Merlin woke up very early in the morning and meditated for a while. Although he had come to the Dark Magic Region and possessed the assistance of the Matrix, Merlin was still as diligent as he had been.

Merlin went straight to the top floor of the Wizard Tower, only to discover that nine Spell Casters had already gathered outside of Wizard Leo's house.

Like Merlin, these nine Spell Casters had been chosen by Wizard Leo to join the triennial conference of the Dark Magic Region.

These Spell Casters were minding their own businesses respectively. Some would be completing missions, or meditating in their rooms, or building spells. Therefore, although Merlin had already been in the Dark Magic Region for almost a year, he did not recognize these Spell Casters.

Merlin's arrival did not attract much attention. These Spell Casters merely smiled at Merlin out of politeness before turning away, quietly standing in front of the house as they waited.

Very soon, Wizard Leo came out. Today, Wizard Leo wore a white robe trimmed with golden edges. If one did not look at those empty eye sockets and the terrible, bloodshot vertical eye, Wizard Leo would still look rather decent in this outfit, accentuating his nobility and power.

Nevertheless, Wizard Leo's two empty eye sockets and the bloody vertical eye on his forehead were simply too horrifying. Even the faces of these Spell Casters, who had seen Wizard Leo before, turned slightly ashen. Only a few Spell Casters could be regarded as having normal expressions.

Wizard Leo did not mind it, and said mildly, "As everyone is here, let's go! Merlin, lead the way this time!"

Wizard Leo spoke to Merlin in a calm voice. Immediately, Merlin could feel that a few pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

Merlin gave a cold glance at the other nine Spell Casters. He knew that Wizard Leo's intention was to give him an identity and a position. Merlin was to be the leader for this conference; the other nine were only going to put on an act, as a mere formality.

Thus, led by Wizard Leo and Merlin, they left the Wizard Tower.

Soon, they arrived at a vast square. There were dozens of high platforms with some mysterious runes carved on them in the square. It was a rather spectacular sight to behold to see a few dozen high platforms set adjacent to each other.

The Dark Magic Region was extremely large, taking over the space of an island in the sea by itself hence it was very easy and convenient to open up an empty space as the venue for the conference.

There were throngs of people moving about in the square. Spell Casters, dressed in all sorts of garments, were standing in an orderly manner in the square. At the very front of the square were rows of stone chairs. These had been prepared for the powerful Spell Casters who were Fourth-level or above, who joined the conference with their students.

"Merlin, lead them and wait here for the drawing of lots."

Wizard Leo immediately passed the responsibility for the nine Spell Casters over to Merlin. He did not have the least bit of self-awareness as a tutor.

Seeing Wizard Leo's back as he left, Merlin felt rather helpless. He was afraid that it was an absolute mistake for the Dark Magic Region to allow Wizard Leo to teach students.

"Wizard Merlin."

Suddenly, a female Wizard next to Merlin called out softly. She was one of the nine Spell Casters and seemed rather gentle and frail. Her long, brown hair was heaped upon her shoulders, and she wore a few tiny golden bells on her fair wrists.

Seeing that Merlin now was responsible for them, the female Wizard spoke in a mysterious, soft voice. "Wizard Merlin, Teacher Leo really does think highly of you! We've all heard about how Teacher Leo had never appeared during the last few conferences. All he did was allow one person to lead the team here. This time, however, Teacher Leo has personally brought the team here. The few of us know clearly in our hearts that we aren't worth Teacher Leo's high regard at all, and we've come this time just for the sake of formalities, that's all.

"So perhaps only Wizard Merlin could enable Teacher Leo to have such a high regard for you."

The female Wizard's looks could only be considered typical, but at the moment, as she softly batted her big eyes, she seemed to possess an additional different kind of charm.

Merlin did not give an explanation. He smiled and asked, "What's your name?"

"You may call me Elena."

Merlin nodded before asking, "Elena, who, amongst Teacher Leo's students, has achieved good battle records during the previous few conferences in the Dark Magic Region?"

After thinking for a moment, Elena replied, "That should be Wizard Sauron. Twelve years ago, he represented the Wizard Tower in a battle and had won three times consecutively. Following that, Wizard Sauron had also been successfully promoted to a First-level Spell Caster, becoming an official member of the Dark Magic Region."

Merlin nodded. Wizard Sauron would have been extremely outstanding. Although he did not know what had caused him to be assigned to Wizard Leo's Wizard Tower, the fact that he could become a First-level Spell Caster was enough to show that he was indeed talented.

In the Dark Magic Region, the Entrance-level Spell Casters were the most abundant, but not more than thirty percent of them could be promoted without a hitch to First-level Spell Casters. Even so, this figure was already considered extremely low.

Moreover, only ten percent of Wizard Leo's students could achieve successful promotion to First-level Spell Casters. This was even lower than the average standard of the Dark Magic Region.

There was still some time before the conference began. Merlin was seated with the other nine Spell Casters, but they were rather quiet and reserved. They were unlike the Spell Casters from other Wizard Towers, who were jubilantly discussing the matter of who would be more likely to make a splash during this conference.

