Marcus' eyes widened and he was stunned. He did not say a word for a moment.
Joelson frowned and asked, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Marcus smiled bitterly and shook his head. "There's no problem. It's just too big."
"Huh? What does that mean?" Joelson asked in confusion.
Marcus did not answer. Instead, he summoned a fire elemental giant according to Joelson's casting method.
When the two fire elemental giants stood together, the difference was immediately apparent.
"Pfft."
Nellie could not help but laugh. Marcus' wrinkled face turned red and he glared at him. Nellie immediately shut his mouth when he sensed the unfriendly gaze, but there was still a smile in his eyes that could not be hidden.
Joelson's fire elemental giant was indeed too big.
It was several heads taller than the fire elemental giant summoned by Marcus. The fiery red color on its body was also a little deeper, which meant that the temperature of the flames attached to it was higher.
Marcus did not know what he was feeling.
The fire elemental giant released by a mighty ninth-rank mage was actually not as effective as the eighth-rank mage, Joelson. This was really a blow.
"What a magical talent that makes people jealous," Marcus whispered.
Then, Joelson received a brand-new mage robe with eight golden stripes embroidered on the left side of his chest.
There was also the benefit of being an eighth-rank mage.
One hundred magic crystal coins were worth one hundred times more than the gold coins of the empire, which was equivalent to ten thousand gold coins.
This was the first time that Joelson had seen the so-called mage currency -- magic crystal coins.
It was a coin made of a light black round crystal, and one could still feel the rich aura of magic elements when holding it in one's hand.
"This is refined from magic crystal ores, and it is very precious. You can come to the Mage Guild every year to collect a hundred of them. After you reach the rank of a ninth-rank mage, it will rise to two hundred a year."
At this point, Marcus' expression became serious. He said seriously, "Of course, if you accept the benefits of the Empire, you must also fulfil the corresponding obligations. Once a war breaks out, even eighth-rank mages must obey the Empire's orders and go to the battlefield to serve."
Joelson nodded to show that he understood.
After bidding farewell to Marcus and Nellie, he left the Mage Guild. Joelson's target was the Tulip Academy of Magic.
At this time, the Tulip Academy was in the midst of an intense grade competition.
"Francis has only been in the fourth grade for a few months. He's so strong!"
"Yeah, it's said that he had already advanced to a fourth-grade mage two months ago. No one in the fourth grade should be his match!"
"He must be the first seat of the fourth grade. I wonder if he will challenge the first seat of the fifth grade!"
"I think he will do that with his proud personality."
On the stage, two figures continuously erupted with powerful and gorgeous magical flames.
The battle between two mages was a competition of the power of a single spell and the speed of the casting of a spell.
Regardless of that, Francis was clearly stronger than his opponent by more than a little.
Ever since the Academy Exchange match, Francis had been training himself like a madman.
He still could not forget the humiliation and fear brought by the red-haired Hawthorne's sword.
On the dueling platform, the sharp wind blades sliced through the opponent's magic shield. The fourth-year student, whose face was pale and obviously had used up too much magic power, revealed a bitter smile.
"I lost."
Francis slightly heaved a sigh of relief.
He had obtained the position of the fourth-year's lead student.
He went up on the platform together with the other grade's lead students and sat in his own lead student seat. However, Francis's gaze had always been fixed on a certain spot.
That was an empty spot.
It was higher than the sixth-year's lead student and represented the lead student position of the Tulip Academy of Magic.
That was...
Joelson's position.
Joelson Edward.
Thinking of this name and the terrifying results behind it, Francis could not help but feel a deep sense of powerlessness.
Sixteen years old, a sixth-grade magician, a dual-element magician of water and fire.
He had followed Joelson's path and won the position of the fourth-grade principal, but the other party had already been training outside for half a year.
He really didn't know how strong Joelson would be when he returned.
Tang Man, who presided over the grade competition, gave a certain amount of praise and awards to the first seats of each grade. After that, it was time for the first seats of each grade to challenge each other.
Francis' gaze lingered between the fifth and sixth grade first seats.
The sixth-grade first seat was still Rodin.
Compared to half a year ago, Rodin appeared much more composed.
This was the last year he stayed in the sixth year. Soon, he would apply to graduate, or participate in the trial and completely fade out of everyone's sight like many sixth-year seniors.
If he were to face Rodin, Francis had no confidence of winning at all.
Stimulated by the last academy exchange competition, Rodin's strength had also increased rapidly in the past half a year. He had already challenged the thirty-ninth floor of the Mage Tower and was about to break through to the fortieth floor.
Francis hesitated for a while and finally decided to challenge the 5th grade's head student.
The other party was also a 4th rank mage. It was not that he did not have a chance of winning.
Francis stood up and wanted to challenge. Before he could speak, there was a commotion at the academy's entrance.
All the students subconsciously swarmed in that direction.
Francis saw a slender figure wearing a black mage robe slowly walking over.
Even Professor Tommen, who was on the stage, could not suppress his excitement and quickly walked over to welcome him.
Francis heard someone shouting.
"Joelson! It's Joelson Edward! He's back!"
"The chief of the Tulip Academy of Magic, the number one genius!"
"Oh my God of Magic! Look at Joelson's mage's robe!"
Joelson walked closer. Compared to half a year ago, he appeared more relaxed and elegant.
He had completely shed the feeling of being young and inexperienced in the academy. He looked like a real mage.
Francis' pupils suddenly shrank. He saw.
One, two, three, four...
There were eight golden stripes embroidered on the mage robe that symbolized Joelson's strength!
A level-eight magister!
Francis was completely stunned. His face was filled with disbelief.
Tang Man's entire body trembled, and then he revealed a happy smile from the bottom of his heart.
"Joelson."
Tang Man bowed solemnly to Joelson and said, "Tulip Academy welcomes your return."
The other academies were also extremely excited.
Tier 8 mage!
Joelson had actually reached the tier 8 mage realm!
It had only been a long time since he entered the academy. In less than a year, he had already reached a height that ordinary people would never reach in their entire lives.
In a sense, Joelson was the spiritual idol of all the students.
Admiration, admiration, admiration.
He represented the glory of the Tulip Academy of Magic.