Instead, she said shyly, ¡°Well, you should take off your clothes first.¡± Bai Ze said, ¡°Huh?¡± What was going on¡­? Jiang Qingyue saw Bai Ze¡¯s puzzled look and blushed. She immediately explained, ¡°What are you thinking of? I just wanted to see if you were injured.¡± Bai Ze sat cross-legged on the ground. He blinked and listened to Jiang Qingyue¡¯s explanation quietly. In contrast, Jiang Qingyue felt very awkward. After a few seconds, she said, ¡°Someone showed me a video last night and said that you were beaten up by Zhang Xian in the courtyard of the Manuscript Library.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t see any injuries when you came here just now. I suspect it must be an internal injury, but you were too embarrassed to tell me, so¡­ I asked someone to buy some phoenix ice ointment from Lotus Lake Street. This medicine is very effective. Let me help you apply it.¡± Towards the end, Jiang Qingyue¡¯s voice was as soft as a mosquito¡¯s, and her small face was also flushed with embarrassment. Bai Ze felt a warm sensation welling up in his heart. It seemed that his childhood sweetheart genuinely cared about him. To avoid disappointing Jiang Qingyue, Bai Ze had no choice but to take off his coat and shirt. Jiang Qingyue was standing by his side. At this point, she had yet to react and was staring straight at Bai Ze. His skin was a light bronze color. His muscles were fully developed but not overly bulging. His back was broad and straight while his chest muscles bulged, with his waistline clearly defined. His six-pack abs were solid and powerful, and his mermaid line went straight down and was covered by the clothes. Overall, his physique was well-proportioned and strong, and his figure was excellent. Jiang Qingyue¡¯s face turned redder again, and she closed her eyes in embarrassment. ¡°If it¡¯s difficult for you, then forget it.¡± Bai Ze¡¯s back was facing Jiang Qingyue. Seeing that there was no movement behind him, he immediately thought of turning down her offer. At this moment, Jiang Qingyue spread the ointment on her hand and gently applied it to Bai Ze¡¯s back. Feeling the chilly sensation and soft touch behind him, Bai Ze raised his eyebrows slightly. [Ice Crystal Armor has detected the phoenix ice ointment. Its cultivation progress has increased significantly.] [Broken through the Fluent level, upgraded to Familiar level 9!] Hearing the system¡¯s sudden prompt, Bai Ze¡¯s heart was filled with joy all of a sudden. He wanted to turn down her offer initially, but now, ahem¡­ It smelled so good. Sensing Bai Ze¡¯s emotional fluctuation, Jiang Qingyue slowly opened her eyes, but she realized there was no injury on Bai Ze¡¯s back. In the practice room, Bai Ze was sitting cross-legged on the floor. When he felt that Jiang Qingyue¡¯s hands had stopped moving, he turned his head and asked, ¡°Do you still want me to take off my pants?¡± Only then did Jiang Qingyue realize that something was wrong. She glared at Bai Ze with her beautiful eyes and rebuked, ¡°You¡¯re not injured? Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± Bai Ze grinned. ¡°Who would refuse the concern of a beautiful woman?¡± Jiang Qingyue¡¯s face turned crimson red. She picked up the cushion beside her and flung it at Bai Ze. Receiving an attack that did not hurt at all, Bai Ze changed his sitting posture and pretended to be hit, not extending her any courtesy at all. ¡°You¡¯re so talkative. Hurry up and tell me what happened yesterday.¡± Seeing Jiang Qingyue¡¯s eager inquiry, Bai Ze didn¡¯t keep her in suspense any longer. He briefly explained the situation and emphasized the acting and the money. Jiang Qingyue giggled as she listened. ¡°Bai Ze, you¡¯re so bad. You robbed him of his qualification and extorted ten thousand bucks. No wonder you want to pay me money today.¡± Jiang Qingyue covered her mouth and laughed secretly. She looked a little heartless. In the face of Jiang Qingyue¡¯s accusation, Bai Ze still felt at ease. ¡°Who told that guy to stand up and volunteer? If he wants to look for trouble, I definitely won¡¯t let him off.¡± ¡°Alright, I know you won¡¯t lose out on any deals.¡± Jiang Qingyue wrinkled her nose and looked at Bai Ze with a joyous expression. However, she suddenly thought of something, and her eyes became solemn again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Bai Ze immediately asked when he noticed that. Jiang Qingyue was silent for a few seconds. ¡°The Preordained Training Camp organized by the federal government will start soon in a few days. Have you heard about this?¡± In the face of Jiang Qingyue¡¯s burning gaze, Bai Ze shook his head honestly. ¡°No.¡± He was just an orphan and had no contact with the upper-class society, let alone getting involved in those elite competitions held by the government. ¡°What I want to say is, because I¡¯m about to advance to become an intermediate mage, my parents have already arranged a qualification for me. In a few days, I¡¯ll leave Numero Uno High School and go to the Preordained Training Camp.¡± ¡°The training camp there is organized by the federal government. There are a lot of resources, and it¡¯s very beneficial for improving your ability. I think you should go with us.¡± Her watery eyes were filled with yearning. Jiang Qingyue¡¯s voice was a little soft, but it landed in Bai Ze¡¯s heart like a heavy weight. How could a person at the bottom of society like him go to that kind of place? Even if he didn¡¯t understand it, he knew it with common sense. In that kind of place, the only chance for ordinary people to get a ticket to the training camp was to win first place in the mock exam that was about to begin. Otherwise, it was impossible for them to gain entry. However, Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School was a notable high school. Among its students, there were three fourth ring mages and more than a dozen third ring mages. Even if Bai Ze had already condensed a divine ring, he was still no match for those genius opponents who had received training from the aristocratic families since childhood. If Jiang Qingyue really wanted to go to the Preordained Training Camp, it meant that the two of them would have to part very soon. She might even be gone before the college entrance examination. The atmosphere in the practice room was a little gloomy. Bai Ze¡¯s thoughts churned, but he could not find a solution. He let out a long sigh, then raised his head and said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s not think too much about it. I¡¯m here to give you supplementary lessons. Let¡¯s start now.¡± Troubled by conflicting emotions, Jiang Qingyue could only nod her head and bury these worries deep in her heart. Chapter 13 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation An hour of coaching passed very quickly. Jiang Qingyue used her excellent comprehension to digest this huge amount of information quickly. Then, she had an epiphany and immediately began to meditate to integrate this new knowledge. Bai Ze didn¡¯t disturb her any longer. He turned around and walked out of the door. There was no one in the hall. Bai Ze looked around, then took out the 5,000 bucks he had prepared in advance and placed them on the coffee table. From Bai Ze¡¯s point of view, these were two separate matters. He had borrowed the money from Jiang Qingyue previously. Since he had already promised to pay back, he had to keep his promise. Straightening up, Bai Ze looked back in the direction of the practice room. After staring for a few seconds, he immediately walked out into the courtyard. ¡°Mr. Bai, please wait.¡± Before he could walk out of the villa¡¯s hall, the Jiang family¡¯s butler quickly walked in from the courtyard outside. The butler¡¯s sharp eyes noticed the money on the coffee table, but he did not say anything. Instead, he took out a black card from his pocket. ¡°Mr. Bai, the Jiang family owes you a favor. If you encounter any problems in the future, you can call the number on the card at any time.¡± The black card was smooth and cool to the touch, and a string of phone numbers was engraved on it. Bai Ze took the card, nodded, and turned to leave. It was almost noon. After leaving the Jiang family¡¯s villa, Bai Ze hailed a taxi and quickly disappeared from the butler¡¯s sight. The butler stood in the hall, watching Bai Ze¡¯s disappearing figure, and praised in his heart. ¡°He¡¯s not even twenty, but his heart is so calm. He¡¯ll definitely be a noteworthy figure in the future.¡± At this moment, Bai Ze was sitting in a taxi. He looked at the scenery passing by quickly outside the window, but his heart was thinking about the Preordained Training Camp. Now that the mock exam of Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School was around the corner, the Preordained Training Camp suddenly opened. There must be some connection between the two. However, Bai Ze knew too little information now and could only push it to the back of his mind. Before long, the taxi arrived at the apartment building. Bai Ze went home, had a casual lunch, and continued to cultivate his rules. The day after tomorrow was the mock exam. He had to use his time well and increase his strength further. There were 2,000 students in Numero Uno High School, and even a tiny difference in magic power could allow him to surpass dozens of people. Now that he already had two ice-type rules and had obtained the lightning affinity due to the condensation of his divine ring, he might have a chance to compete for the top ten as long as he increased his proficiency level in the rules a little more. Gradually, Bai Ze calmed down and began to absorb the magic particles. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next day. As usual, Bai Ze arrived at Numero Uno High School at eight in the morning. However, along the way, he bumped into Zhang Xian again. However, by now, the antagonism between the two of them had already faded a lot. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why haven¡¯t you gone to the classroom yet? Are you waiting for me?¡± Bai Ze walked up to him with a smile and asked with a puzzled look. Zhang Xian spread out his hands helplessly. ¡°Liang Rou watched the video, but she still felt it wasn¡¯t enough, so she ordered me to intercept you on the only path to school.¡± His voice was filled with helplessness, and he had an apologetic smile on his face. ¡°It¡¯s fine. As long as the money is right, I can play along with your act any time. ¡± Bai Ze immediately took out the Ethereal Magic Staff from his backpack and grinned. Seeing this, Zhang Xian resigned himself to getting ripped off again and began to fight with Bai Ze in front of the camera. ¡°Watch out! Here comes my Fiery Dragon Wave!¡± Zhang Xian gathered his magic power to his fingertips and immediately cast his most powerful spell. Although his relationship with Bai Ze was no longer so stiff, Zhang Xian still remembered the last time he lost to Bai Ze. Before he came, he had already made up his mind that even if he was acting, he had to genuinely defeat the other party this time! Seeing that Zhang Xian was fighting seriously, Bai Ze also entered a combat state immediately. With a flash of mental thought, the magic power in his body suddenly burst out. The next moment, the air around him froze rapidly, and a crisp, crystalline armor immediately condensed on the surface of his body! The precision of the condensation of the rule often indicated the level of proficiency. At this point, the translucent armor on Bai Ze¡¯s body was enveloped by icy cold air, and all the details of the armor were clearly visible. Even the designs of the armor scale were clearly visible. This kind of condensation precision could only be achieved at the Refinement level. Although Zhang Xian had only caught a glimpse of it, he was shocked. In the next instant, the Fiery Dragon roared and swept over. Bai Ze turned his wrist and condensed two icicles that were more than a meter long behind him. By this time, the Fiery Dragon had already swept over. Bai Ze had a lot of confidence in the strength of the C-class rule, Ice Crystal Armor, so he directly collided with it. Immediately a deep red flame suddenly erupted and instantly wrapped around Bai Ze¡¯s thin body. Seeing this scene, Zhang Xian began to panic. Although he wanted to defeat Bai Ze, he didn¡¯t want to hurt him. When he saw Bai Ze rush into the sea of fire, he was so nervous that his heart tightened into a ball. The terrifyingly high temperature damaged the surrounding vegetation. The cobblestone path had already been blackened by the smoke, and the grass and trees on both sides had withered from the heat. From these signs, it could be clearly seen how powerful the Fiery Dragon was. ¡°Not bad. The strength of your spell is not bad. Unfortunately, it still can¡¯t penetrate my defense.¡± At this moment, Bai Ze walked out of the wall of blazing flames. His whole body was intact, and there was even a faint smile on his face. The two icicles he had condensed earlier had shrunk quite a bit under the intense heat, but they still possessed extraordinary power. Seeing this scene, Zhang Xian, who was still worried about Bai Ze earlier, stood dumbfounded in the same spot. His pupils suddenly shrank, and his skin began to crawl from the shock of the scene before him. ¡°No¡­ Impossible! The Fiery Dragon Wave I cast is enough to threaten third ring mages. How could it not break through the defense of a magic apprentice like you?¡± Bai Ze chuckled and did not explain further. Instead, he slowly stretched out his right hand and clenched his fist. In the next instant, the icicle that was suspended in the air immediately shot forward before finally stopping in front of the other party¡¯s chest! The icicle shattered without warning as if it had hit something hard. However, these were all planned according to director Bai Ze¡¯s script. He didn¡¯t want to defeat Zhang Xian in front of the surveillance cameras and lose the cooperation fee of several thousand bucks. Seeing Bai Ze¡¯s odd behavior, Zhang Xian quickly reacted. ¡°You think you can hurt me with this kind of method? Take this! Here¡¯s my Mighty Sword!¡± he roared arrogantly. Bai Ze pretended to be angry and went up to fight with Zhang Xian for a few rounds. In the end, he found an opportunity to lose to Zhang Xian. Although this battle ended with his defeat, Bai Ze knew in his heart that if the two of them had a fair fight, the other party would definitely not be his match. Now that Bai Ze had two C-Class rules to protect him, his combat ability had already reached the peak of the second ring. It was just that the magic power in his body was still not enough, so he could only condense one magic ring of excellent quality. This time, he had an easier time fighting Zhang Xian compared to last time. He did not need to deploy Storm Thunder Flash to escape. Furthermore, he had also won his opponent in a head-on battle. This could be attributed to the increase in strength brought about by learning two rules! Chapter 14 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation At the end of the performance, Bai Ze received another 2,000 bucks from Zhang Xian. It appeared that Zhang Xian, this second-generation heir from a well-off family, seemed to have been emptied out by Liang Rou. He couldn¡¯t even afford to pay 5,000 bucks this time. ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Zhang Xian blurted out as he sat on the marble slab nearby, panting heavily. Bai Ze took out his phone and looked at the time. There were less than ten minutes left before class started. ¡°It¡¯s time for class. ¡± At Bai Ze¡¯s urging, Zhang Xian was a little reluctant, but eventually, he still got up from the ground. He looked up at Bai Ze and muttered, ¡°You weren¡¯t my match yesterday, but it seems that your strength has increased a lot after going to the Manuscript Library.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ The mock exam will start tomorrow. Have you prepared for it?¡± Bai Ze felt somewhat guilty and could only change the topic. However, Zhang Xian¡¯s interest was piqued. He quickly walked in front of Bai Ze and said, ¡°Oh, by the way, Bai Ze, did you know? Our school has a place reserved for someone to go to the recently extremely popular Preordained Training Camp. ¡°But for ordinary people like us, the only chance to enter the Preordained Training Camp is to become the champion in the upcoming mock exam qualification competition. ¡°After all, only the elite chosen ones of their families or the children of influential families can attend the training camp. Generally, we don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Up to this point, Zhang Xian looked quite excited. ¡°Other than those outstanding geniuses who will receive an invitation before the start of the camp, every well-known school will have a recruitment quota for the training camp.¡± When he heard this news, Bai Ze was overcome by a wave of conflicting emotions. There were more than 2,000 students in their school, but only one of them was qualified to go to the Preordained Training Camp. This was really like a cavalry of thousands trying to cross a single-log bridge. Zhang Xian saw that Bai Ze seemed to be a little tempted and immediately poured cold water on him. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. I want the class monitor, Liang Rou, to take our school¡¯s spot. And, I¡¯ll also help her clear the obstacles in the competition tomorrow.¡± ¡°Liang Rou also promised me that as long as she gets the right to go to the training camp, after the camp, she will be my girlfriend.¡± At this point, Zhang Xian appeared as pleased as punch at this thought, and he didn¡¯t feel anything was wrong with her words. Upon hearing Zhang Xian¡¯s bootlicking words, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help but feel pity. This person was a bootlicker, yet he didn¡¯t have the self-awareness that he was one. Now it seemed that Bai Ze probably wouldn¡¯t be able to persuade him. He could only silently wish Zhang Xian well in his heart, hoping that Zhang Xian would be able to successfully win over the goddess in his heart as soon as possible, even though the probability of this was minuscule. Although he wanted to pour scorn in his heart, Zhang Xian¡¯s words provided Bai Ze with a lot of useful information. Not only did he thoroughly understand the existence of the Preordained Training Camp, but it also allowed him to reevaluate the power of the Jiang family. Even the wealthy second-generation heir like Zhang Xian and the branch family of Liang Rou couldn¡¯t get an invitation, but Jiang Qingyue was able to get one in advance. From this, it could be seen that not only was the Jiang family¡¯s power immense, but the power backing them also was definitely not weak in Maplewood City. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± The corners of Bai Ze¡¯s lips curled up into a smile. He was now more and more curious about this so-called Preordained Training Camp. At nine o¡¯clock in the morning, Bai Ze and Zhang Xian came to the classroom together. At this point, Teacher Fang Yu was setting up the teaching workstation and preparing for class. When he returned to his seat, Bai Ze deliberately shot a glance at Jiang Qingyue. She also winked at him cheekily, her emotions seemingly unaffected. The morning classes passed by quickly, and it was noon in the blink of an eye. Teacher Fang Yu announced that at two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the school would be holding a school-wide meeting as scheduled to announce the rules of the qualification competition and the things to take note of. After class, the students began to talk about it. The mock exam was the last exam before the college entrance examination. This exam not only allowed all the students to gauge their own level. If they did well, it could also be written into their resume and procure a high salary for their future jobs. At noon, Bai Ze finished his lunch in the cafeteria. He and Wu Feng both expressed their opinions on the mock exam, and their final conclusion was that there was no solution! After all, the two of them were considered weak in their class. In a school full of geniuses, they might not even be able to survive the first round of free-for-all melee. Only by avoiding the battle or cowering in other people¡¯s shadow like a coward could they get a relatively good ranking. All in all, the chances of getting into the top ten were very slim. After lunch, Bai Ze returned to the classroom to rest. He waited until the bell rang at two o¡¯clock in the afternoon before proceeding to the largest square in Numero Uno High School with the others. The square, which was covered with white tiles, was full of people. Even under the sculpture that represented endless learning, many people were leaning against it, waiting for the principal to come for the school meeting. It didn¡¯t take long for the school management, professors, and teachers to arrive. Soon, the start of the meeting was announced. Due to the importance of this event, the principal¡¯s speech before the meeting was concise. In short, he said that they had to work hard and get a good result in the mock exam. Not surprisingly, during the speech, the students below the stage did not just listen quietly. They would occasionally discuss in low voices, their expressions serious and their brows furrowed. ¡°Have you heard? As long as you can get first place in the mock exam, you¡¯ll have the right to go to the training camp. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of that? There are quite a few intermediate fourth ring mages in our school. With those geniuses present, who can compete with them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll thank the heavens if I can get into the top 50. I may even be able to leave a colorful paragraph on my resume.¡± Even though the qualification competition had yet to begin, the students were already enveloped in a cloud of anticipation and nervousness. On the stage, the principal stood ramrod straight in his suit. His voice encompassed magic power, which amplified his voice several times and reverberated throughout the whole square. ¡°The rules of this qualification competition will be a free-for-all melee system. We will scatter the ten qualification badges to the training camps around the school campus. However, nine of these badges are fake, and only one is real.¡± ¡°The real and fake badges look exactly the same, but the real one will keep buzzing after being injected full of magic power. The fake one won¡¯t.¡± The principal, whose hair was a little sparse, had a stern expression on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll emphasize once again. Only by finding the sole real qualification badge and holding on to it until the end of the competition when the bell is struck will you be qualified to go to the training camp.¡± As soon as the old principal said this, the audience suddenly became noisy. The students began to analyze the situation in detail, and some of them could be heard grumbling from time to time. ¡°Fuck, this rule is so ridiculous. If it¡¯s really as the principal said, doesn¡¯t that mean that simply finding the real badge won¡¯t be enough? We¡¯ll still have to use our magic power to differentiate the real from the fake.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all. Just identifying them won¡¯t do. The real badge will constantly buzz after it¡¯s filled with magic power, and it¡¯ll attract students who¡¯re eyeing them to come and snatch them.¡± Chapter 15 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°In that case, this rule is simply insane. The person who gets the badge has to expend a large amount of magic power to keep the badge until the last second. Who can do this?¡± ¡°The school management is well ahead of the curve compared to us students in this instance. ¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a joke? How detestable!¡± The surrounding students discussed this excitedly and soon discovered the illogical point in the rules. Even so, most of the students were still looking forward to the competition. Their goal wasn¡¯t to fight for the badges but to stay on the battlefield as far as possible to get a high ranking. Just as everyone was arguing about how they should fight, the class monitor, Liang Rou, walked out from the crowd and said confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t be demoralized, everyone. As long as we give it our all, we¡¯ll definitely get the ideal results. Let¡¯s work hard together!¡± Looking at Liang Rou¡¯s pretentious expression, Bai Ze pursed his lips, hinting that he disagreed with her point of view. However, Zhang Xian, who was not far away, was nodding his head solemnly at this moment, just like the bootlicker he was. ¡°Tsk, tsk. What sort of characters are these people?¡± Wu Feng, who was standing next to Bai Ze, was somewhat displeased and criticized in a low voice. As for why he didn¡¯t dare to say it out loud, it was because he couldn¡¯t defeat¡­ On the square, the students who heard Liang Rou¡¯s encouragement responded enthusiastically. ¡°Oh, our class monitor, Liang Rou, is indeed the best. I believe that you¡¯ll definitely get first place in the qualification competition.¡± ¡°Yeah, class monitor, don¡¯t forget about us when the time comes. Give us more support.¡± ¡°I heard that the Preordained Training Camp has many precious tools that are beneficial to cultivation. This time, class monitor Liang Rou is going to soar.¡± Everyone agreed that Liang Rou would definitely get a good result in the upcoming competition. Liang Rou, who was being endorsed by the crowd, simply smiled and waved her hand. ¡°You guys are too kind. It¡¯s already good enough for me to be in the top ten. After all, there¡¯s no lack of fourth ring experts like Lin Xi and Ling Quan in the school. I don¡¯t dare to think about being the champion. When the time comes, we can work together and help each other to fight for the top ten.¡± Liang Rou said with a big smile. Her expression was full of sincerity and was very convincing. However, while she might be able to use this sort of trick to deceive the students who had a good relationship with her, in Bai Ze¡¯s eyes, Liang Rou¡¯s modesty was utterly hypocritical. Soon, the school meeting ended about an hour later. In order to give the students enough time to prepare, the classes in the afternoon were canceled. As long as the students arrived at school at ten in the morning tomorrow, they would be eligible to take the exam. With one command, the students dispersed. Some went to re-familiarize themselves with the school¡¯s terrain, while others made last-minute preparations to burn the midnight oil before the exam. Compared to the students who were in a hurry, Bai Ze seemed a lot more composed. He went back to class, put on his coat, and then walked to the back gate of the school unhurriedly. Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School covered a large area. If it weren¡¯t for the rule that stated the ten badges would be hidden in the teaching block area, even if all 2,000 students searched until nightfall, it would still be impossible for them to find any traces of the badges. After all, more than 60% of Numero Uno High School¡¯s area was covered in greenery. The back gate of the school was surrounded by a large dense forest. There were also leisure spots such as pavilions and training facilities that very few people would visit. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Bai Ze¡¯s apartment building was closer to the back gate, he wouldn¡¯t have been here more than a few times a year. However, just as he was about to leave the school premises, he saw a familiar figure in a pavilion not far away. Just by looking at her back, he could tell that she was their class monitor, Zhang Xian¡¯s goddess, Liang Rou. After all, besides her, no one else bothered to dress up to the nines to come to school every day. At this moment, Liang Rou was sitting with an unfamiliar man, chatting and laughing. Seeing this situation, Bai Ze immediately retreated and hid behind a tree. Now that the mock exam was approaching, he didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble. After he had adjusted his position, he began to observe carefully. Liang Rou had already snuggled into the stranger¡¯s arms. As there were very few people here, the two of them didn¡¯t bother to hide their conversation at all. ¡°Little Rou, you¡¯re so close to me. Aren¡¯t you afraid that Zhang Xian guy will get jealous?¡± The man stroked Liang Rou¡¯s hair and said in a calm voice. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying. Why are you bringing up that person? He¡¯s just a lackey who can be ordered around. How can he compare to you?¡± Liang Rou¡¯s voice was charming. As she spoke, she rubbed her chest against the man¡¯s arm, putting her coquettishness on full display. Bai Ze, who was hiding behind the tree, frowned. Although Zhang Xian¡¯s ability was average, his family was well-off, and it was easy for him to find a girlfriend or wife. No matter what, he did not deserve to be toyed with by this kind of woman. With a trace of anger rising in his heart, Bai Ze immediately whipped out his mobile phone and recorded a short video of the two flirting. Then, he sent it to Zhang Xian through an anonymous email. After the two of them had finished their performance under the surveillance cameras the last time, they added each other¡¯s contact information. Bai Ze did not expect that his first time contacting Zhang Xian would be because of this matter. However, at the end of the day, Zhang Xian was just an acquaintance he had a passable relationship. The reason he did this was because he didn¡¯t want to see the other guy being kept in the dark. After doing this, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it anymore, and straightaway left the school premises. After walking out of the school gate, Bai Ze went to the store where he bought the magic crystals last time. At this moment, he didn¡¯t have much money on him. After paying Jiang Qingyue 5,000 bucks, plus the 2,000 bucks he got from Zhang Xian this time, he couldn¡¯t even afford a decent bottle of potion. However, considering that the mock exam was approaching, Bai Ze decided to buy some supplies to improve his strength before the competition began so as to achieve a top ten position to obtain a scholarship. As he walked into the store, the customer service staff recognized him since he had been here twice. Bai Ze strolled around the store for a long time, but in the end, he only had enough money to buy a bottle of blue spiritual power nourishment potion. The effect of this potion was average, and it was only a few dozen milliliters. It was a very ordinary small blue bottle. After weighing the pros and cons, Bai Ze still took the potion to the front desk to make payment. However, at this moment, his gaze was attracted by the display cabinet at the side. Inside the glass display cabinet, there was a box filled with ice. There were three potions displayed on the silk cloth inside. They were only the size of ink bottles, but the medicinal liquid was very strange. There was a mixture of solid and liquid inside the potion. It even had speckles of light, like a beautiful, alluring nebula. ¡°Excuse me, may I ask how much for this potion?¡± Bai Ze immediately inquired out of curiosity, but his eyes were still staring at the potion. The service staff standing next to him immediately gave an introduction. ¡°Sir, this is the latest product of our potion store. It¡¯s called Ether Essence. It¡¯s exquisitely crafted by a seventh-grade pharmacist by refining it day and night.¡± ¡°Its effect is to permanently increase immensely the magic power in the user¡¯s body and rapidly recover magic power and spiritual power in a short time. The price is 100,000 bucks.¡± When the service staff explained the effect, Bai Ze was so surprised that his jaw dropped slightly. He was shocked beyond words and was insanely tempted. If he could consume one bottle, he might even be able to condense a second magic ring. However, when the service staff stated the price, the reality immediately doused his hopes with a bucket of cold water. ¡°It¡¯s really awesome. It¡¯s really expensive too.¡± After a long time, Bai Ze could only sigh in resignation. Chapter 16 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation 100,000 bucks might not mean much to Jiang Qingyue, but he simply could not afford it. Although the butler had given him a check for 100,000 bucks, Bai Ze could not simply spend all 100,000 bucks just to buy a bottle of potion. Bai Ze could not help but sigh in his heart. He could only look away and make payment absent-mindedly. After leaving the store, Bai Ze walked back to his apartment building. Along the way, he was still thinking about the Ether Essence. He imagined that if he could take a bottle of Ether Essence potion before the start of the qualification competition, he might be able to qualify to compete for the championship. Sighing in his heart again, Bai Ze felt that although there were many difficulties in front of him, the most important thing was still money. When he got home, Bai Ze opened the windows. He lived on the seventh floor of the apartment building. Looking out of the window, the people were like ants, slowly flowing into the road. At this moment, a light breeze blew past the curtains and gently caressed Bai Ze¡¯s face. Finally, after circling the small room, it disappeared without a trace. ¡°Better start cultivating. I have to be in the top ten at the very least tomorrow to get the school¡¯s scholarship.¡± Bai Ze clenched his fists and returned to his bedside. He placed the potion he had just bought on the table, then gently opened the bottle. The moment he opened it, Bai Ze detected a robust medicinal fragrance, accompanied by a cool sensation that rushed into his nose, making him feel refreshed. ¡°Expensive things are truly of good quality.¡± Sensing the magic power in his body stirring, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t resist swallowing his saliva. He then picked up the glass bottle and drank it all in one go. The taste of the magic potion was a little like herbal tea. The liquid immediately turned into a torrent and flowed down his throat after coming into contact with his mouth. The pure medicinal power flowed into his limbs and bones, and the sea of magic power in his dantian started to become restless. Sensing the effect, Bai Ze immediately sat cross-legged and began to absorb the energy from within. The effect of this tiny blue bottle that was worth a few thousand was not bad. It quickly replenished the spiritual power that he had expended to form the earlier magic ring. He was still quite some distance from breaking through to the next realm though. [System message: C-class rule Ice Crystal Armor has received energy nourishment, and its level has increased slightly. It is currently at Refinement level 2.] The system prompt sounded in his mind, but Bai Ze was not surprised at all. In fact, he was a little disappointed. He had already absorbed more than half of the potion¡¯s energy, but it was only enough to upgrade his C-class Ice Crystal Armor by one tier. It seemed that it would be very tough to increase his proficiency after the Refinement level. Although only one rule had improved a little, the magic power in Bai Ze¡¯s body was much richer. His ability had advanced further compared to his earlier state. However, it did not achieve Bai Ze¡¯s expected goal. He was a little regretful. If he had taken the Ether Essence, he would definitely have been able to condense a second magic ring. Sensing that the magic power in his body was stabilizing, Bai Ze slowly opened his eyes. Initially, he wanted to activate the Ice Crystal Armor rule to see if there were any changes after his proficiency had increased, but the Ethereal Magic Staff that he had casually placed on the table earlier was now radiating with rays of milky white light. The meter-long Ethereal Magic Staff laid quietly on the table. There were purple motifs inscribed on it, and its surface was rough and badly weathered. That milky white light was currently seeping out from the weathered cracks, looking very magical! [System message: Dense ethereal elements have been detected in the surroundings. System suggests host to meditate immediately and absorb the energy!] Just as Bai Ze was staring in surprise, a system prompt suddenly appeared. Bai Ze was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted and quickly activated his meditation skill. The Refinement level meditation skill was extremely powerful, and it quickly absorbed all the ethereal elements in the surroundings. Sensing the special energy appearing in his body, with a grave expression, Bai Ze controlled his magic power to wrap around it. Much to his surprise, he found that his magic power couldn¡¯t penetrate the milky-white ethereal energy, and it was slowly seeping through the magic power envelope. Finally, under Bai Ze¡¯s keen sense, it disappeared without a trace. In the next instant, Bai Ze discovered through his spiritual power that the sea of magic power in his body had turned light blue without him realizing it. In the tumultous sea of magic power, wisps of magic power were slowly swirling. Everything seemed normal, but the color had changed from its original translucent to light blue! Just as Bai Ze was panicking, he was pleasantly surprised to sense that the magic power in his body had actually become a lot more compact! The amount of magic power in the sea of magic power didn¡¯t change significantly, but the magic power that was originally like mist was now so dense that light couldn¡¯t pass through! Bai Ze controlled his spiritual power and searched every inch of space within his body, but he couldn¡¯t detect anything unusual. The ethereal elements that had seeped out from the magic staff had disappeared without a trace. It only made his magic power denser. At this point, Bai Ze was surprised to discover that the magic power in his body was comparable to that of a second ring mage! Furthermore, he had boundless energy sufficient to form a second magic ring. After realizing this change, Bai Ze immediately suppressed the joy in his heart and began preparing to condense the magic ring. He didn¡¯t want to lose such a precious opportunity. After all, condensing a magic ring was like breaking through a realm. It was not something that could be done at any time. If he forcefully suppressed the desire to condense it, he might never be able to find this current state again. As he had already experienced it once, Bai Ze was a lot more skillful in condensing the magic ring the second time. He first controlled the magic power in his body to gather in his palm, and then he gathered his spiritual power to merge with it. As the two energies fused, his body began to tremble slightly. Not long after that, a burst of pale blue light suddenly appeared, spreading from the inside out and quickly condensed under his feet. At this moment, the magic power in his palm immediately merged with the pale blue light uncontrollably. In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a pale blue magic ring! The magic ring wrapped around Bai Ze¡¯s body and slowly rotated around him. The pale blue light was warm and dense. At a glance, one could tell that it encompassed a mighty magic power! At this point, the magic power in Bai Ze¡¯s body was almost completely depleted. With a flash of mental thought, he immediately unleashed the first divine ring. As the two magic rings, one gold and one blue reflected their light off each other, Bai Ze sat in the center of the two magic rings. With the successful formation of the second magic ring, Bai Ze¡¯s aura was constantly rising at this moment. Soon, he reached a new height. Now, he had truly become a second ring mage! In just a few days, Bai Ze had advanced from the title of magic apprentice to a powerful expert who could easily defeat Zhang Xian. Even so, this level of strength was nothing compared to the rest of Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School. However, Bai Ze had completed the transition in just a few days. As long as he was given more time, it would not be difficult for him to become an intermediate mage. Chapter 17 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation [System message: You have successfully condensed the Ethereal Ring and obtained an additional ability: Magic Surge.] [This ability can permanently increase the speed of magic power regeneration and discharge.] A translucent system panel suddenly appeared in front of him, covered with dense text. Bai Ze read the text until he became lost in thought. ¡°Magic¡­ Surge? How did I get such a powerful rule?¡± Bai Ze muttered thoughtfully. The next moment, he turned his eyes to the Ethereal Magic Staff on the table. The magic staff was no longer glowing. It was lying quietly on the same spot as if everything that had happened was just his own delusion. However, Bai Ze could feel the magic power in his body recovering rapidly. The magic power he had used up to form the magic ring had mostly been recovered. Only high-grade potions could achieve such a rejuvenation speed! At this moment, Bai Ze realized that the second magic ring around him was pale blue, which was the same color as the magic power in his body. After realizing this problem, Bai Ze¡¯s thoughts suddenly became clear. When the system notified him that he had condensed the Ethereal Ring, it must have had something to do with the Ethereal Magic Staff. ¡°Every time I condense a magic ring, I get a new ability. It seems that this Ethereal Magic Staff is really no ordinary item!¡± Bai Ze held the magic staff in his hand, and a sense of joy and anticipation immediately welled up in his heart. According to the procedures he knew now, the magic staff would probably have a new effect every time he condensed a new magic ring. At this thought, he immediately put away the Ethereal Magic Staff and thought to himself, ¡°Since this staff¡¯s effects are so powerful, I definitely shouldn¡¯t reveal it readily in the future.¡± Furthermore, no one must find out about the magic staff¡¯s special effects. He still understood the principle that a man¡¯s possession of a treasure would lead to his crime. Especially since he wasn¡¯t strong enough, if someone found out, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take action. After calming down, Bai Ze laid back on the bed. He had improved his strength the day before the qualification competition, so he was already fully prepared. All that was left was to do his best to get into the top ten in the competition tomorrow. Now that he had two C-class rules to protect him and a powerful ability like the Magic Surge, students with the third ring or lower were no longer a big threat to him. As long as he didn¡¯t run into a peak third or fourth ring powerful expert, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for him to get into the top ten. Thinking of this, Bai Ze recalled the words of the class monitor, Liang Rou, at noon. At that time, she had mentioned a few geniuses from Numero Uno High School. Lin Xi, Ling Quan, and the others were all junior fourth ring experts. They were the only three intermediate mages in the whole school. Bai Ze had studied at Numero Uno High School for three years, but he had never even seen those people¡¯s faces. ¡°I hope I don¡¯t meet those people tomorrow.¡± As he prayed in his heart, his eyelids felt heavy and his consciousness slipped away. Bai Ze soon fell asleep. The fatigue caused by the condensation of a magic ring was not only due to the depletion of the body¡¯s magic power but also the consumption of spiritual power. The average person would fall into a weak period for a few days after the condensation of a magic ring. Even Bai Ze needed to have a good night¡¯s rest. However, most of the students in Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School would probably have sleepless nights tonight. Some were happy, while others were sad. The sky was pitch black, and there were only a few lights left in the city, awaiting the arrival of dawn. The next morning. Maplewood City was especially lively today. The fact that Numero Uno High School was going to hold a mock exam affected the spirits of all the students and their families. In the city, the main road leading to Numero Uno High School was way too crowded. There were also many families that showed up, which usually did not reveal themselves under normal circumstances. Even Maplewood City¡¯s official news media began to report on the news of the qualification competition held at Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School and the commencement of the Preordained Training Camp. Most people fixed their attention on Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School. At this moment, the competition venue at Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School had already been set up. Cameras were installed in many places to ensure the fairness of the competition! By the time the demarcation of the competition areas was completed, the students who were preparing to participate in the competition had all arrived. On one side of the field, there was a giant screen that displayed the various areas of the school. Not far from the big screen, there were spectator seats set up under a sun-shading canopy. Numero Uno High School was a key high school in Maplewood City. For this mock exam, several city officials showed up, and many business leaders had come to observe. During the competition, the school would also send a dozen mages to patrol the venue to ensure that there would be no accidents or other emergencies. From this, it could be seen that the school attached great importance to this competition. On the high platform, the principal took out ten badges and wrapped them with magic spells. As the sixth ring principal snapped his fingers, the ten badges turned into streams of light and instantly disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. ¡°I hereby announce that the mock examination competition has officially begun!¡± The principal¡¯s voice was loud and clear, instantly stirring up the emotions in everyone¡¯s hearts. In the next instant, a huge crack appeared in the array formation that covered the competition venue. All the students who had completed their preparations deployed their rules and rushed over. Bai Ze followed behind unhurriedly. In just a flash, Jiang Qingyue and Liang Rou, who were standing beside him just now, disappeared without a trace. ¡°Buddy, I¡¯m probably going to die very early on. You have to work hard, okay?¡± Wu Feng quickly came to his side and said with a solemn expression. Bai Ze laughed softly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t say such discouraging words. No one knows the outcome until the last moment. Later, when you go in, find a place to hide, and don¡¯t expose your position.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a resistance force overcoming his whole body, and a burst of white light blinded him. After a moment of daze, by the time Bai Ze recovered his senses, he had already appeared in the corridor on the third floor of the second teaching block. Through the window, he could still see the neat rows of seats in the classroom, but Wu Feng, who had been talking to him earlier, had disappeared. Outside the viewing area, a few members of the school management board were introducing the place to the audience. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this is our school¡¯s high-grade precious tool, the revolving spirit flag.¡± ¡°As long as you enter the range of the revolving spirit flag, anyone will instantly lose their focus and be transferred to another place within the range. This will put an end to the cheating behavior of working together.¡± One of the professors said proudly while stroking his beard. Many entrepreneurs exclaimed in surprise, and even the military commanders from the government nodded in approval. At this moment, a faint scream was heard. Everyone looked over and saw a thin young man in a magic robe being thrown out by a strange force. The young man¡¯s expression was one of despair as he clenched his fist and punched the ground in resentment. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the first loser to appear so quickly,¡± the people around him said immediately. ¡°It seems like the results of this competition will be determined very soon.¡± In the viewing area, Teacher Fang Yu was staring intently at the big screen. At this point on the monitor, battles were erupting every now and then, and some familiar figures could be seen from time to time. Chapter 18 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In the competition area¡­ Bai Ze arrived at the sixth floor of the teaching block with fleet-footed steps. He walked up the stairs to the rooftop. This location was well hidden, and he could observe more than half of the competition area from this vantage point. It was beneficial to his battle plan. He came to the edge of the rooftop wall and looked down. He saw many figures darting past swiftly. Everyone headed towards the various teaching blocks, cafeteria, and other public areas, hoping to get the badge first. Under such circumstances, explosive battles were inevitable. The students unleashed their colorful magic rings and deployed their spells to defeat their opponents. Once the student lost the ability to fight, he would be taken away from the competition area by the patrolling teachers. At this moment, it wasn¡¯t just a test of the student¡¯s realm level or the strength of his magic power. The rules he learned and the proficiency level of his spells would also determine the outcome of the battle. Bai Ze only did a rough survey. In just a minute, there were no fewer than a hundred battles around him. At this point, students had begun to be eliminated intermittently. During this period, Bai Ze also saw many students rushing toward the teaching block he was in. However, Bai Ze was not worried. Searching those classrooms was already very time-consuming, and they could face a battle anytime. Those guys would definitely not be able to search all the way to the rooftop. To him, the most important thing was to find the badge, and the second was to preserve his strength. Instead of scurrying around like a headless fly and getting kicked out by the strong, it was better to bide his time and have a clear grasp of the current situation. Bai Ze attached a trace of magic power to the door of the rooftop. If someone tried to break in, he would know instantly. After doing this, Bai Ze sat on the ground and slowly closed his eyes. The spiritual power in his mind slowly spread out and began to spread in all directions. At this moment, Bai Ze¡¯s spiritual power was far beyond other mages of the same level. His spiritual consciousness continued to expand and soon surrounded the entire teaching block. He could clearly sense that many people were searching and fighting on the second floor. Those students were having a whale of a time. They were leaking the magic power in their bodies like crazy without even realizing it. Bai Ze¡¯s thoughts spun, and he began to control his spiritual power to spread outwards. He soon found the first badge on the fourth floor of Block 13. However, that badge had already been found by someone else, and the surrounding students were in the midst of a tense and exciting fight to grab it. The one holding the badge was a young girl with her hair tied up in a bun. Although she was wearing a long dress, she was still agile. While dodging the attacks of the students around her, she was also constantly injecting magic power into the badge. The three magic rings around her were particularly dazzling at this moment. ¡°Third ring realm!¡± The students around her were a little scared. They were just ordinary second ring mages and didn¡¯t have much magic in their bodies. Instead of fighting to the death with the other party, they might as well wait for the other party to activate the badge and then decide on their next step. After discovering this battle situation, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help laughing inwardly. The girl¡¯s ability was not bad, but her grasp of the battle situation was a little slow. If she injected magic power into the badge so carelessly, it would only cause her to be eliminated earlier. With a flash of mental thought, Bai Ze soon found a second and a third badge. These badges weren¡¯t hidden at all, and many of them were discovered within five minutes. Due to this, the battles started even earlier. Under such circumstances, the scale of the battles grew larger and larger, and it soon evolved into a melee of dozens of people. With the lure of generous scholarships, the prospects of future development, and the one and only available spot, the students fought fiercely without any mercy. Under the intense battle, the number of eliminated students began to increase. The dozen or so teachers were a little overwhelmed. About 20 minutes later, Bai Ze¡¯s spiritual perception had covered the entire school¡¯s competition area. He had located all nine badges, but there was one that seemed to have disappeared without a trace. Under his close observation, he keenly sensed that a few students had suddenly emerged on the battlefield below. Near the flower bed below teaching block 7, a girl with long flowing hair and a light green dress was fighting six people at once, but she still looked calm and composed. Her wood-type spells were cast smoothly and flawlessly. Her figure was like a willow tree, extremely flexible. The six students fought for a long time, but in the end, they couldn¡¯t even touch the corner of the girl¡¯s clothes. Instead, quite a few of them were eliminated. On the other side, the battle was even more intense. A guy with a long staff wrapped his weapon in magic, and his body shone with golden light. Neither fireballs nor lightning could break through his gilded defense on the surface. Those four earth-yellow-hued magic rings were even more dazzling. Even if he was surrounded by more than a dozen people, he could still break through their barrage of strikes with just one stroke. In such a chaotic battle, the power of a fourth ring mage was on full display. These two students displayed great brilliance on the battlefield and did not show any intention of retreating. Seeing their powerful performance, Bai Ze immediately thought of two names. They were Lin Xi and Ling Quan. He had heard the class monitor, Liang Rou, mention these two people. Now it seemed that they were indeed strong competitors for the championship. At least, he was no match for them now. However, after observing them for a while, he discovered that the nine badges that had been found by everyone didn¡¯t react after the students injected magic power into them. After discovering this situation, not only was Bai Ze surprised, but those who were lucky enough to win the battle for the badge also began cursing. They had spent so much effort fighting for the badge, only to discover they were all fake. This dramatic scene stunned the two intermediate mages, Lin Xi and Lingquan as well. ¡°If all nine badges are fake, then where could the real badge be?¡± Bai Ze looked at the chaotic scene below and frowned as he muttered to himself. Just as he was feeling a little lost, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Bai Ze had muted his phone long before entering the competition for fear of exposing his location unknowingly. After changing his position, Bai Ze immediately took out his mobile phone and found that it was Zhang Xian who had sent him an email. ¡°Bai Ze. I was tricked by that bitch of a woman! Liang Rou actually played with my feelings. She clearly told me she wouldn¡¯t like any man other than me! She had secret rendezvous with another man behind my back. I received an anonymous message yesterday, and that scene was captured by the other party. If it wasn¡¯t for this email, I¡¯m afraid I would still be in the dark! Since she¡¯s so unfaithful to me, I don¡¯t have to help her anymore. I¡¯ll tell you a secret, and maybe it¡¯ll help you win the championship.¡± As he read the long list of content and words, Bai Ze could keenly feel Zhang Xian¡¯s pain at this moment. This message was long, with more than a thousand words, and most of the content was bitterly criticizing Liang Rou¡¯s actions. The depth of the emotions it contained even moved Bai Ze. After reading it, he found out that Liang Rou had been planning for the competition a few days before. She first sent Zhang Xian to the laboratory building of the planetarium in advance before the start of the competition to destroy the surveillance cameras there. Then, she would take the opportunity to complete the cheating. Chapter 19 Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After reading the information provided by Zhang Xian, Bai Ze immediately realized that the class monitor had probably completed laying out her plan and perhaps had already taken advantage of some loopholes to obtain the real badge. Thinking of this, Bai Ze could no longer sit still. He immediately went downstairs and rushed in the direction of the planetarium! With the help of Storm Thunder Flash, Bai Ze¡¯s speed was like a flash of shadow darting past. The battle downstairs was still intense, but there were obviously fewer people who could still participate in the battle. Most of them were pinned down by others, and even if a few of them discovered Bai Ze¡¯s presence flashing past, they could not easily catch up with him. Bai Ze swiftly passed through more than half of the competition area and arrived at the planetarium successfully. The planetarium was located at the top right corner of the competition area. Moreover, due to its small area, it was easily overlooked by other students. If it weren¡¯t for Zhang Xian¡¯s reminder, Bai Ze wouldn¡¯t have noticed this building so quickly. At this point, the planetarium was much more deserted compared to the other places that were in chaos. There were a few sets of footprints around the flower bed in front of the gate, but those people had all chosen to leave in the end. Bai Ze first looked around the planetarium but did not find any traces of anyone in the building. Considering the fact that the competition hadn¡¯t started for long, he thought that Liang Rou might not be here yet. Bai Ze decided to enter the planetarium in advance and hide there. If Liang Rou won through fair and square means, then he wouldn¡¯t say anything. If the other party cheated or ignored the rules, Bai Ze would be the first to stop him. It didn¡¯t take long for Bai Ze to arrive at the third floor of the planetarium. This was the storage room of the planetarium. Even on a typical day, very few people came here. It stored all kinds of astronomical supplies, and there was an astronomical telescope near the window. When Bai Ze found the telescope, he also found a burnt camera on the roof ledge outside the window. The camera in this position covered a large area around the planetarium, but after it was burnt, it became a blind spot. Looking around, Bai Ze did not find anything wrong inside the storage room. However, a large black box in the middle of the room caught his attention. The black box was more than a meter in length and width and was covered with a piece of black fabric, giving it a mysterious appearance. Bai Ze slowly walked forward and stared at the black box in front of him with blazing eyes. After thinking for a moment, he tried to open it. Everything in the room was covered with a thin layer of dust, but this box was brand new and didn¡¯t fit in with the astronomical supplies around it. It was very likely that the class monitor, Liang Rou, had left this behind in advance. Thinking of this, Bai Ze immediately opened the box. Immediately, a cloud of icy cold air rose, blocking his vision. At the same time, the surrounding temperature plummeted, making Bai Ze feel chilly all over. After the icy cold air dissipated, Bai Ze¡¯s expression changed drastically when he saw what was in the box. He gasped with a sudden intake of breath! The black box in front of him was filled with white square ice cubes, and in the middle of the ice cubes were ten bottles of potions, each about the size of ink bottles. The mixture of pale blue liquid and solid in the potion, sparkling with white light like flickering stars, resembled a beautiful, alluring nebula. It was breathtakingly beautiful. The reason Bai Ze had such a big reaction was because these ten potions in the box that resembled nebulae were all Ether Essence! Each of them was worth more than 100,000, and there were ten of these amazing potions in the box, which would make this box worth at least one million! Bai Ze didn¡¯t expect Liang Rou was willing to go to such an extent to cheat. He began to wonder what she intended to do with these potions. Just as Bai Ze was thinking about how to ruin Liang Rou¡¯s plan, he heard faint footsteps from outside. The sound of footsteps came closer and closer, and Bai Ze felt inexplicably irritated. He didn¡¯t expect Liang Rou to come so quickly, and there was no place to hide in the surroundings. In a moment of desperation, Bai Ze could only crawl into the black box full of ice in front of him! The moment he jumped into the box, Bai Ze felt a bone-piercing chill all over his body. The chill seemed to penetrate straight into his soul, making him shiver endlessly. Bai Ze immediately reacted. These ice cubes that lowered the temperature of the Ether Essence were definitely no ordinary ice cubes. The temperature of these ice cubes was below minus 40 degrees Celsius. Bai Ze only stepped in for two seconds and felt frozen all over. