Dharma Ring: Selling dung beetles at the border

...The inspiration I got from the starlight, the defensive magic I created...

Tops handed the notes he had recorded to the magic professor and explained his research results.

The professor nodded after listening: Can you demonstrate it?

Tops nodded: No problem, please cast some offensive magic on me.

The professor put the scroll on the table aside, and condensed huge magic power in her hands. The magic power spread in her left hand and turned into a big bow. Her right hand was placed on the string, and the magic arrows were ready to be fired.

Tops swallowed:

Professor, just use magic gravel. Isn't it a bit dangerous to use high-intensity magic directly?

Can't you take it? The professor's voice remained steady.

for safety--

Here we come, said the professor, loosening his bowstring.

The big arrow of magic power turned into a meteor, blasting towards Tops with a brilliant flow of magic power.

Tops quickly raised his staff and cast magic.

A force field with the color of starlight was propped up from the pyroxene at the top of the staff, and the magic arrow immediately deflected, smashing the seat beside it.

After that, the professor performed several other attack magics to test various indicators and parameters of Tops' magic.

As you said, this magic can indeed deflect various spells. The professor nodded and put away his staff.

So... Tops looked at the professor nervously.

The professor didn't look at him, but looked at the surrounding classrooms.

After the indiscriminate bombardment just now, half of the classroom had been smashed, and the magic was deflected to Red Wolf several times, forcing Red Wolf to dodge again and again.

The magic professor spoke:

Tops, your research is very good. Your ability to study these things independently has proven your intelligence.

No, I also drew on the wisdom of many predecessors. Tops smiled sheepishly.

But unfortunately, said the magic professor, your research is in the wrong direction.

Wrong direction? Tops was stunned.

If you were born earlier, you could become one of the masters who opened up this field. The professor said, But after all, this is not an ancient era of ignorance. We magicians must continue to learn from the wisdom of our predecessors and open up a new era.

She handed Tops' scroll to Tops:

When you were learning the wisdom of your predecessors, did you ever think that you were reinventing magic?

Tops understood what the magic professor wanted to say.

A commonplace topic.

The magic professor said: The Golden Dynasty and Kallia have actually developed this kind of magic effect a long time ago. And I tell you from my experience that there are many similar magics in other parts of the world. They have even gone one step further.

The magic professor pointed at the classroom that was half in ruins: Look, you can only deflect, but you can't eliminate the magic, and you can't control the direction of deflection. And both Kallia and the Golden Dynasty already have the ability to use magic circles to absorb The magic attack is transformed into a magic circle of your own power.

But the principle of mine is different from those. It is derived from starlight. It is not the magic of the moon, nor the comets and meteors... Topps explained, The source of this magic is not the Full Moon Queen, Master Lusset and the others...

Indeed, it is closer to Radagan's research results. The professor said, Don't think that the teacher doesn't understand anything. I have also worked with Radagan. The Golden Dynasty has gone further in the field of light, light and time and space We have also explored the relationship, and my teleportation magic is also derived from this. But neither Radagan nor Kaliya continued in the end. Think about it, is there no reason?

Tops' face was a little gloomy:

So my realm is sentenced to death? My azure stone shield...

The professor chuckled:

You don't have to worry about that, the pyroxene stone shield will still be given to you.

Tops said: But aren't you saying that my research has no value?

The stone shield is just a symbol of the academy awarding qualified apprentices. The professor said, You don't really think that every apprentice can publish shocking theoretical results, do you? As long as they can prove their intellectual level, they can be awarded the honor. Stone cover.”

The professor patted Tops on the shoulder and adjusted the red shoulder straps on Tops' apprentice robe:

Tops, the road to magic is long and arduous. You still have a long way to go, so you have to think more.

Tops didn't know whether to cry or laugh. Although he could be awarded the stone shield, he felt very uncomfortable when he thought that his research results had been rejected by the professor.

The magic professor held the iron mask in his hand, looked at Topps' bald head, and thought:

Which hood should I give you...

Topps calmed down and decided to let go of his sadness and welcome his new hood.

In any case, this is something to be happy about. After putting on the hood, his face will not see the light of day for a long time.

He also didn't want the last face exposed to the sun before putting on the hood to look like his dead parents.

