Back in his quarters, Ian calmed himself and studied the rows of Witchcraft on his panel, a contemplative look crossing his face.

[Name: Ian Marcus]

[Age: 17]

[Realm: High Level Wizard Apprentice (7.5%)]

[Talent: Moderate Light Attribute Affinity]

[Skills: Star Moon Middle Level Meditation Method, Energy Shield, Invisibility Technique, Secret Magic Mark, Bloodline Purification Technique, Scorching Beam, Eye of Vigilance, Crystal Energy Barrier, Repulsive Force Technique, Wizard’s Hand, Secondary Frost Freeze Beam, Cleaning Technique, Bright Light Technique, Ignition Technique.]

[Magic Potion Science: Concentration Potion, Rock Bear Potion, Awakening Potion, Awakening Potion, Spirit Recovery Potion, Secondary Healing Potion, Basic Antidote Potion, Stamina Potion, Basic Magic Potion Recognition.]

He flipped to a sub-page. [Energy Shield], [Invisibility Technique], and [Secret Magic Mark] were the three new Tier Zero High Level Witchcraft he had learned.

Only [Invisibility Technique] had just reached the Skilled level. The others were either at the Beginner stage or he hadn’t even started cultivating them yet.

He needed to plan his time again, making sure not to waste it on skills that would be useless later on.

Three of them were required for High Level Sorcerers, but they couldn’t take up too much of his time. As for Low Level Witchcraft, apart from the two he had already pushed past their limits, he decided not to continue cultivating them.

He still had to find a way to obtain Middle and High Level knowledge of Magic Potion Science from the Silver Ring.

His recent focus was to achieve Limit-Breaking with [Secondary Frost Freeze Beam] again. After breaking the limit once, its Skill Level increased extremely slowly, so he could only grind it out over time.

In terms of potions, since he lacked the [Concentration Potion], he could only rely on the Limit-Breaking Edition of the [Awakening Potion] to assist his Meditation. The effects left much to be desired.

He could only wait for the Silver Ring’s traveling merchants to arrive and see. If he couldn’t collect the main ingredients, he would leave this place without hesitation.

...

Early the next morning, just as Ian finished refining a batch of basic potions, an adult and a child came to visit.

The adult was Talia, and she was holding a little girl’s hand.

Talia stood outside Ian’s tent, looking somewhat awkward—a stark contrast to the capable and decisive hunter she was on a normal day.

The little girl beside her was about eight or nine years old. She wore a clean linen dress, her brown hair was tied in two small braids, and her light green eyes were curiously examining the flap of the tent.

"Mr. Ian." Talia cleared her throat, her voice much softer than usual.

"Forgive me for the intrusion. I am Talia, and this is my daughter, Dora."

Ian put down the mortar in his hands, used the Cleaning Technique to remove the potion stains from them, and lifted the tent flap to step outside.

His gaze swept over Talia before finally resting on the little girl.

Although her Spiritual Power fluctuations were faint, they were exceptionally pure, possessing a subtle, natural rhythm.

"Please, come in." Ian stepped aside to let them pass. "The tent is simple. I hope you’ll excuse the humble accommodations."

Talia led Dora into the tent. The interior wasn’t large, but it was neat and tidy.

Alchemy Tools were arranged neatly on a wooden rack to one side, and the corner where he stored medicinal herbs gave off a mixed, fresh scent of plants.

Ian brought out two simple wooden stools and used Wizard’s Hand to clear off a small, square table that served as his workbench.

"Sit." Ian himself sat on the edge of his bed, which was covered with an animal hide.

"Talia, I doubt you came here today just to exchange pleasantries."

Talia took a deep breath and pulled Dora in front of her.

"You have a sharp eye, Mr. Ian. To be honest, three months ago, a traveling emissary from the Silver Ring passed through the Glowing Forest, conducting routine aptitude tests on children of the right age. Dora... was found to have a Middle Level Natural Attribute Affinity."

