"Tick-tock!! Tick-tock!!"
The floor-standing copper clock in the room had ticked through more than a full revolution—over an hour had already passed.
"The first rune has been fully decoded. Proceed with transmission?" the Chip's voice sounded.
"Finally done? Start the transmission!"
Leilin had spent the time studying the original Meditation Method manuscript as well, but it had yielded absolutely no results.
The Will Rune existed in a three-dimensional form, with incredibly intricate patterns inside—there was no room for even a single mistake.
Rendering such runes in book form not only required the author to have excellent artistic skills, but also tested the learner's ability to absorb the information.
Leilin estimated that an ordinary apprentice would need several full days just to begin comprehending a single rune before attempting to sketch it in their mind. For the Chip, it only took a few hours.
"This kind of progress probably matches fifth- or fourth-rank aptitude!" Leilin silently estimated.
As the Chip transmitted the data, Leilin had completely grasped the structure of the first Will Rune. It resembled the letter "a" but without the horizontal bar in the middle, surrounded by elaborate patterns and spiral structures that grew more dizzying the longer one looked at them.
"Begin meditation. First, keep your mind pure and imagine a vast, calm lake…"
Leilin slowly closed his eyes.
In the dim room, the young man sat cross-legged with his eyes shut, as though he had fallen asleep.
After an unknown length of time, a faint point of light seemed to flicker around the young man before sinking into his body and vanishing almost immediately.
Leilin's eyelids fluttered, and then he opened his eyes.
"So exhausting! It seems the Meditation Method, much like the Knight's Breathing Technique, has a time limit as well. Chip! Scan my body!"
"Beep! Subject condition analysis in progress!"
"Subject brain cell activity has increased. Whole-body cellular vitality has risen!"
"Beep! Subject constitution has increased by 0.05!"
"Whew… meditation truly lives up to being a Wizard's cultivation method. I can feel that the Meditation Method's primary effect targets Spiritual Power—enhancing constitution is merely a side benefit."
"Spirit influences matter! Through practicing the Meditation Method, my constitution has actually begun to break past its limits!" Leilin's expression was complicated, carrying an indescribable sense of excitement.
"According to the materials, it's best to take a nap after meditating for optimal results!"
Leilin removed his outer clothes, lay down on the bed, and sank into deep sleep.
"Beep beep!!! Alarm reminder triggered!" The Chip's mechanical voice pulled Leilin out of his slumber.
"It's already time for the alarm I set—time really flies!" Leilin stretched and saw the clock had reached five-thirty.
"Hurry up and get ready! I still need to meet Mentor Guofate!" Leilin quickly washed up, then went to the dining hall and wolfed down a chunk of white bread for breakfast before rushing to yesterday's laboratory.
"Good day, Mentor!" Leilin bowed in greeting.
He noticed that beside the white-haired Guofate stood a female apprentice with a graceful, curvaceous figure—quite beautiful. She must be the mentor's other student.
"Hmm? You've started attempting the Meditation Method already?" Guofate furrowed his brow. "How does it feel?"
"My head really hurts, and I feel a bit dizzy."
"That's a normal aftereffect of the Memory Crystal Sphere transmission. Get plenty of rest lately!" Guofate said.
"Come, let me introduce you. This is Biji, my other student. And this is Leilin, the new apprentice who arrived yesterday!"
"Hello!" Biji bent slightly and offered a ladylike curtsy.
"Hello!" Leilin placed his right hand over his chest, exuding the refined bearing of a gentleman.
"Biji is your senior sister. Besides the students who've already completed their apprenticeship, you also have a senior brother named Merlin—his Potionology is excellent!" Guofate told Leilin.
"Merlin is known as a once-in-a-century genius in the Potionology department. He's the one most expected to inherit the Mentor's mantle!" Biji added.
"Haha! That's right! Merlin's talent in Potionology truly is outstanding. If you ever have questions about anything, feel free to ask him!" At the mention of Merlin, a smile blossomed on Guofate's face—the mentor was clearly quite satisfied with that student.
"As for you, Leilin, have you familiarized yourself with my rules?"
"I read them in the mentor selection materials!" Leilin nodded.
"Good. From now on, you'll come here every day to help with cleaning and organizing medicinal herbs. During your free time, you're welcome to attend any free lectures. As for my special benefit for you—once you've mastered the foundational knowledge, you may request one paid course."
Guofate finished speaking.
"Thank you, Mentor!" Leilin hastily bowed. Right now he knew virtually nothing about the Wizard world. Even if Guofate asked him to choose now, he wouldn't know which option was best. Being able to defer the choice would maximize his benefit.
"For now, I'm giving you half a day off. Biji will show you around the academy and explain some of the taboos and restrictions. Make sure you fill him in, Biji!"
"Yes!" Leilin and Biji nodded, then left the laboratory.