Tops said, Professor, I can do it.

On the walls on both sides of the discussion room hall, portraits of magic masters from past generations hang. These heads are the source of many of the Academy's hoods.

The pyroxene stone cover is made according to the appearance of these masters.

The professor looked at the hoods and muttered to himself:

Caleros Classroom...

“The oldest classroom, it’s an honor,” Topps said.

But Master Yazler has been expelled, and there is no teacher in his classroom, and your field is not specialized in comet magic, so it is not suitable. The professor shook his head and continued to look at the next portrait, Master Luset... …”

Tops knew that he had no chance in this classroom. The reason was the same as Master Azler. His field was not suitable. Master Lusett was also expelled from the academy.

Shuang Xian's words... The professor looked at Tops' weathered and stubbled face and shook his head.

Tops blushed a little.

The Double Sages were prepared for the most talented students. Although he had research results, it took him an unknown amount of time to complete them. He was indeed not worthy of wearing the Double Sages hood.

The professor looked at Topps' thin body:

Haimo Classroom is not suitable for you either.

For the ideal of peaceful war, Professor Highmore's people have worked hard to practice fighting skills. Everyone wields heavy and hard pyroxene sticks, and their arms are thicker than Tops' thighs.

The professor looked at a portrait of a woman and shook his head with a smile: The witch's hood naturally doesn't suit you either. It's for female apprentices.

Topps felt a chill in his heart when he heard one rejection after another.

He was a little worried that the professor would eventually tell him that there was no hood suitable for him, so he would not be awarded the hood.

The professor suddenly teleported away. After a while, he held a hood in his hand and patted the smooth and round pyroxene on the hood:

Just this one, this one suits you better.

When Tops saw the hood, his heart went from being cold to being completely cold.

It was difficult for him to say whether it was better not to be granted the hood or to be granted this hood.

Tops stammered:

But this is the Yalotas pyroxene stone cover...

The shape of each pyroxene stone cover is different. In addition to the master's appearance carved from the stone, the pyroxene decorations piled on the head and eyes are also different.

The Yalotas pyroxene stone mask has the appearance of a bearded magician, his eyes are covered with red cloth, and his head is a smooth and round piece of pyroxene, as if there is only one spherical object buried in the soil.

The spheres are textured, reminiscent of the brain.

Tops was okay with the appearance of the hood, but the implications of the hood were unacceptable to him, perhaps more so than the Witch's hood that had been granted to him.

The hood of Alotas Pyriferum has no classroom and no home for him. This is a hood given to those who leave the academy and want to learn by wandering around.

If Topps had left the academy on his own initiative, he would have been very happy to be given this hood.

But now he has not indicated that he wants to leave at all. What does it mean to be given this hood?

You want... to let me leave the academy? Tops looked at the professor pitifully, clasping his hands and not picking up the hood.

The magic professor said:

You said that your research results were obtained from starlight. That's not right. Starlight is the magic given to magicians who leave the academy and embark on a journey. And look at the smooth pyroxene on the top of the hood, which is similar to yours. His bald head looks similar, doesn’t it suit you very well?”

Tops couldn't laugh or cry: Yes, it really fits. But the meaning of this hood...

That's right. The magic professor nodded, This is what I mean for you to leave. You have also seen that there is no relevant research in your field in the academy, so it is useless for you to stay here, so why not leave.

The magic professor flashed in front of Tops and stuffed the Yalotas aura stone shield into his arms:

If you don't want it, you don't have to wear it. Let's go. I see you have potential. Keep working hard.

Tops took the pyroxene stone cover and turned stiffly to leave.

Tops, think more. The professor encouraged him from behind.

Tops stopped again, bowed to the professor, and left slowly.

===========

Holding the pyroxene stone mask and feeling the coolness of the plaster in his hands, Tops had mixed emotions.

He got the coveted stone hood, but it was the Alotas hood. This was a situation that had never occurred in any of his imagination.

This was something that shouldn't have happened. This kind of hood never appeared during the crowning ceremony. He didn't even talk about this hood when chatting with Se Lian.

This is like going to the store to buy a hat from the boss. When you are expecting whether it is a peaked cap or a beret, the boss brings you a stocking.

