At the top of the Dragon Skeleton Tower, Sunan stood before a crystal ball, his gaze fixed on the three-dimensional model floating in the air.
This model was a vivid, lifelike representation of the entire academy.
Drawing inspiration from the wizard academy he had once attended in his past life, Sunan designed a new academy layout capable of accommodating tens of thousands of students, along with countless servants and golems, with ample space for future expansion.
It was more a small town than an academy.
The layout mirrored his previous base, though on a much larger scale, with additional lecture halls and facilities.
After the last gathering in the forest hut, Sunan had set to work on the academy's construction.
With Butler One and over a thousand clay golems aiding him, the academy's structure was nearly complete within half a month. In another ten days at most, it would be finished.
Notably, the academy was located next to the Dragon Skeleton Tower.
Sunan dispersed the model, and the light dissolved, reforming into lines of text in mid-air.
This text outlined the academy's operational framework—a system he'd devised based on his past experiences in a wizard academy.
The system was straightforward, encapsulated by four words: "equivalent exchange."
Students would earn contribution points by completing tasks, which they could then exchange for resources.
At first glance, it seemed similar to the base's system, but there were significant differences.
For example, basic courses would be available free of charge.
Certain sections of the library could also be accessed without cost.
Most importantly, students could purchase some basic resources and courses with gold coins.
Of course, purchasing with gold would always cost more than using contribution points.
But many students from affluent families would likely appreciate this option.
Overall, this system would allow the academy to generate more profit while accelerating the progress of affluent students.
If there was any downside, it would be that the system was somewhat unfair to students from civilian or farming backgrounds.
But true equality didn't exist in this world.
Perhaps it was even beneficial for them to recognize this early on—it might aid in their personal growth in the future.
After a brief pause, Sunan added a few lines to the virtual display, refining some details before copying everything down to hand over to the Scepter and the other two for review. This way, they could familiarize themselves quickly with the academy's structure.
After all, unlike him, they had no concept of a wizard academy, and their idea of such an institution was likely closer to that of a knight's academy.
With that settled, Sunan left the control center and teleported back to the lab.
At the lab's center, a large spherical crystal ball rested on the workbench.
The crystal was a deep, alluring blue, about 1.2 meters in diameter, its surface gleaming under the magical lamps.
If one looked closely, they would see countless tiny points of light within, giving the impression of a starlit sky.
Sunan's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he gazed at it.
This was an Attribute Crystal Ball.
As its name suggests, it was a magical tool for measuring the physical and mental attributes of wizard apprentices.
Through the Attribute Crystal Ball, an apprentice's constitution, mental strength, and overall health could be assessed and displayed in data format.
Many wizard academies used similar devices to help students understand their current condition and plan their training regimen accordingly.
The principle behind the Attribute Crystal Ball was quite similar to the scanning capabilities of Butler One.
In fact, the ball's design was inspired by Butler One's functions—a simplified version.
Of course, Sunan himself had no use for it.
His personal interface provided data far more detailed than the crystal ball could, including skill proficiency.
But for regular students, the crystal ball would be invaluable in helping them avoid many unnecessary detours.
As Sunan pondered where to place the Attribute Crystal Ball in the academy, Butler One's voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
"Master, a message from Base One—the three guests have arrived."
Sunan returned to the present, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"They're quick."
Base One, Reception Hall
The Scepter, the Traveler, and Rose sat across from each other, discussing the Dragon Forest in hushed tones.
"An ecological park for raising draconic species?" The Scepter's eyes lit up with amazement.
Just imagining an environment full of rare draconic creatures filled him with envy.
Rose was similarly astonished.
She had only ventured as far as Zone 3 in the Dragon Forest and had never seen the draconic species in Zone 1.
Hearing that the ecological park contained so many rare creatures left her both surprised and envious.
No wizard apprentice could resist the allure of such a park.
"What puzzles me is that the ecological park clearly had an energy shortage issue. How did Sunan resolve it?" the Traveler wondered, frowning.
