Chapter Ninety-Seven: News from the Imperial Capital

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For ten consecutive days, Xu Wen remained in the cultivation chamber, tirelessly studying and comprehending the magical insights left behind by Professor Harman. Immersed in mastering new Earth Emperor-level magic, he meticulously monitored the growth of Xiao Hei and Xiao Hu, gaining deeper understanding and fresh perspectives on magical beasts. Even with a mind filled with refined cultivation methods, he found that the beasts’ physique and innate talent far outstripped his own.

Since escaping the constraints of their growth seals, Xiao Hei and Xiao Hu, aided by beast spirit pills, military rations, and pet feed, rapidly grew to match Xu Wen’s stature. Their progress was so swift that even he felt abashed. Two-star, sixth tier! Xu Wen had once spent nearly two months, bolstered by an invigorating pill and “Devil’s Eyes,” to reach this level—an achievement the two little beasts matched in half the time.

No wonder magical beasts, despite lacking the complete and sophisticated cultivation systems of humans, still flourish in this world, claiming countless mountains and the lives of numerous adventurers. Their talent truly surpasses human limits.

However...

According to the Beast Tamer’s Manual, young beasts are playful during their growth phase, and cultivation cannot be rushed. This period is meant for nurturing bonds and increasing mutual understanding, requiring full attention to prevent tantrums that might delay their rapid future cultivation. Xu Wen's method—using pet feed to boost intimacy and beast spirit pills and military rations to accelerate cultivation—was only recorded in ancient sources.

During this time, Xu Wen’s primary responsibility was refining medicines. Later, he allowed the two contracted beasts to chew their pills and explore advanced combat techniques on their own, while he focused on mastering a new Earth Emperor-level spell—Golden Flame Fire Wheel!

A high-tier, four-star Earth Emperor spell.

This was the same offensive magic repeatedly used by He Chen. Harman’s notes also contained this spell, annotated as producing golden flames, with triple elemental configurations, making its attack power nearly six-star level and its combat intensity extremely high. Once one’s own realm surpasses four stars, this spell can continue to evolve.

Indeed...

The deeper the arcane magic studied, the more significant the cultivation boost. Mastering the first three-star Earth Emperor spell, Blazing Flame Ring, propelled Xu Wen three tiers higher. Cultivating the Xuan Tian-level “Solar Burst Wave” also raised him three levels, though the spiritual depth was greater. The subsequent Flame God Shield brought nearly another three-tier increase.

Now, although the Golden Flame Fire Wheel did not elevate him as much, its overall contribution was substantial! Advancing from four-star, second tier to four-star, fourth tier... The spiritual power required for each tier increases significantly in the latter stages. Before reaching the birth of the “Chaos Sea of Consciousness” at four-star, ninth tier, the total spiritual power needed is almost equal to the sum required for all previous four-star stages.

Xu Wen originally intended to remain in seclusion until he became a high-level fire mage. But on this day, Mu Yuanshan, Dean of Silan Academy, Elder Xu, and “Aileen” entered the cultivation chamber together, bringing important news from the imperial capital and the latest directives from Dean Ke Zeff of Qingyun Academy. Naturally, Xu Wen had already put away his contracted beasts when they knocked.

The Qingyun Empire’s campaign against the missing necromancer is not yet over! The elite academies have finalized arrangements for combat skill exchanges! Since Qingyun Academy was nearly destroyed in the war, all students are temporarily excused from returning to the capital. The major branches have decided to select five outstanding talents from each department to enter the highest-level magic martial academy of the Crimson Alliance—Blood Hall—for skill exchange and mutual learning.

From Blackwater City, two people earned this honor.

Xu Wen, a freshman from the Fire Magic Department!
Aileen, a freshman from the Magic Martial Department!

This was the consensus reached by Ke Zeff and the academy staff. Xu Wen knew this meant he was now officially recognized as a member of Qingyun Academy, and possibly, thanks to “Solar Burst Wave,” acknowledged as Harman’s disciple.

Yet, what surprised him was...

He was to be transferred from Qingyun Empire to study and exchange in the Crimson Alliance.

The Crimson Alliance, with a population exceeding fifty billion, is the strongest mercenary-based empire—its dominance on the Soul Continent comes from unique advantages. Xu Wen did not object to study there, but the hard-won foundation he had built in Qingyun Empire would likely be wasted...

The favor of the six great families.

Once in the Crimson Alliance, he would no longer receive certain support from the Hortonkelin Family and the six major clans.

This was quite troublesome!

Xu Wen inquired thoroughly about the treatment offered to outstanding students by the empire, and after careful consideration, finally agreed.

Qingyun Empire has established commercial offices within the Crimson Alliance; not only do the six major families have bases, but even the royal family operates a business office, managed by a princess who married a Crimson Alliance duke. During their exchange, all expenses can be drawn from the royal office as needed.

“When do we depart?” Xu Wen glanced at Aileen beside him. Since the four entered, the talented girl from Silan Academy had kept her gaze fixed on him, her expression peculiar. When their eyes met, her cheeks flushed slightly before returning to normal.

“The academy stipulates departure in half a month. All students must reach the Crimson Alliance border by that day. If we fly, it will take about five days, so we have ten days to prepare.” She paused here, looking at Xu Wen, clearly leaving the decision to him.

Xu Wen silently frowned, pondering briefly before turning to Mu Yuanshan: “Chief, is there still no news from Harman at the Joseph Family?”

“……”

Mu Yuanshan and Elder Xu nodded in silence. Dean Silan sighed, “Only a magister-level expert could trap Dean Harman. If he was ambushed by a Dark Empire magister, we can already surmise his fate.”

He stopped there; everyone understood what that meant.

Dean Harman’s disappearance was already assumed to be death...

Only Xu Wen disagreed, and with his deepening study of Harman’s magical notes and undead magic, he became increasingly convinced that Dean Harman might still be alive.

Fire magic has certain advantages over necromancy!

High-temperature flames can instantly annihilate large numbers of undead, preventing reconstitution. The numerical advantage necromancers enjoy against other mages is much less effective against fire magic.

Furthermore!

In Harman’s magical notes, the last two pages describe a fragmentary Xuan Tian-level support spell—Phoenix Rebirth. Its function is self-destruction and bodily reconstruction.

As it was only theoretical and never tested, it was marked as “incomplete.”

“I plan to visit the site of Dean Harman’s incident tomorrow, then fly straight to the assembly point. Senior Aileen... you needn’t wait for me.”