"Mr. Ivan, according to the contract you signed when applying for a teacher position at Horton Wizard Academy..."
"...if you still cannot produce any Wizard research results of practical value in the coming month..."
"...then, unfortunately, you will be dismissed and expelled by the academy."
In front of the spacious mahogany desk, Ivan looked at Dean Roosevelt of Horton Wizard Academy—the talkative, overweight middle-aged man before him—and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
He hadn't expected that after transmigrating, he would still have to face unemployment, layoffs, and 'up or out'... What kind of otherworldly beginning was this?
This was Ivan's third day since transmigrating.
Late-night streets, alcohol, an out-of-control dump truck... The next moment he opened his eyes, Ivan arrived in this Wizard world.
He inherited the original owner's name—Ivan Atrox, a wild Wizard with decent talent, and also a Necromancy School Wizard at Horton Wizard Academy.
Perhaps it was due to his talent, but the original owner, relying solely on a few tattered Necromancy spellbooks and without any guidance, managed to cultivate to the realm of a First-Ring Wizard.
With this proof of strength, he secured a teaching position in the Necromancy School at Horton Wizard Academy.
The original owner just hadn't expected that he would fall into a deep pit from then on...
Seeing that Ivan wasn't speaking, Dean Roosevelt's patience gradually wore thin.
He cleared his throat and said in a low voice.
"Furthermore."
"Since you joined, let me see... the academy has paid you around three hundred gold pounds in salary, right?"
Dean Roosevelt casually made a 'three' gesture in front of Ivan, emphasizing.
"According to the terms in the contract, if you are dismissed for not meeting the academy's minimum requirements, you must return this money to the academy."
"The academy also spent a lot of resources cultivating you. Recovering the salary paid is just a small way to recoup the academy's losses."
Dean Roosevelt unhurriedly pulled open a drawer, took out a document from inside, and threw it down in front of Ivan with a 'slap', his tone mocking.
"Not only that, but you also need to pay a breach of contract fee of several thousand pounds. It's clearly written in black and white, the contract you personally signed... Mr. Ivan."
Ivan took a deep breath, staring at Dean Roosevelt's oily face, the original owner's memories rapidly surging in his mind.
The original owner had entered the academy full of hope, thinking he could finally shed his identity as a wild Wizard and make his mark.
However, he quickly discovered that as a wild Wizard who had never received systematic Wizard education, let alone producing any decent research results, he even felt powerless when reading those slightly complex spellbooks.
To keep this job, the original owner had frantically run around like a headless fly, submitting Wizard papers to multiple Wizard journals, including obscure, academically worthless publications like "Big Bird Quarterly".
As expected, rejection letters flew in like snowflakes.
Some sharp-tongued reviewers even commented on Ivan's paper.
"Mr. Ivan, if you were a child who hadn't grown all their teeth yet, I would praise you and say maybe you could work in a factory when you grow up."
"If you were a Wizard Apprentice, I would make you copy this paper a hundred times to remember the foolish mistakes you made."
"But you are a First-Ring Wizard, Mr. Ivan, you should pay me for reading this garbage paper!"
Dean Roosevelt looked at Ivan's silence, thinking Ivan had been completely intimidated by him.
He contentedly took out a new contract from the drawer and displayed it in front of Ivan.
"Of course, if you are willing to accept this new contract, all previous issues can be written off."
Ivan took the contract and quickly scanned it, only to see it densely filled with outrageous terms.
"Voluntarily relinquish paper authorship rights... minimum standard salary..."
"Voluntarily donate corpse and organs to the Necromancy School after death..."
"Unlimited contract duration..."
"If willing to sign the 'Voluntary Soul Donation Agreement', treatment during life can be appropriately improved..."
The Wizard world also has capitalists?
Signing this contract would practically mean losing all due rights and becoming a cheap slave controlled by the academy!
Seeing Ivan's increasingly grim expression, Dean Roosevelt perhaps felt that he had completely taken control of the situation.
His thick lips parted, revealing a smile he considered kind, and he spoke to Ivan.
"I have thoroughly investigated your background. You are an orphan, have nothing, and come from a poor family—no bank will provide you with a loan, you simply cannot afford that huge breach of contract fee."
"My suggestion is for your own good. It's your honor to work at Horton Wizard Academy as an ordinary wild Wizard... Sign the contract."
"If you don't sign, plenty of others will."
Dean Roosevelt took out a fountain pen and threw it down in front of Ivan with a 'slap', signaling him to sign that servitude contract.
Selling himself was absolutely impossible.
Ivan wasn't an idiot, he wouldn't do something like helping count the money after being sold by someone else.
Before Dean Roosevelt could even react, Ivan had already stood up abruptly.
He didn't even bother to look at the contract filled with unequal terms again, walked straight to the coat rack in the corner of the room, took down the wide black robe symbolizing a Wizard's status, and neatly put it on.
Ivan turned around, his gaze fixed on Roosevelt like a torch, and said word by word:
"As for this contract, you should leave it for those colleagues who are willing to sell their souls."
"As for myself, you don't need to worry... We'll see."
As his voice fell, the only response to Roosevelt was a loud 'bang'.
