“Truly living up to the name of 3rd Class talent, the oppressive force is so strong right from the start, it’s hard to stay calm.”
It’s well known that the initial success rate for a 5th Class talent is eighty percent, but for a 3rd Class talent, it’s only forty percent. At this moment, this was exhibited with particular clarity, specifically manifesting as a spiritual constriction coming from all directions.
The spiritual constriction brought by a 3rd Class talent far exceeds that of a 5th Class talent.
Ivan knew this was just the beginning. As time passed, the sense of oppression would continue unabated, growing stronger with every movement he made in his mental ocean.
Surviving under this pressure to construct a Solidification Magic would make one an official sorcerer.
To fall mid-way would mean failure to advance.
“Good, the ‘Light of Wisdom’ can be used.”
He tried to activate the Academic Prodigy panel and could still use it at any time. His body wasn’t isolated, which relieved him a great deal.
The next second, a different kind of mental energy appeared in the mental ocean.
Under his control, the mental energy formed a protective sphere around his mental body. The alien mental energy transformed into a black breeze which blew in all directions.
“It works.”
Ivan could clearly feel that the oppressive force transmitted from his surroundings was reduced by about twenty percent.
Perhaps because of the suppression itself, the force of the Black Wind was lighter than before. Its advantage lay in its duration and effectiveness, requiring only a portion of mental power to maintain, which undoubtedly exhilarated him.
Many measures intended to increase the advancement rate failed to work when needed, or their effects were greatly reduced. Incidents like these had happened before, such as with the two fellow disciples he had never met.
Seizing the moment, he gathered his other thoughts and began the most critical step—constructing the ‘Flower Tree Shield’ magic model.
In the past, the spells he had constructed and studied were always Level 0 magic, but Flower Tree Shield was a Level 1 Spell. In such a harsh environment as the present, it was truly no easy task.
Ivan quickly discovered that the oppressive force from around him increased the moment he started constructing the magic model, as if something was constantly watching you.
In the face of this disadvantageous situation, he still calmly maneuvered his mental power and a trace of refined insect swarm aura, step by step constructing the magic model.
A Level 1 magic model is an intricately complex three-dimensional model, many times more complicated than a Level 0 spell, and the construction process resembled the building of a bird’s nest-like labyrinth.
Different from simulation, during simulation mental energy could disperse at any time.
At this very moment, there was no room for turning back. For every bit of mental power he invested, the amount of power he could control decreased, and the mental power converted from burning lifeforce with Aqua Alva was far from keeping up with his consumption rate.
The total amount of mental power was continuously decreasing, while the surrounding pressure was infinitely intensifying.
For any apprentice, advancement is a lengthy process of agony.
Ivan instinctively maintained other aspects and focused most of his concentration on constructing the magic model, like a skilled architect. As time passed, a marvelously intricate model slowly emerged.
Seventy percent!
The overall outline of the model became clearly visible. The surrounding constraining forces, as if angered to a certain threshold, abruptly doubled in strength based on the existing level, scattering the Black Wind.
Ivan didn’t pay it any mind. The Black Magic Wind Array had served its purpose, saving him countless amounts of effort and time, which was enough.
As time ticked away, the surroundings became darker and more desolate. Within this suffocating space, a lone figure silently endured the ever-increasing oppressive force, the spine remaining upright.
Under the weight of the oppression, the mental energy constituting the magic model began to liquefy.
Ivan knew this indicated that the magic model was eighty percent complete, still requiring the continuation of mental power investment, further perfection.
He also knew that under strong pressure, the magic model would crystallize, eventually transforming into a spell model with a texture akin to a Demon Crystal, which was the origin of the name ‘Solidification Magic.’
So far, everything was progressing smoothly.
…
In the teaching district, an area frequently visited by apprentices, a sudden anomaly caught an apprentice’s attention. He pointed toward a wall and exclaimed in a low voice.
“Look, the wall is sprouting grass and flowers.”
“Don’t make a fuss. It’s caused by elemental particles.”
“Could it be a leak of high-energy particles? But there’s no laboratory nearby, right? Or perhaps it was caused by a misfired spell during someone’s lesson. Hopefully, it didn’t harm anyone else.”
Under the gaze of four or five apprentices, more weeds and vines continued to push out of the wall, blooming within a few seconds, and shortly thereafter bore oddly shaped wild fruits.
Further away, the grass and plants on the ground also benefited, some growing so hastily that they became distorted or even withered.
Before long, clusters of verdant clouds drifted across the sky; the clouds spontaneously condensed into leaf-shaped cloud scales, looking incredibly pretty.
Strange phenomena were unfolding, all heralding the abnormality of this place.
Meanwhile, such transformation caught more people’s attention, and apprentices who knew what was happening immediately revealed the truth.
