The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

"It seems this Secret Realm competition is about to get interesting." A smile hung on Xugus Wizard’s face as he looked over at Denno Wizard, who sat calmly beside him. "Old Denno, what are your thoughts?"

’How else would I look? With my eyes, of course,’ Denno Wizard thought grumpily.

Of course, on the surface, he still had to show Xugus, the chief of the White Bone School, some deference. He said gravely, "The Dark Cultivation Plan concerns the schemes of the Official Wizards and will also determine the future direction of the Dark Land. It might not compare to the Wizard Technology revolution the Mechanical Wizards brought to the Wizard Continent, but it will affect the many surrounding Wizard Influences."

To be precise, it was an opportunity—a chance to shatter the existing grand equilibrium.

It could lead to even greater chaos, causing the deaths of many mortals and even Wizards.

Likewise, if this opportunity was seized, it would bring immense benefits to the surrounding Wizard Influences.

"However, there’s been a fair bit of friction in the border regions lately. We suspect Wizards from other factions have shown up. So far, we’ve spotted Wizards from the Natural Ring Tower and the Ocean Corridor."

Denno Wizard remembered something and casually brought it up.

Xugus Wizard was also aware of this. In fact, some of the information he possessed was even more detailed than Denno’s.

He chuckled. "Once the water gets muddy, more and more people will want to fish in it. As for whether they actually catch anything... that will depend on their own abilities."

However, it wasn’t their place to make decisions about these matters. The Official Wizards above them would naturally have their own preparations.

What caught his interest at that moment, however, was the Lower House Wizard who had rejected Wizard Yi Si’s offer of sponsorship.

For a Wizard Apprentice from the Lower House to reject an invitation from an Extraordinary School in the Upper House was, in itself, highly unusual.

Xugus Wizard sensed that something was amiss. There were many possibilities, but no matter which one it was, the ultimate goal was a spot.

’Interesting. Did one of the Wizard Clans make a move, or was it another Extraordinary School?’

Everything has a price. Since this Lower House Wizard refused, it meant the price offered by their White Bone Lineage wasn’t high enough.

Someone else had offered a better deal.

Xugus Wizard decided not to dwell on it. In the end, he was just a new student from the Lower House—no big deal. The three allocated spots weren’t that many to begin with.

Whatever schemes were involved had little to do with the White Bone Lineage anyway. Their main plans were focused on the Upper House.

With the advantages they had already established, bringing back one or two spots from the Lower House would just be icing on the cake.

"That Yi Si... honestly. A casual move would have sufficed. Why put in so much effort?" Xugus Wizard drained the last of his drink and stood up.

Right now, their greatest rivals were the powerhouses from the Wizard Clans—the numerous Extreme Wizard Apprentices. In terms of both Power and numbers, they weren’t far behind the School Lineages.

"I’m off. I need to find that old fuddy-duddy Saiya and that ice-cold woman, Erin, to discuss our next steps." As he was leaving, Xugus Wizard added to Denno Wizard, "I’m leaving some of the White Bone School’s affairs for you to handle, Old Denno."

"I have absolute faith in you. When I die of old age and step down, you’ll be the next chief."

Denno Wizard: "..."

’He wants me, a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice in his twilight years, to compare lifespans with an Extreme Wizard Apprentice in his Prime Stage...’

...

The laboratory door opened slowly, and a figure in a black Wizard Robe walked out.

A smile graced his fair, handsome face. His aura was more powerful than before, yet it wasn’t jarring; clearly, some time had passed since his breakthrough.

As a faint blue light flickered in his pupils, a familiar view appeared before Wang Ya’s eyes.

[Target: Wang Ya]

[Spiritual Power: 11 (Level 1 Wizard Apprentice)]

[Physique: 9.5]

[Particle Energy: 6.8 units]

[Wizard Meditation Method: Vast Sea (Nine Runes)]

[Magic Stones: 3,500]

Days spent in study and research always passed quickly.

Over the past month, he had completely mastered the curriculum for the Basic Extraordinary Disciplines.

He had also successfully constructed the ninth Wizard Rune of the Vast Sea Meditation Method.

Wang Ya prepared to head to the academy’s administration building to buy a new Advanced course from Jialan Wizard. While he was at it, he would also stop by the Resource Management Department to collect the reward for his completed mission.

He wouldn’t use his chance to choose from the Land of Inheritance just yet. It was an extremely rare opportunity. Certain highly precious and advanced pieces of Witchcraft Knowledge cost an astronomical amount of Dark Points to redeem.

So, the chance to make a selection for free was incredibly valuable.

Wang Ya needed to think it over carefully before making his choice to ensure it was used where it would count the most.

The two thousand Dark Points he had would satisfy his needs for a long time.

He wasn’t short on Magic Stones, either. He could buy the subsequent Advanced Meditation Method from Gusai Wizard, and he had sources for purchasing some Low-tier Witchcraft Knowledge and basic Witch Books as well.

The Resource Management Department was located east of the Commercial Street, quite a distance from the Dark Wizard Academy proper. The farther he walked, the fewer Wizards he saw. The buildings on either side of the road grew taller, creating an oppressive, somber atmosphere.

Finally, a massive, vertical, box-shaped building appeared before Wang Ya’s eyes.

Not many Wizards were coming and going. For things like mission rewards, unless they were needed immediately, it was far more convenient to let them accumulate and collect them all at once.