"The child’s taste is indeed excellent."
Nari silently evaluated in her heart.
In this extreme environment, Uphemia’s strength was improving at a speed visible to the naked eye.
What once required deliberate thought to achieve could now be completed instinctively.
"Power lies not in quantity, but in quality."
Nari’s voice echoed in the seawater:
"A perfectly controlled puppet is better than ten clumsy cannon fodder. Remember this, it will benefit you for life."
During the training break, when Uphemia was floating in the seawater adjusting her breath, one of Nari’s tentacles quietly swam over.
The end of the tentacle secreted a transparent liquid, gently applying it to her wounds.
This liquid had a powerful healing effect, able to quickly repair flesh wounds, while enhancing the body’s adaptability to the abyss environment.
"Thank you, Lord Nari."
Uphemia thanked softly, eyes full of sincere gratitude.
She understood clearly that the overlord-level Apostle had no obligation to give her such meticulous care.
This care was more an extension of feelings towards Ron.
"Once you’re rested, get up quickly. The intensity of the next round of training will be greater."
Nari’s voice carried a hint of impatience: "I will arrange for several Moonlight Level guards to participate in the training."
......
In the herb store deep within the Jade Forest, Lilia was sorting the freshly harvested rare herbs.
The actions were still meticulous and professional, with every leaf’s placement and every herb’s classification strictly following the standards taught by Lady Allen.
But anyone who knew her could see that the eyes, once focused and pure, now held an indescribable melancholy.
Spread open on the desk was the latest issue of the "Central Lands News Express," with a particularly striking headline on the front page:
"Wizard Ron Ralph, Officially Ascends to the Chief Position of the New Star Plan Today"
Ron’s photo occupied a prominent position in the newspaper.
In the photo, he wore the ever-unchanging black robe.
His expression was still as calm as in memory, but the composure between his brows was even more apparent than before.
"Master... has gone so far already..."
Lilia gently stroked the photo on the newspaper:
"Chief of the New Star Plan... Moonlight Level Mage, in just a few years, he’s almost on par with the Vice Dean of the Tower of Jade."
She remembered her current status in the Jade Tower—fifth in the substitute sequence.
This achievement was already quite enviable to outsiders, representing exceptional talent and a bright future.
But compared to Ron’s current height, it was like a firefly to the bright moon, utterly insignificant.
What frustrated her more was the time gap.
While she was still striving to advance to the Morning Star Level, Ron had already completed the breakthrough to the Moon Level.
"Even if I could become an Official Wizard now, there would still be a vast difference from Master’s level."
Lilia softly murmured, her voice carrying a deep sense of powerlessness:
"Moon Level... that is still such a distant goal for me. And he, might soon reach the Dark Sun Level, or even..."
She dared not think further.
The gap was already so large that it brought her to the verge of despair.
In the back of the store, Lady Allen put down her teacup.
She had seen too many similar scenes.
The excellent often fell into self-doubt due to the gap with the even more excellent, eventually either catching up or falling into oblivion.
"Ron, this young man, had shown extraordinary talent and character from the very beginning."
She pondered silently in her heart:
"But his rate of growth... indeed surpassed everyone’s expectations. Even I did not predict he could reach such heights in such a short time."
The elderly woman’s eyes held both joy for Ron’s achievements and heartache for Lilia’s situation:
"The world is inherently unfair; sometimes the gap in talent is harder to cross than a chasm."
But she did not speak to offer comfort.
In the world of wizards, sympathy and comfort are often the most useless things.
Everyone must learn to accept reality, then find their own path based on that reality.
"Perhaps, when he ascended to Official Wizard, I knew I would eventually lose this student."
Lady Allen looked at the young man with a calm temperament on the newspaper, as if watching an eaglet about to soar:
"He is destined to fly to higher skies."
She withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Lilia, still sorting the herbs:
"But since the choice has been made, regret is of no use.
Just hope Lilia won’t fall into the trap of self-denial.
Everyone has their own path; the key is to walk it steadfastly."
As night fell, Lilia finished sorting the last batch of herbs.
She carefully put away the newspaper, but did not throw it away; instead, she tucked it into her Magic Potion Notes.
"No matter how great the gap, I must keep moving forward."
The girl said firmly in her heart:
"Maybe I will never catch up with Master’s steps, but at least I should strive to be a student worthy of his past teachings."
This thought, though somewhat self-comforting, indeed helped reignite her fighting spirit.