Ron nodded slightly: "Indeed, the ’grace’ I felt from her is quite pure."
He acknowledged this straightforwardly, not needing to pretend in front of Lady Allen.
"It’s not just pure; it has a rare persistence as well."
Lady Allen said thoughtfully, her fingers gently twirling a strand of pink-purple curls:
"Her talent seems to have a cumulative effect. In the long run, this ’grace’ will only become stronger and more stable, almost like an inexhaustible source."
Ron raised an eyebrow: "You mean..."
"She might become an outstanding Official Wizard in the future."
Lady Allen said directly, with a rare seriousness in her tone:
"Of course, the premise is having the right guide. Only with correct guidance can her talent be fully realized."
A subtle atmosphere flowed between the two of them.
"However, now is not the time to discuss this."
Lady Allen interrupted the extension of the topic, a flash of solemnity passing through her emerald eyes:
"You came for the ’Keyless Potion’ advancement path, didn’t you?"
Ron nodded frankly: "Yes, I hope to understand more details."
He no longer disguised, directly looking into Lady Allen’s eyes, as his foremost priority was always the thirst for knowledge and power.
Lady Allen took a deep breath.
A complex expression appeared on her face, both reminiscent and vigilant, with a hint of barely perceptible pain.
The witch with pink hair stood up, walked to a bookshelf in the corner of the room, and reached out to take down an ancient manuscript.
The cover of the book had faded due to age, with only a few blurred gilt runes faintly visible.
"This is ’Path of Oblivion,’ recording a long-lost path of advancement - the Path of Truth."
Lady Allen’s voice was low and filled with reverence, as if she were discussing some forbidden object.
Ron’s gaze was drawn to the ancient book; he could feel the faint energy fluctuation emanating from its surface.
It was not ordinary magic power, but a more ancient, deeper force.
"In the early First Epoch, when the profession of Wizards was just born, there was no so-called ’Key’ Potion."
Lady Allen gently stroked the book’s cover:
"At that time, cultivators completely relied on meditation to establish a direct connection with the power they envisioned, triggering transformation and opening the Gate of Wisdom."
A flicker of surprise crossed Ron’s eyes: "Directly establish a connection? Without a medium?"
"Yes."
Lady Allen slowly opened the ancient book, turning to a page.
On it was a complex star map, with a huge unsettling shadow in the center:
"The ’Star Eater’s Ravings’ you practice is one of the rare Crown Level meditation initiations capable of opening the Path of Truth."
"Crown Level?" Ron raised an eyebrow. He had heard of this ranking from Corina before but hadn’t delved deeply into it.
"Meditation techniques have strict levels, each corresponding to different objects of visualization and power strata."
Lady Allen explained, gently brushing a page with her fingers:
"The most basic is the ’Basic Meditation Technique’ you used during your Elementary Apprentice period, without any level classification, merely a tool to guide the flow of Spiritual Power."
"Above that are advanced meditation techniques, visualizing relatively simple Spirits of Nature, Elemental Essences, etc. When cultivated to the extreme, one may reach the level of a Morning Star Mage;
Higher still are Gem Level meditation techniques, visualizing those ancient entities or the unconscious remnants of great beings, capable of breaking through to the Great Wizard level;
And Crown Level meditation techniques, which directly visualize the most powerful entities, can reach the Witch King realm."
Lady Allen’s voice lowered, a flicker of reverence flashing in her eyes:
"It’s said that there are even higher levels of cultivation methods, but those are beyond what we can touch.
The knowledge of such levels carries weight itself, and even mentioning them might trigger disasters."
Ron nodded thoughtfully, gaining a new understanding of the ’Star Eater’s Ravings’ he practiced:
"So, from Gem Level meditation techniques onward, can one obtain meditation technique traits upon promotion?"
"Exactly so." Lady Allen gave Ron an approving glance:
"Meditation technique traits are the embodiment of spiritual transformation, and a key point distinguishing ordinary wizards from powerful ones.
The traits obtained through the Path of Truth are often purer and more potent than those acquired through ’Key’ Potions."
"This is one reason why some wizards, despite having the same advancement path, differ vastly in strength."
Lady Allen continued to peruse the ancient book, pointing to an unsettling illustration:
A human figure entangled by countless tendrils, face twisted into an expression of agony:
"The core of meditation techniques is essentially to establish a connection with the envisioned entity through Spiritual Power, absorbing the essence of its strength.
The stronger the envisioned entity, the higher the level of the meditation technique, and the greater the power it brings—but the cost is equally larger."
Ron recalled the great entity devouring stars he saw during his meditation, his body shivering involuntarily:
"So the ’Star Eater’s Ravings’ has me envisioning..."
"Exactly, that entity referred to as the ’Devourer’ in ancient texts."
Lady Allen’s voice got lower:
"Legend says it roams between galaxies, devouring star after star, drawing energy to sustain its existence. No one knows its true purpose, nor its limits."