Chapter 286 Mission and Project Completed (Two-in-One)
Time flies. A year and a half later, Nolen Academy No. 147 welcomed another round of new student recruitment.
Benjamin was still sitting behind his deserted Alchemy School admissions desk, and the result was still no surprise - zero results.
He has been able to take it in stride and even began to feel that this "leisure" might be the biggest hidden benefit of his role as a mentor.
Another five years passed. When Jermyn was immersed in a deduction about the stability of the energy transmission network and its compatibility with the plane laws, the unique fluctuations of the encrypted communicator interrupted his thoughts.
The light curtain unfolded, revealing the dignified and calm face of Dean Avery Knight.
"Jieming," the dean said straight to the point, without any greetings, "get ready. The graduation trials for the first batch of apprentices will be held in six months, and we need your participation in the relevant preparations."
"Graduation test?" Benjamin was a little surprised. "We're going to have this in our new school?"
As far as Benjamin knew, the Noren Academy under the Noren Workshop had not had such a thing as a graduation trial a long time ago. Wizard apprentices who had completed ten years of study in the academy would usually be sent directly to the front line of the plane battlefield. As long as they survived, they would be considered graduates.
In his class, there was a graduation test because of the need for screening.
He immediately thought of something deeper: "After the trial, will those who have passed the test also have to participate in the 'elite screening' of the Norn Workshop like other Norn academies?"
"Of course," Dean Avery confirmed. "The process and ratio are the same as usual. Only one in ten outstanding candidates will be eligible to participate in the subsequent screening."
As for the content of graduation trials, after years of evolution, the many academies under the Noren Workshop have already formed a mature and efficient formula.
First, select a small plane with a lower energy level and controllable danger, and clear out any high-level threats that may exist there that are beyond the apprentice's ability to cope with.
Then let the apprentices enter and conduct a simplified version of the "plane war" as the final assessment and actual combat rehearsal of their college career.
"Regarding the trial site," Dean Avery continued, "I will select a suitable one from my personal collection of planes. I will try to find a small plane with a low enough energy level and a moderately harsh environment. I will also deploy some well-tamed servant races that are comparable in strength to those little creatures as 'opponents.'"
Upon hearing this, Benjamin nodded in agreement. This process was indeed efficient.
Dean Avery Knight's doing this is much more cost-effective than temporarily going to the void to find and conquer a natural low-energy plane.
Moreover, Dean Avery Knight's private dimension has a complete infrastructure, making space projection and monitoring more convenient.
Otherwise, it would be like Benjamin's class, where a lot of extra energy and resources were consumed in order to complete a graduation test.
But Benjamin immediately thought of a key issue, and a look of hesitation crossed his face. "Dean, the trial's safety measures... When I first participated in the trial on Norn No. 13, high-level alchemists mass-produced life-saving rings containing teleportation. With my current alchemy skills, I'm afraid I can't independently complete such a large-scale and high-level refining."
After all, Benjamin himself is only a second-level wizard now. Although he has mastered certain knowledge of space, it is definitely impossible for him to achieve the same level as during the trial that year.
Dean Avery seemed to have anticipated this. "That's fine. These standardized life-saving items can be purchased directly in bulk from the workshop's internal channels. After all, it's been a long time since your class, and the workshop has already established a complete sales system."
"Your primary responsibility is to ensure the stable operation of the trial broadcast and monitoring systems. We need to clearly and in real time observe each apprentice's performance in the trial. This is key to evaluating their achievements and responding to emergencies."
Hearing this, Benjamin immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
This broadcasting system is usually composed of complex detection orbs, information flow transmission hubs and large-scale development arrays.
If it is just about maintaining and ensuring the normal operation of the broadcasting system, this is entirely within his capabilities.
He immediately assured with confidence: "Please rest assured, Dean, leave the broadcast system to me, there will be no problem!"
After finalizing the main task, Benjamin's thoughts unconsciously drifted to further places.
He recalled the reason why all the academies under the Norn Workshop suddenly underwent unified reforms and added graduation trials - the rumor shrouded in mystery about the Star Ring Federation's possible actions.
"Dean," Benjamin couldn't help but ask, "Regarding that 'rumor' that prompted us to add the graduation test... there doesn't seem to be much follow-up so far? Regarding the Star Ring Federation..."
Dean Avery glanced at Benjamin with a penetrating gaze. He didn't deny it, but responded calmly, "For a wizard like you with talent and potential, that incident, if it really happened, wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. It might even be an opportunity. As for why there hasn't been any reaction so far..."
He paused, and with the indifferent perspective of a high-level wizard who had transcended a long time, he explained:
"You must understand that from the perspective of high-level wizards, especially decision-makers who can influence the direction of civilization, unless it involves an immediate crisis of life and death, a major strategy with far-reaching consequences that can be gradually implemented and produce results over thousands of years can be considered 'swift and decisive.'"
