During the extraction process, a simple water magic was added, and a few messy steps were removed, and the order of the process was changed. The efficiency of the magical treatment of bat feces was significantly improved, and the difference could be easily observed by the naked eye.
Anthony witnessed the entire process, seeing the batches of feces being processed and the green crystal granules settling at the bottom of the beaker. A smile blossomed on his face.
As an alchemist, he quickly understood the rationale behind these steps. Comparing the two, he discovered the secret to the efficiency improvement.
Anthony nodded continuously and praised, "Not bad, your spiritual power is indeed extraordinary. Your control of low-level magic has reached an excellent level. Your thinking is clear, and your purpose is well-defined. This method has basically reached the pinnacle. It's quite rare for an apprentice to have such a performance."
Charlie responded with a smile, "Thank you, teacher, for the compliment."
Anthony pondered for a moment and then spoke, "Charlie, I think this optimization plan has promotional value. If it could be popularized throughout the academy, I believe this innovation would bring considerable value to the academy, and you might even be able to earn some rewards. I'm wondering if you would be willing to let your teacher submit it to the relevant department of the academy for review?"
This was a blatant request, which was within Charlie's expectations.
"Of course, I'm willing to. I'm now your apprentice, so it should belong to you."
Anthony was very satisfied with such a promising student. He said with a smile, "Let me remind you that if I help you submit it, the academy may award the rewards directly to me. Can you accept that?"
"No problem, I just hope the teacher can give me the freedom to come and go, and a little personal time, of course, with the premise of completing the teacher's tasks, and it will not affect the teacher's project plan."
This was a transaction, and both were aware of it.
As a transaction, Charlie's request was not too much, and it was rare to see a student with such outstanding emotional and intellectual abilities. Anthony couldn't help but develop a fondness for him.
Almost without hesitation, Anthony agreed, suddenly becoming serious, "Okay, Charlie, you are very good. I hope you won't have too many thoughts too early.
I, your teacher, although I don't have much reputation and status in the academy, I am at the top of the alchemist field. And your talent is not good, which is very similar to me. Perhaps alchemy is your possible path, and you are younger than me, with more plasticity, and your future achievements will certainly not be limited to this."
These were words from the bottom of his heart.
Charlie nodded slightly and sincerely said, "Thank you, teacher, for the guidance."
Anthony thought for a moment and said, "As a reward, I have decided to open up some additional courses for you in the future. Maybe it can make up for some of your shortcomings in talent. Consider it a compensation for you."
If even the talent could be compensated, it would indeed be an interesting course.
"Oh? That's great." Charlie showed an interested expression.
Thus, a storm unexpectedly dissipated into nothingness.
Charlie pushed open the door and entered the apprentice laboratory, immediately encountering Jerry with a surprised and fawning smile on his face.
"Charlie, you are really amazing. To be honest, when we saw you being blocked by the teacher at the door, we were both surprised and worried for you. We were so nervous! But you passed through it smoothly."
Eileen opened her mouth, but didn't say anything, just smiling and nodding at Charlie.
"It's alright, I just explained it clearly." Charlie responded calmly, exchanging a few pleasantries with them, and each returned to their own area.
In the moment when Jerry was not paying attention, Charlie suddenly leaned close to Eileen's ear and whispered, "Was it Jerry who told the teacher?"
Accompanied by the hot breath, a masculine aroma wafted over, leaving Eileen's mind completely blank, her delicate face slightly flushed. She nodded silently.
What a daring fellow!
Although the answer was within Charlie's expectations, he was still disgusted by Jerry's narrow-mindedness. The children of the Wargland continent were quite precocious, with a ten-year-old already having the awareness to actively frame his competitors. It was truly terrifying.
This grudge would be kept for now.
Afterwards, the three apprentices busied themselves according to Anthony's instructions.
When the magic clock pointed to the late afternoon, the apprentice badge began to hum. Charlie took it out and touched the blue rune at the center of the metal badge. A text appeared before his eyes.
"The first lesson of Master Naal's Stellar Meditation is scheduled in one hour at Magic Tower C31. Students must not miss the time."
The text flickered a few times, gradually turning deep red, hovering in the air for a while before slowly dissipating.
Charlie snapped out of his busy state. After several hours of uninterrupted work, two of the three bags on the desk were empty, and the green crystal granules filled nearly half a beaker. This amount was sufficient to complete the task.
After the incident with Jerry, Charlie became more cautious. He personally delivered the beaker to Anthony's desk and asked for leave, which was granted, before hurriedly leaving.
Magic Tower C31 was located on the surface. By inquiring, Charlie found the map of the surface buildings and then found the destination.
