Wizard: Starts with Advanced Meditation

The black market at Everfrost Spire has been exceptionally lively these past few days, as the upcoming Five Crown Trials have attracted a large influx of customers.

As the extreme apprentices returned one after another, this place was tacitly recognized as their gathering place.

They not only have a new batch of extreme apprentices, but also some veteran apprentices who have participated in several five-crown trials.

The reason they were reluctant to break through was the opportunity to enter the center of Maranseur.

If they don't seize this once-every-five-years opportunity, unless they can advance to the second-level wizard level, they will almost never be able to obtain residency rights in the center of Maranthelle in their lifetime.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the black market, the scene was completely different from the bustling surroundings. The thick darkness was almost tangible, shutting out all the noise and leaving only a repressive silence.

A spire will always stand in the center of the black market; it is not only the tallest building in the black market, but also the residence of each successive administrator of the black market.

The area around the spire was deserted, with not a soul in sight, except for a few crows that flapped their black wings and circled aimlessly above the spire, their hoarse cries occasionally breaking the surrounding silence.

At this moment, at the very top of the spire

Barossa Corradis, who is both the current manager of the black market and an Ultimate Apprentice, is casually leaning against the obsidian-carved main seat, chatting with an Ultimate Apprentice beside him.

His fingertips casually traced the patterns on the edge of the table, and the black robe covered with countless ink-colored feathers swayed gently with his movements.

"Sizzle—Bang—!!"

A loud bang suddenly interrupted the two people's conversation. Barossa frowned slightly and his cold gaze swept towards the corner of the banquet hall.

"Hahaha... Neve... How's my solidified Lightning Strike spell? It's already surpassed Sotadia's from the Holy Light Spire, right?"

Rogre, the ultimate apprentice, had a faint blush on his cheeks. Although there were still traces of lingering lightning on his fingertips, his gaze was completely fixed on the woman in front of him, his eyes filled with desire.

He was the one who caused the commotion just now. He didn't seem to notice the mocking looks from the people around him, or the abnormal magical aura on his face.

Neve ignored Roglie's burning gaze, simply sitting quietly to the side, her wine glass lightly touching her lips, but she didn't drink it for a long time.

Suddenly, Barossa's voice came from behind her:

"Nev, break the curse—"

Neve's shoulders trembled slightly as she put down her wine glass. She turned around and realized that Barossa had somehow appeared behind her.

"Excuse me, Barossa apprentice."

Neve lightly brushed the rim of the cup with her fingertips, and although she apologized, her tone was nonchalant.

"But you know, this is because of my constitution~"

boom--!

An invisible pressure of mental energy came, and Neve slightly raised her eyes until she met Barossa's cold gaze, then waved her hand and said:

"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing him."

As soon as he finished speaking, the desire in Roglie's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of panic.

He looked up abruptly, first glaring angrily at Neve, but upon meeting Barossa's gaze, he immediately suppressed his anger and bowed respectfully:

"I'm sorry, Barossa, I will provide compensation."

Neve can amplify the desires within a life form; he hadn't noticed and fell for her dirty trick.

A hint of impatience flashed in Barossa's eyes. His gaze swept over everyone present, and he said in an icy voice:

"I have invited you all here today to discuss the upcoming Five Crown Trials. But if anyone is just looking to cause trouble, then please leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly.

Roglie's hand, hanging by his side, clenched tightly. Neve still held the wine glass, but her fingertips tightened slightly, causing a thin layer of frost to form on the glass.

The other apprentices were even more terrified, their previously casual sitting postures now all stiffened up.

The reason they were so wary of the person in front of them was because of his special identity—he was not only the only personal apprentice of Vice Dean Richard, but also the new generation of extreme apprentices who had escaped the assassination attempt by the Black Ring Crown.

……

"By the way, I heard that Sotadia of the Holy Light Spire is dead?"

Suddenly, a voice broke the deadlock; it was the young apprentice who had just spoken with Barossa.

His name is Piesley, he has short, grey-blue hair, and he narrowly lost the previous Five Crown Trials.

"Oh, that blood witch family."

Neve spoke up, her tone full of schadenfreude.

"I heard that all the members of that family have been punished by the Golden Ring Crown. Sotadia is just a Limit Apprentice and has no ability to escape from the Golden Ring Crown."

With one less competitor, she was naturally in a very good mood.

"Heh, so what if one is missing? Does that give you a chance, Neve?"

Roglie scoffed from the side.

"At least I can guarantee I'll get out of here alive, but you? Maybe next year when I go to the Howling Spire, I'll see you again, still screaming."

"You! Hmph—!"

Roglie was furious, but considering that he had just offended Barossa, he ultimately refrained from making a move.

His fellow academy students would also be enemies in the trial, and he didn't want to anger Barossa, lest he be targeted by him. After all, having Nive was already a headache enough.

Both Rogre and Neve had participated in the trial. Although they still had the determination to enter the headquarters, they were more interested in the resources obtained from the trial.

The Five Crown Trials not only reward students with the opportunity to enter the main academy, but also reward them with a series of secret treasures, such as battle merits.

Some apprentices even relied on the rewards of the trials to exchange their intermediate meditation methods from the academy and advance to the level of ultimate apprentice.

As for the people present, apart from Barossa, they had all participated in at least one trial. Apart from a few at the top of the strength rankings, they were actually more interested in gaining battle merits.

As for the top five? That's naturally the reason they've gathered here.

"Boom!"

As the stone gate behind Barossa burst open, an old man with white hair walked out.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the group's expressions did not change much, as this was an old acquaintance of theirs.

His name was Dios, an apprentice of the prophetic school, who had participated in countless trials.

Knowing he had no hope of winning the championship, he exchanged his predictions for his apprentices before the trial for battle merits, and was then promoted to the Ultimate Apprentice.

As Dios approached, Barossa, seated at the head of the table, spoke at the opportune moment:

"The reason I invited Dios here is because I have some clues about the trials, which may be helpful in understanding the prophecy."

……