"The registration is right in front of the teaching area!"
After walking through the garden, Biji took the initiative to show Leilin around.
"The Academy holds many different types of competitions—there are potionology contests, as well as more niche ones like gathering and cultivation, but the most popular by far is the combat competition. Any apprentice can enter, and the rewards are the most generous!"
"Even though apprentices can enter multiple competitions, Instructor Guofate said you'd better stick to the potionology one!"
Biji looked at Leilin, her concern plainly visible in her eyes.
"Don't worry—I'm only planning to enter the potionology competition!" Leilin smiled reassuringly.
For geniuses with fifth-tier aptitude, they each had the backing of their own instructors and would surely have obtained Magical Items long ago. Leilin had no desire to clash head-on with them directly.
Besides, the prizes for the combat competition held no appeal for him—it was clearly meant as a last chance for commoners' apprentices.
Since Leilin only intended to go through the motions, he naturally wanted to choose the least strenuous option.
In front of the teaching area, several black tables had been set up, with banners behind them reading categories like "Potionology" and "Combat."
Around the tables, numerous apprentices were crowded together, signing up.
It seemed they were apprentices who had only recently returned.
After a moment's thought, Leilin squeezed his way to the potionology registration table and wrote down his name.
"Take this! Your number is 32. The competition begins tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock. Be on time at Building 13 in the Testing Area!"
The examiner in grey robes copied Leilin's name onto a piece of parchment and, as a matter of routine, handed him a numbered tag.
"Next!"
At the grey-robed examiner's impatient voice, Leilin touched his nose, shook his head, and backed away.
"Come on! Let's go to the paid cafeteria and celebrate!" Leilin said to Biji, who was waiting nearby.
"Let me treat you! As a celebration for our reunion!" A cheerful smile appeared on Biji's face.
...
The next afternoon, Leilin arrived at Building 13 five minutes early.
Several potionology apprentices were already waiting there. Some recognized Leilin and greeted him with a smile, while others looked unfamiliar.
This was hardly surprising. Wizards were mostly homebodies who spent entire days hidden away in their laboratories, and potionology and alchemy apprentices were even more so.
Ding-ling-ling! As a pleasant chime rang out, a figure in black robes suddenly appeared before everyone.
"A full
Even the Chip was powerless against the protective field surrounding a full Wizard's surface layer.
"Enter the building according to the number on your tag. The workstations inside are all numbered—hurry to your assigned positions. I'll wait only five minutes. Any apprentice who's late will be considered to have forfeited!"
The black-robed Wizard's voice was hoarse and grating.
The moment he finished speaking, the black-robed Wizard flicked his robe. His body split apart, transforming into a swarm of bats that flew away.
The apprentices exchanged glances.
Bang! Someone took the first step, and the entire plaza erupted into chaos. Apprentices scrambled to squeeze into the building.
Though Leilin wasn't in a rush, the current of people carried him forward regardless.
It took considerable effort before he finally reached his workstation.
In the upper-left corner of the pure white workstation, the number 32 was written. On the surface were some medicinal ingredients, and beside them lay a piece of parchment. One sniff told Leilin they were all materials for a Healing Potion.
"Five minutes are up! Any apprentice not at their station will be considered to have forfeited!"
The black-robed Wizard's voice rang out again, accompanied by several exclamations from potionology apprentices.
Leilin saw the unlucky fellow at the neighboring station—one step away from his workstation, he was snatched up by a black bat and tossed outside the building.
"This round's task is to refine a Healing Potion! The formula and materials are on your workstation. You have three hours..."
After dealing with the disqualified apprentice, the black-robed Wizard spoke once more.
"Every move you make is under my surveillance. Don't even think about trying to cheat—otherwise, I'll show you what a bloody lesson truly means!"
"Just as I expected!" Leilin picked up the parchment. Sure enough, it contained the recipe for a Healing Potion.
"I've refined this basic potion so many times I could do it in my sleep!"
Leilin sighed inwardly but still deftly picked up a beaker...
From an outsider's perspective, Leilin's movements were utterly flawless—his arms were strong and steady, without the slightest tremor, and every motion in the process of preparing the potion carried a unique beauty.
Drip!
A single drop of green liquid fell into the test tube, and the entire tube instantly turned red.
"Done!" Leilin glanced at the time recorded by the Chip. "One hour and twenty minutes? I'm a bit rusty!"
"Mmm! Good, you've finished!"
A black bat flew directly onto Leilin's workstation, examining the potion in his hand.
