Atbolde sighed softly and finally responded,
"Fine."
" There are three months until the Alus Association," he continued. "During this time, train Colin thoroughly."
As soon as he finished speaking, his massive visage closed its eyes and slowly sank into the ancient tree.
"Yes… Grandfather," Lillian whispered.
Although Atbolde had agreed, Lillian's heart did not feel the joy she had imagined as she watched his face gradually disappear.
"Let's go."
She composed herself and took Colin away from Atbolde's residence.
Leaving the residence, they walked along the School road.
Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Colin turned to Lillian and asked,
"Lillian, what exactly is the Alus Association?"
Lillian paused slightly and, after a moment's reflection, answered,
"Do you know about the Talent Seed? The one needed to become an Official Wizard."
"I do," Colin nodded. "I just inquired about it from Mentor Atbolde a few days ago."
"Do you know that Talent Seeds also come in different qualities?"
Lillian nodded, and as she kept walking, she continued to query.
Colin shook his head, caught up with Lillian's steps, and responded, "I haven't heard about that."
Atbolde had only mentioned that advancing to an Official Wizard required planting a Talent Seed.
But he didn't mention that Talent Seeds varied in quality… The Meditation Method only provides one method and set of materials.
Would the same method and materials yield Talent Seeds of varying quality?
Could it be similar to the talent that hatched afterward, mainly depending on the Wizard himself…
Thinking this, Colin turned his head again and asked Lillian,
"Isn't the type and effect of talent after becoming an Official Wizard mainly dependent on the Wizard himself?"
"Indeed, it primarily depends on the Wizard himself," Lillian confirmed.
"When there's little difference in the Meditation Method and breakthrough materials used, the only thing that affects the strength of the talent and Talent Seeds is the Wizard himself."
However, she shifted the tone of her conversation and added,
"But in fact, the choice of materials for advancing to an Official Wizard can also affect the talent later on.
Moreover, the Wizard himself can also change."
"Both these changes can indirectly affect the strength of the Talent Seeds, and thus the talent."
Lillian turned her head to look at Colin and said,
"Didn't you just ask me where to find the best materials for cultivating Talent Seeds?"
Colin was slightly taken aback.
He clearly asked where it would be better to purchase the materials for cultivating talent…
But that wasn't the point; he didn't argue but listened as Lillian continued.
"If you want to obtain better materials for cultivating talent, the Alus Association is one of the places."
"But… The materials for cultivating Talent Seeds with different Meditation Methods should be different, right? Has the Alus Association prepared the best materials for all Meditation Methods?"
Colin inquired, puzzled.
"Of course not," Lillian shook her head. "Only the materials for cultivating Talent Seeds of our School's Tin Saint Meditation Method… or rather those ranked in Wizard City, can be found at the Alus Association."
"Moreover, the quality of materials at the Alus Association is significantly better than usual."
"I see," Colin nodded, then asked,
"So the purpose of the Alus Association is to compete for the best cultivation materials, benefiting us to acquire better talents after advancing to Official Wizards?"
Lillian shook her head, slowly stopping as they had now walked beyond the School.
"The best materials for cultivating Talent Seeds are just a trivial part of the Alus Association," Lillian declared, her gaze fixed on Colin.
"But you're right, the main goal of the Alus Association is indeed to help the top tier of Wizard Apprentices under the Supreme Council to obtain better talents after becoming Official Wizards."
"This assistance isn't through better cultivation materials but through enhancing the Wizards themselves."
"As for how exactly this enhancement is done... you'll know when the time comes."
At this point, Lillian paused, then added,
"But don't hold too high expectations… our Faction's Apprentices haven't had the qualifications to participate in the Alus Association for a long time."
Her tone remained as calm as ever, but the undertone of resentment was as conspicuous as a patch of green in the desert.
Colin was slightly taken aback and asked,
"Is it difficult to qualify for participation in the Alus Association?"
Lillian shook her head, her expression momentarily hesitant, but the next second, she was candid,
"In the Tin Saint School, the majority of factions, each year, have at least one or two qualifications to participate in the Alus Association."
"Hmm, in fact, most apprentices in the School, by the time they are ready to advance to Official Wizard, can obtain a chance to participate in the Alus Association."
"It's just that our faction is somewhat special... Generally speaking, we are not assigned the qualifications to participate in the Alus Association."
With that, Lillian ended her explanation.
As for why it was special, she did not elaborate... and Colin wisely did not inquire further.
The two of them fell into silence.
Colin pondered in his heart.
'This so-called Alus Association, actually seems more like a mandatory process, or resource, that every Advanced Wizard Apprentice within the School must go through...'
'The benefits are also quite straightforward, already laid out clearly.'
'Participating in the Alus Association provides an opportunity, after advancing, to acquire better Talent.
Without participating, one naturally misses out on the materials needed to nurture a Talent Seed, as well as personal enhancement.'
Thinking this, Colin sighed inwardly.
He finally understood the inconvenience of Atbolde's faction.
It was an opportunity that every apprentice might normally have, yet here it seemed not so readily available.
Could it even be possible to lack the qualifications to participate...
As for whether he wanted to participate in the Alus Association... Of course he did!
The original host's aptitude was not great, and his own Talent would probably not be considered genius without Golden Paper.
If he could ensure that the Talent he acquired after advancing to Official Wizard was better, there would naturally be no reason not to go.
Unless...
His gaze flickered, and he suddenly turned to ask Lillian beside him,
"Sister Lillian, is there any risk to life by participating in the Alus Association? Do all apprentices fight each other to determine the winner?"
This time, it was Lillian's turn to be stunned; she responded in confusion,
"Of course not!"
"All Wizard Apprentices are important fresh blood for the Wizard Alliance; why would we let you kill each other?!"
Colin paused, slightly embarrassed, and rubbed his nose.
"It seems so."
Although this world is fraught with dangers and filled with anomalies,
fighting is generally not permitted within Wizard Schools, let alone a battle that endangers lives.
Previously in Lap School, it was the same; if one wished to fight, the only option was a duel, and that too, with heavy restrictions.
'...I wonder why such rules are stipulated?'
Colin suddenly harbored this doubt in his heart.
"But there is indeed a risk to life," Lillian added.
"According to the situation in previous years, the casualty rate among Advanced Wizard Apprentices is around one percent."
Lillian glanced at Colin, then continued,
"You came all the way here from the far seas to the south, facing many dangers along the way... You should understand the perils of this world."
"Although we wizards possess more power than mortals, we are not invincible... Even normal cultivation can lead to corruption and fall. It is quite normal for there to be risks to life in the Alus Association."
Colin nodded in agreement.
"Let's stop here for today. Tomorrow, once my mentor has confirmed, if I can obtain a participation qualification for you, I'll come to find you,"
Lillian said.
"Alright." Colin responded, bid her farewell, flagged down a public carriage, and returned home with mixed feelings.
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I'll also mention this in the body text: these past two days, I've been house-hunting and moving, causing updates to be less frequent. Please excuse this; once I am settled at the end of the month, I promise to provide more stable and frequent updates.
— Shi Yuan