The professor asked Tops to think more, but Tops was in a state of mind right now, and he just couldn't figure out why this was happening.

He thought that in the past, the professor would personally put the hood on the apprentice during the crowning ceremony, but when it came to him, he just stuffed it into his arms.

You can choose not to wear it, but if you don't wear it this time, will you still have the chance to be awarded another hood next time?

I came to the academy with all my heart, hoping to get the golden shield and be recognized, but I was kicked out as soon as I arrived?

Tops just walked out of the school building in a daze, and he didn't think about it for a long time.

Hey, Tops, what's wrong? Your bald head is still so shiny. Didn't the professor give it to you?

A voice sounded behind Topps.

Tops looked back, and unknowingly he had walked back to Dujuan's classroom. The apprentices caught up with him from behind, speaking in a bad tone.

Tops looked back at them, revealing the azure stone mask he was still holding in his arms.

The steps of several apprentices immediately slowed down.

Several people looked at one of the apprentices, the one wearing an Olivenis hood.

I got it. Someone next to him teased the apprentice.

The apprentice in Olivenis' classroom said in a bad tone:

You're so lucky to be able to-wait, what kind of hood is that?

The apprentice identified it again in disbelief, and then laughed: What's going on with you Tops, Yarotas Hood? Are you going out again? It turns out that we mistakenly blamed the waste stone. Their research method is Go outside.

Others who noticed the hood on Tops’ hand couldn’t help but laugh a few times and asked Tops:

What are the results of your research? Why did the professor give you this hood?

A spell that deflects spells, Tops said.

Are you still reinventing that wheel? An apprentice who was familiar with Topps was surprised, I thought you had gone out to learn.

No wonder I gave you this hood. The apprentice with the Olivenis hood laughed, The professor probably wants you to go out and gain more knowledge.

This one of mine is different. Tops couldn't help but argue, The principle of mine is not to analyze the spell and decompose it for use, but to use the power of light to deflect the spell.

Okay, just in time, we also want to see what kind of great research the great waste stone has. The apprentice of the Oliveris hood said and picked up the staff.

What are you going to do? Tops loosened his stone cover in panic and quickly took out his staff.

The pyroxene stone cover fell to the ground, causing several cracks and fragments flying everywhere.

You were obviously prepared to agree to help us experiment with counterfeit magic, but you broke your promise. The apprentice said, Now that you are free, you are not allowed to make up for it?

Tops stared nervously at the pyroxene on the apprentice's staff:

Then what are you doing with the staff? Isn't your imitation magic a mercury pot?

Oh, mercury jug, this one is fine too. The apprentice remembered something, turned around and picked up a cracked jug from his desk, threw it at Topps, Let's try deflecting this. I'm curious, yours Can deflection magic deflect this kind of ranged poison gas attack?

Tops quickly cast defensive magic to deflect the spread of mercury.

However, the mercury spread over a huge range and soon invaded Tops' force field.

As the apprentice said, his deflection magic has limited effect on large-scale poisonous gas attacks.

Tops quickly backed away, staying away from Mercury.

He left the Dujuan classroom and walked to the cemetery.

Stop! Tops exclaimed, We are colleagues.

The apprentice stepped out of the mercury, and Topps suddenly discovered that the apprentice who threw the mercury pot at him was wearing his hood backwards.

What are you talking about? I'm wearing the hood backwards, so I can't see. The apprentice tapped the ears on the hood, said something that was obviously looking for trouble, and raised his staff.

The ferocious Celia magician lost face because Topps got the hood. Just ridicule was not enough to make him stop. Not only the mercury pot, but also the staff in his hand also lit up.

Three meteors pierced the sky and crashed into Tops.

Meteor Magic, taught in the standard Olivenis classroom.

The Celia magicians, who are based on Luset, are familiar with all kinds of meteor magic.

The meteor was also deflected by Topps' force field magic. But neither the apprentice who attacked Tops nor Tops stopped performing magic.

Other apprentices also joined the team, and a steady stream of magic was released.

Meteors, comets, magic swords, all kinds.

