Explosion and Beauty (Please Vote!)

Old White's talent was mediocre. When he first condensed his Magic Seed, it had only stirred up a faint ripple of elemental energy—worse even than Mason's.

He spent decades before barely advancing to the realm of a Second Order mage, but his talent limited him, and he could no longer advance any further.

In the end, he accepted reality and became the Magic Tower's administrator, earning a fairly respectable income as he planned to spend the rest of his life.

Thus, in his eyes, Mason—who had failed to advance four times—was laughable and undeserving of sympathy. Naturally, he mocked him.

But now, Tier Four mage Mason stood before him.

No matter how unwilling he was to believe it, the aura of a Tier Four mage couldn't be faked.

Though he didn't particularly like Mason, he knew Mason wasn't the sort to buy a Tier 4 Aura Potion just to show off and fool him.

Still, cases of someone succeeding after failing to advance four times were exceedingly rare, even in the entire history of the magic world.

So when Mason said that potted flower could improve a mage's meditation efficiency, Old White's mind went blank for a moment. He didn't know whether to believe it.

Logically, if such a miraculous plant truly existed, it should have long since become known across the continent.

If it was scarce only because it was too precious, it shouldn't have ended up in the hands of a short, ugly guy like Mason.

And bought from a Flower Shop, no less?

Even if he wanted to lie, he should've made up something more convincing!

But... on second thought, Mason really had advanced to Tier Four. If he hadn't received outside help, there was no way someone who had failed four times could've succeeded!

So what Mason said was true?

Such a miraculous plant really existed, one that could improve a mage's meditation efficiency?

No, no!

Old White shook his head fiercely.

Why would that guy be kind enough to tell me this?

Maybe he'd discovered some method or item that could help with advancement, but didn't want to tell me the truth, so he'd deliberately prepared this potted flower to fool me?

If I really went and bought a flower, only to find it completely useless, that bastard could laugh at me all he wanted, right!?

Old White was full of inner drama. In just a few seconds, countless thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, and he instantly saw through Mason's "sinister scheme."

So he stopped asking questions, sat back in his recliner with a disdainful expression, and refused to take the bait.

Mason's advancement would definitely attract the academy's attention anyway. When that happened, they would surely require him to write an advancement report.

After all, succeeding after failing four times was indeed an extremely rare case. The academy would certainly record Mason's breakthrough method to help other mages stuck at the threshold.

When the time came, Old White could call in a favor and ask someone for the exact method. There was no need to rush.

With that thought, Old White became even more composed. He only hoped that Mason, that irritating fellow, would leave quickly.

Seeing the disbelief on his face, Mason didn't say anything more.

These days, nobody believed the truth even when you told it.

He shook his head, then carried the Nether Orchid toward Professor Hicks's magic laboratory, intending to share the good news with his colleagues and Professor Hicks.

Southern Experimental District of the Magic Academy.

After lunch, Professor Hicks arrived at his experimental district.

Unlike those brainless warriors who only knew how to train their muscles, mages were a profession that relied on the mind to fight.

As one of the outstanding mages, Hicks studied new magic in the laboratory every day.

There were far too many things to study in the world of magic.

From spellcasting gestures and supplementary materials to the analysis and simplification of magic array structures, from the study of elemental essences to the research and production of magic potions.

New things emerged in the magic world every day, gradually influencing this world.

Even though Hicks was already a Tier Six mage, there were still many fields in the world of magic waiting for him to explore.

Bang!

As soon as Hicks entered his experimental district, he heard a tremendous explosion from one of the laboratories.

The corner of his eye twitched slightly.

His experimental district was large, with many laboratories assigned to several teaching assistants under him for small experiments.

And the laboratory where the explosion had occurred...

With a headache coming on, Hicks walked to the laboratory door, opened it, and looked inside.

A thick cloud of smoke billowed out through the doorway.

"Cough, cough." Hicks coughed twice, then shouted helplessly, with a hint of annoyance, "Harper? Get out here!"

A clattering sound immediately came from inside the laboratory. A soot-covered goblin crawled out, still holding a tube of red potion in his hand, and shouted excitedly:

"Hahaha! Professor, the Intermediate Fireball Combustion-Assisting Potion I just developed is definitely powerful!"

Professor Hicks waved away the dust in front of him and asked sternly, "What happened this time? This is already the thirteenth explosive accident you've caused this month!"

The goblin Harper climbed to his feet and strode over, kicking up dust all the way. He grinned smugly at Professor Hicks. "The road to truth is always winding and rough. That's the dean's motto. This explosion was merely a tiny setback before truth."

"The cost of everything damaged in the laboratory, converted into gold coins, will be deducted from this month's reimbursement allowance." Hicks said with a dark expression.

"Of course, of course." Harper nodded repeatedly, clearly long accustomed to handling this. Then he leaned closer, raised the potion in his hand, and waggled his eyebrows. "Professor, want to try it? Your fire magic isn't all that great, but with my potion, your Fireball Technique's power will definitely rise several levels!"

"And then the fireball will explode right in front of me before I can even launch it, is that it?" Hicks snapped. "Can't you use your brain for something else? You spend all day tinkering with this unreliable nonsense and wasting your talent!"

Harper first gave an embarrassed laugh, then shook his head repeatedly. A resolute gleam burst from his eyes. "Only explosions and beautiful women are my true pursuits!"

Professor Hicks's eye twitched as he waved him away impatiently. "Hurry up and clean the laboratory!"

"Got it!" Harper answered, then immediately scampered back into the smoke-filled laboratory.

Just then, Mason arrived from the Magic Tower. Joy he couldn't hide filled his face. The moment he spotted Hicks in the distance, he immediately waved and shouted, "Professor! Professor!"

Hicks turned to look toward the distance. When he saw Mason, he couldn't help sighing inwardly.

The thought that the only reliable teaching assistant under him was about to resign and leave gave him a headache.

However, when Mason drew near, Hicks immediately frowned, then asked in surprise, "Mason, you've advanced to Tier Four!?"