Chapter 286: Tasks and Project Completion

Time flew, and a year and a half later, Noren Academy No. 147 welcomed another round of apprentice recruitment.

Jie Ming sat behind his deserted Alchemy faction recruitment table, the outcome as expected—zero recruits.

He took it in stride, even beginning to think this “idleness” might be the greatest hidden perk of being a mentor.

Five years later, while Jie Ming was immersed in deducing the stability of energy transmission networks and their compatibility with plane laws, his encrypted communicator’s distinct vibration interrupted his thoughts.

The light screen unfolded, revealing Dean Avery Knight’s stern yet steady visage.

“Jie Ming,” the dean said without preamble, “prepare yourself. In six months, the academy’s first batch of apprentices will face their graduation trial. You’re needed for the preparations.”

“Graduation trial?” Jie Ming was slightly surprised. “Our new academy is holding one too?”

From what he knew, Noren Workshop’s academies hadn’t always had graduation trials. In the past, apprentices who completed ten years of study were sent straight to the frontlines of plane wars, graduating if they survived.

By his generation, trials were introduced for screening purposes.

He quickly thought deeper. “After the trial, will the qualified ones, like those from other Noren academies, participate in Noren Workshop’s ‘elite selection’?”

“Of course,” Dean Avery affirmed. “The process and ratio are the same as standard practice. Only the top tenth will qualify for further selection.”

Over the years, the graduation trial under Noren Workshop’s academies had evolved into a mature, efficient system.

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A low-energy, low-risk small plane was selected, cleared of threats beyond the apprentices’ capabilities.

The apprentices were then sent in for a simplified “plane war,” serving as their final academy assessment and combat rehearsal.

“As for the trial venue,” Dean Avery continued, “I’ll select a suitable one from my private plane collection. I’ll aim for a low-energy plane with a mild environment, stocked with tamed servant races matched to the apprentices’ strength as ‘opponents.’”

Jie Ming nodded in approval. This approach was indeed efficient.

Dean Avery’s method was far more cost-effective than searching and conquering a naturally low-energy plane on the fly.

His private planes, with established infrastructure, made spatial deployment and monitoring far more convenient.

Otherwise, it would be like Jie Ming’s own trial, which consumed vast energy and resources.

But a key issue occurred to him, and he frowned. “Dean, about the trial’s safety measures… when I participated at Noren No. 13, high-ranking alchemists mass-produced life-saving rings with spatial teleportation. With my current alchemy skills, I’m afraid I can’t independently produce such a large quantity of high-grade items.”

Jie Ming, a second-grade wizard, had some spatial knowledge but couldn’t match the scale of his trial’s safeguards.

Dean Avery seemed to have anticipated this. “No matter. Standardized life-saving items can be mass-purchased through workshop channels. Since your generation, the workshop has developed a complete supply system.”

“Your focus is ensuring the trial’s broadcast and monitoring systems run smoothly. We need clear, real-time observation of each apprentice’s performance for grading and handling emergencies.”

Relieved, Jie Ming relaxed.

The broadcast system, composed of complex detection orbs, data transmission hubs, and large projection arrays, was well within his capabilities to maintain.

He confidently assured, “Rest assured, Dean. The broadcast system is in good hands!”

With the main task settled, Jie Ming’s thoughts drifted further.

He recalled the reason Noren Workshop’s academies had uniformly introduced graduation trials—a vague rumor about potential moves by the Star Ring Federation.

“Dean,” he couldn’t help asking, “about the rumor that prompted the trial reform… there hasn’t been much follow-up. The Star Ring Federation…”

Dean Avery’s deep gaze met Jie Ming’s, not denying it, and responded calmly, “That matter, for talented and promising wizards like you, might not be a bad thing if it comes to pass—perhaps even an opportunity. As for why it’s been quiet…”

He paused, speaking with the detached perspective of a high-ranking wizard spanning vast timescales. “Understand that for high-ranking wizards, especially those shaping the civilization’s course, unless it’s an immediate existential crisis, a major strategy impacting the future, implemented and showing results within a few millennia, is considered ‘swift.’”

“Conversely,” his tone carried a warning, “if such events escalate rapidly, it often means the wizard civilization faces an unimaginable threat, forcing us to respond hastily.”

