My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Fernand's steps abruptly stopped at the entrance of the training ground, his back stiff as a stone.

He slowly turned around, his face first flushed with humiliation, then turned ashen white.

Those eyes were fixed on Xiu Qi, and his lips moved a few times, but no sound came out.

The murmur that had been gradually subsiding in the audience began to rise again.

"The bet? What bet?"

"Did they make a bet before their duel?"

"No wonder Fernand was so eager for a duel..."

Jasley also looked confused, clearly unaware of the matter.

Catherine raised her delicate eyebrows and crossed her arms with interest: "Oh? There's a bet? This is getting more and more interesting."

Master Alvin frowned and asked Xiuqi in a low voice, "You set up a wager?"

Xiuqi nodded calmly: "Yes, Master. Before the duel, Fernand the Apprentice proposed that he use his arcane robe and the ruby ​​ring on his hand as stakes."

Master Alvin's face darkened.

Master York also heard this. He looked at Fernand, who was still standing at the door, and asked seriously, "Apprentice Fernand, is this true?"

Fernand's face grew even uglier.

His lips trembled, and he finally managed to squeeze out, "That...that was just a joke..."

"A joke?" Xiu Qi took a step forward, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"The bet made in front of Professor Kyle of the Knights Academy as a witness, and now you call it a joke? Is the reputation of the Fernand family so worthless?"

"We have signed a magical contract, are you planning to break it?"

These words were like a dagger, precisely piercing Fernand's most sensitive spot.

His family does have some prestige in the mage circle, but precisely because of this, they place even greater emphasis on their reputation.

If word gets out that he publicly broke the contract today...

Fernand clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms.

He has already spent a lot of money to prepare for this duel.

I spent 100 gold coins to buy this robust goblin bear, and another 50 gold coins to hire a high-level mage to forcibly sign a magic contract. I also spent 100 gold coins on the goblin bear's equipment, for a total of 250 gold coins.

The gold coins were a minor matter; the arcane robes and spatial ring he wore were not things that could be bought with money.

But with everyone watching, he had no choice.

He took a deep breath and, with trembling fingers, removed a ring from the ring finger of his left hand.

The ring is made of mithril and has a ruby ​​set at the top, which gleams with a warm luster under the magical lights of the training ground.

Then he slowly pulled off the robe that was draped over his body, which was shimmering with arcane energy.

He glanced blankly at the ring on his hand and the robe, then threw them violently at Xiuqi.

The ring and robe drew an arc in the air.

Xiuqi reached out and caught it.

The moment his fingertips touched the ring and robe, he could feel the stable magical fluctuations contained within them.

He stared intently—

......

Fernand's Guardian

Type: Magic Robe

Quality: Premium (Green)

Effect: Magic Shield: Automatically triggers the [Mage Shield] spell, activating automatically upon detecting a magical or physical attack capable of causing damage, forming a protective force field. Can be activated once per day.

Description: An arcane robe commissioned by the Fernand family from a high-ranking enchanter, made from a blend of moonlight spider silk and shimmering wool, and imbued with protective magic.

Note: "It won't make you stronger, but it will at least make it harder for your enemies to hit you."

......

Crimson Vow

Type: Magic Ring

Quality: Extremely rare (blue)

Effect: The wearer can open a dimensional storage space that is 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 6 feet high (about 1.8 meters) in height at any time, which can be used to store non-living items.

Description: A standard mithril-based spatial storage ring, with a ruby ​​as the anchor point for spatial coordinates and the source of magic.

Note: "Your entire adventure baggage is but a tiny space between my fingers."

......

"Satisfied?" Fernand's voice was icy.

Xiuqi smiled without saying a word, and put the ring on the index finger of his right hand; the size was just right.

The ruby ​​gleamed slightly between his fingers.

Fernand gave him one last look, the venom in his eyes almost tangible.

Then he rushed out of the practice field without looking back and disappeared into the corridor outside the door.

His henchmen hurriedly chased after him, not even bothering to look after the bear goblin Gram lying on the ground. In the end, two academy guards came and carried the seriously injured contracted creature to the treatment room on a stretcher.

"Alright, everyone, you can all leave now." The female instructor on the referee's stand stood up, her voice tinged with weariness. "The duel is over. Those who need to go back to class should go back to class, and those who need to practice should practice."

