A new day dawned, and the chaos of the night fell like a curtain.
Compared to yesterday, seven fewer apprentices remained, all having taken the ocean current back to the steeple ahead of time—some having lost hope in gathering enough water scalding bubble fruits, others having reached their set goals.
That day, the sun blazed fiercely, and the maturity density of the water scalding bubble fruits had improved.
Ivan was busy capturing 14 portions of water scalding bubble fruits, giving him a total of 56 portions, enough to exchange for a portion of Aqua Alva.
Not far away, Wolban had shaken off the gloominess of the previous day, clearly reaping a good harvest.
“It’s time to leave.”
A moment later, one by one, the apprentices bid farewell to this special secret realm with the help of the ocean current pillars, with the endpoint still being the original sea steeple.
At the bottom layer of the steeple, Ivan emerged from the defensive membrane and landed lightly on the ground.
He noticed many gazes falling on him, including some from sorcerers.
“Good lad, well done,” Sorcerer Pense couldn’t help but come closer to commend him.
“What do you mean?” Ivan, unsure of the attitude, dared not say carelessly.
“I mean the business of exterminating those living creature puppets in the secret realm, you probably didn’t know, but the last type of mutated creature is called ‘Blood Hunter,’ a highly dangerous living being that the upper class strictly forbids to create. That strike of yours was superb!”
Pense pulled him to one side and began to speak.
“It is undeniable to contribute to the academy,” Ivan said modestly.
“Haha, you are an Enchanter, right?” Pense asked with a smile.
“Yes.”
“Who is your mentor?”
“Enchanter Group’s Sorcerer Randall.”
“Ah, it’s him then, I know him,” Pense realized, then muttered, “A real bugger, looks naive on the outside, but actually quite cunning and hardly serious. Don’t you learn that from him.”
Is this what my mentor is known for outside?
Ivan felt somewhat embarrassed and decided to pretend he had not heard.
“Let’s not talk about your mentor anymore. Go back and work hard, I’m waiting to hear about you becoming a Level 1 Sorcerer. When that time comes, welcome to visit the Rapid Flow Twin Towers Academy. We can discuss Enchantment Skill.”
“I made it myself.”
Inside the steeple, all apprentices had arrived, and Pense did not say much else. He finally handed Ivan a scroll, saying it was a enchanted item he had made himself.
For Ivan, the item was secondary; this faint attitude of treating him as a fellow sorcerer, indicative of the good they saw in him becoming an official sorcerer, was undoubtedly a great encouragement.
This scene was noticed by many.
Many apprentices had looks of envy in their eyes, as they understood the importance Sorcerer Pense saw in him.
When Ivan had first arrived at the steeple, among a group of 3rd Class apprentices, he was very inconspicuous, with many looking down on him. Now, after continuous battles in the secret realm, nobody would regard him as trifling anymore; such people were not to be underestimated anywhere.
“I’m glad you all returned safely.”
“Now, please hand in all of the water scalding bubble fruits, do not conceal even one. You have been forewarned.”
Pense clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. His face then shifted from the friendly demeanor just moments before and announced to all the apprentices.
According to academy rules, the mental power potion formula is forbidden to be sold privately, and Aqua Alva, along with anything related to it, is prohibited from entering the market, including information about the Flash Vortex Secret Realm.
Aqua Alva is crucial for a sorcerer’s promotion and is considered the forbidden fruit of the Flash Vortex Academy Alliance.
Keeping water scalding bubble fruits concealed is a grave offense since it is a primary ingredient in the production of Aqua Alva.
Hearing Pense’s words, the apprentices handed over all the painstakingly captured water scalding bubble fruits, with the number recorded; they could receive the corresponding Aqua Alva back at the academy.
Those who managed to gather a portion of Aqua Alva appeared calm but could not hide the satisfaction on their faces.
Those who had failed showed a hint of despair on their faces; this trip was in vain, wasting this sole opportunity to enter the Flash Vortex Secret Realm.
Speaking on behalf of the academy alliance, Pense then announced:
“Now for the rewards for clearing out the invaders. From Mongna Ant Land Cottage, Ivan Marichardon, for overpowering the destructive living creature puppets in the secret realm, receives a portion of upper class Aqua Alva.”
“From Lierre Songster Sanctuary, Damlo Cadesi, for actively participating in clearing living creature puppets and invaders, receives a portion of intermediate Aqua Alva.”
“From Mongna Ant Land Cottage, Wayne Steele, for slaying the leader among many invaders, receives a portion of lower class Aqua Alva.”
“That is all.”
Ivan contributed the most, which nobody would dispute.
Second and third place were not so certain, but since it was decided by the sorcerers, others could only accept it.
Amidst the crowd, Ivan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, having secured two portions of Aqua Alva, one of which was of upper class quality.
“Ivan, see you next time.”
Your next chapter awaits on empire
“See you next time.”
With everything settled, it was time for them to leave the steeple.
Emerging from the steeple, outside were still the same four boats as when they arrived, and the people from the four academies headed back to their respective sea vessels.
The ship set sail and soon left the steeple behind, vanishing from sight.
