Wizards begin with Occlumency.

Iris Clark knew perfectly well that she had no romantic feelings for Link.

Moreover, he knew even more clearly that Link had no romantic feelings for him either.

Therefore, Iris Clarke immediately suppressed the surge of bitterness and became more attentive.

After all, during the course of their acquaintance, her emotional changes were greatly influenced by "Iris".

At the very end of the ninth trial, relying on the tacit understanding born from the void, and with the help of the two great Dharma seals and the Taoist arrangements represented by Master Xujing, he finally managed to sever his past life and the life before that, thus achieving a pure personality.

Iris Clark didn't want any more hidden dangers.

My thoughts raced in an instant.

Releasing her arms from Link's embrace, Iris Clark said solemnly, "This is the last time I'll hug you, Link. From now on, we're just friends."

Link met Iris's gaze and smiled, "We've always been friends."

Upon hearing this, Iris instinctively felt displeased and immediately pressed the button.

Link quickly changed the subject, asking, "Iris, the academy temporarily transferred me back to the rear from the front lines, giving me a mission without any details. I came here without knowing anything about it."

At this point, Link paused, carefully choosing his words: "The Supreme Council is no ordinary place. You'd better give me a proper explanation of what I need to be aware of."

Is this statement true or not?

It's true, but there are also some exaggerations.

After the Wizarding World was rebuilt, the five saints ruled over the Middle-earth, the East Coast, the West Coast, the South, and the North.

The Elementalist Saints are on the West Coast, the Body Refining Saints are on the East Coast, the Mechanized Saints are in the South, and the Beast Taming Saints are in the North.

The one who reigns supreme in the Central Plains is the saint of the True Spirit School.

The High Council was also located in Middle-earth, not only because Middle-earth was the center of the Wizarding World, but also because the True Spirits were the most powerful.

This is a fact recognized throughout the wizarding world and acknowledged by the other four saints.

The Supreme Council is located here, the stronghold of the True Spirit Wizarding school, the headquarters of the True Spirit Wizarding Federation, and a gathering place for various forces.

With many rules come many conflicts.

How could the Rivosos Academy send Link to such a place without explaining anything?

Thus, it is a waste to be a powerful force in one region.

Link said this simply to get some firsthand information from Iris.

"There's nothing to worry about; strength is paramount."

Iris curled her lip, her tone quite sarcastic, "If anyone dares to provoke you, as long as you're confident you can beat them, just go for it."

"provocative?"

Link grasped the key point.

Iris said disdainfully, "The young people here have all gone astray. They compete based on family background rather than ability. It's truly a sad state of affairs."

Link fell silent.

He sensed a familiar feeling and began to guess what was about to happen to him.

"So, what is my mission?"

The two walked side by side for a while, and Link finally voiced his doubts.

"Your job is to protect me from trouble."

Iris thought for a moment and then spoke frankly, "I asked the academy to temporarily transfer you here. I've run into some minor troubles here and need to sort them out."

"What's the trouble?"

Now that he had accepted the mission, Link wouldn't complain.

They would not harbor any resentment towards Iris.

I'm not that petty, and there's no need for it.

"I'm undergoing a complete overhaul. This is the best way to digest what I gained during the trial and the rewards for passing it. Although my cultivation level has recovered to level three wizard in time, I'm about to enter the transformation period and can't take action yet."

Iris explained, "A small, temporary passage has actually been opened to the parallel universe. This passage can support five people traveling to and from the parallel universe once. The Supreme Council has decided to send a delegation to establish diplomatic relations with one of the civilizations in the parallel universe. I will naturally be the leader of the delegation, but the members have not yet been finalized."

At this point, Iris paused and looked at Link seriously: "I need help to control the delegation and prevent it from becoming a puppet leader."

"and then?"

Link met Iris's gaze with composure.

Even though he understood Iris's implied meaning, he didn't take the initiative to do so.

This performance made Iris sigh inwardly.

In the end, we really just remained friends.

Composing herself, Iris said, "I need time to get through this transformation period and become a sage. Then everything will be much easier. So I need to find a reason to postpone the selection of team members."