“The current approach—gradual preparation through educational reforms—suggests this is likely a forward-looking strategy by some eighth- or even ninth-grade wizard based on glimpses of future fate. We still have ample time to prepare and grow.”

Jie Ming felt reassured, but another question arose. “Then, Dean, where will the students from our Elosia Academy who pass the trial and elite selection go?”

After all, Elosia’s academy was built on the foundation of wizards who passed such screenings.

He continued, based on his knowledge, “From what I know, over the years, wizards graduating and passing selections from various academies have been steadily funneled into the Elosia Plane…”

This was a key reason for Elosia’s rapid plane transformation and construction.

Otherwise, the manpower for plane transformation, the mentors for the academy, and the wizard lords needed to maintain such a vast domain would be an astronomical figure.

Even so, Elosia’s Noren Academy remained immature compared to others.

The wizard civilization’s hierarchy wasn’t a traditional pyramid but pear-shaped.

First- and second-grade wizards were the most numerous, but third-grade wizards were fewer than fourth- and fifth-grade ones.

This was because, by fourth grade, plane wars posed little danger, leading to an accumulation of fourth- and fifth-grade wizards over time, outnumbering third-grade ones.

These wizards formed the backbone of the wizard civilization.

At Noren No. 13, where Jie Ming studied, most mentors were of this level.

Only at sixth grade did numbers drop again due to promotion difficulties.

In Elosia, most wizards, including many mentors, were still first- or second-grade.

Dean Avery nodded slightly, revealing the answer. “The workshop’s leadership has decided. The Elosia Plane Cluster’s framework is essentially complete, and Noren No. 147 is on track.”

“Henceforth, new talents passing the trials will primarily be sent to new, undeveloped plane clusters to pioneer and establish the next Noren Academy.”

Jie Ming was stunned. “You mean…”

Dean Avery summarized, “Correct. In short, Noren Workshop is entering a phase of rapid expansion. Continuously establishing new talent cultivation bases to absorb and nurture fresh blood will support the sustained growth of our civilization’s domain and influence.”

Jie Ming understood completely.

It was like an unending wave of pioneering. Successful graduates would become new sparks, scattered to distant, unknown lands, igniting one knowledge beacon after another for the wizard civilization.

Elosia, where he stood, was merely one crest in this grand tide.

“I understand, Dean. I’ll fully support the graduation trial preparations,” Jie Ming responded solemnly.

…

Dean Avery’s trial tasks, with Jie Ming’s skill and caution, proceeded without incident.

The broadcast system ran smoothly, clearly displaying every apprentice’s actions in the carefully prepared low-energy plane to the mentors.

However, the trial results left most mentors, including Jie Ming, quietly shaking their heads.

This batch of apprentices’ performance was far from satisfactory.

Their adaptability, tactical coordination, and use of abilities were immature and lackluster.

This was unsurprising, given Elosia’s human civilization had only been transformed for a short time.

These early sprouts, in both talent and environment, lagged behind the meticulously cultivated apprentices of Noren Workshop’s traditional territories.

Moreover, the mentors present were all geniuses who had passed elite trials, each a standout among countless talents.

Their standards were exacting.

Even true geniuses might seem ordinary to them, let alone these unpolished students.

Only Dean Avery remained calm throughout, as if he had anticipated this, showing no disappointment.

After the trial, he personally led the top tenth of graduates to Noren Workshop’s headquarters for the “elite trial” that would decide their futures.

With this matter concluded, Jie Ming’s life returned to its familiar rhythm.

Aside from routine apprentice recruitment every five years and periodic maintenance of the rarely used trial broadcast system, he had long stretches of uninterrupted free time.

Of course, most importantly, he still hadn’t recruited any apprentices willing to study Alchemy Technique.

Some had inquired, but after Jie Ming’s honest explanations, most backed out immediately.

Having no students to mentor was, to him, a welcome relief.

It meant he could focus entirely on his endless research list without teaching concerns.

Analyzing samples, optimizing runic wizard tools, deducing techniques, refining cannon fodder…

Time slipped away in the laboratory’s glow and energy fluctuations.

Spring passed, autumn came, and forty years flowed by like water.

One day, as Jie Ming was engrossed in analyzing a “Void Jellyfish” sample from the Void Plane, his encrypted communicator emitted a soft yet persistent vibration.

