"So slow..."
Even though Lynch knew that meditation was not easy, seeing the proficiency increase by just 1 point still exceeded his expectations.
To think, over two hours of continuous effort had only yielded a single point of improvement in proficiency.
And this was just Level 0. Based on his previous experience, the higher the level, the more proficiency points would be required.
Moreover, he had no idea how many levels were needed to fully master this Meditation Chapter.
For regular knowledge-based skills like Basic Transformation Technique, there were typically only three levels corresponding to First Tier Introduction, Second Tier Proficiency, and Third-level Mastery.
However, for skills related to cultivation, the number of levels was not fixed. For instance, the prelude of the Meditation Chapter had five levels, which Lynch deduced corresponded to the honing of the five senses necessary for cultivation.
"The chapter says that Basic Meditation primarily involves the implantation of ten foundational runes through meditation. Based on that, could there be ten levels?"
"Tsk, tsk... It seems the claim that advancing to a wizard takes decades or even centuries wasn't an exaggeration..."
For a low-dimensional life form to transition into a higher-dimensional life form was never easy. According to the records in the books, it took an average of over fifty years for an apprentice to advance to a wizard.
And that was considered fortunate. In reality, the vast majority of apprentices ultimately remained stuck at the apprentice rank, consumed by ignorance, confusion, despair, and eventually giving up altogether—until their life force was completely drained and they died of old age...
Apprentices in this category weren't even recorded in history. The world wouldn't preserve a single trace of their existence.
Of course, there were occasional exceptions—those who could undergo the transformation from apprentice to wizard within just a few decades, or even years. But these were the rare few with extraordinary talent, unrelated to the ordinary masses.
"Come on, keep going!"
Clenching his fists, Lynch silently encouraged himself.
Compared to other apprentices, he considered himself lucky. At least he could see immediate feedback with every cultivation session. Other apprentices had to stumble blindly on an uncertain path, whereas he could clearly see the road beneath his feet.
The rest simply required relentless perseverance and hard work...
...
Lynch chose the Fairy Tavern as the location for his treat.
This was a relatively well-known tavern in the Shadow Land. Built within an enormous oak tree, it was accessible only through a unique, secret passage.
The tavern's hidden owner was a wizard who raised numerous Forest Fairies here, giving the establishment its name—the Fairy Tavern.
The prices here weren't particularly high, and the food was decently flavoured, making it a popular spot for apprentices to gather and dine.
That night, at the Fairy Tavern.
"Three Fairy's Kiss cocktails, an Oak Language dish, one serving of mashed potatoes, a plate of Forest Deer Meat, and some Bizarre Mushrooms... Hmm... That should be enough for now. If it's not, we can order more."
A palm-sized, adorable little figure flapped wings resembling those of a dragonfly as it quickly flew off with the menu. The fairies, who were once highly aggressive creatures, had been thoroughly tamed by the wizard, now serving as competent attendants running the entire tavern.
Leaning back on the sofa, Lynch's gaze followed the fairy's flight, eventually settling on the surrounding scenery.
The tavern was bustling with patrons—most of them slightly older than Lynch, young apprentices of both genders. Under the soft radiance of the Magic Forest's crystal lamps, they chatted, drank, and flirted lightheartedly.
The Wizard's Road was exceptionally tedious and lonely. Many fledgling apprentices couldn't adapt to this world upon first entry, so they sought outlets for release. Among these, the simplest and most effective were undoubtedly alcohol and sex.
Under the numbing effects of alcohol, the memory-storing hippocampus gradually slipped into a deep sleep. During this time, giving in to the fusion of bodies with an opposite sex partner while being flooded by surging hormones and constant dopamine secretion became a primal release.
All thoughts of cultivation, knowledge, and strength were completely forgotten, and the monotony from prolonged training dissipated, leaving behind nothing but wave after wave of unchecked climaxes.
Drinking a Fairy's Kiss cocktail and engaging in a fleeting romance with someone—whether familiar or not—was a common pastime for many young apprentices.
The Wizard World fostered a relatively liberal atmosphere. Whether male witches or female witches, few adhered to notions of steadfast and eternal love. After all, in the eyes of many wizards, everything should serve their cultivation, and sex was no exception.
"Hey, what's the matter? Did some beautiful lady catch your eye?" Seeing Lynch lost in thought, Subaru smirked slightly. "Want me to help you strike up a conversation? With your flair today, I bet quite a few girls would be interested in you."
Before Lynch could respond, Carl burst into unrestrained laughter off to the side: "Hahaha, curious are they?"
Most of the crowd here consisted of young apprentices who had only recently arrived in the Wizard World. Since their tags from the Human World hadn't yet faded, identities like "foolish countryside bumpkin" would hardly intrigue any girl, other than out of curiosity.
Subaru shot Carl a glare. "Watch your mouth. Are you mocking your benefactor?"
Carl shrugged, suppressing his laughter. "Alright, Lynch, which lovely lady caught your eye? Shall I introduce you to her?"
Lynch shook his head. "There's no need. I'm not interested in things like that right now."
To prevent these two from continuing their relentless teasing, he quickly steered the conversation away. "I was thinking about the Inner Ring Apprentice exam. What about you two? Are you planning to participate?"
Hearing this, Subaru also furrowed his brow slightly. "Well, I've thought about it, but the chances of passing are so slim. I'm worried that if I fail the exam and get hurt during one of the tasks, it'd be a real loss."
The Inner Ring Apprentice exam was task-based, and the tasks often involved combat, posing a certain degree of danger. Attempting it without sufficient strength was risky.
"I won't be joining."
Carl, however, was straightforward, answering decisively: "I just recently fused the Wind Demon Wolf bloodline, and it's going to take me a long time to activate the bloodline's talent. Entering the exam under these conditions leaves me no chance of success."
"Instead of wasting time, I'd rather focus my energy on the next exam. Anyway, it's only a matter of three to five years. By then, my spells should be more developed, just in time to participate in the next round of exams."
Carl's thoughts were shared by many apprentices. After all, their cohort hadn't spent much time at the Tower, and the spells they had learned were still in their infancy. Attempting the exam now with such immature skills made passing unlikely.
"What about you, Lynch? Judging by your expression, are you thinking about joining?" asked Subaru.
Lynch nodded. "Yes, I want to give it a shot."
Subaru pondered for a moment before offering advice: "Hmm... That's a decision only you can make. But if you've decided to go, then start preparing as soon as possible."
"With three months remaining, if you carefully nurture your Fire Dragon Lizard, it should be able to awaken at least one talent. That way, you'll have some basic combat ability, so you're not completely unprepared during the tasks."
"But even that won't be enough. Didn't the Tower reward you with some Magic Stones? You could check out the bookshop to see if you can buy a practical magic model. Though, with only three months left, I wonder if it'll be enough time to master it..."
After pausing briefly, he added a warning: "But no matter what, if you've decided to go, you must be cautious. If you really lack confidence, it's better to withdraw than to push forward recklessly."
"We have plenty of time, so there's no need to rush."
Lynch nodded. "Understood."
"Apprentice Lynch!"
Just as they were talking, a voice called out from behind. Lynch turned his head and saw an apprentice walking toward him.
Judging by the look on their face, it seemed they had something to say...