Changes, Cultivation Sequence

When Ian woke again, it was already the next day.

"That felt so good!"

Ian got out of bed and stretched his arms.

He was not worried about being late for the department.

Vivian had told him that she had already requested leave for him, and that he could go to the department after he woke up.

Still, it was better to go early.

After getting dressed, Ian headed for the Potions Department.

It happened to be noon. The people in the Potions Department had more or less finished their work and were heading outside one after another.

Among them were the people from Hal's laboratory.

As they headed out together, they spotted Ian coming against the flow.

Their gazes changed instantly.

The Potions Department was large, responsible for more than half of Horton Wizard School's potions, yet it was also small—so small that a single piece of news was enough to spread through the entire department.

So by that afternoon, they had learned why Hal had been so angry.

It turned out that Ian had advanced to Junior Potion Master.

"It has only been three months!"

"So fast!"

Their eyes flickered, and they were deeply shaken.

Ordinary wizards generally took one to three years to pass the Junior Potion Master assessment.

Even one year was considered extremely fast.

Not to mention that this had happened in Hal's laboratory.

They knew best what kind of suppression Ian had endured.

That was why they understood even more clearly just how terrifying Ian was.

He was a potion genius like Victor.

"Good afternoon, Potion Master Ian!"

As they passed by, they greeted him one after another.

No matter how those above fought for power, it had nothing to do with minor potion masters like them.

Why should potion masters make things difficult for other potion masters?

Hal's targeting was his own business. It had nothing to do with them.

"Good afternoon."

Ian was rather surprised. This was the first time these people had greeted him.

Quite a few people nearby had heard the name Ian and knew that he was the potion master who had made Hal suffer a setback.

Though they did not know him, they still cast friendly looks his way.

Ian responded to them one by one.

His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

The goodwill he had received in a single morning was more than he had received in the past three months, and all because he had passed the Junior Potion Master assessment within three months.

Entering the Potions Department, Ian arrived on the third floor.

There, he encountered someone unexpected.

"Mamen?"

Mamen was coming out of another room some distance away, carrying a box in his arms.

"Ian!"

Mamen looked up. When he saw Ian, a bitter feeling rose in his heart. He said with a wry smile, "Congratulations, Ian. You've advanced to Junior Potion Master."

"What's this?"

Mamen shrugged, pretending to be relaxed. "Nothing. I'm leaving the Potions Department today. I'm getting ready to go to the Combat Department!"

Ian fell silent for a moment before saying, "I wish you all the best!"

"Thank you."

Mamen nodded and quickly walked around Ian.

The moment he went down the stairs, his expression became desolate, as though he had aged several years.

"The same circumstances, but the ending..."

Mamen's heart was a tangled mess.

Ian had faced an even more difficult situation than he had, yet he had left after only three months.

And he had spent three years, yet still failed.

The gap was actually this vast!

He walked into the office.

"Ian, you're here!"

"Deputy Minister!"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ian sat down across from Vivian.

"Congratulations on becoming a Junior Potion Master. Next, I'll go over the specific benefits with you."

Vivian offered her congratulations.

Ian's expression turned serious as well.

Hadn't he worked hard for three months precisely for this?

Vivian said directly, "After becoming a Junior Potion Master, there are three benefits.

First, your monthly Magic Stone allowance increases from five to ten.

Second, you gain the qualification to browse the first floor of the department's Library, as well as the qualification to purchase Wizard inheritances.

Third, you gain the right to brew independently, though you still need to come to the department for fifteen days each month. When the time comes, just contact me directly about whatever potions you want to brew."

Ian's eyes immediately lit up.

Compared with when he had first entered the department, these benefits were a considerable leap.

There was no need to elaborate on how important Magic Stones were to him. An extra five each month meant sixty more in a year—absolutely no small sum.

And then there was access to the Library.

The Potions Department had its own independent Library, and its contents went far deeper than the Academy's Library.

