Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Chapter 163: Appearance Amidst Great Anticipation

Thursday.

sunset.

Link walked into the doll shop with a slightly melancholy mood.

In the past few days, not only Celine the Wizard contacted him last Sunday to give him a reminder.

Salia, Tina, and Ella all expressed their curiosity.

The wizard Loken sent a series of chuckles.

Even the usually stern wizard Cody subtly expressed his and a few old friends' expectations.

This put a lot of pressure on Link.

How did a preparation that should have been carried out quietly become public knowledge?

Link was puzzled.

Link was puzzled.

The cramped little shop was unattended.

A carefully wrapped but unsealed gift box sits on the only square table in the small shop.

"Boss, boss..."

Link called out several times, but there was no response.

The boss was nowhere to be seen.

Link then took two steps closer to the square table.

A note was placed on the gift box, which read: Take the gift, leave the magic stone.

Clearly, the boss didn't want to see Link at this moment.

I don't know if it was to avoid embarrassment or for some other reason.

Link lifted the lid of the gift box and looked inside, finding 13 thumb-sized dolls neatly lying inside.

There was also an instruction manual on the side.

The one in the very center is the master doll, made with the most exquisite materials and craftsmanship, and it has a nine-tenths resemblance to the young Paro Wizard.

The other 12 are secondary puppets, which are the 12 opponents that the wizard Paro encountered during the two-district competition.

Link took out all 13 dolls one by one and checked them all according to the instructions.

There is no problem.

The results are amazing.

Put the doll back in its original position, fold the instruction manual and put it away, put the lid on and seal the gift box.

Link put down 200 standard level 1 magic stones, picked up the gift box, and left.

Not long after, the boss sneaked out of the rest room at the back of the shop.

After peeking around to make sure they were far away, the boss finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As a senior colleague, he almost delayed the younger generation's important business.

If it were for a legitimate reason, it would be fine, but it's precisely because of his "big mouth".

It's really embarrassing.

Fortunately, he strictly adhered to the agreement not to disclose the doll's specific information, preventing even worse consequences.

Just ...

The boss couldn't help but feel guilty.

Thanks to his "promotion," many people are already looking forward to the legendary gift that is said to be even more powerful than Percy's Sage's Staff.

If Paro doesn't buy it and makes that kid lose face, wouldn't he, the boaster, be guilty of a terrible crime?

"I told you not to talk so much, I told you not to talk so much."

The boss slapped himself in the face a few times, taking this as a lesson he'd learned countless times.

Link carried the gift box back to his dormitory, sat in the study, and just sat there in a daze.

Empty your mind and don't think about anything.

These past few days have been truly unforgettable; I need to relax a bit.

A moment later, Link came to his senses, his consciousness sinking into his sea of ​​consciousness. He sorted through his memory palace, making the memories of gifts from the past few days slightly less vivid.

This way, it won't be easy to recall, nor will it lead to forgetting.

When needed, I can still retrieve it after a little thought.

After finishing these tasks, Link used his personal AI to send a message to Jasmine, asking her to lead the advanced training sessions for the Brothers Group and the Social Anxiety Group.

He himself rarely lays down and does nothing, stealing half a day of leisure from his busy life.

Light a stick of Li Xuancao aromatherapy essential oil, pick up a book that tells specific events in the history of the Wizarding Continent, and enjoy reading.

Time flies.

Friday.

The daytime ended amidst an inexplicable atmosphere of restlessness in the surrounding area.

Jasmine, the Brothers, and the Social Anxiety Group showed that they took the ceremony more seriously than Link.

It was as if Link had gone, as if they had gone in person.

It's an honor to be a part of it; that's exactly what it means.

The evening glow appeared on the horizon.

As Jasmine, the Brothers, and the Social Anxiety Group bid him farewell, Link, carrying the gift box, walked toward the hall where the promotion ceremony would be held.

On the way to the auditorium, Link ran into three acquaintances: Salia, Tina, and Ella.

Link quickly greeted them one by one.

"Is this your gift?"

Tina and Link have worked together the longest and know each other best.

Upon meeting, he waved and immediately asked questions out of curiosity.

He even seemed eager to see the gift.

"Link, it's been a long time."

The gentle older sister, Salia, greeted her sweetly.

His eyes immediately glanced at the gift box.

"Hello, Link."

The wizard Ella's attitude towards Link had become much warmer at some point.

Link responded politely but amicably.

This made Link feel rather flattered.

"Yes, this is the gift I prepared."

Link lifted the gift box he was holding, gestured, and couldn't help but explain, "It's not as mysterious as the rumors say, it's just a token of my appreciation."

