A stinky cultivator has arrived in the magic world.

Chapter 2 Activating the Spiritual Root

[Current cultivation points: 2.]

What's the use of these points?

Lorne asked in his mind, but the cultivation guide did not reply. Just like before, unless it was actively triggered, it was as if it did not exist.

Lorne could only suppress his doubts for the time being and chatted with Viola for a while longer, becoming much more familiar with her.

During the journey, Lorne learned that Viola came from a magical family called Norton and was very knowledgeable. From her, Lorne learned a lot about the magical world, and in some ways, the system was right.

She's a good person; she doesn't have the bad habit of some aristocratic children looking down on others, nor is she as timid and coy as some pampered young ladies. Instead, she has a kind of chivalrous spirit.

I just tend to overthink things.

The number of people in front of them decreased, and soon it was their turn.

Viola nodded to Lorne and walked towards the testing station. After taking a couple of steps, she remembered something and turned back to Lorne, saying:

"Hey buddy, you might see some interesting things later. I hope you won't be discouraged or feel inferior."

"Although talent is important on the path of magic, one's character is the most important factor in determining how far one can go. Even with a level three affinity for mental power, one may still become a novice magician."

"Good luck!"

After saying that, she gave a bright smile and strode forward.

Lorne was left completely bewildered.

What's this girl imagining now?

……

The open space in front of the group was divided into two areas.

One group of people stood among a few young boys and girls with youthful appearances. They were all candidates who had passed the mental affinity test. There were only a few hundred of them.

They will then have to undergo further screening and assessment; if they fail, they will inevitably be eliminated.

On the other side stands a transparent crystal monument, more than two people tall. It is crystal clear and has ten levels of engravings, symbolizing different levels of magical talent. Occasionally, dreamlike colors flash through its interior. Even the platform supporting this crystal monument is engraved with intricate patterns and inlaid with various gemstones, making it exceptionally beautiful.

"This thing could probably buy a thousand churches..."

Lorne thought to himself.

I've never eaten pork, but I've seen pigs run.

He had seen other magicians conduct mental affinity tests on people when he was doing odd jobs.

At that time, they brought out a crystal ball the size of a fist. According to the people at the church, this crystal ball was more precious than the entire church.

The crystal tablet in front of us is at least the size of a hundred crystal balls. Add to that the spells, runes, magical circuits, historical significance, and so on that it may contain, and its value could easily be inflated tenfold.

This is probably the most expensive thing most people here will ever encounter in their lifetime.

No wonder they're from a top-tier 985 university; they must be really rich.

Of course, this is no ordinary magical artifact. Many famous magicians in the history of magic have used it to test their talents and to embark on their magical journey. It has extraordinary historical significance and is one of the classic symbols of Silver Academy.

It has a name imbued with profound meaning: the Monument of Silver Echoes.

Next to the Echo Monument was a table, and several young people dressed in robes stood around it, some holding short staffs and others wearing pointed soft hats, typical of magicians.

Even the cat sleeping on the table had a magical quality to it, with its long orange fur as warm as the sun, its four little paws treading on the white snow, and a black cloth draped over its back like a cloak.

It's an adorable big orange cat.

"Ah~ the kitten~ so cute~"

Cute things have a natural attraction for girls, especially hairy things.

Viola's eyes sparkled as she reached out to stroke the orange cat's fluffy long fur.

The orange cat nimbly swatted her away with its paw, then raised its head and glanced at her sideways.

"Call me senior!"

A deep male voice rang out.

"Who? Who's speaking?"

Viola was startled and looked around. She only saw Lorne, a boy, and her suspicious gaze fell on him.

Lorne took two steps back, indicating that it was none of his business.

Following Lorne's gaze, Viola's eyes slowly moved, finally landing incredulously on the orange cat.

The orange cat stood with its paws on the table, its tail held high, chest puffed out and head held high, meeting Viola's gaze.

After staring at each other for a moment, the deep voice rang out again:

"What are you looking at?"

???

!!!

Lorne's lips twitched.

Alright, in a world with magic, it's reasonable for Hakimi to be able to talk.

The orange cat seemed quite pleased with Viola's reaction. It subconsciously licked its furry paw, then with a flick of its paw, a beam of orange light shot out, snatched the letter of recommendation from Viola's pocket, which represented her eligibility for recommendation. The letter opened automatically, and lines of writing magically appeared in the air.

The orange cat glanced at it twice and nodded in satisfaction.

"Oh, so you're from the Norton family. I'm Sir Meow Leon, a second-year student and also the assistant examiner for this admissions process."

"With your family's talent, getting into school shouldn't be a problem, but the necessary procedures can't be skipped. Let's go."

Hakimi slightly raised his chin, gesturing for Viola to go to the crystal monument.

Several other magicians nearby nodded in a friendly manner upon hearing this.

The Norton family is very famous in the magical world. Each generation produces at least one person with an advanced magic degree, making them a true magical family. If you can build a good relationship with Viola, it will be a valuable connection.

Viola walked over with a frustrated look on her face, regretting that she had been too careless. How could Silver Academy possibly have an ordinary creature, not even a cat?

