"Ancient Wizards discovered through countless experiments that building the initial foundation of one’s Spiritual Power with three Will Runes creates the most perfect and stable structure.

"Three is a miraculous number... It is the simplest stable two-dimensional structure and the starting point for building complex three-dimensional models."

Ian let the model of light points hover in mid-air and continued to explain:

"When an ordinary person uses a Meditation Method to successfully form their first Will Rune in the Sea of Spirit, they have officially set foot on the path of a Wizard.

"But that isn’t enough. A single Rune is isolated and unstable, like a lone pillar unable to support a roof.

"You must form a second and a third, allowing the three Runes to resonate with and support one another, creating a self-sustaining, cyclical system."

The light from the triangular model grew bright and steady.

"Only then does the lake of Spiritual Power have true ’dams’ and ’channels,’ allowing it to circulate and grow.

"This is why forming three Will Runes is the official mark of becoming a Low Level Wizard Apprentice."

Dora raised her small hand. "Mr. Ian, why three? Wouldn’t four work? Or five?"

"An excellent question." Ian nodded in approval. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"The ancient Wizards experimented with various numbers. They discovered that with fewer than three, the structure is unstable and prone to collapse. With more than three, one’s Spiritual Power lacks the ’load-bearing capacity’ in the initial stage. Forcing their formation would distort the Rune structure and create a weak foundation. Three is the optimal balance between efficiency and stability."

He paused, giving Dora a moment to digest the concept before continuing:

"As your Cultivation advances and the lake of Spiritual Power expands, you need more complex and powerful structures to contain and circulate it.

"That is why with every advancement in Realm—from Low Level Apprentice to Middle Level, from Middle Level to High Level, and then to Official Wizard—the number of Will Runes increases by a multiple of three."

With a light tap of his finger, new points of light materialized beside the triangular model.

Three triangular structures interlocked, forming a larger, six-pointed star shape. Its light was even more condensed.

"A Middle Level Apprentice requires nine Will Runes, forming a two-layered, nested triangular structure. A High Level Apprentice requires twenty-seven, which forms the prototype of a three-dimensional Rune Array."

’As for an Official Wizard...’ Ian shook his head, not continuing. He hadn’t reached that level himself.

That Realm was still far too distant for them. It required a complete array built from eighty-one Runes.

Talia listened from the side, completely engrossed. Even though she was a Middle Level Apprentice, no one had ever explained these fundamental principles to her so systematically.

Having come from an unorthodox background, she had relied entirely on intuition and luck to form her Runes.

"Increasing the number of Runes isn’t just simple addition."

Ian stressed, "With each new order of magnitude, the connections between the Runes and the paths for Energy flow become exponentially more complex.

"But in turn, the efficiency of refining and growing your Spiritual Power increases dramatically.

"It’s like a precision machine—the more parts and the more complex the structure, the more powerful and efficient its operation."

Dora’s eyes lit up. "So... a Meditation Method is like the blueprint that teaches us how to ’build’ these parts?"

"Very close." Ian smiled. "A Meditation Method includes two parts. The first is the specific technique for forming Will Runes. The second is the path for your Spiritual Power to circulate and grow within the Rune network.

"Different Meditation Methods create Runes with different forms and utilize different circulatory paths, which leads to... varying rates of attribute growth.

"Each person’s Soul has a different innate Talent for certain attributes, and the enhancement from a Meditation Method also varies in strength. That’s why you should always try to choose a Meditation Method that aligns with your natural Talents."

For example, he cultivated the Star Moon Meditation Method. Since his own Talent was Light Attribute Affinity, he received a bonus during Meditation.

Dora subconsciously touched her chest. "Then... I tested for Natural Affinity. Does that mean I should learn a Natural Attribute Meditation Method?"

"Exactly." Ian nodded. "That is the significance of ’Talent Affinity.’"

Practicing a Meditation Method that matches your affinity makes forming Runes smoother and increases the conversion efficiency of your Spiritual Power. In the future, it will also make cultivating Witchcraft of the same attribute far more effective.

He looked at Talia. "Dora’s Moderate Natural Affinity means she has a natural, deep resonance with things like plants, Life Energy, and the Earth’s Rhythm.

"If she were to join the Silver Ring, she would likely be assigned to a branch specializing in the Nature Element and receive the corresponding Meditation Method Inheritance."

Talia breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face.

"But take note," Ian’s tone shifted. "Talent Affinity is only the starting point. True Power lies in your control over Spiritual Power, your understanding of Rune structures, and your Insight into the very essence of Witchcraft.

"Attributes are merely tools. The Wizard is the one who wields them."

He dispelled the model of light, and tranquility returned to the tent.

"Now that we’ve covered Meditation Methods and attributes, the last topic is the Witchcraft Model."

Ian’s expression turned serious. "This is the bridge a Wizard uses to convert Spiritual Power into tangible Power."

The point of light on his fingertip suddenly changed color. Part of the original milky-white light turned a faint gold, while another part became pale green.

"The Primordial Magic Power that permeates the world is, in its natural state, Attributeless."

Ian made the two colored points of light hover side by side.

"It is like the purest water—colorless and tasteless. But when Magic Power is channeled through a specific Witchcraft Model, it takes on ’properties.’"

The golden point of light radiated warmth and brightness, while the pale green one evoked images of forests and vitality.

He raised his hand again, but this time he formed not a point of light, but an incredibly complex three-dimensional structure.

Countless luminous lines and nodes intertwined, resembling the inner workings of the most intricate clock.

"A Witchcraft Model is essentially an ’energy conversion and output program.’ It takes Attributeless Magic Power and subjects it to Reorganization, arrangement, and activation according to specific principles, ultimately releasing a tangible Witchcraft effect."

The model began to turn. Magic Power flowed along the lines, converging and transforming at critical nodes.

"Take the simple Ignition Technique, for example." Ian snapped his fingers, and a wisp of flame flickered to life at his fingertip.

"Its model is very simple: it draws in Magic Power, converts it to the fire attribute, compresses it at three nodes, and then releases it through an activation Rune. A spell like the Secondary Frost Freeze Beam, however..."

The flame on his fingertip instantly transformed into an ice-blue beam, and the temperature inside the tent plummeted.

"Its model is more complex. You first have to build an Energy Guidance channel, establish six compression nodes, and include stability Runes to prevent the Energy from running rampant. Finally, there’s the structure for beam formation and emission.

"The more complex the model, the greater the Witchcraft’s might and the more refined its effect. However, the difficulty of construction and the drain on one’s Spiritual Power also increase."

Dora’s eyes went wide as she stared at the beam of ice-blue light, her small face filled with awe and longing.

She didn’t yet understand that for the vast majority of Wizards, performing Witchcraft required them to temporarily construct the entire Witchcraft Model in their minds, then use their Spiritual Power to guide Magic Power into it before they could successfully release the effect.

This process required time and intense concentration, which was often a fatal weakness in combat.

To shorten this casting time, a caster needed to use hand gestures and chant a Spell in the Tua Language—which could rouse Magic Power—to cast quickly.

To simplify and refine a Witchcraft Model, condensing it into a single, complete Rune that could be permanently solidified within the Sea of Spirit... this was an achievement that the vast majority of High Level Apprentices could not accomplish in their entire lifetimes.

He didn’t mention this to Dora, not wanting to crush her budding spirit.