Pei Ze coughed lightly and said, "Let’s begin."

Gu Lin took a deep breath, her expression returning to normal. She nodded heavily. "Let’s begin."

The moment the words left her lips, the clothes on the young woman’s body silently melted away, transforming into a bracelet on her wrist. It was clearly another Magic Item with formless properties.

Bright moonlight streamed in from the window, spilling over the young woman’s body. She looked like a flawless white statue, shimmering with a soft, gentle light.

Pei Ze pressed his lips together, his throat feeling a little dry.

He asked, "Where are you getting it?"

Gu Lin hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip gently. "My back," she said.

A Magic Tattoo covered a significant area, and there weren’t many places on the human body where one could be inked. If she wanted to keep it hidden, her options were even more limited.

The chest and abdomen, the back, and the left and right legs—only four places in total.

As for the neck, hands, and head, those were all exposed areas.

It was worth mentioning that getting a tattoo on your head required shaving it completely bald.

The young woman turned around. Her hands fumbled behind her, and with a soft rustling sound, she soon revealed her smooth, bare back.

A moonlit night, a young woman, pure white... It was, admittedly, a truly beautiful scene.

Pei Ze composed himself, cleared his mind of distracting thoughts, and began to apply the Magic Tattoo.

Having already inked a Flash Magic Tattoo before, Pei Ze’s movements were much more practiced this time. He finished in less than half an hour.

A Flash Magic Tattoo now adorned Gu Lin’s back.

Pei Ze breathed a sigh of relief. "Next is the Shelter Magic Tattoo."

Gu Lin gritted her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and abruptly turned to face him.

Pei Ze’s hands paused for a fraction of a second, then he began to apply the second Magic Tattoo. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

This one took a bit longer. By the time he was finished, not only was Gu Lin drenched in a fragrant sweat, but even Pei Ze had a fine layer of perspiration on his forehead.

"Alright, it’s done."

The moment Pei Ze finished speaking, a gray shadow flashed over Gu Lin’s body, and she was instantly covered by a long robe.

"Thank you."

Tossing out those words, Gu Lin vanished from the spot.

Pei Ze shook his head, amused. After a brief rest, he began to apply a Magic Tattoo to himself.

「Over an hour later.」

Pei Ze now had new Magic Tattoos on his back and left leg.

Thunderburst and Shelter.

’That makes three Magic Tattoos now.’

A small smile played on Pei Ze’s lips.

The three Magic Tattoos corresponded to offense, defense, and mobility. Once his constitution improved, it would be even more perfect if he added enhancement and crowd control.

’And Magic Tattoos can be improved, just like Elemental Runes.’

"Omniscience, improve the Magic Tattoos."

[Task created. Beginning improvement of Magic Tattoos. Estimated time: 562 days]

Pei Ze raised an eyebrow. That was much longer than it took for the Elemental Runes.

’562 days... Even with full acceleration, it would take eight to nine days. Looks like it won’t be done before the competition.’

Pei Ze shook his head with some regret.

After all, he still needed to analyze Instant Spellcasting.

’Oh well, I’ll improve them after the competition.’

’First, I’ll focus on analyzing Instant Spellcasting. With the remaining time, I’ll analyze one more metamagic technique.’

Pei Ze thought for a moment and issued a new command.

"Omniscience, analyze the Composite Spellcasting technique."

[Task created. Beginning analysis of Composite Spellcasting technique. Estimated time: 227 days]

Composite Spellcasting, as the name implied, was the ability to cast Compound Spells simultaneously.

Like Instant Spellcasting, Composite Spellcasting was also renowned as one of the most difficult metamagic techniques.

It was even harder to master than Instant Spellcasting.

This was evident from the difference in analysis time.

’By the time the analyses for Instant Spellcasting and Composite Spellcasting are complete, it should be about time for the competition.’

Pei Ze looked out the window, his eyes glinting.

As long as he could win the competition, he would get enough Substitute Spirits. Then he could start consolidating a Spirit Crystal and break through to become a Wizard.

’Now, all I have to do is wait for the competition to start.’

...

「Star Realm Calendar, Year 14523, March 25th.」

The day of the competition between Chenxi City and Red Lotus City.

Outer City North District, at the entrance to the city gate.

When Pei Ze arrived at the meeting point, Xiao Xi and Su Shouhai were already waiting.

Both of them had tense expressions, clearly nervous about the upcoming competition.

Their expressions only relaxed slightly when they saw Pei Ze arrive, and they greeted him with smiles.

Pei Ze looked around and asked, "Did they say where the competition is or how we’re supposed to get there?"

Su Shouhai shook his head with a wry smile.

Xiao Xi also looked helpless.

The Wizards higher up wouldn’t bother telling them every little detail.

Other than being told to wait here at this time, they had been told nothing else.

Pei Ze shrugged and resigned himself to waiting.

Fortunately, it seemed their superiors didn’t intend to make them wait long. A little over ten minutes later, the air in front of the three of them suddenly warped, and three familiar figures stepped out.

One was the very same masked Wizard who had presided over the labyrinth trial.

Pei Ze also happened to recognize another Wizard—it was Ai Yuan, who had overseen the freshman trials at High Tower Academy back then.

The last was a female Wizard. She looked to be around thirty years old. While not stunningly beautiful, her face was exceptionally charming. The mature allure she exuded was especially potent, enough to stir the desires of younger, less experienced men.

"Teacher!"

Xiao Xi’s surprised and delighted voice sounded out.

Her face full of joy, the young woman rushed forward.

"What are you doing here?"

Yuan Meng dotingly stroked Xiao Xi’s hair and said softly, "I was worried about you, so I volunteered with the Council to be your guide."