Half an hour later.
Ian received the potion-making inheritance.
"Within the school, Wizard Horton passed down two Potion Master inheritances: Glimmering Eyes and the Spiritual Guidance Technique."
As they walked through the underground Library of the Potions Department, Vivian introduced them to him.
As Ian listened, he also observed his surroundings.
This area was much like the school's Library. Bookshelves stood in rows, and the air was thick with the scent of plants and herbs.
"The former lets you distinguish the energy within materials, while the latter releases a gentle mental force field to reconcile violent magical particles.
"However, both can only be studied by Second-class Wizards. What Junior Potion Masters learn are simplified versions: Faint Glimmer and the Guidance Technique. Each costs one hundred Magic Stones."
Vivian came before a bookshelf and took down two Memory Crystals.
Only relatively important content was stored in Memory Crystals. Most information was generally recorded on parchment or paper.
"One hundred Magic Stones?"
Ian was dumbfounded by the price.
That was far too expensive.
He could not afford it!
"Consider this a gift from me, and an apology for not helping you over the past three months. I hope you won't mind."
Vivian adjusted her glasses and handed the Memory Crystals to Ian.
"I don't mind, I don't mind."
How could Ian possibly mind? Even if he brewed potions every day for three months, he could never earn two hundred Magic Stones!
"The inheritances have already been given to you. I'll handle matters with the department. The rest depends on you.
"In the Wizard world, you ultimately have to rely on yourself. I can only offer you a few insignificant scraps of help."
Vivian said.
"Understood."
Ian nodded.
Of course, he understood that.
If he had not worked hard to improve his talent, how could he have reached this day?
So he absolutely could not slack off in his future life at the department.
Besides, there were still Hal and the Cultivation Sequence!
After receiving the inheritances,
Vivian left, while Ian remained there.
"One Magic Stone for one hour of reading."
Ian nodded and handed a Magic Stone to the Wizard managing the Library.
Then he quickly began reading.
Compared with the Library, the potion-making books here were clearly far more profound.
Though this was only a public area, it was already better than some of the Library's paid content.
Ever since gaining the ability to remember everything he saw, he had long since finished reading the Library's public area, yet he had only reached Proficient Level.
Now, it began to rise slowly once more.
"I wonder what effect this skill will have once it reaches Master Level!"
Ian was looking forward to it.
Unlike all the other skills he had learned, Potion Identification was Zero Ring. Yet Zero Ring covered everything from first-class to peak.
Based on what he knew about the system,
the harder something was to improve, the better its effects generally were.
Once this skill reached Master Level, it would definitely bring him a surprise.
An hour later.
Seeing that he had gained twenty proficiency points, Ian left in high spirits.
"Next, I need to go to the Castle to register my identity."
Rolling his shoulders, Ian left the department.
He soon arrived at the Castle.
At the Castle entrance.
Mickey was resting atop the Castle today, like a statue.
He was too far away, so Ian did not greet him.
He simply walked inside.
"Ian!"
The instant he entered, Mickey atop the Castle abruptly opened his eyes.
"Three months have passed. It feels like his progress has slowed somewhat compared with before!" Mickey was dissatisfied with Ian's advancement.
"Was it really his talent holding him back?"
He sighed.
Talent was truly too important for Wizards, especially during the apprentice stage.
Although Ian's Spellcasting Talent was practically unrivaled, his innate talent itself was undeniably a crippling flaw.
"Ah!"
The problem was that Mickey had no solution either!
Items that could improve talent were all rare artifacts or secret treasures. A small school like the Horton Wizard School simply could not possess them.
"I can only make some investments within my power. The rest will depend on him."
Mickey narrowed his eyes.
Then he saw Ian walk out, with an additional star now appearing on the Potions Department badge on his chest.
"Junior Potion Master!"
Mickey's eyes lit up.
He had only entered the department a few months ago, yet he was already a Junior Potion Master. As expected of the talent Mickey had favored.
