Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 574 The Land of Iron Slave Heritage
On the outer plaza of the temple, the Walker family knelt respectfully on the ground.

It's a full 300 meters from here to the main temple.

According to the laws of the Star of the Furnace, apart from the top nobles, ordinary families are not even qualified to step into the area within a hundred meters of the temple.

The clan chief pressed his forehead to the ground and carefully pushed the sealed "presentation box" forward.

It contained detailed written instructions and the modified sample of mineral salt.

"Your Excellency, the High Priest is wise! The Walker family respectfully presents this!"

The clan chief's voice echoed across the empty square, followed by a long wait.

A quarter of an hour passed.

An hour passed.

The midday sun beat down on the kneeling crowd, their clothes soaked with sweat, their legs and feet already numb.

But no one dared to move.

Getting up without permission is a blasphemy against divine authority, punishable by whipping or even death.

Just when "Karen," under the control of the ink, felt her knees were about to give out, a series of heavy footsteps finally sounded.

Boom!Boom!Boom!
Each step felt like a heavy hammer striking the earth.

Karen slightly raised her eyelids and saw a chilling presence.

It was a humanoid creation that was three meters tall, made entirely of jet-black alloy.

But it is not a simple puppet; this creation is... alive.

Through the gaps in the metal shell, you can see flesh and blood wriggling inside.

Those were slaves who had been "refined".

The body is forcibly fused with metal, the pain is amplified infinitely, and the consciousness is permanently imprisoned, only able to act according to the master's will.

The nobles of the Stoker Star called them "Iron Slaves".

This was one of the priestly class's favorite punishments and a symbol of their authority.

Iron Slave walked up to the presentation box and picked up the tiny box, which was insignificant to him, with his metal fingers.

It didn't speak, but stared at the kneeling crowd for a few seconds with its empty eye sockets.

That gaze sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Then, Tie Nu turned around and walked deeper into the temple with the book box in his hand.

Another long wait.

As the sun began to set in the west, the shadows on the square grew longer and longer.

Several elderly elders have begun to show symptoms of dehydration, with cracked lips and blurred consciousness.

But still, no one dared to make a move.

Finally, as the last rays of the setting sun were about to disappear, the Iron Slave reappeared.

Its hands were empty; the book box had been sent deep into the temple and would never be returned.

Iron Slave approached the chieftain and bowed his head.

A sound came from its mouth.

That was not the voice of the Iron Slave himself, but a divine oracle emanating from some ancient and majestic being, through this body:
"Walker, report back here at noon in seven days."

"Right and wrong, merit and demerit, will be judged in time."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Iron Slave turned and left again.

Only after its figure completely disappeared into the shadows of the temple did the patriarch dare to speak, trembling:
"Respectfully receiving the divine decree! The Walker family accepts the order!"

After he finished speaking, he dared to lead the crowd to slowly retreat until they left the square, and only then did he dare to stand up properly.

Karen also got up with the others and moved her legs, which were almost numb.

The clan chief's face was ashen, and his voice was hoarse:

"Seven days... The priest has given us seven days."

"For the next seven days, everyone must keep a low profile!"

He then turned to look at "Karen":
"Karen, you have done a great thing. Now, it is up to the High Priest to decide what to do."

"Yes, uncle."

"Karen" replied respectfully.

Seven days...

enough.

……

In Ron's room in the Central Lands.

He slowly opened his eyes, withdrawing from the deep connection with the "ink".

The entire presentation process lasted nearly eight hours.

Although his body was sitting in a comfortable chair, his mind maintained a continuous, albeit intermittent, connection with the stoker star.

"Seven days..."

Ron stood up and stretched.

Through the perspective of "ink," he saw only the tip of the iceberg of the Star God's authority system.

The existence of that iron slave, and that cruel technique of turning living people into metal puppets.

And the high priest's style of doing things by never showing his face and only issuing commands through "divine pronouncements"...

"He is indeed close to being a great wizard."

Ron walked to the window and gazed at the bustling scene of the central region in the distance:
"This level of oppression is something that ordinary Dark Sun-class beings could not create."

"Only those who truly stand at the pinnacle and possess overwhelming power can maintain such a ruling system."

He thought of Cassandra.

As the master of the Crystal Spire, she holds a high position, but she still needs to handle complicated political affairs and deal with various forces.

And what about the high priest of the hearth star?
Not at all.

