"Hold it and input a strand of spiritual power."

Duke followed the instructions.

The badge in his palm slightly heated up, followed by a very subtle, tentacle-like force probing into his spiritual sea, gently touching his soul imprint—not invading, but registering, imprinting, confirming.

After a moment, that force withdrew.

The temperature of the badge returned to normal.

Duke lowered his gaze to his palm, the silver-grey badge lay quietly, the pattern of the Six-Ring Tower slightly glowing under his fingertips, then dimming.

Binding complete.

The witch signaled for him to step aside and let the next person come forward.

Duke moved to the side, and with a thought, the Six-Ring Badge was absorbed into his body, positioned on the back of his right hand.

He sent a strand of spiritual power into the badge’s interior, and a transparent light screen unfolded before his eyes, densely packed menu options layered like a miniaturized virtual library.

[Personal Account]: Contribution Balance 100 points, Historical Accumulation 0 points.

[Course List]: Advanced Meditation (40 points), Elemental Mastery Basics (35 points), Magic Model Analysis (45 points), Plane Common Knowledge (30 points), Basic Alchemy Fundamentals (35 points), Ancient Runes Introduction (40 points)...

A total of dozens of courses, each marked with the instructor’s name, title, remaining seats, and past student ratings.

[Task Hall]: Grey. Currently no available tasks.

[Resource Exchange]: Grey. Currently insufficient privileges.

[Personal Records]: Includes attendance, course completion, task evaluations, contribution details, etc.

In the lower right corner of the light screen, there was very small hint text:

"Basic permissions activated. More functions will unlock after completing the first assessment task."

He raised his head, scanning the hall where other young wizards were fiddling with their badges.

Some showed joyous expressions, some furrowed their brows, some gathered together whispering about something.

Probably like him, studying those menus and options.

Lis squeezed out from the crowd, quickly walking to his side. Her complexion still seemed a bit pale, but her eyes sparkled more than before.

"Sir Duke," she lowered her voice, showing him her badge, "Look at this—the courses in the course list seem quite regular, Advanced Meditation, Elemental Mastery Basics..."

"But... the instructors for these are at least demigod-level mages, with many at Level 4, even Level 5 mages teaching courses..."

Duke had noticed this too, though the course names appeared quite mundane.

Yet, it’s important to know, these courses are taught by powerful mages with profound knowledge.

Such courses are completely different from those on Black Sail Academy Island.

The group quickly finished receiving their badges, and the middle-aged witch closed the ebony box, giving the whole room a final look.

"Everyone, the badges have all been distributed. Any technical issues—badge malfunction, course conflict, account anomaly—can be addressed via the badge to contact the logistics office, or visit the office in person after class tomorrow."

She paused.

"First assessment task in three months, specifics to be pushed through the badge at that time. Please make good use of your 100 points in these three months, select the right courses, and grasp knowledge well."

She nodded slightly and then turned to leave.

The hall fell silent again, leaving only sporadic voices and footsteps.

The young wizards walked out in groups, some still fiddling with their silver-grey badges, fingers brushing through the void, browsing the light screen’s menu only visible to them.

Advanced Meditation, Elemental Mastery Basics, Magic Model Analysis, Plane Common Knowledge, Basic Alchemy Fundamentals, Ancient Runes Introduction...

Each course name was plain, even somewhat dull.

Placed in Black Sail Academy Island’s course list, these names would probably be overshadowed by similar courses, unnoticed.

But here, Duke’s gaze landed on the column behind each course name—the instructor.

Elemental Mastery Basics: Instructor—Aceline the Sun-chaser, Level 4 Mage.

Advanced Meditation: Instructor—Horn Stone-speaker, Level 4 Mage.

Magic Model Analysis: Instructor—Vicens Gray, Level 5 Mage.

Plane Common Knowledge: Instructor—Calder Voyager, Demigod.

...

Demigod, Level 4, Level 5.

Those names, strong enough outside to establish a wizard organization and oversee an area, now quietly listed in the course schedule, awaiting young wizards to exchange dozens of contribution points for a lesson.

Duke withdrew his spiritual power and lifted his head.

The hall was more than half empty, most had already left.

Lis still stood beside him, clutching her badge tightly, her fingertips turning slightly white, her lips pressed tightly.

"Sir Duke," she said in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard, "Which one... do you plan to choose first?"

Duke did not answer immediately.

He looked again at the light screen.

One hundred points.

Forty-five points for one course, thirty-five for another, forty for another...

Each course’s price wasn’t high, but adding them up, he could choose at most two, even three cheaper ones, before having to wait until courses were completed, assessments passed, to earn back contribution for the next choice.

He needed to choose the most useful one.

Elemental Mastery Basics, thirty-five points, Aceline the Sun-chaser, Level 4 Mage.

Elemental Mastery—not mastery of a single element, but understanding of the essence of elements, insight into relationships between elements.

This was exactly what he needed.

"Choose what you truly need," he told Lis bluntly, "Not what sounds useful, but what you’re lacking now."

Lis paused, nodding firmly.

"I will."

Duke said nothing more, turning to walk towards the door.

When he returned to the residence area, dawn had fully broken.

The actual sky was no longer last night’s silver-blue but a clear light blue, a few wisps of clouds lazily hanging on the horizon, the distant snow mountains shining bright white in the sunlight.

Duke walked along the cobblestone path towards his residence, opened the wooden door.

The study remained quiet, the fire in the fireplace had died down, leaving only a pile of dark red embers.

He sat at the desk, sent out spiritual power again, and opened the badge’s light screen.

The course list still hovered before him.

His gaze slowly moved over the long list of names.

But ultimately his gaze returned to that line, Elemental Mastery Basics.

He clicked on the course details.

A brief introduction popped up on the screen:

"This course aims to help students establish a systematic understanding of the essence of elements, covering the classification of elements, the nature of elemental affinity, interactions and transformations between elements, and fundamental techniques of elemental mastery. Suitable for wizards of various schools, especially recommended for elemental mages and those interested in elemental theory."

Followed by teaching time, location, remaining seats—Seats remaining: 47/80.

Forty-seven people had already enrolled.

Enrolling in this course clearly wasn’t limited to elemental mages; it was evidently of value to most mages.

Elements were ubiquitous, the foundation of the world.

Understanding elements aids mages in understanding the world’s essence, whether you are an elemental mage or a bloodline mage, mechanical wizard, etc., these are necessary fundamental knowledge.

Duke naturally wouldn’t miss it.

"Enrollment successful, 35 contribution points deducted, 65 remaining."

"Course time: March 5th, Third District Teaching Building, fourth floor, Room 301."

"Instructor: Aceline the Sun-chaser."

...

Three mornings later, Duke left his residence half a sandglass ahead of schedule.

Opening the wooden door of the residence, fresh air rushed over him, carrying dew from grass leaves and the cold of distant snow mountains.

Overhead, the sky was a clear light blue, a few wisps of clouds lazily hanging on the horizon, sunlight streaming through gaps in the clouds, casting large shifting shadows across the meadow.