Back then, Sunan hadn't even been a full wizard.
"There must be an Elemental Pool in the park, and he probably repaired it," the Scepter speculated.
Rose and the Traveler exchanged glances, both shaking their heads slightly.
It was easy to say, but if it were up to them, they'd never manage it.
They hadn't even seen an Elemental Pool, let alone knew how to repair one.
Only someone like Sunan could accomplish such a feat.
As they were contemplating Sunan, he entered the hall.
"You three arrived sooner than I expected," Sunan said with a smile.
Rose shrugged and spoke openly, "I wanted to get my hands on the talent crystal and structuring elixir as soon as possible."
Sunan glanced at her, then at the Scepter and the Traveler, both still wearing their masks.
"I don't think we need to hide from each other anymore, do we?"
The three looked at each other, then nodded and removed their masks.
Though each of them was well over a hundred years old, they looked remarkably young, appearing to be in their twenties or thirties.
The Scepter had a refined, noble appearance befitting his royal lineage.
Rose's features were beautiful and elegant, and in a fine gown, she would resemble a noble lady.
In contrast, the Traveler looked more ordinary, his face weathered from years of exploration.
Sunan nodded and gestured toward the door.
"Come with me. Let's take a look at your future workplace."
The Scepter, Rose, and the Traveler, already curious about Sunan's academy, quickly followed him.
They passed through the spatial passage within the base, arriving at the Dragon Forest.
The Scepter's gaze was immediately drawn to the imposing Dragon Skeleton Tower. Even though Rose and the Traveler had told him about it before, he was still awestruck by its sight.
Even after so many centuries, a faint aura of draconic might lingered around the dragon's remains—it wasn't hard to imagine how powerful and terrifying this dragon must have been when it was alive!
And the wizard capable of slaying it and using its bones to construct a tower—how powerful must they have been!
It took a moment for the Scepter to snap out of his reverie, noticing that Sunan and the others had already flown ahead. He quickly followed.
When they reached the vast expanse of the academy sprawled across the plains, all three of them were shocked.
They'd expected Sunan to be building a small academy—after all, the number of apprentices shouldn't be that large, so why would he need such a massive space?
Seeing their confused expressions, Sunan said calmly,
"This academy will recruit students from all across the Starlight Continent."
Those simple words sent a chill through the trio's hearts.
Did he plan to unify the entire Starlight Continent?
If anyone else had made such a statement, they would have dismissed it as mere bravado. But Sunan was different; he now had the power to achieve that goal!
Not only was he the continent's only wizard, but he also commanded the vast might of the Star Alliance.
Seeing the subtle changes in their expressions, Sunan smiled faintly and continued onward without further comment.
Since he intended to recruit the three of them, it was only fair to prepare them for some things in advance.
For instance, the goal of unifying the Starlight Continent and the plan to construct a wizard tower.
But there were other matters they didn't need to know yet.
Such as the revival of elemental energies, the return of wizards, and the matter of the Dark Throne.
At this stage, these were distant concerns for them. Knowing too much would be more harmful than beneficial.
Besides, it was uncertain if any of them would even live to see seven hundred years from now.
If one day any of them advanced to wizard status, Sunan might consider revealing everything.
Before long, they had toured the entire academy.
Sunan then took out the institutional documents he had prepared and handed them to the three.
After a quick glance, they each wore expressions of surprise.
This academy was nothing like they had imagined.
Ordinary academies typically required a single tuition payment, with instructors offering lessons in a straightforward educational exchange.
But the academy Sunan envisioned took the concept of equivalent exchange to its extreme.
Aside from some foundational knowledge provided for free, everything students wanted would require equivalent contribution points or gold.
Even instructors weren't exempt.
In truth, it was less an academy and more an organization binding wizard apprentices together through mutual benefit.
Such a structure could foster a sense of unity even stronger than blood ties, forming a tightly knit organization.
