Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1202: Psychic's Missions

The student group was caught off guard by the sudden emergence of a massive swarm of bats. A migration of this magnitude was something they had never witnessed before.

It didn't take long, however, for them to observe that the creatures were all surging toward the Dark Arts Tower!

"Hmm? Is there some kind of event taking place?"

"I heard rumors that the Dark Arts Tower was experiencing some technical malfunctions or something similar…"

"Well, it's not our concern. The Psychic Arts Tower is still perfectly functional for all students. I'm sure the faculty will handle the situation just fine."

While the three students were curious about the commotion, they knew better than to get entangled in matters involving the Dark Arts Tower.

Their primary objective remained the acquisition of wealth…

To refine their mental faculties, they required expensive stimulants, focus talismans, and specialized meals infused with spirit-calming herbs. The Academy simply could not provide such luxuries for every student…

The financial burden would be astronomical. Even an institution like Farrel Academy only provided basic Meditation Chambers and monthly special elixirs to the most elite rank of students.

"Forget about it! For now, we need to secure enough funds starting with this mission!" Zhang Wei reminded them.

The trio had already combined their allowances, yet the total was barely sufficient to purchase even a few low-grade focus stones.

Therefore, these missions weren't merely for gaining experience; they were the only lifeline to earn the capital required to sustain their Cultivation…

This was exactly what the Academy encouraged. By completing these tasks, students gained experience, currency, and Academic Points, which could be traded to learn specific Psychic Spells or for training time within the Psychic Arts Tower…

Professor Jamie understood this reality perfectly. It was the reason he permitted Zhang Wei, Mica, and Liang Chen to accept missions immediately after they mastered the foundational spells necessary for field work.

They had demonstrated the required discipline, and now they had the opportunity to earn their own way.

As they navigated the streets of Clovis City, Liang Chen took a moment to enjoy the atmosphere…

It had been quite a while since they had stepped outside the Academy grounds, after all.

"If we pull this mission off, we’ll finally have the funds for a high-quality set of Resonance Crystals. My Metaphysical State will last twice as long with those."

"Nahh… you're dreaming. Doubling the duration is impossible," Mica remarked.

The Metaphysical State was the unique form used by Psychic Arts Practitioners when they activated their Magic Zone, serving as the counterpart to the Phantasm State utilized by Dark Arts Practitioners.

"But we’ll certainly be able to afford more Clairvoyant Incense. Our Magic Zone should expand with its assistance."

Zhang Wei gave a simple nod. "Money is just a tool. Once we earn it, we reinvest it back into our Cultivation. That is the only way we will rise above the rest."

To them, this mission represented more than just a test of their abilities. It was their first real step toward independence…

***

Before long, the group of three was on the move…

The eastern district of Clovis City felt unusually silent when Zhang Wei, Mica Sato, and Liang Chen arrived.

The streets were lined with modest townhouses, their lanterns already flickering to life in the evening air…

The merchant who had filed the request for aid stood outside his shop, looking anxious. He was nervously wringing his hands as he watched the three students approach.

"Are you… from the Academy?" he asked the moment he recognized their uniforms.

Zhang Wei stepped forward and presented the mission scroll, which bore the official seal of the Marshall Academy. "Yes. We are first-year students from the Psychic Arts Branch, dispatched by Professor Jamie. We are here to investigate the disturbances you reported."

The merchant’s shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh of relief.

"Arcanists… thank the heavens. I was terrified the Academy wouldn't take this seriously. The city guards came by, but they found nothing. People are fleeing the district, claiming the area is cursed by Evil Spirits… My business is being ruined."

Mica offered him a reassuring nod. "We’ll look into it. Tell us exactly what has been happening."

The merchant pointed toward the row of townhouses.

"It began a week ago. Odd noises, flickering lights, and… terrifying whispers have been heard. Some neighbors swear they saw shadows moving in the back alleys, but when chased, there was nothing there. A few people even collapsed… I saw them clutching their heads as if their very minds were being invaded."

Liang Chen knit his brows. "That certainly sounds like the work of Evil Spirits we are trained to handle. But if the guards found nothing, there might be something else at play."

Zhang Wei nodded calmly.

"We will investigate the townhouses. Stay here. If anything occurs, we will deal with it."

The merchant nodded frantically, clearly grateful to hand the problem over to them.

The three students stepped into the cramped alleys between the buildings.

The air seemed normal at first… However, as they moved deeper, they immediately sensed the lingering traces of Arcane Energy.

Mica shut her eyes, triggering her Clairvoyant Echo. Her perception expanded outward, scanning for any hidden presence.

"…Nothing," she whispered.

"No sign of Evil Spirits. I feel a faint aura, but it isn't spiritual in nature… Wait. It feels… human."

She muttered to herself. It appeared the merchant had failed to mention another person, or perhaps this human was the actual source of the disturbance. Unfortunately, detecting a human presence and pinpointing their exact location were two different challenges.

She lacked the ability to track a person with precision yet, unless they stepped directly into her Magic Zone…

Nevertheless, this clue was sufficient.

Liang Chen smiled, silently admitting that Mica’s Clairvoyant Echo was truly impressive. He had hoped to learn the Spell himself, but it was a secret technique exclusive to the Sato Family. Because of its heritage, obtaining the Spell Model was no easy task.

"So the guards were mistaken. This isn't a haunting after all."

Soon, they tracked the man's residue and located the specific townhouse where he was staying…

Zhang Wei knelt near a doorway, scrutinizing faint burn marks on the wooden frame.

"Spell residue. Someone used a defensive talisman here. Look… fragments of a talisman." He retrieved a shredded piece of parchment; the ink was blurred but still emitted a faint glow.

"These aren't Spirit-banishing talismans. They are deterrents… designed to keep people away. I believe we now know exactly who we are searching for…"