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and immediately deployed the Ice Crystal Armor rule. With a surge of magic power, a thick layer of Ice Crystal Armor immediately condensed around Bai Ze¡¯s body. It instantly cut off the low temperature outside, so Bai Ze survived a minor crisis. He covered his body with the ice around him and placed the Ether Essence potions on top of him to avoid leaving any traces to get him exposed. After Bai Ze was done hiding, the closed door of the storage room was immediately pushed open. Bai Ze closed his eyes, activated his spiritual consciousness, and immediately saw the two people who had entered the room. They were the two people he had seen at the pavilion at the back of the school yesterday. Today, Liang Rou was wearing a white chiffon blouse with a floral skirt. She also wore eight-centimeter high heels and silver earrings. This outfit made Liang Rou look tall and charming, exuding ample feminine grace, but it didn¡¯t look like she was preparing for a battle. In fact, she looked like she was preparing to go traveling. Liang Rou was considered pretty with light makeup on. However, in Bai Ze¡¯s eyes, she was a flirtatious slut who could not be compared to Jiang Qingyue at all. The man who came in with Liang Rou was dressed in a smart black suit. He was dressed in a low-key manner and even wore a mask that covered half of his face. The man¡¯s expression was indifferent, and he deliberately tried to keep his distance from Liang Rou. However, Liang Rou was clinging onto his arm and casting seductive glances at him. ¡°Liang Rou, are you sure you can guarantee that my identity won¡¯t be exposed?¡± The young man freed his arm from her grasp with a stony expression. Liang Rou still had a charming smile on her face. She leaned close and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Brother Lu. I¡¯ve already asked that guy, Zhang Xian, to destroy the cameras here. No one will know about our plan.¡± ¡°Hmph ¡­ I think it¡¯s better to be more vigilant.¡± A look of disgust flashed across the young man¡¯s face, then he turned around and closed the storage room door. ¡°You¡¯ve brought what I wanted, right? According to our agreement, I¡¯ve already helped you locate the badge. It¡¯s time for you to let me inspect the goods. ¡± Liang Rou¡¯s body stiffened. When she saw that the young man had no interest in her, her expression changed drastically. However, for the sake of the big picture, she could only force a smile and explain in a gentle tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the items are all here. As long as you help me win the championship, the items and the person¡­ are all yours. ¡± When she said ¡®person¡¯, she deliberately dragged out the pronunciation to see the other party¡¯s reaction. However, the young man simply turned around and stared at the black box in the middle of the room with blazing eyes. After realizing the man¡¯s intention, Bai Ze, who was hiding in the box, immediately swallowed nervously. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Breakthrough in Strength, Absorbing Ether Essence Chapter 20 Chapter 20: Breakthrough in Strength, Absorbing Ether Essence He could sense that the man with the surname Lu was definitely not weak. He was at least a fourth ring mage. If this guy knew of his existence, the result would definitely be unfavorable to Bai Ze. Who knew what they would do to him then? In the face of two mages, one at the third ring and the other at the fourth ring, Bai Ze would not be able to escape even if he deployed Storm Thunder Flash. Looking at the white sea of ice around him, Bai Ze began to plan for his escape. He could not remain in a passive state and wait for the other party to discover him. Just as Bai Ze was thinking furiously, an ethereal sound rang out in the quiet box. [Ice Crystal Armor has sensed the power of ice from Freezing Cloud Ice Blocks. Its cultivation progress has greatly increased. It has broken through to Refinement level 5!] After hearing the system prompt, Bai Ze¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. At this moment, a stream of pure energy entered his body, accompanied by an increase in the proficiency level of the Ice Crystal Armor. Bai Ze found that the temperature of the surrounding ice had risen a lot in an instant. It had become no different from ordinary ice blocks. He didn¡¯t expect that there would be an unexpected surprise by hiding in this box. Theoretically, after a rule reached the Refinement level, the increase in proficiency thereafter would become extremely slow. Unless one attained some enlightenment or obtained a powerful precious tool, it was common for a rule¡¯s progress to stagnate for months or even years. Sensing the dense magic power in his body, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He didn¡¯t expect that even the ice that helped the Ether Essence maintain its temperature would contain such rich energy. Just as this thought flashed through his mind, the footsteps outside had already arrived in front of the box. Bai Ze was slightly shocked and immediately condensed a thicker layer of the Ice Crystal Armor. Even if he was discovered, he could still temporarily protect himself. At this point, a burst of light flashed out, and Bai Ze immediately narrowed his eyes. After staying in the box for seven or eight minutes, he had gotten used to the darkness around him. The sudden light blinded him, and he could not see the man¡¯s face clearly. Bai Ze didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. However, he didn¡¯t know that because of the increase in his proficiency level in the Ice Crystal Armor, the layer of ice around him had become totally opaque. At first glance, it looked no different from normal ice blocks. In addition, he was hiding at the bottom of the box. With the ice blocking his vision, it would be difficult for the other party to discover him unless he deliberately rummaged through the ice blocks. Besides, the young man only had eyes for the Ether Essence and would not look at anything else. ¡°Very good,¡± he said. The young man nodded and closed the box. Liang Rou, who was standing at the side, immediately forced a smile. In order to qualify for the Preordained Training Camp, their branch family had spent millions of bucks. Therefore, she was determined to win the championship this time. Only by going to the Preordained Training Camp could she make up for the loss she suffered from shelling out for the ten bottles of Ether Essence. Just as Liang Rou¡¯s mind was in a turmoil, the man walked up and handed her a small black box. ¡°This box can isolate magic. When the competition is coming to an end, you can take it out and charge it. Time yourself well. It¡¯s best if the badge buzzes at the same time as the bell rings at the end of the competition. That way, the champion of this competition will be you.¡± The man said with a solemn and vigilant expression. Looking at the black box with mysterious inscriptions on it, Liang Rou¡¯s eyes lit up. She immediately nodded in agreement. ¡°Brother Lu, don¡¯t worry. After the competition is over, you can come back and take the things away. I will arrange for someone to clean up the mess. What happened between us will definitely be kept a secret.¡± As she spoke, Liang Rou even cast a flirtatious look at the other guy. The man¡¯s expression was still stony, and he only responded in a low voice. However, Bai Ze, who was hiding in the box, was a little angry. Under the perception of his spiritual power, her every action was exposed clearly under his eyes. This kind of behavior made Bai Ze despise her. She couldn¡¯t win the championship fair and square, so she used this kind of sneaky behavior and even resorted to selling her body. In Bai Ze¡¯s eyes, Liang Rou was simply beyond salvation. Her actions had completely ruined the hard work of all the students. Without fair competition, how could she talk about working hard to change their lives? Just as Bai Ze was feeling indignant, the young man spoke again. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here for too long. It¡¯ll arouse suspicion. I¡¯ll take my leave first. After the competition, I¡¯ll come and get these things as promised.¡± The man did not wait for Liang Rou¡¯s reply and immediately walked out of the door. He was extremely fast and left the planetarium in the blink of an eye. Looking at the empty room, Liang Rou sighed, her expression full of helplessness. She scanned the entire room but couldn¡¯t find a place to rest. In the end, Liang Rou sat on the floor beside the box and closed her eyes to rest. There was still some time before the end of the competition, so it was better not to make any noise just in case. Gradually, the storage room on the third floor of the planetarium became completely silent, leaving only Liang Rou¡¯s breathing. In the black box beside her, Bai Ze was lying motionless. His Ice Crystal Armor not only shielded Bai Ze¡¯s aura, but it also concealed his breathing, so Liang Rou didn¡¯t notice him even at such a close distance. ¡°Phew¡­ The energy in this ice block is indeed not bad, but it¡¯s still not enough for the Ice Crystal Armor to break through to the Mastery level.¡± Bai Ze opened his eyes and was surprised to find that most of the ice in the box had melted. The Ether Essence potions that had been placed on the surface were now within his reach. Staring at the nebula-like medicinal liquid in the potion, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help swallowing a few times. At this moment, a bold idea appeared in his mind. If he could absorb this Ether Essence, the rules in his body would probably break through the Refinement level! After having this thought, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. Then he hesitated, thinking about the pros and cons. If he used the potion, he would definitely become enemies with the young man who was here earlier. Perhaps his family was very powerful. However, the temptation of ten Ether Essences still made Bai Ze restless. ¡°This thing is bought using money meant for cheating anyway. It¡¯s a waste not to use it!¡± Bai Ze licked his lips and immediately crushed the bottle of potion. He immediately chugged down the potion. Boom! The moment Bai Ze swallowed the potion, an indescribable sense of comfort came from every inch of his bones and tendons. As the Ether Essence flowed into Bai Ze¡¯s body, the bones in Bai Ze¡¯s body instantly crackled. The cells turned into ferocious beasts, clamoring to devour this immense energy Wherever the potion passed, his veins became tougher at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the sea of magic power in his body felt sore and swollen. He couldn¡¯t digest so much energy in a short time. At the same time, Bai Ze¡¯s aura was also quietly rising, and the rules in his body, which had initially stabilized, were also becoming restless. Sensing the series of changes in his body, Bai Ze was overjoyed, and his eyes fell on the remaining nine bottles of Ether Essence. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Magic Epiphany Versus Third Ring Mage Liang Rou! Chapter 21 Chapter 21: Magic Epiphany Versus Third Ring Mage Liang Rou! In the storage room of the planetarium, Liang Rou, who was sitting outside the box, had no idea what had happened within. With the protection of the Ice Crystal Armor, no one noticed the increase in Bai Ze¡¯s aura. He was currently absorbing the energy in the Ether Essence at an astonishing speed. The energy in the sea of magic power was so dense that it was about to precipitate into liquid! The power of the Ether Essence far exceeded Bai Ze¡¯s expectations. He initially thought that consuming three bottles would help him reach the peak of the second ring, but now, after consuming only half of the second bottle, the magic power in his body had already reached its upper limit. And he had a vague feeling that he was about to condense a third magic ring. However, in this situation, Bai Ze remained calm. He had just become a second ring mage the day before, and his foundation was not yet stable. If he rashly condensed the third magic ring, the probability of failure would be greatly increased, and it would not be good for his future growth. After his aura reached its peak, Bai Ze began to use the remaining energy to cultivate the rules he had mastered. As the energy in the fifth bottle of potion was being slowly absorbed, the rules in Bai Ze¡¯s body once again made a qualitative leap! (Beginner¡¯s level meditation skill has been nourished by the Ether Essence. Its proficiency has greatly increased and has broken through to Mastery level 1!] [D-class Icicle Technique, C-class Storm Thunder Flash, and C-class Ice Crystal Armor have all been nourished by the Ether Essence. Their proficiency levels have increased and have broken through to Mastery level 1!] (System message: The rules within your body have advanced too quickly, and you need to stabilize your energy. Automatic cultivation has been halted temporarily.) As the rules he had learned broke through levels one after another, Bai Ze¡¯s physique had also been nourished a lot. At this point, the magic power in his body was like a dense fog, slowly precipitating into liquid drops of pure magic power. After this change, the original sore feeling in Bai Ze¡¯s abdomen vanished entirely. Moreover, his magic power had already reached the level of the third ring, and he was only one step away from breaking through. If Bai Ze wasn¡¯t worried that he would hurt his foundation by advancing too quickly, he could have condensed the third magic ring right now! At this moment, Bai Ze¡¯s eyes were slightly closed, and a series of insights flashed through his mind. He had increased his realm and now had a brand new understanding of magic. He was no longer simply looking up to the rules. ¡°Rules¡­ dictate the laws of the world, and magic power is the chain of energy.¡± ¡°Devouring the energy of heaven and earth, possessing the power to create demons and gods!¡± A vast, pure white space appeared in front of him. Bai Ze looked calmly into the distance. At this moment, his heart was peaceful, and he could easily face the pain buried in his heart. The anger, joy, and uneasiness in his heart were all washed away completely. A few moments later, the scene in front of him disappeared. Bai Ze slowly opened his eyes and found that there were still five bottles of Ether Essence in front of him that had not been consumed. ¡°Phew! That was a really long process of enlightenment.¡± Bai Ze¡¯s thoughts spun, and the thick ice around him immediately melted. He put the five bottles of Ether Essence in his pocket and sat up calmly. By now, all the ice in the box had melted, and it was no longer worth Bai Ze staying here. Just as Bai Ze was about to jump out of the box, Liang Rou, who was sitting next to him, let out a soft gasp. There was still about half an hour before the end of the competition. Liang Rou planned to wait until the final fifteen minutes before injecting her magic power into the badge. Therefore, right now she was sitting on the floor in her little skirt and waiting. However, not long after that, Liang Rou was shocked to find that her underwear had become wet. She subconsciously turned her head to look and found the box beside her leaking. There was already a large puddle of water on the ground. ¡°Dammit!¡± Liang Rou jumped up in shock. The box contained the potions of Ether Essence, and it had been chilled by the Freezing Cloud Ice Blocks. It couldn¡¯t have melted! At the thought of this, she immediately got up from the floor and quickly opened the box to take a look! The situation inside caused her eyes to widen in shock as she stood frozen in the same spot! In her line of sight, the box was full of ice cubes reflecting smiley faces. To her shock, a young man with a delicate face stood up from the box calmly. That person was clearly Bai Ze, who was in the same class as her! Looking at the box again, she found that it was empty. The ten Ether Essence potions that had been stored in there had disappeared without a trace. When she realized that the potions had disappeared, Liang Rou¡¯s eyes almost popped out of their sockets, and her heart almost stopped beating. She had begged her family with great difficulty to buy those ten bottles of Ether Essence in exchange for the championship of the mock exam. If anything went wrong, she would have to face the Lu family¡¯s infinite wrath. When Liang Rou thought of the consequences, her legs went weak. She immediately shouted at Bai Ze, ¡°Where the hell did the ten bottles of Ether Essence potions worth millions disappear to?¡± In the storage room on the third floor of the planetarium, looking at Liang Rou¡¯s face that looked like she was about to gobble up someone, Bai Ze wiped the remaining liquid from the corner of his mouth and said with an innocent-looking face, ¡°You¡¯re asking me? How would I know?¡± Liang Rou felt a sharp pain in her head, and the corners of her eyes twitched relentlessly. ¡°Nonsense, you obviously drank it secretly! Those potions are worth millions! How dare you!¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Bai Ze smacked his lips as if he was recalling the taste of the Ether Essence. Moments later, he shrugged and put on a cocky smile. ¡°How should I put it? There are no surveillance cameras here anyway. What evidence do you have to prove that I drank it? What can you do to me if I don¡¯t admit it?¡± After saying that, Bai Ze raised his eyebrows and winked at Liang Rou. Liang Rou felt like her lungs were about to explode with fury. The anger in her heart made her almost hysterical. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you now!¡± Liang Rou yelled through gritted teeth, the killing intent in her expression on full display. When Bai Ze saw the other party take out her magic staff, he immediately swung into a high level of concentration. In the next second, Liang Rou¡¯s magic power surged, and a sharp ice spike tens of centimeters long quickly formed and shot towards Bai Ze at an extremely fast speed. Seeing Liang Rou use the Icicle Technique, Bai Ze broke into an odd smile. His comprehension of the Icicle Technique had already reached the Mastery level, so Liang Rou¡¯s actions were undoubtedly child¡¯s play in front of his expert eyes. Especially when Bai Ze saw the crude shapes of the icicles formed by the other party, he almost laughed out loud in his heart. In the face of the rapidly approaching icicles, Bai Ze¡¯s thoughts spun, and in the next moment, the surrounding temperature dropped sharply. A thick armor immediately condensed around his body. The armor fit Bai Ze¡¯s body very well and did not affect his agility in the slightest. With a crisp clanging sound, the icicle collided with the armor and instantly shattered into fragments. Only a white mark was left on the armor, and it was not damaged in the slightest. ¡°Is that all you can do?¡± Bai Ze covered his mouth and yawned, looking at the other party in disappointment. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Battle Ended, Badge Obtained! Chapter 22 Chapter 22: Battle Ended, Badge Obtained! Feeling insulted, Liang Rou only had one thought in her mind, and that was to turn the other party into a cripple! She took a deep breath, and the next moment, the magic power in her body gushed out, condensing three white and gray magic rings immediately! ¡°I don¡¯t believe that I, a third ring mage, can¡¯t deal with you!¡± Liang Rou¡¯s voice was hoarse and trembling. She held the custom-made magic staff tightly and immediately poured most of her magic power into it. With a burst of light, a shadow-like illusion appeared in the air in the next moment. This illusion was as tall as a pagoda and was staring at Bai Ze ferociously. The four arms behind the illusion were awfully thick and muscular, and they smashed down on Bai Ze without warning. Gusts of wind from the pounding fists lashed out. At this moment, Bai Ze felt a tremendous magic power pressing down on him, making it difficult for him to even move his hands and feet. ¡°The Swamp Gray Demon! To think that you knew such a powerful summoning technique!¡± Bai Ze looked at the gray illusion in front of him in surprise and asked subconsciously. Seeing that Bai Ze was about to lose his fighting spirit, Liang Rou couldn¡¯t contain herself, and her face revealed a cruel and proud expression. ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll let you gain some knowledge before you die. It¡¯s worthwhile for you to die at the hands of the Gray Demon!¡± After saying that, Liang Rou manipulated the illusion without hesitation to throw a punch at Bai Ze. Liang Rou was 100% confident that she could kill Bai Ze with this move. After all, the illusion¡¯s attack could lock onto the opponent¡¯s aura. Unless Bai Ze¡¯s magic power was higher than hers, it was impossible to break through the lock. The technique of condensing a Swamp Gray Demon was the highest inheritance of her branch family. Even if she had only cultivated it to the Fluent level, its power was already close to a C-class rule. Bai Ze was just an orphan, and he was no match for her at all. Moreover, the other party had no noteworthy background, so even if she killed him, nothing would happen. ¡°Bai Ze¡­ Since you ruined my good plan, don¡¯t blame me if you die!¡± she thought. Thinking of this, Liang Rou once again injected her magic power into the magic staff, and the illusion became more solid. Feeling the fierce blasts of pounding fists slamming onto his face, Bai Ze¡¯s expression was still calm. The corner of his mouth curled into a smile, and the next moment, the surrounding magic that locked him down collapsed instantly! Storm Thunder Flash! In Liang Rou¡¯s vision, the power of the Storm Thunder Flash flashed around Bai Ze. The next moment, he disappeared from his spot as if he had never appeared. She was shocked and immediately turned to look behind her. At this moment, she was stunned to find that Bai Ze was standing not far away, completely unscathed, and several one-meter-long icicles were floating around him! Those icicles were shining with an icy cold radiance, and they were much better than the crude icicles she had formed before. What was even more unacceptable to her was that Bai Ze¡¯s body was surrounded by two magic rings, one gold and one blue! That was clearly the sign of a second ring mage. ¡°Impossible!¡± A look of disbelief spread across Liang Rou¡¯s face. She immediately directed the illusion to punch Bai Ze! ¡°Go!¡± Bai Ze¡¯s thoughts spun, and a few icicles suspended in the air immediately cut through the void and shot away. It instantly pierced through the oncoming gray shadow. The gray shadow¡¯s body stiffened, then immediately began to disintegrate. Although the Icicle Technique was only a D-class rule, with its proficiency at the Mastery level, the power of the icicle was comparable to the strength of the illusion. He defeated it without any effort! At this moment, Liang Rou had no time to react. She only saw a white light flash in front of her, and in the next moment, Bai Ze was already in front of her. A chilly sensation passed by her neck. Liang Rou¡¯s body froze. She subconsciously looked over and found a transparent icicle hovering, pointing at the artery on her neck. The icicle was so icy cold that half of her body became numb in no time. At this moment, Liang Rou finally understood the situation clearly. She realized that even with her third ring status, she couldn¡¯t defeat Bai Ze, who was only a second ring mage! ¡°Kill me? Do you have what it takes?¡± Bai Ze grabbed Liang Rou¡¯s collar and stated his opinion word by word with an icy expression. Faced with the threat and the icicle that could easily pierce through her neck, Liang Rou¡¯s body went completely limp. She was afraid that this guy would really attack her. She immediately threw her magic staff on the floor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was possessed. It¡¯s my fault for even thinking about trying to attack you.¡± Liang Rou fell to the ground and sobbed. ¡°The reason I¡¯m doing this is because I¡¯m being coerced by that Lu guy. It¡¯s not easy for me either. If there were any other ways, I would never have done this. Boo-hoo-hoo.¡± Looking at Liang Rou weeping like a waterfall, Bai Ze¡¯s eyes flashed, and he immediately asked, ¡°What¡¯s not easy for you? You have a wealthy family clan as your backing, and I often see you take out precious tools when you practice on normal days. How can you say it¡¯s not easy for you?¡± The storage room soon became quiet. Faced with Bai Ze¡¯s questioning, Liang Rou stopped crying. After a moment, she explained with tears in her eyes, ¡°Although I¡¯m from a wealthy family, I¡¯m only a daughter of a branch family. I¡¯ve never been valued by the family, and I didn¡¯t even get a place in the training camp.¡± ¡°If I can¡¯t enter the Preordained Training Camp, my status in the family will only become lower. That¡¯s why I listened to that Lu guy and set up this trap. Please be lenient. The badge is really important to me!¡± After venting her frustrations, Liang Rou wiped away her tears and stood up. At this moment, her nose was still a little red, and her face was tear-stained. ¡°Bai Ze, if you can help me win the championship, I¡¯ll definitely repay you in the future¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk.¡± Looking at Liang Rou¡¯s pitiful display, Bai Ze said disdainfully, ¡°You think I¡¯ll fall for your trick? Dream on! I¡¯ve already finished drinking the Ether Essence potions anyway, so you¡¯d better forget about it!¡± After Bai Ze finished speaking, he suddenly thought of something. He slapped his thigh and immediately said happily, ¡°Oh¡­ that¡¯s right! I almost forgot the badge is also in your hands, right? Hurry up and hand it over!¡± He didn¡¯t give a hoot about Liang Rou¡¯s wretched expression at all. Liang Rou was utterly stunned by Bai Ze¡¯s words. She didn¡¯t expect Bai Ze to turn hostile so quickly. Before this, he hadn¡¯t made a move and had been listening to her complaints carefully. Now, the moment she finished talking, Bai Ze wanted to snatch the badge away from her. This was not how a normal person¡¯s brain worked! At this moment, seeing that Bai Ze was about to strike, Liang Rou immediately shouted in a panic, ¡°Bai Ze, do you really want to become the enemy of our Liang and Lu families? If you leave now, I¡¯ll help you solve the Lu family¡¯s problem. How about it?¡± In order to deal with Bai Ze and get the badge, Liang Rou had already gone all out. She threw out her last bargaining chip, hoping that Bai Ze would be more rational. Even if the other party qualified for the Preordained Training Camp, he would be eliminated in less than a month with his second ring ability. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re talking to the wrong person.¡± Seeing that Liang Rou still didn¡¯t give up, Bai Ze gave a scornful snort and immediately dished out the excuse he had prepared. ¡°It¡¯s useless for you to talk to me. If you want to discuss it, go to Zhang Xian. Zhang Xian ordered me to do all this. He found out that you had an affair with another man, and his love turned into hatred, so he ordered me to destroy your plot.¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Zhang Xian, how could I have known about your meeting place?¡± Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Hundreds in Contention, The Final Battle! Chapter 23 Chapter 23: Hundreds in Contention, The Final Battle! Bai Ze¡¯s words struck Liang Rou like lightning, and her pretty face turned ashen-white. Her hands, which were frozen in the air, couldn¡¯t help trembling. She had not expected that the root of this trouble had sprouted from Zhang Xian¡¯s head. At this thought, Liang Rou¡¯s doubts were finally cleared. No wonder Bai Ze could arrive here in advance. She didn¡¯t expect that it was Zhang Xian¡¯s doing all along. At this moment, Liang Rou was starting to feel remorseful. She shouldn¡¯t have exposed herself so early. At the very least, she should have waited until the competition was over before showing her cards to Zhang Xian. Liang Rou¡¯s heart ached at the thought of her carefully laid-out scheme being ruined by a bootlicker. Seeing this, Bai Ze, who still had a cocky smile on his face, said, ¡°Oh, by the way, there¡¯s one more thing I forgot to tell you.¡± ¡°Actually, Zhang Xian had already discussed this with me a week ago. Back then, when he injured me under the camera, it was Zhang Xian and me putting on an act. I earned more than 10,000 bucks from that exercise. At the end of the day, I still have to thank you.