Breakthrough

Ian ignored all outside matters and trained desperately, seeking only to break through to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.

A few days ago, Kenna had visited Ian once. He said Simon had appeared nearby and had already been driven away, telling Ian to train without worry since he would keep watch over the area.

Ian understood. It seems becoming a Potion Master really does make a difference.

He had also considered whether the two of them could cooperate.

In this cruel world, even with the Status Panel, cultivating alone would be terribly inefficient.

After all, the Status Panel could not conjure resources out of thin air.

On the afternoon of the twenty-fifth day after returning from Nightfall Town.

Ian suddenly felt his Mental Power becoming exceptionally active.

He hurried back to his bedroom and, after calming himself, drank a potion.

Very soon, Ian seemed to hear a soft pop as his Mental Power broke through some kind of barrier.

In his mind, nine intricate and exquisite Will Runes, interlocking with one another, had completely taken shape.

Buzz!

Compared to before, the Will Runes had become more complete, as though they had come alive!

They slowly rotated, giving off a gentle moonlit radiance.

Specks of glowing light flickered around them.

Within the empty space of his mind, scattered Mental Power began surging toward the runes.

The runes trembled faintly. With every vibration, they tempered the continuously gathering Mental Power.

Both the intensity and quantity of his Mental Power rose steadily like a tide.

After an unknown amount of time, Ian woke from his daze.

As he focused and sensed it, his strengthened Mental Power flowed between the runes like mercury, incomparably smooth.

His control over Mental Power had risen to another level. He could now release it slightly beyond his body and begin interfering with reality.

This brought him an extraordinarily strange perception.

In the bedroom, Ian sat cross-legged on the bed with his eyes still closed.

Yet everything within ten meters was revealed in the finest detail.

He could "see" tiny currents of wind swirling around him.

Beneath the ground by the outside wall, a small insect was clumsily pushing through the soil, digging upward without pause.

He could "see" the bright red blood rushing endlessly through his veins.

He could clearly feel the vigorous vitality throughout his body.

As well as tiny gray patches around his chest.

"Patches?!"

Ian immediately snapped awake and opened his eyes.

He hurriedly got out of bed. There was indeed a faint soreness in his chest.

"How could this be?" He hurriedly lit a lamp and began examining himself closely.

He discovered several tiny gray fungal patches, resembling symptoms of Magic Power corrosion!

Only after a while did Ian figure out the reason.

He had kept taking potions these past days and meditated too frequently. His current body could not withstand such frequent Magic Power corrosion.

It seems I'll have to find a way to strengthen my physique.

The situation was not serious yet. He only needed to maintain a balance between strengthening his body and Magic Power corrosion.

Setting the matter aside, Ian brought up the Status Panel.

[Name: Ian Marcus]

[Age: 16]

[Realm: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (1%)]

[Talent: Medium Light Attribute Affinity]

[Skills: Star-Moon Lower Meditation Method: Proficient (152/400)]

[Wizard's Hand: Proficient (160/200)]

[Lesser Frost Ray: Mastery (368/400)]

[Awakening Potion: Proficient (2/200)]

[Basic Potion Identification: Mastery (10/400)]

Looking at the somewhat "luxurious" Status Panel, Ian smiled.

Since arriving in this world, his constantly tense mind finally relaxed.

Especially Lesser Frost Ray—he had pushed it to a level that Low-Level Apprentices could scarcely imagine in such a short time.

He had wanted to test the changes in its power after his breakthrough in the yard, but looking at the already ruined ground, he gave up on the idea.

Seeing that it was still early, Ian quietly left the house.

He arrived at an unoccupied clearing in the woods and stood still.

His hand gestures were completed swiftly. The moment the incantation left his lips, Ian felt the difference.

The condensed Mental Power in his mind moved as easily as an arm or finger, instantly resonating with Magic Power.

With a whoosh, a deep-blue streak of light shot forth.

The ray easily passed through a tree twenty meters away, yet it did not disperse and continued flying some distance farther.

The trunk was coated in a thick layer of ice, half a finger thick.

Among Witchcraft-like Abilities of the same tier, light-based spells were the fastest. The more condensed they were, the stronger their power.

"This... doesn't seem like the power of a low-level spell anymore!"

Ian walked closer to inspect it carefully. It was different from the frost flowers before.

The ice layer not only dealt freezing damage, but also possessed a powerful binding effect.

He tried a few more times. The spell's maximum range had reached nearly thirty meters.

The Mental Power consumption was also acceptable. He could cast it around ten times in succession.

He did not continue practicing and hurried home. After casually eating something, he headed out again.

As soon as he entered the area near Kenna's residence, Kenna heard the movement and came outside.

"Ian, what brings you here today? Is something the matter?"

Kenna somewhat admired Ian. He had actually stayed indoors for nearly a month.

It seemed that even a genius had to cultivate diligently to become a Potion Master.

"Brother Kenna, thank you for what happened last time."

After entering, Ian handed over an Awakening Potion.

"Fine, then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll shamelessly accept it."

Kenna readily put away the potion, and his tone grew several degrees warmer.

"Previously, you mentioned that Simon had an Advanced Apprentice behind him. How much do you know about that?"

The old woman from Nightfall Town had left a deep impression on him.

Ian was now highly wary of Advanced Apprentices. He felt he was still far from being their match.

"I only heard my teammates mention it. I just know that they're members of the Nightshadow Society."

When Kenna mentioned the Nightshadow Society, his eyes were full of apprehension.

"Nightshadow Society? Why have I never heard of it?"

Although Ian had not understood much about worldly affairs before, he still knew of several well-known apprentice organizations within the High Tower. He had never heard of any Nightshadow Society.

"It's an organization that emerged recently, formed by more than a dozen Advanced Apprentices. I heard they're all Dark-Attribute Wizards."

Dark-Attribute Wizards were mostly ruthless and vicious in their dealings.

They possessed many mysterious and unpredictable spells. Ordinary apprentices simply dared not provoke them.

"Then when you drove Simon away before, could it bring retaliation?"

Ian was also worried. He had not expected Simon to have such backing.

"That shouldn't be a problem. Simon seems to be only an outer member, and this sort of private matter wouldn't attract the Nightshadow Society's attention."

Kenna sounded unconcerned, but a trace of worry still showed in his eyes.

The two chatted for a while longer. Seeing that Kenna knew very little about the Nightshadow Society, Ian changed the subject.

"I heard you have a team that has been hunting Magic Beasts. Why have I never seen them?"

He had not come merely to pay a casual visit and offer thanks.

He wanted to make contact with Kenna's team and see whether they were worth cooperating with.

"We're usually all busy. We're either hunting Magic Beasts or searching everywhere for magical herbs. You're looking for them because...?"

Though Kenna looked rough and burly, his mind was meticulous. He seemed to have connected the dots, and his eyes brightened.

Ian nodded lightly without denying it.

"I want to meet them and see whether we can work together."

Purchasing magical herbs was only the first step. He would not start selling large quantities of potions right away.

He needed to observe for a while and see how each person in the team handled matters.