“Someone is challenging the bottleneck of becoming an official sorcerer! This is a phenomenon caused by the resonance of Plant-type element particles.”
“By the God of Knowledge, has a sorcerer been born?”
“It’s hard to say now; looking at the particle resonance phenomenon, this senior apprentice’s progress seems smooth. I’m really envious.”
Spiritual power is a wonderful force, naturally adept at manipulating element particles, and in turn, the element particles spontaneously resonate with fluctuations in spiritual power, giving rise to various changes.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the clouds underwent new changes. Like an invisible hand stirring the sky, it kneaded the clouds into clumps, causing the cloud layer to tumble continuously.
This situation couldn’t help but make people sweat for that senior apprentice.
In fact, the phenomenon of promotion could be sealed with a Formation; the teaching area purposely did not set up the blockade to inspire other apprentices, hence it was so eye-catching.
“Ivan, you’re in the final stretch. You must hold on,” while others chattered, a bear-like, tall middle-aged man watched everything from not too far away, silently wishing his apprentice well.
From the changes in the particle phenomenon, Randall could tell that his apprentice was in the final moments of promotion, and one more step forward would make him an official sorcerer.
Suddenly, the sky’s anomaly changed again, as if someone took a deep breath from below, causing the tumbling clouds to continuously fall downwards until they finally crashed onto the buildings below, and a light fog spread.
“How tense, did he make it?”
“I don’t know.”
When faced with such an uncommon occurrence, apprentices had but a vague understanding.
Randall, with his extensive knowledge, knew that his apprentice must have taken that step.
…
Amid the outside speculation, the chamber was also filled with swirling smoke at this moment.
Ivan’s eyes were still closed. The first thing he did was disperse the excess energy, including the insect swarm aura drawn from the Blackbeard Crown, the mental energy converted by the Black Magic Wind Array, and the residual efficacy of Aqua Alva. He no longer needed these.
At this moment, he, Ivan Marichardon, had officially become a Level 1 Sorcerer.
“Finally, I’ve become a Level 1 Sorcerer,” Ivan said delightedly as he opened his eyes, sensing a significant difference in himself compared to before.
Compared to any earlier time, he had crossed a threshold in his life level. While he was still human, his lifeforce had transcended. If free from disaster and disease, he could live for about three hundred years.
Regarding the entire promotion process, it was overall rather smooth thanks to his ample prior preparations despite a few hiccups along the way.
“The Blackbeard Crown indeed helped in constructing the Flower Tree Shield. Calculating based on contribution, it improved the advancement rate by eight to nine percent, nearing ten percent.”
He also felt happy for Randall, as it’s normal for methods that improve success rates to fluctuate. The fear was that the methods might not work at all, which would certainly be a blow to one’s confidence.
The event proved Randall’s research was correct.
“Mmm, mmm.”
“I’m fine, how about you? Are all of you alright?”
The Rose Chain had collapsed at some point under some disturbance, and the Silkworm Queen could only obediently command the rapid wood silkworms to stand guard around. Now that it saw Ivan wake up safe and sound, it too seemed quite content.
Compared to the Silkworm Queen, the other participating rapid wood silkworms looked as if they had been through an illness, weary and listless.
After checking, Ivan found that they were not seriously harmed; with so many companions sharing the burden, the damage to each rapid wood silkworm was minimal.
Strength: (5.0) 4.9, Agility: (7.4) 7.2, Body Constitution: (6.1) 5.7, Spirit: 25.8
Ivan clearly saw his data change on the attribute panel. Most importantly, his spiritual power increased from 15 graduated degrees to 25.8, a substantial improvement.
In terms of the body, thanks to the great help from the rapid wood silkworms and his own Great Knight constitution, his body had not been ravaged by Aqua Alva; it wasn’t permanent damage, and with his current condition, he would recover in a few days.
Moreover, under the influence of the abundant mana within his body, he would become even stronger.
He glanced at the Academic Prodigy panel, which also displayed some changes. [Meditation Skill] had gone up to Level 4 and [Energy Particle Skill] to Level 5, matching his power.
‘Flower Tree Shield’
With just a thought, Ivan conjured three green, arc-shaped shields that hovered around him like floating giant flower petals.
“As expected of Talent Sorcery, it only consumes 1 graduated degree of spiritual power and 1 graduated degree of mana to manifest three shields with a defensive power of 19 graduated degrees. Plus, it’s instantaneous—apprentices’ weakness in defense is finally covered.”
At that moment, within his mental ocean, the previously exhausted mental power had recovered. In addition to the vast mental energy, there was now a crystal-like magic model.
This was the solidified magic model of the Flower Tree Shield, also known as ‘Talent Sorcery,’ which could be cast instantly like an innate ability, with low consumption, enhancing affinity to Plant-type particles and intimacy with insect species.