Lady Allen smiled slightly: "No need to be so polite, you are now considered my only recognized student. And... I have always admired those who can break the norm and find their own path."
She paused, a mysterious light flickering in her eyes:
"Besides, I can tell that you’re not someone who is content to be shackled. Am I right?"
Ron met Lady Allen’s gaze, and in those emerald eyes, he seemed to see a certain understanding and tolerance.
"There’s one more thing," Lady Allen continued:
"I have a method to advance to Official Wizard without using the School’s universal ’Key’ Magic Potion. Although it’s riskier, it’s also more freeing. If you’re interested, you can come find me at the Herb Store once Valen leaves."
Ron’s heart was stirred.
Becoming an Official Wizard is the ultimate goal of every apprentice, and advancing without relying on the School’s Key Magic Potion means greater freedom.
"I’ll consider it." He nodded solemnly.
Lady Allen smiled, a rare lack of sharpness in her smile: "Come on, let’s leave here together."
Ron nodded and followed Lady Allen towards the exit.
Along the way, Lady Allen mentioned an interesting topic:
"By the way, Ron, have you ever thought about how Soul Contracts might affect those with special soul talents differently?"
Ron’s eyes registered a hint of surprise: "Are you saying...?"
"Just a conjecture," the pink-haired Witch smiled mysteriously:
"After all, in this world, rules often have unexpected flexibility, especially for those... with unique talents."
Her words suggestively made Ron ponder whether Lady Allen had already seen through his secret?
But in any case, this conversation gave Ron a new line of thinking:
Perhaps he could leverage the ’Dual Soul’ trait, to sign contracts and gain access to Crystal Tower resources without being completely bound by them.
This way, he could maintain good relationships with some of the Masters who taught him while retaining a certain degree of freedom.
Of course, this required deeper research and preparation, but at least it was a feasible direction.
As the two gradually moved away, the crystalline structures within the Bloodline Altar began to collapse, signifying the end of this trial.
For Ron, this was not an end but the beginning of a new journey.
With the strengthening of his bloodline, the advancement of the Stand-In Puppet, the duel with his replica, Lady Allen’s secrets, and the mysterious "Eye of the Abyss" organization...
Each factor was pushing him towards a broader world, and he was ready to embrace it all.
......
At the exit of the Bloodline Altar, Valen was anxiously waiting.
When he saw Lady Allen and Ron’s figures appear near the Teleportation Gate, his tense expression finally relaxed.
"Finally back." Valen sighed with relief, his gaze first sweeping over Lady Allen.
After confirming she was unharmed, he turned to Ron: "Apprentice Ron, it looks like you successfully completed the trial."
Ron nodded in acknowledgment: "Thanks to Lady Allen’s assistance."
Valen nodded slightly, saying no more.
He could sense the changes in Ron—his aura more stable, magic power flowing more smoothly, and his Bloodline Power had significantly increased.
This was the result of the Bloodline Altar trial, and it seemed the effect was quite notable.
"And what about that intruder?" Valen turned to Lady Allen to inquire.
"Self-destructed," Lady Allen answered succinctly, a cold glint in her eye:
"He called himself ’Mr. Holy Disc,’ a member of the ’Eye of the Abyss’ organization, the mastermind behind Oliver. Just as I was about to interrogate him, he chose to self-destruct."
Valen’s brows furrowed:
"The Eye of the Abyss... they’re becoming bolder. First Oliver and Cynthia, and now this ’Mr. Holy Disc.’ It seems we must strengthen the investigation within the Black Mist School."
Lady Allen nodded:
"Their infiltration is more severe than imagined. That Mr. Holy Disc must have disguised himself as a Master, developing power within the School for a long time, cultivating pawns like Oliver."
Valen’s expression grew more solemn: "This matter must be reported to the School Alliance. The ambitions of the Eye of the Abyss clearly don’t stop here; they might be scheming a larger plot."
Ron quietly listened to the conversation between the two Wizards, occasionally organizing the information in his mind.
Interestingly, this mysterious person known as "Mr. Holy Disc" had actually set his sights on him.
This both warned him and piqued his curiosity. Why had he become a target for the Eye of the Abyss?
Was it merely because he had shown extraordinary talent, or had they sensed some deeper secret?
In any case, this meant he had to be more cautious, vigilant against potential threats.
"Ron," Valen suddenly directed his attention towards him:
"Your performance in the trial was extraordinary. Even your replica exhibited incredible strength, which means your potential far exceeds that of a regular apprentice."
Ron responded humbly: "I just did my best."
Valen smiled slightly: "No need to be modest, talent is a Wizard’s most precious asset, and you evidently have exceptionally rare potential."
He looked at Ron, his gaze flickering with an unmistakable sense of expectation and calculation.
"Your potential far exceeds that of ordinary apprentices, and you will stand out even among the elite of the Crystal Tower."
The man’s voice was perfectly controlled, revealing admiration without seeming overly eager: