Wizard: Starts with Advanced Meditation

The icy claws gripped Hughes's protective membrane, creating a white crack in his chest. The membrane had provided excellent protection for Hughes.

Hughes reversed the direction of the spinning ice spike and plunged it straight into the eye of the one-armed Icefield Claw Beast in front of him, the ice spike piercing through the Icefield Claw Beast's head.

Another Icefield Crack Claw Beast charged up again and launched another rapid and frenzied claw attack. This time, the distance was even closer. The Frostbreath Robe could not activate the Ice Crystal Barrier, but the rune light armor inside activated the Light Barrier.

However, the light barrier was even weaker and was shattered in two strikes. Hughes knew that the short-range shield could only withstand about two claw attacks, so he drew his cross sword to parry.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

This Icefield Crack Claw Beast was clearly stronger than its kind. Not only could it charge up and launch a series of attacks, but it also had tremendous power. Every time the blade collided with the claws, it made Hughes's hand go numb.

"Clang—Click!"

Hughes missed one of the attacks, and the claws gripped the protective barrier, making the white cracks more obvious. Hughes gritted his teeth and tried to retreat to activate the wind barrier of the cross sword, but the high frequency of attacks prevented him from activating it.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Hughes deliberately exposed an opening, gambling on the last blow he could withstand. He recklessly thrust his sword forward, and the sharp claws struck his protective shield, shattering it completely.

"Click—hiss"

However, Hughes successfully thrust his sword into the chest of the opponent, the blade getting stuck in the Icefield Crack Claw Beast's body. Taking advantage of the Icefield Crack Claw Beast's pained pause, Hughes quickly cast Frost Blast on his hand.

A layer of ice condensed on Hughes' hands, but Hughes did not feel cold as he slapped his hands against the head of the Icefield Crack Claw Beast.

"Bang—"

The Iceborne Claw Beast's hands fell limply to its sides, and it knelt on the ground.

"call."

Hughes took a breath and then took the materials from the Icefield Cracked Claw Beasts on the ground. After that, Hughes explored the entire cave and finally found the Icefield Cracked Claw Beast's nest in the deepest part, but there was nothing special.

After leaving the cave, Hughes returned to the camp. The mission had a 7-day deadline, and Hughes was lucky enough to find enough Icefield Crack Claw Beasts in less than 2 days.

However, since there was still plenty of time left, Hughes decided to find a material, which was one of the main ingredients in the Soul Healing Dew recipe given by Nora—Moon Soul Beast Dewdrops.

Soul Healing Dew is a rare potion for healing injuries to the soul; however, the recipe only applies to apprentice-level and full-fledged wizard-level souls. It is unknown whether recipes for higher-level souls have not been developed or have not been found.

However, it is also very precious. The fact that it involves a formal wizard level means that it is a mid-level potion, which makes Hughes sigh about his relationship with his elder sister.

Both low-level and mid-level potion recipes require Moon Soul Beast Dewdrops, which are not sold in the academy's market area or black market; they are only available through the academy's exchange platform.

The academy's exchange platform uses points, which are earned through extremely difficult or large-scale missions, but only third-class wizard apprentices can accept them.

Although Nora said she would provide the materials, Hughes thought about how long it would take, considering how poor she was.

Moon Soul Beasts are spiritual beings that can randomly take the form of large creatures such as whales, giant eagles, or even dragons.

However, they are docile and only appear periodically to absorb moonlight. There are many ways to obtain their dewdrops, and Hughes has prepared the necessary items.

As for where to find Moon Soul Beasts, the closer to the moonlight, the easier it is; undoubtedly, one must climb the Ice Ridge Mountains.

The Ice Ridge Mountains are a mountain range with a high concentration of magic. The entire mountain range is made of ice and snow composed of magic. Normal ice and snow are different from ice and snow composed of magic.

The ice and snow made of magic can only be melted by flames made of magic, and this mountain range is therefore called the Ice Ridge by the Everfrost Spire. It is said that Finn Caleb, the vice-principal of the academy, lives here year-round.

Hughes rushed back to the academy and took on a task to collect ice-leaf grass to extend his time away. Wearing a special mask he bought from the academy and a frost-breath robe, he headed to the Ice Ridge Mountains.

Hughes struggled to walk across the Ice Ridge Mountains, his feet shrouded in shadows as he stealthily made his way. This time, he wasn't riding an Icehoof Horse; he had already retreated. Instead, he was riding a Frostbone Beast, which was better suited to this environment. However, he stopped halfway through his journey.

The higher you go in the Ice Ridge Mountains, the fewer monsters there are, but some frost elves live there. These frost elves migrated from elsewhere, so there is no frost elf tree of life here.

From where Hughes was standing, he could overlook the entire Everfrost Spire Academy from the Ice Ridge Mountains. Just as Hughes was taking a break, a small group of dwarves caught his attention.

Hughes quickly hid to the side. Although his mental strength and magical power were undoubtedly top-notch among his peers because he had practiced the "Gap Anchoring Meditation Method", Hughes was still a top-tier individual.

Moreover, Hughes had secretly tested his mental and magical abilities while with Nora and found that he had barely reached the level of a third-class apprentice, but there was a squad of ten third-class wizard apprentice frost-skinned dwarves nearby.

Fully armed, they were mutated by the extreme environment and were not afraid of the Ice Ridge Mountains. Their heavy armor and battle robes showed the exquisite craftsmanship of the dwarves.

Hughes released all the ice element particles on his Frostbreath Robe, wrapping it around himself and completely concealing himself in the snow and ice.

……

The dwarf squad marched through the mountains, their heavy breathing blowing away the ice crystals from their beards.

"Captain, Lord Zog and Lord Moshi said we should search first, and then inform them (in dwarven language)."

"Tch! So what if they're official wizards? May they fall off a cliff right now." (Dwarven speech)

……