Joseph

Drew spent three days at home brewing Shadow Potion, and after three days, the familiar sound of knocking at the door arrived.

Drew grabbed the bag containing the potions and opened the door.

Today, it wasn't just Deke standing at the door; there was an extra person. This individual wore a pointed mage's hat and was draped in a mage's robe made of coarse fabric.

On the chest of the robe was a book emblem, which, according to Karen's memories, signified that this person was a Junior Mage.

Drew said nothing, handed the bag in his hand to Deke, and then turned to stare fixedly at this Junior Mage.

Deke, knowing his place, said nothing and bowed as he left. Feeling immense pressure, the Junior Mage had no choice but to introduce himself.

"Greetings, Mage Drew. My name is Joseph.

I am a resident of this Lincoln Town.

As you can see, I am a Junior Mage." The mage named Joseph pointed to the mage emblem on his chest.

Drew looked at him without speaking.

Joseph added awkwardly, "It's like this: as fellow mages, I should have come to visit you the moment you arrived.

However, you are also an alchemist.

I was worried about disturbing you while you were working, so I specifically waited to accompany Deke to visit you.

At this time, I can be certain you aren't currently brewing, so I don't fear interrupting you."

"What do you want with me?"

"Just a normal exchange between mages, a formal visit."

"Very well, we have met.

My home is small, so I won't be hosting you. Please head back."

"Wait, wait, wait, I have a matter to discuss. Would you mind hearing my story?"

"I was born in this town, and back then, I was detected to have mage talent.

The entire town was overjoyed. Everyone pooled their resources to help me study magic.

But my talent was lacking; after studying for years, I could only reach the level of a Junior Mage, and I could never promote to a Middle Mage. Eventually, I gave up and returned to teach students.

I hoped to do right by the town's residents by training a few more mages. Fortunately, my students have better talent than I do, and several have already become official Junior Mages.

My best students are about to surpass me, and I can no longer teach them.

Since I have no experience in becoming a Middle Mage, I wanted to ask if you could share your insights on promoting to a Middle Mage. Would you be willing?"

"In my experience, as long as one can become an official mage, there are no bottlenecks before attempting to reach the level of a Senior Mage.

As long as you have accumulated enough, you can promote to a Middle Mage. What is the reason you cannot promote?"

"My mental power is sufficient, but I cannot condense the magic runes.

I feel those structures are just too difficult; they are literally the death of me," Joseph said sheepishly.

Drew was speechless. Among those with mage talent, who wasn't a clever person?

How could there be such a weirdo who couldn't handle magic runes?

Others either lacked the mental power or had suffered trauma affecting their promotion, such as soul injuries or mental damage.

"Aside from the magic runes, have you met all other criteria?" Drew asked cautiously.

"Yes, I have been a Junior Mage for many years, and the standards for promotion have long been met.

It's just that those lines and patterns of the magic runes are truly too difficult."

"Fine, I understand your situation.

I will not go to teach your students about promotion.

It's meaningless; promoting to a Middle Mage is a natural progression. As long as the conditions are met, there is absolutely no problem.

Your situation is an extreme outlier.

However, I do have a way to solve a case like yours.

Once you promote yourself, you can just share the experience with them," Drew rejected Joseph's proposal; it was a complete waste of time and energy.

"What? You can really solve my problem and let me promote?" Joseph asked excitedly.

"I only said I have a method. Whether it can solve your problem depends on you," Drew said mysteriously.

"What are your conditions? As long as I can do it, I will agree."

"Honestly, what do you have that you can trade with me?

I don't lack money, and I don't care for the treasures someone at your level could produce. Or, would you be willing to become my follower?" Drew asked indifferently.

Joseph stammered and did not answer. "How about this: I will organize the method over the next few days, and you can take this time to think about what you can give me.

We will meet again in three days. You should head back for today."

Joseph had no choice; since Drew had started showing him the door, he had to leave, looking back every few steps with reluctance.

It was clear that if he didn't need to go back and think about what he could actually offer, Joseph would have been ready to squat at Drew's doorstep for the next three days.

What method did Drew use to enable Joseph to advance?

It was actually a matter of treating both the symptoms and the root cause. Why couldn't Joseph advance?

It was because his brain wasn't up to the task; he couldn't handle magic runes.

As long as he could handle magic runes, he would be able to advance.

The logic was simple, but how could one make his brain click?

In fact, after comparing alchemy to something akin to a chemistry experiment, Drew had also studied magic runes.

Drew discovered that magic runes were very similar to analytic geometry; they were all lines and segments, requiring abstract thinking and spatial imagination.

Drew wondered, if one were to learn analytic geometry, progressing from easy to difficult, could it train a person's abstract thinking and spatial imagination, and perhaps make it easier for them to condense magic runes in their sea of consciousness?

Just as he was researching this, a ready-made test subject appeared by sheer coincidence.

That's right, it was Joseph.

Joseph was the test subject Drew had now selected.

Why not just give Joseph the method instead of keeping him hanging?

First, Drew had only just begun his research, and the study materials weren't ready yet.

Second, it is human nature not to cherish things obtained too easily.

If Joseph obtained it too easily, he wouldn't devote himself wholeheartedly to his studies.

The results of his learning might not be ideal. Only by obtaining something through hardship and struggle would he cherish it all the more.

Only then would he study with extra effort, exerting 120 percent of his potential.

Otherwise, with a brain like Joseph's, if he didn't work hard, he might end up with eight out of nine orifices cleared, only to find the last one blocked—which would be quite embarrassing.

Due to the database in the system being completely corrupted during the transmigration process.

These study materials were all gone, but that couldn't stump the omnipotent system.

The system indicated that it had previously served as a learning system and possessed the experience and foundation.

It could compile a set of study materials from scratch, it would just take some time, which was why it gave Joseph three days.

Over the next three days, Drew would need to carve out some time from his alchemy to compile the study materials.

Fortunately, Drew's alchemy success rate was extremely high, allowing him to free up a large amount of time.

He could write the study materials without hindering his alchemy work in the slightest.