The apprentices in Olivias classroom raised their voices:

Tops, you have to thank us for helping you test the strength of your defensive magic. Remember to tell us when you can't hold on anymore. We don't want to commit the crime of accidentally killing a colleague. Even if we kill a useless person, the academy should not We will investigate.

After arriving at the academy, the journey was not smooth, with all kinds of blows, and now he is facing a life crisis. Topps thought of the azure stone cover that fell to the ground and cracked, and his face that had been wilting suddenly became a little loose, and his emotions were a little uncontrollable. live.

Tops' eyes widened and he stared straight ahead, tears streaming down his wide pupils.

He didn't dare to wipe away his tears or blink, for fear that the tears would blur his vision and prevent him from judging the timing of defense.

Even with tears streaming down his face, Topps suppressed himself and continued to use force field magic to deflect the opponent's attacks.

Why is this? Tops' lips trembled, Aren't we colleagues?

We are stone magicians, and you are a waste stone magician. It is not appropriate to talk about colleagues. The person on the other side laughed at him.

Tops had a bit of a mental breakdown, but he did not dare to put down his staff and kept in a stalemate with the apprentice.

As time passed by, Topps' surroundings were in a mess, experiencing all kinds of indiscriminate bombings.

The magic washed the surrounding area, but it never invaded the surrounding area of ​​Tops.

Using magic is quite energy consuming, requires constant concentration, and consumes a lot of mental and physical energy.

The pyroxene magicians bombarded them for a long time and finally got tired.

The pyroxene at the top of both staffs began to crack under the high load.

The carefully selected stable pyroxene actually cracked like the inferior cracked pyroxene at this time, which shows the intensity of use of the staff.

Tops' staff pyroxene is also somewhat cracked.

He became more and more desperate.

If his spirit and staff couldn't hold on first, he might not even have the strength to shout stop by then.

But the group of people on the opposite side would not stop even if they heard him shouting to stop.

I'm so stupid. I stayed well in the church. What kind of academy did I come to... Tops really wanted to put down his staff and cry, but he didn't dare.

What are you making all the noise about here? A clear female voice sounded from behind Topps.

Under the deflection of the force field, the sound seemed to come from all directions, wrapping around Topps.

Ser—— Hearing this voice, Topps was so excited that he wanted to shout her name, but he thought of a bunch of magic apprentices on the other side and held back.

At this moment, the staffs of Topps and the magicians on the opposite side shattered at the same time, and the noisy battlefield suddenly became quiet.

Tops looked back at Se Lian. Although he thought she was beautiful before, he had never looked at her so beautifully like now, as if there were stars shining behind her.

But Topps failed to say anything more beautiful, and just choked with tears and said:

You came?

You guys have been noisy here for a long time, and I'm not far from here. Selian walked to Tops and looked at the apprentice opposite, Are you having a discussion?

Seeing Se Lian standing up, the apprentice who was wearing a glowing stone hood turned his hood over and looked at Se Lian:

Woman, you found a useless person to be your teacher. After so many years, you have developed a magic that has been created a long time ago.

Ser Lian ignored Celia's magician and looked at Tops:

You didn't get the hood?

I got it. Tops wiped his tears, It's the Alotas hood.

Alotas? Se Lian was surprised, Isn't this embarrassing? What did the magic professor say about you?

Tops looked at the apprentice not far away:

Similar to what they said, the professor thought this field had no future in the college and asked me to leave.

Se Lian said: What about your hood?

Tops pointed to the cuckoo classroom.

There was a group of magic apprentices blocking the door of Dujuan's classroom.

Se Lian walked to Du Juan's classroom, pulled away the apprentices, went in and picked up the hood on the ground.

They're all broken. Se Lian put her hands in her sleeves and took out the hood. The cracks widened and a few more pieces fell off.

Woman, are you really a disciple of Waste Stone? the apprentice asked when Se Lian passed by them.

Is there any problem? Se Lian asked.

You seem to be his woman. The apprentice said, Otherwise, I don't understand what kind of magic apprentice would accept a piece of waste stone as a teacher.

Do you think he is useless? Se Lian asked.

Those who have spent so many years reinventing the wheel are nothing but rubbish. The apprentice said, Maybe we should just call them fools?

