Chapter 290: Promotion
Under the soft glow of the controllable light orb, Ace was writing furiously. The title of the paper was “Lich—Undead Transformation and Flawed Immortality.”
One week later, this paper was published in the journal Magic. The article detailed what a Negative Energy environment is, what an Undead is, what a Lich is, the advantages and disadvantages of a Lich’s existence, the Lich transformation experiment, and the Lich Transformation Ritual (which required Academic Points to purchase).
Bayen had been waiting early for the latest issue of Magic. He flipped to Ace’s paper and looked directly at the final conclusion.
“…As long as one is an Advanced Wizard Apprentice or an existence of the same level or higher, they can be transformed into a Lich or a Skeleton Warrior (Knight). The transformed existence will achieve a flawed immortality. The Phylactery will become their weakness, but if hidden properly, the Phylactery will also become their advantage of being undying…
“At the same time, it must be noted that upon transforming into a Lich, the True Spirit will lose a certain vital substance, which is replaced by soul fire. We do not yet know what consequences this phenomenon will produce…”
Bayen unhesitatingly exchanged for the knowledge and experimental data regarding the Lich Transformation Ritual. He had already planned to set out on a long journey. After bidding farewell to Ace, Bayen headed towards Cimali.
There was a voyage to the continent once a year from there, and Bayen planned to sneak onto it.
After Ace bid farewell to Bayen, the entire High Tower Territory fell into a fanatical discussion about Liches. Some Wizard Apprentices could not accept this transformation, while others felt it was a viable last resort.
Meanwhile, Witte, as the only Lich, became the subject of research that all Wizard Apprentices, especially Advanced Wizard Apprentices, wanted to study.
Witte didn’t mind; instead, he took the opportunity to rent himself out at high prices, earning a large sum of Mana Stones. He quickly familiarized himself with the rules of the High Tower Territory and enrolled in the High Tower Elementary Magic School as the first Advanced Wizard Apprentice and the first Lich.
On the other side, Ace met with five people: Betty , Daina , Ollie , Caruso , and Polina.
Daina hadn’t seen Ace for nearly seven or eight years. Seeing the somewhat more mature and unfamiliar Ace, she remained silent for a long time, looking at him with infatuation and sorrowful longing.
Ace wasn’t a fool; he could see Daina’s thoughts. However, the path of pursuing truth was so enchanting that Ace had no extra energy to respond to Daina’s obsessive longing.
Many Wizard Apprentices had married and even had children, but Daina had been thinking of him and waiting for him. Ace was grateful, but he didn’t want to be in a relationship.
Daina was already over thirty. After Youth Restoration and the Beauty Preservation Potion, her appearance today reminded Ace of the day they first met.
Fluffy flaxen long hair, delicate features, clothes old but clean, straight and rounded calves, clear eyes with curiosity dancing within them.
The girl from that year, though her face remained the same, had experienced the vicissitudes of life. Her eyes rippled with emotion, seeming to have endless things to say. For some reason, when Ace met Daina’s eyes, his strange black, shiny octahedral Phylactery suddenly stirred faintly.
The vitality power within seemed to be attracted by some emotion of Daina’s, becoming very active. This level of activity far exceeded that of when Ace’s True Spirit entered it.
Ace looked at Daina with a complex gaze. As Daina’s emotions gradually calmed, the vitality activity of the black, shiny octahedron also gradually decreased.
“Is it related to some emotion?”
Thinking this, Ace said to Betty, Ollie, Daina, Caruso, and Polina:
“Your Mental Power strengths have all reached over 9.9 units, infinitely close to 10 units.
“Your physical strengths have also all reached over 9 units. I intend to hold Formal Wizard Promotion Rituals for each of you, using Collective Mana and my powerful Mental Power as a Formal Wizard to guide you in breaking through the limits of life!”
The five were very excited and uneasy upon hearing this. In the entire circle of Advanced Wizard Apprentices, they were considered the existences closest to being Formal Wizards. But because of Bayen’s failure—where the second use of Collective Mana was ineffective—they were exceptionally cautious.
“Lord Ace, can we… can we really advance to Formal Wizard? I’m not questioning you, but I always feel I’m not fully prepared.”
The usually confident Betty wasn’t so confident at this moment. The step to Formal Wizard was too important. Even though Betty’s Mental Power strength had reached 9.9999 units and her comprehensive physical strength reached 9.7 units, she was still somewhat worried.
Ace smiled slightly and said kindly to everyone, “You must have confidence in yourselves. When I advanced to Formal Wizard, my Mental Power strength was also at 9.9 units. Most of your conditions are better than mine was, and your preparations are more sufficient. Believe in yourselves. If you don’t have strong enough belief and indomitable courage, I’m afraid you cannot achieve the life leap.”
In fact, their preparation was sufficient. Coupled with the development of Magical Cuisine research in recent years, they could replenish enough vitality power.
Ace convened all the Advanced Wizard Apprentices in the High Tower Territory. Under the mental resonance of over 120 Advanced Apprentices, the Collective Mana washed over Betty’s soul, helping her naturally achieve the leap from 9.9999 units to 10 units.
After advancing, Betty promptly consumed Magical Cuisine, successfully nourishing her body’s vitality. The other four also achieved the leap and successfully advanced to become Quasi-Formal Wizards.
With Ace’s exploration and Bayen’s failure as precedents, their preparations were overly sufficient, making it seem effortless.
After the others left, Ace guided the five on how to construct 1-Ring Spells and choose their 2-Ring path foundations.
“The Runes used in 1-Ring Spells are still Level 0 Runes; the difference lies only between planar and three-dimensional structures. Because the foundation is Level 0 Runes, it cannot affect our path selection.
“A Formal Wizard can also be called a Level 1 Wizard. Our life level has arrived at Level 1 from Level 0, and we can simultaneously use Level 1 Runes.
“You can freely combine 1-Ring Spell Models composed of Level 0 Runes because, fundamentally, the level does not match your life level. However, the 2-Ring Spell Model must be chosen carefully.
“I personally suggest you try combining 1-Ring Spell Models first, constantly trial and error, and finally choose your direction.
“There are six major directions for selection: Elements, Astrological Prevision, Life, Soul (Illusion), Alchemy, and Contract Summoning.
“I suggest you major in one and minor in another as support.”
The others nodded and left on their own; they already had ideas about their path choices. Daina waited until everyone had left, then looked at Ace with longing and trust in her eyes, saying:
“Teacher Ace, should a Wizard like me who has specialized in Mana Crystal Shaping and Enchanted Martial Arts continue to choose this path?”
Ace felt the vitality within his black, shiny octahedral Phylactery suddenly become active, and the magnitude was far greater than last time. What exactly did Daina do to produce such an effect?
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