The students in the audience began to leave one after another, but many of them kept looking back as they left, looking at the gray-robed figure by the arena and the mountain-like ogre beside him.

Master Alvin walked to Xiuqi's side, his white eyebrows slightly raised: "'Crimson Oath'... The Fernand family's kid has really suffered a huge loss this time."

"He made that promise first," Hugh said.

"Of course." Master Alvin nodded, but a hint of worry flashed in his eyes. "But this will only deepen the feud between you and the Fernand family."

Their family wields considerable influence within the Arcane Academy, particularly within the School of Evocation.

"I will be careful."

"Come to my office at nine o'clock tomorrow morning." Master Alvin patted him on the shoulder.

"Yes, mentor!"

Master Alvin turned and left, with Master York beside him. The two spoke in hushed tones as they walked away.

The training ground quickly emptied out, leaving only Xiuqi, Ado, and Jia Sili and Catherine waiting on the side.

Jasmine stepped forward, her fiery red eyes sparkling: "You were amazing! That arcane field... I've never seen anyone use magic to deflect a magical missile!"

"Just lucky," Xiu Qi said modestly. "Let's go out first."

The four of them left the training ground and came to the central courtyard of the Arcane Academy.

The afternoon sun streamed through the magical glass dome, casting dappled shadows on the stone path.

A fountain in the center of the courtyard gurgled and flowed, while several colorful birds hopped and chirped among the treetops.

Ado looked at the little birds curiously, blinked his bright yellow eyes, and made curious gurgling sounds in his throat.

"It's so cute," Jasmine said with a smile.

"Cute?" Catherine raised an eyebrow. "Cassley, you certainly have unique taste. But..."

She turned to Hwach: "Catherine von Kleist. A friend of Garthie's. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mage Hwach."

"I must admit, you've impressed me today. Can you tell me how you tamed this ogre?"

Xiuqi briefly recounted his experience of meeting Granny Masha and Ado in the Summer Town orchard, omitting the part about the secret realm.

Catherine listened with great interest: "An ogre raised by humans... and can read? This is something that could be written into the 'Arcane Chronicles'."

"Ado is one of a kind," Hugh said.

"I can see that." Catherine nodded, then changed the subject, "But what are your plans next? Fernand won't let this go."

He himself is not a threat, but his family... My father had some business dealings with the Fernand family, and I know they are vengeful.

I will be careful.

"Being careful isn't enough." Catherine took out an exquisite business card from her small pouch and handed it to Xiuqi. "If you run into trouble, you can come to the Noble Academy to find me."

"Jacqueline's friends are my friends."

The business card was made of parchment with gold foil stamping and fine silver thread inlaid along the edges. Catherine's full name and family crest were printed in the center.

A silver falcon with outstretched wings.

The Silver Falcon of the North, the Crest family.

"Thank you." Xiuqi accepted the business card and nodded politely.

"Alright, I should head back now." Catherine winked at Jasley. "I won't disturb your 'alone time' any longer."

After speaking, she turned gracefully, her silk dress shimmering softly in the sunlight, and slowly walked away from the courtyard.

Jasley's cheeks flushed slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

She looked at Xiuqi: "Where are you going next?"

"First, let's find a place where Ado can stay," Xiuqi said. "Then we'll go to the library to look up some information."

Jasmine smiled as she looked at the gray-robed boy in front of her.

"It seems to like you a lot," she said softly.

"Ado is my companion." Xiuqi put away the scroll and looked at Jia Sili. "Do you have class this afternoon?"

"There's a section on 'Aristocratic Etiquette and Diplomatic Language'," Garsley said with a bitter expression. "It's incredibly boring, but I have to go."

"Then hurry up and go to class."

"What about you? Is it okay if you don't go to class?"

"I've already taken a long leave," Hugh said. "Master Alvin approved it personally."

Cassie nodded enviously, then a blush rose to her cheeks: "Well... there's a ballroom dance tomorrow night, the organizer is really high-profile, the kind you just have to go!"

"Would you mind coming with me?" She lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the ants crawling on the green grass at her feet.

"it is good."

The two parted ways in the courtyard.

Xiuqi watched Jiasili's departing figure, her fiery red hair blazing like flames in the sunlight.

Then he turned and walked towards the library.