Chapter 142: The Fruits of the Test (1/3)

At the summit of the Central Tower within the True Illusion, the walls constructed of red stone bricks were hung with hovering projections, displaying the real-time scenes of the entire Whispering Forest.

The perspectives of the projections varied widely, as if countless eyes were scattered like stars across different positions in the void.

If one observed those images closely, it would become apparent that more than half of them were centered around the shattered stone tablet.

"Vice President, the voices you manifested earlier didn't have any real meaning, did they?" Having retreated to a secondary role from the moment Zhao Xu and the others reached the fractured canyon, Leian had not intervened in the manipulation of the later scenes.

Consequently, the voices Zhao Xu heard after Lu and Ying were executed by the Deathly Black Ray were not generated by Leian.

"As outsiders, we can often observe others with a god-like mentality. Yet those who are immersed in the situation—especially in a scenario where delaying for even a few more seconds would mean official dissolution and death—experience psychological torture that is far more agonizing."

Wufeng, the Vice President of the Mage Association, gazed at Zhao Xu within the projection, his expression having softened considerably since the beginning.

Leian could not help but fall into deep contemplation at these words.

He knew that Wufeng had certainly not done this simply to test whether Zhao Xu would save others.

In the incantation test of the stone tablet, after Zhao Xu used up one of his chances to protect himself, the remaining two chances could be used to revive one person, and then materialize the faint floating bridge, allowing the two survivors to cross together.

The person left unchosen for resurrection would naturally have been resurrected by Leian, though that individual would also have lost the opportunity to proceed further.

This test was inherently a process of mutual screening and mutual proof of capability.

The strongest could choose the most valuable teammates; this was the cruel logic expounded by that stone tablet.

Only Zhao Xu chose to refuse to move forward, using both spells to save others.

This choice had been made by others before, but never to the extent of moving the Vice President.

Leian knew there must be a deeper layer of meaning that he had yet to perceive.

"Let it rest at that."

After uttering these words, Vice President Wufeng immediately teleported away.

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When Zhao Xu blurted out that he was already a level 3 mage, both Wang Ningwei and Esweth looked at him in mild astonishment.

In truth, even Zhao Xu himself did not fully understand what had happened.

He only knew that on his character sheet, his character level had now changed to level 3.

This meant that once he finished fulfilling some remaining advancement conditions, he would be a genuine level 3 mage, while simultaneously serving as a level 1 cleric and a level 2 loremaster.

It was just like that moment when he met Mage Ryan at the bottom of the mine: he had leveled up on the spot, instantly acquiring all the prerequisites to become a second-level character.

"You mean to say that in just this single adventure, you leveled up to level 3?" Esweth asked Zhao Xu with a calculating expression.

At this moment, the air at the cliff's edge still carried a faint, decaying odor—the lingering aftermath of the erupted deathly black ray.

Yet Zhao Xu could feel the surging, empowered state throughout his entire body following the level-up, including his reserve points, which had recovered to their maximum capacity.

More importantly, starting from now, he could begin learning 2nd-circle spells.

The gates to the new world of 2nd-circle spells had finally opened to him.

"Speaking of which, why did you save us? Or rather, if you were going to save someone, wouldn't choosing Lu—oh, I suppose I should say Ningwei—have been enough? She is the most resourceful and helpful asset." Esweth teased.

Wang Ningwei had maintained a smiling expression toward the two of them ever since, without saying much.

For her, the fact that everyone managed to survive was already enough.

Even Zhao Xu becoming a level 3 mage was merely a trivial detail in comparison.

Hearing Esweth's question, Zhao Xu was silent for a moment before replying, "I didn't think too much about it. I just didn't want to watch lives vanish right before my eyes."

"I refuse to make a choice that involves sacrificing others," Zhao Xu explained.

He was not particularly noble; some things simply felt unnecessary.

If he wanted to reach the summit and earn resurrection quotas, he would strive for them himself.

There was no need to use the deaths of the two women here as a price to buy himself one or two extra resurrections.

"Consider it a debt I owe you," Esweth said softly.

Suddenly, the originally blood-red horizon began to shift. Like a dark red canvas being splashed with vibrant paint, the sky was torn apart piece by piece.

The earth trembled accordingly, and the previously dry, cracked ground slowly filled in its fissures.

Immediately afterward, a blinding light descended from the heavens, piercing the quietude of the deep void.