"I heard that Wizard Dewey's student, Cecil, has successfully built a First-level Earth-type spell this time. I'm afraid that he'll be able to shine and show off his talents during this conference. Who knows, that powerful Wizard might take a fancy to him. After all, Cecil's tutor, Wizard Dewey, is only a Fourth-level Spell Caster..."

"Indeed, to be able to successfully build a First-level spell within a year, such a speed is extremely terrifying! Nevertheless, if we're talking about making a splash, I'm afraid it won't be Cecil, but Loan!"

"Are you talking about Loan who is just one final First-level spell away from leveling up to a First-level Spell Caster? He's very powerful, indeed, but his tutor is a mighty Sixth-level Spell Caster who values him very much. I'm afraid Loan wouldn't leave even if other Wizards set their sights on him."

These Spell Casters were in a high-spirited discussion but Wizard Leo's students – the nine Spell Casters – were looking downcast. Not a single word escaped their lips as they kept quiet throughout.

As though she had seen through Merlin's doubts, Elena lowered her voice and said, "Wizard Merlin, perhaps you still don't understand. We're Wizard Leo's students, yes, so everything we do must be done in a low profile. Low profile, do you understand?"

Elena's expression seemed to be somewhat awkward and unnatural. However, Merlin had already understood what she had meant to say. It was as though Wizard Leo's students were born to be subpar to everyone else in the Dark Magic Region. The Spell Casters from other Wizard Towers seemed to have more confidence than Wizard Leo's students, even the students of Fourth-level Wizards.

It was noted that Wizard Leo was the strongest Spell Caster at the peak of the Sixth-level. Nevertheless, his students had sunk so low that they did not even dare to speak aloud. However, Rome wasn't built in a day hence such situation was caused by a series of accumulated events in the past1. Nonetheless, during the past few years, there were many talents who had appeared amongst Wizard Leo's students but it had been difficult for even a First-level Spell Caster to show up. This had caused all the students who had been assigned to Wizard Leo's Wizard Tower to lack confidence in themselves.

"Eh? Wizard Merlin, you've come to join the conference as well?"

Right then, Merlin heard a familiar voice behind his back. He turned around and discovered that it was the female Spell Caster, Ryllis, whom he had embarked on a mission to Donglin City a few days ago.

Next to Ryllis were Holmes, as well as a huge and tall man who was wearing a strange earring on his ear that looked as delicate as a snake.

"Wizard Ryllis, Wizard Holmes!"

Merlin stood up and greeted them.

Wizard Holmes' facial expression seemed extremely composed. After all, many days had passed, and he had calmed down.

"Wizard Merlin, you've come to join the conference too?"

Holmes glanced at the other nine Spell Casters next to Merlin and asked him coldly.

Merlin nodded and said, "We're the team led by Wizard Leo to join the conference. Why? Hasn't Wizard Gretel brought you all here?"

Holmes shook his head and said, "Teacher Gretel has a very important experiment, so he's let us come ourselves."

As the two of them engaged in a casual conversation, the strangely dressed man next to Holmes seemed to have a vaguely gloomy expression.

"This is…?"

Merlin realized that this man had a very ugly expression. Thus, he directed his question at Holmes.

Holmes merely smiled without any indication that he would give him an introduction. The big, tall and strange man suddenly sneered. "Hehe, Holmes, I've never imagined that you'd be able to make friends with Wizard Leo's student. Birds of a feather really do flock together. It looks like it wasn't a coincidence that the First-level spell you've constructed previously failed. You can just wait through the three years slowly before being sent out from the Dark Magic Region, haha!"

Then, the strange man guffawed, turned around and left.

Merlin's expression remained unchanged. He had gathered some useful information from the words of that strange man. It seemed that Wizard Holmes had begun attempts to build a First-level Spell Model after the mission at Donglin City but failed.

It was also obvious that there was a rift between the man and Holmes, such that the man would not give up any opportunity to deride him.

Wizard Holmes' face had turned black and his mood had gone sour. After exchanging a few more words with Merlin, he turned and left too.

"So birds of a feather do flock together?"

Merlin glanced at the back of the strange man, who was leaving. However, a strange look flashed across his eyes. Even an unfamiliar Spell Caster had become disdainful the moment he heard that he was Wizard Leo's student. Even Wizard Holmes, who had merely engaged in a small conversation with Merlin, was scoffed at by this person.

Although Merlin was unconcerned about such things, he still felt rather annoyed.

Wizard Elena seemed to have already gotten used to this a long time ago. She shrugged and said with a smile, "Wizard Merlin, you don't have to bother yourself with such things. You'll slowly get used to it in the future. Moreover, there are also some Spell Casters who are above the First-level amongst Teacher Leo's students."

Elena was just casually tossing out a few words to comfort Merlin.

"Alright, let's go up and draw lots."

Merlin quickly stood up. He saw that there were already some gray-robed Wizards on a few high grounds in the square who had begun calling for people to draw lots to determine their opponents in the conference.

The Chinese proverb used here, 冰凍三尺非一日之寒, can be literally translated as "It takes more than one cold day for water to freeze three feet deep"