She placed her palm on the Silver Echoing Monument, and after a short while, the scale on the crystal monument rose to its highest level, while simultaneously bursting forth with a dazzling azure light.

A gasp of surprise erupted from the surrounding crowd.

"Level 10! It's actually level 10 mental affinity!"

"Judging by the color, it seems to have the special ability to resonate with water-based magical elements. That's amazing..."

"As expected of a genius from the Norton family, with such talent, a special skill in water-based magic, and the Norton family lineage, he's practically a future advanced magic degree holder!"

The prospective freshmen who had passed the test all stared at Viola in amazement.

Level 7 mental affinity is merely the threshold for Silver Academy; those who pass it are naturally geniuses among geniuses.

But even among geniuses, there are geniuses.

A small group of people, after reaching level seven in mental affinity, can awaken another trait called elemental resonance, and possess expertise in this field.

This means that in addition to having a very high compatibility with magical elements, they are also particularly favored by a certain element, making them the darlings of magic.

People like this can't sleep soundly at night.

Because the future is so bright that you can't open your eyes.

Without a doubt, Viola possesses a high affinity for spiritual power, elemental expertise, and the background of the Norton family, making her one of the top talents even in the Silver Academy, a place teeming with geniuses.

It's a full-fledged hexagonal warrior.

Admiration and envy poured in like a tidal wave, and many people eagerly came forward to chat and befriend Viola. Surrounded by the crowd, she became the center of attention.

Seeing her thriving and surrounded by people, Lorne couldn't help but sigh.

This is the treatment geniuses receive.

You don't need to do anything; just showcasing your talent is enough to attract everyone's attention. If you also have a distinguished family background, that's an absolute game-changer.

Viola had clearly experienced many such situations before and had anticipated them, handling them calmly and seemingly even enjoying the scene.

Viola passed the talent test without any doubt, and it was Lorne's turn next.

"Meow, next," the cat senior called out.

Lorne handed over the letter of recommendation, and after verifying that it was correct, he calmed himself down, took a deep breath, and, like the previous testers, gently placed his palm on the Silver Echo Monument.

Whether you're a top student from a 985 university or fail the entrance exam and end up at an ordinary magic academy, it all comes down to this!

Viola was also paying attention to Lorne. Although they had only just met, Lorne seemed like a decent person, and given his tragic background, entering Silver Academy might be the biggest chance he could ever change his fate.

If he gets eliminated, she will really feel sorry for Lorne.

As soon as Lorne's hand touched the crystal monument, a wisp of the dreamlike colors flowing inside the crystal separated and surged into his palm through the point of contact.

Mmm, it's so warm and cozy, like drinking a glass of warm water on a chilly autumn night—it warms the heart and soul.

Comfortable.

The dreamlike colors within the Silver Echo Monument began to converge, rising upwards, one level at a time, starting from the bottom.

It quickly climbed to three levels high.

"Wow, another kid with magical talent! What good luck!"

"Even without joining Silver Academy, you can still become a magic apprentice in the future and never have to worry about making a living again."

"It's not level three, it's already level four!"

"Level 5!"

"Level 5 mental affinity—this is the potential for a future beginner-level magic degree!"

"The momentum has slowed down a bit, but it's still rising. It's almost at level seven. Only a few people passed the test last time. This frequency is a bit excessive."

"It doesn't have any special color, so it seems it doesn't have elemental specialties. Well, even among geniuses with level seven mental affinity, those with elemental specialties are a minority. How could you encounter one so easily?"

A murmur arose from behind, and the boys still in line looked at Lorne with envy.

Even the prospective freshmen of Silver Academy in the adjacent area who had already passed the test turned their attention to this potential future classmate.

"Well done! Lorne! I knew you could do it!" Viola clenched her fists.

Ultimately, the rising scale stopped at the upper-middle level of level six.

Lorne: "..."

A chorus of sighs of regret and relief rose from all around.

"What a pity, it was just a little short."

"Great, just a little bit more!"

Some people felt regret, while others were overjoyed.

"This is great news! We'll invite him to join our academy as soon as he comes down! He's a failed candidate from Silver Academy, a rare genius indeed."

"We have to be quick! He's just a little short of level seven. If he's properly trained, he might even get an advanced magic degree! We can't let other academies snatch him away!"

Where there are people, there is competition. As a "top 985" university, Baiyin College has a rare talent pool even for students who failed the entrance exam. Naturally, students from non-985/211 universities and junior colleges are waiting to pick them up.

These magicians from other magic academies urged their companions, their eyes burning with desire, determined to snatch up such a talent.

Hakimi, the senior student, shook his head with an incredibly human-like expression of regret on his hairy face.

"Level 6 mental affinity, not up to the admission standard, next."

What a cruel verdict.

Lorne's feelings were incredibly complicated. Seeing people from other academies walking over excitedly nearby, he felt somewhat frustrated.

It seems I'm destined to be a non-celebrity couple...

He lingered for a moment, reluctant to leave the crystal monument that symbolized the gateway to top-tier magic, feeling the warmth of the prestigious academy, before preparing to retract his hand.

Sudden.

【drop.】

[Your spiritual root has not been awakened. Would you like to spend 2 cultivation points to activate it?]

Ok?

I go.

You didn't say anything!