Chapter 91: Chapter 77: Control Your Own Destiny

Sometimes, a half-second difference can decide the outcome of a battle.

Many Third-level Wizard Apprentices require over a second of preparation to cast a One-Ring Spell, which greatly limits their combat effectiveness.

Especially when facing a Grand Knight, one second is enough for them to charge at you from a hundred meters away.

Without adequate defensive measures, a Third-level Wizard Apprentice might not even be able to defeat a Junior Grand Knight.

A Wizard Apprentice who can’t cast Magic is completely incapable of striking fear into an enemy.

In fact, when Pei Ze cast an unmodified One-Ring Spell, he also needed about a second of preparation time.

It was just that he had Wuyu to keep his enemies occupied, giving him ample time to cast during a battle.

’But I can’t get complacent over this. From now on, I have to modify all the Magic I frequently use in battle.’

Pei Ze thought to himself and silently intoned in his mind:

’Eye of Omniscience, check my current status.’

[Spirit: 108.23]

[Physique: 58.72]

[Task 1: Analyze Will Rune No. 25. Estimated time: 45 days.]

[Task 2: Modify Weakening Beam Spell model. Estimated time: 84 days.]

[Task 3: Modify Silent Illusion Spell model. Estimated time: 82 days.]

’I’m still short 8 Will Runes, and my Spirit attribute is still off by more than 50 points.’

Pei Ze calculated silently. After this operation was over, even if he couldn’t redeem a spot for the Realm of Truth, he could still exchange for enough Vile Illusion Potions.

His Spirit attribute would get another boost then.

By the time he finished constructing the remaining 8 Will Runes, his Spirit would probably reach about 160 points.

In a month at most, he would meet the standard for promotion to a Wizard. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

After that, all that would be left is to condense a Spirit Crystal.

’Condensing a Spirit Crystal is another major hurdle.’

As far as Pei Ze knew, many Third-level Wizard Apprentices got stuck at this stage.

Even though their Will Runes and Spiritual Power had met the requirements, they could never manage to condense a Spirit Crystal. They would die with endless regret when their lifespans ran out, never having broken through to become a Wizard.

One could only say that the path from Wizard Apprentice to Wizard was filled with an unimaginable number of hardships to overcome.

To become a Wizard, talent, resources, and opportunity were all indispensable.

Lacking any one of these could very well mean squandering one’s entire life away as a Wizard Apprentice.

This was precisely why Wizards were so rare, and why their status in the Star Realm Alliance was so revered.

’But this is already considered good.’

’It’s said that during the ancient Dark Age, due to fractured legacies and a scarcity of resources, not even one in several thousand Wizard Apprentices could be promoted to a Wizard. And those apprentices were elites, handpicked from all over the continent.’

’Even for those who could get promoted, it would take a dozen years or more. Anyone who became a Wizard in just four or five years was already considered a genius.’

’Compared to that, the current era is much better.’

Pei Ze sometimes couldn’t help but think that if he had transmigrated to the ancient Dark Age, he would probably still be struggling as a First-level Wizard Apprentice right now, even with the Eye of Omniscience.

Shaking his head, Pei Ze reined in his thoughts and focused his mind on the matter at hand.

’The most important thing right now is to meet the standard for condensing a Spirit Crystal as soon as possible, and then find a way to be promoted to a Wizard.’

’Even though I have Mo Weng as a teacher and can be considered someone with backing, as long as I don’t become a Wizard, I’ll never feel truly safe.’

’In the tens of thousands of years of the Wizard Civilization’s history, geniuses have been as countless as grains of sand, emerging one after another. However, those who perished midway were just as numerous as the stars.’

’In the world of Wizards, only a genius who has fully matured can be called a true genius.’

’No matter how talented a Wizard Apprentice is, as long as they haven’t been promoted to a Wizard, they are ultimately just small fry in the eyes of the true higher-ups.’

’Take the current situation, for example. If I were an Official Wizard, would Pei Yonggao still dare to instigate Huo Nan to target me so blatantly?’

’In the end, they’re just bullying me because I’m only a Wizard Apprentice.’

’In this world where Wizards hold such a revered status, only by becoming a Wizard can one even begin to speak of controlling their own destiny!’

’Until I become a Wizard, I’m no different from an ant.’

A dark gleam flashed in Pei Ze’s eyes as he looked out the window.

Ever since Huo Nan had forcefully changed his patrol area last time, he hadn’t made any other moves, almost as if he had given up.

However, Pei Ze didn’t believe for a second that Huo Nan would actually give up.

