Augustine handed the tome to Allen and said solemnly,

  "This is the Holy Light Mana Guidance Record. It is not an ordinary book, but one that can precisely guide the free flowing mana of heaven and earth to nourish your magic circuits."

  "Take it back and study it diligently. It will help you slowly temper your circuits and more accurately sense the flow of mana, laying a foundation for the later accumulation of pure mana."

  Allen took the tome and flipped through it. He already understood, as he had seen this book before in the Arcane Library. "Headmaster, I have seen this book in the Arcane Library."

  Augustine nodded. "That is right. This is a basic method open to the academy. It looks simple on the surface, but it hides deeper mysteries.

  "Eleanor believed your magical affinity was low and that you were only an ordinary apprentice who had barely entered the door, so she did not specifically teach you advanced mana guidance techniques."

  "For someone of mediocre talent, this method can at most lead to Junior Mage. But now it is different. Your talent is high, so you must make up for your foundation."

  His tone grew even more serious. "This method will accompany you throughout your entire magical career.

  You must memorize every circulation node, and there must not be the slightest deviation. It can help you gradually solidify your unstable circuits."

  Allen carefully put the tome away, but a trace of unease rose in his heart. As a Demon King, would a holy light based mana guidance technique conflict with his own shadow origin?

  Of course, he could not ask Augustine. He resolved to secretly deduce and test it after returning, and only try it once he was sure there was no problem.

  If there was a conflict, he would pretend to study it while actually masking things with his own mana.

  Augustine studied Allen repeatedly, his eyes filled with inquiry. After a moment, he finally threw out the most crucial question.

  "Strange. With the mana of an Intermediate Mage, even if it is stable, it should be absolutely impossible to withstand the pressure of the upper levels of the Holy Demon Prison Tower, let alone reach the top of the eighteenth floor. How exactly did you do it?"

  Allen's heart tightened. As expected, it had come to this. He had already sorted out his reasoning.

  What was suppressed at the top of the tower was a Demon.

  As a Demon King himself, that so called pressure was, to him, nothing more than air. Reaching the top was only natural.

  But on his face, he showed a bewildered expression, spread his hands, and said, "Headmaster, I do not know either. Last night I just wanted to stroll around the academy to clear my head.

  "When I walked near the Holy Demon Prison Tower, I only felt a faint pull of mana from the tower itself. Out of curiosity, I wanted to go up and take a look.

  I did not think much and just walked in. Along the way, I did not feel any pressure blocking me, and before I knew it, I had reached the top floor."

  Allen knew well that instead of struggling to fabricate an excuse full of holes, it was better to throw the question back to the headmaster and let him investigate the reason. That was safer than explaining it himself.

  From the headmaster's earlier attitude, the man had never suspected his identity. After all, in the understanding of the magical world, if the Demon Tribe were to infiltrate a human academy, they would never send someone with such high talent to act as an undercover agent.

  A genius of this level would be a treasured asset in any faction. The Demon Tribe would never place him in danger.

  Allen secretly let out a breath of relief, convinced that the headmaster would only attribute everything to his special talent or to some unknown resonance with the tower's mana, and would never connect it to his identity as the Demon King.

  Augustine wore a contemplative expression. Mana gathered at his fingertips as he grasped Allen's wrist to examine him carefully.

  He repeatedly sensed the magic circuits and mana attributes within Allen. Only after confirming there was not a trace of shadow fluctuation did he slowly release his grip and speak.

  "The Demon that was sealed is the leader of a tribe from the Night Demon Tribe."

  "Many years ago, when I was hunting fleeing Shadow Creatures in the Godfall Wastelands, I captured him. Because his mana was strange and difficult to control, I sealed him at the top of the Holy Demon Prison Tower."

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Augustine's gaze became distant, as if recalling the fierce battles of that time.

  "The Night Demon Tribe is exceptionally gifted. On nights of the full moon, their shadow origin erupts uncontrollably, automatically forming a field of shadows around themselves."

  "No one knows the source of this phenomenon. Even within the Night Demon Tribe, this instinct cannot be explained."

  "The field is extremely special and carries strong repulsion. It actively resists any living being attempting to approach."

  "Even other tribes of the Demon Tribe cannot break through the barrier during this time, let alone get near the tribe leader's true body."

  At this point, Augustine turned to Allen, his eyes full of inquiry, and pressed, "Before entering the Holy Demon Prison Tower, did you do anything unusual?"

  "For example, did you come into contact with shadow artifacts or study special magic? Are you really telling me that you did not feel any pressure from the top floor's field?"

  Allen shook his head slightly, wearing an expression of measured bewilderment with a hint of lingering fear. He replied sincerely,

  "No. I didn't do anything special, and I didn't feel any pressure at all. Last night I was just wandering around the academy.

  I saw that tower; its shape was unusual. I thought it was just a regular observation tower, so I wanted to take a look."