Link took the initiative to continue the conversation, saying, "Is my purpose here just to buy you time?"

"Yes."

Iris nodded solemnly.

"How do I do it?"

Link thought about it and, finding it acceptable, agreed.

"The standards for evaluating those who wish to become members of the mission should be as high as possible, and the process should be as lengthy as possible."

Iris stated her request.

"How long will it take you?"

Fourteen days.

"Is it confirmed as fourteen days?"

"Confirmed 14 days!"

The two reached a consensus while chatting, and happened to walk to the airport's "parking lot".

After getting into Iris's car, the two drove towards the Rivosos Academy's office at the High Council.

During this period, although the Supreme Council "held" Iris Clarke back and had no intention of returning her to Rivoss Academy, they did not go too far.

Iris still lives in the High Council office of the Rivosos Academy, and her connection with the academy has never been broken.

Meanwhile, discussions began to take place throughout the High Council.

"The lucky one has brought reinforcements."

"Reinforcements? I think it's more like a lover!"

"Don't talk nonsense. How can you use such vulgar words to describe a sage?"

"..."

On many occasions, the atmosphere among the younger generation of wizards who wanted to join the five-person mission to the parallel universe would involuntarily turn cold after Link Grande became a sage.

The unprecedented changes over thousands of years have indeed accelerated the overall progress of wizards' cultivation.

However, a level four sage who is not yet twenty years old is extremely rare, if not unique, in the entire history of the wizarding world.

Less than two palms' worth.

Every super genius who achieves this level of accomplishment, as long as they don't perish along the way, will achieve even greater things.

For example, a ninth-level sage, or a saint.

In other words, Link Grand has the appearance of a saint!

Why do the young wizards gathered at the High Council say that Iris Clark is a lucky one?

Because she is about to advance to the fourth level of sage, and it is foreseeable that she will become a ninth level great sage, or even a saint!

This is not something she achieved through talent, ability, or hard work.

They only obtained these things because they became the special "outsider" in the prophecy.

This made these self-important young genius wizards extremely envious.

However, with Link Grand's achievements before them, no one dared to utter a sour word.

Immediately, a question arose in the minds of these young, talented wizards.

Why did Iris Clark specifically bring Link Grand in as a savior?

Was it really just as she claimed, asking Link Grand to buy her time?

It should be noted that airports are public places, and wizards have many ways to eavesdrop on conversations in public places.

Would Iris not know this?

She probably told this specifically to those who had recently been involved with the mission members and the issue of power, putting some "pressure" on Iris.

It's both a gesture of goodwill and a threat.

If things go smoothly for everyone afterward, and it doesn't prevent her from seizing all the power in the mission, then it's just a "delay" of fourteen days.

If they continue with the same backstabbing and intrigue as before, taking advantage of her impending transformation period when many methods are inconvenient to use, and try to seize the delegation's power and benefits, then don't blame her for being ruthless.

When Link Grand joins the mission, Rivosos Academy and even the West Coast will completely dominate the mission.

After listening to the opinions of the major powers in the wizarding world, the Supreme Council established the selection criteria for the members of this delegation, which will be decided by the younger generation of wizards themselves.

Link Grand, though already a Level 4 Sage, is also a young generation wizard!

He could easily intimidate his peers, the third-level and second-level wizards.

And so, in a rather strange atmosphere, the selection process for the five-person delegation began.

Many people applied, but they all procrastinated, unwilling to accept Link Grand's test first, given the chance.

It's okay if I didn't pass; after all, there's still a second round of interviews.

Once you lose face, it's very difficult to get it back.

Link Grand, the newly promoted fourth-level sage, under the witness of the Supreme Council, began his initial trial with the strength of a third-level wizard.

The minimum requirement for the five-person delegation to register is that they must be level three wizards under the age of twenty-five.

Each day, Link Grand only tests five young people aspiring to become members of the mission.

This was approved by the Supreme Council.

Many people initially thought that Link Grand was using the limited number of participants in the initial test to buy time.

As it turns out, that wasn't the case.

They're just impatient with being watched.

Five days have passed.

