The Hidden Power Behind the Scenes!

As the crowd buzzed with discussions about Link's unparalleled and terrifying talent, they were unaware that deep within the "Imperial Cultivation Academy," in a towering magic tower, two figures had taken their seats, quietly observing an illusory magical scene unfolding before them.

What was displayed in this scene was precisely the spectacle occurring in the square!

"Half-step cultivation talent?"

Pfft!

The middle-aged man in the lead couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle upon seeing Link's talent. "Where on earth did this peculiar kid come from?"

"Director, it seems his name is Link, and he hails from an obscure noble family in the city of Twilight!" replied an elderly man seated lower down, speaking respectfully.

At that moment, if someone well-versed in the affairs of the Radiant Empire were present, they would instantly recognize the identities of the two men: Morton, the director of the "Imperial Cultivation Academy," and his deputy, Krude!

"Oh?"

Morton raised an eyebrow at the mention and then scoffed disdainfully, "Hmph! These nobles are getting more and more reckless, sending anyone and everyone to our academy, completely unaware of their own insignificance!"

"Indeed!"

Krude nodded in agreement, adding, "In my opinion, once the first round of assessments begins, this kid named Link will probably last no more than three seconds before being taken down by the other participants!"

"Just a waste of space; there's no need for us to pay him any mind!"

Morton waved his hand dismissively and countered, "What about the 'Radiant Trio'? How are their cultivation progressions in the magic tower?"

"Director, the 'Radiant Trio' is indeed exceptionally talented. After a period of focused training, 'Golden War Lion' Leo and 'Destruction Hurricane' Occam have both successfully stepped into the threshold of intermediate cultivators!" Krude reported earnestly.

"Oh? So soon?" Morton's expression brightened at the news!

"Not only that!" Krude continued, "Among the 'Radiant Trio,' the one with the greatest talent, 'Son of the Dragon' Roy, has even reached the level of a 4th-tier intermediate summoner!"

"By the Light of the Divine!"

At this, Morton could no longer contain his excitement, exclaiming, "Truly worthy of being the Empire's renowned genius! With his talent, if we invest heavily in his training, in a few months, he will surely shine at the 'Light Alliance' celebration, and our 'Imperial Cultivation Academy' will be granted a higher status by the Archbishop for producing such an outstanding talent!"

As he spoke, Morton suddenly lifted his head, his eyes gleaming with ambition!

"When that time comes, how could a mere Radiant Empire dare to restrict the development of our 'Imperial Cultivation Academy'?"

"Indeed!"

Krude nodded in agreement, subtly flattering him.

"Here's to wishing the Director continued success and the academy's prosperity!"

"Haha, I'll take your good wishes!" Morton laughed heartily, clearly in a good mood!

As their laughter faded, the two fell silent again, refocusing their attention on the magical scene before them, seemingly eager to see if any other promising talents would emerge among the participants in the assessment.

However, it wasn't long before their interest waned, for with the 'Radiant Trio' leading the way, even 4th-tier cultivators struggled to catch their attention!

"By the way, has there been any news from the imperial royal family lately?"

At this moment, Morton turned to Krude and inquired once more.

"Nothing too significant, but..." Krude hesitated, as if weighing his words.

"But what?" Morton frowned at his hesitation, pressing for an answer.

After a moment of contemplation, Krude finally spoke in a serious tone, "I've heard that Lasvidor has recently established a 'Royal Cultivation Academy,' seemingly aiming to rival us!"

"Hmph! Overestimating himself! I think Lasvidor has grown tired of living!" Morton exclaimed in anger, standing up and shouting!

"Director, please do not underestimate him. Lasvidor is the Empire's only 9th-tier high-level mage, his strength on par with yours. Moreover, he is the most adept at offensive lightning magic. With him at the helm, we should avoid escalating tensions with them for the time being!" Krude urged repeatedly.

"I understand that Lasvidor is not to be trifled with, but for him to think he can establish a new academy to shake the foundations of our 'Imperial Cultivation Academy' is nothing short of delusional!"

Morton waved his hand, speaking with pride, "Our 'Royal Cultivation Academy' has a history of over 500 years, with a permanent student body of over ten thousand and hundreds of high-level instructors. With you and me at the helm, our strength is formidable. Who in the entire 'Radiant Empire' does not know us?"

"Moreover, this year, our academy has produced the 'Radiant Trio.' Even with the entire Empire backing Lasvidor, he will find it impossible to challenge our status in the short term; he is simply not a concern!"

"The Director speaks wisely; Lasvidor is merely making a fuss, and we need not worry about him!" Krude echoed once more.

At this point, the talent assessment in the square was nearing its conclusion.

Seeing this, Morton instructed Krude, "The first round of assessments is about to begin. Although it doesn't matter whether the 'Radiant Trio' participates or not, we still need to go through the motions to avoid gossip from those nobles!"

"Deputy Director Krude, please go and summon them to prepare for the upcoming assessment!"

"Yes, Director!" Krude nodded, quickly standing up and turning to leave.