After finishing his practice of `Crystal Energy Barrier`, Ian didn’t stop.

He moved to the target area and began chanting rapid spells, once again practicing casting `Scorching Beam` and `Secondary Frost Freeze Beam` in alternation.

He focused on quickly switching between the two spells and coordinating them.

The Skill Level for his `Scorching Beam` had quietly reached the Realm of Control, and he had compressed its casting time to under 0.3 seconds.

The instant `Frost Freeze Ray` hit a target and the ice began to spread, he would fire a `Scorching Beam` precisely at the final center point of the ice.

The clash of extreme cold and heat triggered a small-scale explosion, stacking their destructive power.

He also began practicing casting spells while rolling sideways and changing direction abruptly, improving his accuracy in complex and volatile environments.

Meanwhile, the `Twin` effect of his `Frost Freeze Ray` allowed him to attack at will.

Its Skill Level was nearly halfway to the next level, and its maximum range had reached 50 meters.

The two beams could be used to engage separate enemies or hit the same target simultaneously for an even stronger freezing effect.

During his cultivation breaks, he would use his `Spiritualization`-enhanced `Wizard’s Hand` to process several simple Potion ingredients at once, which both trained his control and saved time.

Life in the camp was tense and oppressive.

During the day, aside from necessary Refining, repairs, and patrols, the Apprentices spent most of their time training relentlessly in their quarters or at the training grounds.

There was little conversation. Everyone hurried about, their faces etched with anxiety about the future and a thirst for Power.

The shadow of the `Deep Red Royal Court` loomed over everyone.

Ian had heard that two more family Apprentices patrolling the perimeter had gone missing.

When other patrols arrived on the scene, they only found signs of a struggle and shredded clothing.

On the outskirts of this area, a battle would break out every few days. The `Deep Red Royal Court`’s infiltration never ceased.

In this atmosphere, Ian pushed his Cultivation to the absolute limit.

At night, he would take a `Limit-Breaking Potion` and enter an unshakable six-hour deep Meditation.

In his mind, the number of `Will Runes` grew, as smaller Runes formed one after another.

In the Void, scattered `Spiritual Power` was constantly gathered and tempered, joining the cycle and increasing his upper limit.

[`Star Moon Low Level Meditation Method` Skill Level +1]

...

[Realm: `Middle Level Wizard Apprentice` (84%)]

[Skill: `Star Moon Low Level Meditation Method`: Control (442/800)]

Looking at the stable but slow-growing percentage on the panel, Ian felt little joy, only a growing sense of urgency.

’Too slow.’

Even with `Limit-Breaking Potions` and maxing out his Meditation time every day, the breakthrough from `Middle Level Apprentice` to `High Level Apprentice` wasn’t that simple.

Ian estimated it would take about another twenty days to truly break through.

But the threat outside the camp might not give him that much time.

「A month passed since Ian arrived at the camp.」

In the `Alchemy Room`, he had just finished a round of high-intensity practice with `Crystal Energy Barrier`.

The `Shield`’s Skill Level was also gradually approaching its Limit-Break.

But a subtle feeling came to him. Delighted, he ignored his fatigue and hurried back to his bedroom.

After calming himself, he sat cross-legged on the bed, took a Potion, and sank his consciousness into his `Sea of Spirit`.

Nine large `Will Runes` glowed with circulating light. Beside them, the final small `Will Rune` to be drawn was just a few strokes from completion.

In the Void, tempered `Spiritual Power` poured in continuously, filling the final gap.

[Realm: `Middle Level Wizard Apprentice` (99%)]

’Just a little more!’

Ian held his breath, focusing all his consciousness on the small Rune that was about to form.

His `Spiritual Power`, like the finest carving knife, moved slowly along a profound trajectory.

Bit by bit...

HUMMM...!

A clear, resonant chime echoed in his mind as some kind of shackle was shattered.

The twenty-seventh small Rune suddenly flared to life.

Light flooded the void in his mind. All the Runes interlocked, forming a complex and exquisite three-dimensional figure that began to rotate slowly.

Like a perfect creation, it formed a complete, stable, and self-contained cyclical system!

A majestic surge of `Spiritual Power` erupted from the cycle, sweeping across his entire `Sea of Spirit`.

