Nidhogg replenished his magic power and decided to ignore the secret realms for the moment, setting out in a random direction while keeping contact through his crystal ball, hoping to sense information from his teammates. Even though he restrained his aura, the ten-point intensity of his mark still made him like a beacon in the night, causing other apprentice sorcerers to avoid him from a distance.

Half a day later.

Boom!

After a wave of fire, Nidhogg's aura could no longer be hidden, bursting forth like an inferno. A black-spotted leopard that had ambushed him quickly realized Nidhogg was not an easy target and fled after skillfully evading the flames.

However, Nidhogg coldly smiled at a clearing in the distance and sat down to replenish his magic.

Thanks to his keen sense of smell, Nidhogg clearly sensed that an apprentice sorcerer using some form of invisibility magic had been tailing him from that direction for a full hourglass time.

The apprentice was cautious, never coming closer than fifty meters, preventing Nidhogg from pinpointing his location using the mask's ultrasound, only sensing a general direction.

Nidhogg's cold smile seemed to have worked, as the scent of the lurking figure vanished from his perceptive nose.

"Another strong one trying to probe me, I wonder which academy they're from."

Not bothering to investigate further, Nidhogg focused on absorbing the intermediate magic stone in his hand. The stone had dimmed considerably from repeated use.

An hourglass time later, as Nidhogg searched for his teammates in the forest, his crystal ball suddenly picked up some signals. Overjoyed, Nidhogg quickened his pace towards the source of the signal.

Gradually, Nidhogg confirmed that it was likely Yorkliana.

A mushroom field stretched before him, a common terrain in the Thornridge Forest. However, as Nidhogg stepped into the area, the mushrooms exploded with a "pop," releasing clouds of spores.

Simultaneously, Nidhogg felt dizzy, and his surroundings began to distort, sway, and become unreal.

"Is this a scent-induced illusion attack? Damn, this type of illusion can bypass the Mirage Earring's resistance and, through my keen sense, magnify its effects on me!"

In an instant, Nidhogg realized he had walked into another of Thornridge Forest's natural traps.

Despite being a third-year newcomer equipped with numerous precious items bought with magic stones, Nidhogg had never ventured into Thornridge Forest like other apprentices, making its dangerous environment a greater obstacle for him.

Nidhogg's magic prompted the symbiotic bugs within him, and the humming of buzzing snails in his body seemed to intensify. Normally inaudible, the noise now slammed into Nidhogg's ears like an explosion, snapping him back to reality.

"Whoa... that was close."

Though the dizziness lasted barely half a second, during that time, Nidhogg was utterly defenseless, unable even to activate his mask.

Fortunately, when Nidhogg's magic surged, the powerful wave from his mark effectively deterred any potential attackers.

He quickly retreated from the mushroom field, carefully retracing his steps.

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Meanwhile, Nidhogg sensed that while the buzzing snails were being activated, in addition to their inherent illusion resistance, something else occurred.

Though the specifics were unclear, Nidhogg instinctively felt it was beneficial to his body and was accompanied by waves of hunger.

"Could that subtle change just now be the special ability of the buzzing snails?"

Elated, Nidhogg pulled out two pieces of dried meat from his pocket and chewed them, then began carefully collecting some intact explosive mushrooms.

If he could uncover the buzzing snails' true special ability, it might significantly advance his research on the secrets of life!

While storing the explosive mushrooms with joy, Nidhogg suddenly turned and gazed into the depths of the forest behind him.

A surge of mark power comparable to his own erupted, resonating with his aura and forming an unusual space of energy.

"Another academy's powerhouse? You're the first I've seen in this trial with a mark power over thirty."

Slowly, a solitary figure emerged from the forest, with a face pale to the point of horror. Though conversing with Nidhogg, his gaze barely lingered, instead playing with a small white mouse on his shoulder.

Seeing the white mouse, Nidhogg's pupils constricted beneath his mask as he tentatively asked, "Yunli?"

Nidhogg's probing question had its intended effect; the figure looked up, frowning: "From Blacksaw Tower Sorcerer Academy? But... I haven’t seen anyone else these years, save for the teacher, Bibilionna, Solum, and a few senior apprentices. Who are you?"

Nidhogg, with his mark concealed under his mask, was not recognized by Yunli as belonging to any sorcerer academy.

As Nidhogg was about to speak, Yunli interrupted: "Forget it, don’t say a thing! The mentor said not to kill apprentices from one’s own academy. If you’re from Blacksaw Tower, that wouldn’t be any fun."

"For someone with such a massive mark power, you won't die so easily, right? Keep that mask on, and we’ll have a bit of fun..."

In this short span, Yunli spoke more than Nidhogg had heard in a month on the ocean liner. When Yunli mentioned fun, Nidhogg's pupils contracted sharply!

Screech...

Suddenly, the protective shield in front of Nidhogg twisted, as if struck by an invisible drill, spiraling into a deformed shape.

Poof...

As quickly as it came, it left, and after a chunk of Nidhogg's magic was drained, his shield returned to its eggshell form. Yet the sudden attack left him in a cold sweat. "Such a sudden attack, with an energy intensity of 80 to 90 degrees!"

This attack was far beyond Nidhogg's highest attack capability.

"Hmm... the shield's strength is decent. Let's see if it can withstand this form."

Intrigued, Yunli chanted a few words, pointing again at Nidhogg.

Nidhogg had no time to react, nor any sign of disturbance, only that his shield felt like being rammed by a powerful rhino. As Nidhogg's magic rapidly depleted, a force sent him flying, his insides roiling in discomfort.

"This... surpassed 100-degree energy attack!"

Nidhogg looked at Yunli, pale and incredulous.

A couple more attacks like that, and even with the magic ring, Nidhogg would run out of energy and perish.

Meanwhile, Yunli was equally surprised, "Such strong sorcerer gear must be top-tier for an apprentice. Truly a turtle shell."

Gritting his teeth, Nidhogg conjured a fireball at his fingertip, launching it towards Yunli in the shape of a firebird. Unfazed, Yunli pointed, causing the space to warp, making the firebird vanish and reappear a hundred meters away in an explosion.

Recalling Yunli's eerie methods against sea monsters, Nidhogg formed a theory, his expression shifting.

"No wonder he's dubbed a once-in-a-century genius—his innate talent is space distortion. Such power is nearly godlike for apprentices!"

On the other hand, Yunli muttered, "Even my strongest spells can't breach that shield. Seems that mask is indeed formidable sorcerer gear. But doesn't his mentor know gifting such an item violates the Seven Ring Tower's regulations?"

Yunli assumed Nidhogg's mask was a gift from his mentor.

"Let's try physical attacks. If that fails, this test is too demanding, facing top-tier apprentice-level gear."

With that, Yunli took out a simple metal dagger and, with a spatial twist, appeared before Nidhogg, stabbing the dagger down.

Ding!

The shield held firm against the dagger, and Yunli vanished again, eluding Nidhogg's vine spell.

Thirty meters away, Yunli sheathed the dagger, shaking his head with disinterest, "Seems your power relies on that gear. Without it, you're average, not worth noting."

Pausing, Yunli warned, "I'll inform my teacher. Your mentor gifting such potent gear breaks trial rules—prepare for punishment."

Ignoring Nidhogg, Yunli continued, "Sorcerer gear is just an aid. True strength lies within. Relying on that gear won’t earn you a spot in the trial for the Holy Tower in seventeen years. Your mentor's a fool."

With a spatial twist, Yunli's mark power vanished, seemingly teleporting him a hundred meters away.

Nidhogg disregarded Yunli's disdain, focusing on a key piece of information: "The Holy Tower advancement trial in seventeen years."