Compared to the darkness and crowding of the underground world, the environment of the magic tower was exceptionally superior: the space was used extravagantly, with no other buildings within a radius of hundreds of meters, a floating giant daylight gem providing ample lighting, and climate control devices ensuring a spring-like climate year-round. Numerous arcane golems kept the magic tower clean.
Magic changed life. Regardless of the mechanism of their realization, in terms of utility, the magical civilization of the Wargland continent was not much different from the 23rd century Earth civilization, the difference being that the people of Earth utilized the wisdom of the group, while the people of Wargland relied more on individual abilities.
After showing his apprentice badge to the arcane guard of the magic tower, Charlie was guided by an arcane golem, who led him smoothly into the top floor of the magic tower.
This time, Charlie seemed to have arrived a little late, although there was still half an hour before the start of the class.
In a room of less than 20 square meters, seven chairs were arranged, and six student positions were occupied by students of various ages. Some were reading books, and some were chatting in low voices.
"Oh! It's amazing to see an Iron Chapter apprentice in class today!" A voice drew the attention of the other students.
Following their gaze, Charlie noticed the difference between him and the other students. The apprentice badge pinned to his chest was made of steel, a common sight in the underground area. Charlie had never paid attention to the difference in badges before, and now he realized that in addition to steel, there were also silver, gold, and precious crystal carvings, with the steel being the lowest grade.
In the center of the six students sat a handsome young man with a magic crystal carving badge, his mannerism and demeanor similar to Qiandu's, seemingly smiling and not smiling at Charlie.
Charlie guessed that he might be one of the core figures in the circle that Qiandu had mentioned, the so-called nobility.
The handsome young man smiled and said, "Classmate, did you come to the wrong place?"
This remark sparked a burst of laughter.
"Charlie? Is that you?!" A familiar voice awakened Charlie's thoughts.
Following the voice, Charlie found that the girl who had been burying her head was actually Qingying. In a day or two, her aura had undergone some indescribable changes, with a hint of sharpness emerging, and a sense of unfamiliarity, and the most tangible distance between them was the crystal carving badge casually pinned to her chest, shining like a jewel on a crown.
"Hey! Long time no see!" Charlie did not heed the mockery of the other students and greeted her with a casual wave, sitting down in the empty seat closest to the door.
Qingying smiled faintly, "It doesn't seem like it's been that long, have you forgotten about me already?"
Charlie clearly felt that every subtle movement of Qingying seemed to be able to stir the emotions of the other students. It was evident that her talent and beauty had already won over these students.
The handsome young man slightly parted his lips, revealing his clean, even teeth, and smiled elegantly, "Hello, classmate, I'm Weining Chares, and I'm a student of Mistress Angelina, the Frost Mage of the Arcane Circle, just like Qingying."
This concise self-introduction revealed three key points: first, Chares was from the surname of the current millennium empire's royal family, and his appearance in the Arcane Circle was self-explanatory - he was a prince; second, his teacher was Mistress Angelina, the only female mage in the Arcane Circle, a disciple of a grandmaster, with a dazzling aura; third, he and Qingying were of the same school, seeing each other every day, and their relationship was not ordinary.
"Hello, I'm Charlie, Qingying's friend," Charlie's response was more succinct.
Hearing this, Qingying lowered her head and chuckled softly, tacitly acknowledging it.
Seeing her reaction, Prince Weining paused for a moment.
Just then, a white-haired old man pushed open the door and entered. His face was gaunt, his tall and thin figure, and he wore a pair of fine-wire magical glasses, through which his wise and profound eyes seemed to be able to see through everything.
"Very good, you're all here." Naal took a step forward, and the door closed without wind.
"The points selection system had a minor problem, and an Iron Chapter apprentice has selected my course." Naal's gaze fell on Charlie. "That's you, isn't it?"
Charlie nodded silently.
Naal said sincerely, "It's not that the teacher is judging by appearance. Stellar Meditation is a type of meditation method with a relatively low popularization rate and high requirements for the student's talent. For students with insufficient talent, there may be two results: either it will have no effect at all, or they will suffer mental backlash and physical harm.
So, let me warn you in advance. You now have two choices:
First, go to the points selection system and cancel the purchase authorization, for which you will lose 20% of the points. This is the rule of the points system, and the points will be deducted by the system, not to be earned by me.
Second, you can try the first lesson. I've looked at your information, and your spiritual power does meet the standard, but your age is a bit too old, and you've started learning magic too late. After this lesson, I will still give you one more chance to withdraw, but you will be deducted 150 points. This is my rule, because the first lesson is the most important, and there will be corresponding potions to be used, with the highest cost.
Child, you choose!"
Without hesitation, Charlie responded, "I choose the second option."