¡± ¡°Alright, now that we¡¯re done here, are you going to give it to me, or do you want me to take it?¡± Bai Ze had a dismissive expression on his face as he quickly walked toward Liang Rou. At this moment, Liang Rou¡¯s lips were trembling. After knowing the truth behind all these things, she found it hard to accept any of it. In the end, she became so worked up that the blood vitality in her body reversed its flow. She felt a sickly sweet taste in her throat, and then she spat a mouthful of blood violently in the next instant. Looking at the crimson red blood on the floor, Bai Ze immediately stopped in his tracks. ¡°Good grief, old friend. You only missed an opportunity. Why do you have to take it so hard? Don¡¯t¡­ get carried away!¡± Patting Liang Rou¡¯s shoulder, Bai Ze reached out and gently yanked out the small box containing the real badge. He then held it in his hand. ¡°Thanks.¡± Slowly raising her head, Liang Rou¡¯s venomous gaze met Bai Ze¡¯s eyes. He was still grinning away at this moment. Dong! Dong! At this moment, the melodious booming of bells rang out outside the window of the storage room. Bai Ze subconsciously looked sideways and found that the sun had become particularly glaring. It was close to noon. The mock exam was scheduled to last for two hours. The bell at the school gate would ring in the final 30 minutes and last five minutes of the countdown. When Bai Ze was on his way to the planetarium, he had already heard the first bell ring. This bell ring meant that the competition would end in five minutes. The two people in the storage room had completely different expressions when they heard the booming bells. Liang Rou looked at Bai Ze resentfully and said in a gloating tone, ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve wasted so much time. There are only five minutes left until the end of the competition. Let¡¯s see how you can charge the badge in such a short time!¡± According to the information she had received from the Lu family, the badge required a large amount of magic power before it could make any buzzing sounds. Even for a third ring mage like her, she would need at least ten minutes to accomplish this. However, there were only five minutes left before the end, and it was impossible for Bai Ze to complete this operation within this remaining time. This also meant that her opponent would not attain qualification for this competition! The smile on Liang Rou¡¯s face gradually became more brazen, but just as she was about to mock him¡­ She saw the badge in Bai Ze¡¯s hand radiate a burst of dazzling light. Liang Rou could sense that Bai Ze was injecting magic power into the badge at a terrifying speed. This speed made her panic instantly. If he continued at this rate of charging, it would take at most three to four minutes to complete the charge! ¡°How is this possible!¡± Liang Rou couldn¡¯t help crying out loud! Bai Ze, who was standing on the side, gave a smirk. The next moment, a set of sharp angular armor appeared on his body as if he was ready for the final battle. When she saw that Bai Ze was able to cast a spell while charging the badge, Liang Rou¡¯s hair stood on end, and she began to re-examine this guy in front of her. However, from the battle they had just now, Liang Rou could tell that Bai Ze had mastered at least two rules at the Refinement level, and he possessed an extremely fast spell. There were probably not many people in the entire school with such remarkable comprehension ability. Even in terms of overall combat ability, Jiang Qingyue was probably the only one in the class who was ranked above Bai Ze. The woman she viewed as her mortal enemy and the apple of the Jiang family¡¯s eye used the best precious tools and even obtained the right to go for the Preordained Training Camp in advance. Her rival¡¯s ability was achieved on the strength of her family¡¯s resources. However, Bai Ze was only an orphan, yet he had such incredible abilities. It was terrifying! Buzz! As Liang Rou was deep in thought, a soul-piercing buzzing sound rang out. The stirring sound wave instantly swept up the dust on the floor and sent it flying throughout the entire competition area. Even though Liang Rou was mentally prepared, she was still shocked into speechlessness when she saw Bai Ze activate the badge within a few minutes. ¡°So it¡¯s the real one.¡± Bai Ze looked at the glowing badge buzzing non-stop in his hand and could not help but sigh. It was no wonder the others couldn¡¯t find the badge. They didn¡¯t know that when the principal tossed the badges out, the real badge had already been taken away by the man who had been hiding on the school campus. He even put it in a magic-isolating box. It was no wonder that Bai Ze could not sense the presence of the badge for a long time. Just as he was about to say something, he sensed many different types of energy dashing from all directions toward the planetarium! They were the remaining students who had heard the buzzing sound and were coming over to snatch the badge! Seeing this, Liang Rou, who was standing at the side, immediately said with gleeful hatred, ¡°Someone will be here soon. Just you wait. I¡¯m going to tell everyone that you stole my potions and badge!¡± Liang Rou gritted her teeth and glared at Bai Ze with eyes full of hatred. However, in the face of the class monitor¡¯s threat, Bai Ze smiled and said, ¡°Hehe! We¡¯re in a society ruled by law now. We need evidence for everything.¡± He took two steps forward and stared at the other party with interest. ¡°With which eye did you see me drink the potion? You, on the other hand¡­¡± At this point, Bai Ze took out the miniature camera that was clipped to his collar. He saw that Liang Rou¡¯s expression had become a little flustered, so he said in satisfaction, ¡°Miss¡­ You don¡¯t want the school to know that you cheated either, do you?¡± Faced with Bai Ze¡¯s aggressive gaze, Liang Rou hurriedly took a step back. She didn¡¯t expect Bai Ze to be so scheming that he had recorded the evidence earlier. Liang Rou was instantly rendered speechless now that she was caught red-handed by him. At this moment, a gust of wind blew in from outside the window. More than a dozen mages with magic rings around their bodies stepped forward and surrounded the entire planetarium in the blink of an eye. Seeing that the situation was not to his advantage and that there was still more than a minute left until the end of the competition, Bai Ze immediately jumped out of the window on the third floor. He quickly deployed Storm Thunder Flash. The next moment, his silhouette flashed across the vertical wall, and he arrived at the relatively open top floor in the blink of an eye. At this moment, the badge in his hand was still emitting a buzzing sound. Other than the seven or eight students in front of him who were attracted by the buzzing sound, dozens of other figures were also rushing over. The battle at the last moment was about to erupt! Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Winning the Championship Chapter 24 Chapter 24: Winning the Championship When everyone saw that the real badge was in the hands of an insignificant unknown guy, they couldn¡¯t contain their excitement. At this time, there was only more than a minute left until the end of the competition. Many students did not hesitate and immediately cast spells at Bai Ze. Among the seven or eight people charging towards Bai Ze, there were also two fourth ring mages, Lin Xi and Lingquan. In an instant, Bai Ze felt unprecedented pressure. Although the students knew their limits and wouldn¡¯t cause serious injuries, if Bai Ze was hit by so many spells at the same time, even if he didn¡¯t die, he would still be crippled. He immediately deployed the Storm Thunder Flash and formed six icicles in front of him. The colorful spells were dazzling and condensed into flowers of death. However, Bai Ze¡¯s speed was blazingly fast, and he evaded most of the attacks in the blink of an eye. Nonetheless, the attacks from the two fourth ring mages were not so easy to dodge. Even though Bai Ze launched six icicles to counter them, he was still hit. Large cracks began appearing on his Ice Crystal Armor, and he was forced back four to five steps by the impact of the immense magic power. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s really too much for me to take on the attacks of two fourth ring mages simultaneously.¡± Bai Ze said with a bitter smile as he rubbed his painfully throbbing chest. ¡°You¡¯re Bai Ze, right? If you¡¯re smart, quickly hand over your badge. You¡¯ll only be asking for trouble if you continue to hold on!¡± Lin Xi¡¯s figure fluttered with the wind, and in the blink of an eye, she was standing in front of Bai Ze. A few experts in school from the surrounding area all stepped forward one after another, afraid of missing out on the right opportunity. In the face of everyone¡¯s coercion, Bai Ze simply gave a scornful laugh. ¡°Really? If you want the badge, then come and get it!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately deployed the Storm Thunder Flash. His figure instantly left a long trail of afterimages, and in the next instant, he reappeared on the stairs of the rooftop. Right now, it wasn¡¯t just the eight people in front of him. The rest of the people had also gone up to the rooftop. Seeing that Bai Ze still refused to hand over his badge, the people around him became anxious and deployed their strongest rules. More than a dozen people cast spells at the same time, and the surrounding atmosphere became distorted by the pressure of the magic. In the next instant, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the sky as gusts of wind and flames intertwined, sweeping toward Bai Ze like a catastrophe. ¡°I won¡¯t keep you guys company anymore. Farewell!¡± Bai Ze leaned back abruptly, and his body immediately dropped down. The crowd ran after him without hesitation, but they were surprised to find that Bai Ze had activated the Icicle Technique in mid-air, nailed them to the wall, and then cast another spell to allow himself to drop to the ground unscathed. His speed was so fast that among the many students, only the two fourth ring mages, Lin Xi and Ling Quan, could keep up with him. Although the others were strong, they were not good at speed-type magic spells. They were only at the Familiar level at most. Even if they desperately stimulated their magic power, they were still not as fast as Bai Ze. ¡°Golden Wing Stab!¡± Seeing that Bai Ze was running further and further away with the badge, Ling Quan, who was not fast enough, immediately deployed his most powerful rule. In the next second, dozens of golden needles shimmering with steely cold light condensed around him and immediately shot towards Bai Ze. Sensing the strong aura of magic, Bai Ze knew without looking back that one of the fourth ring mages had launched a strike. He did not dare to be careless. At the same time as he activated Storm Thunder Flash at full speed, he condensed the Ice Crystal Armor around his body into a thicker layer. He was fully prepared to intercept the other party¡¯s blow. There were two fourth ring mages pursuing him. If Bai Ze stopped, he would inevitably be sandwiched between the two fourth ring mages and attacked mercilessly. And it was obviously not a wise move to give up his speed advantage to compete with the two in magic power. Even if he possessed the almighty power of the Magic Surge, it was impossible for him to fight against two people at once. When his defense was ready, he heard the sound of wind breaking. It was obvious that the opponent¡¯s killing move had arrived! Ding¡­ Ding! Ding! Ling Quan¡¯s Golden Wing Stab, formed by his magic power, hit the Ice Crystal Armor like a raging thunderstorm. In the face of such a relentless attack, the Ice Crystal Armor could not completely block all the strikes. After taking more than a dozen hits, it quickly crumbled. However, Bai Ze had already expected this, and he swiftly condensed a new armor before the old one fell apart. new arn The rapid casting of spells was possible thanks to the powerful Magic Surge. Magic Surge allowed him to direct his magic power freely and effortlessly. Although the magic power in his body had been depleted a lot in the previous battle, it was still plentiful after being replenished. After a few seconds, Bai Ze flawlessly neutralized Ling Quan¡¯s attack and still maintained his super high speed. When Storm Thunder Flash was cultivated to the Mastery level, the interval between each deployment had been shortened to one second. Unless his opponent had cultivated a speed rule that was above B-class, it would be very tough to catch up to him. Ling Quan, who was far away, saw that his attack was easily neutralized by his opponent. He couldn¡¯t help feeling angry and helpless. Seeing that his opponent was getting further and further away, he could only stop in a hurry. He clenched his fists and glared at his opponent¡¯s back profile with a resentful expression. ¡°Bai Ze ¡­ I will never let you off the next time we meet!¡± he cursed out loud. As soon as he finished speaking, a strange sound suddenly rang in his ears. When he looked up, he was surprised to find that the array formation in the sky above the school premises was vanishing at a speed visible to the naked eye. This meant that¡­ the competition had ended! Right to the final second of the competition, Lin Xi still couldn¡¯t find a chance to attack Bai Ze. She looked very lost and stared at Bai Ze with a meaningful gaze. The teachers watching the battle also dropped in from all corners and looked at Bai Ze with approval. In the earlier battle royale, the ability Bai Ze displayed was far beyond the other students. He was also quite experienced in actual combat, and he knew that he should use his own strengths to overcome his opponent¡¯s weaknesses. It was because of these strengths and capabilities that he was able to keep his badge in the final siege. Seeing that his teachers had all arrived, Bai Ze finally heaved a sigh of relief. He was so nervous that his heart almost jumped out of his chest when he was being chased by those two fourth ring mages. Now that he had won the championship, he felt a sense of pride. However, like all competitions, there was one happy winner but countless unhappy losers. For the two fourth ring mages, losing the qualification was undoubtedly a painful reality. However, the one who was the most devastated was Liang Rou, who was standing by the window of the planetarium and observing the situation below. Not only was her plan ruined by Bai Ze, but he also drank ten bottles of potions that her family had spent a big sum of money to procure. What devastated her the most was that under the siege of dozens of people, Bai Ze could still manage to keep the badge and obtain the only qualification spot. She couldn¡¯t suppress the despair in her heart. In the end, she could only cover her face and cry piteously. Half an hour later. Bai Ze took the admission letter and appeared on the stage that had been erected in the school square. The crowd below the stage was unexpectedly quiet. The students looked at Bai Ze on the stage, their expressions full of astonishment. They were wondering if the school had made a mistake. In this kind of group battle that could not tolerate any slip-ups, other than the few fourth ring mages who could win the first place, surely, at the very least, the winner should be an expert at the peak of the third ring Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: The Furious Lu Yuanzheng Chapter 25 Chapter 25: The Furious Lu Yuanzheng However, the person who appeared on the stage was unfamiliar to everyone. The handsome face of that guy did not belong to any expert they knew. On the stage, the principal with graying temples walked up to the winner, beaming happily. ¡°This mock exam competition has ended successfully. In the end, student Bai Ze defeated everyone and won the championship of the competition, as well as a 30,000 bucks worth of scholarship provided by the school. I hope student Bai Ze will continue to work hard and make a name for himself. Please give him a round of applause!¡± The principal looked at the crowd below and said kindly. The next moment, thunderous applause came from the audience. Although most people did not know this student named Bai Ze, they still chose to cooperate out of respect for their teachers. Some of those people looked at Bai Ze with surprise, others with envy, jealousy, and resentment. Liang Rou, who had lost the chance to get a spot, looked listlessly at the stage. The corners of her eyes twitched from time to time. Even after experiencing so much, she still couldn¡¯t face this scene calmly. A man standing not far away from her was dumbfounded. He couldn¡¯t understand how things could have gone wrong. Unfortunately, the current circumstances didn¡¯t permit it. Otherwise, he would have called Liang Rou out and asked her to explain. The man¡¯s name was Lu Yuanzheng. He was the eldest son of Lu Yansheng, head of the Lu family of Maplewood City. His ability was at the level of a junior fourth ring. Even in a high-end aristocratic academy like the Saint Inscription Academy, he was still considered one of the best. The reason he had come to Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School this time was to strike a deal with Liang Rou. Before the start of the competition, Lu Yuanzheng used his family¡¯s secret technique to sneak into the school in advance and help Liang Rou get the badge. The reward was ten Ether Essence potions. Now, however, he didn¡¯t see Liang Rou appear on stage. The person who received the qualification was someone totally unknown to him. This made him extremely surprised. Lu Yuanzheng waited with great patience, until finally, the principal finished his speech, and the rest of the students left one after another. He immediately cast a speed spell and arrived at the storage room on the third floor of the planetarium in just two minutes. As soon as he entered the storage room, Lu Yuanzheng noticed something unusual. The temperature here was no different from the outside environment, and there were water puddles around the black box. His expression changed drastically, and he quickly rushed forward to open the box. Upon opening it, Lu Yuanzheng found that the ten bottles of Ether Essence potions had indeed disappeared! At this moment, the class monitor Liang Rou rushed over. When she saw that Lu Yuanzheng had already discovered the situation, her face instantly turned pale. ¡°What the hell is going on? If you don¡¯t give me an explanation, the Lu family will declare war on your family immediately!¡± Lu Yuanzheng¡¯s eyes widened as he roared in anger! Liang Rou shook her head innocently, and the tears which had previously dried up began gushing out again. ¡°Brother Lu, I honestly didn¡¯t make these potions. I needed your help, so how could I sabotage myself?¡± Liang Rou sobbed as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. Lu Yuanzheng¡¯s eyes quivered. He had no choice but to suppress the fury in his heart. He took two steps forward, clenched his teeth, and said, ¡°Then what exactly happened? How come you are not the champion?¡± ¡°After you left, that guy called Bai Ze broke into the third floor of the planetarium. He injured me and drove me out of the planetarium. He also took away my badge.¡± Liang Rou wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. ¡°When I came back, the potions were gone. This is probably related to that guy called Bai Ze, but I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯s responsible.¡± After hearing Liang Rou¡¯s words, Lu Yuanzheng immediately clenched his fists. The magic power in his body surged, and his face turned ashen. ¡°I don¡¯t care who that Bai Ze guy is, but since he dared to snatch something from my Lu family, I¡¯ll definitely make him die without a proper burial!¡± After he said this, he turned around and left. He was entering the school illegally, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t stay for too long. In the storage room, Liang Rou only stopped sobbing after Lu Yuanzheng had vanished. Her expression changed slightly, and her emotions were also in turmoil. She did not dare to tell Lu Yuanzheng the truth for fear that he would do something to harm her. She could only divert his attention to Bai Ze. That evening, Lu Yuanzheng returned to the Lu family in a huff. He planned to discuss with his father how to deal with Bai Ze. When he arrived on the second floor, he saw that the door to his father¡¯s room was shut tightly. He immediately pushed the door open and walked in. ¡°Father, this time I have failed in the mission to help Liang Rou cheat!¡± Lu Yuanzheng said anxiously immediately as he walked into the room and saw his father writing something on the desk. ¡°Impetuous!¡± Lu Yansheng was sitting on the chair, and he turned around to look at his son Yuanzheng with a look of displeasure. ¡°Knock before you come in! How many times have I told you this?¡± After getting lectured by his father, Lu Yuanzheng could only swallow his words and lower his head in silence. Upon seeing this, Lu Yansheng gave a disdainful snort. He put down his brush and stood up, ¡°Tell me, how did you fail this time? As far as I know, there aren¡¯t many people in Maplewood City¡¯s Numero Uno High School who can beat you in actual combat.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, father,¡± Lu Yuanzheng raised his head and said angrily, ¡°The first half of our cooperation with Liang Rou went smoothly.¡± ¡°But later, a guy called Bai Ze disrupted our plan and took away ten bottles of Ether Essence while I was hiding!¡± When he said this, Lu Yuanzheng became so enraged that blue veins popped out on his forehead. ¡°In the end, that person actually won the championship and a spot in the training camp. How can I swallow this affront?¡± Hearing that, Lu Yansheng frowned and said in a low voice, ¡°Did you offend someone you shouldn¡¯t have? How could an ordinary person have the guts to do this?¡± ¡°Father, I¡¯ve already sent someone to investigate. That person isn¡¯t very strong, but the magic energy in his body is very strong. He doesn¡¯t look like a descendant of an aristocratic family.¡± As soon as Lu Yuanzheng finished speaking, the landline phone in the room rang. Lu Yansheng picked it up casually. ¡°Hello¡­ Sir, I¡¯ve found the person the young master asked me to investigate. That person is called Bai Ze. He¡¯s an orphan from Safflower Orphanage and has no noteworthy background. Half a month ago, he was just an apprentice without magic power.¡± After hearing the news over the phone, Lu Yansheng squinted his eyes slightly, and his face was filled with murderous intent. ¡°Well done.¡± After hanging up the phone, he turned to his son and said, ¡°The other party is an orphan, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about. You can make a move at any time. We must show people that it¡¯s not that easy to take things from the Lu family!¡± Seeing that his father had agreed to let him take action, Lu Yuanzheng immediately sneered and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, father. The joint examination of nine academies is coming soon. I¡¯ll have plenty of chances to kill him!¡± Lu Yansheng nodded, a merciless glint flashing across his eyes. ¡°If it¡¯s not convenient, just contact the fallen mages directly and get those lunatics to take action. We must recover the lost items.¡± Lu Yuanzheng immediately nodded. He shuddered at the thought of the cruel methods of those people who practiced heretical magic, and he could not help but swallow nervously. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Visiting the Magic Supervision Bureau, Ready to Set Off Chapter 26 Chapter 26: Visiting the Magic Supervision Bureau, Ready to Set Off! The next morning. Bai Ze quickly left the apartment building. He first got into a taxi and then instructed the driver to drive in the direction of the Jiang family¡¯s residence. The purpose of his visit to the Jiang family this time was to bring Jiang Qingyue with him to go to the Bureau of Supervisory Authority for Magic Spells and Power to submit his registration. This Magic Supervision Bureau was an official organization that recorded the information of all the mages in Maplewood City. Initially, the registration was scheduled for the day after tomorrow, but because Jiang Qingyue¡¯s family had connections with the Magic Supervision Bureau, Bai Ze did not need to queue for the registration so he could complete it today. About ten minutes later, Bai Ze arrived at the villa district in the city center. Before he could step into the courtyard, he was invited in by the butler who was waiting by the side. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you, Mr. Bai.¡± The butler looked at Bai Ze with so much respect that it made Bai Ze a little uncomfortable. He followed the butler, passing through the lush green courtyard, and quickly arrived at the hall. Jiang Qingyue was sitting on the sofa, waiting for Bai Ze to arrive. After learning that Bai Ze had won the school¡¯s championship yesterday, she was so happy that she didn¡¯t sleep well the entire night. It was undoubtedly exciting good news for her that Bai Ze could accompany her to participate in the training at the Preordained Training Camp. After all, the entire training process in the Preordained Training Camp was totally closed off to the public. The people who went were geniuses from various influential families or schools, and Jiang Qingyue didn¡¯t know any of them. She was more introverted, and if it weren¡¯t for the fact that her family had already made arrangements and was adamant that she went, she wouldn¡¯t want to go to that kind of place. Now that she knew Bai Ze would go as well, she was naturally happy. Just as she was thinking over these things, she heard footsteps. Jiang Qingyue looked towards the door subconsciously and saw Bai Ze walking quickly behind the butler. ¡°Mr. Bai, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll prepare the car.¡± Watching the butler leave, Bai Ze pursed his lips and then sat down on another sofa. ¡°Not bad, Qingyue. I¡¯m really lucky this time. I didn¡¯t know that the Chief of Maplewood City¡¯s Magic Supervision Bureau was a friend of your family.¡± Bai Ze said with a smile as soon as he sat down. Jiang Qingyue held her chin and smiled from the corner of her mouth. ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Compared to having connections with the Chief, it¡¯s more shocking that you won the championship at Maplewood Uno High.¡± Bai Ze nodded in agreement and explained, ¡°I won the championship all because of luck.¡± ¡°I wanted to fight alongside you, but I didn¡¯t expect that we would be separated as soon as we entered the array formation.¡± Jiang Qingyue looked at Bai Ze in front of her with a curious gaze. She sensed that the concentration of magic in his body had almost undergone an earth-shaking change. He was almost as strong as a third ring mage. ¡°What kind of opportunity did you get? Your ability advanced so quickly. I¡¯m a little envious.¡± She blinked her beautiful eyes and waited to hear Bai Ze¡¯s answer. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Seeing that this girl was intent on getting to the bottom of things, Bai Ze cleared his throat and said, ¡°Uh¡­ How should I put it? The situation was a little complicated. I¡¯ve had some enlightenment on the meditation skill these few days, so my power has increased.¡± Jiang Qingyue saw that Bai Ze seemed very serious and wanted to ask more, but the butler had already returned and arranged for a car to take them to the Magic Supervision Bureau. Jiang Qingyue could only give up. She thought since she was going to Noble City tomorrow to participate in the Preordained Training Camp, she would have plenty of time. Jiang Qingyue put on her sun hat and got into the car with Bai Ze. The butler sat in the front passenger seat and instructed the driver to drive. The blue Buick carrying four people sped down the road. Bai Ze looked out the window, his eyes a little lost in thought. It didn¡¯t take long for the car to arrive at the Magic Supervision Bureau¡¯s building. As the driver waited downstairs, the butler brought the two of them to the Chief¡¯s office on the sixth floor. At this moment, the registration area of the Magic Supervision Bureau was already packed with people, and many more were still queuing up. Seeing this scene, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help sighing in his heart. A life with money and connections was really different. Without Jiang Qingyue¡¯s help, he would have to wait until the day after tomorrow at the very least before he could embark on his trip to Noble City. A group of people walked into the Chief¡¯s office. When the Chief saw the butler, he immediately greeted him with familiarity, his gaze falling on Bai Ze every now and then. It didn¡¯t take long for the Chief to arrange the registration procedures for the two, and he even took the time to write a letter of recommendation. The content was that he hoped that the Chief of the Sorcery Bureau in the Preordained Training Camp would give these two special training during the routine training. This was the first time he was using his connections to conduct his affairs, so Bai Ze was still a little unfamiliar. Looking at the printed copy of the letter, he was in a daze for a long time. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡± Jiang Qingyue pulled Bai Ze¡¯s arm and went downstairs. After going downstairs, the butler instructed the driver to send Bai Ze back first. On the way, he even praised Bai Ze profusely. ¡°Mr. Bai, you were able to become the champion of Maplewood Uno High. This is enough to prove your ability. Our Qingyue is innocent and gullible. If she did anything wrong on the way, please forgive her.¡± When Jiang Qingyue heard the butler describe her in such unflattering terms, she immediately retorted, ¡°Uncle Pei, I¡¯m not as stupid as you say. And it¡¯s not my first time traveling.