’As long as Huo Nan isn’t an idiot, he knows that there’s no room for reconciliation between us after that incident.’

’Even if Mo Weng doesn’t intervene later, once I become a Wizard, I will definitely retaliate.’

’So, as long as Huo Nan isn’t a fool, he will definitely try to get rid of me before that happens.’

’And this sweep operation is Huo Nan’s last chance.’

’Otherwise, once the operation ends and I return to High Tower Academy, his reach won’t be long enough to get to me there.’

Pei Ze estimated that if Huo Nan was plotting something in the shadows, he would probably make his move within the next few days.

As he was thinking, the Demon’s Finger in his palm suddenly grew hot, interrupting Pei Ze’s contemplation.

’Found another heretic’s trail!’

Pei Ze immediately cleared his mind and said in a low voice, "Turn left at the intersection ahead."

The driver did as he was told.

Su Ya and Peng Yan both showed looks of excitement.

’More Merit Points are coming in!’

...

「Night fell.」

The bustling and noisy streets of the day fell silent at night.

The joint operation between the City Guard Army and High Tower Academy wasn’t a secret at all. The common folk knew that the North District was currently undergoing a massive roundup of heretics. To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, they obediently stayed home at night, not going out unless absolutely necessary.

The vast streets were empty and deathly silent.

As far as the eye could see, only a few scattered lights were visible.

Only the area near the City Guard Army’s garrison was somewhat brighter.

As soon as he returned to the garrison, Pei Ze ran right into Gu Lin.

They had both been busy searching for heretics these past few days, so this was the first time they had met since making their bet.

The moment she saw Pei Ze, Gu Lin’s eyes lit up. She walked over with a wide grin and asked, "How’s it going, Pei Ze? How many Merit Points have you earned during this time?"

Before Pei Ze could answer, she lifted her chin slightly and said with a proud smile, "I’ve already got over one hundred and eighty Merit Points, you know."

Hearing this, Su Ya and Peng Yan, who were standing behind Pei Ze, suddenly got strange looks on their faces. They had to purse their lips to keep from laughing out loud.

Pei Ze glanced at Gu Lin and said with a half-smile, "Oh, that’s very impressive."

Gu Lin’s smile faltered. She keenly sensed the teasing tone in Pei Ze’s words and a bad feeling welled up in her heart. Her eyes widened as she asked, "How many Merit Points did you get?"

Pei Ze didn’t keep her in suspense any longer and said with a smile, "A little over two hundred and thirty, I suppose."

Gu Lin was instantly stunned.

’How is that possible?!’

’I used special methods to help me, which greatly increased my efficiency in searching for heretics, and even then I only got a little over one hundred and eighty Merit Points. How on earth did Pei Ze get more than me?’

’Don’t tell me Pei Ze has an ace up his sleeve too?’

Gu Lin stood stunned for several seconds before snapping back to reality, her face falling.

’Am I going to lose to Pei Ze again?’

’I don’t really care that much about the Gem Enchantment knowledge from the bet; it doesn’t matter if I lose it.’

’I care more about whether I can beat Pei Ze just once.’

’But from the looks of it now, it seems like I’m about to repeat my past failure.’

’No!’

’It’s just a gap of forty or fifty Merit Points! I can catch up by killing a single Demon Cultivator! I absolutely can’t admit defeat like this!’

Gu Lin gave herself a pep talk and quickly rallied her spirits.

She shook her fist at Pei Ze and declared, "It’s not time to decide victory or defeat yet! Just you wait, I will definitely win this bet!"

Leaving behind this "threat," Gu Lin turned and left the garrison in a hurry, preparing to search for heretics through the night.

The two Knight Students on her team exchanged a glance and chased after her with wry smiles.

Watching the three of them walk away, Su Ya smiled and said, "It seems Lady Gu Lin really wants to win against you."

"I never realized she was so competitive before." Pei Ze shook his head with a laugh. "Unfortunately for her, I won’t give her the chance."

’I am determined to get that Gem Enchantment knowledge.’

"Let’s go back. Get a good night’s rest. We’ll continue the search tomorrow," Pei Ze said, turning back to them.

Su Ya and Peng Yan both acknowledged his words, bowed to Pei Ze, and then turned to leave.

Pei Ze was also about to head back and rest when his steps suddenly halted. He looked toward a brightly lit building in the distance.

That was the command headquarters.

He could feel a gaze full of malice fixed on his position.

Pei Ze didn’t even have to think to know who that gaze belonged to. A sneer appeared on his face as he turned and walked away.

In the distant building, Huo Nan stood by the window, his expression as dark as a thundercloud.