"Master Drake, what do you think of this Promoter?"
Karen cautiously inquired, with a tone of obvious reverence, even deliberately suppressing his mind fluctuations to show respect for this ancient Great Wizard.
Within Drake’s transparent skull, his brain tissue flickered slightly.
The rhythm of the flickers formed a complex energy pattern, as if in thought:
"’Star Eater’s Ravings’... the meditation technique left by that mad Traveler. The Traveler... an interesting case. He was one of the few who truly understood the essence of the Devourer."
His thoughts seemed to drift afar:
"If I remember correctly, Ron Ralph is the seventeenth Primordial Wizard to ascend through this method.
The first was Amorick at the end of the Second Era, a rather talented young man who, unfortunately, went insane from over-researching celestial voids while ascending to the Dark Sun Level;
perhaps the most famous was that Cassandra of the Crown Clan, who successfully ascended to Great Wizard and became the current Tower Master of the Crystal Tower..."
Every name Drake casually listed was a significant figure in the history of Wizards, each worthy of a complete Chapter in a grand tome.
"Seventeen? That many?"
Varian asked in surprise, showing an uncharacteristic hint of uncertainty:
"How come I’ve never heard of that? The data in my memory clearly shows that ’Star Eater’s Ravings’ has less than five successful promoters."
Drake let out a scornful chuckle, and the energy fluctuation in his voice caused the Crystal Sacs of the other three suspended beings to tremble slightly:
"Because you are too young, Varian. In the long history of Wizards, you are merely a newcomer who joined yesterday.
Four eras have spanned tens of thousands of years, and with those affiliated parallel timelines, there have been hundreds of Primordial Wizards; on average, one appears every one to two hundred years. What’s so surprising about that?"
Drake’s disdain for Varian was undisguised, not just because of the age difference.
It was also because, in his eyes, Varian’s so-called "space research" was merely repeating the footsteps of predecessors, lacking true innovation.
Varian’s body within the Crystal Sac trembled slightly at his words, obviously nettled by this round of mockery, but he dared not act out in front of Drake.
Even though they were both Great Wizards, he knew well the chasm-like gap between himself and Drake.
In normal confrontation, he might not even touch a corner of the other’s astral husk.
"That Ron seems to be somewhat special."
Mola suddenly interjected, her tendrils writhing slightly, indicating her piqued interest:
"I just checked through special channels; two years ago, he was nothing but a waste Candidate Apprentice of the sixth-class stars, his Spiritual Talent almost unanimously regarded as trash in the Wizard World."
Her voice carried strong curiosity:
"Yet, in just a few months, he transformed from waste to genius. Soon after, he not only rose to the forefront of Candidate Wizard ranks but also passed the Path of Truth, directly ascending to Primordial Wizard. Such speed is exceptionally rare even in our times."
"Ha, a typical lucky one."
Varian immediately seized the opportunity to comment, trying to reestablish his sense of authority:
"Perhaps he stumbled upon some opportunity, or someone is secretly aiding him. Such cases are all too common.
Remember that so-called ’Miracle Child’ Melvin from the mid-Third Era? Didn’t he also ascend at an unimaginable speed because he accidentally found an Ancient Rune Stone?
The result? Didn’t he also deform due to an unstable foundation while ascending to Great Wizard?"
The bitterness in Varian’s tone almost overflowed from the Crystal Sac:
"These so-called geniuses who rise with external forces are often short-lived. Without a solid foundation and long-term accumulation, their paths inevitably lead to self-destruction."
Karen couldn’t help but retort:
"But to break through in such a short time is still very unusual. Even with opportunities and help, the Path of Truth ultimately depends on one’s own qualities.
That direct dialogue with higher entities cannot be replaced by external forces, requiring individual willpower and soul strength. I believe there might be something special about this Ron Ralph that we have yet to understand."
The silver-eyed youth was more open-minded, his research inherently related to intuitive perception, allowing him to appreciate phenomena that broke conventions more than Varian:
"Perhaps we should continue observing his development; there might be unexpected discoveries."
"Stop arguing."
Drake’s voice resounded again, this time with some weariness, as if the topic at hand was too juvenile for him:
"Just a newly ascended Primordial Wizard, small as an ant compared to us ancient suspended beings who have existed for millennia.
Even if his talent is high and his growth is rapid, at least wait until he ascends to Dark Sun Wizard a century later before he barely qualifies to enter our attention."
Drake’s words were not unfounded.
In the Wizard World, the gap in strength is like a chasm.
Between an Official Wizard and a Great Wizard, it is not merely a simple amassing of power, but an existential difference.
An Official Wizard, even the most top-notch Dark Sun Level strong, when facing a true Great Wizard, is merely an existence the latter can extinguish at will.
Not to mention the astral husk form of a Great Wizard, which already surpasses the normal dimensional concept, partially transcending the rules of reality.