pdf-ebookys Chapter 1 Something's not right, is it?
Chapter 1 Something's not right, is it?
The Empire of Dawn.
The Silver Magic Academy's admissions process.
The square, paved with white marble, was wide and majestic. Young men and women who came to participate in the enrollment lined up in long queues, their expressions a mixture of hope and trepidation.
In the queue, a boy stared blankly at the air in front of him.
[Wow! Congratulations on your transmigration to the world of cultivation!]
[After overcoming numerous hardships and narrowly escaping death, you have finally obtained the opportunity to participate in the Immortal Sect's disciple recruitment ceremony!]
[Cultivation Points +1!]
Lines of transparent text abruptly floated in the center of the field of vision.
【? 】
A question mark slowly appeared above Lorne's head.
Eighteen years ago, he transmigrated to this world and grew up as an orphan in a church welfare home. Through his exposure to the world, he learned that magic exists in this world.
Therefore, joining a magic academy, obtaining a magic degree, and becoming a magician became his aspiration.
Today is the day the magic academy admits its students.
He had just chased away someone who tried to cut in line when this panel popped up.
Those who frequently travel through time know that this means their cheat code has arrived.
can.
"After going through numerous hardships and narrowly escaping death?"
A look of confusion appeared on Lorne's face.
Since awakening his memories, he has been doing good deeds every day, working hard to earn work points, and never riding his bicycle across the road while riding an old lady. After ten years of hard work, he finally obtained the precious recommendation from the Magic Association to participate in the Magic Academy's admissions. After receiving the notification yesterday, he had a good long sleep and prepared to face the admissions assessment in the best possible condition. He even had an extra meal of oatmeal porridge and wheat bread this morning.
The whole process was incredibly smooth.
The biggest challenge I encountered was almost being cut in line.
How could this be considered a near-death experience?
"And the cultivation world?"
"A Guide to Cultivating Immortality??"
He looked up and around.
The medieval-style architecture features towering city walls and pure white spires.
Golden-haired, blue-eyed boys awaiting their magical talent test; knights wielding greatswords; magicians clad in robes high in the sky; bizarre, unidentified creatures…
Although I've never actually seen what the cultivation world is like.
But looking at everything around him and his knowledge from childhood, Lorne was absolutely certain.
This is a fucking magical world!
They practice magic!
You're giving me a cultivation system? That doesn't make sense!
"Guide, are you sure this is the cultivation world? I'm clearly in a magic academy!" Lorne asked in his mind.
The system ignored him and instead displayed another message:
You know full well that the cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world, fraught with danger, and without connections or resources, you'll never reach the pinnacle of immortality. Therefore, you resolutely choose a different path, joining the Demonic Sect!
[You have made your choice. Now, strive to pass the test and become a glorious disciple of the Demonic Cult! May you soon become a great demon lord!]
? ? ? ?
Lorne looked at the tips in the cultivation guide several times in disbelief, then looked up at the words "Silver Magic Academy" above his head.
I was completely dumbfounded.
Dude, explain to me what you mean by me choosing to join the evil cult?
What is meant by a glorious disciple of the demonic cult?
What does it mean to become a great demon?
My Silver Magic Academy, a legitimate magical organization within the orthodox magical world, how did it become a demonic cult!
I aspired to be a chivalrous hero and save the suffering people from their misery, so how did I end up becoming a member of the demonic path!
This system seems even more insane than I imagined!
and many more!
He suddenly froze.
Does this idiot guide think that magic is just sorcery and magic spells?
Following this logic, magic academies are academies for cultivating demonic magic, therefore they are demonic cults!
So magicians are demonic cultivators!
...Awesome.
He spent half a day convincing himself to accept the possibility of becoming a demonic cultivator.
The problem is not big.
Whether it's cultivating immortality or using magic, whether it's a magic academy or a demonic cult, as long as one can embark on the path to transcendence, they are all just tools in one's hands.
Have you not heard that Heaven never closes off all paths? As long as you have justice for all living beings in your heart, the great path is right under your feet!
Of course, the most urgent task is to pass the Demonic Cult's test, following the instructions in the guide.
Oh no, join the magic academy!
As he was pondering this, Lorne suddenly felt someone poking him from behind.
He turned his head inexplicably, and his eyes lit up.
This is a tall and slender girl with long, light silver hair tied in a ponytail, topped with a dark blue wide-brimmed hat with a slightly upturned brim. Her eyebrows and eyes under the brim are captivating, and her azure eyes are like glass.
Wearing a dark blue short cape with fitted riding breeches and knee-high boots, and a thin silver chain around his waist, he exuded a crisp and dashing air, clearly not from an ordinary family.
But at this moment, she seemed troubled by something, her brows slightly furrowed:
"Hey, can we switch seats?"
Why...?
Lorne understood before he could finish speaking.
Behind the dashing girl in line was a burly, hairy orc with sharp fangs and a pungent odor that nearly made a boy behind him roll his eyes back.
No wonder I've been faintly smelling that odor.
Girls generally like to be clean, so it's normal that this young lady couldn't stand it.
"Okay, come on up."
Lorne nodded indifferently.
The girl breathed a sigh of relief and strode in front of Lorne.
The delicate silver chain around her waist swayed and jingled, accompanied by the refreshing scent of cedar, so pleasant that it made one feel as if they were in a garden at dawn, instantly invigorating their spirits.
