"The registration desk is right in front of the teaching area!"
After passing through the garden, Biji took the initiative to explain to Leilin.
"The academy competitions are of many kinds. There are contests in potionology, as well as more niche subjects like gathering and plant cultivation. But the most popular one is the combat competition. Any apprentice can participate, and the rewards are the most lucrative!"
"Although an apprentice can enter multiple competitions, Instructor Guofate said you'd best participate in the potionology contest!"
Biji looked at Leilin, her worry plain in her eyes.
"Don't worry, I also only plan to enter the potionology competition!" Leilin smiled reassuringly.
For a genius apprentice with fifth-grade aptitude, their respective mentors certainly backed them, and they likely already possessed magical items. Leilin didn't want to run into them head-on.
Moreover, the prizes for the combat competition didn't appeal to him much; it was clearly a final chance prepared for the commoner apprentices. Since Leilin only intended to go through the motions, naturally he'd choose the least strenuous path.
In front of the teaching area, several black tables had been set up. Banners behind them displayed characters for Potionology, Combat, and so on.
Around the tables, many apprentices were clustered together, signing up.
It seemed they were apprentices who had only recently returned.
Leilin thought for a moment, then squeezed directly into the potionology registration line and signed his name.
"Take this! It's your number, 32. The competition begins tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM. Please arrive on time at Testing Area, Building 13!"
The examining staff member in a grey robe wrote Leilin's name on a piece of parchment, then handed him a numbered tag as a formality.
"Next!"
With the grey-robed man's impatient voice, Leilin rubbed his nose, shook his head, and stepped back.
"Let's go! Let's celebrate at the paid dining hall!" Leilin said to Biji, who was waiting nearby.
"Let me treat you! It's a celebration for our reunion after so long!!" A happy smile also appeared on Biji's face.
...
The next afternoon, Leilin arrived at Building 13 five minutes early.
Several potionology apprentices were already waiting there. Some knew Leilin and greeted him with a smile; others looked unfamiliar.
This was not strange. Wizards were mostly homebodies, often hiding in their laboratories all day conducting experiments, and apprentices in potionology and alchemy were especially so.
Merlin and Biji were also in the crowd, smiling at Leilin.
Ding-a-ling!!! With the sound of a pleasant chime, a figure in a black robe suddenly appeared before everyone.
"A full Wizard!!!" Leilin thought to himself. Although he was far from what he used to be, he was still an ant compared to a full Wizard.
The Chip was also helpless against the protective field surrounding a full Wizard.
"Enter the building according to the numbers on your tags. The workstations inside are all numbered. Hurry to your positions. I'll only wait five minutes for you; any apprentice who's late will be considered to have forfeited!"
The black-robed Wizard's voice was hoarse and very unpleasant.
As soon as he finished speaking, the black-robed Wizard shook his robe, and it split apart, transforming into countless bats that flew away.
The apprentices on the scene exchanged glances.
Bang!!! Someone took the first step, and the entire plaza instantly descended into chaos as apprentices scrambled to push their way into the building.
Although Leilin wasn't in a hurry, his body was carried along by the crowd.
It took a great deal of effort to finally reach his workstation.
The pure white workstation had the number 32 written in the upper-left corner. On its surface were some medicinal herbs, and next to it was a piece of parchment. One sniff told Leilin these were all materials for a Healing Potion.
"Five minutes are up! Any apprentice not at their station will be considered to have forfeited!!"
The black-robed Wizard's voice sounded again, and at the same time, there were many exclamations from the potionology apprentices.
Leilin saw a poor soul at the workstation next to his, who, just one step away, was directly snatched up by a black bat and tossed outside the building.
"Today's task is to brew a Healing Potion! The formula and materials are on the workstation. You have three hours..."
After dealing with the apprentice who forfeited, the black-robed Wizard's voice rang out once more.
"Your every move is under my observation. Don't even think about trying to cheat; otherwise, I will show you what it means to learn a bloody lesson!!!"
"As expected!!!" Leilin picked up the parchment. As expected, it contained the formula for a Healing Potion.
"I've brewed this basic potion so many times I could do it in my sleep!!!" Leilin thought helplessly, but he still skillfully picked up a beaker...
To an outside observer, every move Leilin made at this moment was flawless. His arms were strong and steady, without the slightest tremor. During the brewing process, every action was filled with a unique beauty.
Drip!!!
A drop of green liquid fell into the test tube, and the entire tube instantly turned red.
"Done!" Leilin checked the time recorded by the Chip: "One hour and twenty minutes? My hands are a bit rusty!!!"
"Hmm! Very good, it's completed!!!"
A black bat flew directly onto Leilin's workstation and examined the potion in his hand.