After a brief lunch break, Qiaolin returned to the arena.
This was the final test of the day.
“Congratulations to everyone for reaching the third test. Mages who pass will have the opportunity to study the Master’s magic at the Royal Library!” Karl said.
He then stepped aside to make way for an elderly man in luxurious ceremonial robes who slowly walked out from behind him.
His appearance immediately brought the atmosphere to its peak.
Osaran, the Arcane King.
He was the mountain that all mages of the Nolan Empire looked up to.
His magic had fostered the birth of one supernova mage after another, and every mage took pride in learning his spells.
“It seems there are more people reaching the third test this year than in previous years.”
Osaran gave a kind, satisfied smile as he looked at the mages below.
“You are all hardworking children, but do not let your guard down in this third round. This is a trial of your Mental Power. If you want to master magic more perfectly, you cannot do so without strong Mental Power. Even if you possess beast-like Magic Power, you will be nothing more than a target at the mercy of others.”
Almost every mage understood this principle, but it wasn’t something that could be improved in a short period.
Compared to Magic Power, Mental Power required longer training to see results.
Furthermore, every individual had a different way of adapting their Mental Power.
Some relied on meditation, while others relied on tempering themselves.
Even those with extraordinary talent required more systematic methods of cultivation.
“Whew, I didn’t expect to actually make it to the third round. This is the first time in my life! I heard this round eliminates a huge number of people!”
The blue-robed mage rubbed his hands together excitedly.
Compared to his impatience, Qiaolin appeared much more composed.
“You seem quite happy,” Qiaolin noted.
“How could I just be happy? I’m nervous to the extreme! Being able to learn Master Osaran’s magic is enough to place one among the ranks of geniuses. For someone like me, whose innate Magic Power is only 3 feet, to actually reach this point one day… wouldn’t you be excited if you were me?”
“That’s true, but if you’re too nervous, it will affect your focus,” Qiaolin replied with a smile, pointing to his head.
The blue-robed mage immediately took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
*Rumble —*
As the two spoke, the ground trembled.
A massive bronze bell slowly rose from beneath the stage.
Most of the mages present had never seen this before, and they looked at the great bell with unfamiliar eyes.
Only those who had participated in previous years or had been spectators knew exactly how terrifying this thing was.
“Let me explain the rules and standards for the final round,” Osaran said unhurriedly.
“As you can see, this bell, forged from Echo Steel, will produce a soundwave that strikes the mind when struck. As long as you can sit beneath the bell and endure three rings, you will qualify to pass the test. If you can endure four or more, I will heartily invite such geniuses to my manor for dinner to discuss the way of magic together.”
The crowd erupted at those words!
“Oh my god, dinner with Master Osaran? I only have to endure four rings?”
“Even though the requirement was the same in previous years, I’ve never seen anyone besides Lord Karl manage to do it!”
The mages who felt they were close to the goal were even more ecstatic.
Osaran then added another condition.
He stroked his long beard and smiled.
“However, I feel there will be many potential children this year, so I will set the number of guests for my manor at three. Hehe, after all, I am getting old and have limited energy.”
Standing behind him, Karl’s expression turned cold.
Because he had allowed many people into the third test this year, the old man thought these people were actually impressive characters.
It was simply laughable!
‘Forget about that guy for now. Those three spots can only belong to my people!’
Karl glanced toward the back of the stage.
An attendant immediately understood the signal and quietly retreated.
“The test will be conducted in groups of five. You only need to sit under the great bell and endure the impact of the chimes. If you cannot hold on, you must not force yourselves, children,” Osaran warned with the concern of an elder.
Under his direction, the staff gathered the contestants in front of the bell.
Shortly after, two brawny men carrying mallets thicker than a man’s arm arrived.
They were the bell-ringers — tall, specially trained, and equipped with items to resist mental shock.
A magic barrier rose to separate the audience from the stage, preventing the leaking bell sounds from harming the spectators.
Gabriela looked curiously at the pale pink barrier designed to isolate mental shock.
She couldn’t help but reach out a finger to touch it.
The red-black Magic Power seeping from her fingertip flickered uncontrollably, and a small hole appeared.
The young girl quickly withdrew her finger, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Qiaolin looked at the massive bell hanging in midair, his eyes dimming slightly as he recalled the past.
Echo Steel… Because this metal could generate mental vibrations around itself when vibrating, Qiaolin had researched a formation to counter the Demon King’s abilities back then.
He had used Echo Steel to forge thirty-six flying swords and controlled them with magic, creating a massive Mental Interference Domain through their mutual collisions.
The previous Demon King was Gabriela’s twin sister, known as the Demon King of Domination, Archimondia.
Her Mental Power was arguably the strongest in the world.
Even a momentary gaze into her eyes would allow her evil and overbearing Mental Power to invade one’s consciousness, turning them into her puppet.
Whenever he recalled those brief moments of exchange with the Demon King, Archimondia’s wicked and charming laughter would resurface in Qiaolin’s mind, making him shiver.
“Truly terrifying…” Qiaolin murmured.
The blue-robed mage overheard him and thought Qiaolin was also afraid.
“Damn it, just looking at it makes my head feel heavy. I heard this thing can actually vibrate someone to death!”
he said.
“Even the staff are wearing magic tools to resist mental shock. It seems they are quite afraid as well,” Qiaolin said with a chuckle.
He patted the blue-robed mage’s shoulder and cautioned, “Be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“You’re the one who should be careful, little brother! You performed so amazingly before; don’t trip up here!”
Meanwhile, Osaran stretched out his hands, announcing the official start of the final trial.
“Now then, show me your willpower, children!”
*Hum —*
As the first group of five mages sat cross-legged beneath the Echoing Great Bell, another magic barrier rose to separate the testers from the other mages.
“Haha, that’s quite thoughtful. Otherwise, we might all collapse before we even get a chance to go up!”
A mage’s humorous remark made everyone laugh, easing the originally solemn and heavy atmosphere.