Thanks.
After she stopped, she turned her head slightly, revealing a bright and cheerful smile. Her cheeks shone brightly in the sunlight, and she spoke in a very familiar manner:
"My name is Viola, what's yours?"
"Lorne".
"Are you also here for the Silver Academy's entrance exam?"
"No, I'm here for a beast-flavored sauna," Lorne replied seriously.
"Huh?" Viola was taken aback, then realized that she had asked a pointless question.
Those who are ranked here are naturally here to participate in the assessment.
"Haha," she laughed awkwardly twice, then changed the subject: "Have you taken the mental affinity test?"
Mental affinity is the degree of affinity with magical elements. Generally speaking, reaching level three means you have the potential to become a magic apprentice, level five means you can expect to get a junior magic degree, level seven means intermediate, and as for an advanced magic degree, you need at least level nine mental affinity.
Silver Academy, as a top-tier 985 university in the magic world, has extremely high admission standards. Putting aside other factors, the most important requirement is that one's mental affinity must reach level seven.
"If there were a level seven, maybe we could even be classmates in the future," Viola asked casually.
……
[The daughter of a demonic family is investigating your background. She possesses pure blood and extraordinary insight; you could try to befriend her as an ally of the demonic path.]
……
Looking at the outrageous handwriting, Lorne's lips twitched as he tried to convince himself to accept it.
Making allies is essentially making friends... He thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth:
"I have no idea."
Viola gave me a "I don't believe you" look:
"How is that possible? After you got the recommendation, didn't your family take you to take a magic talent test? How dare you come to Silver Academy then?"
Obtaining a recommendation is the first step to becoming a magician.
There's an old saying in the magical world: Character determines one's path, and talent determines one's potential.
Before issuing recommendation qualifications, local magic associations will strictly examine the students' character, after all, the magic world would rather lose a genius than cultivate a degenerate evil mage.
After obtaining the recommendation qualification, the candidates' families often spend a lot of money to hire magicians to check their mental affinity. Only by knowing their mental affinity level can they choose a magic academy that meets the corresponding standards.
People like Viola, who come from extraordinary families, have had their talents tested by their families since childhood. All they lack is the qualification for recommendation. Therefore, their families provide them with the best elite education, and their fathers and mothers personally participate in their growth in order to cultivate their upright character in love and companionship.
So she doesn't understand why some parents are unwilling to have their children tested for magical talent.
Her face was filled with indignation, and she hated evil as if it were her enemy:
"Is it because your parents don't value you? If you miss the application deadlines for all the major magic academies, wouldn't that just ruin your future?"
Lorne answered honestly:
"I am an orphan."
Viola's expression suddenly froze.
"I grew up in an orphanage. When I was eight years old, the church orphanage discovered that I had a reaction to magical elements, so they registered me with the Magic Association. After that, I started doing odd jobs at the church and worked hard to accumulate work points for ten years. This year, I finally got the recommendation qualification."
Although he did odd jobs for ten years, the people at the welfare home and the church were nice. In addition, with his experience from his two lifetimes, he often did good deeds, so everyone liked him. He didn't suffer much, just a bit poor.
Lorne shrugged and said helplessly:
"I don't have the money to hire a magician to test my talent, so I just came directly. It saves me some money, right?"
Silver Academy is one of the most prestigious and top-tier universities in the Dawn Empire, possessing the most orthodox magic training system and a hall of fame that countless beings dream of joining.
Why is it described as countless creatures?
Lorne's gaze swept over the orcs behind him, then over several beautiful girls with rabbit ears in the group, and a short figure leaping three feet high to hit someone's knee...
Look, even orcs and dwarves come here because of its reputation. It seems that the Silver Academy's appeal has transcended racial boundaries.
Lorne naturally wanted to be one of them.
Even if the final test results show that he doesn't meet the Silver Academy's admission standards, he can still know his talent, which will make it easier for him to choose other magic academies.
The cultivation guide only tells him to join a sect, but it doesn't say that it has to be the most powerful sect. He can complete the mission just as well by going to other academies.
Of course.
While non-985/211 universities are not bad, top-tier 985 universities offer far more opportunities.
On the other side, Viola had lowered her head at some point, and her expression under the brim of her hat gradually became distorted.
...I deserve to die!
He was an orphan to begin with, and even the recommendation qualification was earned after working for ten years. He didn't know how many scornful looks he had to endure during that time. He didn't even have the money to test his magical talent himself, and he had to try his luck during the official enrollment period...
Alone and helpless, having traveled alone from a remote area, in a place where no one knew him...
Lorne is so pitiful, and I even hit him where it hurts!
Viola felt incredibly guilty!
After blaming herself for a long time, she finally raised her head and patted Lorne on the shoulder with great loyalty:
"You've had it so tough."
"It's okay. If you get into Silver Academy, and you ever run into trouble, just mention my name, Viola, and we'll be buddies."
Lorne: "...hesitating."
……
You are well aware that people within the Demonic Sect are treacherous, and that every seemingly friendly greeting may conceal a deadly intent.
[You walked on thin ice, proceeding cautiously at every step, navigating deceit and treachery, and finally managed to temporarily stabilize this little witch from a family of demons, thus forging your first connection within the demonic sect.]
[Cultivation Points +1!]