His Potion Identification had not improved in a long time.

He even qualified to purchase Wizard inheritances. He wondered what Wizard inheritances were like.

But compared to the last benefit, that was nothing.

He only needed to come in fifteen days a month.

Ian was finally free.

"What about material loss?"

Ian pursed his lips.

"As long as you don't go too far, don't exceed half."

Vivian said it casually.

As the deputy minister of the Potions Department, she still had that much authority.

Hisss! Hisss! Hisss!

Ian immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

If ordinary Wizards received the same treatment, he would roll right out of the Potions Department on the spot.

He could apply for whatever materials he needed, with losses not exceeding half. That was practically equivalent to the department throwing its full support behind his potion brewing.

Just as Victor had said.

With Vivian, he had to demonstrate enough value.

As long as his value was sufficient, what he received would absolutely far exceed his imagination.

"But this only applies to basic potions. If you want to brew advanced potions, you must at least master the Potion Heritage proficiently."

Vivian gave him a reminder.

It was not a restriction, but a reminder to pay attention to the basics.

"Understood."

Ian nodded first, then froze.

"Potion Heritage?"

They said the Potions Department possessed a complete Potion Heritage.

Had he finally become qualified to come into contact with it?

"However..."

Seeing his delight, Vivian changed the subject, her expression turning stern.

"Don't get happy too soon. I will fully support you, but you need to work hard yourself as well."

"Please, Deputy Minister!"

Ian looked at Vivian.

He understood that she must have something else to say.

"Right now, the outside world may look like Blackstone School and the others are fighting in full swing, but this is really just an appetizer. Neither school has gotten serious yet."

Huh?

Ian froze. And this wasn't them getting serious yet?!

"The intensity will probably keep rising from here. The school is already preparing to send potion masters to the front lines, and Doug is in charge of that." Vivian pressed her lips together as she spoke.

"They're going to send me to the front lines?"

Ian was instantly dumbfounded.

Wasn't this a little too sudden?

"I fought for it. For now, they've decided that only witches who have been at the Academy for two and a half years will be sent out!" Vivian said.

Two and a half years?

Ian had only enrolled for one year, which meant he still had a year and a half.

Wait...

"What you mean is, Minister, that the war will still be going on in a year and a half, and I'll be sent out then?"

Ian immediately pieced it together.

Vivian nodded. "Not as long as I'm here. But no one knows what things will look like by then."

"Is there any way around it?"

Ian frowned.

"There is. Enter the Cultivation Sequence."

Vivian's eyes shone brightly, as though this was what she had wanted to talk about all along.

The Cultivation Sequence?

Ian waited for Vivian's explanation.

"The so-called Cultivation Sequence is prepared by the Academy for witches capable of reaching higher ranks. As long as you advance to a Second-class Apprentice Witch or an intermediate profession within two years of enrollment, you can enter it.

There are many benefits, and you'll also fall directly under the school's management. Even Doug won't be able to target you anymore," Vivian said.

Ian's gaze sharpened!

Judging from both the name of this sequence and Vivian's solemn expression, the Cultivation Sequence was probably far from simple.

And its requirements were ridiculously demanding.

Reaching second-class within two years was practically impossible for someone with Third-grade Talent. Even those with second-grade talent might have a chance at it.

An intermediate profession was no simple matter either.

Though he did not understand it well, since it was listed as an equivalent requirement to becoming a Second-class Apprentice Witch, its difficulty was surely just as extreme.

"Minister, are you hoping I'll make a push for Intermediate Potion Master?" Ian guessed.

"Yes." Vivian nodded. "Whether for my sake or your own, the Cultivation Sequence is an opportunity.

The school is too small. If you want to go farther, then you absolutely must not miss it."

Vivian took a deep breath.

Ian nodded.

There was no way he was going out there unless he had gone mad. That left him with only one choice.

Within a year and a half.

Advance into the Cultivation Sequence.