Manga Story

  A high-ranking wizard, clad in magnificent robes and with white hair and beard, floated above the teleportation array.   His voice, amplified through talismans, resounded throughout the area, silencing all the apprentices.   "The trial is about to begin!" the high-ranking wizard declared authoritatively. "The location for this trial is a small plane recently acquired by the Thirteen Norren Academy—codenamed 'Gray Rock Realm'!"   "The trial consists of only one thing: collecting the point tokens distributed by the academy within the Gray Rock Realm. The point tokens vary in value depending on the danger level of their distribution area. The final ranking will be based on the total points you return with." "   The Gray Rock Realm has not yet undergone extensive development or cleanup. It contains numerous native beasts and complex, perilous environments. This is a comprehensive test of your learning, as well as an examination of your survival skills, judgment, and teamwork."   "Besides collecting point tokens, you can also collect unique resources within the plane. Upon your return, you can choose to keep these resources or submit them to the academy, which will purchase them based on their value."   "In this trial, apprentices are allowed to bring any apprentice-level equipment and potions, in unlimited quantities. Any formal wizard-level equipment must be crafted or prepared by the apprentice themselves! Any cheating will result in immediate disqualification and severe punishment!"   The lack of restrictions on apprentice-level equipment might seem unfair to some poorer students, but those who aren't apprentices aren't particularly surprised.   After all, for wizards, wealth is also a part of strength.   As for apprentices crafting formal wizard-level equipment… while that sounds absurd, truly top-tier geniuses might actually be able to do it.   For example, Jemin's talismanic artifact.   "This trial is voluntary," the high-ranking wizard said. "All participating apprentices must reach the level of a third-level wizard apprentice."   This rule filtered out some apprentices with poor aptitude or who weren't working hard enough.   However, after nearly five years of study and meditation at the academy, the apprentices of Norren Academy had a solid foundation. Except for a few who were truly unable to break through, most apprentices had already reached the level of a third-level wizard apprentice.   Jemin noticed that while the high-ranking wizard was speaking, many more mature-looking apprentices were also standing in the queue preparing to enter the teleportation array.   "These people..."   Amy popped up from the side, following Jemin's gaze: "Them? They must be from the previous year's apprentices."   Norren Academy's enrollment is every five years, and apprentices usually stay for ten years, so there are usually two classes of apprentices in the academy at the same time.   "For some reason, the academy has tacitly allowed these older students to participate in this trial," Victor also silently walked over.   He sized up Jemin and Amy, scrutinizing them for a moment, and after drawing some conclusion, finally shook his head:   "These old apprentices are facing the pressure of impending battle. Each of them has accumulated countless trump cards. If we really encounter them, it's better to surrender decisively."   Jemin and Amy exchanged a glance, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his suggestion.   Theoretically, there is no limit to the number of spell models a wizard can construct.   Even wizard apprentices, ignoring the requirements for spell casting and insufficient mental energy, can use a rather "unorthodox" method—directly purchasing spell models to construct an unlimited number of them within their mental sea.   However, constructing spell models consumes a portion of mental energy, permanently solidifying them in the mental sea, and the collapse of a spell model will also cause a significant mental shock to the mental sea.   Simply put, each spell model constructed represents a deduction of a portion of the maximum mental energy.   Constructing too many spell models will definitely affect the speed of cultivation.   However, the veteran apprentices had long since reached the level of third-level wizard apprentice. Once they accumulated enough mental strength to advance to the first level of wizard, the remaining extra mental strength could be used to construct spell models.   Even if these veteran apprentices used unorthodox methods to construct spell models, the released spells, while not as flexible to manipulate, would certainly not be much less destructive.      The veteran apprentices have accumulated five years more experience than the new ones, and their points, equipment, knowledge, and number of spell models are undoubtedly far ahead.   Don't be fooled by the fact that they're all level three wizard apprentices; in a real fight, the veteran apprentices would definitely have the upper hand.   Victor's words, though unpleasant, were true for many new apprentices.   As they were talking, the high-ranking wizard above suddenly waved his hand, and a large number of tiny, sparkling lights fell down.   The light landed precisely in front of everyone. Jemin, watching the points of light, reached out and touched them slightly; the starlight then transformed into a ring that wrapped around his finger.   Looking up, he saw that all the points of light had precisely found each person and transformed into rings upon contact.   "What exquisite alchemy!"   Jemin couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.   Not only him, but Amy and Victor, also alchemy apprentices, couldn't help but show expressions of amazement.   Those points of light weren't raw materials; they were genuine pure energy. This alchemical technique of converting energy into matter alone already far surpassed the three of them.   Moreover, Jemin sensed numerous runes forming magic arrays within the ring, and the remaining energy after the mass-energy conversion perfectly activated these arrays.   Add to that the sheer number of people in the plaza…   it's fair to say that some things that seem novel to laymen are nothing short of showing off to experts.   “This is an emergency escape device. In dangerous situations, you can activate it with your mental energy to escape directly from the plane. However, doing so will invalidate your results.”   Hearing this, many people in the plaza exchanged glances, seemingly realizing something.   “…These are the rules for this trial. Good luck.”   The high-ranking wizard finally finished speaking, and the teleportation array beside him slowly lit up.   “All registered apprentices who have passed the qualification verification, please prepare to enter the teleportation array!”   The wizard apprentices began to walk orderly towards the teleportation array, and the atmosphere became tense again.   Jemin nodded to Amy: “Go in, be careful.”   “You too! Don’t be reckless!” Amy said solemnly, then followed the flow of people towards the teleportation array.   Jemin stood in the queue, his heart calm.   He stepped into the center of the enormous teleportation array, and a blue light instantly enveloped him.   Intense spatial fluctuations swept over him, his body feeling as if it were being torn apart and kneaded by an invisible giant hand.   A strong sense of weightlessness and dizziness washed over him, and all he could see before him was dazzling light and distorted scenery.