He only needs to sit deep within the temple and convey divine pronouncements through the Iron Slaves, and the entire civilization will operate according to his will.

"This is the difference between divine right and secular power."

Ron pondered:

"When power becomes strong enough, there is no longer a need for 'governance,' only for 'rule.'"

However, the plan on the Stoker Star has already started, and all that's left is to wait.

Seven days was enough time for the priests to complete a detailed examination of the salt sample.

Given the priestly class's modus operandi, once it is confirmed that the sample does indeed show signs of "unauthorized catalysis," the investigation of the Luger family will be extremely rigorous.

The "ink" has received the instructions.

Maintain an absolute low profile for the next seven days and focus on playing the role of a "loyal son/daughter".

"Just right..."

Ron looked at the assessment application form on the desk, which had three familiar names written on it: Herman, Liss, and Lilia.

"It's time to turn our attention back to this area."

The chess game on the Stoker Star needs time to develop, but the students in the main world can't wait.

The professional potion master exam is only held twice a year. If you miss this one, you'll have to wait another six months.

He also needs to refine his understanding of potions by mentoring students.

The principle of mutual learning between teachers and students applies in any world.

"Let's go find them first."

Ron put on his outer robe and went out the door.

Outside the window, the magic lamps in the central area began to light up one by one, like a galaxy on the ground.

Two worlds, two games.

And he was standing at the crossroads of all of this.

……

"Jingsi Study" is located in the academic district of the central area.

Unlike the "Hall of Silence," which collects forbidden knowledge, the Jing Si Study focuses on the academic achievements of contemporary shamans.

The atmosphere here is more open and more popular with young scholars.

Ron pushed open the archway carved from pure white marble, the motto above the doorway gleaming under the light:

"The weight of thought far surpasses the weight of magic stone."

The lighting inside the building is surprisingly soft, coming from "smart lights" on the ceiling that automatically adjust their brightness.

These lamps are said to be able to sense the reader's level of fatigue and adjust the light intensity and color temperature accordingly.

Even more amazing is the bookshelf system.

The bookshelves throughout the library are connected by some kind of spatial magic array, which can automatically reorganize according to the reader's thought process.

As the idea of ​​"energy cycle theory" flashed through Ron's mind, the bookshelf in front of him, which had originally displayed "basics of alchemy," suddenly "flipped over."

It's like two sides of a door; on the back, there's a whole row of monographs on energy cycles.

Several books even flew out on their own, hovering in front of him, the words on their spines shimmering with a gentle, inviting light.

"It's still so convenient..."

He followed his senses of Herman's magical fluctuations and walked deeper into the library.

The further you go in, the fewer readers you encounter, and the more ancient and profound the books become.

After turning past a few bookshelves, he found his target in a corner.

The silver-haired boy was sitting cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by a dozen books that automatically turned their pages.

Mathematical Models of Hyperdimensional Space, Introduction to Energy Topology, Theory of Higher-Dimensional Projection, Spacetime Curvature and Magic Conduction...

Each one is a profound work that would make even a formal wizard frown.

Even more surprisingly, Herman had his eyes closed and a light sheen of sweat on his forehead.

Around him floated dozens of geometric shapes made of pure magic.

These shapes are not static, but are slowly rotating, deforming, and intersecting.

Ron remained silent, simply observing quietly.

He could "see" that Hermann was attempting something extremely difficult:
Projecting the mathematical concepts of four-dimensional space onto a three-dimensional magical structure.

This is an attempt to use practical magic to verify those abstract mathematical formulas.

The difficulty level is far beyond that of an apprentice.

About ten minutes later, the graphs began to show unstable tremors.

Herman's brow furrowed even more, and sweat dripped from his forehead.

He gritted his teeth and persevered, trying to stabilize the collapsing structure.

But in the end...

hum!
All the graphics collapsed simultaneously, turning into starlight and dissipating.

"Failed again..."

Herman opened his eyes, a look of annoyance on his face:

"Where exactly did the derivation go wrong...?"

The first six steps run stably, so why does the coordinate transformation in the seventh step always...?

"Because you ignored the phase difference."

Ron's voice suddenly rang out.

"Eh?!"

Herman looked up abruptly, and when he saw who it was, he was completely stunned.

"Mentor?"

He tried to stand up quickly, but stepped on the hem of his own robe and lost his balance, falling forward.

