Chapter 35 News
Time is like sand flowing through your fingertips. In the blink of an eye, three years have passed.
The attempt to combine wizard runes and immortal cultivation talisman techniques was far more difficult than Jieming had initially imagined.
This requires an in-depth understanding of the different ways in which the two civilizations perceive and use "runes," "energy," and "concepts," finding common ground in the underlying logic, and reconstructing a completely new theoretical and practical system.
With Jieming's existing knowledge, it was impossible to do this, so he could only copy the patterns and constantly try the combination of seals and runes to find the rules.
During these three years, Benjamin spent most of his time immersed in his laboratory, like a most devout ascetic, trudging through the ocean of knowledge.
A year ago, Benjamin's wizard meditation method had already reached the peak of a third-level wizard apprentice.
His spiritual sea was vast and stable. The nine core runes of truth—the basic runes of alchemy, "Transformation", "Fusion", and "Refinition", the core runes of alchemy, "Stability", "Catalysis", and "Creation", and the core runes of runeology, "Resonance", "Circulation", and "Linking"—formed a complete and powerful rune array in his spiritual sea, emitting a deep light.
However, after reaching the peak of the third-level apprentice, he stopped further improving his meditation skills and did not attempt to be promoted to a first-level official wizard.
In fact, it was not just Benjamin. Many talented peers who had already reached the third-level wizard apprentice realm and had outstanding talents also tacitly chose this "pause button".
The reason is simple - the contract.
The contract signed when entering the academy clearly stipulates that once promoted to the first-level official wizard, one will need to go to the front line of the plane battlefield under the rule of the Noren Workshop to serve.
After being in the academy for such a long time and being exposed to more information, everyone is aware of the dangers of the plane battlefield.
Even if newcomers like them only do some relatively marginal work, the mortality rate is quite high.
The best option is to continuously improve your own abilities within the ten-year apprenticeship period stipulated in the contract, learn all the knowledge you can, and improve all the foundation you can.
Then, when the ten-year period arrives, he will make a breakthrough and be promoted to a first-level wizard in one fell swoop, and go to the front line with enough self-protection ability.
Because of this, Jieming converted all the elemental power he absorbed into spiritual power to fuel his Qi Refining cultivation.
Thanks to the rich elemental environment of the wizarding world, this conversion efficiency is extremely high. His Qi training level has risen several levels in just one year, and he has steadily reached the sixth level of Qi training. He is only one step away from the seventh level of Qi training, which represents the late stage of Qi training.
At the sixth level of Qi Refining, the true essence is like the sea, surging endlessly!
The soul enhancement brought about by cultivation also allowed the scope of the spiritual sea to continue to expand, and even his physical strength was able to withstand some low-level witchcraft attacks.
That afternoon, Jieming had just finished an elective rune course taught by a rune master, and was planning to return to his intermediate laboratory as usual to continue his research on the fusion of talismans and runes.
Amy, who had taken this course with him, caught up with him. There was a serious look on her face, as she had obviously heard some unusual news.
"Jeremy!" Amy walked over quickly and lowered her voice, "Have you heard? The school is going to have a big exam!"
"Big test?" Benjamin was a little puzzled.
The college has final exams every year, but generally no one cares about them. The seriousness in Amy's tone clearly doesn't refer to those regular exams.
"It's not that kind of test!" Amy shook her head. "It's a real test!"
She glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention, before continuing, "I heard that this test will fully assess the learning outcomes of us apprentices. And... I heard a certain level of mortality is permitted!"
Mortality rate?!
Benjamin's heart skipped a beat.
Although the academy's assessment is strict, the safety of apprentices is usually put first, and there is rarely any risk of death.
"Are you clear about the specific content?" Benjamin asked.
"I don't know," Amy shook her head. "The news was very mysterious. They just said it would take place in about six months. Oh, really, it suddenly came out like this."
She sighed, worry in her eyes.
Benjamin thanked Amy for the news and thought quickly in his mind.
I returned to the laboratory, logged into the magic network, and searched for relevant information, but found nothing.
It seems that this news has not been officially announced yet.
Jermyn thought about it and decided to ask mentor Clark.
As one of the persons in charge of the secondary training agreement, Mr. Clark should know more about the inside story.
A communication request was sent through the magic network terminal, and soon the "video" was picked up, revealing Professor Clark's iconic bald head and the neat and deserted laboratory behind him.
After Benjamin explained the problem, a rare hint of seriousness appeared on Mr. Clark's expressionless face.
"The news is true," Clark said straight to the point. "Strictly speaking, it's not an exam, but a trial. The location is in a small, wild plane that has just been taken over by our Norn Academy. The environment is complex and dangerous, and it seems there are indigenous people who are trying to resist."
Trial?
"Why do we need such a trial?" asked Benjamin.
Instructor Clark was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words. "This trial is in preparation for a comprehensive assessment five years from now."
"Holistic testing?"
"Yes. Five years from now, the Norn Workshop will conduct a comprehensive assessment of learning outcomes and talent reserves across all of its over one hundred Norn academies. Apprentices from all academies will participate. This trial within the Norn academy can be seen as a rehearsal and selection for that large-scale assessment five years from now."
Five years later, more than a hundred colleges are being tested simultaneously?!
It's not just the scale that's the issue; the timing is also strange.
"Five years later... isn't there only one year left before we go to the front line?! Conducting tests before going to the front line? What's going on over there in the workshop?" Benjamin couldn't help but ask the question in his mind.
The resources and energy consumed by such testing must be astronomical, and the impact on the apprentice's status is also quite large, and it may even affect the battle situation of the Noren Workshop on the front line.
Instructor Clark shook his head slightly. "I don't know the specific situation very well. After all, I've been away from the front lines for hundreds of years."
His gaze seemed to penetrate the wall and look towards the distant front line, a subtle complexity flashing in his eyes:
"It is said... that this was requested by the Star Ring Federation."
Star Ring Federation?
One of the main camps of wizard civilization, the Noren Workshop is an inconspicuous wizard force under its command, and its own second-level training agreement also comes from this federation.
Benjamin was deeply shocked.
This means that there may be deeper reasons behind this large-scale testing and trial, and it may even be related to the strategic adjustments of the entire wizard civilization!
Instructor Clark retracted his gaze and looked at Benjamin. "So, work hard to improve your grades. Doing well on that holistic test will definitely not hurt you."
Seeing the screen being hung up, Jie Ming blinked.
This sudden news revealed an unusual message, which made people feel a little confused.
Although he knew nothing about the future, Benjamin did not have much fear deep down.
Because, after three years of unremitting efforts, his research and his talisman and rune fusion technology are about to succeed!
"Trial... huh? This is a great opportunity to verify my research!"
(End of this chapter)
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