Expert Ice Ball, 131 Copper Ingot Street

After being promoted to First Level Wizard, Ronan's biggest regret was that he could not make the most of his advantage of mastering two Extraordinary Magic Domain.

While at the Hoddam Academy, he made the choice to major in Energy Affinity in front of Grace, so that he could make use of the trump card [Energy Missile-Particle Torrent] and build a stronger spell system around it.

Later, I came to the Silver Magic Ring and longed to join Arcane Circle because the Silver Magic Ring's Metal Element Spell Inheritance and [Charged Weapon - Power of Breaking Law] were a perfect match, allowing me to unleash the full potential of this magic domain.

Unfortunately, both plans fell through, and Ronan ultimately chose to study ice magic.

It would be a bit foolish to ask him to abandon his perfectly good first-tier spells and turn around to practice a zero-tier spell just for an ice-type Extraordinary Magic Domain. He already has the trump card spell [Particle Torrent] to generate a spell domain, and he doesn't need another ice-type spell. Can't he develop Extraordinary Magic Domain from a first-tier spell?

But now, the situation has become somewhat different.

"If my idea really works."

Ronan suppressed his barely suppressed excitement, took a deep breath, and his eyes blazed with determination. "Then the [Frozen Earth] rune, in my hands, may reach an unprecedented level!"

With his current First Level Wizard strength, going back to improve Master Level proficiency in level zero spells would be as easy as eating and drinking, and much easier than grinding for a level one spell.

Once a spell develops into Extraordinary Magic Domain, the Ice Cold Domain constructed by the [Frozen Earth] rune is very likely to undergo a qualitative leap! Fortunately, he also possesses almost all the zero-tier ice spells, which come from Linas.

Ronan calmed himself down and quickly made a plan without delay.

The three first-tier spells originally intended as anchor points are: [Ice Armor], [Frost Spear], and [Frost Howl].

Only two remain, to be chosen based on different situations. The empty anchor point will be reserved for—Tier 0 Low-level [Ice Ball], Tier 0 Mid-level [Frost Ray], and Tier 0 High-level [Ice Blade]—these are the skills Ronan will be focusing on developing next.

A new domain architecture has been formed.

Perhaps the power of this new Ice Cold Domain will weaken in the short term, but once the proficiency of the zero-level spells that are "dragging down" it is promoted to the Master Level, and a transcendent domain is derived, then everything will be completely different.

At this moment, Ronan was full of enthusiasm and immediately began practicing [Ice Ball].

He has a certain foundation in this skill, and his proficiency is almost at the master level. It probably won't be long before he reaches the master level.

"Harmful!"

Ronan casually tossed an ice ball towards the Spell Testing Wall in the distance, illuminating a small section of the Energy Absorption Crystal. Suddenly, he shook his head in realization.

"What do I need a spell training room for practicing zero-level spells? I don't care how much power it can unleash. It's a complete waste. I'll just find a random place in the wild to practice."

Ronan immediately left the training room and didn't return to the Blueberry Inn, heading straight for the outskirts of the Magic Ring City.

They stepped out of the massive metal archway and out of the protection of the Rune Array.

Ronan stood on the edge of the base of the seven Silver Tower, looking down at the empty valley below, the wind howling in the sky making his robes flutter.

Taking out his Flying Ring and gently turning it, Ronan was lifted by an invisible force and flew downwards.

This was his first time leaving the city since entering the Silver Magic Ring. In the distance, there was a vast, boundless forest, with white mist swirling above it, and strange, distant roars echoing from time to time.

Ronan stretched out a hand, watching the fine ice crystals and frost drift from his fingers and be blown away by the wind.

"From this day forward, I am a proper ice wizard."

It was a small tavern, where the air was filled with the tinkling sound of harps, and wizards dressed in colorful robes sat together in twos and threes, creating a tranquil and leisurely atmosphere.

As the melodious sound of wind chimes rang out, the tavern door was pushed open, and a figure walked in from outside.

This was a tall and robust man with a rugged appearance and fiery red hair. If it weren't for the dense flame patterns on his cheeks and neck, he would look more like a knight than a wizard.

After entering the tavern, the red-haired man looked around and his gaze quickly locked onto a figure in a corner. He smiled and strode over.

"You're late again, Quidi."

Before the red-haired man had fully approached the figure, a cold voice rang out.

Sitting alone at a round brown wooden table in the corner, the figure in Gray Magic Robe raised his head, revealing a handsome and heroic face.

He was an absolutely handsome man, young and charming, but his overly calm lake-blue eyes and the constant chill emanating from him always conveyed a message that strangers should stay away.

"It's only a minute. You're being too harsh, Damien."