¡± The butler, Uncle Pei simply smiled and said nothing. Bai Ze immediately promised him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Pei. I¡¯ll take good care of Qingyue. I¡¯ll bring her back all fattened up in a month.¡± When Jiang Qingyue realized Bai Ze was mocking her, she immediately raised her fist to hit his arm. ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s a deal then.¡± The butler¡¯s unfathomable eyes were filled with joy. At this point, the car slowly came to a stop. They had arrived at the apartment building where Bai Ze was staying. Looking at the old and worn-out little neighborhood not far away, a trace of surprise flashed across the butler¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m home. Thank you.¡± Bai Ze waved his hand and walked in the direction of his home. Things rapidly became quiet inside the car. Jiang Qingyue was thinking about what to pack for the trip tonight. The butler sighed inwardly. Bai Ze was born poor, but he was neither humble nor arrogant. He also had a good perception and mind. It was really not easy to come across such characters. ¡°Qingyue¡­ You probably like this child called Bai Ze, right? I think he has a kind personality and a good character.¡± On the way back, the butler suddenly said something that made no sense. Jiang Qingyue, sitting in the back seat, blushed furiously instantly. ¡°Uncle Pei, what nonsense are you talking about¡­¡± Jiang Qingyue covered her face and said in a soft voice. Looking at Qingyue¡¯s reddened ears, the butler chuckled and did not speak anymore. At this moment, Bai Ze had returned to the apartment building. Looking at the somewhat messy room, he couldn¡¯t help sighing out loud. ¡°Thank goodness for the scholarship from the school. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford a train ticket.¡± He took out the luggage he had bought from the store on the way back and started to pack his things. He was preparing to go to Noble City with Jiang Qingyue the next morning. It was Bai Ze¡¯s first time traveling to such a distant destination. Before he went to school, his range of activity was within a thousand meters of Safflower Orphanage. After he started attending school, it was just a two-point line between school and home. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: A Long Journey to Noble City Chapter 27 Chapter 27: A Long Journey to Noble City It was the first time he was going on a long journey, so Bai Ze felt even more excited than when he had learned a powerful rule. He put his clothes into his luggage, then took them out after thinking for a while. He looked a little childish. It was already four o¡¯clock in the afternoon when he was ready. After having a simple dinner, he began meditating At this moment, the sea of magic power in his body had already completely liquefied. He could break through his current realm at any time. However, Bai Ze deliberately suppressed it, thinking that the breakthrough should be delayed for a while. Moreover, if he were to condense a magic ring now, the quality would definitely not be very good. The first magic ring that was condensed had the quality of a divine ring. It could be attributed to good luck or the usage of two low-grade magic crystals. The second time was due to the energy in the Ethereal Magic Staff. Now, he had the qualifications to condense the third magic ring, but during this period, he had not gained anything other than taking Ether Essence potions. Even if he succeeded in condensing the third magic ring, it would only be the most ordinary magic ring. Bai Ze would never do something like that, which could lower his upper limit. The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and time passed in tandem with the depth of Bai Ze¡¯s meditation. Soon, it was the morning of the next day. The weather in Maplewood City today was clear, and the temperature was agreeable. At the platform inside the train station. A train with the ¡°Maplewood ¡ª Noble¡± sign has stopped by the side. Bai Ze followed the crowd to the carriage door, carrying two pieces of luggage in his hands. ¡°I say, Qingyue, you came here all the way with two empty hands to board the train. Don¡¯t you feel guilty?¡± Bai Ze finally squeezed into the train and put the luggage on the shelf, grumbling and panting at the same time. Jiang Qingyue rolled her eyes at him and said in a nasty tone, ¡°If you still have a bit of conscience, then quickly take away this big bag of ad hoc precious tools. They¡¯re so heavy.¡± The two of them bickered for a while. After Bai Ze put everything away, he immediately sat down by the window. There weren¡¯t many passengers on the train to Noble City, and there were still empty seats in twos and threes. After a while, the train began moving off, and the platform outside the window began moving backward at an increasingly fast speed. ¡°By the way, Bai Ze, do you know where the Sorcery Bureau is?¡± Jiang Qingyue put the cup on the table and asked casually. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s my first time going on a long journey. I¡¯ll check the GPS when I get there. If not, the taxi driver should know.¡± Bai Ze took out a bag of potato chips from Qingyue¡¯s handbag after speaking and began eating immediately. Seeing this guy eating the snacks she had prepared, Jiang Qingyue immediately reached out and snatched the chips back. She pretended to be unhappy and said, ¡°Eat your own.¡± ¡°Tsk¡­ You¡¯re so petty.¡± Bai Ze pouted and had no choice but to focus on the scenery outside the window. He didn¡¯t know that it would take more than six hours to get from Maplewood City to Noble City, so he didn¡¯t prepare any food at the beginning. He only brought clothes and daily necessities for a month. Bai Ze propped his chin up with the back of his hand and looked out of the window. The breeze gently ruffled his soft layered hair, and the sun shone on his side profile, making his facial features look extraordinarily handsome. Looking at Bai Ze in front of her, Jiang Qingyue lowered her head slightly. She didn¡¯t know where to place her dainty hands. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing that Jiang Qingyue seemed a little uncomfortable, Bai Ze immediately leaned close to her and asked in concern. ¡°Nothing. Have some chips.¡± She shoved the chips into Bai Ze¡¯s arms and left her seat hurriedly with the excuse of going to the washroom. ¡°Strange¡­ These chips are quite crispy.¡± Crunch¡­ crunch. On the train, the glass of water on the table shook slightly. The scenery outside the window was beautiful. There were rolling plains with green grass stretching for hundreds of miles, undulating mountains, and occasionally he could see fish in the river below the train overpass. Six hours passed by quickly. By four in the afternoon, the train had begun to slow down. Bai Ze took their luggage and the box containing the precious tools. After the train stopped completely, he got off the train with Jiang Qingyue. Noble City was a standard prefecture-level city, and its area was several times larger than Maplewood City. Not only was one of the best universities in the country located here, but there was also the Sorcery Bureau, where experts gathered. This was also Bai Ze and Jiang Qingyue¡¯s destination. The two of them left the train station and got into a taxi to head straight for the Sorcery Bureau. Just as he had expected, even though the driver had never come into contact with magic, the Sorcery Bureau was still one of the well-known landmarks in Noble City, so the driver was familiar with this building. In less than half an hour, the two of them arrived at the heart of Noble City. From the financial street, they could see the nearly thirty-story building of the Sorcery Bureau. The buildings beside them were all super high buildings with dozens of floors. The whole place exuded a strong sense of technology. However, the Sorcery Bureau¡¯s building style was very different from its surroundings. Not only was the entire building covered in a shield of pale yellow light, but there was also a giant Golden Dragon that was tens of meters long on the surface of the building. The Golden Dragon entwined the building. Its head was slightly lowered, and its eyes were staring at the surroundings. The sculpture could be said to be a divine work of the Gods. The dragon scales were distinct, and the dragon claws were like sharp awls, shining with a steely cold light. It looked as if it was alive. ¡°How is it? Shocking, right?¡± The taxi driver looked at Bai Ze, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, with a wide smile. ¡°I jumped out of my skin when I first saw it, but this just shows how extraordinary magic is. As long as you become a mage, you¡¯ll be completely free from the life of the lower class. It¡¯s a beautiful dream that everyone aspires to.¡± After hearing the taxi driver¡¯s explanation, Bai Ze finally came back to his senses. ¡°Thank you.¡± After making payment, Bai Ze got out of the car and dragged his luggage towards the Sorcery Bureau building not far away. Jiang Qingyue, who was beside him, also looked on curiously. She began to look forward to this visit. After attending the Preordained Training Camp, their strength would improve by leaps and bounds. After a while, the two arrived outside the light barrier of the Sorcery Bureau. After showing their certificate of admission to the Preordained Training Camp, they entered the building without any problem. The interior of the Sorcery Bureau building was also very unusual. There were magic items with capabilities beyond the reach of science displayed everywhere. Bai Ze had never seen an ink brush that could automatically sign or a magic carpet that could carry people to fly steadily at a low altitude. Neither had he seen a magic monument that could sense the main attributes of a mage and various other fantastic items he had never seen before. There was no elevator in the building, so the receptionist immediately manipulated the magic carpet and brought them to the registration counter on the fourth floor. There were already a few people waiting to register here, probably all students attending the Preordained Training Camp. Before long, it was their turn. The person in charge of registering them was a young man in a white shirt. The man wore gold-rimmed glasses and looked to be in his thirties. He first looked up at Bai Ze and then said in a gentle tone, ¡°May I know your current realm and the rules you¡¯ve learned?¡± Bai Ze nodded his head and immediately gave a summary of his ability. ¡°Oh? Only a second ring mage?¡± After hearing Bai Ze¡¯s words, the clerk in charge of registration was very surprised. Although he had previously noticed that the magic power in Bai Ze¡¯s body was not high, he did not expect that the other party was only at the second ring Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Improved Version of Repelling Fire Ring! Bai Ze Said Its Amazing! Chapter 28 Chapter 28: Improved Version of Repelling Fire Ring! Bai Ze Said It¡¯s Amazing! The clerk thought to himself that if this candidate joined the Preordained Training Camp for geniuses with this level of strength, he would probably only get beaten up by the other students. However, to be cautious, he continued to ask, ¡°May I ask whether you have any special physique, or are your parents mages of the sixth ring and above?¡± There were very few spots for the genius training class. Unless this student before him had an exceptional physique, such as a genius level of comprehension, or a high affinity with a particular attribute, he wouldn¡¯t get a spot. If his parents were sixth ring mages and above, he would also have innate genetic advantages. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t satisfy any of the conditions you¡¯ve mentioned.¡± Bai Ze told the truth. ¡°Oh¡­ Alright then, I¡¯ve already registered you.¡± The clerk looked at Bai Ze with some sympathy, thinking that this student must have been extremely lucky to have obtained this spot. However, even so, he would be dismissed by the Chief early because of his lack of ability, and in the end, his future prospects would still be extremely gloomy. After all, everyone in the genius training camp was like a powerful expert. They were at least at the peak of the third ring, and those who could come here were the best of the best. Only the strongest could get acknowledged by the Chief and allowed to stay. In just a few minutes, the two of them completed their registration. They were told to wait here for a while. While waiting, Bai Ze found that the magic power within the bodies of the young people around him was very abundant, and they were all well above his ability. He was a little surprised but was not discouraged. Magic power was only one of the factors that affected one¡¯s strength. Now, not only did he possess the divine ring, but he also had the powerful ability of the Magic Surge. Even if they fought, Bai Ze was confident he could get into the top three. While Bai Ze was engrossed in deep thought, footsteps could be heard in the distance. The clerk who had registered him immediately stood up and said with a respectful expression, ¡°Chief Lu, you¡¯re here.¡± Bai Ze immediately turned around when he heard the voice. At this moment, a middle-aged man in army green clothes walked over from the corridor. The man¡¯s physique and bearing were very outstanding. There was even a sense of heroic spirit hidden between his eyebrows. His every move exuded the aura of a person who had been in a position of power for a long time. He must be the Chief Lu that the clerk addressed earlier. ¡°Sorry to have kept all of you waiting. Come with me.¡± Chief Lu surveyed the seven or eight people waiting on the side and immediately summoned them with a wave of his hand. Bai Ze and Jiang Qingyue immediately followed. On the magic carpet heading towards the eleventh floor, Bai Ze handed the letter of recommendation written by the Chief of the Magic Supervision Bureau to Chief Lu. Chief Lu simply nodded at Bai Ze without saying anything. The magic carpet hovered upwards in the air, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the eleventh floor. At this moment, Bai Ze found that there were already many people waiting on the eleventh floor. When they saw the Chief coming, they all came over with diverse expressions. Looking at the size of this group of people, Bai Ze¡¯s group seemed to be the third batch. Bai Ze had already seen more than 30 students coming to attend the Preordained Training Camp. However, these were all geniuses from all over the world. Bai Ze only had to sense a little and found many people with surging magic power in their bodies. He stood beside Jiang Qingyue and looked at Chief Lu with an earnest expression. In addition to the students who had rushed over, there were also many police officers in military green uniforms in the hall of the eleventh floor. They were responsible for maintaining order and were also under the command of the Chief. The hall gradually fell silent. Chief Lu looked at the young men and women around him and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I won¡¯t wait for the rest for now. I¡¯ll make the arrangements when they come,¡± he said in a loud booming voice. ¡°I¡¯ve led the Preordained Training Camp for eight years, and you guys have the most solid foundation I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°The reason for the Preordained Training Camp¡¯s commencement this time is to provide those talented people who are willing to work hard a chance to improve themselves further and not get buried.¡± Chief Lu scanned the crowd¡¯s faces and continued, ¡°This time, I plan to teach you guys a powerful B-class rule. As for whether you guys can understand it or not will depend on your comprehension and the effort you put in.¡± As soon as Chief Lu finished speaking, a large LCD screen behind him lit up. On it was the original fundamentals of the rule that was to be taught this time. Fire-type spell¡­ B-class Repelling Fire Ring. In an extremely short period, three rings of fire can be formed around the body, blocking damage and burning the opponent at the same time. It was a powerful offensive and defensive spell. On the screen, a string of words appeared. After a while, the words faded and turned into a concept video. From there, everyone could clearly see the magic power being guided out of the sea of magic power in the dantian, and it took less than a second to condense. Even though separated by the screen, the participants could still feel the shock of the blazing fire. It was many times more powerful than ordinary fire attribute magic. Just as the students were engrossed in the video, Chief Lu turned it off and chuckled. ¡°You only need to understand the basics shown in there. What I¡¯m teaching you is an improved version of the Repelling Fire Ring, which is more suitable for long-range attacks!¡± ¡°What comes next is what you guys should be watching carefully.¡± Chief Lu took a deep breath, and the temperature of the entire eleventh floor suddenly rose. Before anyone could react, nine fireballs formed a ring of fire around Chief Lu. The ring of blood-red flames rose through the air, and the intense heat even distorted the atmosphere. Not long after the ring of fire formed, as Chief Lu slowly spread out his hands, the fire ring rapidly expanded outward like a field of lightning, catching everyone by surprise! It was only when the flames on the outer ring were about to touch the surrounding students that the flames immediately dissipated without a trace. This fine control of magic power stunned all the students present. Hiss! ¡°I wonder when we¡¯ll be able to acquire such an ability!¡± In the quiet hall, a slightly chubby student mumbled, causing everyone to come back to their senses as if they had just woken up from a dream. Bai Ze¡¯s eyes were filled with shock. He glanced at Jiang Qingyue, who was standing beside him, and found that she was equally shocked. When he saw Chief Lu demonstrating the improved Repelling Fire Ring, Bai Ze made up his mind that he must master it during the training camp. Among the rules he had mastered, only the Icicle Technique had a certain level of attacking ability. The Ice Crystal Armor and Storm Thunder Flash were only suitable for defense and agile movement. They had no way of ending a battle. This improved version of the Repelling Fire Ring was not only powerful, it could also be used for long-range attacks. Moreover, the Repelling Fire Ring expanded exceptionally quickly, and if outsiders were unaware of it, they would very likely be hit by it. This was in comparison to the regular Repelling Fire Ring, which did not have such a powerful counterattack, and didn¡¯t have the ability to expand. He had to admit that Chief Lu¡¯s improved version of the Repelling Fire Ring was simply amazing! Not only could the rule be used for both offense and defense, but it was also very suitable for Bai Ze in his current state. However, to acquire the B-class rules, even those with better comprehension would need at least half a month to reach the Beginner¡¯s level. If one¡¯s aptitude was average, it might take even longer, and one might not even reach the entry-level. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: What if Childhood Sweetheart Came Knocking Late at Night? Chapter 29 Chapter 29: What if Childhood Sweetheart Came Knocking Late at Night? Not to mention that this improved version might be even more challenging to learn. Especially when Bai Ze found out that after learning the rule, one also needed to have exquisite control, otherwise, it would be difficult to arrange the fireballs into a ring. Putting those two considerations together, it was not hard to imagine the difficulty level. It wasn¡¯t just Bai Ze who felt that it was difficult. Even the geniuses who had already attained the fourth ring were frowning deeply. ¡°Bai Ze¡­ Is this kind of spiritual control really something we can learn?¡± Jiang Qingyue said in a troubled tone. She wanted to hear Bai Ze¡¯s opinion. The rule she was going to learn this time was the most difficult she had ever encountered since she came into contact with magic. This was because at the point of unleashing, the rule required spiritual power to guide the fireballs to spread out and arrange them in a ring. During this period, it was also necessary to continuously provide magic power so that the Repelling Fire Ring could continue to form around the body. The most important thing was that the Repelling Fire Ring had to be spread out within a very short time, which was a great test of the mage¡¯s control ability. The ability to control with the mind, the continuous output of magic power, and the manipulation of fireballs were three requisites that must be met concurrently. It was precisely because of these extremely difficult conditions that Chief Lu¡¯s improved Repelling Fire Ring was not widespread. Even among those extremely talented and hardworking police officers, very few could master it. Jiang Qingyue was still waiting for Bai Ze¡¯s reply, but he didn¡¯t speak for a long time. She immediately turned her head and looked at him with a puzzled look. [Observing rule enhancer Lu Yudao personally demonstrating the Repelling Fire Ring at the Perfection level. Cultivation progress increased by 10%¡­ 20%!] The moment the system prompt sounded in his mind, Bai Ze immediately realized that observing other people¡¯s display of rules might trigger the system¡¯s cultivation as well. This was a rare opportunity. Chief Lu himself was a seventh ring mage, and he had mastered the rule at the Perfection level. Such opportunities were hard to come by. Shouldn¡¯t he have recorded it to watch it a few more times? Bai Ze raised his head and was about to ask the Chief if he could take a video of him deploying his rule, but at this moment, he found that Jiang Qingyue, who was standing beside him, was looking at him with an odd expression. ¡°Er¡­ What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bai Ze was a little freaked out by Jiang Qingyue¡¯s gaze. ¡°What are you thinking about? You didn¡¯t say anything for so long.¡± Jiang Qingyue wrinkled her nose as she said these words in a displeased manner. Bai Ze pursed his lips. ¡°Well¡­ If I say I¡¯m cultivating the rules, would you believe me?¡± ¡°Shut up! Listen to Chief Lu¡¯s teaching!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± Bai Ze felt somewhat helpless. He was clearly telling the truth, but no one believed him. ¡°Students, you should have some questions about this rule, right? I have time now, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.¡± Chief Lu retracted his magic power and said with a smile. The surrounding geniuses looked at one another. Most of them didn¡¯t dare to ask questions first. ¡°Erm¡­ Teacher, I didn¡¯t see clearly the process of your casting just now. Can you please do it again?¡± A young man wearing a simple long robe with disheveled hair said with a guilty expression. Chief Lu nodded. ¡°It¡¯s okay. This rule is quite difficult. Even an advanced mage can¡¯t learn it in one try.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain the difficulties in detail later. Do you have any other questions?¡± In the hall on the eleventh floor, all the preordained elites from the other cities gradually quieted down. Bai Ze immediately stepped forward and asked with a solemn expression, ¡°Chief, I want to take a video of you displaying your rule and watch it a few more times. Is that okay?¡± As soon as Bai Ze said this, the people around him cast curious looks at him. A young police officer who was standing behind him to maintain order also smiled and said, ¡°My friend, the rules of learning state that there are no shortcuts. You can¡¯t learn it just by watching a video a couple of times. You still have to work hard and not take the crooked path.¡± Hearing the police officer¡¯s cautionary tone, Bai Ze knew that the other party must have misunderstood. However, he did not know how to explain himself, so he could only nod and smile. However, he still looked at Chief Lu, waiting for his answer. ¡°Hehe! It¡¯s fine. The improved version of the Repelling Fire Ring isn¡¯t a state secret. As long as it¡¯s not uploaded to the internet, you can film it however you want.¡± Chief Lu nodded at Bai Ze and agreed to his request magnanimously. However, he didn¡¯t know the purpose of Bai Ze taking the video. After thinking about it and not getting any conclusion, he decided to let it go. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, Bai Ze and the other students had dinner on the seventh floor of the Sorcery Bureau building. Thereafter, he walked towards the hotel not far from the building with Jiang Qingyue. The Multi Splendor Hotel was less than two hundred meters from the Sorcery Bureau¡¯s building. Not only was it convenient to move back and forth, but it also didn¡¯t cost any money. As early as a week ago, the Sorcery Bureau had sent someone to book the place for a month to accommodate the students coming to attend the Preordained Training Camp. Bai Ze was assigned to Room 214, while Jiang Qingyue was assigned to Room 408. After parting with Jiang Qingyue on the second floor, Bai Ze pushed his luggage back to his room. The decoration in the room was extremely luxurious, and the night view outside the floor-to-ceiling window was also very stunning As a financial district, it was still brightly lit in the middle of the night. The standard suite of a five-star hotel made Bai Ze, who was used to living in an old apartment building, a little uncomfortable. After settling everything and washing up, Bai Ze sat on the sofa and watched the video he had taken in the afternoon. (Observing the Perfection level Repelling Fire Ring. Cultivation progress increased to 25%¡­ 30%.] The system prompted again, which was like a calming pill for Bai Ze. He began to concentrate on observing and analyzing the details. As time went on, he managed to figure out some things. Although he was still far from fully acquiring it, it was still a tremendous improvement compared to the afternoon. Bai Ze watched it for about half an hour. Then, because he was a little tired, he had to give up and began to meditate to restore his spiritual power. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Bai Ze meditated for a long time. Just as he was about to end it, there was a knock on the door. Bai Ze opened his eyes and quickly got out of bed. Through the peephole on the door, he realized that the person who knocked on the door was Jiang Qingyue¡­ ¡°This girl¡­ What¡¯s she doing here so late at night instead of sleeping?¡± Bai Ze grumbled in his heart, but he quickly opened the door nonetheless. ¡°You¡¯re taking so long to open the door. What were you doing?¡± Jiang Qingyue skipped into the room and rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I was sleeping. What else could I be doing? You¡­ It¡¯s so late now. Is there something you need from me?¡± Bai Ze replied subconsciously. However, when he turned around to look at Jiang Qingyue, he was surprised to find that she had changed into loose silk pajamas and tied her hair into a ponytail. Compared to her beautiful makeup during the day, she looked more like a little girl from the neighbor next door. Looking at the print of little white rabbits holding a carrot on her pajamas, Bai Ze didn¡¯t have the strength to pour scorn on her in his heart. r Scorn Jiang Qingyue sat on his bed without invitation and said with a bitter face, ¡°Sigh¡­ This Repelling Fire Ring is so hard to learn. I¡¯ve been training hard the whole afternoon, but I still can¡¯t form a ring of flames.¡± ¡°Either there aren¡¯t enough flaming fireballs, or they can¡¯t maintain a ring shape. Furthermore, to deploy this rule, I have to condense nine fireballs in one ring. That¡¯s simply too hard.¡± Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Test Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Test Jiang Qingyue suddenly became depressed when she talked about her experience. ¡°I¡¯m already at my limit when I formed two fireballs, let alone maintaining the shape.¡± Bai Ze, who was standing at the door, looked at Jiang Qingyue¡¯s pitiful appearance. Inexplicably, a different kind of emotion rose in his heart. ¡°Don¡¯t be in such a hurry. The training camp will last for a month, and you¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to learn in the future.¡±. Bai Ze comforted her, then lay down on the bed next to her with a relaxed expression. He took out his mobile phone and began to watch the video happily. Jiang Qingyue couldn¡¯t help grumbling when she saw that Bai Ze didn¡¯t seem to care at all. ¡°I¡¯ve been working hard on the rule here for half a day, but I still can¡¯t catch the main point.¡± ¡°You, on the other hand, are lying on the bed and playing with your phone. You¡¯re not learning at all.¡± Jiang Qingyue¡¯s frowning face was in great contrast to Bai Ze¡¯s relaxed expression. Bai Ze was at a loss for words when Jiang Qingyue glared at him with such a bitter expression. He got up from the bed and said with great interest. ¡°Actually, learning the Repelling Fire Ring isn¡¯t difficult. You¡¯re just putting pressure on yourself. Never mind¡­ let me teach you.¡± ¡°All you need to do is to activate your spiritual perception before you start controlling the magic power to form the rule. After the fireball is formed, you can then shape it into a ring.¡± Bai Ze stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers. ¡°If you turn one step into two, won¡¯t the difficulty be reduced? Quickly try it according to my suggestion.¡± Seeing Bai Ze¡¯s expectant eyes, Jiang Qingyue pouted and grumbled, ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as you say.¡± She closed her eyes doubtfully and began to control her spiritual power to spread her perception outside her body to an area covering a five-meter radius. After that, she opened her eyes and formed the fireball according to the suggestion provided by Bai Ze. In the next instant, the magic power in her body surged, and four blood-red fireballs the size of basins suddenly appeared around her, raising the temperature of the entire room. Those four fireballs formed a ring and remained suspended in the air as they continued to rise and spread. Although they had yet to reach the entry-level, their power was already evident. Seeing that the sparks were about to hit the bed, Bai Ze immediately asked Jiang Qingyue to stop. ¡°Forget it. This room is too small. You can cultivate properly when we go to the Sorcery Bureau building tomorrow.