Chapter 15 Joining the Mage Guild (Middle)_1

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Li Duo laughingly said, "It seems your exposure to magic is quite substantial, but you still lack a genuine understanding about it. Among all the magic artifacts, gold rank is already quite high. Magic artifacts are classified into six ranks: Divine Artifacts, Sub-Divine Artifacts, Dark Gold Artifacts, Gold Artifacts, Silver Artifacts, and Bronze Artifacts. Even though the Gold rank is only fourth, a Gold rank Magic Wand itself is worth over a thousand Purple Gold Coins in the market. Dark Gold Magic Artifacts are extremely rare, and the highest ranks of Divine and Sub-Divine Artifacts are extremely difficult to acquire. Even the Guild elder only has a valuable Sub-Divine Artifact rank Magic Wand. A real Divine Artifact, as it is known, is only held by the Ice-Snow Goddess during the Ice God Tower sacrifices, but what it specifically is, no one knows. It's seems like it's not a Magic Wand."

Looking at the Ice Wand in his hand, Nian Bing felt a little moved. If it was measured this way, what rank would his Morning Dew Knife qualify as when used as a Magic Wand? It would probably be, at the very least, a Dark Gold Artifact-grade treasure. After all, the Ice-Snow Goddess Stone was clearly much stronger than the Ice Stone on this wand.

"Thank you all, sages and Guild elders for your nurturing. I will certainly strive hard in my cultivation to become a stronger mage as soon as possible." After finishing his standard words, Nian Bing's mind was completely drawn to the Mage Guild library, having been granted so much. He only needed to memorize the Ice Magic Spells that he needed.

Li Duo laughed again, "What needed to be given to you has been given, and the ceremony is also complete. Now, I need to discuss some of the Guild laws with you, so that you avoid any mistakes in the future. There are several critical rules you must keep in mind. First and foremost, as a mage of the Bing Yue Empire Mage's Guild, you must unconditionally obey the Guild's command at all times. When the Guild faces a crisis, you will become a part of the Legions of Mages. Your specific duties will be determined by your magic level at the time. This is mandatory and if violated, not only will your mage level be revoked, but you will also face severe punishment from the Guild."

Nian Bing nodded, it was only natural to have obligations since he was granted so many privileges.

Li Duo continued, "Secondly, when the Bing Yue Empire faces a crisis, as mages of the Bing Yue Empire Mage's Guild, we have a duty to help the Bing Yue Empire to confront foreign enemies. In this situation, you must also accept mobilization unconditionally, becoming a mage in the Empire's army of Mages. Of course, during this situation, the Empire will reward you generously, and the reward will be extraordinarily substantial. If you make notable contributions, you'll get additional awards."

Upon hearing these words, Nian Bing grew more perplexed. Since it's the Bing Yue Empire's Mage Guild, shouldn't the interests of the Empire take priority? Why, in the regulations, is the first rule unconditional obedience to the Mage Guild? Interpreting it from this perspective, it feels quite weird. Could it be that the Mage Guild could go against the Empire when their interests are infringed upon?

Li Duo continued, "Thirdly, once you become a mage of the Guild, if the Guild needs you to assume any position, you must obey the command. Of course, considering your current situation, it's not possible for the Guild to assign any position for you. Your foremost task at the moment is to diligently enhance your magic cultivation, authentically strive to reach the Magus Realm as soon as possible. Once you become a Magic Instructor, you will have significant influence within the Guild and be granted the honor of Guild elder."

Nian Bing concentrated his mind, nodded, and said, "I will definitely follow the Guild's orders. Are there any other rules?"

