Chapter 71: Chapter 70: "Demon God," [Ancient Alchemist], [Creator]
"’Grace’?" Ron felt unfamiliar yet curious about the term.
"It’s an invisible yet tangible feedback. When a wizard imparts their knowledge to a talented successor, aiding their growth, or when their private secret arts are refined and disseminated, the wizard gains ’Grace.’"
Lady Allen’s voice grew deeper, as if narrating an ancient, mysterious tale:
"It can nourish a wizard’s spirit, increase magic power, and most importantly—it can dissolve spiritual contamination."
Ron suddenly looked up, recalling the spiritual contamination brought by the "Star Eater’s Ravings," as well as Lady Allen’s previous warnings.
"Spiritual contamination... can really be eliminated?"
"By conventional means, even if you take the most advanced magic potions..." Lady Allen first shook her head:
"Spiritual contamination can only be temporarily suppressed, never completely eradicated."
"It follows every wizard like a shadow; the more powerful the wizard, the more severe the contamination they endure. Over time, the contamination erodes the mind like poison, twisting the soul, eventually leading to grotesque mutations."
Her eyes grew dim, as if she had personally witnessed such scenes:
"Many powerful wizards ultimately die from their own power—mental breakdowns or completely mutating into unrecognizable monsters."
"But ’Grace’ can change all of this." At this point, her tone suddenly became firm again:
"When a young person makes a breakthrough under a master’s guidance, the pure energy from their growth will feedback to the master as ’Grace,’ which can be used to dissolve the accumulated spiritual contamination over the years."
Ron felt as if the conjectures hovering in his mind finally connected at this moment, and he blurted out:
"So that’s why the mentors in the school, even though busy with experiments and cultivation, still find time to teach apprentices?"
"Exactly." Lady Allen nodded, a bitter smile appearing at the corners of her mouth:
"On the surface, it seems like selfless teaching, but in reality, it’s just a means of self-preservation. Teaching apprentices is both a duty and a necessary path to extend one’s life."
Ron was silent for a while, gaining a deeper understanding in his heart.
Everything finally made sense—why those lofty wizards were willing to spend time guiding insignificant apprentices, yet only charged symbolic magic stone fragments;
why the Black Mist Jungle had such a well-structured educational system and mentor regime while encouraging competition among apprentices;
why Lady Allen was so ’generous’ in imparting various magic potion-making knowledge and the precious "Star Eater’s Ravings" to him...
"Who sets these rules?" Ron couldn’t help but ask, "What is the origin of Grace?"
Lady Allen took a long sigh, her gaze looking through the window into the distance:
"That question, I suspect even my master doesn’t fully comprehend. There are too many secrets in the wizard’s world; some even beyond our understanding."
She paused, seemingly choosing her words:
"Rumor has it that it’s related to those high-level existences beyond the entire multiverse—referred to as the ’Demon Gods’ in ancient texts."
"They drift among countless world groups, rewriting rules and maintaining balance. ’Grace’ might be a way they encourage the spread of knowledge."
"Demon Gods..." Ron softly repeated the word as if the term itself held some kind of power.
"No matter what." Lady Allen withdrew her gaze and looked back at Ron:
"’Grace’ is one of the very few genuinely fair exchanges in the Wizard World where you gain knowledge and growth, and the instructor receives purification from contamination and life extension. This connection often lasts a very long time, even for life."
"So, am I now your..."ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ
"Of course, my student. Even when you graduate, this connection won’t easily break. In the future, when you make breakthroughs in magic potion-making, I will also sense a sliver of ’Grace.’"
Lady Allen rarely smiled: "Of course, in the future, you might also have your own students and personally experience this intricate bond."
A warm feeling surged in Ron’s heart as he realized how precious this mentor-student relationship was in this harsh, extraordinary world.
"I will strive to achieve greater success in magic potion-making," he said solemnly, "not just for myself but to repay your teachings."
Lady Allen paused momentarily and suddenly brought up another topic:
"By the way, do you plan to apply for the school’s Alchemist certification? There’s one this month, and if you miss it, the next one won’t be until next year. Given your current level, passing the exams should be quite possible."
"Alchemist certification? Could you please elaborate?"
Ron asked somewhat curiously; in fact, he had consulted relevant materials, but he lacked in-depth knowledge of the specific details.
After Lady Allen’s detailed explanation, he learned that wizards have an internal rating system:
A professional Alchemist must be able to independently complete common advanced magic potion refining;
A senior Alchemist must have the ability to improve formulas;
A Magic Potion Professor must be able to create new magic potion formulas...
Ron noted down this information, and suddenly new unlockable content flashed across his consciousness panel:
[Career Advancement Information Unlocked: Alchemist (Two Stars)]
[Transition Conditions:
1. Mastery of Basic Magic Potion Making
2. Proficiency in Magic Potion Refining √
3. Proficiency in Herb Recognition √
4. Independently complete the refining of more than three advanced magic potions
5. Successfully improve at least one existing magic potion formula]
Lady Allen seemed unaware of Ron’s brief distraction, continuing to explain:
"It’s said that beyond this are higher Ancient Alchemists and Creators who can create fantasies nonexistent in the world, but those are already legendary existences."
As she spoke, more information appeared on the panel, but this time it seemed incomplete:
[Partially Unlocked Career Advancement Information: Magic Potion Professor (Three Stars)]
[Transition Conditions:
1. Pre-occupation requirement – Alchemist (Two Stars)
2. Successfully create at least one new magic potion formula
3. ???
4. ???]
[Unknown Profession: Ancient Alchemist (Four Stars) ???]
[Unknown Profession: Creator (Five Stars) ???]
[Hint: More related information is needed for full unlocking]