The Road Ahead

A new entry appeared on the panel.

This spell would undoubtedly greatly increase Luo Lin's speed and breadth of knowledge acquisition.

After mastering [Literacy], Luo Lin began systematically making use of his newly elevated authority and resources.

He visited the library again first, this time heading straight for the section previously inaccessible to Third-Rank Apprentices and above.

The books here were clearly older and weightier, and the knowledge they covered was far more profound.

He saw <Fundamental Configuration Theory of Elemental Particles>, <Preliminary Exploration of Mental Power Materialization>, <Analysis of Common Bloodline Charts and Their General Characteristics>, Fundamentals and Drawing of Basic Magic Arrays, and more.

The borrowing fees had risen accordingly.

Borrowing the most basic copy of <Fundamental Configuration Theory of Elemental Particles> for a single day cost fifty contribution points.

Luo Lin did not begrudge the expense. He knew this knowledge was the foundation upon which higher-level power was built.

He spent two hundred contribution points to borrow it for four days, then began reading with ravenous hunger.

[Efficient Scholar] and [Literacy] worked in tandem, allowing him to read and comprehend such profound books far more efficiently than an ordinary person.

He learned that, in essence, wizards cast spells by using mental power to guide external energy particles, combining and arranging them according to specific models to trigger various phenomena.

Zero-ring spells still relied more heavily on an apprentice's own mana, while higher-level spells increasingly depended on the manipulation of external energy particles.

The deeper one's understanding of energy particle configurations, the greater a spell's power could become, while its consumption might actually decrease.

This opened a new door for him.

No longer content with merely constructing spells according to their models, he began trying to understand the principles of energy particle configurations behind the nodes in the [Acid Spray] model responsible for converting mana into corrosive energy.

The process was difficult, but every bit of understanding deepened his grasp of spells.

At the same time, he did not set aside his study of potions.

Using his position as a laboratory assistant, he gained access to some basic internal potion materials after completing the tasks assigned by Wizard Eric.

Although these materials did not involve core secrets, they were more detailed than the public versions in the library and included many records of failed attempts and handling techniques left behind by previous apprentices and wizards.

He focused on low-level potion formulas related to mental power and physique, trying to understand the principles behind the medicinal compatibility of different ingredients rather than simply memorizing the steps.

Using the laboratory's relatively precise instruments, he conducted compositional analyses on his improved [Stamina Recovery Potion].

He tried to find ways to improve its effects further.

Progress was slow, but every tiny discovery deepened his understanding of potions.

As for contribution points, he maintained his partnership with Grey Tower General Store.

He supplied twenty [Stamina Recovery Potions] each week, earning a net income of around four hundred contribution points.

His assistant work at the Insect School Laboratory also brought in two hundred to three hundred contribution points each week, depending on the difficulty of the tasks.

Together with the occasional high-difficulty material processing commission, his stable weekly income stood at seven hundred contribution points.

It was an enormous fortune, enough to make most Third-Rank Apprentices envious.

But Luo Lin's expenses were equally staggering.

Purchasing [Clearheart Incense] to nourish his mental power cost him one hundred contribution points every week.

Purchasing [Basic Body Tempering Potion] to strengthen his physique cost one hundred and fifty contribution points every week.

Renting an advanced meditation room within the academy that had a weak elemental gathering effect cost ten contribution points per hour. He used it around ten hours each week, for a total of one hundred contribution points.

Then there were the enormous expenses of purchasing various knowledge books and notes, which averaged two to three hundred contribution points per week.

With his daily expenses added in, he did not have much left over each week. His total contribution points remained around five thousand and increased slowly.

The effects of such heavy investment were also obvious.

Under the piling up of resources and his own efforts, all his stats rose steadily:

[Level: Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice (Progress 15%)]

[Attributes:

Mental Power: 3.7

Mana: 37/37

Physique: 1.5]

[Basic Meditation Method (Mastery 85%)]

[Spells: Mage Hand (Proficiency 95%), Acid Spray (Beginner 55%), Weak Force-Field Armor (Proficiency 25%), Literacy (Beginner 30%)]

The proficiency of [Basic Potion Material Processing] and [Basic Magical Botany] was also rising slowly but steadily.

After becoming a Third-Rank Apprentice, another significant change was the shift in his social circle.

