The apprentices around them watched in shock. No one had expected that the so-called secret art Allen mentioned would actually stir the hearts of the two Demons.

  Allen nodded nervously, though inwardly he urged himself to move faster. Staying any longer could be risky; they had to leave immediately.

  He quickly called out to the others."Let's go!"

  Only then did everyone fully react. They hurried forward, supporting the weak Evelyn from the ground, and began striding nonstop toward the edge of Umbra Gorge.

  Umbra Gorge was only half a day's journey from Radiant Magic Academy. Evelyn's injuries were severe. Upon reaching the outskirts of the Academy, a few apprentices rushed her inside without delay.

  Allen and Graham, along with the others, were stopped by the guards at the gates. They were here as applicants for the Freelance Mage program, and before passing the entrance assessment, they were not allowed to set foot within the Academy's territory.

  The square in front of Radiant Magic Academy's main gate was already packed with people. Evelyn's severely injured appearance initially caused a small commotion, but it quickly settled down.

  Most of the people in the square were Freelance Mages, while some were young civilians from various regions, all carrying dreams of entering the Academy.

  They had naturally formed dozens of long lines. At the front of each line stood a human-height transparent crystal obelisk, inside which flowed soft, holy light that radiated pure magical energy.

  "This is a Talent Crystal Obelisk. It is used to test our magic affinity and potential," Graham explained as he walked up beside Allen.

  Since leaving Umbra Gorge, Graham's attitude toward Allen had noticeably improved. After all, if it were not for Allen, this group of them would likely have become food for the Shadow Creatures long ago.

  Allen nodded and turned his gaze toward the lined-up crowd.

  He saw the Freelance Mages stepping forward one by one, pressing their palms against the Talent Crystal Obelisks.

  In the next moment, circular magical patterns appeared on the surface of the obelisks. Starting from the innermost base, the rings lit up one by one, gradually spreading outward.

  Graham continued his explanation."There are thirty-three concentric rings on each obelisk, corresponding to the affinity for thirty-three basic magical elements. The number of rings that light up represents your level of talent."

  "As long as we can light up seven of the rings, we pass the assessment and qualify to enter Radiant Magic Academy!"

  "Admission to Radiant Magic Academy does not depend on your current mana level; it only considers potential talent. The higher your talent, the better resources and instruction you will receive once admitted, and the higher your starting point."

  He paused and looked toward the direction Evelyn had disappeared.

  "Evelyn passed the entrance assessment and entered the Academy ten years ago."

  "During her talent test back then, Evelyn lit up twenty-seven of the concentric rings!"

  "So she did not follow the usual admission process at all. Instead, she was personally taken in by one of the Academy's elders and made a core apprentice!"

  Graham explained in detail the enormous difference between a core apprentice and an ordinary apprentice."The gap between the two is not just small."

  "Ordinary apprentices can only receive a small amount of basic magic crystals and entry-level magic manuals each month."

  "Core apprentices, on the other hand, have ample supplies of magic crystals and also receive weekly one-on-one guidance from a Mentor. The Mentor customizes their study plan according to their talent."

  "In addition, if core apprentices face any conflicts, the Mentor will step in directly to protect them. This is something ordinary apprentices cannot even imagine, giving core apprentices a natural advantage within the Academy."

  "Has anyone ever managed to light up all thirty-three rings?" Allen asked curiously.

  He was genuinely interested in the talent system of this world, as it was directly relevant to the success of his plan.

  Graham paused, seemingly not expecting Allen to ask such a question. Even the people waiting in line nearby cast him contemptuous glances, as if he were a fool.

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  Graham forced a smile and shook his head."Thirty-three rings? That requires a once-in-a-millennium magical genius.

  "Since the founding of Radiant Magic Academy nearly a thousand years ago, I have only heard of one person who managed to light all thirty-three rings!"

  "A talent of that level is beyond what we Freelance Mages could ever hope for. Forget having it ourselves; even witnessing it firsthand is a rare privilege."

  "Sometimes we fantasize about it in our minds, and that is fine. Saying it out loud only makes one seem arrogant."

  At that moment, a young man in the line nearby snorted twice and said,"It was not thirty-three, it was thirty-five!"

  "I was still a child back then, following my father to Radiant Magic Academy to watch the admission festival. I saw that person step onto the testing platform with my own eyes."

  "The moment his palm touched the crystal obelisk, the thirty-three rings lit up instantly as if ignited all at once!"

  "The light was so dazzling that no one could keep their eyes open. Everyone present was stunned."

  The young man lifted his chin, recalling the scene as if he still shared in the glory of the moment.

  "Later, I found out that the obelisk we used for testing was only a low-level one, with limited capacity. That person's talent was so high that the low-level obelisk could not fully contain it!"

