Chapter 68: Get Out, Get Out, Get Out!

When Luo Kai entered the room, some students still greeted him warmly. But the moment Anze stepped in, even the most talkative apprentices bowed their heads and remained silent.

If Saul and Keli had been sitting in the front row, they probably wouldn’t have dared to whisper either.

All eyes, including Luo Kai’s, were on Anze.

Everyone watched as he slowly walked up to the podium and, with Luo Kai’s assistance, sat down securely in the chair—like a terminally ill man.

"Today, since the other mentors are occupied, my mentor, Anze, will be conducting your tests," Luo Kai enthusiastically introduced, completely ignoring the impatience and boredom on Anze’s face.

"Don’t be nervous. Just do your best," Luo Kai continued reassuring the newcomers.

"Enough." Anze’s weak voice cut him off.

Luo Kai, unfazed, shut his mouth immediately and stepped aside respectfully, still maintaining a faint smile.

Anze leaned sideways on the armrest, his eyes sweeping over the classroom without lingering on anyone.

"One by one is too much trouble," he muttered. "If you don’t meet my standards, get out."

The room fell into an even deeper silence.

Saul and Keli exchanged a glance, no longer speaking.

A few especially nervous apprentices breathed heavily, their anxiety filling the air.

"Those who have not yet learned compound runes—out!"

Anze’s voice, weak as it was, struck like a sharp needle into everyone's ears.

Saul instinctively tilted his head. It wasn’t that he was weak, but he could clearly sense the hidden mental power in that voice—strong and merciless.

A few seconds later, two trembling apprentices stood up, their faces full of despair as they walked out.

The moment they left, the classroom door shut tight. No one knew what awaited them outside.

Before the remaining students could catch their breath, Anze spoke again.

"Those who can only construct one compound rune—out!"

This time, the pause lasted longer—around ten seconds—before two more students rose in panic.

They seemed to want to explain themselves, but under Anze’s cold gaze, they couldn’t utter a single word.

Two more left, the door closing just as swiftly behind them.

The atmosphere grew even tenser. That ordinary classroom door now seemed like the boundary between life and death—stepping out meant no return.

Yet Anze still wasn’t finished.

"Those who have yet to learn a single Tier 0 spell—out!"

This time, even with the oppressive presence of a mentor, the classroom erupted in whispers of shock.

It was as if they hadn’t heard him correctly, hoping he’d take it back.

But Anze merely watched them coldly.

Moments later, nearly half the apprentices stood up.

They exchanged bewildered glances, then turned to those still seated with suspicion, as if saying: Didn’t you say it was too hard? Didn’t you say you hadn’t learned it yet?

"Mentor, we—" One of them tried to plead, thinking the sheer number of them might change Anze’s mind.

Before Anze even reacted, Luo Kai, still smiling, simply pointed at the apprentice.

The student didn’t realize what was wrong at first, opening his mouth to continue—but no words came out.

Instead, something dropped from his lips.

The people near him looked down.

It was half a tongue.

Instantly, everyone rushed toward the door without another word, not daring to linger.

Saul, having watched the whole thing, actually relaxed and leaned back in his chair.

This is just intimidation, he thought. If the standards were really that strict, Anze could have just said, ‘Only those who know spells stay.’ But instead, he’s eliminating them in layers. Is this meant to pressure us into studying harder?

Yet Anze still didn’t stop.

"Those who can only perform a single Tier 0 spell—out!"

Silence.

No one moved.

Because barely anyone in the class knew more than one Tier 0 spell!

The stillness dragged on too long, so Luo Kai, smiling, clapped his hands.

"Let’s move a little faster, everyone. Mentor’s time is precious."

At his urging, the remaining students hesitated but eventually stood and walked toward the door, glancing back now and then, hoping no one would pass the test.

Their hope was simple: if no one succeeded, Anze might lower his standards, giving them another chance.

But to their disappointment, three people remained seated.

Among them—Saul!

Wasn’t his magic talent abysmally low? Hadn’t the mentors already given up on him?

Why was he still sitting?

How could he still be sitting?!

Countless eyes bore into Saul, but he merely switched which leg he crossed over the other.

Keli sat beside him, appearing calm, but beneath the desk, her fists were clenched tight.

The real surprise, however, was the third person still seated—Angela.

Saul glanced over. Angela’s face was a bit pale, but she didn’t seem as tense as Keli.

Saul rubbed his left hand and shifted his posture again.

The last of the rejected apprentices left, the door locking behind them once more.

"Only three left?" Anze muttered in dissatisfaction. "New apprentices these days have no sense of urgency."

He tapped his fingers on the podium, his next words chilling.

"Luo Kai, those who left—mark them as unqualified. Dispose of them."

"Huh?!" The ever-smiling Luo Kai suddenly widened his eyes, voicing the collective shock of the remaining three.

"Mentor, seriously? That many people, all unqualified? Come on, a lot of them are part of the Mutual Aid Society, and they’ve been studying hard. Give them another chance."

Anze snorted. "Looks like your Mutual Aid Society is useless. Better disband it before it causes trouble."

Luo Kai, unafraid of Anze’s displeasure, continued pleading for the apprentices, his smooth tongue spinning flattery after flattery.

"Fine, do whatever you want. Just stop bothering me." Finally, Anze relented, sounding irritated.

Saul and Keli exchanged uneasy glances.

Giving Luo Kai control over who passed meant the Mutual Aid Society’s influence would grow even stronger.

Was this all staged?

Could the real power behind the Mutual Aid Society be a mentor?

Why would a true wizard secretly form a student faction?

For status? Wealth? Or... materials for magic research?

Luo Kai, now beaming, walked out to reassure the failed apprentices.

Anze, meanwhile, turned his gaze back to the three who remained, his eyes settling on Angela.

"You," he ordered, "come up and demonstrate your spells."

Angela was visibly uneasy but moved quickly, stepping forward without hesitation.

"Mentor Anze, my name is Angela. I can perform two Tier 0 spells."

Her voice was so quiet that Saul almost missed it.

At Anze’s signal, she cast both spells.

They were both dark-attribute spells, ones Saul hadn’t encountered before.

Yet neither seemed particularly suited for combat.

Why did she prioritize learning these? Saul wondered.

Anze tapped his fingers on the desk twice.

Saul noticed that Angela, standing with her hands behind her back, also twitched her fingers.

"Light Banishing and Wraith Detection… Not very combative, but easy to grasp. Barely meets my standards." He sneered. "Hey, do you have a relative who was once in the Tower?”

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