He was no longer an overlooked low-ranking apprentice and began to have occasional contact with others.

Once, in an advanced meditation room, he encountered Lina Sharp, who had ranked second in the assessment.

She seemed somewhat curious about Luo Lin. She took the initiative to nod at him, and they briefly exchanged thoughts on meditation efficiency.

Luo Lin maintained his usual caution. He did not reveal much, but neither did he refuse to communicate.

Kyle Silverglow, who had ranked first, was far more arrogant. When they occasionally crossed paths in public areas, Kyle generally acted as though he did not see him.

In addition, several small circles and small trade gatherings formed by Third-Rank Apprentices began extending vague invitations to him.

These circles were usually made up of apprentices with similar backgrounds or research directions, used to exchange information and resources, or even cooperate on certain tasks.

Luo Lin politely declined most invitations. He was used to researching alone and did not want to become involved in complicated group relationships too early.

However, he paid attention to information circulating through these circles, such as which wizard's laboratory was recruiting and which ruin exploration missions would soon open. This gave him a better understanding of the academy's movements.

About a month after the assessment ended, Wizard Eric called him to the laboratory.

"Luo Lin, I am very satisfied with your performance during this period."

Wizard Eric spoke.

"You handle materials carefully, and you study diligently."

"As my assistant, you are qualified to learn more."

"Our Insect School primarily researches the use, cultivation, and modification of all kinds of insect creatures with extraordinary traits."

"They can be excellent sources of materials, such as Dream Spiders."

"They can also be research assistants, such as Crystal-Eyed Beetles that can detect energy fluctuations."

"They can even be combat partners."

He took Luo Lin deeper into the laboratory, showing him several breeding areas filled with strange insects Luo Lin had never seen before.

Some emitted intense elemental fluctuations, while others possessed exceptionally bizarre mental force fields.

"There are countless paths for wizards, and the Insect School is merely one of them."

"But regardless of the path, some foundations are universal."

Wizard Eric spoke with great seriousness.

"For example, understanding the essence of life and recognizing the transformation of energy and matter."

"These are the steps that lead to truth!"

"Do not let the name of a school limit your vision."

Luo Lin benefited greatly from these words.

Wizard Eric was reminding him not to focus solely on the techniques and power before him, but to look toward more fundamental knowledge.

"You have put quite a bit of thought into potion studies lately?"

Wizard Eric suddenly asked.

Luo Lin answered honestly, "Yes, sir. I am very interested in the principles of potions."

"Hm." Wizard Eric pondered for a moment.

"The laboratory's lower-level archive contains some public materials on the Basic Potion Material Energy Atlas. You can take a look when you have time."

"Perhaps it will help you understand medicinal compatibility. I have already granted you the authority."

Joy surged in Luo Lin's heart.

"Thank you, Wizard!"

This was an unexpected delight.

Energy atlases concerned the more essential properties of materials and were far more precise than descriptions of their outward forms.

"Work hard. The threshold for becoming an Official Wizard is higher than you imagine."

"Many people remain stuck at the peak of Third-Rank Apprentice for their entire lives because their foundation is insufficient, or because their understanding of the rules fails to meet the requirements."

Wizard Eric waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Luo Lin left the laboratory, unable to calm himself for a long while.

Wizard Eric's guidance and the newly opened energy atlas materials had both pointed him toward a clearer direction.

He no longer sought advancement merely for the sake of advancement. He began consciously building his own system of knowledge and understanding the rules behind power.

Luo Lin threw himself into deeper study and research.

During the day, he spent a great deal of time in the library reading profound theoretical books.

At night, he used [Literacy] in the laboratory to study the energy atlases of basic potion materials, trying to verify theory against the phenomena in his own potion practice.

The process was slow and difficult, and he often spent hours without making any progress.

But Luo Lin enjoyed it immensely.

Each time he matched the energy particle configuration theories in books to a node in a spell model, and each time he understood through an energy atlas why a material could react in a particular way with other materials, he felt an inner joy.

It was the satisfaction of touching the underlying laws of the world.

His strength steadily grew without his noticing, and his understanding of the wizarding world deepened by the day.

He knew he was walking the right path.

Although his pace seemed to have slowed, every step he took was incomparably solid.

Through these day-after-day accumulations, the outline of the future gradually became clear.