While Pierce was lost in thought, Gwen had already selected her companions and walked over. "Let's go. We need to register the team."

  The group returned to the adjacent office to register and received their assigned team numbers.

  Pierce was No. 32, and Gwen was No. 33.

  It was worth noting that before the operation commenced, everyone was ordered to remain within the garrison, strictly forbidden from leaving without authorization. In return, the City Guard promised to provide accommodation and food of the highest standard.

  Pierce had no objections. He settled into the garrison, his daily routine remaining a steadfast cycle of meditation and breathing technique cultivation.

  However, after advancing to Grand Knight, the tempering effect of the Azure-Wind Breathing Technique on his physique had plummeted sharply. Even pushing his daily practice to the limit of three cycles, his Physique increased by less than 0.1 points.

  Pierce estimated that relying solely on this technique, the hope of advancing to Legendary Knight was slim to none. Perhaps only an Ultimate Rank breathing technique could serve as a stable ladder to the legendary realm.

  But Pierce was not impatient. His core task remained constructing Will Runes and studying spells. Once his task queue cleared, he could use the Omniscient Eye to upgrade and modify the breathing technique.

  On the second day of his stay, Will Rune No. 23 was successfully constructed. Pierce’s Spirit attribute surged by 3.8 points, reaching an astounding 95.38.

  Additionally, he successfully analyzed a new spell—Silent Image.

  This spell could create a realistic illusion of a single object or creature, its appearance limited only by the caster's imagination. It was highly practical for combat deception. Although it lacked sound, smell, and body temperature, and its movement range was restricted, it was convincing enough in critical moments.

  With this, Pierce had mastered five Rank 1 spells.

  For an apprentice who had advanced to Rank 3 less than a month ago, this number was terrifying. An ordinary apprentice might take one or two months to master a single Rank 1 spell, and even a genius like Gwen, backed by family resources, would typically need ten to fifteen days.

  "Still need Ray of Enfeeblement and Jump."

  Pierce looked at the two spellbooks in his hand. The analysis time for both added up to just over ten days, and he planned to tackle them soon.

  A saying circulated among apprentices: only a Rank 3 apprentice who had mastered at least five Rank 1 spells and built a specialized combat system could be considered a true combatant.

  Another day passed in the blink of an eye.

  After completing his routine meditation, Pierce walked out of his quarters to the plaza. The City Guard had thoughtfully placed numerous metal targets there for apprentices and knights to practice their skills. The air was filled with the roar of training.

  Apprentices had been arriving steadily over the past two days. Pierce estimated the number of Rank 3 apprentices participating in the suppression campaign was nearing a hundred. The vast majority were third-years; second-years numbered fewer than ten, and first-years consisted solely of him and Gwen.

  Sia and Peyton were practicing their combat arts in a corner of the plaza.

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  Sia practiced a high-tier breathing technique focused on agility. Her figure moved like lightning, her blade tearing through the air with ear-piercing sonic booms. Anyone who mistook her for a delicate elf would meet a swift end.

  "This technique shares similarities with Flash Step," Pierce murmured.

  On the other side, Peyton practiced a low-tier technique characterized by sweeping, heavy strikes. Wielding a two-handed greatsword as wide as a door, every swing generated a violent shockwave, the sheer pressure of his raw strength palpable.

  Nearby, Gwen was also practicing spells. She extended her palm, and with an incantation, a cone of searing flame erupted, instantly covering a large area ahead.

  Burning Hands!

  Pierce noticed Gwen seemed to favor fire spells; her only two mastered spells were Fireball and Burning Hands. She hadn't even learned the basic Mage Armor. Such an extreme build was rare.

  At that moment, Pierce spotted Vance approaching.

  "Junior Pierce, I knew you'd come for the Realm of Truth quota," Vance laughed.

  "Hopes aren't high," Pierce shrugged. "Is Senior Yuna not here?"

  At the mention of Yuna, a look of awe appeared on Vance's face. "Yuna is in seclusion, attempting to break through to the realm of Official Wizard. Barring any accidents, she should have succeeded by the time we return."

  Pierce was inwardly shaken. In the four great wizard academies of Aurora City, those who could achieve wizardhood with a high-level meditation technique before graduation were destined to be pivotal figures, achieving at least the status of a Rank 3 Wizard.

  "Gwen is here too," Vance said, looking at Gwen. "I heard she mastered two Rank 1 spells less than half a month after advancing. The Gu family's Gem Magic truly lives up to its reputation."

  "Gem Magic?" Pierce raised an eyebrow.

  "You don't know?" Vance explained patiently. "Typically, gems are only seen as enchanting materials—like Red Zircon enhancing fire spells or Sapphire boosting summoning effects. But the Gu family ancestors pioneered a system using gems as casting mediums. It significantly boosts power, reduces consumption, and even allows for... casting beyond one's rank."

  Casting beyond one's rank!

  Pierce was startled. Due to Spirit limitations, a Rank 3 apprentice could at most cast Rank 1 spells. If Gwen could use gems to cast Rank 2 spells, that would be a genuine trump card.

  No wonder she had surrendered her points so casually at the end of the trial. She had never truly feared him.

  As the three conversed, a commotion arose nearby.

  A group of soldiers marched past, escorting a battered man covered in cuts and bruises. Pierce, with his keen eyesight, clearly saw the emblem on top of the pile of confiscated items carried by a soldier—countless arms of varying lengths reaching out from a black well, exuding an eerie gloom.

  "A heretic of the Hand of Deep Grudge," Vance whispered.

  Pierce’s eyes flickered. The Hand of Deep Grudge was a unique cult that worshiped not a single deity, but the Great Demons and Evil Gods imprisoned in the Wells of Darkness on the 73rd layer of the Abyss.

  The target of this suppression was the sect worshiping the Great Demon Apep.

  Legend had it that Apep was a six-armed giant Basalt Demon, possessing an indestructible body and the power to manipulate earth elements. His followers drank Demon Potions in rituals; those with poor compatibility became Corrupted, while those with good compatibility became Disciples. Those who distinguished themselves were granted Darkness Well Water, ascending to become Madness Drinkers.

  "It looks like the operation is starting soon," Vance said gravely. "Best to conserve your Spirit these next two days."

  After parting ways, Pierce returned to his quarters.

  Upon entering, he saw Mist Raven sunning itself by the window, while Ini was fawning over it, grooming its feathers. Pierce chuckled; since assigning Mist Raven to watch over Ini, the little creature had indeed become much more behaved.

  He sat at his desk and took out a book to begin "scanning."

  With the Omniscient Eye fused to his soul, all scanned knowledge was directly downloaded into his mind, forming a permanent photographic memory. This was a talent ordinary wizards could only dream of. Knowledge was the source of a wizard's power, but also the bottleneck of their advancement. Even Pierce had to absorb raw data from books to provide the foundation for analysis and modification.

  Since returning from the Realm of Truth, Pierce found his thinking and memory had significantly improved, as had his meditation efficiency. This was likely the aptitude transformation Yuna had mentioned.

  Until evening, Pierce closed the book and stretched.

  Although the garrison food was decent, he preferred his own prepared sandwiches. After feeding his two pets, the sky had turned dark.

  Just as he was considering whether to continue reading or practice his breathing technique, a deep voice resonated directly in his mind:

  "All Wizard Apprentices, assemble immediately at the Command Hall!"

  Message!

  Pierce’s heart tightened. The suppression campaign was finally beginning.