¡± Jiang Qingyue looked at her hands in a daze. She was puzzled. Her magic power didn¡¯t become stronger, so why could she suddenly condense four fireballs? Was Bai Ze¡¯s teaching really that effective? This thought appeared in her mind, but Jiang Qingyue dismissed it the next moment. Although Bai Ze¡¯s comprehension was good, it was impossible for him to cultivate to the Beginner¡¯s level in just one night. There was a high probability that he had discovered some clues during the day, or it was more likely to be a fluke. However, Jiang Qingyue had experienced this kind of thing so many times that she was not confident anymore. Ever since she started attending school, she had received help from Bai Ze many times to pass the tests. Whether it was the high school cultural studies course or the primary school homework, most of the time, Jiang Qingyue relied on Bai Ze to complete them. The only reason she was able to reach the peak of her third ring was that Bai Ze coached her on the meditation skill. Through these things, Jiang Qingyue had the delusion that Bai Ze could learn all the rules in a very short time. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Bai Ze stretched lazily, turned over, and looked at Jiang Qingyue doubtfully. ¡°What are you doing staring into space, Qingyue? It¡¯s so late. Go back and sleep. You still have to continue your special training tomorrow.¡± Looking at Bai Ze sprawled out on the bed with a harmless expression, Jiang Qingyue felt a little helpless. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll come to you again if I have any questions next time.¡± Raising her chin, Jiang Qingyue turned around and left the room. At the same time, a system prompt appeared in Bai Ze¡¯s mind again. [Guiding Jiang Qingyue to cultivate the Repelling Fire Ring. You seemed to have an epiphany. The cultivation of the Repelling Fire Ring has reached 100%. You have broken through the Beginner¡¯s level and reached the Familiar level.] The moment the sound rang out, Bai Ze felt a warm stream of hot current straight into the center of his forehead. After absorbing the enormous amount of information, Bai Ze¡¯s face immediately revealed a hint of joy. It seemed that his speed of advancement was not slowed by teaching others. He had to find more opportunities to teach this girl in the future. Mumbling to himself, Bai Ze turned over and sat up on his bed. He was somewhat curious to know to what extent he could deploy the Repelling Fire Ring. He thought that he might be able to produce at least six or more blood-red fireballs. The joy brought by the breakthrough made him a little excited. He was even considering condensing his third magic ring now. However, after thinking for a while, Bai Ze still felt that he should consider upgrading his realm only when the proficiency of the Repelling Fire Ring reached the Refinement level. After all, nothing could go wrong if he took it slow and steady. After making up his mind, Bai Ze laid down again, turned off the pendant light, and closed his eyes to rest. Sniff, sniff. ¡°Why is there a fragrance in this room?¡± Bai Ze subconsciously grumbled but didn¡¯t take it to heart. Today¡¯s comprehension of the rules taxed his spiritual power too much, and he fell asleep soon due to exhaustion. It was a quiet night. The next day at 10 am. All the students gathered in the hall on the eleventh floor of the Sorcery Bureau building. Chief Lu, who was wearing a smart-looking suit, got off the magic carpet. The police officers also resumed their positions and prepared to start today¡¯s special training. Sweeping his gaze across most of the students, Lu Yudao was surprised to find that most of the students had dull expressions and a lifeless look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You can¡¯t get used to Noble City¡¯s environment because you came from other places, is it?¡± Everyone quickly shook their heads. Bai Ze saw the reaction of the students around him and smiled in his heart. Fortunately, he had the help of the automatic cultivation system. Otherwise, he would have been in the same state as the other students. They had not even broached the entry-level. ¡°Yesterday, I taught you the improved version of the Repelling Fire Ring. Today, it¡¯s time to see the results. You are all geniuses from your respective cities, so your comprehension abilities are definitely much stronger than ordinary people. I won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡± Chief Lu extended three fingers. ¡°As long as you can create three fireballs and maintain the ring shape, you¡¯ll pass. There¡¯s not much time left, so I¡¯ll start with you.¡± With that, Chief Lu pointed at a blonde-haired young man who was standing at the side. The atmosphere in the hall instantly tensed up, as if they were waiting to be called up by a teacher to answer a question. were Under Chief Lu¡¯s stern gaze, the blonde-haired young man had no choice but to step forward. He suppressed the panic in his heart and began to deploy the Repelling Fire Ring. As the magic power fluctuated in his body, everyone only saw one reddish fireball appear on the desk. It disappeared completely before it could spread out. Chief Lu and the blonde-haired man were left, staring at each other. ¡°Fail. Next.¡± Chief Lu shook his head in disappointment. He then waved his hand to signal for another person to step forward. Soon, most of the students started to form fireballs right in front of Chief Lu. However, out of ten people, only one or two could form three fireballs to meet his requirement. Out of the more than 30 people in the Preordained Training Camp, comprising geniuses from all over the world or the descendants of mage dynasties, only five people had stood out so far. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Shocking Everyone Chapter 31 Chapter 31: Shocking Everyone In the hall on the eleventh floor, many students exchanged looks with each other. Many of them who were regarded as geniuses by the local people had their taste of failure for the first time. ¡°Next, Jiang Qingyue,¡± Chief Lu commanded in a deep voice. When her name was called, even Jiang Qingyue, who was used to seeing the world, couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous. She walked forward nervously, very worried that she would not be able to pass the test. ¡°Take a deep breath. Don¡¯t be too nervous. Let¡¯s start.¡± Lu Yudao said with a smile. Jiang Qingyue nodded. She recalled the method that Bai Ze had taught her last night. She then began to deploy it. The students who gathered around to look were focused on Jiang Qingyue¡¯s delicate face and beautiful figure. They didn¡¯t notice the technique that the girl was using at all. The hall became quiet. In a few seconds, the magic power in Jiang Qingyue¡¯s body started to churn violently. Bang! A muffled boom was heard next. Four blood-red fireballs appeared in the air all of a sudden. The fireballs blazed and formed a ring, rotating around Jiang Qingyue¡¯s body. Then, they spread outwards at a rapid speed. The entire process took less than three seconds, but the intense heat was blinding. Everyone was shocked, and those who were close to her subconsciously tried to activate their spells to block it. They didn¡¯t expect that the first person to deploy the rule successfully would be a beautiful woman. Those geniuses who were full of confidence and thought that the difficulty of the rule was too high immediately revealed a look of shame on their faces. The few students who had successfully passed the test were similarly astounded. In order to reach this stage, they had not slept the entire night. The hardships they had gone through were unimaginable. No one expected that a seemingly fragile girl could actually achieve this. IS. Everyone was secretly full of admiration. At the same time, they felt that Jiang Qingyue¡¯s ability to comprehend was very strong. At this moment, Lu Yudao, who was standing on one side, immediately flashed a satisfied smile. Until now, Jiang Qingyue was the most successful student he had seen so far. Not only did she successfully condense the flames, but she also shaped them into a ring and achieved the effect of spreading it. This level of comprehension ability was considered outstanding. ¡°Jiang Qingyue, you did well. When the tools for training arrive tomorrow, you can choose one first.¡± Lu Yudao wasn¡¯t stingy with his praise. Jiang Qingyue¡¯s face was a little red with embarrassment from the praise, and she ran back to Bai Ze¡¯s side as if she was escaping. ¡°Next, Bai Ze.¡± Bai Ze immediately walked out of the crowd when he heard Chief Lu calling his name. He walked to the Chief¡¯s side with a calm expression. The few students standing around saw that the person who came out was the one who recorded the video yesterday. They burst out laughing at once and teased him. ¡°Friend, you watched the video last night. You must have attained some enlightenment. Hurry up and let everyone see your latest results.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve worked hard for most of the night and still haven¡¯t succeeded. If I had known earlier, I would¡¯ve recorded a video and watched it at home. Maybe I could¡¯ve passed the test.¡± Though he saw everyone mocking and ridiculing him, Bai Ze didn¡¯t care. The Chief was worried that the other students would hurt Bai Ze¡¯s self-confidence, so he smiled and said encouragingly, ¡°This is called the spirit of exploration and seeking knowledge. Retaining the video is also a way to learn. What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°You guys, on the other hand, can¡¯t even form three fireballs, and you still have the mood to joke about others.¡± The few students who had been livening up the atmosphere earlier were instantly stunned. Immediately, they lowered their heads in shame. ¡°Bai Ze, do your best and don¡¯t be affected by others. This Repelling Fire Ring is not a big deal. The most important thing is to condense a fireball. Shaping and spreading are both things that test your spiritual power, so it doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t do that part well.¡± ¡°Release the magic power in your body. Don¡¯t be afraid of failure.¡± Lu Yudao patted Bai Ze¡¯s shoulder and looked at him with a reassuring smile. [Received personal coaching by rule enhancer, Lu Yudao. Your Repelling Fire Ring has been enlightened with great wisdom and has achieved massive enlightenment. Your proficiency has broken through the Familiar level and has been raised to the Mastery level!] Hearing this, Bai Ze was suddenly stunned. What the hell? There was still an unexpected surprise! He was feeling quite excited. The Repelling Fire Ring was a B-class rule, and it was powerful enough to crack open a mountain if practiced to the Mastery level. He could even take on a fourth ring mage head-on and stand undefeated! ¡°Besides, the rules that Bai Ze is currently cultivating are ice, lightning and wind types primarily. Fire type rules are more difficult to learn, so it¡¯s normal to fail.¡± Lu Yudao didn¡¯t notice Bai Ze¡¯s change in mood and continued talking. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about anything else. Bai Ze, you can start now.¡± Bai Ze nodded with an evil smile on his face. Right now, he was really looking forward to seeing the expression on Chief Lu¡¯s face when he deployed the Repelling Fire Ring at the Mastery level in front of him. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Bai Ze began to mobilize the magic power in his body. His spiritual power was several times stronger than other mages of the same level, so he did not need to prepare himself. He began to cast it immediately. The sea of magic power in his dantian churned furiously, and in the next moment, Bai Ze took a deep breath. Roar! The sound of force being exerted escaped from his throat. In the next instant, flames appeared around Bai Ze, and the vision of the students nearby was blocked by the towering flames. After a brief moment of blindness, everyone finally saw the fireball spell that appeared around Bai Ze. ¡°Five¡­ six, no, eight! A total of eight fireballs!¡± One of the students couldn¡¯t help shouting out immediately. Everyone¡¯s hair stood on end! That guy called Bai Ze! Was he a human or a demon! How was it possible for him to cultivate a B-class rule to such an extent in a single day? This level of power was probably almost on par with Chief Lu¡¯s Repelling Fire Ring! Everyone gasped. The pupils of the police officers on the outer ring also shrank, and they stood frozen in place. ¡°This¡­ I¡¯m afraid this has already reached the Mastery level!¡± Chief Lu¡¯s face twitched. He tried his best to stay calm, but his heart was still thumping madly from the shock. The Repelling Fire Ring released by Bai Ze not only far exceeded the Chief¡¯s requirements, but it also reached a level many people could not achieve in their lifetime! And all of this was just the result of what Bai Ze could achieve in one day. This ability shocked everyone! The entire hall on the eleventh floor fell silent. Jiang Qingyue touched her face. When she found that she could still feel herself, she swallowed nervously. She believed Bai Ze¡¯s practice progress might be above her own. However, such a result was far beyond her expectations. At this moment, she stared at Bai Ze standing beside Chief Lu, thinking that he felt somewhat unfamiliar to her. There was a burnt smell in the air, and the wooden floor of the hall had turned black in some sections. Seeing this, Bai Ze scratched his head in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t control my magic well and caused this damage here.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ Well, you did a good job, just as I expected.¡± Chief Lu was the first to react. He gave Bai Ze a thumbs up and praised him profusely. The police officers nearby were visibly shocked. It was the first time they had seen Chief Lu show signs of fluster on his face. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: One After Another, Nine Academies Joint Examination Chapter 32 Chapter 32: One After Another, Nine Academies Joint Examination ¡°Alright, this round¡¯s inspection has ended. After the seven people who met the requirements graduate, they will receive an additional rare resource.¡± Chief Lu explained briefly, then looked at Bai Ze with blazing eyes. He felt that this student Bai Ze was very capable. Not only was his ability to understand things high, he also had an unflappable character. Even in front of him, this student did not show any signs of nervousness or embarrassment like the other students. In the future, he would definitely become a great person, perhaps even attain greater achievements than himself. He could not let go of such a student with great potential. Thinking of this, Lu Yudao decided to invest in Bai Ze in advance in case he really turned out as he expected and blossomed into a noteworthy mover and shaker of society. Even if it was just accruing a debt of gratitude, it was definitely worth it. Lu Yudao cleared his mind and throat before saying, ¡°Bai Ze, you have to continue to work hard in the future. I have high hopes for you. How about this? When you can cultivate the Repelling Fire Ring to the Perfection level, I¡¯ll teach you a new fire-type rule, Thorny Fire Wall!¡± a ne A bright glint flashed across Bai Ze¡¯s eyes. He understood then that Chief Lu was trying to groom him. He immediately replied humbly, ¡°Thank you for your appreciation, Chief Lu. I will definitely work hard!¡± ¡°Hahaha! It¡¯s a deal then.¡± Chief Lu laughed heartily and waved his hand. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll let the police officers accompany you guys for training. Strive to meet the requirements as soon as possible.¡± Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help but smile as he watched Chief Lu float away on the magic carpet. This Chief Lu was an interesting person, unlike the leaders in their school who were all rotting ancient antiques. After the afternoon group training, Bai Ze went to the cafeteria on the seventh floor to have lunch with Jiang Qingyue. Looking at the sumptuous lunch spread before him, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help sighing once more. If only the cafeteria in Maplewood Uno High were half as good as this place, it would not receive complaints from students every month. Taking out his phone, Bai Ze wanted to play with it to relax. However, he was surprised to find that there was an email from Wu Feng in his mailbox. ¡°Brother Bai, tomorrow afternoon is the day of the joint examination of the nine academies in Maplewood City. You can¡¯t be absent! ¡°Moreover, we¡¯re representing the school in this joint examination. The top nine of the joint examination will also receive very generous rewards. Come back quickly!¡± After reading the message sent by Wu Feng, Bai Ze frowned and began thinking deeply. He hadn¡¯t even been in the Preordained Training Camp for three days. If he left for a while, he didn¡¯t know if he could keep up with the progress of the training camp. However, at the thought that the result of the joint examination of nine academies would affect the final graduation results, Bai Ze suddenly felt that he was caught in a dilemma. If he missed the joint examination just like that, he might not be able to get a chance to work as an intern at a big company if his grades were not good. However, it was a rare opportunity for him to attend the Preordained Training Camp, and even taking a day off would be a huge loss. Jiang Qingyue, who was sitting opposite him, saw that Bai Ze seemed to be thinking about something and immediately placed a piece of sweet and sour pork in his bowl. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Bai Ze raised his head and saw Jiang Qingyue looking at him with her head tilted. He immediately adjusted his sitting position. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I think I might have to make a trip back to Maplewood City today.¡± After hesitating for a while, Bai Ze decided to go back. Although the group training could bring him a lot of benefits, he could not give up on something as important as the Nine Academies Joint Examination. After all, he didn¡¯t have any noteworthy background. If he couldn¡¯t find a good job after the Preordained Training Camp, it would be equivalent to destroying his own path to a bright future. Moreover, the training in the Preordained Training Camp would last one whole month, so it wouldn¡¯t be much of a problem even if he skipped classes for a few days. ¡°Oh¡­ Why the sudden rush?¡± Jiang Qingyue put down her chopsticks and immediately asked with concern, ¡°Is this about the Nine Academies Joint Examination?¡± She couldn¡¯t think of anything else more important than the joint examination. Bai Ze nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve already thought about it. I¡¯ll ask for leave from Chief Lu later.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Qingyue seemed a little disheartened, but she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. About seven or eight minutes later, Bai Ze returned to the cafeteria with Chief Lu¡¯s approval in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be back in three or four days at most!¡± Looking at Bai Ze¡¯s determined expression, Jiang Qingyue knew he had made up his mind. ¡°Go quickly, and come back soon. I believe that you will definitely be able to represent Maplewood Uno High to win the championship of the Nine Academies Joint Examination!¡± Jiang Qingyue said with a smile. Then, she picked up her handkerchief and helped Bai Ze wipe away the remaining stains on the corner of his mouth. ¡°Uh¡­! Bai Ze¡¯s heart began racing when Qingyue leaned so close to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely bring good news back. Wait for me.¡± With that, Bai Ze turned and left. Soon, he left the cafeteria of the Sorcery Bureau building. Looking at his gradually disappearing figure, Jiang Qingyue¡¯s eyes betrayed the worry she felt, but she quickly recovered. She definitely approved of Bai Ze developing in a better direction. Moreover, it was only for a few days. As long as she concentrated hard during the group training, the time should pass quickly. Meanwhile, after Bai Ze and Jiang Qingyue parted ways, he boarded the train back to Maplewood City. On the way, Wu Feng also told him some news and details about the joint examination. This inspired some of Bai Ze¡¯s ideas. As far as Wu Feng knew, the Nine Academies Joint Examination would not only boost Maplewood City¡¯s economy, but elsewhere secretly, someone was also taking bets to see which student would win the championship. At the moment, there were already quite a number of betting odds for the students in the black market. The odds for the gifted descendants of the aristocratic families were usually less than three times. The odds for mages who had achieved the fourth ring and above were only around 1.5. As for those students who were only recorded and not well known, they usually had more than ten times the odds, sometimes even a hundred times. However, even so, not many people would try their luck on these candidates. After all, it simply made no sense to bet on such candidates when they knew that it was impossible for them to win. And after Bai Ze learned this information from Wu Feng, a plan came to his mind. With his current ability, he was fully qualified to compete for the championship of the Nine Academies Joint Examination. However, in the eyes of outsiders, he was still a low-level mage. He could make use of this information discrepancy and use other identities to place bets on the black market. If he could really become the champion, he might get winnings that were a few dozen times or even a hundred times of what he placed. If he lost, he would only lose a small portion of his money. Bai Ze would not refuse this sort of business with low investment and high yield. After all, no one would ever complain about having too much money in their pockets. As the train whizzed by, Bai Ze leaned against the window and closed his eyes to rest. Even though he had taken the express train to cut down traveling time, it was still a more than four-hour ride back home. Moreover, he was not in the mood to enjoy the scenery now that he was taking the same route back that he had taken the day before yesterday. Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it was already six in the evening. Bai Ze dragged his tired body back home. When he was sleeping in the hotel last night, Bai Ze thought he could enjoy two more days of such peaceful nights. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Condensing Third Ring, Activating New Ability Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Condensing Third Ring, Activating New Ability At this moment, the quarrels upstairs, the dragging of tables and chairs on the floor, and the sound of cars downstairs all assaulted his ears. It woke him up completely. After a long while, he finally got used to the rhythm here and sat on the bed calmly. ¡°The Nine Academies Joint Examination is tomorrow. I¡¯ll raise my level to the third ring tonight. After all, it¡¯ll be difficult for me to deal with the experts from the other eight schools if I still remained at the second ring.¡± Looking at the familiar surroundings, Bai Ze muttered to himself. The next moment, he slowly closed his eyes and began to mobilize the boundless magic energy in his body, preparing to break out the third ring. Now that he had learned a brand new rule and had achieved the Mastery level as well, it was enough to support him to condense another magic ring. Moreover, the quality of the magic ring would definitely not be weak! The preparation phase lasted for a few minutes. When the room gradually quieted down, Bai Ze suddenly opened his eyes. In the next instant, he activated his power, and the magic power in his body surged out, condensing directly into a sea of luminescent light! Such an abundant and dense magic power had long exceeded the level of a third ring mage. If Bai Ze had not deliberately suppressed his power, he could have become a third ring mage a few days ago. The surging magic power that rose into the air slowly condensed as if it contained some terrifying energy. This rhythmic fluctuation did not last long. Suddenly, an invisible cracking sound was heard. A flash of fire appeared in the cloud of magic power. The light was so bright that it was almost impossible to open one¡¯s eyes. In the next second, the surrounding magic power was instantly absorbed by the fiery light. When Bai Ze opened his eyes, a blood-red magic ring had appeared in front of him! The crimson-colored ring hovered in the air silently, as harmless as a sleeping baby. However, Bai Ze could clearly sense a destructive energy from this magic ring! He stretched out his hand and touched the magic ring that was glowing with blood-red light. In the next instant, the magic ring floating in the air seemed to have found its master and immediately rushed up to meet him. It wrapped around Bai Ze, rotating quietly. He had successfully condensed his third magic ring! Furthermore, it was of the rare blood red color. Although the quality was not as good as a divine ring, it was several times better than an ordinary magic ring! He had now condensed three magic rings: gold, dark blue, and blood red. His strength had also completely stabilized at the realm of the third ring. [System message: You have successfully formed the Ring of Bloodthirsty Flames and gained the additional ability: Scorching Pain.] (Scorching Pain: Every time you cast a spell on the target, it will cause some damage to the target¡¯s spiritual power. There is a chance to interrupt the target¡¯s spell casting.] Bai Ze raised his eyebrows. Just as he had expected, every time he successfully condensed a magic ring, he would receive an additional powerful ability Moreover, this ability was not given by the system. It would only miraculously appear each time after the Ethereal Magic Staff emitted a mysterious light. Now, he possessed three powerful abilities, namely the lightning affinity, Magic Surge, and Scorching Pain. These extra abilities would be of great help to him in actual combat, just like in the qualification competition last time. Without the output of immense magic power made possible by the Magic Surge, he would not have been able to fully charge the badge in such a short time. Moreover, due to his lightning affinity, he was able to cast Storm Thunder Flash more easily and successfully escape from the two fourth ring mages. This time, before the Nine Academies Joint Examination, he had obtained the Scorching Pain ability, which would certainly catch his opponent off guard, and thus increase the possibility of winning the championship even more. The Nine Academies Joint Examination was the most important event of the year in Maplewood City. If he could become the champion in this examination, he would not only become famous, but he would also receive a reward from the Magic Education Association. It was like killing two birds with one stone. When he thought of this, a sense of anticipation welled up in Bai Ze¡¯s heart. His eyes looking out the window took on a faraway look. Time passed by quietly, and the sun also rose in slow, heavy steps from the horizon. It was 9 in the morning. Bai Ze and Wu Feng met at a breakfast shop. The two of them immediately began to discuss the common topic of the Nine Academies Joint Examination endlessly. ¡°Brother Bai, how did it go at the Preordained Training Camp? The Nine Academies Joint Examination is very tough. Are you confident?¡± Wu Feng was sprawled out on the table without any manners, looking at Bai Ze curiously. He felt that his buddy seemed to have changed a lot after having gone away for a day or two. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ okay, I guess.¡± Bai Ze took a mouthful of beef ramen and mumbled vaguely. Seeing that Wu Feng was not too satisfied, Bai Ze had to put down the bowl. After swallowing, he explained, ¡°I learned a B-class rule in the Preordained Training Camp. Although I haven¡¯t practiced it to the top level yet, it¡¯s very powerful. It won¡¯t be a problem for me to get into the top ten of the joint examination.¡± Bai Ze only gave a brief summary. At any rate, he did not like to brag, so he did not reveal that he came back to win the championship. ¡°Tsk! Last time during our school¡¯s mock exam, you also said that you could get into the top ten, but in the end, you got first place. Brother Bai, when have you ever been so humble in front of me?¡± Wu Feng rubbed his nose with an expression that said, ¡°As if I don¡¯t know you well enough.¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ This is called strategic modesty, get it?¡± Bai Ze glared at him and then continued to eat his noodles calmly. ¡°Sigh¡­ You¡¯re now the representative of Maplewood City¡¯s prestige. Now that Jiang Qingyue is at the training camp and isn¡¯t coming back, we¡¯ve lost one more elite.¡± ¡°Now that there is a missing person in the school¡¯s total force, we¡¯re already at a disadvantage compared to other schools. We can only rely on you, Lin Xi, and Ling Quan to win glory for the school.¡± Wu Feng chewed on a toothpick and displayed a helpless expression. ¡°So many people from our school are taking the joint examination. There are many dark horses and extraordinary geniuses among them. There might even be experts with hidden abilities. When the time comes, they might straightaway win the championship.¡± Bai Ze wiped his mouth and continued to pour scorn. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re also taking the joint examination. It¡¯s already good enough if you work hard and don¡¯t drag the class down. Besides, you¡¯re just some lousy student. Why are you worrying for the school management?