Panlong's Worton

Chapter 8 Linley's side

Finlay was even noisier than Linley had imagined.

The rumble of wheels rolling over cobblestones, the clatter of horses' hooves, the cries of vendors, and the strains of a piano drifting from some unknown shop all mingled together, like a pot of boiling soup. Three- or four-story buildings lined both sides of the street, some even taller, their windows emitting warm yellow light. The signs were brightly colored, written in ornate scripts Lin Lei didn't recognize.

The Champs-Élysées was wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side. Two rows of straight pines and cypresses lined the middle of the road, and benches were placed beneath them where several gentlemen in velvet coats sat smoking pipes. The ladies wore dresses of a style Linley had never seen before, with tiered hems that made them appear as moving gardens as they walked.

Hillman walked ahead, with Linley following, his eyes darting to both sides. He held Bebe in his arms, the little guy peeking half his head out from his collar, his bright black eyes darting around.

"Don't look around," Hillman whispered. "Stay close to me."

Lin Lei looked away, but his peripheral vision still caught sight of a shop window on the side of the road—inside was a set of silver armor, with a blue gemstone inlaid on the chest, glittering under the light. He counted the number on the sign three times: fifty thousand gold coins.

He silently looked away.

After walking for about twenty minutes, Hillman stopped in front of a rather ordinary-looking inn. The storefront was small, with the words "Oak Inn" engraved on a wooden sign. Pushing open the door, a strong aroma of ale and stew wafted out.

Behind the counter was a bald, middle-aged man wiping wine glasses. Hillman asked for two rooms and paid. The stairs creaked as he went upstairs, and the hallway was covered with old carpet, worn in places.

The room was small, with just a bed, a table, and a chair. The window faced the backyard, where you could see a clothesline and a pile of barrels. Hillman put down his luggage: "Go to bed early tonight, you need to be alert for the test tomorrow."

Lin Lei nodded and took Bei Bei out of his arms. The little guy was so bored that he jumped on the bed twice as soon as he was out, then lay down and didn't move.

"Is it alright?" Hillman asked.

"I'm tired." Lin Lei patted Bei Bei. "We've been chasing each other all the way, and then hiding the whole time."

Hillman glanced out the window: "Don't let it out at night. There are too many people in the city, and it wouldn't look good if it were seen."

"I know."

We ate dinner downstairs. The stew was so-so, but the portion was generous, and the bread was fresh. At the next table, a few people dressed like businessmen were discussing prices, and on the other side sat a young couple, the wife holding a baby.

Lin Lei ate quietly, listening to the conversations around him. He couldn't understand most of it, but he could sense that this city was a completely different world from the Wushan Town he knew.

Back in his room, Hillman went to check the carriage and horses, leaving Linley alone in the room. He sat on the edge of the bed, and Bebe jumped onto his lap.

"Are you nervous?" Delinkovt's voice echoed in my mind.

Lin Lei thought for a moment: "A little. But more than that... I don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"I don't know what tomorrow will bring," Lin Lei said. "If the test shows I don't have the talent, I'll have to go back. If the test shows I do, I'll have to stay here and continue my studies."

"Do you want it there or not?"

"I hope so," Linley answered quickly. "I want to become stronger, I want to learn magic. But..." He paused, "If I stay here, I won't see my father and Wharton for a long time."

Derinkowart paused for a few seconds: "Growing up always requires leaving home. Your father left home like that to train in the army."

"Did your father serve in the army?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Delinkowart said. "Although the Baruch family has declined, every generation still has someone serving in the military. Your father served on the border for three years when he was young, and then returned because the family needed him."

Linley really didn't know. Hogg rarely talked about the past.

"What about Wharton?" he asked. "He's only three years old. If I leave, he'll be the only child in the family."

"Wharton is more sensible than you think," Drinkwater said. "That kid knows what he's doing. Doing your job is the biggest help you can give the family."

Lin Lei nodded and said nothing more.

He washed up and lay down, with Bebe nestled beside him on the pillow. Hillman returned to say the carriage was fine and they would depart early the next morning, then blew out the candles.

In the darkness, Linley closed his eyes and began to meditate.

The yellowish-brown light arrived as expected. After entering Fenlai City, he felt that the earth element wasn't as concentrated as in Wushan Town, but it was still sufficient. He guided the light into his body, refining it into magical power, and the ball of light on his chest slowly and steadily grew.

He meditated for an hour, then stopped, preparing to sleep. But his mind was still preoccupied with tomorrow's plans—how to conduct the test? What to do? What if something went wrong?

He turned over, forcing himself to stop thinking about it.

The next morning, Hillman woke Linley just as dawn was breaking. The two ate a simple breakfast at the inn—oatmeal and fried eggs—before setting off for the church.

The test site was at the Church of the Holy See, located in the western part of the city. As they passed through the eastern part of the city, the streets were already bustling. The aroma of bread wafted from the bakeries, milk carts jingled, and uniformed maids hurried by carrying baskets.