The `Spiritual Power` from the Void, which had previously required guidance to absorb, now surged into the new cycle spontaneously, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea. It was rapidly tempered and transformed, forming a small `Spiritual Power` "pond."

[Realm: `High Level Wizard Apprentice` (0%)]

"I finally broke through!"

Ian’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them before vanishing.

He felt the world had become clearer than ever before.

The faint clink of armor as distant camp guards changed shifts, the subtle rustle of a nocturnal insect crawling over gravel in a corner, the faint fluctuations and flow of ambient `Magic Power` in the air...

All of his senses were magnified several times over, and everything was layered with distinct clarity.

And it wasn’t just his `Perception`.

With a mere thought, his `Spiritual Power` projected from his body, making everything within a 30-meter radius clearly perceptible. It was more than twice as powerful as before!

Moreover, it was more condensed and pure, and controlling it felt as natural as moving his own limbs.

He tried controlling his `Spiritualization`-enhanced `Wizard’s Hand` to perform two different delicate operations at the same time.

Grinding, stirring, and portioning were all effortless, and the `Energy` consumption was almost nonexistent.

Ian quickly chanted a Spell, and an eyeball condensed in the room, hovering near the ceiling.

The `Eye of Vigilance`, which previously required a portion of his focus to maintain, could now be sustained for a long time.

Its consumption was further reduced, effectively giving him a passive extension of his `Perception`.

He stood up and stretched his body.

His physical body had completely adapted to the `Erosion` of `Magic Power`. While its strength hadn’t increased much, his stronger and more condensed `Spiritual Power` meant he had far more meticulous control over his body.

He could now use the `Power` and `Endurance` enhanced by the `Rock Bear Potion` with greater efficiency and precision.

It was an all-around improvement!

’So this is a `High Level Apprentice`...’

Ian clenched his fist gently, feeling the `Power` surging within him. It was a completely different sensation of strength than before.

When he had broken through to `Middle Level Apprentice`, the main improvements had been in his total `Spiritual Power` and its density, allowing him to initially perceive the outside world.

With his current `Spiritual Power`, he could make initial use of a `Secret Magic Mark`, but he didn’t possess that `Witchcraft`, so it wasn’t an urgent matter.

This breakthrough to `High Level Apprentice` was a qualitative leap in his overall strength.

His `Spiritual Power` now formed its own cycle, which meant his recovery speed, operational efficiency, and overall capacity had all increased dramatically.

He could sustain the cost of more powerful and longer-lasting `Witchcraft`, operate multiple spells simultaneously without rapid depletion, and learn and analyze complex knowledge models more quickly.

If a `Middle Level Apprentice` had mastered the tools, then a `High Level Apprentice` truly possessed the powerful arms to wield them, along with a ceaseless source of power.

With a thought, Ian called up his panel.

[Realm: `High Level Wizard Apprentice` (0%)]

[Talent: `Moderate Light Attribute Affinity`]

[Skill: `Star Moon Low Level Meditation Method`: Control (586/800)

`Wizard’s Hand`: Limit-Broken 1 time (112/800) (Limit-Breaking Effect: 1. `Spiritualization`)

`Frost Freeze Ray`: Limit-Broken 1 time (389/800) (Limit-Breaking Effect: 1. `Twin`)

`Scorching Beam`: Control (177/800)

`Crystal Energy Barrier`: Control (795/800)

`Awakening Potion`: Limit-Broken 1 time (122/800) (Limit-Breaking Effect: 1. `Strong Effect`)

`Basic Magic Potion Recognition`: Limit-Broken 1 time (15/800) (Limit-Breaking Effect: 1. `Insight`)

`Secondary Healing Potion`: Control (37/400)

`Basic Antidote Potion`: Control (8/400)

Other Skills...]

He was extremely satisfied as he looked at his rather "luxurious" panel.

’My `Shield`’s Skill Level is almost maxed out too.’

Ian’s gaze was intense as he looked out the window at the pitch-black night sky.

Deep in the canyon, a dark red light still flickered.

A `High Level Apprentice`, in this cruel war-torn land, was still just a pawn—albeit a slightly more important one.

But at least he was one step closer to becoming an `Official Wizard`.

The path to becoming stronger is endless.

And his own pace, spurred on by the whip of `War`, would only grow faster and faster!