As she spoke, a complex light flashed in her eyes—a mixture of pride, worry, and, most of all, deep anxiety.

"The emissary said that with Dora’s aptitude, there’s a high chance she’ll be accepted into one of the Silver Ring’s outer academies. But the next formal recruitment of apprentices isn’t until next spring, which is more than half a year away."

Talia tightened her grip on her daughter’s hand, her gaze fixed on Ian with earnest appeal.

"The emissary recommended that it would be best for her to receive some foundational training first, to build a basis in Meditation. That way, she can adapt more quickly after entering the academy and compete for a better allocation of resources."

In all her years in the Glowing Forest, she had met many Wizard Apprentices, but most of them were self-taught. Their own cultivation was a stumbling, faltering process, let alone teaching others.

Talia paused, organizing her thoughts. "You are the calmest and most knowledgeable High Level Apprentice I have ever met.

The way you refine your potions with such precision and cast your Witchcraft so fluently—you must have a formal lineage of training.

That’s why I’ve swallowed my pride and come to ask if you, sir, would be willing to provide Dora with some initial guidance and teach her the basic fundamentals of a Wizard’s cultivation. As for compensation..."

Ian raised a hand to stop her, his eyes falling on Dora.

The little girl was looking up at him with clear eyes, showing none of the timidity that children usually have around strangers. Instead, she possessed a kind of innate, sharp Perception.

"Dora," Ian asked softly, "what do you think a Wizard is like?"

Dora blinked, her voice crisp and clear.

"Mama says Wizards are people who can understand the world’s secrets. They weave Magic with their Spiritual Power and change reality with their knowledge."

It was a simple understanding. Ian nodded slightly and looked back at Talia.

"Your daughter’s Talent is quite good. Her Spiritual Power is naturally active, and her affinity with natural elements is also very high.

But Talia, you must understand that the foundational education determines how far a Wizard can go in the future. If the basics are taught incorrectly, the cost of correcting them later is immense."

Talia’s face paled. "Sir, you mean..."

"What I mean is," Ian said slowly, "I am still in the apprentice stage myself, so I will not teach a specific Meditation Method, nor will I guide her in the specific cultivation of any Witchcraft."

"Thank you!" Talia nodded quickly.

"My skill is limited, so what I teach today will only be the most basic common knowledge."

Ian looked at Talia. "In exchange, I need you to look out for clues on several specific medicinal herbs for me every time you go hunting in the Silent Death Mountain Range over the next three months."

Talia didn’t hesitate. "Deal! As long as it’s within my power, I will do my utmost."

Only then did a hint of a smile appear on Ian’s face. He beckoned to Dora.

"Come, sit closer. What I’m going to talk about today is the most fundamental cornerstone of a Wizard’s cultivation... starting with Meditation Methods."

Dora obediently sat on the small stool across from Ian, her back straight and her expression focused.

"The foundation of all a Wizard’s Power originates from Spiritual Power," Ian’s voice was steady and clear.

"And the path to tempering, strengthening, and controlling Spiritual Power is the Meditation Method."

He extended the index finger of his right hand, and a faint glimmer of light appeared at its tip. It wasn’t Witchcraft, just a manifestation of pure Spiritual Power.

"Imagine your consciousness is a lake, and your Spiritual Power is the water in that lake.

The essence of a Meditation Method is a systematic process that teaches you how to draw Energy from the world, convert it into Spiritual Power, and pour it into this lake, making the water deeper and wider."

Dora nodded, seeming to half-understand.

"But simply ’pouring in water’ isn’t enough."

The point of light on Ian’s fingertip began to change, splitting into three smaller points that arranged themselves in an equilateral triangle.

"The lake water needs a container to hold it, a structure to stabilize it. This is the function of a Will Rune."

The three points of light began to rotate slowly, connected by thin strands of light, forming a stable triangular structure.