Dean Bruce took the teacup and drained it in one gulp.
No matter what the answer was, securing the benefits was the most important thing!
Buzz—
The warm tea flowed down his throat, and in that instant, it felt as if every cell in Dean Bruce's body, every drop of blood, was boiling. Vitality surged like a spring, filling his entire being.
"Ding!"
"System Notification: Congratulations, host, for receiving the baptism of Essence of Life. Your lifespan has permanently increased by one hundred years, and your life points have permanently increased by 200!"
Seeing the straightforward numbers, Dean Bruce couldn't help but smile.
This was quite a significant boost; at the very least, he would be tougher to take down. Even if attacked by an enemy, he would have a better chance of survival!
Closing his eyes, Dean Bruce experienced the baptism of Essence of Life while contemplating whether or not to head to the Duchy of Tanya.
Just as Tia Nars had said, going to the Duchy of Tanya could not only earn him a favor from Nozer Hawthorne but also rewards from that side if he succeeded.
But was success really that easy?
As the vice president of the Magic Guild's headquarters, Nozer Hawthorne was at least a powerful archmage. The fact that he had fallen in the Duchy of Tanya showed just how dangerous it was!
Even with the system at his disposal, numerous treasures, and two artifacts in hand, Dean Bruce couldn't confidently claim he would be able to resolve the crisis in the Duchy of Tanya and rescue Nozer Hawthorne.
Yet, the thought of missing this opportunity and the benefits it could bring left him feeling unwilling to pass it up.
For Dean Bruce, there were many things to accomplish, and he was eager to enhance his power; naturally, he did not want to forfeit those advantages!
"Huff..." After deep contemplation, Dean Bruce exhaled heavily and said solemnly, "Fortune favors the bold; I'll go! However, besides Claire, you need to call a few more elders to accompany me!"
He understood the principle that there is strength in numbers.
If it weren't for his slightly lower status, he would have considered bringing another vice president along!
Given his current position, he could only barely keep the elders in check. Even the newly appointed ones might not follow his orders, let alone seasoned experts with a bit of seniority.
When working in groups, the worst thing that could happen is disagreement and differing opinions.
Dean Bruce would rather bring along a few weaker individuals than someone he couldn't control!
"Alright," Tia Nars replied softly. "I will select a few young and strong fighters, and also choose one elder skilled in defensive and supportive magic. Let's prepare; we depart tomorrow."
"Departing tomorrow?"
Dean Bruce frowned slightly, suddenly remembering that the academy's assessments were scheduled for these few days.
Was he really going to miss the students' evaluations?
"This slap is a reminder that you must never be impulsive in dealing with situations; it will only throw you off balance!" Dean Bruce said calmly. "Your mind is already chaotic. If I take you with me, it will only disrupt our plans. Moreover, given your current strength, what can you actually do there?"
Hearing these words, Prolo Hawthorne couldn't help but smile wryly and said helplessly, "Teacher, I'm sorry. I... I was too impatient!"
"No need to apologize," Dean Bruce sighed. "I understand that you are worried about your grandfather. Having filial piety is a good thing, but when your strength is lacking, an excessive sense of duty can lead to trouble."
"Staying calm and focusing on your training is what you should be doing right now."
After saying this, Dean Bruce patted Prolo Hawthorne on the shoulder and said seriously, "If I remember correctly, you still haven't mastered the magic I taught you."
"It's been almost a month. If by the time I return you still haven't grasped it, then it might be time to end our teacher-student relationship."
Upon hearing this, Prolo Hawthorne's expression tightened, and he hurriedly said, "So much has happened recently that I couldn't focus on my training! I promise you, teacher, I will work hard to improve during this time!"
Dean Bruce had no doubt about Prolo Hawthorne's promise.
What a joke—his grandfather's life and death were uncertain, and he felt utterly helpless. He was undoubtedly filled with anxiety and a desire to quickly elevate his magical abilities and grow stronger!
Nodding, Dean Bruce did not offer further encouragement and stepped away.
He made his way to the academy with familiarity, but as the effects of the Essence of Life wore off, Dean Bruce couldn't help but sigh.
The duration was too short; the cleansing effect was less than one-fifth of the baptism effect!
Collecting his thoughts, Dean Bruce navigated through the students and quickly arrived at Mordo Chakol's office, knocking on the door.
"Come in!"
As the voice called out, Dean Bruce entered. Before he could speak, Mordo Chakol laughed, "What a coincidence! I was just about to look for you!"
"The assessments start tomorrow, and the designated location this time is the Firefly Forest. We may need to stay for several days. Please inform your assistant instructor to prepare in advance."
Upon hearing this, Dean Bruce sighed inwardly. As expected, things always seemed to come together.
For the past half-month, he had done nothing but impart different magical theories to the students.
If these two events could have been staggered, he would have been able to manage his time and not miss anything.
Unfortunately, there were no "ifs" in this situation!
The two events had collided, and Dean Bruce had to make a choice.
"Director," Dean Bruce began, "I'm afraid I can't participate in this assessment. I have some other matters to attend to and need to leave for a while!"
"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Mordo Chakol's expression became serious. He didn't respond immediately but looked closely at Dean Bruce.
It made sense; Dean Bruce had left right after selecting students last time, missing both the new student training and the assessment. It was only natural that Mordo Chakol wouldn't be pleased about him missing another assessment.
If it weren't for Dean Bruce's connection to Cyb Louis, Mordo Chakol might have already turned hostile!
Dean Bruce wasn't foolish and could sense the emotional shift in Mordo Chakol. However, just as he was about to mention the Magic Guild to ease the tension, Mordo Chakol's expression suddenly changed, and he broke into a smile, even displaying a hint of flattery!