Apprentices and Spells

The Demonic Mark Meditation Method belonged to the third generation of meditation methods.

Both the Black Book and the Initiation Inheritance mentioned that during the ancient era of first-generation meditation methods, the threshold for entry had been extremely high. Wizard Apprentices had no level distinctions; there was only the single transition from apprentice to Formal Wizard.

By the second generation of meditation methods, the overall environment of the wizarding world had changed because of it. The difficulty of entry had successfully been lowered, and Wizard Apprentices began to be divided into three clear tiered levels, followed by Formal Wizard. Depending on the school of meditation method, different innate spells would also be generated upon reaching Third-Level Apprentice.

By the third generation of meditation methods, thanks to the efforts of great wizards, the spiritual aptitude requirement for entry had been lowered once more. Wizard Apprentices were divided into five levels, each stage smoother than before, with more condensed spiritual power and somewhat reduced difficulty in advancing to Formal Wizard. Of course, that reduction was relative. Those who stagnated were the common lot of countless people on the path of transcendence.

This third-generation meditation method no longer had the innate spells of the second generation. Instead, each stage possessed a Temporary Spell Slot.

Temporary Spell Slots, also known as False Spell Slots, had been created by great wizards to improve the survival capabilities of lower-level apprentices. Upon reaching Level-Five Wizard Apprentice, one would possess five False Spell Slots.

In other words, once he became a Level-One Wizard Apprentice, he should ideally prepare two different Zero-Ring Spells. One was indispensable for solidification and would accompany him for life, while the other would be stored in a Temporary Spell Slot.

As the name implied, a Temporary Spell Slot needed its spell model to be empowered again during meditation after every use. Preparation was required before each casting.

For the Demonic Mark Meditation Method, Temporary Spell Slots were those Demonic Marks. A Level-Five Wizard Apprentice possessed five Demonic Marks, and each Demonic Mark could store one Zero-Ring Spell.

Like true Spell Slots, these False Spell Slots allowed quick casting at low cost. Their drawback was that they could not be replenished during intense battle, nor could they help one comprehend the true essence of spells as genuine Spell Slots could. But they had one advantage: "temporary" meant that the stored spell could be changed according to one's thoughts and circumstances.

Ruger looked over the resources in his hands and recalled Ka Liu's various choices and doubts recorded in the diary.

A large portion of Wizard Apprentices chose to solidify the Fireball Spell.

The Zero-Ring Spell Fireball Spell was far weaker than the First-Ring Spell Fireball Spell, but it was more practical in certain situations. It was smaller, only the size of an ordinary person's fist, and faster as well. As a Zero-Ring Spell, its casting cost was naturally far lower than that of a First-Ring Spell. Thus, even Formal Wizards would use one or two Fireball Spells on occasion—for instance, when they did not seek power and merely wanted to quickly ignite a distant target.

Once the Fireball Spell was solidified in a Spell Slot, a Wizard Apprentice would undergo an immediate transformation. The extremely low cost of a solidified spell allowed a Level-One Apprentice to support a great deal of casting, like a fireball-launching magical artifact with legs. Continued use would also grant deeper insight into the solidified spell, reducing its cost even further.

After thinking for a moment, he selected a book on the Fireball Spell and set it to his left as an alternative.

He then looked at the remaining books and the six scrolls beside them.

From the diary, he had learned that these scrolls had been made by Ka Liu. Producing and selling them had been Ka Liu's primary source of income. They were called Inheritance Scrolls and were not meant for combat. Their main purpose was for low-level spells one needed to learn but did not need to spend time and energy researching.

For example, two of the six scrolls were Inheritance Scrolls for Arcane Imprint. It was probably a good seller in ordinary times, so Ka Liu had made more of them as stock.

Arcane Imprint was a Zero-Ring Spell every wizard had to learn. Yet common understanding held that it was not worth wasting time researching. Basic mastery was enough. One only needed to spend a few magic stones, buy an Inheritance Scroll, and gently unfurl it. The spell model would then rapidly form in the mind under guidance.

Everything would fall naturally into place.

Aside from the two Arcane Imprint scrolls, four different Inheritance Scrolls remained.

Shedding Spell, Zero-Ring Spell.

It was an overlooked little spell that worked on hair. Perhaps it might prove useful when one was too lazy to wash up or groom oneself. Many believed that trying to learn this spell was less worthwhile than preparing a sharp razor. Fortunately, the world had the great invention of Inheritance Scrolls. This spell was mostly used for pranks between friends. For just a few magic stones, one could permanently master the supreme secret art of turning friends bald. Use it periodically to promote friendship between both sides.

Strength of the Savage Bull, Zero-Ring Spell.

Everyone knew that Strength of the Savage Bull was slightly weaker than Strength Spell in terms of strength enhancement, but it granted the target astonishing endurance. It performed better than Strength Spell when it came to surviving in the wilderness.

Foul-Smelling Skin, Zero-Ring Spell.

It was foul and powerful, even capable of making enemies dizzy. The price was that the caster had to endure it too, but that price was also an advantage. The caster would gradually adapt to it, and residue from repeated castings would gradually bring the spell's effect close to the legendary permanent effect. It was a very peculiar Zero-Ring Spell, mainly used by low-level Wizard Apprentices to evade large underground beasts. Casting it might earn one a beating, but one would definitely not end up in a beast's mouth.

Mental Boil, Zero-Ring Spell.