When this was mentioned, Salia, Tina, and Ella all let out clear but unpleasant Link's laughter.

After the laughter subsided, Salia, being the kindest of all, reminded them, "Tonight's guests are all friends of Wizard Paro, or junior wizards like us who are on his side. Their attitude towards you isn't entirely friendly, so be careful."

"Yes, thank you, Sister Salia."

Link nodded and thanked him sincerely.

In the past few days, he's also come to appreciate it.

Logically speaking, even if the shop owner is a big mouth and says some things, it should only be confined to a certain small circle or a few small circles.

For example, third-level wizards like Celine and Cody.

However, the fact that even first-level wizards like Salia, Tina, and Ella, who had just graduated from the advanced academy, quickly found out meant that someone was deliberately stirring things up.

The motive is currently unknown, but the goal is to put Link in the "spotlight".

To get more people to pay attention to Link through the gift.

Tina then walked over to Link, patted him on the shoulder, and whispered almost inaudibly, "Watch out for Loken."

After saying that, she ignored Link's slight change in expression, took Salia's hand, and quickly walked a few steps into the hall.

Not to be outdone, Ella took Salia's other hand.

Link then recalled the moment he first met Wizard Loken, when he casually slapped him so hard that his arm was dislocated.

This experience was truly unpleasant.

Could it be him?

Link began to have doubts.

Without giving it much thought, he quickly composed himself and followed the three women into the meticulously decorated hall.

First, head to the gift registration and storage area.

Surprisingly, it was the witch Celine who was in charge of registering the gifts.

Link was very surprised to see this.

"I don't trust anyone else to do it."

Seeing Link's obvious shock, the wizard Celine said meaningfully.

Link realized that it seemed there really was someone in the Paro wizarding camp secretly targeting him.

So much so that even the witch Celine noticed it.

He even personally intervened, doing things that were not quite in line with his own status, to protect Link.

To prevent anyone from continuing to tamper with Link's gift.

"Give it to me."

Ignoring Link's genuine flattery, the wizard Celine glanced at the gift box he was holding.

"Oh……"

Link snapped out of his daze, stepped forward, placed the gift box on the table in front of the wizard Celine, and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you so much, I'm so sorry to have troubled you."

"Hehehe..."

The witch Celine laughed, her melodious voice stirring a righteous fervor. "Little one, don't be so sentimental."

Link scratched his head, a slight embarrassment appearing on his face at the opportune moment: "I won't bother you any longer."

After saying this, Link bowed and then walked away.

Even if one's previous assumptions are not true.

It's never wrong to be overly polite.

It was still early, and there weren't many people in the auditorium.

Salia, Tina, and Ella had their own circle and were chatting with several other young wizards.

Link didn't force his way in front of the three women. He glanced around the hall and chose a secluded corner to stay in.

I ask for nothing more than a peaceful place.

As time went by, more and more guests arrived, and the auditorium gradually became lively.

Not long after, the promotion ceremony officially began.

Accompanied by several wizards whom Link was unfamiliar with, Paro entered the hall from the back and then walked alone to the specially erected platform in the center of the hall.

The wizards stood guard at the four corners of the platform, somewhat on guard.

This is normal, and everyone can accept it.

To prevent anyone from deliberately causing trouble and sabotaging the promotion.

Although it's unlikely to cause any real damage, it would be embarrassing if things really got out of hand.

The auditorium fell silent immediately.

The wizard Paro circled the hall, his lips parting slightly, his voice booming and echoing throughout: "Thank you all for coming, thank you for witnessing this."

In short, that's all.

With eyes closed, arms outstretched, and head tilted back slightly, the Paro Wizard began his ascension.

The auditorium immediately fell completely silent.

Everyone consciously held their breath, afraid of disturbing the wizard Paro.

There was nothing grand about it.

A subtle, heart-stirring fluctuation first emanated from the wizard Paro, then subsided instantly.

No, it's not that it's subsided; it's more like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

An indescribable wave descended upon the auditorium.

Link felt deeply moved.

It felt as if I had become an infant again, returned to my mother's womb, and felt boundless warmth, care, and love.

This feeling comes quickly and goes even faster.

Link was filled with disappointment.

Like Link, many people present showed reluctance and regret on their faces.

I'm reluctant to let go of that feeling, and I regret not gaining more from it.

Just now, the wizard Paro has completed the resonance with the world's will, "imprinting" his own will into the world's will.

That indescribable fluctuation was the response and attention cast by the world's will.

From now on, in any of the worlds covered by the will of the wizarding world, Paro wizards will not need to specifically modify their spells according to the rules of the world they inhabit.