The red-haired man shrugged, snapped his fingers, announced the drinks he wanted, and then sat down imposingly in front of the handsome man. "Are all ice wizards as difficult to get along with as you?"

Am I difficult to get along with?

Ronan gently swirled the crystal glass in his hand, squinted at the blurry image of the boy reflected in it, and murmured, "Perhaps."

He only just realized that, without realizing it, he seemed to have slowly become an oddball who was seen as aloof and difficult to get along with by others.

Is it because I've been walking the path of a wizard alone for too long, or because I've been constantly practicing ice magic for the past month or so?

Ronan didn't know... or perhaps it was a combination of both.

"Let's not talk about this anymore, the usual."

The red-haired man looked at Ronan with a smile, while Ronan casually took a small black cloth bag from his Storage Waist Pouch and threw it on the table.

The bag slammed onto the table with a rustling sound; it seemed to be filled with many tiny gemstones and looked quite heavy.

The red-haired man quickly opened the bag to examine it, and soon picked out a thumb-sized, irregularly shaped blue crystal, exclaiming, "The core of a mid-tier first-order magical beast?! Tsk tsk, Damien, your strength has increased again!"

Ronan didn't speak, he just looked at him calmly.

The red-haired man shouted and yelled for a while, then quickly checked and counted all the crystal cores in his pocket. He then took out a bunch of bottles and jars from his Storage Waist Pouch and placed them in front of Ronan.

"Choose the potion that enhances your mental strength that you want."

Ronan's eyes were focused on the potions in front of him. He examined and selected the potions on the table in an orderly and quick manner.

When he stopped what he was doing, he kept only three bottles of the potions the red-haired man had taken out, and returned the rest.

"Convert the rest into an equivalent amount of magic stones."

Ronan spoke, his expression calm and revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Damien, if you keep going like this, you'll become a drug addict."

As the red-haired man collected the remaining potions from the table, he muttered, "As a friend, I have to warn you, relying too much on potions will be bad for your future. Sooner or later, the impurities in your mental energy will become as numerous as lice on a carpet that hasn't been washed for decades."

Ronan listened to the red-haired man's rambling without expression.

The man in front of him, named Quidi, was someone he had met this month and could barely be considered a friend.

Like him, they were both level one early-stage wizards, specializing in fire magic, and had not joined the Arcane Circle.

This guy was supposedly a former knight mercenary who spent decades as a wandering adventurer. Later, by chance, he was found to have the potential to become a wizard, and quite a good one at that, so he embarked on the path of a wizard.

Because of his background as a knight adventurer, Quidi had little patience to study runic literature, Magic Potion Studies, and alchemy. His main source of income in the Arcane Circle was hunting monsters in the forests outside the Arcane Circle to obtain monster cores for sale, while also doing some buying and selling on the side.

That's why Ronan got together with him.

This month, he spent his time frantically practicing ice spells on various Tier 1 magical beasts in the forest outside the Arcane Circle, mastering his newly constructed spell system. All the crystal cores he obtained were sold with the help of Quidi, which provided him with a stable source of extra income.

Moreover, Quidi had spent many years on the outskirts of the Arcane Circle and knew many First Level Wizard like himself. Some of them studied Magic Potion Studies- making and would ask him to help sell the potions they made. The prices might not be cheaper than those in potion shops, but the variety was much greater.

Ronan had already consumed all the level 1 early-stage wizard mental enhancement potions in the apothecary, and he was using Quidi as a channel to acquire more new formula potions that he hadn't tried before.

But this path seems to be nearing its end. Last time, Ronan could pick out two or three "new" potions from the ones Quidi brought out, but this time there's only one.

"Nothing else, I'll be going now."

After putting away the potions on the table and the difference in magic stones that Quidi had replenished, Ronan got up to leave.

The latter, however, slammed his hand on the table with a helpless expression and shouted at him, "Damien, a wizard's life isn't just about meditation and fighting!"

"Yes, there's also spell research, rune research, and potion research."

"."

Quidi was speechless for a moment. "Talking to you is really boring. Never mind, let's talk about something you're interested in."

Ronan stopped walking and turned to look at Quidi. "Tell me about it."

Quidi took a big gulp of ale and said, "A member of the Arcane Circle wants to find an ice wizard to help adjust the Rune Array."

This task has been posted in the Arcane Circle for almost two months, but no one has taken it. Haven't you been looking for someone to sponsor your application to join the Arcane Circle?

Perhaps this is an opportunity.

Ronan turned around.

He knew that Quidi had special connections that allowed him to receive missions that were only available to members of the Arcane Circle.

These are usually tasks with low rewards that regular members of the Arcane Circle are unwilling to accept, but which are tasks that someone absolutely needs to complete.

