In the morning, Ivan completed a deal with Sorceress Madeline, and in the afternoon, he appeared in front of the Vice Dean’s office, ready to sign a long-term contract with the academy.
The Vice Dean was not someone you could meet at a whim; one had to be announced by the person sitting outside. Ivan stepped forward and announced his name: “I am Ivan Marichardon, an apprentice in the Enchantment Group, I applied a couple of days ago.”
“Please wait a moment.”
A young woman said. She was presumably the Vice Dean’s maid, dressed in a maid’s outfit.
Ivan thought he would have to wait a long time, but he was allowed to enter after just seven or eight minutes.
It was an extraordinary office filled with ant being statues, specimens of alien creatures, and bizarre paintings that captured the eye. Sitting behind the large desk was a plump, silver-haired old woman clad in a cobalt blue sorcerer robe made of fine material, giving her an age-old aura.
She appeared kind and benevolent.
This was Teresa Lidia, one of the Vice Deans of Mongna Ant Land Cottage, and also the leader of the Enchantment Group.
As a Vice Dean of the academy, despite her seemingly decrepit appearance, her strength was definitely top-notch. Ivan did not know the specifics of her power level. Cody had taught him not to inquire too deeply into the affairs of sorcerers before becoming one himself.
It is worth mentioning that Teresa was probably also Carmel’s grandmother.
“Good day, Dean Lidia.”
“Ivan Marichardon, I’ve heard of you from Carmel, he says you’re his good friend.”
“Carmel is indeed a very good friend.”
“I know why you’ve come, you must be eager. According to the rules of the academy, all apprentices need to sign a contract.”
The contract was standardized, and after receiving it, Ivan briefly glanced over it.
The duration of the contract was 100 years.
It was not the 120 years Randall had mentioned, which made him look at it a few more times with surprise.
“Sorceress Madeline mentioned that the Black Magic Wind Array you developed is quite good, and also, that you have grown to your current level of strength in such a short time, proving that you are a talented and capable student. I have used my authority as Vice Dean to specifically reduce your contract term by 20 years, hoping you will contribute well to the academy after you become a sorcerer.”
Teresa guessed his confusion and explained with composure.
So that was it. Madeline seemed aloof, but once she approved of someone, she was quite reasonable.
On the other hand, it also showed that the value of the Black Magic Wind Array was indeed great, to the extent that even the Lidia family was willing to owe him a favor.
“You have my gratitude.”
Ivan continued to read the contract, which stipulated the academy’s tasks, mostly pertaining to post-sorcerer responsibilities. He quickly signed his name, left his aura, and imprinted his spiritual power.
He pushed the contract towards the inside of the desk.
As the contract touched the desk, the text suddenly emitted flames, the fire forming a sheet, and extinguishing within seconds.
The content of the contract was still there, just faded in color.
Ivan only felt a slight heaviness in his heart, blinked, and felt normal again, noticing no other difference.
“All right, where is your Crystal Ball?”
Teresa placed the contract in a wooden box and solemnly stored it in a cabinet behind her before turning around to speak.
Ivan handed over his Crystal Ball.
“Inside are some valuable experiences about promotions, which will help you,” Teresa took out another crystal ball and transferred the pre-stored information into his Crystal Ball before returning it to him.
Ivan understood that this was a detailed guide for a sorcerer’s promotion, including various precautions for breaking through the bottleneck of becoming an official sorcerer, representing the collective wisdom of many sorcerers from the academy.
“Your meditation method is ‘Blackbeard Chapter,’ and the corresponding defensive spell is ‘Flower Tree Shield.’ You can choose it or another spell, what’s your decision?”
“I choose Flower Tree Shield.”
Ivan directly chose the defensive spell corresponding to the Blackbeard Chapter, without hesitation, as choosing otherwise would make his preparation for the Blackbeard Crown pointless.
It is known that the academy has many meditation methods, such as the Blackbeard Chapter, Water Erosion, Tidal Land Chapter, and Silk of Lightning Water, each with its own focus. The Blackbeard Chapter is favorable for becoming an Insect Control Master, though it is not very popular.
Teresa took out a book of magic from the drawer, the lightweight book landed in front of him.
Next, were three vials of Aqua Alva, of upper class, intermediate, and lower quality respectively. The mid-grade Aqua Alva was a gift from the academy, the others were acquired by him during his last visit to the Flash Vortex Secret Realm.
“So Ivan, I wish you all the best.”
“Thank you. If you have no further instructions, I shall take my leave now.”
Upon returning to his dormitory, Ivan first absorbed the detailed promotion guide. Even though he had heard much from Randall, this meticulously detailed guide still proved to be tremendously beneficial.
The next day, Ivan went to the three-level tower.
“Mentor, I am afraid I need your help again.”
“Less nonsense, I am still waiting for you to make me proud. Not having produced a sorcerer yet, people often talk behind my back, and it doesn’t leave the dean any glory, being called the first Insect Control Master is just a namesake.”
Ivan knew his mentor was speaking thus on purpose. A sorcerer would hardly care about idle gossip. He owed his mentor one thing after another, planning to repay him once he became a sorcerer.
“Don’t get distracted, pay attention. I’ll only explain this once.” Randall had called him here to offer extra lessons, the topic being the ‘Flower Tree Shield.’
For the Level 1 Spell ‘Flower Tree Shield,’ Randall had immersed himself for many years, mastering it with ease, making his teaching seem effortless.