Ron reached out to steady him: "Be careful."

"I...I'm sorry!"

Hermann's face flushed red, and he frantically tried to tidy up the scattered books:

"I was so focused just now that I didn't even notice you came..."

"No need to apologize, focusing is a good thing."

Ron smiled and said, "I just arrived too. I didn't want to disturb you since you were doing your research."

He pointed to the floating books: "Four-dimensional projection theory? Quite ambitious."

"I...I just wanted to..."

Hermann saw his long-lost mentor, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down, but his voice still stammered a little:

"You talked about multidimensional energy transformation before, and I was thinking... if we could derive a complete mathematical model, wouldn't that be possible..."

He began to try to organize his thoughts:

"Would that... allow for a better understanding of the flow of energy across different dimensions?"

"The approach is correct."

Ron nodded: "But the problem you're stuck on isn't in math, it's in your intuitive thinking."

"Thinking intuition?"

Herman was somewhat confused.

"Ah."

Ron sat down opposite him:

"When you are dealing with a four-dimensional to three-dimensional projection, you are assuming that the flow of time is uniform across all dimensions."

"This is fine mathematically, but in the actual construction of magic..."

He casually sketched a simple energy model in the air:

"Time itself is also a form of energy."

When dimensions are projected, the flow of time will have a subtle phase difference.

"This phase difference is very small and can be ignored at low energy levels."

However, when you construct complex high-dimensional projections, these tiny biases accumulate and eventually cause the entire structure to collapse.

Hermann looked at the model, his eyes growing brighter and brighter:
"I see... So I need to introduce a correction factor during coordinate transformation?"

"Correct."

Ron smiled with satisfaction: "Your comprehension speed is as fast as ever."

Herman immediately took out his notebook from his spatial bag and quickly jotted down the key points.

His handwriting was still as neat as printed text, but he was writing too fast at the moment, and occasionally one or two letters would appear in a mess.

"If we introduce a time correction factor, then the energy conservation formula in step eight also needs to be adjusted..."

He muttered to himself as he wrote:
"And there's the steady-state condition for the ninth step..."

Seeing the students engrossed in their thoughts, Ron didn't disturb them, but simply waited quietly.

In this quiet corner, the only sounds are the rustling of turning pages and the subtle friction of pen tips gliding across paper.

“Mentor!” Hermann suddenly looked up:

"I've figured it out! If I correct it according to your method, the whole derivation will be self-consistent!"

He opened the thick notebook and showed it to Ron:
"Look, these are the results of my research over the past three months."

Although there are still many details that need to be perfected, the main framework should be correct..."

Ron took the notebook and began to carefully read through it.

Hermann's handwriting remains as neat as printed text, and the derivation of each formula is rigorous and meticulous.

What's even more remarkable is that these purely theoretical deductions are logically consistent.

"Very solid work."

He said sincerely, "Chapter 7, in particular, about the conservation of energy, has a very unique perspective."

"Really?!"

Hermann's eyes lit up immediately, then he asked worriedly:

"Then...the coordinate transformation in Chapter Three, the part you mentioned had a problem with..."

"I can guide you whenever I have time, but I came to see you for something else."

Ron decided to get down to business first:
"How's your training going lately? Has there been any change in your ranking among the candidate wizards?"

"what……"

Herman scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly:
"In last month's evaluation, I ranked ninth. Although it wasn't much progress, at least I'm moving forward."

"It's already pretty good."

Ron patted him on the shoulder:

"Theoretical research and practical training must be balanced; we cannot neglect one for the other."

“I know, mentor.”

Hermann nodded seriously, then hesitated for a moment:
"Actually... I've always wanted to find an opportunity to thank you."

His voice became somewhat low:

"If it weren't for you taking the initiative to bring me into the elite group, teaching me, and introducing me to Princess Eve's connections... I think I would have had to wait another five or six years to become a formal wizard."

“Don’t say that,” Ron interrupted him.

"You got to where you are today because of your own talent and hard work."

"Do not……"

Hermann raised his head, his eyes unusually firm:

"What you taught me went far beyond knowledge."

You made me realize that one's background does not determine everything.

With enough effort, ordinary people can also reach the pinnacle of academia, just like your own rise to prominence.

He took a deep breath:

"This belief is the most precious thing you gave me."

