Chapter 76


    "Why don’t you participate? With your strength, you could easily be listed in the top five."


    "My mentor has his reasons, and he has consulted with the Commander," she said. Her mentor had


    hoped to bring her to The sh of Eight Orders to win glory for Cobalt Strike, but Lord Viperbane''s


    proposal had disrupted the ns. It wasn''t that Hamund feared them, but rather, he was concerned


    that Lord Viperbane might resort to foul y during the gathering.


    An open enemy is easy to guard against, but a hidden one is hard to predict.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Cobalt Strike had ced too many hopes on Celesse to risk her future for the sake of The sh of


    Eight Orders.


    Celesse suddenly asked, "Do you want to participate?"


    "Me? The Protégés who participate in The sh of Eight Orders are generally at least Novice Mage


    Stage IX, and there will also be some Advanced Mages. I still have a long way to go."


    "There are three more months; you still have a chance."


    "Three months, from Novice Mage Stage VI to Novice Mage Stage IX?" vin shook his head, not


    out ofck of confidence, but because advancements in theter stages of being a Novice Mage


    were incredibly difficult. He managed to progress from Novice Mage Stage III to Stage VI in three


    months, but he doubted he could reach Stage IX in the same amount of time.


    “Every guild sends ten Apprentices to participate in The sh of Eight Orders, and each Apprentice


    must be under the age of eighteen. Besides me, four Golden Apprentices have been chosen, and


    six slots for Elite Protégés are still undecided—though thirty candidates have been listed."


    "You''re not suggesting me, are you?" vin looked towards Celesse.


    Celesse chuckled lightly, "You guessed it. My rmendation, along with your recent victory over


    Galos, has made many of the Elders take you seriously. They''ve decided to observe you for a while


    and tentatively ced you as the thirty-first candidate."


    "You''re not joking?"


    "I''m serious. You should strive for this spot—for yourself and for all those who care about you."


    If vin had only managed a draw with Galos, Celesse wouldn''t have endorsed him. After all, the


    sh of Eight Orders was a gathering of each guild''s elite. Though it was called a friendly


    tournament, danger lurked beneath the surface, and the weak not only faced ridicule but mortal


    peril. But vin proved himself in the arena; his talent andbat prowess were extraordinary.


    Given three more months, he could advance to Level VII, or even Level VIII. By then, vin could


    take the tournament stage with a fighting chance.


    Should vin earn a ranking, or even stand out during the social tea gatherings, and draw


    attention, his status within Cobalt Strike would rise significantly—at the very least, he could shed his


    servitude.


    The higher vin''s status within Cobalt Strike, the sooner he could aid the Stormcast people. This


    was an opportunity—a truly rare one.


    vin felt warmth in his heart as he understood Celesse''s intentions. "Thank you."


    "Don''t thank me yet. You''re only the thirty-first candidate—the candidate among candidates."


    "So, I have only three months?"


    "The list will be finalized in two and a half months, with thest half month dedicated to intensive


    training."


    "Who else is on the list of candidates?"


    Celesse pulled out a scroll, the delicate script listing names. "Cedrick, Mari, Niks—all these


    personal pupils are on the list. This list won''t be made public, but candidates like Cedrick are aware


    they''re being considered."


    "I''ll give it a try." vin had fully grasped the second segment of the Restoration Mantra, and his


    Channel of Energy had undergone a profound transformation. Besides, he could make three


    months'' worth of progress in one.


    "I''ve already persuaded my mentor; he''ll help you as much as he can, but the key lies with you.


    Eachpetitor represents the image of Cobalt Strike, and it''s not something to be taken lightly."


    Celesse truly hoped vin could seed, but considering individuals like Cedrick, Mari, and


    Niks, the gap between them and vin was vast. Moreover, the Grand Elder''s faction would


    strongly oppose vin''s candidacy, and they wouldn''t make things easy for him in theing


    months.