  "When I saw that strange Demon at the top, I got scared and came back down immediately."

  He deliberately weakened his composure and added a touch of youthful timidity, perfectly fitting the idea of having stumbled in by accident.

  Augustine frowned deeply and pondered for a long time, murmuring to himself,

  "The Demon Tribe has many varieties, and each tribe has unique abilities. To uncover all their secrets is nearly impossible."

  "Especially the Night Demons, who are always mysterious and unpredictable. Their behaviors and mana characteristics differ from other Demon Tribes. Even in the Demon Realm, they are feared by other clans."

  He paused. A light suddenly flickered in his eyes, as if he had thought of something crucial. "If I were to explain why you are different from others, I can think of one possibility."

  "You entered the Holy Demon Prison Tower by accident. You had no prior knowledge of the top floor's seal or the Night Demon's field.

  Others who attempted the tower already knew the dangers and special conditions inside, so before entering, they were prepared to resist the pressure, and their mana was in a state of tension."

  Augustine's tone gradually solidified. "You did not consciously resist the field. Your mind was relaxed, and your mana flowed naturally.

  In fact, this aligns with the field's hidden rule that it does not actively repel harmless beings. Others, by resisting, only triggered the field's repulsion."

  "This may very well be the reason you unknowingly reached the top." Augustine refined his logic, feeling more and more satisfied with its reasoning.

  Allen nodded subtly in his mind, unable to help thinking, Perfect. The headmaster has convinced himself. I don't need to waste any effort making up an excuse.

  After imagining all the details, Augustine felt extremely satisfied with his analysis and showed a relieved smile.

  He stood and said solemnly, "When the Holy Demon Prison Tower opens next, I must personally verify this hypothesis."

  "Also, this hidden property of the Night Demon field is important for the seal's safety. I must report it promptly to the governors of Aetherlan City so they can record it."

  Hearing this, Allen quickly seized the opportunity to change the topic, wearing an expression of innocent curiosity. "Headmaster, what is a governor of Aetherlan City?"

  He deliberately acted as if his knowledge were limited, though in reality he was already well aware of the power distribution across the continent; he simply did not want to reveal it.

  Augustine smiled, his tone gentle yet instructive. "You really have a narrow perspective, boy. You don't even know about Aetherlan City!"

  He paused, then raised his hand, looking toward the distant city, his eyes full of reflection. "Perhaps in your eyes, our four great academies are already the top powers of this continent?"

  "Actually, that is not the case. Our four academies are merely academic institutions under the protection of Aetherlan City. On the scale of the entire continent, we are nothing more than a drop in the ocean."

  At this point, Augustine suddenly stopped and looked at Allen. "With your talent, staying only at Radiant Magic Academy is truly a waste!

  But to teach you how to stabilize your magical foundation and advance to Senior Mage, our academy's resources are sufficient."

  "Once you successfully advance to Senior Mage, I will personally recommend you to the Luminara Magic Academy, which is directly under the governors of Aetherlan City."

  "There, the world is broader. The academy gathers talents from across the city and even surrounding regions, allowing your magical path to go further."

  Augustine's eyes were filled with expectation. "However, Luminara Magic Academy is extremely strict in admitting students.

  They not only examine talent and foundation, but the minimum cultivation level must also be Senior Mage. You will need to calmly refine yourself for a while first."

  "You will stay here for now, temper your circuits and accumulate mana using the method I gave you. Once you reach Senior Mage, I will present my recommendation for you."

  Allen nodded obediently but felt little interest in the so-called Luminara Magic Academy.

  For him, a Demon King, even the best human magic academy would not necessarily improve his abilities and could instead risk exposing his identity.

  Augustine naturally could not perceive Allen's thoughts and assumed he was simply composed and unshaken. Such an exceptional opportunity was before him, and yet he remained calm and steady.

  He was very pleased and nodded repeatedly, then his tone suddenly grew serious as he warned, "There is one thing you must pay special attention to."

  "Your talent is truly astonishing. You must not reveal your true advancement speed or power in front of outsiders."

  "Not only will envy and rivalry naturally exist among humans, with some secretly trying to undermine you, but the Demon Tribe has always sought to eliminate human geniuses whenever possible."

  "If you shine too brightly, you will inevitably attract the attention of Demon Tribe agents hidden within human cities. They will stop at nothing to target you."

  "In recent years, the Demon Tribe has grown stronger, infiltrating human academies from time to time. Their primary goal is to hunt down human talents."

  "Geniuses are easily lost early!" Augustine sighed heavily.

  "Learn to restrain your brilliance, hide your talent, and steadily solidify your foundation. Only then can you walk further along this perilous path of magic."

  Allen nodded again, though his heart remained completely unmoved. He had no worry at all.

  The danger of early loss of talent applied to others. He, however, possessed the power of a Demon King and only needed to continue disguising himself as an exceptionally talented human student.