After casting it, spiritual power would briefly become more active, keeping one awake and offering a slight resistance to mental confusion. Overall, it was not especially useful, but it had one special quality that made it world-famous in the wizarding world. Once solidified in a Spell Slot and fused with one's spiritual space, it would improve a Wizard Apprentice's aptitude, increase meditation efficiency, and promote spiritual power growth.

Of course, this effect was weak. Yet from another perspective, it was powerful, because one could benefit from it for life. That was difficult for other spells to achieve. Zero-Ring Spells such as Fireball Spell would rarely see use after one became a Formal Wizard.

But choosing to solidify Mental Boil in a Spell Slot meant bidding farewell to powerful means during one's years as a Wizard Apprentice.

He set down the scroll in his hand and withdrew the spiritual power he had used for perception.

He felt that the information in these scrolls should be viewed with some discount. For example, the astonishing endurance mentioned in the Zero-Ring Spell Strength of the Savage Bull certainly existed and was not fabricated, but it might have been slightly exaggerated. "Astonishing" might merely have been an exaggerated description. After all, these scrolls were merchandise.

Half-Man had said that he was expected to learn a Zero-Ring Spell before mastering six runes, though the predictions of that mysterious man missing half his head were not accurate.

But the implication in his words was that he guessed Ruger would not fancy the things on these quick-learning scrolls.

Among the books, aside from the Fireball Spell book and books meant to broaden one's horizons, such as diaries and illustrated guides, there were three books on Zero-Ring Spells.

The three spells were Demon Skin Spell, Ear-Growing Spell, and Freezing Ray.

Half-Man had probably expected him to choose one of them to attempt, then spend some time mastering it.

The diary stated that everyone had certain strange and differing affinities with spells. Half-Man had likely given him these additional choices because he feared that Ruger might not encounter a compatible one and be too foolish to ever learn a spell.

From among the miscellaneous items, he took out something shaped like an hourglass. It contained no sand, only an embedded diamond-shaped crystal. The moment he sensed it with spiritual power, he understood how to use it. Under the pull of his spiritual power, the crystal lit up with a soft white glow.

Half-Man had thought things through quite thoroughly, allowing him to retain some sense of time even in this sunless place.

The diamond-shaped crystal was more than a lamp. Its upper and lower ends would take turns glowing as time passed. One end represented day, the other night, and one full cycle meant a day had passed. It was far more useful than using his stomach to tell time. At least in this underground world, he now had a clear concept of the days passing.

Calculating his food supply, he decided to spend two days first roughly reading through all four Zero-Ring Spell books to see whether he was compatible with any of them.

The reason he believed so firmly in the idea of compatibility was that it had already appeared before his eyes.

Though he did not want to admit it, whenever he used spiritual power to sense the Inheritance Scrolls for the Zero-Ring Spells Shedding Spell and Foul-Smelling Skin, a strange, indescribable sensation would arise deep within him.

It was as though they were the good friends he had been waiting for all along.

Ka Liu's diary also often mentioned a term: Spiritual Light. That indescribable feeling was like the stirring of Spiritual Light.

When some wizards had no choice but to face an important decision yet lacked solid grounds to rely on, they would choose to follow the guidance of the Spiritual Light in their hearts.

His first cursory reading, without seeking deep understanding, went faster than he had imagined.

When he set down the last book, the Fireball Spell book that he had read more than halfway through, less than a day had passed.

The four books were laid out before him.

He raised a hand and brushed it over them one by one.

He did not want to continue like this.

Perhaps his mindset needed to change.

He lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over the recesses in the cave walls, where insect shells and beast-hide materials had been placed.

His old habits had always been influencing him.

In that comfortable environment from before, he had always liked to do things in one go.

He believed that was more cost-effective and wiser, even if it required long waits and enduring hardship and suffering along the way. Even if it was sometimes unnecessary, he would still do it that way, because he had grown used to it.

But this was no longer that environment, and there was no comfort to speak of.

Perhaps, at the right time, making a choice suited only to the present—

That was not bad either. It was what he should do now, and it was better. There was no need to devote too much energy to thinking about the future. In this environment, there might not be a future.

Now, he could be certain that none of these four Zero-Ring Spells were something he could learn in a short time. And he was merely a Kobold with little ability to resist. Even if he told Aisijin that she could knock him flat with two or three punches, this strong Kobold girl would not agree with him.

"Perhaps this really is a pretty good choice..."

He set the books aside and picked up the scroll for Foul-Smelling Skin.

Since he was going to use an Inheritance Scroll, he naturally had to choose between Foul-Smelling Skin and Strength of the Savage Bull. After Strength of the Savage Bull was cast, its enhancement would last for a while, making it highly suitable for a Temporary Spell Slot. Foul-Smelling Skin, on the other hand, required continuous consumption of spiritual power after casting to maintain it, making it suitable for solidification in a true Spell Slot.

Foul-Smelling Skin was also highly suitable for a lone traveler like him, increasing his chances of survival while hunting and surviving in the wilderness.

Moreover, he was looking forward to solidifying this Zero-Ring Spell that was compatible with him in a Spell Slot.

The Black Book stated that someone of ordinary talent should ideally construct only one Zero-Ring Spell model in their spiritual space before becoming a Level-One Wizard Apprentice, lest it interfere with the formation of Demonic Marks. Once the advancement was complete and he had rested and recovered, he could use all these Inheritance Scrolls, including Shedding Spell, the other spell compatible with him.

He took a deep breath and slowly unfurled the Inheritance Scroll for Foul-Smelling Skin. His spiritual power naturally resonated with it.