The elders had gathered in front of the main gate, their faces full of urgency and fanaticism, showing none of their usual composure or authority.

  They swarmed to the apprentices of their respective factions and demanded,"Speak! Who just tested their talent in front of the Crystal Obelisk at the academy entrance?"

  By this time, a short while had passed since Allen had followed Isabella into the academy.

  During that interval, a few other aspiring students had gone forward to test their talents, causing some confusion among the apprentices.

  The apprentices couldn't understand why the normally aloof and stern elders were acting so anxious. Yet they dared not delay and carefully recalled the events, answering truthfully:

  "Five people tested their talents just now. The one with the highest talent was a girl named Beth, who lit fifty-three concentric rings."

  "She's already been taken by Isabella from the Alchemy & Potions Department!"

  "The other four couldn't even reach the thirty-seven concentric rings required for entry. They all left in disappointment!"

  Hearing this, Sherman and the other elders exchanged glances, their urgency increasing. They immediately asked further:

  "Among those who failed the test, was there anyone whose talent was zero, who didn't light a single concentric ring on the Crystal Obelisk?"

  They knew in their hearts that whoever could shatter the Advanced Crystal Obelisk had a talent far beyond what the regular Crystal Obelisk could measure.

  The Obelisk at the academy entrance could not display his true talent and would only show the illusion of zero talent.

  The apprentices listened in confusion. They had originally thought the elders had mobilized so dramatically for the exceptionally talented Beth. They never expected it was for someone with zero talent!

  "There was indeed someone with zero talent! That boy's name is Allen. He had a recommendation letter from Radiant Magic Academy and was admitted without testing."

  "He's already been taken by Isabella to the Alchemy & Potions Department and left not long ago."

  The elders froze instantly. Then one by one, their faces twisted into expressions of anguish and regret, voices heavy with frustration and disbelief.

  Sherman slammed his fist against a stone pillar in anger, roaring,"Such a genius, and they're making him brew magical potions? What a waste!"

  "It's such a pity! If only he had joined our Arcane Array Department, in less than three years he would surely become one of the top formation masters on the continent!"

  The wailing and lamentation of the elders left the apprentices and observing mages utterly dumbfounded. One by one, they gawked and muttered doubts:

  "Someone with no talent can still be called a genius? Are the elders mistaken?"

  "Allen? That zero-talent kid who got in through a recommendation letter? Is he really worth all these elders scrambling for?"

  "You must be wrong! That boy has no talent at all. Not a single concentric ring lit on the Crystal Obelisk!"

  "And he has a recommendation letter from Radiant Magic Academy. Clearly, he's using family influence. How could he possibly be a genius?"

  Hearing such foolish doubts, Sherman trembled with anger, his teeth chattering.

  He turned sharply and scolded the apprentices of the Construct & Relics Department:

  "You were stationed here to watch for exceptionally talented people!"

  "And you just stood by while someone like this was taken by the Alchemy & Potions Department!"

  "When you return, each of you will copy the Mana Guidance Record a thousand times as punishment!"

  The apprentices of the Construct & Relics Department all looked bitter. Heads hung low, their faces filled with grievance.

  One braver apprentice couldn't help but lift his head and protest,"Why punish us?"

  "That zero-talent waste, we didn't need to compete for him!"

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "Him going to the Alchemy & Potions Department is actually good for us. It saves us from having to take in a burden!"

  Sherman's voice was filled with fury as he said,"You dare call someone a waste just because he supposedly has zero talent, yet is able to shatter the Advanced Crystal Obelisk?"

  "Then what does that make you? You can't even light a single concentric ring on the Advanced Crystal Obelisk."

  "If you could leave even the slightest mark on the Advanced Crystal Obelisk, I'd admit that what you just said was right!"

  As Sherman's words fell, all the apprentices present froze, dumbfounded, eyes wide in disbelief.

  "What? Shatter the Advanced Crystal Obelisk?"

  "In thousands of years, hardly anyone has ever left a clear mark on an Advanced Crystal Obelisk!"

  "And he actually shattered it with nothing but his talent? How extraordinary must his talent be?"

  The other elders also snapped back to attention, glaring at their apprentices with anger:

  "And you all! Blind and short-sighted, letting such talent slip away! Each of you, copy the Mana Guidance Record a thousand times and reflect properly!"

  The apprentices on site were nearly in tears. They could never have imagined that they would suffer such undeserved punishment over someone they thought had zero talent.

  Their hearts were full of grievance, yet not a single one dared to utter a word of protest.

  The elders were still immersed in regret, lamenting missing such a genius, each sighing and blaming themselves for arriving too late.