Looking at the silver-haired boy in front of him, Ron felt a surge of relief.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore."

He smiled and changed the subject:

"The real reason I'm here today is to inform you about the professional potion master exam..."

………………

After explaining the specifics of the assessment to Herman, Ron headed to the workshop area.

This area is in stark contrast to the tranquility of the academic district.

The air was filled with the aroma of various medicinal herbs, and the occasional bubbling sound of boiling cauldrons could be heard, along with the excited or frustrated shouts of the potion masters.

When Ron arrived at the door, the guard puppet scanned his identification badge and immediately bowed respectfully.

"Instructor Ralph, welcome. Apprentice Liz is in Refining Room Three."

"Thank you."

Ron walked down the corridor.

On both sides are separate refining rooms.

Through the crack in the door, one could faintly hear various sounds coming from inside:
Someone is reciting a lengthy activation incantation;
Someone was anxiously trying to calm the rampaging liquid;
Others let out a frustrated sigh, clearly having failed again.

Ron arrived at the door of Refining Room Number Three and gently knocked.

"Please wait!"

The girl's voice came through, tinged with nervousness:
“I’ll be right soon!”

A moment later, the door opened.

Liz stood at the door, her cheeks slightly flushed and her forehead glistening with fine beads of sweat.

Her work clothes were stained with medicine, and her hair was a little messy, clearly indicating that she had just gone through a tough refining process.

"Mentor?"

Upon seeing who it was, Liz paused for a moment, then hurriedly tried to tidy her appearance:

"I'm sorry! I'm... uh, I mean, how could you..."

"I know you're working, don't be nervous."

Ron smiled faintly:

"I'm just passing by and taking a look. You don't mind if I take a look around, do you?"

"Of course not! Please come in!"

Liz quickly stepped aside, then looked around anxiously:
"However... the workbench might be a bit messy..."

Ron entered the crafting room and was immediately captivated by the sight before him.

This is a standard small refining room, where it's difficult to even turn around nimbly, but Liz has clearly made full use of every inch of space.

Dozens of medicine storage cabinets are neatly arranged along the wall, each with a handwritten label in neat and elegant handwriting.

On the workbench, a dozen crucibles are being slowly heated, each containing semi-finished medicinal liquids at different stages.

"These...are all your recent works?"

Ron walked to the workbench and carefully examined the semi-finished products.

"Yes, it is……"

Liz followed nervously behind him, explaining in a low voice:
“These are variations of the sedatives; I’m trying to adjust the proportions… These bottles over here are recovery potions, custom-made for the client…”

Ron picked up a bottle of pale blue liquid and shook it gently.

The liquid medicine is uniformly transparent in color, without any sediment or impurities.

"not bad."

He sincerely said, "The medicinal properties are balanced, and the energy is stable. It has reached the standard for sale."

"Really, really?"

Liz's eyes lit up instantly, then she became somewhat uneasy:

"But... I still feel there's room for improvement..."

"Pursuing perfection is a good thing."

Ron put down the medicine bottle: "But you also need to acknowledge your progress."

Hearing this affirmation, Liz's eyes reddened slightly.

"Mentor... thank you..." "However..."

Ron changed the subject, pointing to the neatly arranged recipe manuals:
“I’ve noticed that you’re using ready-made recipes.”

Liz lowered her head, somewhat dejected: "I...I know. I've tried to be innovative, but every time..."

"They all failed, right?"

"……Um."

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible:
"I always feel like I lack that... inspiration? I don't know how to describe it, I just can't think of any new possibilities..."

He walked to the workbench and casually picked up two seemingly unrelated medicinal herbs:
"Innovation doesn't have to be earth-shattering. Sometimes, it's just about looking at things from a different perspective."

"For example, according to traditional theory, these two materials have antagonistic medicinal properties and cannot be used at the same time."

"but if……"

Ron used his magic to slowly fuse the two herbs together:
"Add a third modifier to change the reaction sequence and control the temperature curve..."

"Materials are alive; they can sense your emotions."

Ron's tone was gentle:
"The more tense you are, the more tense they will become. Try to relax and trust your instincts."

"But……"

Liz's voice trailed off: "I'm always worried I'll mess it up..."

"Failure is normal."

Ron thought for a moment and decided to try a different approach:
"Did you know that during my apprenticeship, I failed to concoct the same potion seven times in a row?"