The way you cast spells in the wizarding world is the same way you cast spells in the world you live in.

Even if the principles of certain witchcraft violate certain rules of the world, they will still be practiced without hesitation.

That's how domineering it is.

Even when entering unfamiliar worlds that the world's will cannot yet cover in the wizarding world, and engaging in interdimensional exploration, one can promptly utilize the world's will to analyze the rules of those unfamiliar worlds.

Sages (levels four, five, and six wizards) are the backbone of the wizarding world.

Formal wizards and below are merely the base number.

The reason why the witch Celine said that witnessing a formal wizard ascend to the sage rank up close is an opportunity that many people would rather die than have.

It lies in the arrival of the world's will.

This is because it is the only opportunity for formal wizards and below to have early access to the will of the world.

Link felt he had gained a lot.

Because he had just activated the "multi-threaded thinking" status card that he had deliberately left behind.

Link's strongest form is currently achieved with the "Brain Occupation Technique" and "Multi-Threaded Thinking" status cards operating at full power.

Whether it's fighting, studying, or researching.

In just 3 seconds, the mental energy consumed was several times that of the previous uses.

Link was almost sucked dry.

But it was all worth it.

In those three seconds, Link's mental and magical power were like red-hot steel being quenched in water, undergoing a qualitative leap.

It doesn't stop there.

The obstacles to practicing the first-circle sorcery "Kailan Armor" have been completely removed;

Even the "seeds" in the sea of ​​consciousness benefited greatly.

The first phase of cultivation, which requires an investment of 20,000 standard level 1 magic stones, is completed directly.

Flandre, as the "spirit" of the "seed," underwent an evolution and fell into a deep sleep.

The transformation Link underwent in just a few seconds can be described as a complete metamorphosis.

"You gained a lot?"

The wizard Celine appeared beside Link at some point, blocking the view of several unfamiliar wizards who noticed Link's unusual behavior.

"Um."

Link made no secrets from the wizard Celine: "I feel like I could beat five of myself a few seconds ago."

"That's good."

The wizard Celine nodded slightly, then raised a glass half-filled with red wine, covering her red lips, and warned in a voice only Link could hear, "Get ready, it won't be long before you have to go on stage."

"Thank you, Wizard Celine."

Link thanked them, took a deep breath, and got ready.

The wizard Paro then emerged from his state of appreciating the afterglow of the ascension and began to speak.

"Over the course of 46 years, he has transformed from an ignorant newcomer to a sage."

The journey was filled with wind, rain, and mud; it was not easy.

Looking back, it all seems like a dream.

Fortunately, the effort paid off.

Today I want to share with you my heartfelt joy.

I hope that everyone present will gain something from their efforts.

Thanks."

Having completed his transformation, Paro's image gradually overlaps with that of Link when they first met on the Crete Islands.

Serious, unsmiling, and concise.

Thunderous applause erupted in the auditorium.

The wizard Paro descended from the platform.

Immediately, wizards brought out four carts with various gifts neatly arranged in different categories.

The first three carts, even the rarest one like the first, each contained nearly ten gifts.

The second vehicle was completely piled up.

The fourth cart, however, contained only a single gift box.

The gift-unwrapping segment, which Link found very incongruous, was about to take place.

When Link first learned that opening the gifts on-site was the second most important part of each Sage Ascension Ceremony, his immediate reaction was that it was ridiculous and incomprehensible.

The same is true now.

The wizard Paro began by unwrapping the gifts from the third-level wizards who came to offer their congratulations, and then showed them to everyone one by one.

These gifts are characterized by both high value and practicality.

Almost all of them are precious magical artifacts that can be used in the conquest of the heavens.

A few low gasps occasionally escaped from the hall, as people were shocked by the extravagance of these third-level wizards.

Each time a gift is announced, the Paro wizard will whisper to the wizard who gave the gift for a short while to express his gratitude and respect.

After the gifts from the third-level wizards are opened, the gifts should, in principle, be passed on to the second-level wizards.

But the wizard Paro did something that made many people's eyes nearly pop out.

He walked straight to the fourth cart where a gift box was placed alone.

Glancing around at everyone, the wizard Paro, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, said loudly:

"It seems some of you have already guessed that the gift I'm about to unwrap comes from a promising new talent I have high hopes for, the top student in both districts this year, Link Grand."

With that, the wizard Paro beckoned to Link: "Come here and open it for me yourself."

With a slightly pale face and dozens of strange gazes, Link walked with slightly stiff steps to the side of Wizard Paro.

What's with the plane, bro?

So you were just messing with me!

Thank you to the reader Lin Fanfan (anonymous) for the generous donation!

(End of this chapter)