Wang Hui looks at the screen.
Spirit: 22.12
Mana: 89.61
His eyes remain fixed on the numbers for a long moment.
He is already more than halfway to the requirement of becoming a Late-Level Wizard Apprentice.
To reach that stage, his spirit must reach thirty, and his mana must reach one hundred.
He calculates quietly.
At his current speed, another six months should be enough.
A faint smile appears on his face.
He steps out of the testing device, the small enclosed room opening as he pushes the door and walks out.
He does not bother closing it behind him.
Another student enters immediately, and the door shuts with a soft sound.
As he walks away, his thoughts shift toward his cultivation.
He calculates again.
A trick spell requires at most one unit of spirit.
A Zero-Tier spell requires up to nine.
Inside his spirit space, seven spell models hang like constellations in the sky.
Five are trick spells.
Two are Zero-Tier spells.
His newest addition is Magic Missile, a trick spell with nine runes, far more complex than the other four, which each contain six runes.
The two Zero-Tier spells are Blood Nourishing Formation and Liberation.
Mana Body is embedded within the Blood Nourishing Formation.
He is currently attempting to merge Liberation fully into the formation as well.
But even if he succeeds, it will not free up additional space.
His spirit capacity is determined by runes, not by the number of spell models.
One unit of spirit equals nine runes.
That means he still has room to construct another spell model with up to fifty-four runes.
Instead of returning to his room, he turns toward the spell library.
He wants another spell.
Not just for strength, but because each additional spell model stabilises his spirit space, reducing pressure and aiding his growth.
Inside the library, he searches carefully.
Time passes unnoticed.
Eventually, he finds what he is looking for.
Hide.
A Zero-Tier spell that conceals aura and magical fluctuations.
He memorises the model and leaves.
Back in his room, he notices an envelope placed on the table.
He pauses.
Then picks it up and opens it.
Inside is a letter.
His name is written clearly at the top.
The message is polite.
Formal.
He has been called to participate in the academy competition.
He is instructed to report to the administrative building to receive support from the academy.
The date of departure is listed, one week from now.
At the bottom, in smaller writing, it mentions that he may decline by submitting a valid reason to the teacher council.
He lowers the letter slowly.
Silence fills the room.
His expression hardens slightly.
He thinks.
Someone wants him dead.
The academy competition is no ordinary event.
Every academy receives equal resources yearly, but every five years, thirty academies compete.
Their rankings determine additional resources for the next cycle.
And in that competition,
Death is common.
Each academy sends ten peak-level apprentices, fifty late-level apprentices, and twenty-five mid-level apprentices.
Those twenty-five are often students who failed their third year but rank high in combat.
They are given one more chance.
If they survive the Chaos Magic Island, they can quickly advance.
Some even reach peak-level apprentice before the age of twenty-five.
Beyond thirty, advancement becomes harder as vitality declines.
Wang Hui sits on his bed, the letter resting in his hand.
He considers his options.
He can refuse.
He has a valid reason; he has not yet passed the third-year requirements.
But he also understands the opportunity.
The competition is dangerous.
But the rewards,
Resources, beyond what he could gather alone.
Enough to support his cultivation all the way to peak-level Wizard Apprentice.
His eyes sharpen.
The decision forms.
He will participate.
He places the letter aside.
Then immediately begins studying the Hide spell.
He needs it.
In the competition, survival matters more than strength alone.
The next day, he sits in the dining area with a small group of students.
Over the past six months, after his cultivation improved, some of them began approaching him for guidance.
Slowly, conversations turned into familiarity.
Familiarity turned into friendship.
Now they eat together.
Talk together.
Through them, he learns what is happening within the academy.
And without realising it,
He is no longer completely alone.
At the dining table, his friends begin discussing the upcoming academy competition, their voices carrying a mix of excitement and unease, as not all of them entered the academy in the same year, and among them, two had joined a year earlier and had already completed their three years but chose to remain, qualifying now to participate in the competition.