  He continued,"Fortunately, the low-level obelisks used in tests are connected energetically to the mid-level obelisks in the inner hall. The elder guarding the obelisk sensed something unusual and immediately went to check the inner hall."

  "He witnessed two additional rings light up on the mid-level obelisk. So that person's true talent should have been thirty-five rings!"

  Most of the people in line had heard this long-circulating secret. They nodded in agreement, and some whispered in confirmation.

  "Exactly. I also heard from my elders that his talent exceeded the limits of the low-level obelisk!"

  Graham looked somewhat embarrassed. As a Freelance Mage from a remote border region, he had never had the chance to access such deep Academy secrets.

  He hurriedly asked,"I see. Do you know what that person's name was? Is he still in the Academy? Has anyone else ever lit more than thirty-three rings?"

  The young man who had spoken earlier gave Graham a sidelong glance, as if mocking his ignorance.

  "That person is, of course, still in the Academy, though I heard he has now been promoted to an elder."

  "As for whether anyone has achieved the same level as him, that is hard to say."

  "Radiant Magic Academy has always kept information about top-tier talents strictly confidential and never releases it voluntarily."

  "After all, over the years, the Demon Tribe has constantly coveted human prodigies, repeatedly sneaking into the areas around the Academy in attempts to eliminate or capture potential apprentices."

  "The Academy's purpose in this secrecy is to provide a safe environment for these talents to grow, preventing them from being exposed to the Demon Tribe too early. Naturally, outsiders have no way of knowing the details."

  As Allen listened to the discussion, he shifted his gaze toward the Talent Crystal Obelisk testing area at the front of the line, carefully observing the reactions of each participant.

  He noticed that different people reacted very differently when their palms touched the obelisks:

  Some highly talented youths touched the obelisk and immediately lit the concentric rings with ease, all movements smooth and confident, even with faint smiles on their faces, clearly self-assured in their abilities.

  Others, with mediocre talent, flushed red, veins bulging on their temples, their magic surging wildly.

  Even using every ounce of strength, they could only make two or three rings flicker faintly, the light disappearing almost immediately. In the end, they collapsed on the ground drenched in sweat.

  It was obvious that the higher the talent, the more rings could be lit, and the faster the light spread.

  Those with low magical affinity, no matter how hard they tried, struggled even to meet the minimum standard for admission.

  Gradually, Allen began formulating his plan. His purpose here was not to become the center of attention.

  If he performed too well, he would surely draw the focus of the Academy's senior officials. This could result in additional assessments, tasks, or even in-depth investigation of his identity.

  For someone trying to conceal their true identity, that would be a fatal risk.

  So during the test, he would have to deliberately suppress his magical output, pretending to struggle, aiming to light only seven rings, just enough to meet the minimum requirement for admission.

  The line moved slowly, and soon it was Allen and Graham's turn.

  Graham took a deep breath and stepped forward first, pressing his right palm firmly against the Talent Crystal Obelisk. His gaze locked tightly on the surface, his breathing growing shallow and rapid.

  He could clearly feel the magic in his body being continuously drawn into the obelisk.

  As ring after ring slowly lit up, sweat began to bead on his forehead, and his clothing on the back quickly became soaked.

  Finally, the rings stopped lighting up, halting at the eighth ring, just one above the seven needed to pass.

  No matter how Graham gritted his teeth and pushed his magic further, the obelisk did not respond beyond that point.

  The registrar glanced at the obelisk and asked,"What is your name?"

  Hearing this, Graham instantly exhaled in relief, his voice trembling with excitement as he quickly replied,"Graham!"

  According to the admission rules of Radiant Magic Academy, only those who pass the test may have their names recorded in the Academy roster. Those who fail do not even qualify for registration.

  After reporting his name, Graham's eyes shone with joy as he quickly walked to the waiting area beside the testing zone.

  Allen took a deep breath, suppressing his thoughts, and stepped toward the Talent Crystal Obelisk.

  He was not worried about passing the test. What concerned him was how to precisely control his magical output, avoiding unnecessary attention from displaying too much talent.

  Reaching the obelisk, Allen slowly extended his right hand and gently placed his palm on the cold surface.

  At the same time, he deliberately controlled his magic to flow slowly and weakly, while manipulating his facial muscles to appear as if he were exerting extreme effort.

  Sweat slid down his cheeks, and his clothing on the back was immediately soaked through.

  "This kid is way too fake!"

  A snicker ran through the line.

  "Not a single ring has lit up yet, and he's already drenched!"

  "With that magical foundation, he dares to apply to Radiant Magic Academy? I really want to know how he even got promoted to Third-tier Magic Apprentice!"

  The murmurs and ridicule grew louder, most of them mocking Allen.