Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 139 Special Talent: "Diligence Can Make Up for Lack of Talent"

They leaned against the pillars in the corridor, seemingly waiting on purpose.

"Ralph's Apprentice".

Maurice called out to him, his tone filled with complex emotions:
"It seems you're quite popular with Lord Sauron."

Ron maintained a polite smile: "Lord Griffith is a very good mentor and is very generous to all his students."

Another student sneered:
"Don't give me that. We can all see that his attitude towards you is obviously different. He dismissed us in a mere fifteen minutes, but he's willing to spend half an hour or even longer instructing you alone."

Ron didn't respond directly, but simply felt sorry for these people's impotent rage:
“Everyone’s learning pace and needs are different, so Lord Griffith will naturally adjust his teaching methods according to the situation and teach according to the individual.”

“Ha!” Morris scoffed. “Are you saying we’re not qualified for more guidance?”

"Hehe... If even you think so, then it seems I don't need to say anything more."

Ron smiled faintly and said calmly, "If there's nothing else, I must leave now."

After saying that, he nodded politely and walked past the two of them. It was clear that they wanted to lash out but were trying their best to hold back.

"Don't think you're something special just because you have a little bit of special talent."

Behind him came Morris's resentful voice: "There are plenty of talented wizards in history who died young. How far they ultimately go depends on their true abilities!"

Ron didn't look back; he simply continued on his way.

Such jealousy and hostility are not uncommon in the Black Mist School, especially when someone displays extraordinary talent and a rapid pace of progress.

Similar incidents continued to occur over the next few days.

After each of Soren's classes, there would always be one or two students who stayed behind to try and receive special guidance.

Soren did not reject it, but his attitude was clearly different.

He would explain every concept to Ron in detail, and even demonstrate some advanced techniques;
His guidance to others was even more basic and brief, as if he were just going through the motions.

“There’s nothing strange about that,” Sauron explained to Ron one day.

"The very nature of the 'favor' rule dictates that mentors will naturally favor students who can provide more feedback."

His tone carried a rare hint of frankness:

“You should already understand the concept of ‘favor’, so I don’t need to hide it. The ‘favor’ you received was significantly more abundant than that of other students, which shows that your growth and breakthroughs are more valuable.”

Ron was not surprised by this.

According to Mrs. Allen, "favors" are feedback given to mentors based on students' growth and breakthroughs.

Students with higher talent and faster progress can naturally receive more generous "favors".

"Don't be bothered by other people's reactions."

Soren continued:
"In the extraordinary world, resources are always scarce, and competition is inevitable. Those who can acquire more resources are often those who can create greater value."

Ron nodded in understanding; he was now considered a beneficiary of this set of "favor" rules.

Those students who are slightly less capable and talented are destined to face more obstacles and setbacks in this brutal system.

“As long as we maintain this pace of progress,” Soren’s eyes gleamed with anticipation:
"Your ranking in the candidate wizard sequence will soon rise another level."

………………

As the morning sun shone through the sparse canopy of the Black Mist Forest, Ron walked along the familiar path, the surroundings reminding him of when he first arrived here.

At that time, he was just a candidate apprentice whose mental strength aptitude barely met the minimum standard.

Now he is the nineteenth-ranked intermediate apprentice in the candidate wizard sequence, and also a young professional potion master.

"Time flies. It's been almost two months since I passed the potion master certification."

Ron muttered to himself, his gaze falling on a wild grass with small flowers blooming by the roadside.

During this period, he was busy with various advanced courses and self-cultivation, and hardly went back to visit Mrs. Allen.

Mrs. Allen's help to him, as his first guide on his extraordinary path, is immeasurable.

"I wonder how she is now," Ron pondered, while also thinking of something else.

Since acquiring the fusion skill "Supernatural Recognition", he has discovered that he can not only perceive the essence of objects, but also has a certain ability to distinguish people's talents and aptitudes.

This gave him an idea: perhaps he could go to the apprenticeship waiting area and see if he could discover some overlooked geniuses.