They speak about preparations, about rumours, about who might lead the teams.
Then Wang Hui speaks.
"I was called to participate."
The table falls silent.
Shock spreads across their faces.
Frowns follow.
"That must be a mistake," one of them says immediately.
"You should request cancellation," another adds.
"It's dangerous," a third insists.
Wang Hui listens calmly.
Then he shakes his head.
"I will participate."
His tone leaves no room for argument.
The two seniors among them exchange glances.
"If that's the case, come to the arena this evening," one of them says.
"All participants will gather there."
Wang Hui nods.
After the meal, he returns to his room.
He sits down and begins constructing the Hide spell model in his spirit space.
Rune by rune.
Connection by connection.
Slow.
Careful.
Precise.
He does not rush.
As evening approaches, he stops and heads toward the arena.
The stands are already filling.
He finds his friends and sits beside them.
Below, the arena ground is quiet.
Soon, all selected participants gather.
Then an official wizard arrives.
He steps onto a raised platform overlooking the arena.
His presence silences the crowd.
He speaks.
"Our academy is currently ranked thirteenth."
His voice is steady.
"This time, entering the top ten is the minimum goal."
A pause.
"But we aim higher."
His gaze sweeps across the apprentices.
"Strength alone is not enough. Strategy matters."
He gestures toward the arena floor.
"To understand your strengths, we will conduct trials."
The ground shifts.
The arena is divided into five sections.
"Five apprentices will enter at a time," he says.
"You will face stone golems matching your cultivation level."
He calls the first five names.
They step forward.
The battle begins.
Wang Hui watches carefully.
The golems move heavily but powerfully.
Two apprentices destroy their opponents before time runs out.
Others struggle.
At ten minutes, the wizard ends the round.
Another five are called.
The process repeats.
Some win quickly.
Some hold on until the end.
Some are defeated before time expires.
The rhythm continues.
Then,
"Wang Hui."
His name echoes across the arena.
He stands.
Steps forward.
Enters his section.
The moment the battle begins, he activates his formation.
Crimson runes spread faintly across his body.
Mana flows.
The golem advances.
Heavy.
Relentless.
He meets it head-on.
The clash is immediate.
His strikes land.
The golem retaliates with crushing force.
Time passes.
Five minutes.
By then, everyone sees clearly.
Whispers begin.
"He shouldn't be here."
"Why is a mid-level apprentice who hasn't graduated sent to participate in the competition?"
"Is he being sent to die?"
Even the official wizard frowns slightly, observing the imbalance.
Something is not right.
He makes a mental note to report this.
The battle continues.
Wang Hui is pushed back.
The golem's strength wears him down.
But he does not fall.
He holds on.
Through pain.
Through exhaustion.
Through sheer will.
The final two minutes arrive.
He is on the defensive.
Barely holding his ground.
But he does not collapse.
He endures.
The ten minutes end.
The battle is stopped.
Wang Hui steps back.
Breathing heavily.
He returns to his seat.
Eyes follow him.
Different now.
No longer dismissive.
His two friends lean toward him.
"You should get a wizard tool," one says quietly.
"It will increase your chances."
Wang Hui nods slightly.
He understands.
When the trials conclude, people begin to leave.
Wang Hui stands as well.
But before he can go far,
"Wang Hui."
The official wizard calls him.
He turns and approaches.
The wizard studies him for a moment.
"If you wish, you can withdraw from the competition," he says.
Wang Hui shakes his head.
"I will participate."
The wizard nods slowly.
"Very well."
A pause.
"As a participant, you will receive a reward."
"A Zero-level Wizard Tool."
"Collect it tomorrow morning."
Wang Hui bows slightly.
"Thank you."
He turns and leaves.
Back in his room, he prepares as usual.
He fills the tub.
Pours in body refining potion.
Steps inside.
Activates the formation.
He begins refining his vitality once more.