Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

When Ian returned to his residence, it was already late afternoon.

As soon as he pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw a figure standing at the bottom of the steps in front of his house.

Malena.

She was dressed in a simple dark blue wizard's robe, but her complexion was not good, with dark circles under her eyes and a tired look.

"Ian." Her voice was a little hoarse.

"Come in and sit down."

Ian opened the door and led her into the living room.

The room was simple, with a table, a few chairs, and a bookshelf against the wall piled high with notes and scrolls.

Malena sat down in the chair, looking somewhat reserved.

"I've heard about it." She looked up at Ian. "About what happened at Dark Hills."

Ian poured a glass of water and pushed it towards him: "Who told you that?"

"Everyone in the tower is talking about it." Malena took the cup, but didn't drink it; she just held it in her hand.

"It's said that three deacons of the Withering Council died, one of whom was at the peak of the Liquefaction Realm... Many people went to see him in the Tower."

She paused, then lowered her voice even further: "They also speculate that it might... be related to you."

Ian neither confirmed nor denied it.

He walked to the bookshelf, took out a few notebooks, and spread them out on the table.

"Did you encounter any problems after your promotion?"

Malena's shoulders slumped, like a punctured balloon.

"Hmm... I've been having trouble building the model for my major sorcery, [Nature's Ring]."

My teacher said my mental control wasn't precise enough, and my energy circuits always collapsed at the third node.

She bit her lip. "I've failed seven times already, and each time it takes me several days to recover from the emotional shock..."

If this continues, I may never master this witchcraft.

She knew she was being a little too hasty, and she couldn't help but secretly compare herself to someone else.

Most first-level wizards need a considerable amount of time to master and improve first-level magic.

Ian looked at her.

Malena's talent isn't bad, but it's not top-tier either.

Her promotion was due to solid experience and a bit of luck.

But the real test comes after the promotion.

Without powerful first-tier sorcery to protect him, he would be at the very bottom among formal wizards, someone anyone could easily step on.

"Did you bring the model notes?" Ian asked.

Since Malena asked that question, it meant she trusted him, as wizards generally don't let others know about their magic.

Malena took a parchment notebook from her bosom and handed it to her with both hands.

Ian opened the book and read a few pages.

With his current academic prowess, he quickly spotted the problem.

Malena's model construction approach was too conservative, the energy loop design was too complex, there were too many nodes, and the fault tolerance was low.

She is naturally approachable and has a gentle mental strength; forcibly trying to control such a precise model would inevitably lead to failure.

Ian pulled a blank notebook from his bookshelf, picked up a quill pen, and began to write.

He wrote very quickly, the pen tip making a scratching sound on the paper.

Marlena held her breath, staring intently.

More than an hour later, Ian stopped writing and pushed the notebook over.

"Let's modify it according to this idea first... merge the third and fifth nodes... focus on the stable construction of the nodes, and fill in the rest slowly."

Malena took the notebook and read it line by line.

After a while, her breathing became rapid.

This is not a simple modification; it almost completely overturns the structure of the entire model.

But each change is explained in detail: why it was changed, what the effect will be, and how to deal with any potential problems...

Clearly and distinctly.

"This...you've had contact with the [Ring of Nature] before?" Her voice trembled.

Ian shook his head. "No, but the structure and ideas of first-order sorcery models have commonalities."

"Natural magic emphasizes naturalness and peace. Your model is too 'hard'; it needs to be softer."

Malena held the notebook, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Ian's understanding of witchcraft probably surpasses even that of Lady Elivia.

"Ian... thank you."

"Don't thank me too soon," Ian interrupted her. "Go back and try it first, and come back to me if you have any problems."

Malena nodded vigorously, clutching the notebook tightly to her chest; her previous dejection had vanished.

She stood up, walked to the door, and then turned back.

"Ian."

"Um?"

"Just how strong are you right now?"

Malena looked at his face with a serious expression.

Ian rolled his eyes at her. "Just enough."

Malena raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips, and without asking any further questions, turned and left.

Ian closed the door, walked back to the table, and continued organizing his notes on witchcraft models.

three days later.

Robert rushed over, clutching a crumpled piece of paper in his hand.