Liz looked up, her eyes filled with surprise.

In her mind, her mentor had always been perfect, and it was hard to imagine that he would have so many failures.

"On the eighth attempt, I simply stopped thinking about 'what if I fail' and focused only on each step in the present moment."

Ron smiled:
"But it actually worked that time."

"so……"

Liz seemed thoughtful: "Don't overthink it, just focus?"

"Correct."

Ron nodded:

"The professional potion master assessment that Eve informed you about before is the same."

Don't think about 'what if I fail the exam', just do what you do best.

Liz nodded vigorously, the confusion in her eyes lessening.

……

The last stop was Eve's residence.

Ron originally planned to go find Lilia, but received a message crystal from Eve.

Lilia is with her now.

Pushing open the door of the Emerald Mansion, you'll see two girls sitting on the carpet in the living room.

They had various potion ingredients laid out in front of them and were having some kind of discussion.

"No, no, Lilia, look! If we put the 'Dream Roots' in this position, the entire energy circuit will flow much more smoothly!"

Eve excitedly used her magic to construct a virtual recipe structure.

"But……"

Lilia hesitated for a moment: "Wouldn't the medicinal properties of 'Starlight Moss' be too weak in this case?"

"Then increase its dosage!"

Eve's eyes lit up: "You're absolutely right! How come I didn't think of that!"

The interaction between the two girls reminded Ron of what Eve had said before, about how they became partners in the "Cavity of Thorns".

"It seems like you guys are getting along well."

His voice made both of them look up at the same time.

"tutor!"

Eve jumped up and pulled Lilia along with her:
"You've come at the perfect time! We were just discussing the formula selection for the assessment!"

Lilia appeared more reserved, only offering a soft greeting, "Hello, mentor."

"What's the recipe?"

Ron approached and looked at the materials on the ground.

"we would like……"

Eve looked at Lilia beside her:

"I want to try a new recipe during the assessment."

It's not entirely original, but it will involve some improvements on the traditional recipe.

"Wouldn't that be too risky?"

Ron did not directly agree or disagree; he first raised a question.

"Maybe."

Eve acknowledged this:
"But if you just follow the standard recipe, what's the difference between you and the other candidates?"

“Didn’t you say, Master? A true potion master should learn to ‘create’.”

Ron was silent for a moment, then smiled:
“You’re right. Well then, let me see what you think.”

The three then had an in-depth discussion about improving the formula.

Although Lilia doesn't talk much, every time she does, she points out the key issues.
Eve, on the other hand, has a lively mind and constantly comes up with new ideas;
Ron, on the other hand, played the role of a guide, helping them refine the details.

"almost."

He concluded, "This formula is theoretically feasible. However..."

"You only have three days to verify and master it. Are you sure you want to take this risk?"

Eve and Lilia exchanged a glance and nodded almost simultaneously.

"We're sure."

……

On the day of the assessment, Ron personally escorted the four of them to the entrance of the examination hall.

Looking at the three students who were about to take the exam, and another student who came to "accompany" them, he suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

My thoughts involuntarily drifted back to nearly ten years ago.

When he first arrived in the wizarding world, he was just starting out in the Black Mist Forest and was still an ordinary person who wasn't even an apprentice.

In search of a way out, he followed Andrei to the materials market, filled with uncertainty and trepidation about the future.

He remembered Mrs. Allen's herbal medicine shop, which was filled with strange smells.

He recalled the excitement he felt when his experience points popped up on his skill panel the first time he practiced alchemy.

He recalled the nervousness he felt when he first tried to refine a "calming potion," his palms were sweaty, and he was afraid that a single mistake would ruin all the materials.

He recalled the meaningful look in Master Magnus's eyes when he passed the potion master exam.

At that time, he was a test taker.

Now, he is a mentor who guides his students into the examination hall.

Nearly ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

From the Black Mist Forest to the Central Lands, and then to an even wider other world.

The road he has traveled is far longer than he imagined.

"tutor?"

Eve's voice interrupted his reverie.

Ron snapped out of his daze and saw that the four young men were staring at him.

"what happened?"

"You...you seem a little lost in thought."

Lilia whispered.

"It's just reminding me of some past events."

Ron smiled:
"Alright, it's time to go in. Remember what I said, don't be nervous, just do what you do best."

"Yes!"

The three answered in unison.