"On the contrary," the dean said, changing the subject with a hint of warning in his tone, "if such events develop rapidly and advance rapidly within a short period of time, it often means that wizarding civilization is facing an unimaginable threat, forcing us to respond hastily."
"The fact that they're gradually laying the groundwork through gentle and long-term measures like modifying the education system suggests this is more likely a forward-looking strategy made by some eighth-level, or even ninth-level wizard, based on their foresight into the future. We still have ample time to prepare and grow."
Hearing this, Benjamin felt a little relieved, but another question immediately surfaced: "So, Dean, where will these students from Elosia College who have passed the graduation trials and subsequent elite screening ultimately go?"
After all, the academy of the Eloshia plane itself was built on the foundation of a group of outstanding wizards who passed the screening that year.
He continued based on what he knew: "As far as I know, over the years, wizards who have graduated from various academies and passed the screening have continued to pour into the Elosia plane..."
This is also an important reason why the plane transformation and construction speed of the Eloshia plane is so fast.
Otherwise, not to mention the large amount of manpower needed to transform the plane and the large number of instructors needed to establish the academy, the number of wizard lords needed to maintain such a vast territory would be an astronomical figure.
Even so, the Norn Academy in the Elosia plane still seems too immature compared to other academies.
The number of high-level wizards to low-level wizards in wizard civilization is not a traditional pyramid type, but more like a pear shape.
The largest number are undoubtedly the first and second level wizards, but the number of the next third level wizards is less than that of the fourth and fifth level wizards.
This is because when wizards reach level four, ordinary plane wars are no longer dangerous enough to put them in danger. Over the years, the total number of level four and level five wizards actually exceeds that of level three wizards.
Wizards of this level are the backbone of wizard civilization.
For example, at the Noren Academy No. 13 where Jemin once stayed, the instructors in the academy were basically wizards of this level.
It is not until the sixth level wizard that the number will decrease again due to the difficulty of promotion.
In the Elosia plane, most wizards are still at the first and second levels, including many mentors.
Dean Avery nodded slightly, revealing the answer: "The workshop's leadership has reached a decision. The framework of the Elosia Planar Community has been basically established, and Norn Academy No. 147 is also on track."
"Therefore, new blood that passes the talent trial will be mainly sent to new, undeveloped plane communities to be responsible for developing and building the next Norn Academy."
Jieming was stunned when he heard this: "Could it be that..."
Dean Avery Knight concluded, "Indeed, in short, our Norn Workshop has entered a phase of rapid expansion. We are constantly establishing new talent training bases, absorbing and incubating more fresh blood to support the continued growth of our civilization's territory and influence."
Benjamin understood completely.
This is like a never-ending pioneering wave. Successful graduates will become new sparks, spread to more distant unknown lands, and ignite one knowledge beacon after another belonging to the wizarding civilization.
And the Eloxia where he was was just a wave that had already taken shape in this grand tide.
"I understand, Dean. I will do my best to ensure the success of the graduation exam." Benjamin responded solemnly.
…
…
With Benjamin's ability and prudence, there were naturally no accidents or omissions in the tasks related to the graduation trial assigned by Dean Avery Knight.
The broadcasting system ran stably, clearly presenting the apprentices' every move in that carefully arranged low-energy plane to the instructors.
However, the final trial result made most of the instructors, including Benjamin, shake their heads secretly.
The performance of this batch of apprentices is really unsatisfactory.
Whether it is on-the-spot response, tactical coordination, or the application and development of one's own abilities, they all appear immature and lack highlights.
This is not surprising, as the transformation of human civilization in the Elosia plane has only been going on for a short time.
This group of young talents, both in terms of talent and growth environment, have a significant gap with the apprentices carefully trained within the traditional sphere of influence of the Noren Workshop.
What's more, all the mentors present were geniuses who had participated in and passed the elite trials. Which one of them was not selected from countless geniuses through fighting and screening?
Naturally sharp vision.
Not to mention these immature students, even many real geniuses are ordinary in their eyes.
Only Dean Avery Knight remained calm throughout the whole process, as if he had expected this and did not show any disappointment.
After the trial, he personally led the top ten graduates to the Noren Workshop headquarters in accordance with the regulations to participate in the "Elite Trial" that would determine their future destiny.
After the matter was settled, Benjamin's life rhythm returned to its familiar track.
Apart from the routine participation in apprentice recruitment every five years and the regular maintenance of the graduation trial broadcast system that was rarely used, he had a lot of undisturbed free time.
Of course, more importantly, after all these years, Benjamin still hasn't recruited any apprentices willing to learn alchemy.
It’s not that there were no apprentices who came to ask, but after Benjamin explained the truth, many apprentices backed out on the spot.
However, having no students to guide him was actually a great way for him to relax.
This meant that he didn't have to worry about teaching and could devote himself fully to his endless list of research.
Analyze samples, optimize talismans and magical tools, deduce skills, transform cannon fodder...
Time passes quietly amid the lights and various energy fluctuations in the laboratory.
