Might Makes Right

Ignoring Tei Tei for a moment, Zhang Ye asked, “Have all the Demon Realm creatures in the Myriad Beasts Forest been dealt with?”

Leona nodded. “Yes, they’ve been completely taken care of this time.

“I tracked down all the creatures by following the lingering demonic aura and wiped them out. Not a single one is left.”

Zhang Ye thought for a moment before asking, “Is it possible that those three powerful demons you killed aren't actually dead?”

Leona laughed at his question. “You’re being a bit too cautious, don’t you think?”

Zhang Ye waved his hand dismissively. “It’s better to be safe. Who knows if those things can suddenly resurrect? What if they can come back to life from just a single drop of blood?”

Leona chuckled. “Interesting!

“Don’t worry, those three were burned to ash. Not a single drop of blood remains, so resurrection is impossible.”

Zhang Ye pressed further, “Then is it possible that only their bodies died, but their souls are still alive? Could they possess someone to come back?”

Leona shook her head. “Those three creatures were only Three-star Saint-tier. To rely on one's soul for rebirth, one would need to be at least a Nine-star Saint-tier... Enough of that. Don't worry so much, little guy. Just focus on absorbing those magic cores first.”

Zhang Ye pursed his lips. “I’m not little. I’m twenty-three.”

After a brief silence, he added, “And I’m not just talking about my age.”

Leona: “???”

Something is definitely wrong with you!

Leona grinned and suddenly stepped toward Zhang Ye. She reached out with a slender finger and tilted his chin up. “Twenty-three? I’m already twenty-six, three years older than you. Even so, do you still want me to give myself to you?”

Zhang Ye’s heart raced, and his face flushed slightly.

Good grief, this woman is so cool!

He gave a cheeky grin. “There’s an old saying back home: ‘A wife three years older is like a brick of gold.’ Besides, as long as there’s love, age is just a number!”

Leona couldn't help but burst into laughter, reaching out to rub Zhang Ye’s bald head vigorously.

“You certainly have a silver tongue!

“We don't have much time left. Go on and absorb the magic core.” As she spoke, Leona tossed the Berserk Bear magic core from earlier to Zhang Ye.

Zhang Ye caught it and hurriedly asked, “Not much time? Are you leaving?”

Seeing his urgent expression, Leona smiled. “It’s not just me. We are leaving.

“My permit for this training expedition was only for three months, and there’s only one month left.

“In one month, I have to return to the All Souls Magic Academy.

“Coincidentally, the academy’s recruitment starts in a month. I’ll take you back with me then so you can experience human civilization in this world.

“To prepare for the All Souls Academy entrance exam, I want you to increase your strength as much as possible over this next month to ensure you pass.”

Zhang Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as Leona wasn't abandoning him, it was fine.

He picked up the magic core and asked, “Are you a student at the All Souls Magic Academy?”

Leona shook her head with a smile. “I used to be. Now I’m a mentor, though I’m currently only one in name and haven't started teaching any classes yet.”

“So, what’s the All Souls Magic Academy like? What are the requirements for the entrance exam?” Zhang Ye asked like a curious child.

Leona didn't show any impatience. She sat cross-legged in front of Zhang Ye and began to explain.

“The All Souls Magic Academy is a top-tier magic academy in the Northern Plains Region of the West Continent. It’s famous for its inclusivity. Unlike other magic academies that only recruit humans or their own specific races, All Souls accepts almost any intelligent race on the continent.

“You could say that as long as you meet the requirements and pass the exam, even a goblin could enter the academy.

“However, the requirements are very high.

“Out of the hundreds of thousands of applicants every year, fewer than three thousand manage to pass and enroll.”

“The failure rate is that high?” Zhang Ye asked in surprise. “Just how high are the requirements?”

“First, you must be no older than twenty-five and have reached at least the mid-stage of Tier Four!”

Zhang Ye replied, “That doesn't sound too hard. I can definitely meet that.”

He was already at the early stage of Tier Four. If he couldn't reach the mid-stage in a month, he might as well give up on being a protagonist.

Leona smiled. “Of course that part isn't hard. Many people can reach Tier Four mid-stage by age twenty-five, but that’s only the first test.

“There are three tests in total. After the rank test comes the control test. Whether you’re a Warrior, an archer, or a Mage, you cannot function without mana. The stronger your mana control, the higher your casting efficiency, power, and precision. This second test eliminates two-thirds of the applicants.

“Then there’s the final and most important test: the combat test.

