Chapter 524 522: Returning to School

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it is already the end of February.

The fervor surrounding the Holy Court's army pressuring the Blue Dragon Empire, nearly sparking a conflict, slowly subsided.

The entire world gradually settled down, as if the tension from over a month ago was merely a joke that existed in the newspapers.

The events concerning Dragon Island and the border, as time passed, slowly faded from discussion, with newspapers shifting their focus back to various trivial subjects.

Hilia still maintained her habit of buying a newspaper every day to understand the major events happening around the world.

This was one of her few sources of entertainment.

After reading the newspaper, she would embark on her grueling training session.

For over a month, her magic power refinement reached 115%. As refinement increased, it became increasingly difficult to make progress.

In terms of spell mastery, all the Tier Three ice element spells she learned reached mastery level, with Ice Burst reaching a subtle stage, allowing her to freely explode it, even managing to utilize the aftershock from the explosions to inflict additional damage.

Besides this, she was also practicing spells from other elements, though progress was slightly slower. Constructing the Ice Shield Combination Skill using Withered Silk, Mithril Web, etc., barely reached proficiency, while spells like Elemental Harmonization and Holy Dispel from the sacred element barely reached mastery.

But her most significant achievement was her attempt to use Tier Four abilities.

With magic power reserves comparable to a Tier Four Mage, Hilia successfully cast **All Things Freeze**, although it could only freeze a radius of less than five meters around her, it was still a success.

Drawing insights from **All Things Freeze**, without meditating, she vaguely sensed the flow of external magic power.

At this time, in the backyard of the Star Dust Divine Hall, Hilia was holding her magic staff, which was emitting a strong white glow. The ground beneath her feet was slowly covered with a white layer of ice and snow.

Hilia struggled to maintain **All Things Freeze**, feeling the strands of magic power being drawn from the external magic power amid the violent absorption process.

Boom!

A light sound was heard, and the frozen ice surface cracked, rapidly melting away.

Hilia was not discouraged but closed her eyes to carefully savor the sensation she had just felt.

A moment later, she opened her eyes and smiled.

"Rose, I felt it!"

She raised her hand, and a cloud of icy mist quickly formed in her hand, taking the shape of an ice cloud.

The ice cloud churned, with strands of magic power being drawn from the external environment into the ice cloud, enhancing its potency.

Rose nodded: "Not bad. You managed to augment the spell with external magic power, though it only amplified the strength by less than 1%, it's still a start."

Moments later, the ice cloud dispersed, and Hilia took a breath, asking in confusion, "Rose, why forcefully use abilities only available to Tier Four?"

Rose calmly replied, "Because it helps you pass the Tier Four advancement trial."

Hilia recalled the description from **Divine Realm Introduction** about the advancement trial from Tier Three to Tier Four. The transition from Tier Three to Tier Four had been deeply studied, but it could be summarized in one sentence—

The advancement process shifts from control over oneself to control over the surrounding environment.

In other words, the trial from Tier Three to Tier Four aids the mage in augmenting spells with external magic power. The specifics are random and impossible to discern.

If it were that easy to decipher, mages above Tier Four wouldn't be so rare, acting as core strengths of every empire.

"So, does one need to be able to call upon environmental magic power before starting the advancement trial to pass smoothly?" Hilia blinked.

Rose answered, "Of course not. Gaining insight before the advancement trial is something only geniuses can achieve, similar to a mock test before an exam."

"Then why isn't it directly stated in textbooks..."

"Because not everyone can do it. You need to refine your magic power to at least 110% and also cast Tier Four spells across stages. To do that, your magic power reserves must be enough, at least reaching a standard Tier Four reserve."

Rose paused before continuing, "This means you need to enter the deep layer of the Divine Realm at least once."

Thinking of the terrifying trials in the deep layer of the Divine Realm, Hilia shivered.

To be honest, she was haunted by it.

The first time was manageable, as it only involved fighting—either taking down groups of demons or being defeated by them.

The second time was truly frightening, as it required specific conditions to defeat the demons.

Hilia didn't want to face those disgusting creatures again.

She had no idea how other mages entering the deep layer of the Divine Realm managed without divine blessings.

Thinking about other Holy Daughters entering the deep layer left Hilia feeling down, overshadowing her joy of sensing the environmental magic power.

Rose noticed her mood, discovered the source of her frustration, and flicked her forehead with exasperation.

"In any case, it's not something ordinary mages can learn. Including it in textbooks bears no reference value and only risks hindering other mages' advancement."

"I see," Hilia mumbled.

The girl stretched, "School starts tomorrow... it's really too hard to complete the advancement trial before the new term begins."

Rose smiled lightly: "You've already touched the threshold. Now, what you lack is the call to the advancement trial."

Starting from advancing to Tier Four, the advancement trial can't just be summoned anytime like the previous two times.

Beyond personal accumulation, a catalyst is also necessary.

Hilia nodded, pitiably asking, "So... can I have a day off today?"

Rose patted Hilia's head: "Successfully calling upon external magic power means you've succeeded, so you can certainly take a break."

"Yay ヾ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ"

Hilia immediately cheered joyfully.

...

The next day.

With Vanessa's 'help,' Hilia packed up her things.

Under Vanessa's nagging reminders and reluctance, she left the Divine Hall and flew towards Southern Border City.

Watching Hilia leave, Vanessa was filled with melancholy.

"Sigh, Star Ash Town is too small."

Assistant Priest Piggs curiously asked: "Do you mean Miss Xilia won't come back in the future?"

Vanessa shook her head: "Of course not. It's just that the next time Hilia returns, she'll probably be Tier Four. How fast time flies."

Vanessa sighed.

Who would have thought that the baby they picked up back then would turn out to be such a gifted mage talent, and also be lucky enough to be chosen as a candidate Holy Daughter?

"Tier Four, huh?" Assistant Priest Mili had little concept of tiers, but she knew one thing: "I think the High Priest is also Tier Four..."

Vanessa nodded and sighed again: "Hilia's stage is the entire world. I hope that in the future, she can occasionally return to visit."

"Doesn't Miss Xilia return every year?"

"I hope she does."