As far as I know, his domain is not quite the same as the principles of Kaliya's return, gold's return, and eternal darkness, Se Lian said.

What's the use of that? Didn't you see that his staff has cracked? Other defensive magics will not use up the pyroxene at this intensity. Look at the mess around him, the practicality of his magic , just like his name, he is a waste stone. The apprentice laughed.

My name is Tops, and Waste Rock is just a nickname. Tops couldn't help but retort.

This rebuttal only led to greater ridicule.

But there was one person who didn't laugh.

It was the apprentice who had the most fun attacking Tops, the apprentice wearing the Olivinis pyroxene stone mask.

The apprentice was a little confused and stared at Se Lian:

Eternal Darkness? How do you know the magic of Eternal Darkness?

What is that? Some apprentices asked curiously when they heard the Celia magician struggling with this spell.

Are you also from Seliya? Selian asked.

It seems that you, a newcomer, don't know some of the unwritten rules in the academy. The apprentice said, Those who wear Olivinis hoods are basically Selians.

The Selian people should be aware of it. Se Lian said, Magicians who hunt others should also be prepared to be hunted.

Six meteors were thrown out of Se Lian's hand and penetrated the opposite apprentice's leg with extreme speed and force.

Se Lian threw out six more meteors, knocking all the apprentices to the ground.

A steady stream of meteors shattered their limbs.

The apprentices tried to resist, but found in despair that the pyroxene on their staffs was damaged and their spirits were on the verge of drying up.

How is it possible, meteor shower? The Olivenis apprentice fell to the ground, shocked, This is the most difficult magic in the Olivenis classroom, and I don't even know it...

Topps was also shocked:

What if you promised not to take action?

I will not take action for the personal insults you suffered. Se Lian looked at the magicians who fell on the ground, But after seeing your magic, they still regard you as a waste stone. It shows that they lack the basic skills of magicians. Literacy, I can’t see what is good.”

The broken Yalotas hood in Serian's arms floated out of thin air. With his free hand, Serian raised his hand and pushed his sleeves back, revealing two hands covered by crystals.

The experienced magician looked at the crystal. He was confused for a while, then seemed to remember something, and began to scream and squirm, and kept retreating:

Se Lian! You are Se Lian!

Although the others didn't know him, they all screamed in surprise when they heard the name.

The Cube Witch?

Se Lian used the crystallized thorns to push her bangs behind her ears, and shook her head in disappointment at the magicians who were squirming on the ground trying to stay away from her:

A half-baked magician does not have the qualities and judgment that a magician should have. It is a waste of the intelligence of people like you to use it to study magic. You should turn it into my magic cube, and your intelligence and energy will be used by me. It’s not a waste.”

The broad-bladed sword flew out from Se Lian's loose robe, spinning in the red air and making a hissing sound, like a poisonous snake spitting a message.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. said the Olivines apprentice, Se Lian, I am from Selia, we are from the same hometown, and I even treated you to a meal -

The big sword came out and crushed the entire lower body of Celia's apprentice. Blood burst out to the rear along with the flesh, and Celia's apprentice screamed in pain.

Se Lian sneered: Who are you kidding? None of the people who invited me to dinner survived. I would have crushed them into balls and turned them into magic blocks. Maybe you didn't even have the talent to be turned into a magic block by me.

Apprentice Olivias screamed in anger and pain:

No talent? Has Waste Stone got talent? His defensive magic is obviously very weak. He only resisted the magic of a few of us before it was exhausted.

So you have no vision. Ser Lian said, Tops's force field is not measured by the amount of magic it handles. There is only one factor that affects the consumption of his mental power, and that is time. Your magic is too weak. Of course he seems useless.

How is it possible? Our magic is still weak? Olivias shouted unwillingly, Do you think there are geniuses like you in the world? There are not many high-level magic attacks in the world. He defended No matter how powerful his power is, what's the use! He is useless under low-level star magic! His magic can't even stop imitation magic——

The apprentice's chest was also crushed, his breath was gone, and he could no longer speak.

Idiot, do you think it was the comet Yazler that came first, and then the pyroxene magic gravel? Se Lian muttered in a low voice.

Tops' face turned pale as he looked at this bloody and brutal scene.

