Qualification Assessment and Recommendation Letter

Ron was somewhat surprised. "How did you know..."

"Heh... I've been staying in this market for many years. I'm more familiar with the School's procedures than anyone."

As she spoke, she took a crystal bottle from a locked drawer. "Here, take this back first."

Ron accepted the crystal bottle and recognized it as the bottle of Artificial Star Dew Holt had given him.

"Do you remember? I promised to keep it for you temporarily and return it once you passed the apprentice assessment."

Mrs. Allen said this as the sternness on her face softened somewhat, replaced by the gratification of an elder toward a junior. "Now that you've broken through, it naturally belongs in your hands again."

"I nearly forgot about that promise." Ron admitted honestly, "Thank you for keeping it safe, Mrs. Allen."

"And this, too." Mrs. Allen handed him another letter bearing a strange seal. "Take this recommendation letter with you and present it to the duty staff when you apply for your initial resource allocation."

Ron accepted the letter in confusion. The seal on it looked extremely ancient. "This is..."

"As a Primary Apprentice, you're entitled to apply for a resource allocation from the School once." Mrs. Allen patiently explained, "Generally speaking, the quality and quantity of the resources you receive will be determined by your potential rating."

She paused, a trace of concern flashing through her eyes. "Given your initial aptitude and the timing of your breakthrough, your rating probably won't be very high. This recommendation letter should help you raise your access level by one rank."

Ron felt a warmth in his heart. He had never expected such concern. "Mrs. Allen... I truly don't know how to thank you."

"You little brat, don't get so sentimental."

At that, Mrs. Allen immediately returned to her usual sternness and waved her hand as if shooing away an annoying fly.

"I just find you more pleasing than those arrogant fools who overestimate themselves. I simply don't want to see you suffer for nothing in the School."

Ron put away the recommendation letter and the Star Dew, somewhat at a loss for words. He was just preparing himself to say something tearfully grateful...

"All right, all right, hurry up and get lost. Don't delay me from closing up."

Mrs. Allen waved her hand. Her tone was impatient, but a gentle light glimmered in her dark green eyes.

"Don't forget—you still have to come to work on time tomorrow."

The School's Central Hall stood on the outskirts of the Black Mist Forest. It was an ancient yet magnificent building.

Dozens of Night-light Stones were embedded in its towering spire. Even on the darkest night, they emitted a soft glow that illuminated the surrounding area.

Ron slowly approached the hall's entrance, unable to stop a trace of nervousness from rising in his heart.

Although he had personally confirmed that his mental strength had reached the Primary Apprentice standard, this was still his first formal qualification assessment.

Hopefully I won't attract a crowd of onlookers like Locke did... he thought. Being watched like a monkey really isn't a pleasant feeling.

He recalled the scene when Locke had tested his mental strength. Nearly half the Candidate Apprentices from the dormitory district had been drawn over, surrounding the center of the hall and pointing at him while whispering.

That sort of scene would disgust him no matter the circumstances. In an environment like the Black Mist Forest, attracting too much attention also meant potential danger.

Ron had always been a cautious person. Especially after his conflict with Marcus, he understood even more clearly the importance of keeping a low profile.

Fortunately, there weren't many people in the Central Hall at that moment. Most of the apprentices were busy with their own experiments or carrying out missions outside.

Ron relaxed slightly and slowly walked toward the duty area in the corner.

The duty area was a relatively independent section of the hall. Several apprentices in gray-and-white uniforms were handling various matters there.

Ron observed them carefully for a while before choosing a female duty officer who looked relatively free and kind.

"Hello. I'm here for the Primary Apprentice qualification assessment." He maintained a polite yet neither servile nor arrogant attitude.

The duty officer looked up at him. She appeared to be in her thirties, with attractive features and a hint of weariness. The pale blue badge on her chest showed that she was an Intermediate Apprentice.

"Name?" Her tone was strictly official, but not impatient.

"Ron Ralph."

"Affiliated area?"

"Candidate Apprentice Dormitory District, east wing." Ron answered briefly, trying not to attract unnecessary attention.

The duty officer nodded and flipped through a thick book beside her, her finger sliding quickly across the pages. "Your name doesn't seem to be on the School's predicted breakthrough list?"

"Yes. I broke through in the Confinement Room." Ron answered truthfully.

The duty officer's pen stopped. She raised her head, surprise showing in her eyes. "The Confinement Room? There aren't any conditions there to assist with Meditation Method cultivation."

"It was precisely that environment that helped me greatly." Ron gave a vague explanation. "Being isolated from the outside world allowed me to focus more fully on meditation."

The duty officer studied him for several seconds, comparing him with the information in her hands. Her expression gradually became intrigued.

"Ron Ralph... I found it. Your mental strength aptitude test result was Six-Rank Star, right?"

Ron's heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged. "Yes, ma'am."

"Six-Rank Star... You only arrived in the Black Mist Forest more than nine months ago..."

The duty officer spoke with disbelief, the surprise in her eyes becoming even more pronounced. "To break through within the allotted time with mental strength aptitude like that is indeed highly unusual."

She closed the book and stood up. "Come with me. You need to undergo a formal mental strength assessment."

Ron breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't have to be tested in front of everyone in the center of the hall.

The duty officer led him through the corridor to a small door marked with ancient runes.

Inside was an independent testing room. A crystal ball similar to the one in the hall, though smaller, stood in the center of the room, surrounded by intricate runes.

"Place your hand on the Crystal Ball and release your mental strength." The duty officer gave the instruction calmly, but she could no longer conceal the curiosity in her eyes.

Ron nodded and gently placed his right hand on the Crystal Ball.

He closed his eyes and, following the rhythm of the Meditation Method he had practiced to proficiency, steadily and methodically mobilized the mental strength within his body.

As his mental strength flowed into it, the Crystal Ball began to radiate a gentle light.

Dark-red mist churned inside the ball, gradually forming a clear and stable symbol.

Unlike the blurry, extremely dim symbol from when he had first arrived, the symbol was now bright and solid, without the slightest ripple on its surface.

The duty officer's pupils contracted slightly. She was clearly surprised by the result. "There are almost no impurities in your mental strength fluctuations, and your stability far exceeds that of an ordinary Primary Apprentice... How did you do it?"