Mongna Ant Land Cottage.
Ivan had returned to his own dormitory for more than half a day, just finished sorting out the gains and losses from this mission. There were so minor problems during the mission, such as the lack of variety in powerful spells, only having Black Magic Hand and Thorny Jungle.
However, the gains were much more substantial, having completed the objective of this trip satisfactorily, with an additional bounty of upper-class Aqua Alva, an unexpected breakthrough to Great Knight, gaining the friendship of a sorcerer, and a Transfer Sealing Scroll.
The benefits far outweighed the problems, making him quite content with the mission.
As he thought, his mind gradually shifted to the issue of advancing to an official sorcerer.
"If I sign a contract with the academy, that represents a forty percent advancent success rate," he mused.
"Great Knight adds ten percent."
"The extra two portions of Aqua Alva count as ten percent."
"That's equivalent to a sixty percent success rate."
He didn't hesitate at all about whether to use three vials of Aqua Alva; with his talent already insufficient, if he didn't give it his all, becoming an official sorcerer would be nothing but an empty phrase.
However, a sixty percent advancent success rate was far from enough, he needed to think of more ways.
"The Knight's Path has no way forward," he sighed.
The Breathing thod he practiced was 'Bat's Eyes,' which he found behind the signboard of Old Orio dical Hall, with only page class and Knight Class stages, no cultivation thod for the stage of Great Knight, let alone the path beyond Great Knight.
Previously, he had perused a great deal of literature about knights in libraries and in Carl's reading room, understanding that there was a fundantal difference between the realm of Great Knight and Knight Class.
According to a transversal comparison summarized by sorcerers, Great Knight is actually the equivalent of a Level 1 Sorcerer, which is why a Great Knight is qualified to beco a sorcerer's guard, just like Captain Caleb on the ship.
Upon closer consideration, this made sense. Great Knight's Combat Energy Slash starts at least at ten graduated degrees, and can reach up to twenty degrees, coupled with respectable defensive ability and enduring combat stamina, indeed capable of posing so danger to an official sorcerer.
If a Great Knight was already like this, the Legendary Knight above Great Knight was even more exceptional, implying that the value of a Breathing thod from Great Knight to Legendary Knight would skyrocket, and would not be as commonly available as those of Knight Class and secret dicine.
Ivan speculated that this was probably why most Breathing thods stopped at Knight Class.
"Let it be, no need to channel a lot of energy into Great Knight Breathing thods and secret dicine for now."
There's a priority in matters, and currently, the most urgent thing was increasing the advancent rate. He couldn't afford to waste too much ti on unrelated or ineffective endeavors.
The Insect Breathing thod could continue to be studied, as this was a matter he had already found so clues to and should not require much effort.
"Black Magic Hand and that runes sorcery array are worthy of exploration; sa as ntal energy, they might not be unusable for advancent," he muttered, a thought that had occurred to him before.
Randall had once said that the thods to assist in advancing to official sorcerer include several categories: potions, runes sorcery arrays, contracts, and anomalous energy.
Regarding potions, the most potent and universal one is Aqua Alva, of which he had obtained three vials, having reached the limit.
The other aspects are usually fortuitous and not as universally applicable as Aqua Alva.
In short, resources are extrely limited.
Maybe the last apprentice used them for their advancent to sorcerer, leaving those resources unavailable, or employing those resources might involve high risks. An apprentice, through long-term research, would have to figure out a suitable thod for themselves.
If others wished to use them, they too would need to thoroughly investigate, taking on significant risks.
In this region, the more prominent sorcerer families are few, and certainly for profound reasons that lie in the uncertainties associated with apprentices advancing to sorcerers, the arduous journey of increasing advancent rates, and the scarcity of descendants who beco sorcerers.
Without enough sorcerers, one can't claim to be a sorcerer family.
On the flip side, if there was a stable thod to improve the advancent rate, developing a sorcerer family or power wouldn't be too challenging.
For an apprentice, how to increase the success rate of advancent is a significant issue. Besides Aqua Alva, one would need to put in a lot of effort to research and find a thod suitable for oneself. Ivan decided to explore the runes sorcery array corresponding to Black Magic Water.
"The other Raw Stone Array Discs outside Swamp Forest City should have gone to the Enchantnt Group; I could ask Heidi about them, not sure if I can apply to observe them."
"I need to find Auric to discuss what he and the Richie family behind him can offer and what costs are involved. I just hope they won't look down on my 3rd Class talent."
So far, these were the only two thods he could think of. If he achieved results with both approaches, the advancent rate could probably reach eighty percent. Eighty percent would be enough to take the plunge.
The thought that so people started with an eighty percent success rate suddenly left a sour taste in his mouth.
He shook his head, casting away the intrusive thoughts; self-pity was not his style.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Ivan, are you there?"
The knocking sounded, and Ivan opened the door to see that it was Carl.
"I ran into that annoying guy who said you both went to the Flash Vortex Secret Realm. You made quite a splash this ti, is it true?" Carl asked eagerly as he entered the room.
"Yes, I participated in the sa mission, eradicated a group of external enemies, and in the end, the academy alliance awarded extrinsic rewards," Ivan nodded, briefly outlining the context of the incident, but the details needed to remain confidential.