“You’ll be randomly matched against a magical beast of the same tier. You only pass if you win.

“This isn't just a test of strength; it’s also a test of luck.”

“Luck?” Zhang Ye immediately understood. “There are very powerful beings even within the same tier. For example, a Berserk Bear is a Tier Five beast that can rival Tier Seven. So if your luck is bad, you might get matched with something like that, right?”

Leona snapped her fingers. “Smart.

“However, these three tests shouldn't be much of a problem for you.

“With your growth rate, you’ll reach the required rank soon. As for mana control and combat, I’ll be focusing your training on those next.

“What you really need to worry about is the recruitment exam after the three tests.

“The content of the exam never changes. All the prospective students who pass the three tests are sent into a secret realm. Inside, you need to kill magical beasts to collect soul essences. The more essences you collect and the higher their tier, the more points you earn, and the higher your ranking will be.

“The top three thousand students with the most points become official students. Furthermore, the top five hundred receive rewards. The higher your rank, the more generous the reward.”

Zhang Ye nodded. Having read so many novels, he was naturally familiar with this kind of setup.

“But you must be careful. The secret realm contains not only magical beasts but also many dangerous zones. If you step into one carelessly, you could lose your life. The danger level is very high, and even with the academy’s protection, casualties are inevitable.

“And the greatest danger isn't any of that. It’s...”

“People,” Zhang Ye finished for her.

Leona looked at Zhang Ye with a hint of surprise, then nodded. “It seems you understand.

“That’s right, people!

“The secret realm cannot connect to the outside world, so everything that happens inside remains unknown to those outside. Therefore, many students will kill others to steal their essences or treasures to climb the rankings, or simply to settle old grudges.

“This is why, even though tens of thousands often participate in the final exam, the top three thousand spots on the leaderboard often aren't even fully filled!”

“But isn't it a waste of talent to not forbid mutual slaughter?” Zhang Ye couldn't help but ask.

If over ten thousand people go in and fewer than three thousand come back alive, the death rate is staggering.

These were all people who could have become powerful Mages.

Of course, Zhang Ye had misunderstood slightly. Leona hadn't mentioned that those who voluntarily withdrew or failed the test wouldn't be recorded on the leaderboard, so the actual death toll might only be one or two thousand.

Even so, the mortality rate was not low.

Leona shook her head. “The academy trains Mages, Warriors, and powerhouses who can kill enemies on the battlefield, not greenhouse flowers. If they can't even pass the entrance exam, there’s no point in talking about becoming stronger.

“In this world, might makes right!

“The path of the strong is never smooth; it is bound to be filled with bloodshed. This is the first lesson the academy teaches those students!

“Those who cannot pass or even walk out of the secret realm don't deserve to be called talents!”

Zhang Ye nodded solemnly.

A survival rate of less than thirty percent was indeed cruel, but as Leona said, the path of the strong was never smooth. Which powerhouse didn't have a trail of magical beasts and enemies behind them? It was all inevitable!

Seeing Zhang Ye’s solemn expression, Leona grinned, her flashing canines momentarily dazing him.

“I have only one requirement for you: pass the recruitment exam by placing in the top three of the freshman rankings!”

Zhang Ye was stunned. “Top three... What if I don't make it?”

Leona smiled. “Then I’ll beat you up.”

Zhang Ye was taken aback. “What if I don't just fail to make the top three, but fail the exam entirely?”

Leona’s smile grew even more radiant. “Then I’ll kill you!”

Zhang Ye shrank back. “That’s a bit much, isn't it? I am your savior, after all...”

Leona nodded. “That’s true, but you’re also the student I, Leona, trained—my very first student!

“If my first student can't even pass the entrance exam, where would I hide my face?

“How would I ever show myself in the magic world again?”

Zhang Ye: “...”

When the bold Leona spoke those words, she looked incredibly cool, with a hint of roguish charm that made Zhang Ye's heart skip a beat.

“So, for the sake of your own life, you must train like your life depends on it this month!

“And...” At this point, Leona suddenly leaned forward, grabbing Zhang Ye’s collar and pulling him close.

Zhang Ye felt the tip of his nose almost touching hers. He could feel her warm breath and a faint, pleasant fragrance lingering on her.

“If you want me to give myself to you, you have to show some manly spirit, don't you?

“My man cannot be a wimp!”

Zhang Ye’s eyes flashed with fire. He grinned, an aura of intense confidence radiating from him.

“Naturally!”

...

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