Another World: The Failed Magician

After a pause, White continued, "You must have obtained a lot of intelligence from Tianfa in these four years, right?"

Lu Xuan nodded. He wasn't surprised that White knew about this, since he hadn't intended to hide it from him.

"So you've figured out why you haven't been able to advance to Archmage in these past four years?"

Lu Xuan sighed and said, "There is indeed almost no relevant information. So, the reason I think is that after losing that competition, I couldn't get over it internally, so I couldn't advance."

White looked at the boy who said those words so calmly and seemed slightly surprised.

"I never expected you to be able to talk about this so openly now. You used to be completely unwilling to mention it in front of others."

"So what if I'm not open about it? The facts are right in front of me. It's been four years, and it's time for me to face the facts. Besides, I can probably guess that you want me to succeed you as dean."

White nodded.

"I think you'd better give up on this idea sooner rather than later. Although I don't know what the point of this academy is, I feel it's not suitable to entrust it to someone like me. Besides, I'll probably only ever reach the level of a high-level mage. I probably can't bear the responsibility you're trying to give me."

White did not answer the question immediately.

"Being a high-level mage is indeed quite impressive. But do you really think that's your limit?"

"I do not know."

"High-level mages may not even be able to protect themselves in the future. Do you really think that's a problem?"

Lu Xuan sighed.

"Dean, just say what you have to say. When did you start talking like this?"

"It's not because I've spent too much time with Karl. Sometimes I feel that talking like him gives others the impression that I'm very powerful."

Lu Xuan said helplessly, "Can we get straight to the point now?"

"Sigh, young people these days are so impatient. Since you don't want to listen to my preamble, I'll just get straight to the point."

"This academy has always been closed off. The place we are in now is a newly built one after I arrived. The true core area of ​​this academy has always been closed off."

Hearing this, Lu Xuan wasn't very surprised. After all, having lived there for four years, he could vaguely sense that this seemingly large academy was just the tip of the iceberg.

"Actually, although I have always referred to myself as the dean, I have never truly gained the academy's recognition. So my ultimate goal is to help you complete the trial and gain the academy's approval."

Hearing this, Lu Xuan was somewhat surprised, considering that since his first visit four years ago, everyone had addressed White as Dean. In the end, he was told he hadn't gained the academy's recognition.

"Dean, I think you're really too overconfident. Look at me, even someone with your strength couldn't pass. What do I have to rely on to pass this trial?"

"This trial isn't related to strength. First, it's only open to humans, and second, it's only open to pure magicians. Obviously, you meet both conditions, don't you?"

Hearing this, Lu Xuan thought it was a bit of a joke.

"No! There are way too many people who meet those two criteria. Why did they choose me?"

"Because I spotted you in the crowd. I could feel your magical energy fluctuations were very special, and coupled with your lifeless look, I felt that you should be able to succeed."

Is there any necessary relationship between the two?

"No. If you really want to know why I chose you, the reason is actually very simple. It's because I like the look of you."

"Isn't there any other reason?"

"That's all."

"Dean, I'd like to ask, do you know what the content of this trial is?"

"I don't know! Didn't I already tell you that only genuine magicians can participate? Do I look like a genuine magician? I was directly stopped at the outside and not allowed to go in. How would I know what it contains?"

"What are the consequences of failing the trial?"

"Of course I don't know. Didn't I tell you? I can't even get in."

"Has no one ever taken this trial before?"

How do I know if anyone has undergone this trial before?

Lu Xuan: "..."

Lu Xuan calmed himself down.

"Dean, your last task was abstract enough. Are you really unwilling to tell me more about this trial?"

"That's because you don't trust me, the dean. Don't worry, I would never harm you."

"If you say that, you must know something, right? You can choose not to study under Karl, but you won't say anything. How can I dare to go?"

White feigned a helpless expression.

"Sigh, since you've begged me so much, I'll reluctantly tell you. I really don't know the specifics of the trial. I only know that it was left behind by a great figure from the Ancestral Dragon Empire. I discovered this place by chance."

“I learned from the information left behind at that trial site that this place is called Frunze Academy, but the stone tablet on it stipulates that only pure magicians can enter. Think about me, how could I stand this? He won't let me be the dean, but I'll insist on being the dean.”

"So you built a new college on the site of his old building?"

Dean White nodded smugly: "As expected of the student I chose, you really understand me."

"It certainly seems like something you would do. By the way, why are you so obsessed with this trial? Even if you know it's something left behind by a great figure from the Ancestral Dragon Empire, you don't need to go to so much trouble on me."

"Well, it's kind of a coincidence. I only discovered this place before I met you, and I was really determined to make my student complete this trial since he wouldn't let me go. Then, when I went to the Silver Dragon Empire, I happened to run into you. My first thought was that you'd definitely make it."

"At first, I thought you'd be fine in a few months. I didn't expect you to stay in that half-dead state for so long. So, I gradually forgot about it. But after seeing your performance in the Eastern Dragon Empire, I want you to give it a try again."

"Dean, you're not going to convince me like this!"

"Then I'll reluctantly tell you one more piece of news."

"Have you ever thought about this? Your inability to advance to Archmage isn't solely due to your own reasons."

Upon hearing this, even Lu Xuan, who had remained calm, frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I only recently discovered this myself, because you did have a lot of problems with your mindset before. So we've always believed that your inability to advance to Archmage was your own fault, and that's true."

“But since you came back this time, I can clearly see that your state of mind has improved a lot. Logically speaking, no matter what, your cultivation level should have improved. But the magic power in your body can maintain a strange balance, neither increasing nor decreasing by a single drop, which is very abnormal.”

"Considering that I rescued you from the Silver Dragon Empire, I have some ideas about your situation."

“Not long ago, I consulted a friend who is highly skilled in magic, and we both agreed that your situation is due to a curse that is unique to dragons.”

"The curse of the dragon?" Lu Xuan was very puzzled. He had read many books over the years, but he had never heard of this.

"Yes. It's an ancient curse that appeared during the time of the Ancestral Dragon Empire, when the dragons ruled over all of humanity. But there were always some talented people among humanity who wanted to overthrow the dragons' rule, and in general, the dragons would eliminate them."

"But for some exceptionally talented individuals whom they are reluctant to kill, they will cast a dragon's curse upon them. This curse will trap the cursed person in their current realm forever, and no matter how much they cultivate, they will not make any progress."

"Most people cannot bear the thought of their talents going unrecognized, and after the torment of time, they usually choose to submit to the dragon's rule."

"After the Ancestral Dragon Empire was overthrown, this curse also disappeared."

"Now that I think about it, those old fogies in the Silver Dragon Empire were willing to hand you over to me so readily. It seems they had a backup plan."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan understood the current situation.

"That's why you want me to participate in that trial now; there's a good chance that the solution to the curse is hidden inside."

"Yes, I took my friend to visit that trial grounds. She could barely sense a faint trace of soul energy remaining inside."

"A wisp of the soul of that powerful figure from the Ancestral Dragon Empire era likely still remains in the Trial Grounds. And judging from his rules, it's not hard to guess that he was a powerful human who rebelled against the dragon race's rule during that period. So there might be a way to break your curse there."

Lu Xuan nodded.

"Dean, I agree to participate in the trial. I can leave tomorrow."

“I know you’re anxious, but you’ll have to wait. That trial has been around for a long time, and it will require a lot of preparation to reactivate it. Plus, I thought it was your fault before, so I put the preparations for the trial on hold. So I need some time to gather the materials needed to start the trial.”

"I'd also like to help prepare any materials you need."

White waved his hand.

"You don't need to worry about that. Since I have this plan, I will naturally make the preparations for you. Just relax and prepare. Your most important job now is to take good care of them. After all, you brought them here, and you can't just leave them to me to take care of. So just wait patiently, and I will let you know in advance when everything is ready."

After saying that, White prepared to get up and leave.

Looking at White's aged face, Lu Xuan felt a pang of emotion.

"White!"

Lu Xuan called out to him.

White stopped at the door.

"what happened?"

"If I can break the curse, I'll agree to be your student!"

White paused for a moment after hearing this.

"Hahaha! Great! I'll have to look forward to it!"

With that, he walked out of the room.

After leaving the room, White followed the path through the woods back to his own room.

Just then, a figure in emerald green appeared in front of him.

Bilus left and came over to walk alongside him on the forest path.

Did he agree?

“The person I, White, approve of will definitely agree.”

"Even if he doesn't agree, it doesn't matter. I will use force to make him agree."

"Hahaha! You really are capable of doing this."

"What do you mean by that, White?"

Bilus glared at her fiercely.

"No...nothing else."

Dean White immediately backed down.

After the two walked for a while, Bilus spoke again.

"Is it really worth it for you to do this? Is a high-level mage whose future is unknown really worth all this effort?"

"I don't know if it's worth it."

"What? You didn't know you were going to do this? Have you forgotten how many resources are required to start that trial?"

"How could I not know? It took me a lot of effort to collect all those things."

"So you decided to start this trial without even knowing if it's worth it?"

“I haven’t considered whether it was worth it since I brought him back from the Silver Dragon Empire.”

Hearing this, Birus shook her head. As an elf who had lived for many years, there were still some things she didn't quite understand.

"By the way, why did you take him with you back then?"

"If you insist on saying it, then it's that I never expected to run into my younger self on the roadside in a foreign country."

"My childhood self?"

"Yes, the feeling he had after his confidence was shattered by the 'monster' and his world collapsed was exactly the same as mine before. So I think this must be God giving me an opportunity."

“I met my teacher when I was at my most desperate moment, and he saved me. So when I saw that child, I wanted to do something too.”

Upon hearing this, Birus fell silent.

"That's silly, isn't it?"

"Ah."

After a moment of silence, Bilu stopped in her tracks.

White stopped when he sensed it, and turned around to look at her with a puzzled expression.

But! I just love your silly look!

White looked at Belus, whose cheeks were now flushed, and didn't know what to say for a moment.

After a moment of silence, Bilus recovered and walked over to White's side.

“I know you have your own difficulties, and I won’t force you. But I’ve already said what I needed to say today. You have to pay a price.”

White felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at Bilus's malicious smile.

"You...you tell me."

Bilous extended her white palm toward White.

"Hand it over."

"Hand over what?"

"The video recording crystal was made by your good student."

White wanted to find an excuse, but seeing Bellus's increasingly dangerous smile, he had no choice but to hand her the crystal.

After obtaining the crystal, she quickly ran forward and disappeared down the path.

White watched her figure gradually disappear, a faint smile appearing on his lips.