"That's great," Carl said, his eyes full of envy, as if he wished he could have taken part in the battles to defend the secret realm.
Hearing his words, Ivan couldn't help but roll his eyes, only Carl could say sothing like that.
Now, Carl's strength is also approaching the limit of 3rd Class, and it's quite normal for his power to progress quickly since he does not lack resources.
Ivan sowhat understood what Wolban had once said, "They are not the sa kind of people as us." He and Carl indeed were not the sa kind of people, but he had realized this from the very beginning.
"Carl, this is not a fun matter, we are going there for resources," Ivan stated seriously.
"I know," Carl replied, scratching his head upon seeing Ivan's serious expression, then he added quietly, "Well, I indeed don't need to look everywhere for resources, I can't understand your feelings."
"It's not that serious, look, I'm fine," Ivan said, waving his hand dismissively. There was no point discussing this with Carl; he was clearly influenced by Wolban.
"Ivan, I have a question for you. How about becoming relatives with my family?" Carl suddenly asked.
"Becoming what?"
"I an forming a marriage alliance with the Lidia family. You have such great learning talent and multiple skills. Joining the Lidia family would be a good choice for you, then you wouldn't have to look everywhere for resources," Carl suggested, thinking it was a good idea.
He promised with conviction, "Trust , I can go to my grandmother and mother and introduce you to them, let you beco a relative with the Lidia family."
"It's not your sister, is it?" Ivan asked subconsciously.
"If you like my sister, it's not impossible," Carl said, slightly stunned, then his eyes shone with excitent. The idea of his good friend becoming a relative through his sister seed quite good. "I have to go back and ask, you know Heidi, her opinion counts more than mine."
Seeing him getting ready to leave, Ivan hurriedly stopped him, urging him to sit back down.
"That's not what I an; actually, I'm not familiar with Heidi."
"You said the sa thing last ti, I don't believe that."
"May I ask presumptuously, if, and I an if, I beca related to soone from your family, what surna would the children have?"
"Lidia, of course. It's a glorious surna, isn't that right?"
Ivan thought as much. Carl's talk of becoming family amounted to marrying into the family, and it was normal that he did not realize the difference. He estimated that his grandfather and father had joined the Lidia family in the sa way, though it was his grandmother and mother who wielded the power in the Lidia family.
"Carl, I'd rather achieve success through my own efforts. I think you should understand that," Ivan expressed his preference.
"I see, if you change your mind, you can find . I'll talk to Heidi about it," Carl replied, looking a bit disappointed but without insisting further, yet he couldn't help but reiterate the point.
The two discussed runes and enchantnts for a while. Currently, Carl's rune line completion was at 88%, and Ivan's at 96%. The closer one got to full completion, the harder it beca, each step likened to a new level.
...
In a certain sorcerer's steeple.
Soon after Wolban returned to the academy, he was summoned by his ntor, Sorceress Andaya, who wanted to know about the incidents that had occurred in the secret realm. Wolban had no choice but to select what he could share and recounted the events.
"Blood Hunters, rember the records are sealed, they have quite the background," Andaya mused.
"Luckily, Ivan acted promptly and prevented that Blood Hunter from growing stronger, otherwise, the consequences would have been difficult to predict," Wolban added.
"A spell that exceeds the apprentice's limit?"
"Yes."
"Based on the Mage's Hand, combined with runes and a runes sorcery array disc?"
"Exactly."
Andaya asked a question, and Wolban provided an answer.
More than just Wolban had witnessed the event. He was closer and saw it more clearly. Such thods left him in awe.
After listening, Sorceress Andaya fell into contemplation.
After a pause, Wolban proposed, "ntor, I think we could further attract Ivan. He has 3rd Class talent and is currently lacking resources for advancent. Now is a good ti; he would be grateful to us."
Andaya glanced at him and slowly shook her head.
"ntor, I respectfully ask, why not seize the opportunity to attract soone so talented and capable?" Wolban continued, eager to advocate for Ivan. In his eyes, as long as one could beco an official sorcerer, nothing else mattered, for there would be plenty of ti to slowly resolve any other issues.
Moreover, Ivan was soone who should be on their side. They couldn't allow families of sorcerers to sway him.
"It seems you two have a good relationship," Andaya comnted.
Wolban remained silent, believing he wouldn't let personal relations affect his judgent, yet he had no way to prove it.
"You've said he is a person of talent and pride. Let's wait and see, let him struggle and face rejection. When the ti cos that he feels utterly frustrated, we'll extend our help. He will be more grateful and more inclined to serve us," Andaya revealed her strategy. For an apprentice with 3rd Class talent to beco an official sorcerer was not an easy task.
There was plenty of ti to wear him down, down to his last breath.
Wolban opened his mouth but couldn't find anything to say.
On one hand, he had an inexplicable feeling that it might not take Ivan very long at all, as the other was soone known for breaking through expectations. On the other hand, once Ivan displayed a weakness, the conditions they would offer him could beco exceedingly strict, which was not sothing Wolban wished to see.
However, as only an apprentice, he was unable to influence his ntor's decision.
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