In a dimly lit room...

Cough cough... Ah! A figure in black robes opened his eyes, grimacing as he clutched his chest, where a terrifyingly deep wound lay.

Ah…! Lucian doubled over, wracked by searing pain. His chest throbbed violently, each beat bringing a new wave of agony. The intensity of the pain finally hit a breaking point, and something in his mind snapped. Suddenly, unfamiliar memories surged in, merging rapidly with his own.

Hah… hah... Lucian gasped, though his voice sounded surprisingly calmer. When he reopened his eyes, a flash of confusion danced in his dark pupils. It seemed he had transmigrated to a world of wizards and found himself in the body of a third-tier wizard apprentice named Lucian Kevin.

But that wasn't the biggest issue. The real problem was that he was on the brink of death.

This was a cruel reality, and Lucian couldn't help but feel it was all a bit absurd. He'd done nothing more than fall asleep at his desk, and now, not only did he have to die in a foreign body, but he also had to suffer first.

As he pondered, Lucian touched the ghastly wound on his chest. If he'd been an ordinary person, this injury would have been fatal. According to the original Lucian's memories, he had been attacked just a week earlier. He and his mentor had been ambushed by a mysterious group while out on a mission shortly after leaving the Wizard Academy. His mentor, the official wizard Pinor, had been killed in the skirmish, while Lucian had barely escaped by using a one-time-use magic artefact. Even so, he'd been hit by a spell that pierced his chest. After returning to the academy and exhausting all possible treatment options, his wound continued to fester, and he was now close to death.

In this world, an injury from an official wizard could typically be healed with the help of another official wizard, but unfortunately, the original Lucian had nothing to offer in exchange for that kind of aid. No wizard would risk offending another by aiding a mere apprentice.

And so he could only watch as his wound worsened, inching him closer to death. He estimated he had a month at most before succumbing to the wound's infection. After his death, he would likely be discarded into the academy's surrounding Black Forest, left for Blood-Eyed Crows and other lesser creatures to feed on.

Lucian found himself in this bleak situation, feeling like he had inherited an unpayable debt.

Wait…

Suddenly, Lucian noticed something unusual. The corrosive energy from his chest wound was dissipating at an alarming rate. According to his predecessor's memories, this energy was left by the wizard who'd attacked them. It had hindered his body's ability to heal, leaving him to watch himself weaken bit by bit. But now that the spell's influence was gone, his body had a chance to start recovering.

Was this "transmigration treatment"?

Whatever it was, Lucian sighed with relief. He staggered over to the experiment table, picked up a vial filled with a dark green potion, removed the stopper with his teeth, and drank it in one go despite the bitter taste.

Gulp, gulp...

After consuming the potion, he closed his eyes, waiting for its effects to kick in. In the silence, he also began to consider his next steps in this unfamiliar world of wizards.

"Before his death, Mentor Pinor seemed to be hiding something... He must've known something but chose not to tell me," Lucian thought, frowning. In this world, a master's relationship with their students was often distant. Unlike in China, where mentors were almost like father figures, wizard masters treated their students more like labour. Students received protection and knowledge from their masters, but they paid a price—often being exploited in return.

Thus, Lucian didn't feel too much grief for his predecessor's mentor; he was only worried that the wizard who'd killed his master might eventually come after him too. However, the chances of this were low. After all, the enemy likely assumed Lucian had already perished from the fatal wound.

As Lucian mulled over his options, his pale face broke into a bitter smile. Although the foreign energy in his chest had dissipated, he was still gravely injured, and his strength drastically reduced. Recovering his abilities in this ruthless and cold-hearted world wouldn't be easy.

Could he survive in such a place?

Just then, a transparent panel suddenly appeared in front of him, displaying line after line of text.

[Detected: Host is no longer in critical condition. Binding to Master Teacher System…]

[15%... 35%... 79%... 99%...]

[System binding successful]

Host: Lucian Kevin

Strength: Third-Tier Wizard Apprentice

Health: 46.3% (Critical Injury)

Bound Students: 0/13

Reverence Points: 0/1000

Knowledge List: (Click to view details)

[Friendly Reminder]: You currently have no bound students. It is recommended to bind students to unlock the system's full features. Check function details for more information.

Seeing this status screen, Lucian blinked in surprise, followed by a burst of joy.

Indeed, the system was the true gift of transmigration!

But why a "Master Teacher System"?

Putting aside his curiosity, he began examining the system's features.

Lucian's smile faltered as he browsed the description of the system's functions.

This "Master Teacher System" was... a bit absurd.

In short, its two core functions were entirely student-based.

[Master Teacher Teaching Rules]: You may instruct bound students to earn rewards. When they successfully master a subject, you'll receive an upgraded version of that knowledge.

[Reverence Points Rule]: If your students genuinely respect you, you'll gain Reverence Points. The quantity of Reverence Points depends on your student's strengths, respect levels, and other factors. Reverence Points are precious and can be used for system upgrades and purchases.

After reading through the system's features, Lucian looked around his empty room, his mouth twitching.

The original Lucian had once had two students, but both had died in the recent attack. Now, he was alone, with not a single soul to teach.

And though third-tier wizard apprentices could technically take on assistants or students, his current status—a mortally wounded apprentice with a deceased mentor—meant recruiting students was near impossible. After all, who would want to study under a dying tree?

Thus it appeared he was locked in an endless loop:

Q: How do you recruit students?

A: Prove your worth and show strength.

Q: How do you prove your worth and show strength?

A: Gain power.

Q: How to gain power?

A: Recruit students.