Chapter: Passing the Test
Cheng Yu stood straight, holding his magic staff, using it to gather magic power. A circular magic array emitting white light appeared beneath his feet. He chanted a magic incantation at the same time, releasing first-tier magic: low-level freezing.
After over ten seconds of casting preparation, with Cheng Yu as the center, the ground within a radius of two meters around him formed ice. White cold air spread everywhere.
The three judges watched Cheng Yu's casting process and scored him.
Judge A: 86 points.
Judge B: 91 points.
Judge C: 93 points.
Finally, Cheng Yu scored 90 points in the magic proficiency test.
Combined with the magic strength test score of 72 points, his average score was 81 points—just over the passing line of 80 points. He passed.
With a bright smile on his handsome face, Cheng Yu walked quickly to Ivennie. "Hehe, I've only studied magic for a month or two, and I've passed the first-tier mage test!"
Many people had studied for several years and hadn't passed the first-tier mage test.
"Congratulations, Mr. Cheng Yu!"
Ivennie smiled and gave Cheng Yu a hug.
The next test was Ivennie's.
"Good luck!"
Cheng Yu patted Ivennie on the shoulder to encourage her.
"I'll do my best."
Ivennie wasn't tall—about 1.6 meters—and looked quiet. She walked to the three judges and bowed politely.
"An elf? That's really rare."
"The last elf who came to our Snow City Magic Association for evaluation was about ten years ago."
Elves had higher magic talent than humans.
It was rare for elves to come to human territory for magic level tests. The three judges found it quite remarkable.
"Three gentlemen, I'm going to start."
As soon as her voice fell, Ivennie's eyes flashed with determination. She abandoned the magic staff and chanting, starting with zero preparation. Her jade-white hands condensed magic power. A small magic array quickly condensed in her palm.
Then she released vine magic on the flower bed in the Magic Association courtyard.
The next moment, three wrist-thick vines over ten meters long burst from the ground and stretched into the test hall—like three flexible tentacles, twisting and swaying in the air.
The three judges were stunned.
Without a magic staff and abandoning chanting, first-tier vine magic could still achieve such power? Too absurd.
"The forest elves really are gifted at plant magic."
"Hard work is really worthless in front of true geniuses."
"I'm envious~ The elves are not only long-lived but also have high magic talent. Is there any justice?"
The three judges had different expressions and gave Ivennie a perfect score of 100 points.
Feeling happy, Ivennie smiled and returned to Cheng Yu, looking at him with her expectant light-green eyes. "Master Cheng Yu, how was the magic I just performed?"
"Amazing."
Cheng Yu praised. "Are you already a second-tier mage?"
"I don't know."
"It's okay. We'll test again in a while."
After taking the first-tier mage test, you couldn't take the second-tier test immediately—you had to wait a month.
"Okay!"
Ivennie held Cheng Yu's hand. She was very happy to become a first-tier mage with Cheng Yu.
After the first-tier mage test, the Magic Association registered Cheng Yu and Ivennie.
Then they were awarded first-tier mage badges and magic cloaks with a small amount of fire magic resistance.
Cheng Yu took the first-tier mage badge in his hand and examined it. The outer part was a ring. The inner part was a six-pointed star shape. The surface was engraved with dense diamond patterns. The material was meteorite black iron—heavier than ordinary steel.
The second-tier mage badge had the same shape as the first-tier badge, but the color was blue and it was made from some kind of blue copper ore.
He put on a black magic cloak and hung the first-tier mage badge on his chest.
Mages were relatively rare. If he went to the Snow City matchmaking market with this outfit, he'd definitely be a high-quality human male.
However, Cheng Yu now had two wives. No need to go to the matchmaking market for blind dates.
The two returned to the hotel. Mina was still sleeping in bed.
Ivennie jumped on the bed and hugged Mina's fluffy tail. "Sister Mina, the sun is shining on your butt!"
"Are you back?"
Mina rubbed her sleepy eyes and got up from the bed.
"Let's go. I'll pick out some new clothes for you."
Cheng Yu now had money. Naturally, he wanted to pick out some nice clothes for Mina and Ivennie.
Mina put on her clothes and pants, strapped her greatsword on her back, and followed Cheng Yu to buy clothes.
There weren't many people on the streets of Snow City.
The three of them walked through several streets and arrived at a clothing street—full of clothing stores.
After a round of shopping, Cheng Yu bought beautiful long dresses, lace pajamas in various colors, bathrobes, and black and white stockings for Mina and Ivennie.
Having them wear black and white stockings will definitely be beautiful.
After buying clothes, the three walked toward the mercenary guild.
Pickled earthworms—this food—was still missing one ingredient: corpse flower.
According to records in The Encyclopedia of Plants and Animals of the Celsis Continent, the plant corpse flower often grew in cemeteries or places where corpses piled up.
The magic material stores in the city didn't sell corpse flowers. Cheng Yu planned to hire a mercenary as a guide and go to cemeteries or corpse piles near Snow City to look for them.
The three arrived at the Snow City Mercenary Guild.
A large group of mercenaries sat at the guild door, drinking and basking in the sun.
Recently, the area around Snow City was relatively peaceful. No merchants had hired mercenaries to escort goods. The mercenaries couldn't get any work.
Cheng Yu walked to the Mercenary Guild door.
In Cheng Yu's impression, hiring mercenaries wasn't cheap. He pulled out thirty silver coins and asked the group of mercenaries at the door, "I want to find a guide to take me to cemeteries or corpse piles near Snow City. The price is thirty silver coins."
Those mercenaries were worried about not getting work. When they heard there was a job for thirty silver coins, they rushed at it.
"Boss, choose me! Choose me!"
"Boss, I'm strong! Choose me!"
"Boss, I'm diligent! Choose me!"
"Boss, I'm ugly! I can set off your handsomeness! Choose me!"
Faced with a group of mercenaries' crazy self-recommendations, Cheng Yu hesitated. He didn't know who to choose.
At that moment, someone shouted, "Boss, choose me! I only want twenty-five silver coins!"
After hearing this, the other mercenaries began to undercut each other.
"Boss, choose me! I only want 20 silver coins!"
"I only want 15 silver coins!"
"I'll do it for 10 silver coins!"
"I don't want money, boss! Just give me food on the way!"
Cheng Yu was stunned. He hadn't said a word since just now. No need to bargain. These mercenaries had bargained down the price themselves.
Originally, he'd planned to spend 30 silver coins to hire a mercenary as a guide. Now it was great—he didn't have to spend money, just provide food.
You can't experience the happiness of demographic dividend unless you're a boss.
Cheng Yu put away the 30 silver coins and asked with a smile, "Who said no money just now?"
"Me!"
A thin young mercenary raised his hand and walked out of the crowd.
The other mercenaries stared at the thin young mercenary viciously. This guy lowered wages so much—he's simply a traitor.
"You guys always bully me, so today I, Rexy, am going to crush you all!"
The thin young man put his hands on his hips, straightened his body, and looked like a smug villain.