The long-term infiltration and improvement by Energy Particles can significantly delay the aging process of Wizard Apprentices, keeping their bodies at peak condition until the point when they are nearing the end of their lifespan, at which point aging accelerates.

Thus, unless there are appearance changes due to bloodline fusion or body modification, very few Wizard Apprentices appear externally aged.

Sherman is no exception.

"Attila, Cole."

Upon hearing the voice, Attila turned to look and saw it was Sherman, his face breaking into a bright smile.

Cole nodded slightly at Sherman as usual, maintaining his aloof demeanor.

Sherman didn’t mind and casually asked, "What are you two doing here?"

As he spoke, he glanced around, his face showing surprise, "Why is there such a crowd today?"

Attila widened his eyes at Sherman in surprise, "You don’t know?"

"Know what?" Sherman was stunned, "I’ve been in the workshop lately, just came out, did something happen?"

Attila nodded in understanding and said with a smile, "The teacher has returned."

Sherman paused, then was overjoyed.

The teacher had been gone for more than two years. Although a message was left in advance to prepare everyone, not seeing the teacher for so long had everyone feeling somewhat dispirited, like they had lost their backbone.

Before Sherman could recover from his joy, Attila continued mysteriously, "There’s a rumor going around outside, do you know what it is?"

Sherman rolled his eyes, "Stop teasing."

Attila didn’t mind, smiling as he said, "The word is out that the teacher has inherited the Starlight Tower’s legacy and has been promoted to a Wizard!"

"What? Really?" Sherman was shocked.

"It should be true," Cole spoke up, "Many people saw with their own eyes the teacher killing fourteen Level 3 Wizard Apprentices from the Truth Council in the Northwest Domain, all alone and in just two or three breaths!"

"Besides a Wizard, I can’t think of anyone else who could do that!"

As he said this, even the usually aloof Cole showed a hint of excitement and yearning.

Sherman stood there in a daze, his expression somewhat blank.

Even though he had thought before that the teacher might advance to Wizard, when it happened for real, he was still indescribably shocked.

After all, that’s a Wizard!

The realm all Wizard Apprentices dream of reaching!

"Quite a shock, right." Attila sighed, "I was also shocked when I heard this news. I never expected the teacher to take that step so quickly."

"The teacher’s talent is beyond our imagination!" Cole said.

The awakened Sherman gave Cole a peculiar look.

From before, Sherman had vaguely perceived that despite Cole’s cold demeanor and few words, he greatly admired the teacher, perhaps to the point of being unprincipled in his admiration. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

If the teacher were a Divine Spirit instead of a Wizard, Cole would undoubtedly qualify as a fanatic.

"Wait." Sherman then realized, "What does this have to do with you all gathering in the warehouse district?"

Attila explained, "The mission hall has issued many new tasks and increased the Contribution Points for acquiring items like Magic Pattern Armor, Demonized Weapons, Stone Golems, and Dual-bladed Spiders, so everyone is here to take up new tasks."

Sherman’s gaze focused as he quickly grasped the deeper meaning behind these changes.

"Is the Star Alliance planning another expansion?"

"Quite possibly," said Cole, his eyes flashing, "Starlight Continent is about to experience major changes."

Sherman nodded thoughtfully.

Indeed, with a Wizard at its helm, the Star Alliance is now eligible to unify the underground world, if not the entire Starlight Continent.

Given the teacher’s usual modus operandi, that’s undoubtedly what will happen.

The change in Contribution Points for equipment and golems is undoubtedly in preparation for launching a war.

"Actually, besides the tasks, I also heard a piece of insider information."

Attila said in a low voice.

"I heard the teacher plans to establish a Wizard Academy."

Wizard Academy?

Sherman looked shocked, wide-eyed.

Cole also paused, as this was the first time he had heard about it too.

"Where did this information come from?" Cole quickly asked.

"Lord Amy mentioned it."

Sherman and Cole’s eyes flickered.

If Lord Amy said it, it’s most likely true.

"But if a Wizard Academy is to be established, what about the instructor issue?" Sherman questioned.

Even if the teacher is willing to personally instruct them, an academy cannot be run by just one instructor.

"That I’m not sure about," Attila shrugged.

Sherman felt both confused and expectant.

If the academy were to happen, it would undoubtedly benefit this group of apprentices.

Having an instructor to impart knowledge would undoubtedly significantly enhance their learning efficiency.

In the future, when facing difficulties, they wouldn’t have to bury their heads and research alone.

...

Sixth floor of the Dragon Remains Tower, experimental area.

In the spacious and bright laboratory, Sunan stood at the workbench, placing bottles of sub-grade Active Potions into the cube.

After opening a large Magic Plant Garden in Dragon Forest Zone 2, the supply of Silver Moon Flowers has greatly increased, and he doesn’t have to worry about this anymore now.

Especially during these more than two years in the Starlight Tower, the warehouse has amassed a huge amount of Silver Moon Flowers, enough to last for a long time.

With more and more potions being placed in, the text information on the cube’s synthesis interface kept changing, until it suddenly flashed, finally showing the ’Tier 4’ label.

[Crystal Soul Potion (Tier 4/High Quality), consuming it can vastly enhance the Spiritual Power condensation speed and increase the efficiency of Energy Particles absorption, duration of 182 days, 22 hours, with no stack effect, requires at least Level 1 Crystallization Stage, with Spiritual Power needing to reach certain levels (Lower Level 25.32%/Middle Level 17.88%/Upper Level 8.24%/Super Level 1.02%)]

Sunan nodded in understanding.

Based on the effect description, Crystal Soul Potion is merely an upgraded version of the Active Potion, with its effect simply becoming better on top of the Active Potion, without too many changes otherwise.

As for those grades at the end, they clearly indicate the Talent Crystal levels.

The Talent Crystal levels greatly influence Wizards’ future development, as reflected even in the potion consumption restrictions.

Wizards with high-level Talent Crystals, although it might be harder for them to condense Spiritual Power compared to those with lower-level Talent Crystals, will relatively face fewer potion restrictions.

Moreover, with the same Spiritual Power condensation progress, the combat effectiveness of the former will be stronger than that of the latter.

Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

"By this calculation, my current 1.34% condensation progress is roughly equivalent to about 30% of a lower-level crystallization Wizard."

Sunan displayed a satisfied expression.

This is why he strives for high-grade Talent Crystals; although challenging initially, the benefits later are abundant.

Sunan then attempted to synthesize a Tier 5 potion, but the consumption limit suddenly spiked to Level 1 Crystallization Stage (Super Level 24.45%).

"It seems I’ll have to rely on Crystal Soul Potions for quite a while."

Sunan wasn’t very disappointed, as the combination of Crystal Soul Potion, Elemental Pool, and Divinity energy already suffices for him to cultivate like a regular Wizard, unaffected by the environment of the Starlight Continent.

This is already remarkable, and he can’t demand more.

He will gradually look for other ways to enhance cultivation efficiency going forward.

With these thoughts, Sunan consumed a potion on the spot and then returned to the top floor to start cultivating beside the Elemental Pool.

When his Spiritual Power condensation progress increased by 0.01%, twelve days had already passed.

"At this speed, it’ll take about three hundred years to break through to the Level 1 Liquification Stage."

Sunan mused quietly.

Seven hundred years, he wondered if that would be enough to break through to the Level 1 Crystallization Stage?

If more methods for improving cultivation efficiency could be discovered, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Shaking his head, Sunan got up and left the top floor, teleporting to the fifth-floor workshop area.

The potion issue has been solved, now it is time to address the Witchcraft Artifact issue.

Through recent reflections, Sunan already had a preliminary plan.