Eve winked playfully:

"Mentor, wait for our good news!"

Ron watched the four figures disappear through the examination hall gate, but did not leave immediately.

He stood quietly in place, watching the door slowly close.

Suddenly, another door came to mind—the oak door to the professor's office that would never be opened again.

Professor Utter

He whispered the name in his heart.

I was ultimately absent from that "last lesson".

While the entire wizarding civilization was witnessing the sage's passing, he was in a distant, otherworldly realm.

But at this moment, as he bids farewell to his students, he once again recalled that dream.

The snowfield covered in ash, the sky as black as ink, and that figure that was becoming increasingly transparent.

The old professor, struggling to hold the last wisp of flame, staggered toward him.

"The fire is out, I should go now."

That voice was so calm, yet it broke his heart so deeply.

He accepted the gift, but in doing so, he lost the right to retain the giver.

They could only watch helplessly as that faltering figure was swallowed up by the brighter future he had ignited with his own hands.

"Inheritance is the sacred flame that will never be extinguished in the wizarding civilization."

These are the words Professor Utter said in his last lecture.

Through those surviving records, every word was imprinted on Ron's heart.

The students I'm currently mentoring are all doing quite well. Does that mean I'm putting the old professor's philosophy into practice?
Ron was unsure.

He did not have the same illustrious reputation as Professor Utter, who had countless students.

Without centuries of unwavering dedication;

They did not stand in Truth Square at the last moment to proclaim the greatness of their legacy to the world.

He was just a fleeting passerby.

He taught one class in the Black Mist Jungle, led several classes in the Crystal Spire, and mentored some mixed-race individuals in the colonies.

They walked very fast and stayed very briefly.

They always sow the seeds and then turn away, heading to farther places and chasing higher peaks.

Has he truly lived up to the professor's ideals?

……

Inside the assessment hall.

Each refining station is surrounded by a transparent energy shield.

It allows examiners to clearly observe the candidates' operations while preventing energy interference between different refining stations.

"Attention, candidates."

The examiner stood on a high platform, and his voice was amplified and carried throughout the entire hall:

"The professional potion master certification exam is about to begin."

"This assessment is divided into three stages: material identification, standard refining, and free play."

"In the first phase, you will be faced with twenty kinds of potion ingredients, and you need to identify at least fifteen of them within the specified time."

"In the second stage, according to the given recipe, refine the specified potion. The quality must reach 'qualified' or above."

"The third stage is free to experiment. You can choose to brew any potion and showcase your talents."

The examiner's gaze swept over all the candidates:

"The evaluation criteria include not only the success rate, but also the standardization of the operation, the depth of understanding of the materials, and the ability to innovate."

"The assessment will now officially begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, a tray appeared in front of each refining station, with twenty kinds of materials neatly arranged on it.

Eve, who was accompanying her to the exam, merely glanced at it and a confident smile appeared on her lips.

These materials were too simple for her.

"Shadow Root", "Starlight Vine", "Dream Spore", "Thunderstone"...

These are all materials that were frequently encountered during the "Cavity of Thorns".

Her fingers gently brushed over each material, and she identified them almost instantly.

Lilia, however, took a different approach.

She closed her eyes and used her "resonance" talent to feel the "emotions" of each material.

“This makes me very happy…it’s ‘Morning Dew Grass’.”

"This is a little embarrassing... it's 'moonlight moss'."

“This is something to be very proud of... it’s the ‘Dragon’s Breath Flower’.”

Although her recognition speed is not as fast as Eve's, her accuracy is equally high.

Hermann's method is more systematic.

He tried to recall his notes, which detailed the characteristics of various materials.

Then, following the descriptions in the notes, I verified each item one by one.

Although this method may seem clumsy, it is reliable.

Liz seemed a little nervous.

Her hands were trembling slightly when she picked up the first material.

"calm down……"

She silently recited in her heart, recalling her mentor's words—don't think too much, just focus.

She took a deep breath and calmed her thoughts.

Soon, the second phase also came to an end.

The "refreshing potion" concocted by the four individuals all reached a quality level of "excellent" or above.

The examiners began to whisper among themselves.

It's been a long time since we've seen four such outstanding candidates appear at the same time.

Moreover, they were all taught by the same mentor...

“Ron Ralph…”

An older examiner read out the name: "It's him again."

The final, third stage is free play.