At least, it worked this way for wizards (and apprentices).
While surprised, the trio also felt a sense of relief.
No wizard apprentice liked being overly bound, and the system Sunan proposed struck just the right balance, avoiding excessive restrictions.
Seeing their subtle relaxation, Sunan couldn't help but smile inwardly.
This system was the result of countless trials and errors within wizard civilization, honed through years of practice and lessons learned from countless failures. It was, by far, the most practical system suited to the unique mindset of wizards and apprentices.
Over time, it had been refined and adapted to perfectly align with the values of the wizarding community, whether instructor or student.
Throughout the multiverse, nearly every wizarding faction ran its academies with a similar structure.
Some academies, like those under the Deep Blue Alliance and the Codex of Wisdom, adopted a gentler approach in their implementation, making the system more student-friendly.
Other academies, however, leaned towards harsher methods, fostering intense competition among students in a manner akin to "survival of the fittest," such as those under the Dark Throne and the Spirit of the Wild. Students in such academies faced much higher mortality rates than those in friendlier institutions.
Of course, the apprentices who survived these brutal environments often possessed remarkable combat prowess.
As they finished reading the regulations, the trio's attention quickly shifted to the attached exchange list.
The list cataloged all resources available for instructors to redeem, offering a far greater variety than what was available to students.
Basic items like Silver Moon Flowers, Calming Flowers, Dragon Blood Elixirs, and Stone Golems were already enticing, but it was the rarer items that caught their breath—the Sublime Elixir, the Malefic Elixir, Core Sigils, Rings of Extreme Protection, and Mithril Golems. These were treasures that made the three's pulse quicken with excitement.
Even though some of these items were unfamiliar to them, the detailed descriptions in the list quickly helped them understand their extraordinary value.
The Sublime Elixir and Malefic Elixir, in particular, would be highly tempting to any third-level wizard apprentice, as these potions could significantly shorten the time needed to reach the mental threshold for advancement.
As for the structuring elixir and talent crystal models, these were even more coveted.
Their eyes sparkled as they scanned the long list of exchangeable items, marveling at the resources Sunan had accumulated.
Although they had already known that Sunan possessed far greater resources than any ordinary third-level apprentice, seeing this list confirmed that they had vastly underestimated him.
What they'd glimpsed before was merely the tip of the iceberg of Sunan's vast assets.
If this list were to be leaked, it would undoubtedly cause an uproar in the wizard apprentice circles.
With their minds now fully set on joining the academy, the three looked up from the list, their resolve solidified.
"When does the academy open?" the Traveler couldn't hold back his excitement any longer.
"In half a month," Sunan replied, unhurriedly. "The apprentices currently in the base will be the first group of students."
"You can use this time to familiarize yourselves with the academy's operations and prepare accordingly."
"The Starlight Empire is currently conducting a wide-scale aptitude screening. Once the screening concludes, a new batch of students will be admitted to the academy. That's when your real work will begin."
"I can hardly wait!" the Traveler said, his eyes bright with anticipation.
The Scepter and Rose shared a smile, saying nothing, but their excitement was palpable.
Thanks to the wealth of resources on the exchange list, they already felt a strong sense of connection to the academy, even though they hadn't officially started.
Sunan noted their reactions with quiet satisfaction.
This was precisely why he'd shown them the list.
Once Butler One arranged accommodations for the three and served as their guide to familiarize them with the Dragon Skeleton Tower, Sunan departed from the Dragon Forest, heading toward the Starlight Tower.
Before the academy officially opened, he needed to clear up some unfinished business related to the Starlight Tower.
After standing there for so long, it was time for the Starlight Tower to be dismantled.
Disassembling it now would allow him to safely store its materials in the warehouse.
Additionally, the golem army stationed there needed to be rec
alled and reintegrated into the Star Alliance.
After months of preparation, the Star Alliance was ready for its next campaign, and the time for expansion was fast approaching.
At this critical juncture, it was essential to consolidate all available military strength.
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