These thoughts swirled in his mind, and he decided to first visit the reserve apprentices' quarters, and then stop by to visit Mrs. Allen.

The dormitory area for prospective apprentices was almost unchanged from what he remembered; it was still those low, simple houses, and the air was filled with the damp, musty smell and the pungent odor of failed experiments.

Walking on the familiar stone path, Ron noticed several apprentice candidates practicing basic spells in the courtyard.

They looked exhausted, their robes stained with various medicines and mud, clearly having just returned from some experiment or mission.

The apprentices' expressions changed immediately when they noticed Ron approaching.

The professional potion master badge and intermediate apprentice badge he wore on his chest gleamed in the sunlight, highlighting his extraordinary status in the supernatural world.

"It's...it's Lord Ron, the Medicine Master!"

A tall, thin apprentice cried out in surprise, then nervously lowered his head, afraid that his gaze might offend the important man.

Upon hearing this, the other apprentices also immediately stopped what they were doing, stepped back to the side of the road, and bowed respectfully.

They dared not look Ron in the eye, as if he were some kind of fearsome being.

"Go on with your business, don't worry about me."

Ron said calmly, understanding their reaction, recalling a time when he himself had to show such respect to those high and mighty "apprentices."

In an environment with such a huge disparity in status, the awe of those in lower positions towards those in higher positions is almost an instinctive reaction.

Moreover, his current status is much higher than that of an ordinary mid-level apprentice, second only to the formal wizards within the school.

Several prospective apprentices thanked him repeatedly upon hearing this, but kept their heads bowed until Ron was far away before daring to look up, their eyes filled with envy and longing.

Ron deliberately slowed his pace, while secretly using his "superhuman perception" ability to try to sense the aptitude and potential of these prospective apprentices.

But the result was disappointing.

Most of these apprentices' spiritual aptitude was at the lower end of the fifth or sixth rank, similar to his own at the time, or even worse.

Their talent is mediocre, their potential limited. Even with diligence and hard work, they will most likely only be able to barely become novice apprentices, and then remain at that level for life. After walking a while longer, Ron heard the excited voices of several young people talking behind him.

"That's Ron Ralph! The legendary genius who went from an ordinary person to a mid-level apprentice in just six months!"

A familiar voice said excitedly.

Ron recognized the voice as that of the tall, thin apprentice from earlier; it seemed the other man had somehow learned about his exploits.

"Really? Six months?"

Another voice was filled with disbelief:

"How is this possible? It usually takes at least three to five years, right? Even that genius Trish, who has a third-tier star aptitude, is said to have taken more than half a year. Could it be that his aptitude is even higher than a third-tier star...?"

"It's absolutely true! He's a professional potion master, and I recently heard that he's jumped straight into the top twenty of the candidate wizard rankings!"

The tall, thin man's voice became even more excited: "And when he first came here, it's said that his mental strength aptitude was only at the upper level of a sixth-rank star, about the same as ours!"

“This…” another voice was filled with shock, then turned to excitement:
"Doesn't that mean we also have hope?"

"That's right! As long as we find the right method and put in enough effort, we can also be like him!"

"Yes! We can't give up! We can do it too!"

Hearing the excited discussion behind him, Ron shook his head, somewhat helplessly.

He knew that these prospective apprentices did not understand the real reason for his success:

The cheat code of unlimited job slots, the special talent of dual souls, and the time-guarding pocket watch that allows him to work almost without rest is a game-changer.

Without these, no matter how hard he tried, he could not have achieved what he has in such a short time.

These aspiring apprentices see him as a role model for overcoming adversity, using him to inspire themselves not to give up, which is a good thing.

But considering that they will most likely face setbacks time and time again in the face of harsh reality, and ultimately be forced to accept a mediocre fate...

It just goes to show that everyone has their own destiny.

"I looked around but didn't see it. It seems that lost geniuses are indeed not so easy to find."

Ron wasn't too disappointed. He had only intended to try his luck, and seeing that he hadn't succeeded, he left the apprenticeship area and headed towards Mrs. Allen's herbal medicine shop.