During this stage, candidates can choose to refine any kind of magic potion and showcase their special skills.

Most test takers will choose the recipe they are most familiar with in order to play it safe.

But Eve and Lilia made different choices.

They smiled at each other and began preparing the materials.

What are they going to do?

One of the examiners asked curiously.

Soon, the answer was revealed.

The two began simultaneously refining the same potion, the improved formula they had discussed in the Emerald Pavilion.

This "two-person collaboration" approach is extremely rare in assessments.

Because it tests not only individual ability, but also mutual understanding and cooperation.

The examiners all stopped what they were doing and focused intently on observing this scene.

Even several veteran potion masters were drawn to the observation window.

"This kind of tacit understanding... requires at least several years of practice to achieve."

"How long have they known each other? A few months?"

"Incredible..."

Finally, a bottle of magic potion, radiating a dreamlike glow, appeared before the two of them.

It was an improved medicine that combined the effects of "refreshing the mind" and "inducing sleep".

It can both restore a tired mind and bring peace to an anxious heart.

"This……"

The examiner stepped forward and carefully examined the potion's ingredients and effects.

After a long while, he raised his head, his eyes full of approval:

"pass."

The entire examination room erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Herman and Liss, on the other hand, chose a more conservative approach.

However, they all received an "excellent" rating due to their solid foundation and outstanding performance.

………………

"Maybe."

Ron slowly sat down on a bench outside the association building, gazing up at the gradually darkening sky.

The first star has appeared in the sky.

"Perhaps there are many forms of inheritance."

Professor Utter is a towering tree.

Rooted in a piece of land for hundreds or thousands of years, it shelters countless students with its dense shade.

Its branches and leaves are lush and its fruit is abundant. Even if it falls, it will turn into nutrients to nourish the entire forest.

And I, perhaps, am more like the wind.

Carry the seeds from one land to another, and spread the fire from one place to another.

He cannot provide lasting shelter like a great tree, but he can sow hope in a wider world.

Both methods are forms of inheritance.

just
Ron gently pressed his hand against his chest, where the warmth of the flame from his dream still lingered.

"However, I haven't done enough."

He said to himself.

"Far from enough."

At best, he is merely trying to keep that flame burning and prevent it from going out.

True inheritance should be about making the flame bigger and brighter, until it becomes an ever-burning sea of ​​light.

Ron stood up, the melancholy in his eyes gradually turning into determination.

He recalled his grand ambition—to become the Witch King, or even a demon god who surpasses all others.

It's not just about personal strength, but also about being able to stand in a higher position and do more things.

"Professor, I understand."

In his heart, he spoke to the figure that had transformed into a rain of light:
"The fire you lit still burns in my heart."

And I won't let it stop there.

"One day, when I stand at the height you once stood..."

No, when standing in a place higher than that.

Ron clenched his fist again, but this time it was out of determination:
“I will build a true ‘land of heritage’.”

His resolve grew stronger:
"There, every soul that truly seeks knowledge can find its own mentor."

Every tiny flame will be carefully nurtured until it grows into a raging inferno.

"I want to turn what you said in your last lesson from an idea into reality."

Ron looked up at the increasing number of stars in the sky.

One by one they lit up, like flames being ignited, eventually converging into a dazzling galaxy.

“This is my vow, Professor.”

"Perhaps I cannot be like you, standing in a public square at the very last moment of my life, surrounded by the respect of tens of thousands of people."

"Perhaps my path is destined to be lonely, to travel through countless worlds, and to always be a passerby."

"But one day..."

"Someday, when I reach the end of the road, I hope to see..."

"In countless worlds and on countless lands, the seeds I once sowed have grown into forests."

"The flames I once ignited have now converged into an inextinguishable sea of ​​light."

"Then, I will be able to say, just like you, calmly and with satisfaction..."

"The fire is still burning, and it's even blazing hotter."

"I can leave now with peace of mind."

Night had completely fallen.

The lights in the association building came on in the darkness, like countless stars twinkling on the ground.

When the four of them walked out of the examination room, Ron was quietly waiting at the door.

"tutor!"

Eve rushed over excitedly: "We all passed!"

"I saw."

Ron smiled and said, "You did a great job."

His gaze swept over the four people, and a sense of relief welled up in his heart.

These children have truly grown up.

"Let's go, now that we've passed the test, we should head back..."

(End of this chapter)