"Huh? Three stone sculptures from the Ordinary Exhibition Hall all sold for 1,500 gold coins?" Ostoney, a manager at Pruxus Hall, stared at the records in surprise. He looked up the creator, Lin Lei, and became even more astonished. "All three pieces are by this Lin Lei? He's only fifteen?"
The world of stone sculpture was absolutely pyramid-shaped.
At the very top stood only five or six stone sculpture masters across the entire Holy Alliance, with roughly a hundred or so expert sculptors. From this, one could imagine how rare expert sculptors truly were. Generally, those who could be called "stone sculpture experts" had gained deep insight into life, and possessed the skill to weave that understanding into their works, imbuing the finished pieces with a special spirit.
A fifteen-year-old stone sculpture expert?
Extremely rare!
"This Lin Lei is from Ernst Academy?" Ostoney grew even more astonished. Ernst Academy was the number one magic academy on the entire Yulan Continent. "And he's a fifth-year student? A fifteen-year-old fifth-year student?"
Ostoney drew in a sharp breath.
A genius!
"These three stone sculptures, even if their value is only around a thousand gold coins, the creator's age and identity alone are enough to multiply their worth several times over," Ostoney concluded at once.
A fifteen-year-old who could produce sculptures of this caliber — such works would generally command high prices.
And if this fifteen-year-old prodigy was also a fifth-year student at Ernst Academy, then he was absolutely a genius among geniuses. The value of his sculptures would rise accordingly.
"This afternoon I'll set out for Ernst Academy. It's been quite a while since Pruxus Hall added a new sculpture expert to its roster," Ostoney decided on the spot. The fact that three of Lin Lei's works had sold for such high prices already demonstrated his ability.
It was enough for Pruxus Hall to open a dedicated private exhibition room for him in the Expert Exhibition Hall.
That very afternoon.
A carriage arrived at the gates of Ernst Academy. It was Ostoney, accompanied by two guards. Upon reaching the entrance, Ostoney simply produced his Pruxus Hall identification from within his coat, and Ernst Academy even sent a guard to escort them inside.
Ernst Academy — Fifth-Year Faculty Office.
"Mr. Ostoney, this is where the fifth-year magic instructors gather," the escort said with a smile, pushing open the office door. Inside, more than a dozen mages were chatting casually with one another. Those who taught fifth-year students were at minimum seventh-tier mages, with some even at the eighth tier.
The door opened, and these distinguished mages turned to look.
"Gentlemen, this Mr. Ostoney comes from Pruxus Hall. He has a matter on which he would like your assistance," the escort said respectfully.
The mages nodded with mild indifference.
Pruxus Hall maintained branches in several of the super-cities across the Yulan Continent, and it also possessed formidable martial strength. For this reason, even these proud mages maintained a reasonably courteous attitude toward the institution.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ostoney said with a smile. "I've come here to find a fifth-year student named Lin Lei?"
"Lin Lei?"