Of the 25 young wizarding prodigies who underwent Link Grand's tutelage, not one could withstand a single move.

Not a single person!

According to data released by the Supreme Council, when Link Grand launched his attack, he strictly controlled his mental strength, magic power, attack intensity, thinking speed, and reaction speed to the average level of a third-level wizard.

Even so, no one was able to withstand the seemingly unremarkable combination of armor, a charge, and an uppercut.

By this point, it could be said that the entire wizarding world knew Link Grand as a person.

The younger generation of genius wizards have also begun to sincerely call out, "Grand Sage."

Rivesos Academy has once again come into the view of all wizarding organizations.

If we follow the logic of the Wizarding World's mortal enemy, the world of gods, then Rivosos Academy is most likely destined for greatness.

Otherwise, how could a special "strange guest" who fulfilled the prophecy of the sage appear at the same time, and a fourth-level sage who was promoted to a higher level before the age of twenty?

In the blink of an eye, the agreed-upon fifteen days passed peacefully.

"Congratulations, Link."

Revoss College's office at the High Council.

Having successfully navigated the transformation period and about to hold her Sage Ascension Ceremony, Iris Clark spoke sincerely to Link.

"What are you congratulating me on?"

Link countered with a question.

"Congratulations on becoming famous throughout the wizarding world!"

Iris said matter-of-factly.

"I'd rather not have this fame."

Link shook his head.

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

Even though he had already decided not to hide his talents anymore, it didn't mean that Link wanted to act in a high-profile manner.

Link's reputation certainly soared after he helped Iris buy time.

But what else can this resounding reputation bring besides the jealousy and hatred of the younger generation and even the previous generation of genius wizards?

Will it bring magic stones, or an interstellar fleet?

The only consolation was that the academy would give a reward.

Every wizard, regardless of rank, must accept a mission assigned by the academy every year.

That's the rule.

Therefore, even though Link is on the front lines, he can be temporarily recalled.

Of course, there should be a reward for completing the task.

Through Dean Forrest, Link already knows that he will receive a brand new Star Destroyer Fortress after returning to the West Coast tomorrow.

This Star Destroyer Fortress is a top-tier configuration equipped for the Level 6 Sage Legion.

With this star-destroying fortress serving as the core of the Grand Sage Legion's interstellar fleet, their combat power has been greatly enhanced.

"ah."

Iris then seemed to realize something, "I forgot you prefer to keep a low profile rather than be high-profile."

Link did not respond to that, but simply waited in silence for the promotion ceremony to begin.

Being far from home, Iris Clark's ascension to the sagehood meant that not many people could come to witness the ceremony.

Of the Clark family members, only the elder sister, Renée Clark, was invited, with her brother-in-law, Asander Cornet, accompanying her.

Of all the students at Rivoss Academy, only Jasmine received an invitation.

Due to Iris's special status, Sandra Diormand served as the witness for her ascension ceremony.

Since Link was promoted to a Level 4 Sage, and since "freedom to do anything" has continued to show a high potential for development, Sandra's position in the fourth generation of the Diormand family has become increasingly prominent.

Soon, the time for the promotion ceremony arrived.

With Sandra as her witness, Iris Clark successfully ascended to become a Level 4 Sage.

Those who came to pay their respects included Link, Molly, Renee Clark, Asander Cornet, and four other true prodigies among the younger generation of wizards.

These four individuals have already been selected as members of the five-person delegation.

Things in this world are never fair.

The next day.

Link, Jasmine, and Sandra, who were specially persuaded to stay, watched as the five-person delegation, led entirely by Iris Clark, entered the temporary passage to embark on their mission to a parallel universe.

This process is no different from the teleportation we use regularly.

There were no unusual phenomena or setbacks.

The five-person delegation successfully passed through the passage and arrived at the parallel universe on the other side.

The Supreme Council, or more precisely, the five saints, definitely have connections with the parallel universe.

Through the distorted, blurry, and unfathomable space, Link could see people on the other side of the passage welcoming the five-person delegation.

Link even vaguely heard a slogan.

"Blessings are immeasurable." (End of chapter)