Frowning slightly, he pulled himself from the complex data stream and connected the call.

The light screen revealed a steady, profound-looking middle-aged wizard.

Jie Ming paused, then recalled the man’s identity from memory—the captain of the plane transformation engineering team he’d hired at great cost through Noren Workshop’s official channels, a veteran sixth-grade wizard.

The sudden contact sparked an eagerly anticipated thought, and his expression lit up with excitement!

As expected, the captain, without pleasantries, announced crisply, “Lord Jie Ming, the second and third phases of the Infernal Sulfur Plane’s comprehensive transformation, commissioned by you, are complete and have passed preliminary inspection. They are now formally delivered. Please inspect.”

“Finally… it’s done!” Jie Ming’s expression remained calm, but his voice betrayed uncontainable excitement.

He immediately set out, crossing the teleportation array to the coordinates provided.

Accompanied by the captain and the engineering team’s core members, he conducted a thorough final inspection of the Infernal Sulfur Plane.

The once barren, energy-wasting plane was now transformed.

Beneath the earth, crisscrossing energy conduits, like the meridians of a body, efficiently gathered the previously scattered fire elemental plane’s projected energy.

In the sky, invisible energy collection arrays, like giant funnels, captured even distant, subtle energy fluctuations.

Several key energy hub nodes radiated stable, powerful pulses, forming a highly efficient energy network across the entire plane.

With energy fully channeled, even the Infernal Sulfur Plane’s environment seemed to be improving.

Jie Ming gave it a cursory review and nodded with satisfaction.

Overall, the third-phase energy collection and distribution system perfectly met its design goals!

After bidding farewell to the team that had flawlessly completed their task, Jie Ming stood alone in the now-spacious core area of the plane, unable to suppress his excitement. He rubbed his hands vigorously, his face beaming with the pure joy of a researcher whose long-awaited experimental conditions were finally in place.

He hurried to the massive Black Giant incubation pool, almost unable to wait.

The pool’s scene remained somewhat “bleak.”

Aside from the two battle-scarred veterans that had fought alongside him and two new Black Giants barely incubated during the energy-scarce period, there were no others.

Due to energy shortages, the two new Black Giants were only first-grade.

Energy constraints had always been the biggest bottleneck limiting his core forces’ growth.

But now, everything had changed!

Jie Ming’s eyes burned with fervor as he retrieved several top-quality Black Giant core chaos crystals from a specialized storage space, prepared long ago.

These crystals, red and white interwoven, shimmered with a muted glow.

He carefully placed them into the nutrient- and energy-rich liquid of the incubation pool.

Taking a deep breath, he moved to the control console, linking his consciousness to the plane’s core array.

“Activate—full-plane energy mobilization!”

Buzz…

The entire Infernal Sulfur Plane seemed to tremble slightly!

Energy collection arrays across the plane lit up with faint glows, and the sulfurous air seemed to thin.

Visible streams of crimson energy converged like rivers to the sea, flowing through preset channels into the complex energy conversion and supply arrays at the pool’s base.

The liquid in the incubation pool boiled instantly, radiating intense heat and spiritual light.

The freshly added Black Giant cores began to swell and soften at a visible rate.

Countless fine energy tendrils extended from their surfaces, greedily absorbing the surging energy, rapidly forming embryonic tissues and growing toward their predetermined giant humanoid forms!

Jie Ming closely monitored the energy input and data feedback, quickly calculating, “At this energy infusion rate and stability… I can mature a full Black Giant roughly every year!”

Compared to the decades or centuries it previously took with uncertain success, this was a world of difference.

“Perfect!” Jie Ming couldn’t help but pump his fist.

Leaving two Black Giants to guard the incubation process, he turned into a streak of light, brimming with uncontainable excitement, and rushed back to his core laboratory.

Abundant, controllable energy was a research accelerator, the foundation for turning visions into reality!

The experimental ideas, technical optimizations, and new cannon fodder blueprints that had piled up in his mind for decades or centuries now seemed unshackled, eager to be unleashed.

“I can finally… go all out!”

Jie Ming gazed at the laboratory’s array of instruments and materials, his eyes blazing with fervent curiosity and creative desire.