The church was larger than Linley had imagined. Built of white stone, its spires soared into the clouds, and its windows were stained with stained glass, depicting angels and saints. A large crowd had already gathered in the square in front of the church, mostly parents with children. A row of carriages stood nearby, and the coachmen chatted amongst themselves.

Linley immediately noticed that the crowd was divided into two groups—one group was well-dressed and chatting animatedly; the other group was simply dressed and mostly silent. He and Hillman clearly belonged to the latter group.

"Wait here, I'll go ask about the procedures," Hillman said, and walked towards the church entrance.

Linley stood still, observing his surroundings. Several young men dressed as nobles were gathered together, talking quite loudly:

"...My father said that as long as I can get into Rand Academy, he will buy me a thoroughbred horse."

"What's Rand? My uncle has connections at Ernst College. He might be able to get in directly."

"Come on, Ernst Academy only looks at talent, connections are useless."

They looked about Linley's age, but their demeanor and tone were completely adult-like. One of the curly-haired boys noticed Linley looking at him and curled his lip: "Country bumpkin."

His companion laughed.

Lin Lei looked away and ignored him.

Hillman returned: "The testing is in the lobby inside, there's a queue. Parents aren't allowed in, I'll wait outside."

"it is good."

The two walked to the end of the line. There were about thirty people ahead of them, mostly children, ranging from six or seven to fifteen or sixteen years old. As Lin Lei joined the line, a red-haired girl next to him glanced at him and whispered, "Did you come alone?"

"My uncle is giving me a ride," Lin Lei said.

"Oh." The girl nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

The procession moved slowly. The church doors opened every now and then, letting a few people in. Linley was getting a little impatient, but he kept a calm expression on his face.

An hour later, it was his turn.

The gatekeeper, a warrior in armor, checked Linley's identification—a parchment stamped with the seal of Wushan Town. After confirming it, he let him through: "Turn right after you enter; this is the main hall."

Lin Lei entered the church. The interior was extremely high, with stained glass windows letting in dappled light, and a faint scent of incense in the air. The marble floor gleamed, and his footsteps echoed.

There were already over a hundred people in the hall. At the front, a row of chairs sat a dozen or so people dressed in various styles, presumably representatives from different academies. In the center of the hall, a circular area was empty, where three priests in black robes stood, and a bald old man was presiding over the test.

Lin Lei stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the testing process.

A young boy placed his hand on the crystal ball, which emitted a faint blue light. The bald old man announced, "Water element, intermediate, next."

The boy walked away dejectedly.

The next one was a girl; the crystal ball lit up with a blue light, brighter than before. The old man nodded: "Superior wind element, not bad. Enter the magic circle to test your mental strength."

The girl stepped into the hexagonal magic circle on the ground, and the old man began to cast a spell. White light enveloped the magic circle, and the girl's body began to tremble. She held on for about two minutes before kneeling on one knee.

"Mental strength, six times that of his peers. Passed," the old man said.

A priest led the girl to the row of chairs, where several academy representatives gathered around to talk.

The testing continued. Some were happy, some were sad; about one or two out of ten passed.

When it was Linley's turn, he had been waiting for almost two hours. The bald old man glanced at him: "Name, age."

"Linley Baruch, eight years old."

"Place your hand on the crystal ball."

Linley did as instructed. As his palm touched the cool surface of the crystal ball, he subconsciously activated the earth magic within him—not intentionally, but purely instinctively.

Then the crystal ball exploded.

No, it wasn't a real explosion, it was a burst of light. A blinding, earthy-yellow light instantly filled the entire crystal ball, followed by a cyan light that intertwined, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime. There were even a few faint streaks of red moving within the light.

The hall fell silent instantly.

The bald old man's hand trembled slightly as he looked down at the record: "Eight years old... Elemental affinity: Earth type superb, Wind type superb, Fire type intermediate."

The word "superior" sparked a wave of discussion, much like a stone thrown into water.

"Dual-system super-powerful?"

"Eight years old? Really?"

"Quiet!" the bald old man raised his voice, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Linley had changed. "Enter the magic circle."

Linley stepped into the hexagonal magic circle. The old man began casting a spell; white light rose, and a familiar pressure descended. Linley had undergone Derinkowort's mental strength test and was no stranger to this pressure. He straightened his body and adjusted his breathing.

The pressure gradually intensified. Linley felt as if two hands were squeezing his head, but he held on. One minute, two minutes... gasps could be heard around him.

The pressure intensified again. Linley's knees went weak, but he remembered the feeling of standing in the "Qi Gathering Stance" during training—the more tired you are, the more stable you must be. He gritted his teeth, his body began to tremble slightly, but he didn't fall.

Three minutes, four minutes...

