Chapter 29: Meditation Breakthrough, Wizard Apprentice

The ventilation window in the confinement room was very small, allowing only a sliver of daylight to filter in. But for Ron, that was enough. Inside this ten-square-meter stone room stood only a simple wooden bed, a tilted table missing one leg, and a bucket for waste. Yet this simplicity helped him focus better on cultivation.

"It's a good place for secluded cultivation," Ron chuckled to himself.

The enforcement team's management of confined personnel was surprisingly lenient. Ron suspected it might be due to Holt's subtle influence. Every day, meals were delivered punctually, and the quality was reasonable. Moreover, detainees were permitted to keep certain personal items—after strict inspections ensured they posed no security threat.

Ron pulled out Darrend's notebook from his pocket and studied it carefully under the dim light. After his recent insights into "rhythm," his understanding of the Conception of Sonic Vibration had deepened, and he now noticed many details that had previously escaped him.[Sonic Vibration (Prototype) Experience +3]

[Current Progress: Sonic Vibration (Prototype 87/100)]"This is the key..." he murmured.

He finally understood why Darrend had encountered a bottleneck. The original idea of refining Sonic Vibration through musical notes was correct, but the process was excruciatingly meticulous. Repeated failures and time pressure had pushed Davord to try boosting his mental output through external force—abandoning the right path, which ultimately led to his downfall.

Just as the Corona Breathing Method mimicked the sun's movement, Sonic Vibration also needed to follow its own rhythm.

Ron set down the notebook and began his daily Basic Meditation. In this isolated environment, his mental focus had reached an unprecedented level.[Basic Meditation Begins]

[Special Effect Triggered: Extreme Focus – Basic Meditation Effect ↑]

[Basic Meditation Experience +4]

[Current Progress: Basic Meditation (Introductory 93/100)]Within his consciousness, the rune formed from three arcs became increasingly vivid. Where it had once appeared stiff and dull, it now pulsed with a subtle, living rhythm. Each flow of mental energy glided smoothly, as if it had discovered its ideal path. Ron sensed that he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

On the second-to-last day of confinement, Ron completed his morning meditation as usual. Nearly two weeks of isolation had allowed his mental power to soar to new heights. In this desolate room, he had found the ideal setting to explore his inner self.

Entering his consciousness space, he saw that the Basic Rune—formed from three arcs—had become almost tangible. Each arc quivered slightly, its nodes glowing softly. He felt as if he were standing at the edge of something immense, needing only a gentle push to break through.

Taking a deep breath, he focused all his attention on the rune. Unlike before, when he manipulated it like a tool, this time he sought to resonate with it—to fully merge his consciousness with the symbol.

In that moment, Ron understood: the essence of Basic Meditation wasn't about controlling the rune, but becoming it.

The rune began to vibrate wildly, glowing with an intense light. His mental power surged like a flood breaking free of its banks, flowing with unmatched smoothness.[Basic Meditation Breakthrough!]

[Basic Meditation Experience +1]

[Basic Meditation (Introductory 99/100) → Basic Meditation (Proficient - Max)]

[Additional Trait Gained: Mental Circulation (When switching to higher-level meditation methods, experience can be retained up to the Proficient level)]It seemed that "Proficient" was the limit for Basic Meditation. Ron felt a tinge of regret—but the changes didn't end there.

His mental energy, once scattered like loose sand, now began to reorganize. It followed some mysterious law, forming a purer, more stable structure. Within the consciousness space, light threads burst from the rune and wove together, creating a net that transformed his mental landscape. A new mental field had formed.

The transformation wasn't just internal. Ron's perception began to evolve rapidly. Every detail of the confinement room—even the faint energy fluctuations outside the stone walls—became crystal clear.[Mental Power Qualitative Change Complete]

[Spirit: 1.6 → 2.0]

[Strength Level Increased: Knight Squire → Elementary Apprentice]Reaching 2.0 in mental power marked a threshold—it signified a full step into the realm of an Elementary Apprentice. This wasn't merely a number change. It was a qualitative leap.

His mind felt clearer than ever before. His thoughts accelerated and expanded, and his sensory perception sharpened dramatically.

Then, something even more astonishing happened.

Ron discovered a brand new ability. Mental power was no longer confined to his body—it could now extend outward, wave-like, interacting with the world around him.

Was this the same Mental Interference that Marcus had used on him?

He cautiously released a small stream of mental energy into the air, sensing its path. The sensation was strange—new yet natural, like an instinct he'd always had but never used.

Guided by his will, the energy formed a weak interference wave that radiated outward.

"So that's how it works..." Ron whispered.

It turned out that this ability didn't need to be formally learned. Once one's mental power reached a certain level, it emerged instinctively—just as babies know how to swallow without being taught.

For most extraordinary professionals who didn't cultivate mental power, this instinctive ability was terrifying. It could easily disrupt their thought processes. However, when used against fellow Apprentices, its effectiveness depended on the difference in mental strength.

At that moment, a translucent information panel appeared before him:[Mental Power Reached 2.0√]

[Basic Meditation Method Reached Proficient√]

[Main Profession - Wizard Apprentice ★☆ Job Change Information Unlocked][Wizard Apprentice ★☆]

Job Change Requirements:Mental Power Reached 2.0 √

Basic Meditation Method Reached Proficient √

Master a Zero-Ring Spell at Proficient Level

After Job Change:

– Attribute Growth:

Magic Power Growth ★★

Constitution Growth ★

Spirit Growth ★★☆– Unlocked Basic Professional Skills:

Spell Construction

Mental Interference– Special Bonuses:

Spell Skill Experience Gain ↑

Mental Power Growth Speed ↑

Magic Power Capacity and Recovery Speed ↑– Possible Advancement Paths:

α — Wizard · Elemental System ★★

β — Wizard · Curse System ★★

γ — Magic Swordsman ★★☆ (Requires Knight Squire Profession Linkage)Ron was silent for a long moment, staring at the translucent screen before him.

He had finally met the first two prerequisites for becoming a Wizard Apprentice. Now, the only condition left was to master a Zero-Ring Spell to the Proficient level.

The realization filled him with excitement—but also with a strong sense of urgency.

The world of Wizards was finally opening up to him.

He understood now: his path wasn't just about training. It was about insight, resonance, and merging with the forces he sought to command.

The confinement that once felt like punishment had turned into a sanctuary of transformation.

With determination in his eyes, Ron stood up from the wooden bed. There were still several days left before he would be released. If he used his time well, perhaps he could achieve even more.

The journey of cultivation had only just begun—but Ron could already feel that the road ahead was destined to be limitless.

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