Zhao Xu experienced a brief trance before opening his eyes once more amidst the brilliant glare.

Before him was a quiet, serene small classroom, and beyond the translucent screen windows lay the peaceful and tranquil scenery of the floating city.

Mottled sunlight spilled over them, as if they were experiencing a rebirth.

"The effect of this True Illusion is quite good, isn't it?" Leian sat in a hand-carved high-backed chair, gesturing for the three of them to sit as well.

"Congratulations on temporarily passing this test." Once the three of them had taken their respective seats in the armchairs facing him, Leian smiled.

"We don't need to proceed with the next phase?" Wang Ningwei raised a question.

Both Zhao Xu and Esweth looked at Leian with identical expressions.

The three of them knew that this test was merely the opening act; at the end of that blood moon, there were certainly still places left for them to explore.

"Actually, you took the wrong path," Leian explained with a hint of embarrassment.

"The name of this illusion is the 'Witch's Cache.' It is inherently a test illusion spanning a relatively long duration, but the subsequent difficulty is far too high and unsuitable for you at your current stage. Therefore, the original intention of the test was simply for you to return to the location of the eighth-floor elevator landing. There, you could find a secret door, and the items inside were the targets I wanted you to find."

"The fractured stone tablet, on the other hand, is content for the later stages of the test. I simply hadn't expected that the few of you, as novice mages, would actually be able to stack up enough knowledge skill bonuses to decipher the tablet's contents. You truly live up to your reputation as elite among the players." Leian praised.

By this time, he had already noticed that Zhao Xu had advanced to a level 3 character, and a trace of disbelief mingled within his smile.

The three of them were left somewhat dazed. Having finished their initial exploration and concluded that it was likely a teleportation point, they hadn't thought much further; who could have anticipated such a turn of events?

Naturally, had they been unable to cross the cliff, they would have turned back to search for clues, and they most likely would have discovered that secret door eventually.

However, they had happened to accumulate a skill bonus of over 19, directly triggering the subsequent storyline ahead of schedule.

"Then we don't need to take the test? What about the rewards?" Esweth asked quite realistically.

"There are still phased rewards." Leian suddenly felt he had encountered a rather difficult opponent.

"As for the subsequent tests, you'll have to wait until all of you reach level 3. I guarantee that the items inside the Witch's Cache will remain extremely useful to you even in the later stages."

"In fact, this True Illusion contains many such test dungeons. Aside from abilities which cannot be taken away, most of the physical items you find are genuinely usable. Therefore, reaching the eighth floor in itself constitutes a reward."

"However, these dungeons feature progress locking, so the next time you all reach level 3, you will have to come together again to open them."

Leian explained with a somewhat cunning smile.

"Hmph, so you finally admit those three mages were fakes? Heh, if there's another gloomy scenario like this, you couldn't pay me to come again," Esweth declared firmly.

Wang Ningwei simply said, "I'll follow Midsummer and Esweth's lead."

Zhao Xu had not expected Esweth to be so righteous, though considering her hoarding tendencies, he suspected she would soon change her tune once she saw the actual loot.

"I am quite busy myself, so let's get straight to the point and teach you the ability 'Silent Spellcasting'—or rather, 'Sleight of Hand' spellcasting." Leian hurried to urge them along.

As for the true inner workings behind the Witch's Cache, he only understood them half-heartedly; whether anyone had ever cleared this illusion, which was only open to low-level mages, remained unknown.

Utilizing this not particularly spacious small classroom, Leian began explaining the origins and usage techniques of "Sleight of Hand Spellcasting" to Zhao Xu and the others.

Yet upon hearing the specific details, not to mention Zhao Xu, even the two women—who usually maintained an air of serene detachment—could not help but frown.

When mages engaged in direct confrontation, the simplest way to gather intelligence was naturally through the "Spellcraft" skill.

Only by identifying the opponent's spell could one respond calmly.

The prerequisite for performing Spellcraft was hearing the opponent's incantation and observing their somatic components.

Thus, even if one did not recognize the specific spell being cast, it was still possible to gain feedback from the magic's source through the "Spellcraft" skill and thereby discern what spell was being deployed.

However, acquiring the technique of "Sleight of Hand Spellcasting" required meeting several prerequisites.

Concentration rank 1, Spellcraft rank 1, and Sleight of Hand rank 5.

Zhao Xu had long since maxed out the first two at rank 5. Now that he had become a level 3 character, he could even raise both of them to rank 6.