When he saw Se Lian taking action, he originally wanted to stop him a little and use his magic to save the other party.

But he was too tired, and he also thought that his staff was broken. The idea of ​​​​rescuing people went around in his mind, but he was still deflected.

Tops watched as Se Lian used his big sword to chop all the magicians into pieces. The blood rained down and splashed to half of the cemetery.

The neck of the apprentice with the Olivenis hood was twisted and elongated, with a series of cervical vertebrae, and his head was rotated vertically one hundred and eighty degrees.

The hood and head flew out upside down.

The other magicians were no less willing to give in. Their brains and the azure stone cover were completely pulled out by Se Lian and gathered together.

A piece of broken internal organs flew to Tops' head and slowly slid down, the blood and putrid smell constantly irritating his nasal cavity.

Even though he had seen a bloody massacre, he still couldn't bear it and started vomiting.

After he finished vomiting, he stood up and found Se Lian standing in front of him.

Don't kill me. I'm a waste stone. I don't have a stone shield. Tops subconsciously raised his hands.

Se Lian got close to Topps' face and smiled playfully:

You are not a waste. The half-hearted people in the academy have no vision, but I know the goods. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of brilliance your starlight will continue to evolve.

Tops was stunned: Does this mean you won't kill me?

I didn't kill them either. Se Lian said, Their souls will be imprisoned in my magic block forever, and they will use their brainpower to serve you.

Topps looked at the bloody spherical magician block that was gradually taking shape, swallowed, and suddenly realized something was wrong, and looked at Se Lian suddenly:

For whom?

You. Se Lian said.

The magic block began to shrink and become smaller, the magician's body was crushed into dregs, and the pyroxene in the body continued to be purified and compressed into a denser spherical shape. The compressed and reduced hood is clustered around the hemispherical pyroxene of Yalotas's hood, forming a rough, uneven spherical object covered with the heads of other magicians and the pyroxene hoods.

There is also a hole the size of a human head at the bottom.

Se Lian took out the mercury pot from Du Juan's classroom and poured mercury into the uneven spherical shape.

The spherical shape immediately became smooth and shiny, with occasional uneven pyroxene protruding from the mercury surface, shining brightly, and the silver ball was dotted with starlight.

Se Lian hugged the smooth and round stone hood, which reflected Topps' bald head and stupid face.

What...are you doing? Topps asked.

Ser Lian said: You are a bunch of ignorant losers in the academy. I'll give you Yalotas to insult you. I'll make you a new hood. This is a hood that pays homage to Master Lusset and the Children of the Stars.

Tops looked at his face reflected in the smooth hood, then looked up at Serian.

Her lovable face was still stained with some blood and meat sauce, and she smiled charmingly at him. In his eyes, stars were shining brightly.

Tops should have been horrified and frightened, but looking at the blood-stained face, fear disappeared from his heart.

Tops looked at Se Lian blankly and said abruptly:

It is inappropriate for the academy to make new hoods.

Se Lian curled up her lips and raised her head:

Anyway, sooner or later I will overthrow the full moon and revive the source. Sooner or later, this academy will be mine. What's wrong with giving you a new hat in advance?

I'm afraid you're exposed. Tops smiled bitterly, but took the hood without resistance.

What are you afraid of? With your force field here, we can always run out. Se Lian said.

That's right. Tops said, putting on the spherical hood that was the same as his bald head.

He turned the spherical hood: Hey, this hood doesn't have a front or back. I wouldn't even know if I put it on upside down.

Okay, you can appreciate the hood later when you feel it. Se Lian said, Since there is a possibility that it has been exposed, then hurry up and go to Man Yue. I asked the news from the respected King Bai, and Man Yue is hiding in the big library. Here, let’s get there quickly.”

Se Lian grabbed Tops's wrist and went straight to the big library.

============

In the discussion room, the magic professor was leisurely cleaning up the mess.

She stood up and found that the huge red wolf was staring at her with its canine teeth exposed and extremely fierce.

What to do? the magic professor laughed, I didn't tell him anything. I just talked about the combination and let him think more.

She nodded the golden thread net on her lips: With this, I can't say it's not the case. There is no way around that guy in this field, and when it comes to him, it's impossible to give that child further guidance.