Conception of the Meditation Method, Wizard Apprentice Breakthrough

The ventilation window in the Confinement Room was tiny, allowing only a sliver of daylight to filter in.

But for Ron now, that was enough.

This stone room, barely ten square meters in size, contained only a crude wooden bed, a bucket for human waste, and a slanted wooden table missing one leg.

Yet this simple environment allowed him to focus more intently on his cultivation.

"It's quite a good place for solitary cultivation." Ron laughed at himself.

The Enforcement Squad's management of those in confinement was fairly lax. He did not know whether that was because Holt had secretly pulled some strings.

Every day, the Confinement Room received a reasonably ample meal at the proper time. They were even allowed to keep some personal belongings—of course, all such items were strictly inspected to ensure they posed no security risks.

Ron took Darund's notebook from his clothes and began studying it carefully by the faint light.

By now, he had gained a deeper understanding of the conception behind the Sonic Spell.

In particular, his insights into "Rhythm" during this period had allowed him to notice many details he had previously overlooked.

Sonic Oscillation (Prototype) Experience +3

Current Progress: Sonic Oscillation (Prototype 87/100)

"The key is here."

He finally understood why Darund had encountered a bottleneck in his research.

In truth, Darund's initial idea of using musical notes to perfect the Sonic Spell had undoubtedly been correct, but the process was clearly one that required slow, painstaking effort.

After repeatedly running into obstacles, the pressure of time had driven Darund to try using external force to strengthen the output of his mental power.

It was because he had abandoned his original, correct approach that he ultimately went to extremes and caused the tragedy.

Just as the Corona Breathing Technique imitated the sun's movement, this Sonic Spell should also find its own rhythm.

Setting down the notebook, Ron began his daily meditation.

In this environment, isolated from the outside world, his mind instead reached a level of focus it had never attained before.

Basic Meditation started

Special effect triggered: Extreme Focus—this meditation's effect increased

Basic Meditation Experience +1

Basic Meditation Experience +1

Basic Meditation Experience +1

...

Current Progress: Basic Meditation (Beginner 93/100)

Within his consciousness space, the rune formed by three arcs became increasingly clear.

Unlike its former stiffness, the rune now seemed to possess a certain lively rhythm.

Every flow of mental power had become exceptionally smooth, as though it had found the most suitable path.

Ron could feel that he was not far from breaking through.

On the second-to-last day of his confinement, Ron completed his routine morning meditation.

Nearly two weeks of isolation from the world had brought his mental power to an unprecedented new height.

This barren, enclosed environment had instead allowed him to focus more deeply on exploring his inner world.

When he sank into his consciousness space, the basic rune formed by three arcs had become exceptionally clear, almost tangible.

Each arc trembled faintly, and every node radiated a soft glow.

Ron could feel that he seemed to be standing at some kind of critical point. With only a gentle push, he could break through that invisible barrier.

He took a deep breath and focused all his attention on the rune.

Unlike his previous mechanical manipulation, this time he tried to resonate with the rune, allowing his consciousness to merge completely with it.

At that moment, Ron suddenly understood—the essence of the Basic Meditation Method does not lie in controlling the rune, but in becoming the rune.

With this realization, the rune in his consciousness space began to shake violently, radiating unprecedented light.

His mental power seemed to have found the most suitable way to flow, surging like a flood bursting through a breached dam.

Basic Meditation breakthrough!

Basic Meditation Experience +1

Basic Meditation (Beginner 99/100) → Basic Meditation (Proficient—Max)

Additional trait obtained:

Mental Circulation (When changing to a higher-tier Meditation Method, experience can be directly retained up to the Proficient level)

For Basic Meditation, reaching the Proficient level seemed to be its limit. Ron felt a trace of regret.

But the breakthrough did not stop there. Ron felt the mental power within his body undergoing an unprecedented transformation.

The mental power that had originally been scattered like loose sand was now spontaneously reorganizing according to some mysterious pattern, forming a more stable and purer energy structure.

Within his consciousness space, streams of light began pouring from the rune. They intertwined into a Net within his mental world, forming an entirely new mental power field.

This change did not occur only within him. Ron's perception was also rapidly improving.

Every detail of the Confinement Room—even the faint energy fluctuations beyond the walls—was clearly reflected in his perception.

Mental power qualitative transformation complete

Spirit: 1.6 → 2.0

Power level increased: Knight Squire → Primary Apprentice

His mental power had crossed the 2.0 threshold, meaning he had officially reached the standard of a Primary Apprentice.

The change was not merely a numerical increase, but a qualitative leap in strength.

His consciousness became exceptionally clear. The speed and breadth of his thoughts had improved tremendously, and even his perception of the outside world had become sharper than ever.

More astonishingly, Ron suddenly discovered that he could sense an ability he had never possessed before.

—Mental power was no longer merely energy circulating within his body. It could manifest as waves extending outward and exert a tangible influence on living beings.

Was this the Mental Interference ability Marcus had used on him that day?

Ron tentatively released a small stream of mental power outward, sensing its movement through the air.

The sensation was strange and unfamiliar, as natural as breathing, something he seemed born knowing how to do, yet it was also filled with novelty.

Under his control, his mental power easily formed a faint interference wave that radiated into the surroundings.

"I see."

Ron murmured softly. This ability did not actually require deliberate study. Once mental power reached a certain level, it was naturally mastered as an instinct.

Just as a baby did not need to specifically learn how to swallow, a Wizard Apprentice would naturally learn how to release mental power outward.

For most extraordinary professionals who did not cultivate mental power, this instinctive Mental Interference ability was extremely frightening, capable of easily disrupting their thoughts.

But against an opponent who was also an apprentice, its specific effect would depend on the difference between their mental powers.

At that moment, a translucent information panel automatically appeared in the space before him:

Mental power reached 2.0 √

Basic Meditation Method reached Proficient √

Combat profession unlocked—Wizard Apprentice (One-and-a-Half-Star) advancement information

Wizard Apprentice (One-and-a-Half-Star)

Advancement requirements:

1. Mental power reaches 2.0 √

2. Basic Meditation Method reaches Proficient √

3. Master one spell at the Proficient level

After advancement:

1. Attribute growth:

Magic Growth (Two-Star)

Constitution Growth (One-Star)

Spirit Growth (Two-and-a-Half-Star)

2. Basic profession skills unlocked—Spell Construction, Mental Interference

3. Special bonuses:

Spell skill experience gain rate slightly increased

Mental power growth rate slightly increased

Mana capacity and recovery rate slightly increased