Over the next three days, under meticulous instruction and sincere learning, and Ivan using an additional level 5 Light of Wisdom, he quickly mastered all aspects of the Flower Tree Shield, repeatedly simulating it countless times.
…
The day was clear and the sky was boundless.
Ivan arrived at the academy’s dedicated space for apprentice promotion to sorcery.
Located in the teaching area, it was a spacious chamber designed to ensure that those being promoted were undisturbed, unless the apprentice took unusually long, exceeding the normal limit by more than two days. Otherwise, the chamber could only be opened from the inside, which gave ample security to the apprentice.
Ordinary apprentices usually came here to advance, but some had other options, most of whom were descendants of sorcerers’ families.
“Senior, I wish you smooth success in becoming a Level 1 Sorcerer.”
“I hope your words bring luck.”
Ivan gestured to the energetic senior sister who had brought him here and walked into the deep-set chamber, followed by two Shadow Ant servants holding boxes.
Upon entering, he smelled a unique scent that made one involuntarily remain calm; it was a place conducive to meditation.
The entire chamber was starkly simple to the point of being infuriating, empty except for a meditation cushion in the middle of the room.
“Just put the things on the floor.”
After passing two magic stones to each of the servants, the Shadow Ants placed the boxes that held raw materials down and left the chamber without a word.
The door to the chamber closed, isolating the inside into a little, undisturbed world.
Ivan inspected the area before removing the meditation cushion and skillfully crafting a stone platform from the materials in the box, then took up a pen to draw lines, refining a Black Magic Wind Array anew.
After the Black Magic Wind Array was completed, he positioned the mid-grade magic stone water and Magic Crystal Water according to their respective places.
He placed the cushion he had removed earlier to the left side of the Black Magic Wind Array, where a freshly-crafted position conveniently fit a cushion, surrounded by simple rune lines spreading from the array.
During the critical moment of his sorcerer’s promotion, Ivan dared not sit carelessly at the center of the array, to avoid impacting the effectiveness of other techniques—these were problems that needed thorough consideration.
The opportunity came only once, and allowed no room for error.
After the adjustments, the effect from the side of the Black Magic Wind Array was somewhat diminished, but replacing the potion with mid-grade magic stone water seemed just right to him.
“Black Magic Wind Array, advancement rate of eighty percent.”
“Rose Chain, ninety percent.”
After sitting down, Ivan methodically set out the other items—three vials of Aqua Alva and the Rose Chain scroll.
As for other means to enhance the advancement rate, they were all within and around him.
“Finally, there’s the Light of Wisdom, achieving a perfect success rate of one hundred percent.”
Currently, he had two sixth-level Light of Wisdom potions and two fourth-level Light of Great Wisdom potions. If the situation changed, he would cast aside all other concerns and decisively use the Light of Wisdom, or even the Light of Great Wisdom.
All was prepared.
This time, success was the only option.
“Silkworm Queen, it’s up to you and the little ones now.”
“Soft chirp.”
Hearing Ivan’s command, the Silkworm Queen’s expression grew unusually focused as it solemnly nodded its head.
The Rose Chain was actually a special secret technique that could link two beings and share lifeforce through the chain.
He possessed a Level 1 rapid wood silkworm, along with three strands of Aqua Alva that consumed lifeforce. Randall had recommended the Rose Chain because, with the Silkworm Queen’s lifeforce and his own status as a Great Knight, they could maximize the potion’s effects.
Using the Rose Chain required that the linked creature willingly offer its lifeforce; any hint of dissatisfaction would snap the chain.
‘Power of Crowd Control’
Ten healthiest rapid wood silkworms lined up, approached the Silkworm Queen, and, like water re-entering its body, merged into it.
The body of the Silkworm Queen expanded visibly within seconds, bulging to three meters in length, its plump appearance resembling a patterned, soft cushion.
“Soft chirp.”
The Silkworm Queen chirped once, signaling its readiness.
Ivan activated the scroll, and a translucent chain appeared, bridging between him and the Silkworm Queen. Instantly, a warm energy flowed into his body, causing his flesh and blood to rejoice.
“Good, keep up this pace. Should anything happen, do not panic. Just stay here with the little ones,” Ivan instructed.
Seeing the Silkworm Queen nod, Ivan activated the Black Magic Wind Array at his side. A gentle black wind began to form, traveling slowly toward him along the pre-drawn routes, and everything was normal.
He took a deep breath, drank all the Aqua Alva at once, feeling his inner temperature start to rise sharply, as if a volcano was hidden inside him, erupting with molten lava.
No wonder Randall had warned that after consuming Aqua Alva, most bodily functions would cease to operate, and this condition, which aggressively burned lifeforce, made it difficult for his body to maintain operations, preventing other potions from taking effect.
In these critical moments, Ivan submerged his entire consciousness into his mental ocean; his spiritual power also began to boil and became remarkably active.
As expected, his skilled control as an apprentice allowed his spiritual power to quickly transform into 40 meditation runes. All the runes shook fiercely once, extending their might outward, as if inviting a challenge.
This action undoubtedly unlocked a mysterious barrier.
Silently, the space around him abruptly became dark and oppressive, as if divine retribution was upon him.
A suffocating pressure streamed from all directions, wrapping heavily around every inch of his body, and in an instant suppressed the entire mental ocean, causing the formerly active spiritual power to quickly become subdued.
Ivan was aware—the test for promotion had begun.