Never-Ending

Walking along the path back to the workshop, the dim, filtered light unique to the Black Mist Forest streamed through the canopy above, casting fragmented shadows across the ground.

Robb instinctively touched the intermediate apprentice badge on his chest, sensing the faint magical pulse it emitted.

He strongly suspected that this thing was essentially a tracking device, though whether it had logging or surveillance capabilities remained unclear.

"Now that I'm in the Reserve Wizard Track, I have to go all in."

He calculated silently:

"The third-tier courses on mental control and spell construction are top priority. Alchemy and elemental affinity classes can't be neglected either."

According to Solon, the registry imposed strict progress expectations and evaluation metrics.

If he wanted to secure a dominant position in the registry and gain more resources, he would need to show consistent and measurable growth.

"I'm aiming to reach the top in a year," Robb thought, his eyes flashing with determination.

When he returned to the workshop, Valenwood was tidying up various potion bottles on the medicine shelf.

Seeing Robb return, she immediately set down her work and walked over to greet him.

"Congratulations on becoming an intermediate apprentice, Master," Valenwood's vines swayed gently, with glowing text appearing on her leaves. "I saw your new badge."

Robb smiled and nodded. "Thanks. Your perception's getting sharper."

"I can feel the mana waves from the badge. It's completely different from the ones worn by Elementary Apprentices," Valenwood replied, her emerald eyes gleaming with intelligence.

Ever since she absorbed the residual energy from the Sunfire Extract, Valenwood had developed far beyond Robb's expectations.

Her form had become increasingly human-like, and her thoughts and emotional expressions more nuanced and refined.

Robb nodded in acknowledgment, then shifted his attention to a pressing matter, the upcoming Potion Master Gathering next Wednesday.

Magnus had previously mentioned the event and suggested Robb prepare some of his refined recipes to bring for exchange.

Clearly, this wasn't just a social event, it was an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and build connections.

Seated at his worktable, Robb flipped open his potion recipe notebook and began carefully selecting formulas to showcase.

"The Sunfire Extract is far too rare, and it was originally a gift from Lord Magnus. It wouldn't be appropriate to share it casually. My improved stimulant potion works well, but it's not particularly impressive…"

He weighed his options, fingers flipping through notes.

"Maybe Amber Mind Elixir could be a good pick?"

The Amber Mind Elixir was a recent mental aid potion Robb had refined on his own. It temporarily boosted mental agility and memory, particularly effective for absorbing large volumes of information in short periods.

Compared to similar products on the market, Robb's version had fewer side effects and no addictive properties, making it highly practical. It had also become a best-seller in his workshop.

"And there's also the Grayscale Defense Ointment," he murmured. "That's another solid improvement."

The Grayscale Defense Ointment was a topical potion that formed a nearly undetectable protective film on the skin, shielding against acid, toxins, and minor physical damage.

Robb's version not only extended its active duration but also eliminated the original version's common side effects, like stinging sensations or skin discoloration.

After careful thought, Robb decided to bring both improved recipes along with a sample of each as his "calling card" for the gathering.

But the event wasn't just about showcasing his own work, it was also about learning from others.

"Collecting formulas and potion knowledge is critical for my future transition into the Potion Professor class."

Robb was well aware that his long-term plans required continuous integration of supernatural knowledge, and alchemy was one of his core pillars.

Once he securely packed away the recipes and samples, his thoughts turned to his study plan.

Now as an Intermediate Apprentice, he would face a whole new level of coursework, especially the challenging third-tier mental control and spell construction modules, which were many times harder than anything he'd done before.

Robb opened a new notebook and began outlining his monthly schedule:

Two weekly third-tier classes as the core focus, he must give them his all.

Alchemy and elemental affinity courses, though less frequent, must not be neglected, especially their practical experiments.

Free time would be spent studying in the library, with emphasis on mana circuit construction, inspiration flow control, and spell model optimization.

Daily training in bloodline abilities, minimum one hour per day.

Potion crafting and order processing at the workshop would be relegated to early mornings and evenings.

His schedule was so tightly packed that he barely left himself time to sleep.

But thanks to his recent boosts in physique from becoming a Bloodline Knight, sleeping less was no longer much of a problem.

"Maybe… once my physique gets even stronger, I won't need sleep at all? Then I could grind 24 hours a day."

Shaking off the thought, Robb turned his attention back to the reference books recommended by Erik and Lia and began reviewing the third-tier course content in advance.

As he read deeper, he realized the fundamental difference between tier three and the earlier levels:

The first two tiers focused on constructing and stabilizing individual spell models.

Tier three introduced the continuous construction of multiple models and their coordinated control within short time frames.

"This is the first step toward complex combo spells used by formal wizards," Robb reflected.

"And it's the key dividing line between Intermediate and High Apprentices."

Rumor had it that apprentices who could master three or more models and build them in rapid succession would receive special ratings during promotion assessments.

"Right now I've already mastered Sonic Tremor and Mucus Splash. Next, I need to learn a third, preferably a defensive spell, to create a more complete set."

He considered various options and his eyes landed on a book on the shelf: Basics of Elemental Channeling.

"Fire or light-element spells might be ideal, especially since I have high affinity for both."

Robb recalled his instructor's comments from elemental affinity class: "Flame Ward or Radiant Shield might be the perfect starting point."

His goal was to learn a third base spell, then work toward constructing all three simultaneously and keeping them stable, laying the groundwork for future combo spell mastery.

Of course, this would take extensive practice and repetition. Thankfully, the Timewarden's Pocket Watch, with its reset function, would be invaluable, allowing him to cram intense training into short periods.

"If I can reset ten times a day, that's like eleven people learning at once…"

Robb mentally calculated:

"Mastering all three third-tier subjects in a month and qualifying for advancement should be completely doable."

As night fell, he remained deep in study, showing no signs of fatigue.

Only when Valenwood gently tapped his arm to remind him that dinner had long passed, did he realize how absorbed he'd become.

"Thanks for the reminder, Valenwood," Robb said with a smile, closing his book. "Looks like I need to manage my time better."

Just as he was about to prepare dinner, he remembered something important.

"Oh right, Valenwood. Next Wednesday I'll be attending a Potion Master Gathering and may come back late. You'll be in charge of the workshop. If any visitors come, just say I'm out on business and will return shortly."

Valenwood's vines swayed in acknowledgment.

"I will take care of the workshop. Don't worry, Master."

Seeing Valenwood's growing sense of initiative and responsibility, Robb couldn't help but feel a bit proud.

His eyes flicked to the calendar on the wall. Five days left until the Potion Master Gathering.

Before then, he needed to complete his first third-tier class and finalize the potions and recipes he'd bring for exchange.

He felt like a spinning top, constantly whipped into motion by a hundred different responsibilities, without even a moment to stop.

But it seemed all apprentices, and even full-fledged wizards, were the same.

As if everyone was constantly being chased by some terrible beast, and any pause would mean getting swallowed whole…