At this point, it would fall into the hands of these formal wizards who were "waiting to join the Arcane Circle" through "middlemen" like Quidi.

"Is this task difficult?"

Ronan thought for a moment and asked.

"It's not difficult."

Quidi shook his head and explained, "Actually, this is a long-term task; it's released every month."

The key issue is the person who posted the task; they have a serious problem.

"Is there a problem with the person who posted the task?"

Ronan frowned.

"That guy has offended a lot of people in the Arcane Circle, so no one in the Arcane Circle will take on his missions."

The rewards they offer for their tasks are very low, but their temper is absolutely awful.

Quidi shrugged and said, "So nobody outside the Arcane Circle wants to take on this mission."

"That was indeed a very good opportunity."

"It's just a chance."

Quidi tossed a thin piece of paper at Ronan, took a sip of his wine, and clicked his tongue. "You'd better be prepared. There have been other ice wizards who had similar ideas, but without exception, they all failed. Actually, I don't think there's any need to rush into joining the Arcane Circle. It's true that there are inheritances and resources within the Arcane Circle, but how much of it actually reaches us? There are so many restrictions. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy thirty years of freedom first? We still have plenty of time, right, Damien? Damian! Damien! Damien! Are you even listening to me?!"

Ronan was already far away, leaving Quidi's shouts behind him.

He looked down at the piece of paper that Quidi had given him, and saw a simple address written on it— 131 Copper Ingot Street.

If there are "slums" outside the Seven Ring City, Copper Ingot Street should be one of them.

Ronan strolled along the desolate and dilapidated street, the ground beneath his feet cracked and scarred, and the streets lined with abandoned and abandoned houses and shops.

As you walk along, you can only see the occasional Illumination Crystal streetlights still lit in front of a few houses.

It's hard to imagine that a full member of the Arcane Circle would choose to live in such a place; even the most destitute Level One Wizard would find it unbearable.

Ronan conjured a piece of ice the size of a pigeon's egg in his hand, flipping and playing with it between his long, slender fingers. This was a little trick he had figured out himself to train his control over ice energy.

He strolled slowly along the long street, checking his Character Panel as he went.

[Strength: Level One Wizard (24%)]

After downing bottle after bottle of mental power enhancement potions, his Strength Progress progressed to 24% of Level One Wizard, and his mental power more than doubled compared to when he first advanced.

If classified by the standards of the Wizard World, he should be close to the mid-stage of level one now.

Because of his frequent drug use and the need to constantly eliminate impurities from his mental energy, Ronan practiced his Basic Meditation Technique diligently. His [Clarity Realm] was almost always active, and his proficiency in Basic Meditation Technique broke through the Master Level barrier of 100 proficiency.

Every 100 points of proficiency is a threshold, Ronan has clearly noticed that he is now much more efficient at using the [Basic Meditation Technique to remove impurities.

Everyone who knows even a little about him advises him to reduce his drug use, lest his mental state become disordered and affect his future career advancement.

In fact, Ronan's true situation is the exact opposite of what everyone imagined. Due to the constant cleansing by the [[Clarity Realm]], his mental power is not only unmixed, but also much purer than that of an average first-level wizard.

Even Ronan had already felt the benefits of pure mental energy—faster casting speed, less mental energy consumption, and smoother transitions between spells. The only thing that had ever hindered his progress was his soul aptitude. Even after undergoing a soul purification, his soul aptitude was still only considered the most ordinary among First Level Wizard.

Because he had been focusing on practicing ice magic, his proficiency with several commonly used spells hadn't improved much. However, Ronan had mastered the three first-tier ice spells, [Ice Armor], [Frost Spear], and [Frost Howl], to a high level.

He has put in a lot of hard work to improve his Ice Ball, and has now reached the Expert level (784/800).

It won't be long before he breaks through to the Master Level.

With the strength of First Level Wizard, focusing on practicing a zero-level spell, especially a low-level zero-level spell, one's proficiency increases very quickly.

In the past, it would have taken at least three months to achieve this level of progress.

Ronan had experimented with it, and now he was using the near-perfect Expert Level [Ice Ball] spell, along with two first-tier spells as anchors, to construct Ice Cold Domain. The power generated by the domain was no less than the effect when he used all first-tier spells to construct it before.

If the fourth anchor spell, [Ice Ball], is added to the original spell, the power of the Ice Cold Domain can be increased by about one-third.

As it turns out, his efforts were in the right direction.

However, whether this will truly bring about a qualitative change in the field will only be known after [Ice Ball] has fully advanced to the Master Level and given rise to Extraordinary Magic Domain.

Before he knew it, Ronan had arrived at his destination.