“Do not go near Jefferson’s room, it has been discovered that he colluded with traitors both inside and outside,” Bernardson suddenly warned on deck.
Hearing this, Ivan broke out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, he hadn’t killed him directly; otherwise, he might have attracted suspicion himself, which would have been disastrous.
No wonder Jefferson had attacked him, likely because he had foiled their plans.
However, it seemed Jefferson had exposed himself; could it be that he knew his identity was compromised and opted for a fight to the death? This was problematic, as Jefferson appeared more like a pawn thrown out at will.
The more Ivan thought about it, the more convoluted and mysterious the situation seemed.
“Ivan, that heart you obtained from the Blood Hunter is contraband and must be handed over to me.”
“No problem, Sorcerer Bernardson.”
Bernardson’s next words interrupted his deep thoughts, and Ivan, as instructed, handed over the two halves of the black heart, an item of uncertain value, without feeling any regret.
He didn’t continue to think about Jefferson. After all, he would not be able to visit the Flash Vortex Secret Realm in the future, which meant it had little to do with him.
The others went back to their rooms first, and Ivan took one last look at the vast ocean behind him and a nearly invisible solitary tower on the sea, then leisurely walked toward the rooms on the ship.
“Ivan.”
“What is it?”
Standing at the side alley was a person who called out to Ivan.
It was Wayne, dressed in a fine sorcerer robe. He always had a faint fragrance about him, an idiosyncrasy Ivan found peculiar for someone in the apprentice sorcerer profession.
Perhaps it was the caprice of a genius.
“My dear friend, you did a great job this time. I’ve become interested in you, just as I am in Carmel. I like young men of talent like you,” Wayne said, staring intently at him with a serious yet gentle tone.
Ivan remembered that this was how he spoke to Carmel.
As they locked eyes, Ivan noticed something more in Wayne’s gaze, a mix of different emotions and allure, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
So, this renowned genius was such a person, as eccentric as ever.
This sort of thing didn’t matter much if it didn’t involve him directly, but now that it did, Ivan felt uncomfortable all over. Thinking about it, Carmel’s dislike and resistance made sense.
“I can’t compare to you guys. One with 5th Class talent and one with 4th Class talent, while I only have 3rd Class talent. Thinking about it makes me feel uncertain about the future.”
“Ah, with my talent, I shouldn’t be chattering here. I need to make the most of my time and work hard. Goodbye.”
Ivan didn’t give him a chance to speak, rattled off a few words, and quickly walked away.
“Interesting, indeed interesting,” Wayne murmured, watching Ivan’s retreating figure. The interplay of charm and a cold gleam in his eyes made his intentions unclear.
On the return journey, the direction of the ship was directly toward the Mongna Ant Land Cottage. Based on the time it took to come here, it would take a day and a half to reach, and they were expected to arrive by the deep of the next night.
The ship wasn’t large, and there were even fewer people aboard, with each apprentice having been allotted a spacious room.
Wolban’s room was near his, and as Ivan passed by, he noticed the door was open and couldn’t help glancing inside. He saw Wolban sitting in a chair facing the door.
“What? Can’t bear to leave?” Wolban joked as he saw him.
“Inside, after all, lie my moments of glory,” Ivan said, laughing.
After fighting side by side once again, their relationship had grown even warmer.
“Do you know Wayne?”
“Him? A bit overbearing, unsociable, but not infamous for anything bad,” Wolban thought for a moment and simply stated, “Most talked about for his 5th Class talent, a bane to teammates, surname ‘Steele.’ Why do you ask about him?”
“Just asking, that guy seems a bit eccentric,” Ivan said vaguely and turned to head back to his room. As he was closing the door, he heard a sentence transmitted through mental power from Wolban.
“Ivan, it’s best not to get too close to those from sorcerer families; they are never quite like us, and getting close to them brings no good.”
Ivan looked up in surprise at him, but he offered no explanation, as if the words hadn’t come from him.
This guy is also turning peculiar.
Ivan muttered to himself internally. The only descendant from a sorcerer family he was on good terms with was Carmel, who wore his heart on his sleeve and was a good friend.
Not wanting to dwell on it, he went back to his room to rest up, but suddenly remembered something and pulled out a scroll from his pocket, which Sorcerer Pense had given him, saying it was an item he had made himself.
“So it is this thing.”
He opened it and was immediately stunned. Familiar transfer sealing runes greeted him, the same as Heidi had once brought out, used for sealing items in a transfer sealing scroll, essentially a low-end version of space equipment.
Such a priceless magicalized item, and Sorcerer Pense had casually given it to him.
Considering that they had only met twice and hardly exchanged a few words.
He didn’t know that Pense had once considered taking him on as an apprentice to pass on his Enchantment Skill.
Yet another puzzling thing, soon Ivan fell asleep.
He hadn’t rested well for several days, and this sleep was particularly deep. When he woke up, it was already the next morning.
Flash Vortex Bay was essentially the territory of the Flash Vortex Academy Alliance. In their own territory, of course, nothing went wrong. The ship sailed smoothly, and in the deep of the night, they returned to Windy Bay City, back to the jurisdiction of Mongna Ant Land Cottage.