¡± Wu Feng was rendered speechless by Bai Ze¡¯s words. He stood up angrily and walked toward the eatery¡¯s owner. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t use your anger as an excuse to foot the bill. You¡¯ve already used it last time.¡¯ Bai Ze stood up and ran after him, but Wu Feng had already taken out his mobile phone that he had gotten ready beforehand and instantly scanned the code to pay in one shot. Bai Ze didn¡¯t even have the chance to stop him. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this anymore. You should go back and prepare. I¡¯ll give you guys a surprise in the afternoon!¡± Wu Feng winked, patted Bai Ze¡¯s arm, then broke into a cheeky grin. ¡°Last time, I got a 10,000 bucks scholarship from the school. It¡¯s enough for you to eat noodles until you puke. Don¡¯t pay for me next time, do you hear me?¡± Bai Ze was still a little bit pissed off and simply ignored the other party¡¯s change of topic. Wu Feng couldn¡¯t do anything to Bai Ze, who had always been so serious, and could only agree. The two parted ways on the road. Bai Ze saw that his destination was not far off and decided to walk back. Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Black Market Bets, Bai Zes Plan Chapter 34 Chapter 34: Black Market Bets, Bai Ze¡¯s Plan When he got home, Bai Ze took out his mobile phone and searched for the other schools that were jointly organizing the Nine Academies Joint Examination. He realized that there were also many powerful candidates in the non-public schools. Almost every school had one or two fourth ring mages, but the strength of the lesser students was somewhat bleak. If it was a group battle, Maplewood Uno High would definitely have a huge advantage. However, in this joint examination, it was one-on-one competition through drawing lots. The one-on-one mode not only ensured fairness but also made it easier to customize the rules of the competition. Bai Ze did some research on the experts from each school and the rules they had acquired. After a comprehensive assessment, Bai Ze believed that the density of his magic power could be ranked in the top 20 in the upcoming competition. As for the cultivation of rules, he was definitely in the top five, and this was a conservative estimate. Even if those geniuses were nurtured by aristocratic families from a young age, it was impossible for them to cultivate so many rules to the Refinement level at the minimum. On the other hand, Bai Ze had an automatic cultivation system, which could perfectly solve this problem. This was the core advantage that allowed Bai Ze to cross realms and fight with others. Moreover, Bai Ze had already made up his mind to use the Repelling Fire Ring that he had practiced yesterday as his killing move in the final push. He didn¡¯t plan on using it before the final match. After all, information was equally important in a competition. If someone else discovered his B-class rule in advance, they would likely prepare a response in advance. Furthermore, once the other party understood the rule, they would subconsciously take precautions. Similarly, exposing one¡¯s ability in advance would also affect the black market¡¯s bets. Bai Ze had made up his mind to use the black market¡¯s bets to earn a sum of money to buy tools and potions. Naturally, he had to set out his plans early. Seeing that it was still early, Bai Ze took out his mobile phone and quickly located a black market betting outlet that was also operating online concurrently. Moreover, because of this special period, the black market website had even thoughtfully added four more servers. Bai Ze found the betting interface for the Nine Academies Joint Examination from the menu. As soon as he opened it, he saw his name in the first row. Bai Ze, student of Maplewood Uno High, strength at the second ring realm. Resume: Uno High mock exam champion, Preordained Training Camp student. (Current odds: 1 to 11.5] When he saw the information and odds related to himself, he was overjoyed. If things continued to develop in this direction, he would have to pretend to be a little weaker before the start of the match, and the dynamic odds would definitely be able to remain above 1 to 15. Before the competition, when his odds reached the highest, Bai Ze would use the 100,000 bucks check given by the butler to place his bet. At that time, he could earn at least 1.5 million if he won the championship. This amount of money was enough for Bai Ze to buy many powerful tools or potions with permanent effects. At 1 pm that day. Maplewood City¡¯s official reporters and cameramen had already been deployed to the venue where the Nine Academies Joint Examination was to be held. The mages of intermediate-level and above from the government had also been dispatched to maintain order in the competition arena. This Nine Academies Joint Examination was officially organized by the Maplewood City¡¯s Magic Education Authority. The importance of this competition was basically equivalent to the college entrance examination. If he could not make it into the high rankings in this competition, his future would definitely be affected. If he could stand out, his future would be limitless. All nine school campuses took the competition equally seriously. The management staff of the various schools had already entered the venue early, waiting for the start of the competition. The competition was held in Maplewood City¡¯s landmark building, the Blue Dream Magic Arena. Not only did it occupy a huge area, but it could also accommodate thousands of students competing in the ring at the same time. The spectator seating area was in the shape of a flight of stairs, and in an uninterrupted ring it could accommodate up to twelve thousand spectators. Bai Ze and the other students of Maplewood Uno High gathered at the entrance. Wu Feng, who was usually late or absent from classes, was here on time. He had a grave expression on his face, which was completely different from his usual cheerful appearance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you play games again yesterday and didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± Bai Ze asked despite knowing the answer. Wu Feng didn¡¯t argue back like he usually did. Instead, he shook his head helplessly like a monk who had become disillusioned with the mortal world. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m finished this time. If I can¡¯t make it to the third round, I won¡¯t be able to avoid the mixed doubles¡¯ beating up when I get home.¡± Wu Feng¡¯s weak, feeble appearance eased the tense atmosphere around him. The students in the same class teased him. ¡°Wu Feng, just admit defeat. You don¡¯t pay attention in class. Now, if you want to get good grades, praying is more useful than revising.¡± They did not chat for long before the students from the other schools rapidly arrived at the students¡¯ entrance of the Blue Dream Magic Arena. Moreover, those students were looking at them with hostility. ¡°Hmph! Which school are those people from? How can they be so rude?¡± Wu Feng¡¯s feeble expression vanished, and he turned sullen. At this moment, a bespectacled young man who was more well-informed than the rest immediately said, ¡°Just look at the logo on their uniforms. Norton Elite High School for the nobles. The students there are all young masters from the upper class.¡± ¡°The entire school doesn¡¯t even have 200 people. What¡¯s the big deal!¡± After hearing the young man¡¯s introduction, Bai Ze immediately understood. Maplewood City¡¯s elite schools were almost ubiquitous everywhere. There was one in practically every district. There were countless small and medium-scale ones and only seven or eight large ones. There were probably more of such candidates coming soon. ¡°Just ignore them. Even if they can afford to attend an elite school, they¡¯re useless.¡± The candidates from the two schools were already full of animosity before the opening match. Bai Ze stood silently in the crowd with no intention of paying them any attention. The crowd waited for a while longer, and soon it was two o¡¯clock, the time for the competition to begin. Then, under the watchful eyes of many high-ranking mages, they walked into the hall without hiccups. The venue was very noisy. The arena had already been modified, and the large training field had been divided into many fighting arenas. All the participating students would have to go through a series of matches. When they had survived three rounds, they could then be considered to have advanced. Those that advanced to the next round would continue to compete until a champion was determined. Everyone first sat in the student viewing area prepared earlier and waited for the joint competition to start before going on stage to draw lots for the competition. Bai Ze and Wu Feng chose seats closer to the front and sat down. At present, there were still more than ten minutes before the official start of the competition. According to the management procedures they were familiar with, there would definitely be a long speech before the start. Therefore, at this moment, Bai Ze was not in a hurry. He set his eyes on the other spectator areas and leaned back leisurely in his seat. On the right side of the spectator stand, Bai Ze could feel many strong fluctuations of magic forces. Those people should be the organizers of this Nine Academies Joint Examination, the official mages of Maplewood City¡¯s Magic Education Authority. There were also some white-haired old men sitting nearby, but Bai Ze could not sense the magic fluctuations within their bodies. However, from the looks of respect in the eyes of the people around them, he could tell that they were probably judges or important people in power. ¡°Ahem¡­ Fellow mages, welcome to the Nine Academies Joint Examination. We pledge to uphold fairness¡­¡± Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Bai Ze was Maplewood Uno Highs Representative! Chapter 35 Chapter 35: Bai Ze was Maplewood Uno High¡¯s Representative! At this moment, a middle-aged man with a heroic demeanor stood in front of the microphone and spoke in a firm voice. ¡°We hope that all the students will get good results in this Nine Academies Joint Examination. Well¡­ Let¡¯s invite the student representatives of each campus to come on stage to reveal this year¡¯s championship trophy!!¡± As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, a huge trophy covered with a red cloth immediately rose from the stage. Through the red cloth, one could vaguely see the profile of the trophy and a trace of golden light. It seemed to be made of pure gold. Upon seeing the trophy, the spectators around the hall immediately exclaimed and began discussing excitedly. However, Wu Feng, who was sitting next to Bai Ze, showed a disdainful expression. ¡°They¡¯re going through all this formality again. In the end, the trophy will still end up in the hands of the school. Those with a conscience will only give a little more compensation at most.¡± ¡°And you still sugarcoat it with such noble terms, telling us to let our honor shine forever in our alma mater,¡± Wu Feng mocked sarcastically with a raised hand. Looking at Wu Feng by his side, grumbling non-stop like some crosstalk comedian, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t help laughing inwardly. With such a grouchy buddy around, it was hard for him to remain serious. In the hall, as the middle-aged man left, a white-haired old man slowly stood up from the spectator seat. He held a list of school representatives in his hand, which he read out loud. ¡°Next up¡­ Let¡¯s welcome Maplewood Uno High¡¯s representative Bai Ze, Norton Elite¡¯s representative Chu li, Galant Elite¡¯s representative¡­¡± The old man¡¯s voice was not loud, and it was a little hoarse. However, his voice traveled hundreds of meters and reverberated in Bai Ze¡¯s ears. This amazing phenomenon made Bai Ze even more certain of his thoughts. The few elders in the spectator seats who were treated so respectfully by the Maplewood City¡¯s Magic Education Authority must be advanced mages of the sixth ring or above! ¡°Brother Bai, what are you waiting for? The organizer has already called your name. Hurry up and go up.¡± Wu Feng saw that Bai Ze seemed to have lost his focus and immediately pushed his arm. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m our school¡¯s representative?¡± By now, Bai Ze finally recovered himself. He thought he was hearing things just now. His ability was not well known in the school, so how did he become the school¡¯s representative? ¡°Good grief! Stop worrying about this question at this point. You won the championship of the entire school¡¯s mock battle the last time. Who else can represent the school if not you? Could it be me?¡± When Wu Feng saw that the representatives of the other schools had already gone on stage, he immediately dragged Bai Ze up from his seat anxiously. Bai Ze simply walked from the spectator seat to the stage with a confused look. The representatives of other schools went on stage with proud and confident steps, but at this moment, Bai Ze¡¯s face appeared worried. He had wanted to keep a low profile in the Nine Academies Joint Examination in order to increase his odds. Yet now, he had suddenly appeared on stage to unveil the trophy on behalf of the school in front of everyone. If he showed his face like this, he would attract the attention of many people. If more people placed their bets, the odds would naturally drop, and it might even become the same as the other contestants. If that were the case, the plan he had painstakingly planned would be for naught. Just as Bai Ze was racking his brain over what to do, a rhythmic chanting suddenly rang out from the spectator area behind him, which made him freeze in his tracks. ¡°Bai Ze, go for it! Go forth courageously! Do not fear the strong! Be the champion!¡± He turned around stiffly and was flabbergasted to find that Wu Feng had changed his seat and was now sitting in the middle of a group of people. He was waving a yellow banner with Bai Ze¡¯s name on it back and forth as if he was sending off the soldiers who were preparing to go to the battlefield. The slogan, invented by god-knows who was being yelled back and forth several times. Although the situation was a little awkward, their momentum was very strong, and it attracted the attention of most of the audience in the venue. Bai Ze almost fainted. At this moment, he remembered that when he was eating noodles yesterday, Wu Feng said that he would give him a surprise. He probably knew that Bai Ze would be going on stage as the school¡¯s representative. This¡­ was one hell of a surprise! After such a ruckus, Bai Ze knew without much thinking that his odds would definitely turn into a straight line. It looked like his plan to make lots of money was going to be ruined very soon. Bai Ze forced himself to smile. He could not embarrass the school in front of everyone, so he could only pretend to be confident and walk up to the stage. Soon, all the nine students representing their schools arrived. Under the media¡¯s cameras, they all displayed confident smiles on their faces. ¡°One¡­ Two!¡± The group of students pulled the red cloth off gently, and the next moment, the trophy appeared in everyone¡¯s sight. The entire trophy was shining with a golden light. It was about 120 centimeters tall, and the base was rose gold. Two ribbons were carved on the trophy, intertwining with each other. The surface had been specially treated as if wrapped in a coat of magic power, and there were six magic rings of different colors around it. Looking at the design of the trophy alone, it could be seen that the organizer attached great importance to this competition. Even the trophy was so exquisitely crafted. After the trophy was revealed, the old man said some more encouraging words deemed necessary for such occasions to motivate the students. On the stage, Bai Ze and the rest of the students were being photographed by the nearby reporters, so they could only maintain their forced smiles. A few minutes later, they were allowed to leave. The bell for the competition to begin rang immediately. Bai Ze returned to the audience seat. He felt that the time had passed very slowly just now, making him feel very uneasy. ¡°Brother Bai, I¡¯ve found quite a few people to back you up just now. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be able to give your opponent a taste of their might!¡± Wu Feng returned to his seat and said excitedly. Bai Ze was in no mood to smile. He knew that his buddy, Wu Feng, had good intentions. Taking out his mobile phone, Bai Ze fired up the website he had browsed yesterday and found that the pool of prize money for the Nine Academies Joint Examination had reached tens of millions, while his odds had fallen to an astonishing 1: 1.7. He could only cover his forehead in despair as he imagined millions of dollars floating away from him. ¡°Brother Bai, did I do something wrong?¡± Seeing Bai Ze¡¯s dejected look, Wu Feng asked tentatively, his expression somewhat embarrassed. ¡°I originally planned to keep a low profile during the competition so that the opponent would look down on me. This way, my chances of advancing in the competition would be higher¡­ But you gave me so much support publicly¡­ I guess my plan is ruined now.¡± Bai Ze calmed himself down and said dejectedly. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It seems like I¡¯ve completely ruined your plan.¡± Wu Feng scratched his head in embarrassment. Seeing Wu Feng¡¯s self-reproaching look, Bai Ze couldn¡¯t bear to rebuke him either. Moreover, he had just reconsidered the matter. The competition had not started yet, so there was still a chance to raise the odds. Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Consecutive Battles Chapter 36 Chapter 36: Consecutive Battles Thinking of this, Bai Ze patted Wu Feng¡¯s arm and said with a smile, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be embarrassed. I¡¯ve already found a good solution. After I take the stage, you can continue to cheer for me.¡± With that, Bai Ze picked up the bottle of water provided by the organizer, opened it up and took a sip. ¡°I¡¯ll find someone else to expose our relationship.¡± Bai Ze smiled mysteriously after saying this. It was Wu Feng¡¯s turn to be confused, his mind full of questions. However, out of trust for his buddy, he didn¡¯t say anything At this moment, the students chosen for the first round of the competition had already taken their places. They each stood in the various small arenas that had been segregated into a hundred meters in area, preparing for the first round of battle. Through the school¡¯s software, Bai Ze learned that he would have to wait until the third batch of contestants before he was due to compete. He immediately found an excuse to go to the washroom. Then, he took out the business card the butler had given him last time and gave the Jiang family¡¯s butler a call. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Bai. I¡¯ll do what you¡¯ve asked me to do at once!¡± On the other end of the phone, the butler immediately agreed and hung up the phone. Meanwhile, in the private discussion group for the Nine Academies Joint Examination at the betting platform. Hundreds of gamblers who made a living by betting were having a heated discussion in the group. The competition would begin in five minutes, and when that time came, the platform would stop taking bets. Therefore, these last five minutes were their chance to make a final decision. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the student named Bai Ze is a new force that can¡¯t be underestimated. It¡¯s very likely that he can make it to the top nine places in this competition. What do you think?¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much time left. Fuck, let¡¯s just throw in everything we¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be rash. It only takes one minute to place a bet. What¡¯s the rush?¡± Just as everyone was in the midst of an intense discussion, one of the administrators named Jinmen suddenly appeared. ¡°Everyone, listen to me. I just found out that the group of people who were cheering for Bai Ze were all students from the same school. The one who was cheering the loudest was his good buddy.¡± ¡°The support between buddies can¡¯t be used as a basis for judging strength. Don¡¯t be confused by this kind of thing! And according to my investigation, that guy won the championship of the mock competition at Maplewood Uno High purely out of good luck. At that time, a few fourth ring mages were fighting, and he was the third party who benefited from the chaos!¡± The administrator¡¯s sudden disclosure of the news caused all the people hanging out in the group to explode. ¡°Fuck, I bet 1,000 on him ten minutes ago. I just wanted to try my luck. I have to delete it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s highly improbable that a dark horse would appear under such circumstances. It¡¯s very likely that someone is trying to manipulate the situation and disrupt our information gathering. I think we should bet on Zheng Man, that fourth ring mage.¡± As time went by, the black market gamblers who had previously bet on Bai Ze withdrew their bets. As the news spread, the number of people who bet on Bai Ze gradually dropped from hundreds to two digits. There were only a dozen or so people left who didn¡¯t believe it or didn¡¯t receive the news at all. Moreover, because Bai Ze was only at the second ring realm, even if those people bet on him, they were only betting a few hundred bucks. When the platform was about to stop taking bets, the prize pool money suddenly soared to more than 80 million. Millions were placed on several popular contestants, and the dynamic odds on Bai Ze¡¯s side quickly rose to 1: 18.4. Meanwhile, Bai Ze, who was sitting inside the arena, was paying close attention to the betting odds. He waited until the final ten seconds, then quickly threw in all 100,000 bucks. Bai Ze only heaved a sigh of relief when the betting interface turned gray. He thought to himself, ¡°The butler is really quick at handling matters.¡± In just a few minutes, he had influenced the judgment of so many people. Such efficiency was indeed true to the working style of the Jiang family, a top-class family in Maplewood City. After Bai Ze was done placing his bet, he began to watch the competition in earnest. Hundreds of students were fighting one-on-one in the arenas, and there were cameras from all angles that captured the scenes. It made the battles that were quite mundane more exciting. In addition, the broadcast director would sometimes interrupt the main screen to switch to the critical moments in other battles, so all the audience members enjoyed it Bai Ze¡¯s eyes swept over the students in the arenas. Balls of magic of different colors exploded on the stage. There were students who were proficient in lightning rules and could rely on their extremely fast casting speed to finish off their opponents easily. Others who focused on cultivating defensive rules were enveloped by light shields and quickly neutralized their opponent¡¯s attacks. They would wait until the opponent¡¯s magic power was exhausted before defeating them. In this vein, the battle tactics of the various styles shone brilliantly. In order to advance, the students unleashed their magic rings one after another. Most of the students present had three magic rings around them. There were very few second ring students. As for the higher level fourth ring students, out of the thousands of candidates, only less than 30 had reached this realm. In about 20 minutes, hundreds of battles had been won. Some candidates shouted in joy, while others looked disappointed or even burst into tears. The first round of battles was already halfway through, and there were already more than two hundred students who had left the arena dejectedly. Battles were cruel, and there would be no mercy shown simply because one didn¡¯t perform well or for other reasons. ¡°Next, let¡¯s invite the students of Maplewood Uno High to come on stage to draw lots!¡± The organizer who controlled the proceedings of the competition spoke, and the students around Bai Ze immediately stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s our turn to go on stage!¡± A smile appeared at the corner of Bai Ze¡¯s mouth, and he eagerly walked up to the stage. Soon, those 130 students from Uno High who met the conditions to participate in Nine Academies Joint Examination had all drawn lots. Bai Ze looked at the number engraved on one end of the wooden lot stick. There was a red 37 inscribed on it. Before long, Wu Feng also walked over with an excited expression. ¡°I can only pray that the opponent I¡¯ll encounter later won¡¯t be too strong.¡± Seeing Wu Feng¡¯s apprehensive look, Bai Ze broke into laughter and said, ¡°Don¡¯t count on any profound mystical arts. Just display your usual ability.¡± After a short while, the third batch of contestants had all drawn lots, and Bai Ze immediately came to the 37th arena. The arena was only 100 square meters. If one left the arena or couldn¡¯t fight anymore, they would be considered defeated. As this was an officially sanctioned competition, the contestants were strictly prohibited from using heavy-handed tactics. At this moment, the judge had already arrived at the side of the arena. The other contestant also arrived at the arena. The two of them simply nodded to each other and did not say anything. ¡°I hereby announce that the arena duels shall now begin!¡± A clear whistle sounded in the distance, and the next moment, the mage standing not far away from Bai Ze immediately swung into action. An earth-yellow light flickered around him, and three magic rings immediately appeared around him. At this moment, Bai Ze felt an energy fluctuation under his feet. He did not dare to be careless and immediately deployed the Storm Thunder Flash to dart away from his current position. Bang! The floor shook, and Bai Ze¡¯s spiritual perception sensed a rock spike around two meters long had struck the place where he had been standing a few seconds ago. The tip of the rock spike was extremely sharp and could easily cut through skin and flesh! Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Successful Advancement! Battle for the Championship Chapter 37 Chapter 37: Successful Advancement! Battle for the Championship ¡°So it¡¯s earth-type spells. Your proficiency is not bad, but the casting time is too long.¡± Bai Ze smiled and commented. After hearing his words, the other party¡¯s face immediately turned icy cold. Just as he was about to follow up with another strike, a meter-long icicle appeared behind him in the next second. The icicle floated in the air, emitting a frightening icy cold light. The young man who cultivated earth-type spells was so terrified that he didn¡¯t dare to move and chose to surrender. His opponent did not even unleash his magic rings, yet he was able to launch a magic attack behind him quietly. With such a great discrepancy in ability, there was no need to continue fighting anymore. When the judge standing on the side saw that the other party had surrendered, he immediately announced Bai Ze as the winner. ¡°Not bad. I don¡¯t need to waste any more effort. ¡° Bai Ze walked down the arena beaming widely, then returned to his spectator seat. There were nearly two hundred battle arenas in the venue, and most of the mages were still fighting With his outstanding spiritual power perception, Bai Ze immediately found the arena where Wu Feng was. At this moment, Wu Feng was casting wind-type spells. Countless Wind Blades condensed in front of him. Although the power of a single Wind Blade was not great, Wu Feng had the advantage of being able to condense a large number of them. Although his opponent was still trying to block him, his magic power was decreasing rapidly, and defeat was only a matter of time. ¡°Not bad. You¡¯ve actually practiced the D-class Wind Blade technique to the Familiar level.¡± Bai Ze raised his eyebrows and began casting his eyes on the arena where the fourth ring mages were fighting. At the fourth ring level, a mage¡¯s magic style had already solidified. They would usually major in one or two attribute-based spells and also have the help of precious tools. They would not drag out their battles and made for enjoyable viewing. At this moment, his gaze was attracted by one particular student. Although the student was dressed in the elite school¡¯s uniform, there was a band on his waist that emitted a faint light. With a single look, he could tell it was a high-grade precious tool. The young man was a close-range offensive fighter. He condensed magic power at his fingertips and directly attacked the opponent¡¯s vital points. He also combined his strikes with an impressive speed-type spell. His opponent was practically unable to fight back, and the flaming armor he had condensed was easily dispersed by him. He ended the battle effortlessly. This kind of expert was rare in the Nine Academies Joint Examination. Bai Ze scanned through the hundreds of arenas and only found a few such talents. However, he did discover many rules that he had never encountered before. For example, they could forgo their magic staves and concentrate their magic power on their fingertips to use them as close-range combat weapons. Another example was to use magic to create virtual avatars and engage in group battles in the name of justice. There were even some who cast large-scale magic spells, turning their opponents into frozen ice sculptures straightaway. With all kinds of experts gathered here, Bai Ze¡¯s heart was aflutter with great expectations. He didn¡¯t know if the rules he cultivated could suppress those top experts. The battle of the third batch of contestants soon came to an end. At this point, all the students present had completed their first round of battle. Compared to the start of the battle, the number of students left had already decreased by a lot. The remaining 500 or so contestants returned to the spectator area to rest and wait for the second round of battle. During the break, the exhibition match continued without delay. The staff members in the spectator area also distributed small magic power recovery potions to the contestants for them to replenish the magic power expended in the first round of battle. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Wu Feng swallowed the magic potion in one gulp, then laid back on the seat like a lazy slouch, feeling the magic power in his body gradually recovering. Bai Ze had the powerful ability of Magic Surge, so he had no need for this at all. However, with the mentality that it would be a waste if he didn¡¯t take advantage of it, he still accepted it. ¡°Burp¡­ This thing is quite sweet.¡± Bai Ze smacked his lips and gave his two cents worth of evaluation. After throwing the empty potion bottle into the trash can, Bai Ze looked at Wu Feng, who was lying like a corpse, and said with a smile, ¡°How is it? Do you have the confidence to win the second round?¡± Wu Feng sat up straight and felt the magic energy in his body gradually replenishing. He patted his chest and said in an expansive manner, ¡°Not that I want to brag, but as long as my opponent doesn¡¯t have three rings, I have a high chance of winning!¡± Bai Ze was a little dumbfounded. ¡°Er¡­ I just checked around. After the first round, there are less than 100 second ring mages left. Are you sure you can draw another second ring mage?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± After hearing Bai Ze¡¯s analysis, Wu Feng was instantly dumbfounded. His confidence vanished completely. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t discourage you anymore. Just do your best. I saw that your Wind Blade technique was quite good, but there¡¯s just a small problem.¡± ¡°After the Wind Blade is formed, you have to consciously control the direction and speed of the Wind Blade instead of letting it charge freely at the opponent. It¡¯s too much of a waste of magic power.¡± Bai Ze frowned slightly. After a few seconds of silence, he offered the above suggestion. Wu Feng also fell into deep thought, as if he was thinking about the feasibility. The second round of the advancement stage began very quickly, and everyone drew their lots again. Wu Feng braced himself like he was going to the execution ground, while Bai Ze won the second match in an extremely relaxed manner. In the second round, the opponent was a third ring mage. Bai Ze still dodged all the opponent¡¯s spells with fleeting speed and ended the battle with an icicle. The entire process took less than five minutes. The reason he did this was to leave an inherent impression on others, to make them think that he only knew two spells and that the reason he could win was because of his higher proficiency level. He believed that in this competition, there would be many people who would do the same. Back in the spectator area, Bai Ze continued to watch the battle. He focused his attention on all the fourth ring mages. This was because in the final battle for the championship, he would have to fight against those fourth ring mages. This time, his attention was focused on a girl. The girl¡¯s hair was tied into two ponytails and her eyes were sharp. What attracted Bai Ze¡¯s attention was the long-range magic spells that she cultivated. According to his judgment and analysis, Bai Ze found that the girl had cultivated at least four long-range attack spells, and their levels were not low. What surprised him the most was that the girl who had just come of age could actually release three spells at the same time while controlling them to attack the enemy concurrently Her spells included Lightning Blink, Fire Rain, and Water Bullet. Under her airtight attacks, the enemies couldn¡¯t even fight back, and each battle was finished within three minutes. The other party¡¯s ability was enough to be ranked in the top ten of this joint competition, so not surprisingly, Bai Ze paid more attention to her. Of course, this included Lin Xi and Ling Quan, who were both fourth ring mages from his own school. The two of them continued their usual fighting style. Lin Xi used wood-type spells as her main weapon, and the precious tools she matched to her ability were all very compatible. As soon as the battle began, she was the first to condense countless vines to trap her opponent and straightaway threw him out of the arena. One of her opponents was a mage at the peak of his third ring. It was a pity that the unlucky guy was thrown out of the arena before he could even unleash his magic. It was truly a tragic outcome. Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: First Rounds Draw Was a Walkover, Was It Good Luck? Chapter 38 Chapter 38: First Round¡¯s Draw Was a Walkover, Was It Good Luck? All of Ling Quan¡¯s attacks contained the metal attribute. Whether it was the highly destructive Golden Wing Stab that he condensed as a standalone weapon or attaching the powers to another weapon for physical attacks, it was difficult to withstand his assault. He quickly stood out in this advancement stage of the competition. At five o¡¯clock in the evening, the three rounds of advancement battles were all over. Bai Ze won easily. He didn¡¯t even use his full strength in the three matches, and the enemies he faced were not strong, so he was quite lucky. Out of the 130 people from Maplewood Uno High who participated in the competition, only 65 made it to the next round. Wu Feng was the last one, ranked right at the bottom. After receiving Bai Ze¡¯s guidance, he seemed to have attained some enlightenment. The Wind Blade he deployed moved in very odd directions, yet he was still lucky enough to defeat a third ring mage. He had successfully advanced to the next round! As for the championship competition after this, the competition setup was somewhat different. Not only did the arena¡¯s area increase to a thousand meters, but the rule of losing by getting tossed out of the arena was also abandoned. Only when the participant lost the ability to fight or surrendered would the winner be decided. Moreover, there were also additional conditions to qualify in order to participate in the championship battle. Only those at the third ring and above, and had cultivated at least one C-class rule would be eligible to obtain a spot. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time to let those who were too weak to participate in such a battle. Only those with sufficient strength would be qualified to compete for the championship. Of the two hundred and sixty people who had successfully advanced, only eighty-two met the requirements. Moreover, there were some who felt that there was no hope of winning the championship, so even if they qualified, they did not intend to participate in the final battle for the championship. After all, this was no longer the advancement stage where they could quickly clear the three rounds as long as they were lucky. In such battles, the opponents they encounter would only get stronger and stronger. With their strength at the intermediate third ring, it was impossible for them to be a match for those fourth ring mages. Therefore, after a series of filtering, only thirty-one students stood on the stage to compete for the championship. All of them were at the peak of the third ring realm, and some were even at the fourth ring. Of course, Bai Ze was an exception. As he had just advanced to the third ring the day before, he didn¡¯t appear to be very strong on the surface. He was only at the early stage of the third ring. At this moment, he stood in the crowd and seemed out of place. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lu Yi. May I get acquainted with you?¡± Just when Bai Ze was about to leave, a young man with a belt on his waist walked quickly to him and reached out his right hand, greeting him in a gentle tone. Bai Ze¡¯s eyes flickered and found that the guy in front of him was the fourth ring mage he had noticed before. The other party¡¯s ability to concentrate magic power on his fingertips was refreshing, so he naturally remembered the other party¡¯s face. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Bai Ze.¡± He responded politely. ¡°I¡¯m very interested in the magic spells you used. I hope to meet you in the next battle.¡± The young man who called himself Lu Yi smiled warmly. Bai Ze did not sense any hostility in his expression. However, he did not realize that the other party had also noticed him in the first three rounds of the competition. The two of them chatted for a while. At this moment, a girl with two ponytails walked out of the crowd. The girl quickly walked over to Bai Ze and patted Lu Yi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hey, Lu Yi, what are you doing here instead of dealing with those troublesome reporters?¡± At that moment, Lu Yi¡¯s gentle expression immediately disappeared. He turned around and said helplessly, ¡°Little Miss, if you want to fight, go look for Gu Yan. He can spar with you at any time. Don¡¯t keep on hounding me.¡± Bai Ze looked at the two of them bickering, which somewhat resembled the situation between him and Jiang Qingyue. He settled back to watch their show happily. The girl with two ponytails remained unconvinced by Lu Yi¡¯s words. She gave an arrogant snort and said mercilessly, ¡°I¡¯m not going to spar with that guy. That person only practices defensive magic. He¡¯s like a turtle shell. I can¡¯t break him at all.¡± Bai Ze, who was standing beside them, couldn¡¯t resist smiling inwardly when he heard the girl¡¯s words. Seeing this, Lu Yi immediately introduced in an apologetic tone, ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I forgot my manners while busy arguing with her.¡± ¡°This is Ye Ningmei, a student from Myriad Cosmos Elite Academy. You may meet her in the next championship battle. At that point, you¡¯ll understand why I¡¯m treating her like this.¡± After saying this, Lu Yi tried to slip away, but the girl with double ponytails only glanced at Bai Ze and went in hot pursuit of Lu Yi. Bai Ze sighed softly in his heart when he saw the two of them looking so energetic. Before long, everyone gathered at the venue and prepared to draw lots to decide on their opponents for the battle. Each of these contestants who drew lots exuded a huge amount of magic power from their bodies. They could be considered the best in the entire city. Fighting with these people, Bai Ze felt a sense of pressure and anticipation. At the same time, he also wanted to test himself to see if he could defeat a fourth ring mage. After drawing his lot stick, Bai Ze looked at the words inscribed on it and was momentarily stunned. ¡°Surely I can¡¯t be that lucky!¡± Bai Ze murmured in surprise, because he found that there was the word ¡°Empty¡± written on the lot stick in his hand. ¡°A walkover on your first round? Brother Bai Ze¡¯s luck is pretty good!¡± Lu Yi walked up to him with a face full of anticipation. When he saw Bai Ze¡¯s lot stick, he instantly became visibly disappointed. He had wanted to have a battle with Bai Ze to see if the other party¡¯s speed could avoid his attack. Now it seemed that there was no chance for the time being. ¡°Haha! It looks like our battle will have to be delayed for a while. Brother Lu, you must advance in this round.¡± Bai Ze said with a smile. He immediately got off the stage and returned to the spectator area. This kind of peak level battles were rare on normal days. He must watch them carefully later. When he returned to his seat, he found that there were still many students in the school who remained in their original seats. They had the same idea as Bai Ze, fully prepared to watch and learn from the battles. Before long, the first round of the championship battle commenced. The first pair was two guys, one of whom was Lu Yi, who had taken the initiative to chat with Bai Ze not long ago. Lu Yi was tall, his arms well-proportioned and strong, and his eyes were staring at the other party with a hint of hostility. His opponent was a young man with a pair of silver earrings. Although he was at the peak of the third ring, it was clear from his expression that he was quite nervous. ¡°Relax, buddy. I¡¯ll end the battle as soon as possible.¡± On the battlefield, Lu Yi seemed to have changed into a different person. The corners of his mouth curled up into a sinister smile. A split second later, the magic power in his body churned, and a beam of dark light condensed on his fingertips. Bai Ze saw this guy unleash his signature move. The young man with silver earrings immediately created a defensive array formation. In the next second, Lu Yi¡¯s eyes flashed, and he had already rushed in front of his opponent. The shimmering light on his fingertips suddenly hit the defensive shield that his opponent had just created. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that a C-class Chanting Dragon Bell can¡¯t withstand your attack!¡± The guy with earrings gritted his teeth, and the magic power in his body gushed out. Lu Yi¡¯s attack collided with the Chanting Dragon Bell condensed from magic power. In the next instant, a terrifying wave of energy burst out from the center of the collision. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Various Experts, First Display of Extraordinary Abilities! Chapter 39 Chapter 39: Various Experts, First Display of Extraordinary Abilities! The violent explosion of energy instantly sent the two of them flying. The guy with earrings had the Chanting Dragon Bell activated to block the attack, so he did not suffer any injury. Lu Yi barely dodged it with super high speed, but his face was a little ashen as if he was a little scared. After regaining his composure, he gathered magic power on his fingertips again. ¡°Watch as I tear your lousy bell apart!¡± With a low shout, his body moved like a phantom, instantly darting away a dozen meters. The other party hurriedly activated a rule to counter his strike. However, in the previous exchange, Lu Yi had already discovered the weakness of the Chanting Dragon Bell. The steely glint on his fingertips tapped a certain part of the Chanting Dragon Bell, then suddenly stabbed into it. In the next instant, the Chanting Dragon Bell suddenly disintegrated before the guy with earrings could react. By now, Lu Yi¡¯s fingertips were already at his opponent¡¯s throat. ¡°I¡­ surrender!¡± The guy¡¯s face turned pale. Although he was resentful, he had no choice but to give up in the face of such a great discrepancy in strength between him and Lu Yi. Even if he had deployed his strongest rule, he still wouldn¡¯t be able to resist Lu Yi¡¯s attack. The judge quickly announced the result of the match. Lu Yi raised his head to bask in the envious gazes from the spectators. After Bai Ze finished watching his battle, he also got to know more about the guy called Lu Yi. Although Bai Ze didn¡¯t know if Lu Yi had any hidden moves, he was confident he could defeat this opponent. In the arena, following Lu Yi¡¯s victory in advancing to the next round, a burst of applause immediately erupted from the elite students¡¯ spectator area where he was assigned. Soon after, the second team of contestants entered the arena. In a battle between experts, even the slightest slip-up would be infinitely magnified. Therefore, most of the time, the battle would end within five minutes. The moment any flaws were exposed, the opponent would be able to grasp them and extend their advantage immediately. Therefore, all 16 battles ended in less than an hour. Of course, there was an exception. It was the young man who had taken the path of defensive magic. That young man was dressed in a long green robe. He had fair skin and attractive features. He always had a gentle smile on his face, like an elegant young master from ancient times. It was such a person with a scholarly temperament who cultivated a rule with top-tier defensive abilities. In every battle, he would exhaust his opponent¡¯s magic power in a short time, and then find an opportunity to eliminate the opponent in one blow. His battle this time lasted nearly 20 minutes. His opponent was also a fourth ring mage, but even this guy couldn¡¯t break through his defense. Even if he deployed a C-class rule at the Familiar level, it would still be futile. After observing for a long time, Bai Ze found six strong contenders for the championship. Lin Xi from Maplewood Uno High school, who cultivated wood-type spells, Ling Quan from the same school, who was decisive in attacks, and the other four strong students he had met today. These four were: Close-range combat mage Lu Yi, the long-range attacking mage Ye Ningmei, who used magic power to condense elemental bullets, the ultimate defense mage Gu Yan, and an arrogant leader from the Norton Elite High School. The first round of the championship battle had ended, and only sixteen contestants remained. And these sixteen would fight again until the first-place winner was decided. In such an important segment, many cameras were added around the arena. In addition to broadcasting the entire event live, two reporters were also roped in to give a running commentary to the audience. At this point, Bai Ze found that Teacher Fang Yu, who was in charge of their class at Maplewood Uno High, had arrived. She even brought the three of them who had advanced to the next round to the spectator area at the last minute, as if she wanted to explain something. ¡°Ms. Fang, aren¡¯t you at school? Why are you here?¡± Lin Xi, who was wearing a long green dress and sitting by the side, asked curiously. Ling Quan, who was holding a rod, kept his head lowered in silence. Bai Ze greeted Teacher Fang Yu and sat directly next to her. ¡°Bai Ze, I didn¡¯t expect your strength to be so outstanding that you can advance to this stage. I know you must have put in more effort than other people.¡± Teacher Fang Yu gazed at Bai Ze with gentleness. She was feeling guilty for neglecting Bai Ze in school. ¡°Ms. Fang, please don¡¯t say that. I didn¡¯t actually put in much effort. I was just playing around, and I accidentally got my third ring. Haha!¡± Bai Ze laughed in awkward embarrassment, but he didn¡¯t realize that after he said this, Lin Xi immediately cast him a resentful look. ¡°What? He became so powerful just by playing around?¡± ¡°Does this mean that though I¡¯ve been working so hard on my cultivation, and I even have the help of precious tools, my abilities are still inferior to yours?¡± she thought ruefully. Lin Xi clenched her fists. When she thought of how she had been left far behind by Bai Ze and couldn¡¯t even get close to the badge, the grievances in her heart overflowed. Meanwhile, the anti-social Ling Quan also raised his head, his expression filled with battle intent. Bai Ze did not realize that his casual words had offended two fourth ring mages at the same time. If Teacher Fang Yu wasn¡¯t there, they would have probably started fighting for real. ¡°The next battle is extremely important. Please do not be careless and try your best to adjust to your best condition. No matter what the result is, you are all students that I am most proud of.¡± an Teacher Fang Yu¡¯s smile made Lin Xi and Ling Quan¡¯s originally tense mood relax a little. And what about Bai Ze, one might ask? He only had excitement and anticipation now. He was not nervous at all! As the sound of the drum boomed, the second round of the battle commenced without a hitch. Outside the transparent skylight at the top of the arena, the sky gradually darkened. The lights in the arena lit up, illuminating the entire venue as if it were daytime. A low and emotionally charged music was gradually piped out, and the sixteen outstanding students once again stepped onto the stage to draw lots. Bai Ze calmly drew out a long stick from the bamboo tube and then showed it to the camera below the stage. There was only the number 4 inscribed on it. After learning that he was the fourth to go on to the arena, Bai Ze returned to the spectator area. He had no choice. The venue was too big, and the details of the battle could only be seen through the camera. In the previous battles, Bai Ze had received several system prompts. His Icicle Technique¡¯s proficiency had already reached Mastery level 3, and his other rules had also more or less advanced further. Only the Repelling Fire Ring remained unchanged. Observing his opponents could not only help him understand his opponent in advance, but it could also elevate his proficiency in the rules, so why not? As the whistle blew, the battle went into full swing The first pair of contestants were Ling Quan and Norton¡¯s fourth ring mage. Both of them had similar strengths and were at the top of the school. Bai Ze was looking forward to this battle. It should be very exciting. ¡°The first match of the second round of the championship battle begins!¡± The moment the judge finished speaking, the two of them charged simultaneously! Ling Quan waved his right hand, and with a flash of golden light, dozens of Golden Wing Stab appeared in the air and flew towards his opponent at a blazingly fast speed. The Norton representative raised his hand and performed an incantation gesture. He then muttered a spell, and a shocking energy fluctuation emanated from him. Green light flashed and quickly condensed into a barrier in front of him. On the commentary platform, a male reporter in a body-fitting dark blue suit saw the situation and immediately exclaimed in surprise, ¡°The C-class rule, Dense Forest! Judging from the effect of this spell, it¡¯s at least at the Refinement level!¡± Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Talking Tough? Straightaway Cripple Both Legs Chapter 40 Chapter 40: Talking Tough? Straightaway Cripple Both Legs ¡°Yes, but Student Ling Quan from Maplewood Uno High is also using a C-class rule, the Golden Wing Stab. I wonder who will emerge victorious when these two powerful rules collide!¡± The female commentator at the side pointed out the other opponent¡¯s ability, and at the same time, the anticipation for the battle between the two was raised. Although the crystal clear explanation of the two commentators sounded good to others, Bai Ze only felt that the two people sitting on the commentary platform were a little noisy. On the battle arena. The Golden Wing Stab and the impenetrable Dense Forest barrier collided. Upon contact, the golden needles were unable to advance any further. Ripples repeatedly appeared on the greenish Dense Forest shield as well, and it looked as if it would collapse soon. ¡°Hmph! Looks like the top of the school from Maplewood Uno High is nothing great.¡± The Norton¡¯s representative said disdainfully with a scornful smirk on his face. Ling Quan raised his head, and a steely glint flashed across his eyes. Clenching the long rod in his hand, the magic power within his body burst out in a terrifying wave. In the next instant, the long rod was enveloped in golden light, and the surface was even radiating a metallic sheen. Taking one step back, Ling Quan suddenly rushed forward like a phantom. The Norton¡¯s representative became a little flustered. He immediately conjured the Dense Forest barrier again while casting two Inferno Bombs at the same time in an attempt to block his opponent¡¯s path. However, he was too slow in casting the spell. Before the two fireballs could be completely condensed, Ling Quan had already closed in on him. Pow! The golden wooden rod struck down like a cannonball, immediately causing a wave of ripples. However, Ling Quan¡¯s attack was far from over. Instead, he rained down a barrage of strikes like a raging thunderstorm. The terrifying force of the impact tore Ling Quan¡¯s school uniform to shreds, revealing his well-toned muscles and bronze-colored body. The Norton representative¡¯s eyes widened in terror. The scene before him went against his understanding of the common knowledge about magic. A mage¡¯s focus was on having an open mind. Only when one¡¯s spiritual power was strong enough could one cast outstanding magic. However, this Ling Quan guy in front of him had such a muscular body and did not look like a mage at all! ¡°Break!¡± Ling Quan let out a furious roar as the magic power in his body converged at the tip of the wooden rod. In the next moment, he exerted every ounce of strength in his muscles and smashed down with the rod. Even if the Dense Forest barrier was a C-class rule, how could it possibly withstand such an insane bombardment? In the end, it completely shattered due to the dissipation of magic power. After breaking through the barrier, Ling Quan¡¯s rod did not stop. Instead, it went straight for the head of the guy behind. The Norton¡¯s representative only felt the sound of breaking wind whipping across his face. Before he could even open his mouth to admit defeat, the wooden rod bashed his head with great force. This direct blow to his head instantly blurred his consciousness, and he was knocked out, falling into a baby-like sleep. When the judge saw that Ling Quan was about to attack again, he quickly announced his victory. (System message: You have observed an intense battle. Your Ice Crystal Armor has gained enlightenment, and its cultivation progress has automatically increased. Your current proficiency is at Mastery level 4.] The moment the judge announced the end of the match, a system prompt appeared in Bai Ze¡¯s mind as usual. However, what Bai Ze did not understand was why the Ice Crystal Armor was improved when it was clearly a physical attack during the battle. ¡°Could it be that this rule was afraid that I would get beaten up, so it automatically increased its strength?¡± Bai Ze wondered. ¡°The Ice Crystal Armor is so gentle to me. I¡¯m going to cry.¡± Not long after the battle, Ling Quan returned to his seat in silence. Bai Ze was sharp enough to notice that blood was oozing out from the area between his thumb and forefinger. He figured that he must have exerted a lot of effort before he could break the other party¡¯s defense. However, he still admired Ling Quan in his heart for having the courage to open up another path in the domain of magic. Wasn¡¯t this the spirit of a pioneer? He turned around and saw that Teacher Fang Yu was healing Ling Quan. He thought that since Ling Quan was already struggling at this stage, he might very well lose to Lu Yi and the others in the next round. The competition continued. The commentators were still passionately making commentaries while Bai Ze continued to watch. Meanwhile, the underground betting platform¡¯s group chat had erupted in an uproar. ¡°Fuck that Jinmen administrator! Come out! Now that Bai Ze has obtained the qualifications to compete for the championship, you have to compensate me!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. I didn¡¯t expect a third ring mage to reach this stage unexpectedly.¡± ¡°Did Jinmen receive dirty money? Why isn¡¯t he saying anything now? Fortunately, I bet on Gu Yan. Although his odds are a little low, his chances of winning the championship are very high.¡± ¡°That girl called Ye Ningmei isn¡¯t bad either. By the way, why can¡¯t I see Jinmen in the group member list anymore?¡± ¡°Fuck, he¡¯s probably long gone. He became a spy for a little money. I hate spies the most in my life!¡± ¡°How much money did he receive exactly? He¡¯s even canceled his account.¡± The turmoil in the black market discussion group had yet to settle. At this point, the battle in the arena had gradually reached a boiling point! In the first two matches, Bai Ze once again understood more about Lu Yi¡¯s spiritual movement technique. Even though his opponent was also a fourth ring mage, he still couldn¡¯t withstand it and only held on for less than five minutes before leaving regretfully. It was a pity that Bai Ze¡¯s rules did not improve again after observing these battles. It was 6:20 pm. The spectators in the arena were still in high spirits. The second round of battle had also reached its fourth battle. After hearing the commentator call out his name, Bai Ze stood up and walked toward the battle arena briskly. ¡°Bai Ze, go for it! I believe you can win the championship!¡± In the spectator seats behind him, Wu Feng waved the winning banner and cheered for Bai Ze as if he was on steroids. Although there were fewer team members this time, their momentum was still not weak, and they caught the attention of the other spectators. Seeing his buddy Wu Feng cheering for him like he was fighting for his own life, Bai Ze became emboldened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the championship of the Nine Academies Joint Examination will definitely be mine!¡± Bai Ze thought. He strode up to the arena and flashed a smile at the surrounding cameras. ¡°Now, walking onto the battle arena is the representative from Maplewood Uno High, Bai Ze. His current strength is at the early stage of the third ring.¡± ¡°Although his realm is not high, he has an excellent ice control technique. I wonder if he can continue to leverage his advantage and defeat his opponent in this peak-level competition?¡± On the commentary platform, the female host was talking non-stop. At the same time, another contestant had arrived at the battle arena. His opponent was also a fourth ring mage. If Bai Ze remembered correctly, his name should be Shi Qiyun. He was also the representative of an elite school and was well-versed in the extremely rare dark-type magic. In Bai Ze¡¯s view, he was a good opponent for himself. ¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡± Bai Ze said with a smile as he took out his Ethereal Magic Staff. Shi Qiyun looked at Bai Ze with a profound gaze, then made a sliding gesture with his hand to his neck. In the face of the enemy¡¯s provocation, Bai Ze simply brushed it aside. Many people made such arrogant gestures before a match but later turned out to be pathetic wimps. In the arena, strength was the only truth. People like him usually had some mental problems. nu! At this moment, the judge below the stage saw that both of them were ready and immediately announced the start of the match. Bai Ze held the Ethereal Magic Staff and stood still. Since the opponent didn¡¯t respect him, then he couldn¡¯t blame Bai Ze for his unorthodox methods.