Li Duo said calmly: "These three are the most important, while the other minor terms don't matter as much. Once you reach the Magus Realm, the Guild will naturally grant you more rights and also reveal to you more of the Guild's affairs. Speaking of the current situation, the Five Empires each have their own Mage's Guild, and because of the presence of Ice God Tower, our Bing Yue Empire is considered as having the most powerful magic ability among the Five Empires. However, what they don't know is that our Mage's Guild is not in the same field of mages as our Empire's symbol, the Ice God Tower. Even though there are hundreds of Ice Mages in the Ice God Tower, they only listen to the commands of those who performed the Ice-Snow Goddess Sacrifice. If we don't count them, the strength of our Bing Yue Empire Mage's Guild is actually the weakest among the Five Empires. In the Guild, there is one Sorcerer, eight Elders of the Sorcerer Rank, and counting you, thirty-nine Archmages. The total number of low rank mages just barely exceeds one thousand. Our overall strength is much weaker than the Ice God Tower. The other Four Empires each have at least two Sorcerers. Especially the Huarong Empire, which has three Fire Sorcerers, it is said that the eldest Fire Sorcerer, the Prince of Huarong Empire, is already extremely close to becoming a Divine Convergence Instructor. Therefore, in order to prevent our Bing Yue Empire Mage's Guild from declining, you must cultivate even harder. The stronger your abilities, the more beneficial it is to the Guild and even to the entire Empire. Do you understand?"

When Nian Bing heard the three words "Prince of Huarong", the muscles on his face couldn't help but twitch. How could he not know the strength of the Huarong Empire's Mage Guild? His hometown was there! Back then, if the Prince hadn't sent a large number of mages to hunt him and his father down, they would not have had to flee around the continent like homeless dogs. This drove his father to make a painful decision to go to the Ice God Tower to rescue his mother, but his father ended up trapped. The Huarong Empire, the Prince, these were the deepest pains in Nian Bing's heart.

"Nian Bing, what are you thinking about? Are you okay?" Li Duo called out a bit dissatisfied.

Nian Bing snapped back to reality and quickly said: "Ah! Sorry, I was thinking that, if one day our Bing Yue Empire Mage's Guild can reach the level of the Huarong Empire Mage's Guild, then our status in the Bing Yue Empire would probably not be much different than that of the Ice God Tower, right?"

Li Duo sighed and said: "That's just a wish, the reality is not that simple. Cultivating an exceptional Mage requires a lot of time, and genuine geniuses are incredibly rare. Nowadays, less and less people are willing to cultivate magic. Martial Arts, compared to magic, are much easier to learn. Aside from mass destruction and long-distance attacks, there isn't much where Martial Arts are significantly weaker than magic. I really wonder, in a few hundred years, whether this ancient method of cultivation, magic, will still exist on the continent."

The Ice Mage next to them frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "Li Duo, you've talked too much. The ceremony is over. Let it be."

Li Duo finally realized and hastily said: "Oh, right, I was indeed a bit muddled. Nian Bing, the ceremony is now completed. The two of you can meditate. Nian Bing, I heard from Shi Jiu and Ling'er that you hoped to learn more Ice Magic Spells. You come with me. I'll take you to the main Guild's library. It has what you need."

Upon hearing this, Nian Bing was overjoyed. This was exactly what he wanted! He quickly agreed and followed Li Duo out of the ceremonial hall. As he passed by the Ice Mage, a faint voice sounded in his ear, "Kid, after everything is over, come find me in my room. I live in the westernmost room of the Guild's dormitory. Remember, you must come. Understood?"

Nian Bing was slightly taken aback. He obviously couldn't respond at this moment, so he just nodded subtly behind Li Duo and followed him out. This Ice Mage was obviously someone he had seen for the first time, so why did he want to see him alone? Did he have some kind of motive? Regardless, he was now a member of the Bing Yue Empire Mage's Guild, so he believed that the Ice Mage wouldn't dare to mess with him. He decided to first go to the library and learn something useful to him.

Under Li Duo's guidance, Nian Bing followed him around the majestic building where the Ceremony Hall was located, heading towards the back of the Mage's Guild. The place was really big, with a series of large buildings on the other side, all closely connected. Though the buildings looked magnificent, for some reason, they gave off a suppressive feeling.