Time flows like water, and in the blink of an eye, another month quietly passes. During this period, Lynn's life remains as fulfilling and busy as ever, with nearly every minute of his time meticulously scheduled.
Out of the twenty-four hours in a day, aside from the necessary brief rest, nearly all of Lynn's time is devoted to studying and cultivation, embodying the principle of "Heaven rewards diligence" to the fullest extent.
In daily work, according to the rules, apprentices are allowed to rest after completing their assigned alchemy tasks for the day.
However, Lynn never allows himself even a moment of pause.
He seizes every bit of free time either delving into potionology, studying new spells to build his wizardry system, or focusing entirely on the practice of advanced meditation, striving to accelerate the resonance and nurturing of his Life Seed.
Even on rare days off, he refuses to waste a single moment, merely opting for a change of pace.
Instead of spending the day brewing potions, he immerses himself in the library, dedicating his entire day to devouring a new introductory book within the limited time available.
This lifestyle is almost extreme in its rigor.
For most people, such a pace would be unbearable leading to overwhelming anxiety, mental collapse, or complete burnout in just a few days.
Yet for Lynn, this is a way of life that he wholeheartedly embraces.
He possesses an unparalleled advantage in the progress bar.
Every time that cold numerical display inches forward, the tangible sense of progress acts as the most potent stimulant, instantly dispelling all fatigue and filling him with renewed motivation.
This clear and measurable growth is the driving force behind his relentless efforts and, in a way, his unique source of happiness.
On this particular day, the sun shines brightly, the sky is a pristine blue, clouds drift lazily, and a gentle breeze carries a rare sense of comfort and tranquility.
Most apprentices take advantage of such a pleasant day to relax and unwind.
But as always, Lynn rises before dawn and heads straight toward the heart of the Furnace, preparing to continue his studies in the library.
Along the way, he passes through the residential area, where pairs of apprentice couples can be seen strolling.
His gaze briefly lingers on two familiar figures Remi and Yara.
"It's been a while since I last saw Remi..." Lynn muses.
Ever since the demand for niche potions in the Furnace reached saturation, his interactions with Remi have significantly decreased.
Remi's role as a "middleman" once made Lynn's work much smoother, but now it has become somewhat obsolete.
At this moment, Remi and Yara are walking closely together, whispering to each other.
Observing their dynamic, Lynn can't help but think, "At this rate, it won't be long before I receive their wedding invitation."
Within the Furnace, romantic relationships are not uncommon.
After all, as wizard apprentices, most of them will never return to marry "ordinary people."
However, those who choose to marry while still young are often those whose futures are already set in stone apprentices who have no hope of advancing to full-fledged wizards.
In contrast, those who do have the potential to become official wizards would never waste their precious time on love.
For them, every second is critical. Even the slightest distraction could mean missing their opportunity for advancement.
As for psychological and physiological needs, the Furnace has plenty of solutions:
If one experiences psychological distress, they can simply spend some magic stones and visit a Mind Banshee for relief.
As for physical urges, the residential area is filled with women who offer their services so long as one has magic stones, any desire can be fulfilled.
After all, breaking through to become a full-fledged wizard signifies a leap in life's hierarchy achieving a higher state of existence, akin to stepping into a half-divine realm.
At that point, they would no longer be on the same level as ordinary mortals.
Among the people Lynn knows, individuals like Colin and Sonya who have been chosen as disciples by official wizards are all strong contenders for ascension to full wizard status.
As for himself, he, too, is one of the "seeds" destined to become an official wizard.
For Lynn, before the age of thirty-five or more precisely, before he becomes a full-fledged wizard his sole goal is cultivation.
To climb, to sprint forward, and to give everything he has to reach that supreme position.
Thus, when he sees Remi and Yara walking together, he merely glances at them briefly before quickly averting his gaze.
He has no intention of disturbing them, and his steps remain steady and swift.
After swiping his card to enter the core area, he heads straight toward the library.
The Furnace's library is freely accessible to apprentices, but borrowing books requires a certain number of points.
The rarer the book, the more points it costs precious knowledge is never easily obtainable.
Lynn swipes his card with practiced ease, selects the book he needs from the shelf, and then finds a quiet corner to sit down.
Retrieving a cup of tea from his spatial tool, he takes a small sip before opening the book, ready to study intently.
"Complete Atlas of the Wizarding World – Southern Territories Edition."
This book is an authoritative geographic guide to the wizarding world, detailing major factions, their development, and historical background.
Lynn's eyes quickly scan the section regarding the Furnace, immersing himself in its contents.
"Eye of the Spirit Furnace – A fourth-tier faction controlling the Kingdom of Eluria. Affiliated with the Dark Wizard faction, high danger level. Travelers are advised against visiting the Kingdom of Eluria…"
Lynn notes that the Eye of the Spirit Furnace is situated in a highly strategic location, near the boundary between the Dark Wizards and the White Wizards essentially the heart of the storm.
Not far beyond the boundary line stands another fourth-tier faction the Whiteheart Tower.
"Whiteheart Tower – Located in the Kingdom of Rulos. Affiliated with the White Wizard faction, low danger level. Travelers visiting the Kingdom of Rulos may journey along the border between Dark and White Wizard territories, witnessing the stark contrast between the two. The Dark Wizard lands are desolate, evoking a sense of sorrow for the life that once thrived there…"
Upon reading this, Lynn immediately discerns that the book's author is a staunch supporter of the White Wizards, exhibiting clear hostility toward the Dark Wizards.
Nonetheless, he mentally records the terrain and power distribution of the area.
In this region, the Eye of the Spirit Furnace and the Whiteheart Tower stand as the dominant fourth-tier factions, each representing the pinnacle of their respective affiliations Dark and White Wizards.
Lesser factions, mostly Third-Level and Second-Level, are of little significance.
Surveying the surrounding ten or so kingdoms, these two fourth-tier forces are undoubtedly the rulers of the land.
This region, situated at the intersection of Dark and White Wizard territories, clearly serves as a buffer zone for their ongoing conflict.
It's no surprise that no higher-tier wizarding factions exist in this volatile land.
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