Spring goes and autumn comes, and another forty years have passed like flowing water.
On this day, Benjamin was concentrating on analyzing a sample of a "Void Jellyfish" brought back from the airspace plane. The encrypted communicator placed in a corner of the laboratory table once again emitted a soft but persistent wave.
Benjamin frowned slightly, temporarily withdrawing from the complicated data flow and connected the communication.
A middle-aged wizard with a calm face and a profound aura appeared on the light screen.
Seeing the unfamiliar face of the other party, Benjamin was slightly stunned, and then he called out the relevant information of the other party from his memory - it was the captain of the plane transformation engineering team that he had spent a huge amount of money to hire through the official channels of Noren Workshop, a senior sixth-level wizard.
Seeing that the other party suddenly contacted him, a long-awaited thought flashed through his mind like lightning, and his expression was instantly replaced by great excitement!
As expected, without any pleasantries, the other party directly informed him, "Mr. Jieming, the second and third phases of the comprehensive renovation project of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane that you commissioned have been completed and passed the preliminary quality inspection. It is now officially delivered and you are welcome to accept it."
"Finally... I've been waiting for it!" Although Benjamin looked very calm, there was still some excitement in his voice that was hard to conceal.
He immediately set off, crossing the teleportation array and arriving at the coordinate point provided by the other party.
Afterwards, he followed the captain and the core members of the engineering team to conduct a comprehensive and detailed final acceptance of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane.
The plane that was originally desolate and had serious energy leakage has now been completely renewed.
Beneath the earth, the crisscrossing energy conduits act like the meridians of the human body, efficiently gathering the projected energy of the fire element plane that was originally scattered everywhere.
In the sky, the invisible energy-gathering formation is like a giant funnel, collecting more distant and subtle energy fluctuations.
Several key energy hubs emit stable and powerful fluctuations, together forming an efficient energy network covering the entire plane.
Because the energy has been completely channeled, even the environment of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane seems to be developing in a better direction.
Benjamin took a quick look and nodded with satisfaction.
Overall, the third phase of the energy beaming and dispatching system has perfectly achieved its design goals!
After seeing off the engineering team that had successfully completed their mission, Benjamin stood alone in the somewhat empty core area of the plane, rubbing his hands vigorously with uncontrollable force, his face filled with the pure joy of a scientific researcher seeing that the long-awaited experimental conditions were finally in place.
He almost couldn't wait to quickly come to the huge black giant hatching pool.
Inside the pool, the scene is still somewhat "desolate".
Apart from the two old companions who had followed him in battles and were covered in scars, and the two new black giants that were barely hatched during the period of energy scarcity, there were no other figures.
And because of insufficient energy, these two new black giants are only level one by nature.
Energy shortage has always been the biggest bottleneck restricting the growth of his core combat power.
But now, everything is different!
With burning eyes, Jemin took out several black giant core chaos crystals of the best quality that he had prepared long ago from a special storage space.
These crystals are red and white, with a dark luster on the surface.
He carefully placed the cores into the nutrient- and energy-rich liquid in the incubation tank.
Then, Benjamin took a deep breath, went to the control console next to him, and connected his thoughts with the core of the magic circle of the entire plane.
"Start—mobilize all energy!"
Buzz...
The entire purgatory sulfur plane seemed to shake slightly!
The energy-collecting arrays spread across the plane lit up at the same time, and the sulfur smell in the air seemed to fade a little.
The crimson energy flow visible to the naked eye is like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, converging from all directions, and continuously injecting into the complex energy conversion and supply array at the bottom of the incubation pool through the preset energy channels.
The liquid in the incubation pool instantly began to boil, emitting astonishing heat and spiritual light.
The black giant cores that had just been thrown into the air began to expand and soften at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Countless fine energy tentacles extended from the surface, greedily absorbing the surging energy, quickly forming embryonic tissue that wrapped itself, and began to grow towards the predetermined giant human-shaped outline!
Benjamin closely monitored the energy input and data feedback, quickly estimating, "Based on this energy infusion rate and stability... a complete black giant will mature approximately every year!"
This speed is a world of difference compared to the previous situation where success might not come even after dozens or even hundreds of years.
"Great!" Benjamin couldn't help but wave his fist.
Leaving two black giants here to guard the incubation process, Benjamin turned into a stream of light and rushed back to his core laboratory with excitement that was difficult to calm down.
Abundant controllable energy is the accelerator of research and the cornerstone for turning ideas into reality!
The various experimental ideas, technical optimization plans, and design blueprints for new cannon fodder that had been accumulated in his mind for dozens or even hundreds of years... were now like being unshackled and ready to move.
"Finally... we can have a good time!"
Benjamin looked at the dazzling array of instruments and materials in the laboratory, his eyes burning with a burning desire for knowledge and creativity.
(This is the only chapter today. I'm a little stuck and a little worried about the subsequent plot.)
(End of this chapter)
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