Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 326 The Path After Becoming a Formal Wizard

Harun Vera shook his head slightly. "No, I don't have any advanced meditation techniques. There should be very few of these meditation techniques in the entire Southeast Corner Region. Meditation techniques have always been one of the most important resources, and they are monopolized by people. The way they are spread is completely controlled by associations in various places. But in the Southeast Corner Region, it's not necessarily true that they don't exist."

"After all, there are second-ring wizards in the southeast corner region, and some are even among the more powerful second-ring wizards. So it's not that there are no special methods to obtain one, but the chances are just too small."

Harlan Vera said, "It's a probability problem."

"The difficulty of becoming a second-circle wizard in the Southeast Corner Region is completely different from the difficulty of becoming a second-circle wizard in the Sunshadow Peninsula and the difficulty of becoming a second-circle wizard in the Starfield Sea."

"Although all three regions have second-circle wizards and advanced meditation techniques, in the southeastern corner, a second-circle wizard can almost serve as one of the association's main managers. In the Sunshadow Peninsula, second-circle wizards are merely senior wizard instructors and chief wizard instructors, and those higher-level wizard instructor positions are not considered."

"Over there, the Third Ring Wizards are at the pinnacle of power."

“But in the Starfield Sea… a second-ring wizard is not considered a particularly special talent.” Harun Vera’s eyes and tone revealed a sense of awe when he mentioned the Starfield Sea. “The Starfield Sea absorbs talents from wizarding lands all over the world. Countless formal wizards want to go there to pursue their dreams. The number of formal wizards from other places there is no less than the number of locals.”

"There, it is said that even a third-ring wizard is only considered an outstanding talent."

"There, you can even see the shadows of fourth-ring and fifth-ring wizards, and even the legendary sixth-ring wizards. Of course, these are just hearsay."

"Of course, this is also because the teaching positions in the Starfield Sea are the most difficult to obtain. Even Sophia waited three years to pass the assessment, and there were many unexpected events and coincidences in between. Moreover, she entered the Thousand Towers City [Partinos] because she taught you, an excellent student, through a channel that happened to need a wizard mentor who was good at teaching students, and became a contract lecturer mage there."

Harlan Vera said casually, "Sophia's position as witch was entirely due to her good luck. One of Lady Morgana's second-circle wizard students had some connections and happened to get information that a third-circle wizard in Parthenos's research group needed a first-circle wizard to help teach his students."

"Otherwise, she would have to wait for several more years, or even indefinitely."

Locke hadn't expected there to be so many twists and turns involved.

He couldn't help but gasp. He could only imagine how difficult it would be for him to get to the Star Domain Sea.

But the Starfield Sea, a gathering place for heroes, is a major center of the wizarding world. If one wants to develop, explore the truth, and know more, one has no choice but to go there.

Indeed, as Professor Harlan Vera said, the difficulty of obtaining advanced meditation techniques is completely different in a region where second-circle wizards are everywhere and as common as straw dogs, versus a region where second-circle wizards are rarely seen.

Locke asked in confusion, "Teacher, what is a contractual lecturer mage?"

Harlan Vera nodded slightly and explained, "Small places have their advantages, big places have their advantages, and both have their disadvantages, so the choice depends entirely on individual circumstances."

“In a place like the Starfield Sea, a first-ring wizard is not considered an important resource. He is just one of countless replaceable options. So even if you get a teaching position there, it is not for life and will not be recorded in the White Wizard Association’s file.”

"You need to continuously produce results and advance in rank to prove your abilities before you can be qualified to stay there. This is the contract system. The college will sign contracts with you to ensure that your growth and contributions at each stage meet the college's requirements."

"But in the southeastern corner region, a first-ring wizard is the most precious resource. The academy is overjoyed to have one more first-ring wizard. They cherish them like precious gems, afraid they might melt away or break them."

"Since you are so valuable, how could we bear to let you leave? So it's a lifetime program, allowing you to enjoy many of the academy's resources. Even if you do nothing and just laze around, you can still get resources from the White Wizard Association and wizarding organizations."

Locke understood and nodded slightly.

Therefore, for wizards who know they have no hope of advancement, staying in a small place is much more comfortable. Going to a large place would bring immense survival pressure and life-threatening dangers, making it far more carefree to stay in a small place. Moreover, a small place doesn't mean there's absolutely no hope of advancement; what if you have an extraordinary talent that mutates?

What if you're incredibly lucky and acquire some valuable resources in a small place that allow you to make further breakthroughs?
Moreover, in Locke's view, there are actually many loopholes in this, such as a place with good resources but few talents, in which case it would be better for wizards to go to such places than to the Starfield Sea.

It's easier and better to go to the Starry Sea after you've fully developed your skills and abilities than to start at the very bottom and develop your career there.

Harlan Vera said, "If you want to become a second-circle wizard in the future, in addition to obtaining advanced meditation techniques, you also need to obtain many resources related to second-circle wizards. Almost every one of these resources in the Southeast Corner Region already has an owner, or even if you find it, it will soon become an owner's item."

"But this may not be the case in other regions."

“And another thing is…” Harlan Vera tapped the table with his fingers and said, “Actually, thinking about these things is a bit too far ahead. For example, something more down-to-earth is that you need to materialize your spiritual power into liquefaction as soon as possible, and then materialize it into crystallization.”

"This process requires enormous resources, which are quite precious and extremely difficult to obtain even in the southeastern region."

Harlan Vera said, "It was relatively easy for me to obtain. A teaching position means your status in a wizarding land and access to resources. The higher your teaching position in a wizarding land, the higher your status and the more channels you have to access resources."

"Therefore, the resources at this stage are actually much easier for me to obtain than they would be in a place like the Sun Shadow Peninsula."

Harlan Vera said, "I'm just giving you an example so you can understand the logic behind it."

"But a teaching position is something that requires a lot of time to cultivate; it can't be obtained overnight."

“My teaching position in the Southeast Corner is something I have worked hard for over many years to obtain.”

Locke nodded slightly. "I understand, Professor Harlan."

Harlan Vera nodded. "Yes, good that you understand. After becoming a full-fledged wizard, you'll have many more choices than during your apprenticeship, when you only had a few options."

"Just when it comes to seeking a teaching position, you have many options, and the more outstanding the wizard, the more options you have."

"Besides that, you have many other options. Although many resources are monopolized by the association and wizarding academies, the way to obtain resources is highly tied to teaching positions. Basically, all formal wizards who want to advance have to pursue higher teaching positions."

"But since your first teaching position can greatly determine your future success, many people don't want to settle for less and start applying year after year. Just like the Witch Sophia once did, although she was one of the luckier and more capable ones, and she didn't have to wait for long."

Harlan Vera said, "Relatively speaking, compared to the long lifespan of a first-circle wizard."

"Anyway, if you don't want to lower the level of your teaching position for the time being, you can do something else first, there are many options here."

Locke listened and nodded in agreement. The world of formal wizards was much broader and more expansive, with many more intricacies involved.

But it also proved that he was no longer the same as a wizard apprentice.

(End of this chapter)