Now he had an excuse.
So he slowly flew down.
"Lord Mickey."
The shadow on the ground shifted, and Ian noticed Mickey descending from above.
"Little Ian, you keep giving me more and more surprises. Congratulations on becoming a Junior Potion Master." Mickey congratulated him.
"I couldn't have done it without the school's help!"
Ian said modestly.
"Don't drag the school into it. If you don't enter the Cultivation Sequence, then as far as the school is concerned, you can't even be called help. You're all just cannon fodder." Mickey said disdainfully.
As Horton's Magic Beast, he knew the school better than anyone!
The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.
Ian's gaze tightened.
Those who did not enter the Cultivation Sequence... were all cannon fodder?
"Could Lord Mickey explain what the Cultivation Sequence is?" Ian could not help asking.
"The Cultivation Sequence is a little thing that old man set up to initially screen the school's talents." Mickey suddenly remembered it and looked at Ian.
"I suggest you fight for a place in it. Many things can only be accessed after you enter."
"Understood!"
Ian nodded.
It seemed the Cultivation Sequence carried more weight than he had imagined.
As he pondered this, a feather slowly drifted down before his eyes.
"It bears a fine-grade Wizardry. Take it as a gift for becoming a Junior Potion Master."
Mickey's voice drifted over.
Ian was greatly surprised.
Fine-grade?
Even the core departments had no authority to purchase something like that.
It was truly something with a price but no market.
"Thank you, Lord Mickey."
Ian thanked him.
He was not stupid. Once or twice could perhaps be explained away, but how could Mickey be so generous every time? Besides, over the past few months, Ian had heard more or less of Mickey's reputation.
Even a passing dog would have a hair plucked from it!
Mickey clearly wanted something, but so what? Ian had already gained more than enough.
Still, he was not that greedy!
So he handed all his remaining Magic Stones to Mickey.
Mickey's eyes immediately lit up.
He swallowed them all in one gulp.
"Very sensible. Come find me again once you've entered the Cultivation Sequence."
Mickey's feathers spread out, and even his eyes became much kinder.
Meanwhile.
Elsewhere.
On the third floor of the Potions Department, inside an office not far from Vivian's.
The dim office was deathly quiet, like a snake pit buried deep underground.
Hal stood there with slight nervousness.
A voice broke the silence.
"Hal."
"Minister Doug!"
Hal raised his head and looked ahead.
Behind a massive black desk sat a middle-aged Wizard.
He wore a black Witch Robe, his hair slicked back, his eyes vertical pupils like those of a snake.
"Three months to become a Junior Potion Master. If you hadn't told me you were targeting him, I would almost think you had been helping him."
Doug's voice was sharp and carried an innate chill.
Sweat appeared on Hal's forehead. "Minister, how could that be possible? You know it too—even my grandson was..."
"Stop!" Doug interrupted Hal and raised his head. "So you just watched someone comparable to Victor slip away right beneath your nose!"
The desk was slammed heavily, and Hal's heart trembled.
"Minister, that despicable Ian is simply too scheming. Minister, tell me, what should we do?" Hal gritted his teeth.
"What should we do? You're asking me what we should do?"
Doug raised his head and gritted his teeth. "Now Vivian is protecting him. What can I do? If you had discovered it earlier, it would never have come to this."
"We can only wait and see how the war develops, whether any opportunity appears. Also, your laboratory's resource allotment for the next three months will be cut in half."
"Alright!"
Hal's heart bled with pain, but he nodded with difficulty.
Then he was driven out of the office.
The moment he returned to his laboratory, a Potion Master approached carrying a box of potions.
"Wizard Hal, the review office said this entire batch of our potions has problems."
"Problems?"
Hal looked at the fairly normal potions, utterly baffled.
But he immediately realized something.
"Damn Vivian, damn Ian."
His defenses shattered as he cursed furiously.
The hatred in his heart for Ian surged even higher!
Before you continue