"The rest is up to Wizard Fley. I'm looking forward to your next visit," Lus said with a smile.
"Hmm, see you next time."
Lor nodded, turned around, and left the optimization model test field with Kateya.
"Lord Lor, where do you plan to go next?" Kateya asked after they left the test field.
Nowadays, her attitude toward Lor had become increasingly respectful, as if she had already regarded him as the only path to become a First Ring Wizard.
"Hmm..." Lor thought for a moment, then said, "I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere else for now. Could you tell me about the process of applying for a laboratory?"
His most urgent needs now were to earn contribution points, create Microscope Witchcraft, enhance spiritual power, and absorb Magic Crystal energy safely and quickly.
It would be best to disguise the earning of contribution points with laboratory work next time.
After all, one cannot always rely on intuition as a reason; the world can accept geniuses, but it's hard to accept freaks.
Creating Microscope Witchcraft lays the foundation for becoming a Spatial Mage and requires a special apprentice slot in the laboratory for better development.
Transforming absorbed Magic Crystal energy into charge points also requires a laboratory.
Enhancing spiritual power takes time and cannot be rushed.
In summary, a personal laboratory is now his most urgent need, so naturally, he needs to find out more.
"Applying for an apprentice's personal laboratory requires significant contributions in witchcraft optimization or potion and magical equipment fields."
Kateya said somewhat helplessly, "If the school has available slots, the requirements can be slightly relaxed."
"But our Earth and Fire Faction's current slot has been taken by Randolph. If you want to apply again, it must be through substantial contributions."
"As for improving a witchcraft model, at the very least, one must create apprentice-level witchcraft useful to First Ring Wizards or enhance apprentice-level witchcraft to match First Ring Witchcraft standards."
"I suggest you wait until Randolph becomes a First Ring Wizard; by then, it will be much easier to apply for a laboratory."
In Kateya's view, these conditions were too harsh.
It seemed an unwise move for Lor to devote effort to this.
He might as well improve some lower-level witchcraft to 0.9 Ring, and naturally, once Randolph became a First Ring Wizard, he could apply for a personal laboratory using internal slots.
"So Randolph's current progress is..."
Lor started to say, then suddenly swallowed the rest of his words and reorganized his thoughts before speaking again, meeting Kateya's puzzled gaze:
"I was wondering how long until Randolph will advance to a First Ring Wizard?"
He realized midway that he shouldn't know the steps required to advance to a First Ring Wizard at the moment.
Such small oversights might seem insignificant individually but could arouse suspicion if they accumulated.
Therefore, he intended to avoid them whenever possible.
"As I heard, his spiritual power has reached the requirement, and his Meditation Rune Model is almost completed. Now, he's just deciding on a core witchcraft direction."
Kateya replied, "If nothing unexpected happens, he'll definitely officially break through within seven years."
The so-called choice of core witchcraft direction is essentially a decision regarding the primary relationship between the Fire and Earth Dual Elements for the future.
One could follow the paths of predecessors or carve a new path.
Following predecessors requires no choice, but carving a new path demands careful consideration.
Generally, it takes five to ten years of reflection before making a cautious decision.
"Kateya, do you know how to find an apprentice who abandoned the wizard's path and still has unused witchcraft positions?" Lor asked.
He couldn't wait seven years for a personal laboratory since the Murphy Continent facing turmoil from Faith Wizards ten years later.
Moreover, improving a 0.9 Ring witchcraft to 1 Ring was beyond his Meditation Model's current capacity.
Therefore, his only means to achieve his goal was to create Microscope Witchcraft.
Creating apprentice-level witchcraft isn't difficult as long as he flips through basic rune books in his dormitory study and with a clear direction.
He was confident in producing apprentice-level Microscope Witchcraft within three months.
"Are you planning to create new witchcraft?" Kateya frowned slightly, urgently advising:
"It's a waste of time and resources, and it may not even benefit First Ring Wizards."
"If unsuccessful, your time will be entirely wasted."
"It'd be better to dedicate time to spiritual power cultivation, then after a few years become a second or third-level apprentice, and then inherit a laboratory."
"Kateya, do you trust me?" Lor smiled confidently at the woman in front of him.
"I..."
Kateya pursed her lips, recalling Wizard Mala's words about Lor's experiences when he arrived at the Wizard Tower, and remembering what had just occurred at the optimization model test field, nodded involuntarily:
"Yes!"
"Then in one month, help me find an apprentice. Let me know how many contribution points are needed, and I'll reimburse you once Wizard Fley confirms." Lor said.
The reason for waiting a month was that he only understood the operational logic and framework of Microscope Witchcraft and hadn't yet studied the witchcraft runes' composition.
It couldn't be hastily done; he needed to learn to comprehend how to create a piece of witchcraft.
"Alright." Kateya nodded, "I'll find one for you."
"Let's call it a day. Go home and get some rest." Lor said with a smile.
...
Seventh Floor Apprentice Dormitory.
"In a month, I need to begin constructing the Microscope Witchcraft Model. I must set up the basic framework quickly."
Lor sat in the single dormitory study, gazing at a row of bookshelves, and reminisced about the bloodline Microscope Witchcraft Rune he had built using the strength of the Earth Bear in his past life.
"First, I must construct the Earth Element fundamental rune."
He took out a detailed explanation of Earth Element runes from the bookshelf and read it carefully.
Combining the rune structures of Rock Wall and Flame Wall in his Sea of Consciousness and his past life experiences, he quickly grasped the most basic Earth Element runes.
"Next step, construct a rune model representing compression."
Returning the Earth Element detailed explanation to its place, he selected a much thicker comprehensive universal rune model book.
He scanned the table of contents and, after flipping three pages, found the page number corresponding to the compression rune model.
This time, he didn't directly memorize it. Instead, he walked to the desk and traced the compression rune onto parchment.
Although Microscope Witchcraft seemed simple, it required quite a few rune models.
"If only I could handcraft a microscope in reality to create rune models."
After recording the compression rune, considering the many runes still needing arrangement and combination, Lor rubbed his temples.
It's a headache.
"Unfortunately, a microscope in reality can't see witchcraft models in the Sea of Consciousness and is essentially useless."
He sighed, reopening the comprehensive universal rune model book, "The next rune is overlap."
...
Two hours later, Lor looked at the nine fundamental runes he had recorded and nodded in satisfaction.
"That's it for today. I'll record the rest tomorrow."
Turning off the magic lamp in the study, Lor returned to his bedroom and first completed the floating technique model chosen during the day. Then he took out a Magic Crystal and began meditating.