"Sir!" Leilin quickly bowed.
"I recognize you. You're Leilin, aren't you? That old fogey Guofate's disciple! Heaven is truly unfair—it already gave him the brilliant Merlin, and now it sends you to him too..."
The bat seemed to know Guofate and muttered to itself. Leilin maintained his silence. The relationships between full Wizards were something he wanted no part of until he advanced himself—he had neither the desire nor the ability to get involved.
"Enough! Let me smell the potion!"
Perhaps noticing that Leilin remained silent as a block of wood, the bat cursed a few times before suddenly speaking.
Leilin pulled the stopper from the test tube and held the potion beneath the bat's head.
"Mmm! Healing Potion, excellent quality. You've passed, young man!"
The bat rose with a hint of reluctance, its grating voice ringing out: "Leilin! Think about it—come study under me instead..."
Leilin could only manage a bitter smile and a bow.
...
The competition among the potionology apprentices lasted two days and one night.
Fortunately, the Wizard apprentices had already used energy particles to modify their bodies and enhance their physiques, so they could endure.
Over those two days, Leilin had been constantly refining potions without rest.
As the competition progressed, the Academy's tasks grew increasingly difficult. Biji was eliminated in the third round, and by the final stages, they were preparing elementary-grade potions.
Through all these trials, Leilin stood out at every step and advanced to the finals alongside his senior brother Merlin.
The final task was to prepare Hofu's Water of Light—a healing potion capable of effectively treating damage caused by Negative Energy spells. Even among elementary potions, it was widely recognized as one of the most difficult to prepare.
Though Leilin was confident he could succeed with the Chip's help, to keep his abilities hidden, he deliberately made a mistake and lost to Merlin, settling for second place.
...
Late at night, Leilin returned to his room and tossed the second-place prize—a Volatile Burning Potion—to the side without care.
This offensive potion had a potency of around eight or nine degrees. For a third-rank apprentice, it would be a decent trump card, but Leilin paid it no mind.
He had been able to prepare this kind of potion on his own over a year ago.
"Finally done. Now all that's left is to prepare with everything I've got for the Blood Battle of the Secret Realm!"
The blood battle between the academies wouldn't be something he could muddle through as easily as an Academy competition.
Even in the combat competitions held within the Black Bone Forest Academy itself, only a few apprentices had died—and those were accidents.
But in the Blood Battle, two forces would join hands with the intent to annihilate every single apprentice from Black Bone Forest.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
While Leilin was lost in thought, another knock came at his door.
"Who is it? It's so late!" Leilin opened the door with some annoyance.
"It's me!" Outside stood a woman entirely wrapped in a cloak, her voice soft and alluring.
"You're... Bi—" Before Leilin could finish, his lips were sealed. The door was shut, the cloak fell away, and a voluptuous figure was revealed.
"What's... going on?"
By the time Leilin came to his senses, he was already lying on his bed with a woman writhing atop him.
Feeling the pleasure rising from below, Leilin forced down his desire and placed his hands on Biji's waist, making her pause. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because... I couldn't think of a better way to comfort you. Leilin! Don't be sad! The competition is only a temporary thing..."
Biji panted as she spoke.
"I..."
Leilin was completely at a loss. If there had been a mirror nearby, his face would surely have worn an expression caught between laughter and tears.
He had lost on purpose. He never expected this silly girl to have been fooled by his acting—thinking he was heartbroken, she had come to "comfort" him.
At the same time, Leilin had become thoroughly resigned to the promiscuous customs of this world.
"All right. But what about
Leilin asked again.
"He won't find out. And besides, until I'm married, I'm still a free woman!" A smile appeared on Biji's face as her hips began to slowly rotate again.
"What about after you're married?" Leilin felt a twinge of irritation and quickened the movements below.
The beauty on top of him panted for a while before managing to reply: "A-after marriage, I'll have to remain faithful to Feile!"
Leilin thrust in deeply once more, making Biji cry out loudly. She collapsed into his arms like all the bones had been drawn from her body.
"You really are... fine! After the child I bear for Feile passes the bloodline test, if you ever want me, you can come find me anytime..."
Biji buried her red face in Leilin's chest.
"What is this—a green hat reserved for Feile in advance?"
Leilin said inwardly, and his hand unhesitatingly grabbed Biji's full curves, beginning to move wildly...
In the morning, Leilin stroked the smooth female body beside him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Who would've thought I'd end up having a friends-with-benefits arrangement..."