The Warlock Rank can be considered a watershed for most Mages...
To reach this stage, one must have an unshakable foundation and, more importantly, their comprehension must not be lacking.
See, at the end of the day, Mages are just Scholars who can use Magic. Using Magic requires high-intellect and comprehensive ability. It's safe to say that most Mages who reached a high realm in their cultivation are intellectual geniuses of their own kind.
As a Mage, it is their duty and desire to trace the existence of Magic back to its roots and forge their path, it is only through this that they won't just have sufficient ability to protect themselves and their loved ones, but also allow them to understand the secrets that the world has.
This is the ultimate pursuit of knowledge...