It was the Sleight of Hand requirement, however, that proved agonizing for Zhao Xu, as well as for Esweth and Wang Ningwei.

The most straightforward demonstration of the Sleight of Hand skill involved using clever hand movements to conceal a coin.

At a higher difficulty level, it encompassed the ability to pick pockets.

Street-performing vagrants and tricksters usually possessed a rank or two in this Sleight of Hand skill.

And every rogue aspiring to become a master thief would diligently strive to improve this skill.

Although players and the residents of Asher alike looked down upon thievery, in certain extreme missions, having a rogue with a high Sleight of Hand skill would indeed make things twice as efficient with half the effort.

However, Sleight of Hand was not a class skill for mages and loremaster. If Zhao Xu wished to spend skill points to raise it to rank 5, he would have to invest a full 10 points.

This also indicated that acquiring the "Sleight of Hand Spellcasting" technique would be a relatively long-term endeavor.

Once Zhao Xu's Sleight of Hand reached rank 5, he would presumably be able to disguise his spellcasting gestures as ordinary movements.

In that manner, no one would be able to see through his spellcasting.

If he could also manage to conceal the sound of his incantations, every single spell Zhao Xu cast would transform into a sudden ambush.

This was precisely the strategic value inherent in the "Sleight of Hand Spellcasting" ability.

Meanwhile, Leian had not expected the three of them to demonstrate miracles and pull off such a feat on the spot.

Even if these three players with rank-zero Sleight of Hand were children of the gods, they would still need 10 spare skill points to pull it off.

Zhao Xu had only just advanced to level 3, which freshly granted him skill point rewards from leveling up—3 points derived from his Intelligence adjustment plus 1 point for being human.

Simultaneously, he would also receive rewards from his class, though those could only be obtained after he formally advanced, with the loremaster class granting 4 points.

Under Leian's barrage, Zhao Xu and the two companions were forced to memorize a series of tips for "Sleight of Hand Spellcasting," signed contracts pledging not to leak any of the contents within the "True Illusion," and were then promptly chased out by Leian.

Even when Zhao Xu asked what he should do if he forgot something, Leian simply told him to turn around and ask the two women.

When Zhao Xu and the companions had arrived at the eighth floor, they had staggered their times, taking the alchemical elevator up separately.

This time, however, they rode the alchemical elevator back down together.

Having undergone the adventure in the illusion of the Whispering Forest, the three of them finally possessed a faint sense of camaraderie.

"How does it feel to be the number one among the players?" Esweth asked as she pressed the button for the first floor.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu was momentarily taken aback.

The boxes of memory were instantly flung open, and an immense volume of information flashed rapidly across his mind.

Unawares, he had surpassed the first tier of pioneers and gone straight to the summit.

Among the players, the highest level currently attained belonged to just those few level-2 fighters. It was said they were close to reaching level 3, but they had yet to achieve it.

Even with organized teams deliberately investing massive resources, no one had managed to push anyone to level 3 yet to claim the honor of being the players' very first recipient of that title.

And on the forums, across all of Asher's discussion groups, no one knew that a level-2 mage currently existed.

As for a level 3 mage, that was even more of a fantastical notion.

Once the news of Zhao Xu becoming a level 3 mage leaked out, those mage players who had been stuck at lower levels for a long time would likely feel an urge to smash their TC terminal windows on the spot.

"I really couldn't tell you had this kind of temperament in you." Esweth looked at the somewhat dazed Zhao Xu and shook her head.

"What temperament?" Zhao Xu failed to react in time.

"A ruler's temperament, of course," Esweth said. Normally, shouldn't someone who reached the number-one spot be extremely domineering?

Zhao Xu smiled and shook her head. He hadn't expected Esweth, who usually appeared smart and steady, to possess such childish mentalities as well.

The true ruler in the days to come would be the person right beside him.

When everyone obtained their true attributes and those genuine abilities a year from now, that would be the true beginning of a different era.

By then, Zhao Xu would truly transform into a high-Intelligence mage.

"Not at all, Mr. Midsummer is still very reliable," Wang Ningwei covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Esweth, you're very reliable too."

At that moment, the alchemical elevator finally reached the first floor slowly. The steel gates pulled apart gradually, and the hopeful sunlight once more spilled over the youthful faces of the three.

Zhao Xu gazed at the towering obelisk ahead.

Second-circle spells, here I come.