Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree

"The second option is non-exclusive licensing. Authorization is given to multiple commerce associations, each of which can produce and sell. The advantage is broad coverage; the downside is high management costs and the need to monitor for violations."

"The third option is auctioning the usage rights. An auction is organized by the association where various forces bid, and the highest bidder wins. The advantage is transparency and maximizing technological value; the downside is the longer cycle time."

"The fourth option is profit-sharing from cooperation. Sign a long-term cooperation agreement with commerce associations and other forces, sharing profits based on sales. The advantage is stable long-term income; the downside is the need for reliable partners."

Edwin looked at Duke: "Which option do you lean towards?"

Duke was silent for a moment.

"Exclusive licensing." He paused, "But it can be zoned."

Edwin raised his eyebrows slightly: "Zoned exclusive licensing?"

"The Wizard Plane is so vast that one commerce association can’t handle it all," Duke said, "The East Coast, West Coast, Golden Continent, Central Islands—each region is authorized to one commerce association. This ensures both coverage and competition."

Edwin nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Zoned exclusive licensing is a good idea." He jotted a few notes on the alchemy board, "The Arcane Master Association can draft a framework agreement for you, but you’ll need to negotiate specific terms with each commerce association. Many people will attend the demonstration day; you can make initial contacts to see who’s genuine."

The two spent over an hour discussing various matters afterward.

Duke stood up, about to take his leave, when another matter came to mind.

"Lord Edwin, there’s one more issue."

Edwin was about to put away the alchemy board, but hearing this, he stopped and looked up at him.

"My points should have already met the criteria for promotion to Level 2 Arcanist," Duke said, "I would like to apply for the evaluation meeting."

Edwin nodded, not showing much surprise.

This achievement alone is worth three thousand points, which indeed far exceeds the threshold for a Level 2 Arcanist.

He operated on the alchemy board and brought up an application form, placing it in front of Duke.

"Fill out the form, and once submitted, I’ll arrange for the evaluation meeting." Edwin’s tone returned to a businesslike calm, "The evaluation committee consists of three Arcanists of Level 3 or above, who will question the achievements you submitted. You must prove you truly grasped the knowledge in your paper, not just pieced it together through luck or others’ help."

Duke took the alchemy board and filled it out quickly.

Name, faction, current level, application level, main achievements—each item was filled out concisely and clearly.

After filling it out, he pushed the alchemy board back to Edwin.

Edwin glanced at it, confirmed it was correct, and submitted the application into the system.

"The time for the evaluation meeting needs coordination with the schedules of the review committee members," he said, "You will be notified of the specific date within three days. As customary, it usually takes five to seven days from application to the holding of the evaluation meeting."

Duke nodded: "I’ll wait for the notification."

Edwin glanced at him, a hint of meaning in his eyes. "From Level 1 Arcanist to Level 2 is not just a formality. The questions from the reviewers will be deeper and broader than at Level 1, covering a wider range of knowledge. Your paper is well written, but the evaluation meeting won’t just ask about what’s in it."

"I understand," Duke said.

Edwin said nothing more, just gave a slight nod to indicate he could leave.

Duke turned and walked out of the hall of the achievements management department, heading along the wide corridor towards the elevator.

The sky outside the crystal windows was still bright, and the sea of the Central Islands sparkled under the sunshine. He stepped into the elevator, and the doors closed gently.

Back at his dormitory, Duke didn’t rush into the Light God Court.

He sat at his desk, temporarily setting aside the matter of automatic meditation, and began to reorganize the knowledge system he mastered.

Theories of elemental energy, magic potion materials science, energy guidance during refining, fine manipulation of spiritual power—each field needed reviewing, and every possible question required preparation.

The evaluation meeting is not an exam, with no syllabus and no range; the reviewers can approach from any angle to test his depth of understanding of the knowledge.

Duke took out a new stack of parchment and began listing. Not the outline of a paper, but an index of knowledge points.

He needed to systemize and organize what he mastered, ensuring that no matter which direction the reviewers questioned from, he could provide solid answers.

Halfway through, his badge quivered slightly.

He probed with his spiritual power, and a line of brief text appeared on the light screen:

Notice from the Arcane Master Association:

Your Level 2 Arcanist evaluation meeting has been scheduled.

Date: Five days later, at 9 a.m.

Location: Six-Ring Tower, Arcane Master Association Headquarters, Evaluation Hall.

Please be punctual.

Duke finished reading, closing the light screen.

Five days, he had five days to prepare.

He pushed the parchment aside, stood up, and entered the Light God Court.

Reviewing is important, but the cultivation of the Elemental Holy Body shouldn’t be neglected either.

He walked to the Energy Well, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and let his spiritual power probe into the slowly accumulating Bright Energy Well.

Proficiency began to grow little by little.

Not fast, but steady.

In five days, he needed to adjust himself to the best state and review and organize the various aspects of knowledge he mastered.

...

Five days later, in the morning.

Duke donned a dark formal magic robe, pinned with the Level 1 Arcanist badge at his chest, looking composed and restrained.

Crossing the corridor bridge, passing through seven Light Gates, the silver-blue body of the Six-Ring Tower shimmered with a cold luster in the morning light.

He entered the tower, following the directions on the notice, and ascended using the elevator.

When the elevator doors opened, he was greeted by a wide corridor, with high archways on both sides marked with names of different areas.

Duke walked a bit along the corridor, stopping at the archway leading to the room where the evaluation hall mentioned in the notice was located.

The door was open.

He stepped inside, pausing slightly.

The hall was circular, with a dome so high that it almost seemed unreachable, adorned with countless glowing crystal stones, resembling a hanging starry sky.

The floor was paved with dark stone, smooth as a mirror, reflecting images of people.

In the center of the hall’s deepest point was a circular stage, not large, about ten meters in diameter, with intricate runes etched around it, emitting a faint blue glow under the lights.

In the center of the stage stood a slender crystal pillar, with a glowing sphere about the size of a fist suspended at its top, emitting a gentle and steady light.

Around the stage were rows upon rows of seats extending upwards, layered like the ancient Roman theaters from previous lives.

Most of those seats were empty, but the front few rows near the stage were full of people.

Duke roughly counted; there were about a dozen people.

They wore magic robes in various colors; some were browsing documents, some whispering in conversation, and others adjusting the alchemy instruments in their hands.

Judging by the badges on their chests, they were all staff from the Arcane Master Association, along with some wizards in Six-Ring Tower uniforms—probably responsible for supervision and recording.

And directly opposite the stage, in the first row of seats, sat the four evaluation committee members.

Duke’s gaze swept over them, his heart stirring slightly.

Four, more than the usual number for a Level 2 Arcanist evaluation meeting.

Additionally, the badges of these four arcanists showed one Level 4, two Level 4, and one Level 5 Arcanist.

Level 5 Arcanist.

Throughout the entire Wizard Plane, Level 5 Arcanists were few.

They were typically core figures in major forces or top scholars with profound accomplishments in certain fields.

Such individuals ordinarily wouldn’t appear at a Level 2 Arcanist evaluation meeting.

Yet now, he was sitting there.

Duke had no time to think further.

One staff member came up, verified his identity, then guided him to the center of the stage.

"Please wait here." The staff member said, then stepped aside.

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