"Enough!" The bald old man waved his hand to remove the magic circle. Linley swayed and had to brace himself with his hands to avoid falling.

The old man stared at him for several seconds before speaking: "Mental strength, eighteen times that of his peers, top-tier."

The hall erupted in cheers.

"Eighteen times?!"

"A dual-elemental super-level being! What kind of monster is this...?"

All the college representatives in the front row had already stood up. The bald old man gave Linley a rare smile: "Kid, come here."

Lin Lei walked over. The old man pointed to the row of chairs: "These are representatives from various academies; you can choose one."

Before he could finish speaking, a middle-aged woman in a blue robe rushed over: "Linley, I'm from Rand Academy. Our academy promises full tuition waivers, a scholarship of one thousand gold coins per year, and one-on-one guidance from a senior mage!"

"What's a thousand gold coins?" another bald man squeezed in. "We're from Wellington Academy, we'll offer two thousand!"

"We'll offer two thousand five hundred!"

"Three thousand!"

The scene became chaotic. Lin Lei was surrounded and somewhat bewildered. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

"Make way, everyone."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. The crowd parted, and an elderly man in a white robe walked slowly forward, a golden badge pinned to his chest, engraved with intricate magical runes.

"I am a representative of Ernst Academy," the old man said, looking at Linley. "Ernst Academy, the number one magic academy on the continent. We don't promise scholarships, we don't promise special treatment. We only accept geniuses, and we only teach geniuses. Are you willing to come?"

The surroundings fell silent. None of the other college representatives spoke.

Lin Lei took a deep breath: "I'm willing."

The old man smiled and took out a letter from his pocket: "This is your acceptance letter. School starts in three months; register with this letter." He then took out a silver badge: "This is a temporary badge; it allows you to freely enter and exit the academy area while in Fenlai City."

Lin Lei took the letter and badge, his hands trembling slightly.

"Congratulations." The old man patted him on the shoulder, then turned and left.

Seeing this, the other college representatives also dispersed one after another, but their eyes still held regret when they looked at Lin Lei.

The bald old man told Lin Lei to register over the side, then moved on to the next test. But everyone's attention was clearly still on Lin Lei, and people kept glancing over.

After registering, Lin Lei walked out of the hall with the letter and badge in his hand. The sunlight was blinding, and he squinted.

Hillman was waiting for him in the square. Seeing him come out, he immediately went to greet him: "How was it?"

Lin Lei handed over the letter.

Hillman finished reading, opened his mouth, then closed it again, and finally patted Linley on the shoulder heavily: "Well done!"

On the way back to the inn, Hillman became much more talkative, constantly discussing how to tell Hogg the good news and what to buy to take back. Linley listened, but his mind was already elsewhere.

Ernst Academy. The premier magic academy on the continent.

He really did it.

Back at the inn, Hillman said he was going to buy some things and told Linley to rest in the room. Linley closed the door, and Bebe immediately crawled out from under the bed and jumped into his arms.

"It's a success," Linley said to Bebe, and also to Delinkowart.

"I saw it." Delinkovt's voice was tinged with laughter. "A dual-elemental super-powerful being, even stronger than I was back then."

"Wind element... I hadn't paid attention to it before," Linley said. "I was only focusing on earth element during meditation."

"That's normal," Delinkov said. "Your affinity for earth elements is too strong, pushing away the other elements. You'll need to manage your time better when practicing dual cultivation in the future."

Lin Lei nodded, then recalled the scene of the college representatives scrambling for the money: "They offered so much money..."

“Money isn’t important,” Delinkowart said. “The resources Ernst College can give you are beyond measure in gold coins. The library, the laboratories, the tutors… those are the real treasures.”

Lin Lei understood.

He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the acceptance letter in his hand. The letter was thick, with gold patterns along the edges, and in the center was the seal of Ernst College—an open book with a star hanging above it.

He carefully folded the letter and put it into his pocket.

Beibei rubbed against his leg and purred contentedly.

The city's hustle and bustle drifted in from outside the window, but Lin Lei felt calm. The anxiety and nervousness he felt before coming had now transformed into something tangible—a road, a clear road.

He remembered what Hogg had said: "Whether it works out or not, you are a member of the Baruch family."

Now, he has succeeded. Bearing the Baruch surname, he has stepped into a wider world.

Hillman returned with a roast chicken, saying it was for celebration. The two had a hearty lunch in the room, and Bebe got a chicken leg, which she ate with grease all over her face.

"Going back this afternoon?" Hillman asked.

"Yes." Lin Lei nodded. "Go back and tell your father as soon as possible."

"Okay, I'll pack my things."

As the carriage drove out of Fenlai, Linley glanced back. The towering city walls, the bustling streets, and the distant church spires all gradually shrank in size.

He came as an ordinary country boy and left as a freshman at Ernst College.

Beibei peeked out from her collar, looked back, then withdrew and went back to sleep.