As he passed through the stone archway of the apprentice market and the bustling crowds of merchants from all walks of life, arriving at the familiar herbal medicine shop, a warm feeling of nostalgia welled up in his heart.

It was here that his extraordinary journey truly began.

From a mediocre apprentice, he has grown into a mid-level apprentice and a professional potion master.

Pushing open the shop door, the familiar aroma of herbs wafts out, and various bottles and jars are neatly arranged on the shelves.

Behind the narrow counter, Mrs. Allen was looking down at an account book.

However, unlike before, there were now two young female apprentices in the shop, both around fifteen or sixteen years old, who were busy sorting out various medicinal herbs.

One of them was slender with an ordinary face, short brown hair neatly tied back, and a serious and focused expression between her brows.

She held a medicinal herb in her hand, carefully separating the leaves and stem with precise and methodical movements.

The other woman was tall with long, flowing, purplish-black hair that cascaded down to her waist, like a deep starry sky.

She seemed to have something applied to her face, but her delicate eyebrows and eyes were hard to conceal.

She was wiping a row of glass bottles, her movements quick and deft, occasionally glancing at a notebook.

"Madam, it's been a long time," Ron greeted softly.

Mrs. Allen looked up, her deep green eyes immediately brightening, and the wrinkles on her face smoothing out slightly.
"Oh, Ron! You finally remembered me, your old woman."

Her voice held a hint of reproach, yet couldn't hide her joy:
"You haven't come for so long. I thought you had forgotten about your teacher after you entered the candidate wizard sequence."

Ron smiled and shook his head: "How could that be? I've had too many classes and training lately, I just haven't had the time. How are you feeling?"

"Thanks to you, at least things are still relatively stable in all aspects."

Mrs. Allen gave a soft snort and put down the ledger in her hand:
“The other day, that old woman Yuni mentioned you, saying you did well in the Elements course.”

“My mentor, Yuni, really gave me a lot of guidance.”

Ron said sincerely, then turned his gaze to the two apprentice candidates, who had stopped what they were doing and were looking at him curiously.

"These are Fina and Lilia, my new assistants."

Mrs. Allen followed his gaze and introduced:
"This is Ron Ralph, my former student, now a mid-level apprentice in the wizarding hierarchy, and also a professional potion master."

Upon hearing this introduction, the two women's eyes widened instantly, revealing surprise. They seemed not to have expected that such a genius would be interested in coming here.

"Hello, Lord Ralph."

The woman with an ordinary face—Fina—gave a respectful bow, her voice soft and humble:
Mrs. Allen often mentions you, saying that you are the best student she has ever taught.

"Hello, Lord Ralph."

The exquisitely beautiful Lilia also bowed, her voice even more melodious, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and a certain ambition:
“It is an honor to meet you. Mrs. Allen said that you are one of the most talented potions masters she has ever met.”

Ron gave a casual reply, while secretly using his "superhuman ability" to observe the aptitude and talent of the two young women.

Fina's mental strength aptitude is at the upper level of the fifth rank, which is slightly higher than that of an ordinary candidate apprentice, but it cannot be described as extraordinary.

She has a good aptitude for potions, her techniques are precise, and her thinking is rigorous.

Perhaps after honing my skills for another ten years or so, I might have the opportunity to become a professional potion master, but that would be the end of it.

Unfortunately, Ron did not sense any special talent in her.

However, when his gaze turned to Lilia, a peculiar energy fluctuation caught his attention.

Lilia's mental strength aptitude is only at the mid-level of a fifth-rank star, slightly lower than Fina's, but she has a unique energy flow pattern within her body.

Lilia
Mental strength aptitude: Mid-level of five-star level

Special talent: Diligence can make up for lack of talent (second tier)

When you focus on learning a skill, your learning ability will gradually increase over time, eventually reaching a very high ceiling.

Ron was slightly startled. Unexpectedly, he had encountered another second-tier special talent here!

(End of this chapter)