The heavy wooden door was slammed shut, leaving behind only a resolute back.
Dean Roosevelt was stunned for several seconds before realizing what had happened.
The usually timid and submissive Ivan dared to refuse him so forcefully?
One must know that by presenting such harsh conditions, Roosevelt was certain that Ivan would not dare to resist, nor would he be able to!
"Damn it... This kid, his wings have hardened?"
Roosevelt angrily crumpled the ignored contract into a ball and threw it into the trash can.
But he quickly calmed down again, a cold smile appearing on his face.
Then they would see.
He wanted to see how long this guy, who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, could stay tough...
"Next one, come in.
Let's discuss your contract issues..."
.........
Inside the cramped single dorm room, a faint musty smell lingered.
Ivan stood in the washroom, using the murky, rusty-smelling copper water to wash his face.
In the mirror, a pale and gaunt young face was reflected.
Ivan currently had no idea how to deal with the academy's already revealed repulsive face.
He hadn't fully digested and absorbed the original owner's memories yet, let alone completing complex Wizard research in a short time to meet the requirements of that unequal contract.
"If things really don't work out... I can only run away."
However, Ivan really didn't want to reach this point unless absolutely necessary...
Horton Wizard Academy is the foremost large Wizard Academy in Horton Port, and it uses strong methods.
If he really ignored the contract and just ran away, he would most likely end up on a Wizard wanted list.
At that time, countless Wizard hunters and rogue Wizard pursuit teams would chase him relentlessly like sharks smelling blood.
Even if he really had to run away, he would at least need to ensure he had enough strength.
If only his golden finger could get its act together and activate... Ivan sighed helplessly.
He looked towards the center of his vision, where several lines of light blue text floated, visible only to him.
【Game Loading...】
【Loading Progress 99%... Identification Error... Repeated Request】
This mysterious game panel had existed ever since he transmigrated to this Wizard world, but it had always been in this 'stuck' state, unable to activate.
Ivan's heart sank little by little.
Just as he was feeling disheartened, those light blue words suddenly converged into a new line of information...
【Game Panel Loading...】
【《Demonic Cultivator Ancestor Simulator》 Game Loading Complete, Identity Information Match Complete】
Ivan looked at the lines of text appearing and suddenly realized.
Wasn't this the game he was playing before transmigrating?
This game referenced the settings of cultivation novels.
Players took on the role of a Demonic Cultivator Ancestor, cultivating disciples, refining Soul Banners, developing power, forcibly taking righteous path heroines... Of course, the last function required some special mods to unlock defeat CGs.
But the problem was, this was a Wizard world!?
【Account Bound, Player Please Create Sect to Start Game】
【Sect Name: Please Enter】
Ivan thought for a moment and casually filled in 【Soul Hall】, waiting for the game to continue loading.
Following his input, the light blue light flickered, and the interface quickly switched.
【Personal Attributes】, 【Magic Cave Bazaar】, 【Sect Construction】, 【Item Warehouse】, 【Quests】... several main options appeared before Ivan.
In addition, there seemed to be some grayed-out, unlocked functional areas.
【Character: Ivan Atrox】
【Attributes: Constitution 1.2, Spirit 11.8, Charm 2.4】
【Demonic Path Points: 0】
【Demonic Cultivation Skills (Mastered): None】
【Title Abilities: None】
According to Ivan's memory, Demonic Path Points were the most core resource in this game.
They could be exchanged for various rewards in the 【Magic Cave Bazaar】.
Completing quests, triggering special demonic cultivation events, unlocking certain milestones... all could yield varying amounts of Demonic Path Points.
However, to Ivan's regret, when he wanted to open the 【Magic Cave Bazaar】, a line popped up on the panel saying "Unlock after obtaining at least 1 Demonic Path Point".
It seemed he still needed to find a way to obtain the first batch of Demonic Path Points.
Ivan then focused his attention on the last item, 【Quests】.
【Demonic Cultivator Ancestor Series Quests Activated】
【You... have been reborn】
【You were originally the Soul Hall Ancestor who reached the other shore and stepped upon creation.
After countless millennia since death, you have been reborn into the body of a mere demonic path rogue cultivator】
【The peerless demonic sect you once established—Soul Hall—has also vanished like smoke in the vicissitudes of time】
【This body of a demonic path rogue cultivator has thin spiritual roots and stubborn bone structure.
If not for an accidental fortunate encounter, obtaining a few Qi Condensation methods that are common in the cultivation world... now he is even attached to a small cultivation sect as an elder, suffering from oppression...】
【Living another life, how can a true man remain under others for long?】
【Rebuild the demonic sect, cultivate the demonic path again, you must let the entire cultivation world know... You, the Soul Hall Ancestor, are back!】
【Prologue Quest One: To re-establish the Soul Hall, a sect base is naturally of utmost importance.
Choose a location to serve as the base for the resurgence of the demonic path!】
【Reward: Demonic Path Points × 1, Myriad Soul Banner Fragment × 1】
Ivan wanted to speak but hesitated, flipping through the original owner's memories... This is a Wizard world, right??
What the heck is a Ten Thousand Souls Banner?