Ron looked at the tall tower, gilded with a layer of pale gold by the morning light.
As one of the top ten Candidate Wizards, he had a certain priority in consulting any Master, but he rarely used this opportunity.
Although he always comforted himself that relying too much on the guidance of a Master was not as solid as exploring on his own.
Every inch of knowledge gained through self-exploration was always more ingrained than direct instruction.
But in reality, the things he researched before were always too unconventional, and only directions that he himself could attempt.
And for the "Flowing Shield Wall," although its plasticity and potential far exceeded his expectations.
But after all, it was a mature Magic Model with exemplary references, so he certainly couldn’t waste the opportunity to consult predecessors.
"Take it one step at a time." Ron sighed slightly and stepped into the tower.
The Apprentice on duty at the entrance saw the badge on his chest, a hint of awe flashing in his eyes, he quickly and respectfully saluted:
"Master Ralph... Are you here to see the Vice Dean?"
"Yes, please report my arrival."
Ron nodded, his tone peaceful yet carrying a bit of authority.
Unknowingly, he had already become accustomed to this superior tone and demeanor.
"No need, I already know." A deep voice came from above.
Ron looked up to see Hayek standing on the second-floor gallery, holding a tome, with a look of slight surprise and... joy?
"Come up, young man, I happen to have a bit of free time."
Ron bowed slightly, and followed the spiral staircase up to the second floor.
"Follow me." Hayek said little, and directly led Ron through a hallway adorned with various ancient tapestries, into a spacious reception room.
The room was simply yet tastefully furnished, with an ebony long table and a few carved chairs.
Several landscape paintings hung on the walls, depicting scenes seemingly from an Exotic Realm:
Under a pale sky, countless massive rock formations floated, each graced with peculiar vegetation, and in the distance, a blood-red sun was slowly setting.
Ron’s gaze lingered on the paintings for a moment before he withdrew it, refocusing on Hayek.
"Sit."
Hayek motioned for Ron to sit on one side of the long table, while he took a seat across from him:
"You missed the last sequence assessment meeting, how do you have time to come to me now?"
Hayek was actually quite delighted at heart.
Due to the recent restrictions of the "Equal Opportunity Policy," he couldn’t give Ron special attention, which frustrated him somewhat.
After all, a genius like Ron was unparalleled in the history of the Black Mist School.
If not for the restrictions, he would even be willing to make Ron his last disciple and train him with full effort.
Not just for the future of the School, but also for that precious "Grace"...
Since their last brief interaction, he clearly felt the years of accumulated Spiritual Contamination within him had significantly lessened.
This purity of Grace was extremely rare even in the Crystal Tower.
And now, Ron earnestly sought his guidance, which was undoubtedly a win-win opportunity.
It neither violated the "Equal Opportunity Policy" rules nor did it deny him the chance to closely engage with this young genius, gaining more Grace.
"Vice Dean, I would like to inquire about the advanced application of the ’Flowing Shield Wall.’
Ron spoke frankly, his voice calm and respectful:
"Recently in practical exercises, I found the potential of this Magic far exceeds my imagination, but there seem to be many application directions I have not yet touched."
Hayek’s eyes lit up, this was precisely his field of expertise.
"The ’Flowing Shield Wall’ is indeed an underestimated Magic."
He nodded slightly, a look of approval in his eyes:
"Most Wizards view it as a simple means of protection, but in reality, its range and depth of applications extend far beyond that."
He stood up and moved to the center of the room: "Since you came to inquire, let me demonstrate for you."
Hayek’s movements were calm, devoid of any showy flair, he simply raised his right hand lightly, palm facing upwards.
A mass of Silver Powder appeared out of nowhere in his palm, dispersing into the air to form a translucent barrier about two meters in diameter.
This barrier was unlike any "Flowing Shield Wall" Ron had seen before.
Its surface was not of simple uniform texture but displayed wave-like ripples that continuously flowed and changed, giving off a strong sense of life.
"The first level of application, Multiple Media Integration."
Hayek explained:
"This Shield Wall merges Silver Powder, Quartz Sand, and a trace of Crystal Stone Powder, each medium responsible for specific defensive functions. Silver Powder resists energy erosion, Quartz Sand provides physical defense, and Crystal Stone Powder is responsible for energy conversion and redistribution."
Ron observed intently, quietly activating the recording ability of the "Thousand Transformations."
He could sense that this Multi-Media Integrated Shield Wall had a much higher intensity than single-media walls, and the energy flow was more harmonious and stable.
Hayek did not notice Ron’s small action, continuing with his demonstration:
"Observe this."
He snapped his fingers lightly, and complex energy patterns immediately appeared on the surface of the Shield Wall, like an intricate network.
"The second level of application, Structural Differentiation. The Shield Wall’s interior is no longer homogeneous but forms a multi-layered defense system.
The outer layer absorbs impact, the middle layer performs energy conversion, and the inner layer serves as the final line of defense.