I Arrived At Wizard World While Cultivating Immortality Chapter 4: The Harsh Truth

Jie Ming felt a jolt from the conclusion he had just reached.

“No, that can’t be right…”

He reflexively tried to push away the notion. Noren Academy enrolled thousands of students every five years from the whole plane, despite its tough entry standards.

What sort of death rate would it be if just around a hundred made it back from each group?!

Still, the suspicion lingered over him like a gloomy shadow, refusing to dissipate.

He glanced toward the Combat Division section, now moved into a question-and-answer part of the promotion, where eager veteran wizards fielded inquiries from apprentices and recounted frontline tales, the air thick with thrill.

“…It’s practically an idol fan meet-and-greet.”

Whispering to himself, Jie Ming resolutely headed to the opposite area, where several tired wizards, touched by traces of battle-hardened wisdom, had clustered.

They seemed unremarkable, with some garments appearing frayed.

The bulk were just first-rank official wizards, two lingering at third-rank apprentice.

Their gazes missed the keen assurance of Combat Division wizards, bearing instead a steady poise from lived trials.

By comparison, their Combat Division counterparts projected a unique vibe and displayed striking feats.

Obviously, the academy had recalled them for a contrasting showcase.

As Jie Ming neared, a few wizards shifted their attention to him.

Composed, he stepped closer and inquired softly with respect, “Excuse me, seniors. I’m a fresh apprentice picking my major. Could I pose a couple questions?”

The wizards traded looks at his words, amusement flickering in their eyes.

The alchemy wizard piped up first. “New kid? Eyeing Logistics, eh… Not chasing fame in Combat Division? Their perks are truly superior.”

Gazed upon by far superior wizards, even absent any intentional aura, proved daunting, but his years of cultivation had steeled Jie Ming’s determination.

He shook his head earnestly. “I’m not too keen on fighting, and… honestly, I’m a bit afraid of the battlefield.”

“Fearing the battlefield is normal for a newbie,” a potioncraft wizard remarked. “But Logistics… well, advancement is slower, and resources are harder to come by.”

“I’m curious,” another wizard cut in, scrutinizing Jie Ming. “Why do you think we’d answer your questions? Wizards value equivalent exchange, and you don’t seem to have anything to offer.”

“Because…”

Jie Ming said no more, simply casting a glance at the Combat Division platform, where the veteran wizards kept chatting with apprentices.

The Logistics wizards tracked his look, then erupted in chuckles.

“You’re sharp. We’re indeed tasked with aiding the academy’s promotion,” the alchemy wizard admitted, eyeing Jie Ming approvingly.

“Our task includes answering new apprentices’ questions, but per the contract, each apprentice gets one question, limited to facts you already know or will soon learn, and not restricted by the contract. If your question exceeds that, I can refuse to answer.”

“Now… what do you want to know?”

Jie Ming wasted no time. “Why are there only ninety-seven returned wizards in the Combat Division’s promotion?”

Silence gripped the Logistics wizards, faces showing mixed reactions as they fixed on Jie Ming, leaving him a tad uncomfortable. At last, a construct engineering wizard laughed. “Hahaha… this kid’s way smarter than I was back then!”

One even attempted recruitment. “Kid, join Runecrafting! With your brains, you’d be a big shot!”

“Shoo! Recruiting him outright? Not afraid of breaking the contract? And keep your voices down; other students might hear!” The alchemy wizard shooed the rest.

The wizards brushed him off, a construct engineering wizard smugly gesturing skyward. “Relax, Jack. This kid’s already seen through the promotion’s trap. As for the other apprentices… I set up an illusion barrier ages ago. They won’t notice us.”

Startled, Jie Ming peered upward.

At some point, a screen like frosted glass had enclosed them.

This had to be the illusion barrier, yet even with his sharp vigilance, he’d missed its deployment.

Without the wizard’s mention, he’d have overlooked the alteration.

“No need to be shocked. You’ll learn these tricks to survive on the battlefield,” Jack noted Jie Ming’s astonishment without lingering.

A commoner like Jie Ming, based on his clothes, would surely be stunned.

Brushing aside his ribbing comrades, Jack faced Jie Ming with evident praise. “I didn’t expect you to catch on from that angle. You’re right—or rather, the battlefield is even more dangerous than you think!”

His grin vanished, face growing grave. “I can tell you plainly: whether Combat or Logistics, what you see here are the only survivors from our batch.”

“What…” Jie Ming’s eyes widened.

Instinctively, he swept his gaze over the surroundings. Wizards from the Combat Division who had returned were unmistakable, gathered entirely on the stage.

Logistics wizards lingered nearby in scattered clusters. Leveraging his sharp perception, Jie Ming swiftly tallied them up:

“One hundred fifty-three…”

“Our batch had over five thousand students, with a fifty-to-one ratio of Combat to Logistics. The 153 you see are all that remain.”