Chapter 59

The apprentice test and sacrifice in the Shadow Valley lasted a total of four days.

During these four days, not only the low-level apprentices and entry-level apprentices, but even intermediate apprentices like Sain suffered greatly.

Fortunately, as the four days passed, a formal black mage appeared in person and stated that the danger of the spatial rift would be greatly reduced from then on.

Otherwise, one would really doubt whether this torment would drive people to the brink of collapse.

It's worth mentioning that during these four days, a minor incident occurred.

On the third night, a low-level apprentice named Tianti, having somehow found out Sain's tent location, approached him seeking protection.

In fact, by the end of the fourth day, more than four hundred entry-level apprentices had not been completely consumed, with about thirty to forty still remaining.

It was far from the point where low-level apprentices would be consumed.

Sain had not interacted much with this female apprentice, Tianti, in recent years.

Mainly because this woman had always wanted to rely on Sain, to the point where Sain somewhat regretted his actions in Master Kosolong's anatomy class years ago.

Whether it was last year or the year before, Tianti, the female apprentice, had indeed shown some talent and potential, which led to her promotion to a low-level apprentice.

But no matter how good her talent and potential, she was still just a low-level apprentice.

In the precarious environment of the Shadow Valley, without a mentor or any other strong protector, she had no choice but to seek Sain's help.

In fact, in the past two to three years at the Black Magic Academy, Tianti had indeed avoided many troubles and prying eyes by relying on Sain's name.

This was also an important reason why she could seize the opportunity and quickly advance to a low-level apprentice.

Unfortunately, this time, Tianti didn't even get to see Sain before almost being injured by his senior sister, Fier, who released a fire chain blade.

A scorched lock of hair was Fier's warning to Tianti.

Every apprentice in the Shadow Valley was a precious resource, so black mages strictly prohibited fighting and killing, unless the other party was trying to escape the Shadow Valley.

After being rebuffed by Sain, Tianti finally stopped bothering him.

This shows that when it comes to dealing with women, the best person to handle it is another woman.

...

On the fifth day after Sain and others arrived at the Shadow Valley, after the last batch of entry-level apprentices were thrown into the magic altar for testing, Vice Dean Dadalong finally announced that the next phase would be handled by quasi-mages.

During this time, Master Zorro had made many preparations, partly due to his spatial equipment, which was much larger than Sain's. Sain even saw him pull out a portable small alchemy platform.

Several disposable magic arrows were the result of Master Zorro's efforts during this period.

As his junior siblings, Sain and Fier were fortunate enough to each receive one.

"Unfortunately, the time was too short, and the alchemy environment here was too basic. Otherwise, we could have certainly made higher-level magic arrows," Zorro sighed.

Each of the magic arrows made by Zorro contained a mid-level spell.

Combined with the sharpness, acceleration, wound tearing, and toxin invasion enchantments on the arrows themselves, although they were disposable items, they were absolute small masterpieces among mid-level magic equipment.

Under the dual pressure of life and survival, Master Zorro seemed to have made new breakthroughs in the field of alchemy.

After completing these disposable magic arrows, on the sixth day, Master Zorro entered the magic altar and never came out.

Sain tried to contact him using a crystal ball, but the crystal ball remained silent throughout.

Since Master Zorro was the last quasi-mage to enter the magic altar, Vice Dean Dadalong announced that night that the next to enter the magic altar would be the high-level apprentices.

The order of apprentices entering, from high to low, indicated that the danger of the magic altar had indeed decreased significantly.

Otherwise, the academy would not waste its scarce top apprentices.

Needless to say, these apprentices were mostly disciples of formal black mages.

On the same night, Senior Sister Fier burst into Sain's tent.

"Senior Sister, you!" Sain, who was meditating, was suddenly interrupted by her fiery lips, leaving him somewhat unprepared.

"Who knows what lies on the other side of the spatial rift, or if we can even return alive."

"Today might be the last time, so you have to satisfy me!" Fier said to Sain.

Sain's resistance weakened at her words, but he still reminded her, "Boss is still near the tent."

"I told him to get lost. That fatso won't ruin our fun tonight."

"Hurry up, your little girlfriend is probably anxious too." Fier chuckled softly.

Sain's battle with his senior sister was intense and lasted for a full two hours before she left, satisfied.

As soon as Fier left the tent, Sain's official girlfriend, Lina, stepped in.

The air inside Sain's tent was somewhat murky.

Lina, with her delicate face, frowned as she entered.

Unlike Senior Sister Fier, Lina was not insatiable and did not plan to do anything with Sain that night.

In fact, she was somewhat worried about whether Sain's body could handle it.

After all, the noise was so loud that she could hear it from another tent.

Even their usual intimate moments did not last as long as with Fier.

Sain was quite exhausted at this point, as satisfying his senior sister was always a physical challenge.

It was nothing like being with his girlfriend Lina, where their interactions were more about emotional and mental connection.

Unlike with his senior sister, it was not just physical and sensory stimulation.

If given a choice, Sain would much rather be with Lina.

Despite Lina being younger than Sain, sometimes he would curl up like a child in her arms.

This intermediate apprentice, who had largely adapted to the harsh life at the Black Magic Academy, was still just a big boy.

Hugging Lina that night, Sain did not do anything with her and hardly spoke.

Listening to her heartbeat, they both seemed to feel each other's thoughts.

They remained silently together until the next day approached.

When the magic bell of the Shadow Valley rang, just as Lina was about to leave the tent, Sain held her hand and placed a short staff in it.

This was one of the five magic items given to Sain by his mentor, Moses, capable of instantly releasing a high-level spell—Storm Arrow.

Lina was about to refuse, but Sain kissed her, blocking her words.

"We must live to see each other again, understand?" Sain said to Lina with deep emotion.

Lina also knew how many magic items Sain had received from his mentor, Moses.

Therefore, in the face of Sain's deep feelings and the gift, she finally nodded and accepted it.