"grown ups."

Ian was taking a vial of freshly condensed Starshine Potion down from the shelf.

Hearing the voice, he didn't even look up: "Speak."

"Several informants on the black market have delivered a message."

Robert lowered his voice, took a few steps forward, and placed the note beside the alchemy table.

"They all mentioned the same place: the 'Sleeping Palace'."

Ian put down the vial of medicine and picked up the note.

The handwriting on the paper was very messy, as if it had been written hastily with charcoal.

"Underground palace...stabilization period...ancient laboratory...crystallization of rules..."

Several keywords jumped into my eyes.

"Where did this news come from?" Ian asked.

"It first spread from a few advanced apprentices who ran trade routes, and in the last couple of days, it's also being discussed in the small circle of first-level wizards."

Robert licked his slightly dry lips. "I had Wade help me piece together the information by asking around."

Ian held the note up to the candle flame beside him, watching the flame slowly lick up and turn to ashes.

Ian held the note up to the candle flame beside him, watching the flame slowly lick up and turn to ashes.

Is the information accurate?

"I can't tell either," Robert said, somewhat embarrassed.

"I found an old guy near the location that was described, and he secretly looked through old maps in his inventory."

That place is indeed a buffer zone between Shadowmoon, Crimson, and Wither. It's a fragment of an ancient demiplane that's normally inaccessible; the spacetime turbulence there can tear people apart.

But every few decades or centuries, the turbulence will subside for a period of time, which is called a "stable period."

Ian lowered his eyelids slightly and pondered for a moment.

"Anything else? Is there any unusual news from Shadowmoon's side?"

Robert said, "'Black Blade' Carle, that one-eyed vice-captain of the enforcement team, has been on a black market spree these past few days, buying protective rolls and energy detectors."

The members of the Withered Council are said to have appeared at the edge of the buffer zone; they are all dressed in gray robes and their demeanor is easily recognizable.

Yesterday, a small team from the Crimson Royal Court crossed the border and headed brazenly towards the entrance of the underground palace.

Although they didn't go inside, they circled the perimeter several times, as if surveying the terrain.

Robert finished speaking in one breath, took a breath, and looked at Ian.

The alchemy room was quiet, with only the "drip, drip" sound of liquid medicine dripping from the condenser pipe next to it.

The candlelight flickered, casting a dancing shadow on Ian's face.

A slumbering underground palace... an ancient alchemy laboratory... a regular crystallization mining area...

Each of these things could cause a first-level wizard to break his head.

"This is a whirlpool," Ian said, looking up.

"All three forces have their eyes on it; when the time comes, it won't just be treasure-hunting teams going in."

His voice was calm, but Robert sensed something else in it.

That's the instinctive alertness that comes when you smell both prey and danger.

"Then we..." Robert asked.

"We'll do nothing for now," Ian said.

"Keep the shop open, keep refining the medicine, and continue doing what you were doing before."

Robert paused for a moment: "Aren't we going to prepare? The underground palace opens in three months. If we don't stockpile supplies now, what will happen later..."

"What's the rush?" Ian shook his head.

"Three members of the Withered Council have just died, and the Crimson Court is also active. Let's wait and see."

Robert opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Keep receiving information, but don't actively inquire, especially pay attention to those two families."

Ian took a small leather bag out of his dimensional ring and tossed it over.

"Take this and bribe your informants to keep their mouths shut; they'll be useful later."

Robert caught the bag; it felt heavy, and inside were magic stones.

"I understand." He nodded.

"Also," Ian added, "have Kenna bring in a lot of raw materials for 'Solid Realm Dust' and 'Anti-Disorder Agent' when he receives his orders recently. Don't order large quantities; mix them into the regular orders."

Robert's eyes lit up: "You mean...?"

"Just in case." Ian waved his hand. "Go."

Robert turned and left, gently closing the door behind him.

Ian was left alone in the alchemy room again.

He walked to the window and pushed it open a crack.

The night wind blew in, carrying the unique scent of Shadowmoon Tower, a mixture of magical dust and the damp, cold smell of the distant swamp.

In the distance, the spires of several tall wizard towers still shone, like silent eyes in the darkness.

"These are turbulent times."