  But soon, someone suddenly realized and hurriedly shouted to alert the others,"Everyone, don't just stand there, chase him!"

  "With a talent like that, how can he be left to brew magical potions?"

  "Before Horn even realizes, let's get there first, lure him into our faction. Once he joins, his choice will be ours to guide!"

  Upon hearing this, the elders suddenly understood. A fire of fanaticism reignited in their eyes.

  Of course! Everyone still thought Allen was a zero-talent waste. Maybe Horn would dislike him, and they could seize the opportunity to persuade him to switch factions!

  Thinking this, the elders wasted no time and surged toward the Alchemy & Potions Department.

  ……

  Inside the Alchemy & Potions Department building, Horn gazed at Beth with a kind expression, his smile never fading, his heart brimming with joy.

  "Fifty-three concentric rings of talent! In the path of potion-making, this is once in a century!"

  Horn said warmly,"I will take you as a core apprentice. Follow me carefully to learn the art of potion-making, study the recipes diligently, and I guarantee your future will be boundless!"

  Beth was ecstatic, her eyes shining with joy. She could never have imagined that not only had she successfully entered Luminara Magic Academy, but she was personally received by the Alchemy & Potions Department elder and even taken as a core apprentice!

  For ordinary mages, becoming a normal apprentice of Luminara Magic Academy is already a supreme honor.

  To be the core apprentice of a core elder means receiving meticulous guidance and priority access to various resources.

  Just as the two of them were full of joy, the atmosphere harmonious, Isabella stormed in, her face dark with anger, followed by Allen, who looked calm but clearly full of restrained fury.

  Behind her followed a tall and upright man, Allen.

  Seeing Isabella return, Horn's smile grew even warmer, his tone full of approval:

  "Isabella, you did very well. You actually managed to recruit a genius like Beth, someone with such outstanding talent."

  Isabella forced a smile, but it was full of awkwardness, and her tone sounded a little unnatural as she said:

  "Mentor, I was just doing what I should…"

  She paused, stepped aside to make room for Allen, and forced herself to continue:

  "When I went out just now, I brought back another apprentice who also wants to join our Alchemy and Potions Department."

  Hearing this, Horn's eyes immediately brightened, and the smile on his face deepened as he said:

  "Another one? What wonderful news! Truly double blessings today!"

  He eagerly turned his gaze toward Allen, about to ask about his talent, but Isabella quickly spoke first. She gave an awkward smile and said vaguely:

  "Mentor, he has a recommendation letter from Radiant Magic Academy and is entering through the recommended quota."

  Isabella hurriedly handed over Allen's recommendation letter, her palms sweating. She was afraid that if the Mentor knew Allen's talent was zero, he would severely reprimand her.

  Horn took the letter and casually placed it on a nearby table. He did not rush to look through it but instead turned back to Allen and asked:

  "Since you have a recommendation letter, what about your talent? How many concentric rings can you illuminate?"

  Hearing the question, Isabella lowered her head even further and replied:

  "Mentor, he has no talent, absolutely none. He did not illuminate a single concentric ring on the Crystal Obelisk."

  Horn's smile instantly froze, and he wondered if he had heard wrong:

  "No talent? Then where does his Senior Mage magic level come from?"

  The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and his tone grew stern:

  "How many magical potions would it take to elevate someone with zero talent to the Senior Mage level?"

  Realizing the situation, Horn abruptly turned to Isabella, his voice full of reproach:

  "What were you thinking? We do not emphasize talent as much as other departments, but we absolutely cannot accept someone with zero talent!"

  "Why did you bring him into our Alchemy and Potions Department?"

  Isabella was extremely aggrieved. She quickly explained everything that had happened outside the main gate.

  She recounted how the others had pushed Allen onto her department, how his talent test had registered zero, and how he had been mocked by everyone. She left nothing out, her tone full of helplessness.

  Horn listened and ground his teeth:

  "They actually pushed this burden onto our Alchemy and Potions Department? I will go out and confront them immediately!"

  He stood up to leave, but just then, two cheerful voices suddenly came from outside the door.

  "Horn, my friend!"

  "I heard you recruited two new apprentices today. Truly delightful news!"

  "Where are the two apprentices? Let us see them. Perhaps we can learn from each other in the future!"

  The two who entered were Sherman and Elder Rudolf from the Arcane Array Department. Both wore meaningful smiles, and their gaze quickly fell on Allen.

  Seeing these two elders arrive unannounced, Horn's anger instantly subsided, replaced by puzzlement.

  He wondered why their visit concerned him. He was recruiting apprentices. What business did these two old men have with it?

  These two, who normally never bothered to visit others, were suddenly so attentive today, coming specifically to see his new apprentices?