Chapter 139: Special Innate Talent "Diligence Compensates for Inadequacy"

Chapter 139 Special Innate Talent "Diligence Compensates for Inadequacy"

They leaned against the corridor pillars, clearly waiting for someone.

"Luo En apprentice", Morris called out, his tone laced with mixed emotions.
"It seems you've become quite popular with Sorensir."

Luo En maintained his polite smile. "Griffithssir is an excellent Mentor, generous toward all students."

Another apprentice scoffed.
"Cut the act—we all see how different his attitude is toward you. He dismissed us in a quarter-hour, yet spends half an hour or more guiding you alone."

Luo En didn't respond directly, finding their frustration almost pitiable.
"Everyone’s progress and needs differ. Griffithssir naturally adjusts his guidance accordingly, teaching according to individual aptitude."

"Hmph!" Morris sneered. "You mean we’re not worthy of more attention?"

"Ah… if you already think so, I suppose no further explanation is needed."

With a faint smile, Luo En nodded politely and walked past them. The two apprentices stiffened but held their tempers.

"Don’t think your Special Innate Talent makes you untouchable", Morris spat from behind. "History proves many gifted Mages fell short. What truly matters is perseverance and strength!"

Luo En kept walking without glancing back. Envy and hostility weren’t uncommon at Black Mist School—especially toward those exceeding expectations in innate talent and progress rate.

Similar encounters repeated over the following days. After every Soren class, one or two apprentices lingered, hoping for extra guidance. Soren never refused, but his approach varied distinctly.

For Luo En, he meticulously explained every concept, even demonstrating advanced techniques. For others, his instruction remained foundational and brief—almost perfunctory.

"There’s no need to be troubled", Soren finally explained. "The essence of the ‘Boon’ rule means Mentors naturally favor those offering greater returns. Your Boon yield exceeds others, making your growth and breakthroughs inherently more valuable."

Luo En wasn’t surprised. As Madame Ellen explained, Boon energy flowed from students’ progress and breakthroughs to their Mentors. Higher innate talent and faster advancement meant richer Boon energy.

"Resources in the supernatural world are always scarce", Soren continued. "Only those creating greater value can claim them. Accept your role as this system’s beneficiary."

Luo En nodded. Those with lesser talent would inevitably face more obstacles in this system.

"Maintain this progress rate", Soren’s eyes gleamed, "and your ranking in the Backup Mage Sequence will rise soon."

Early morning sunlight filtered through Black Mist Jungle’s sparse canopy as Luo En walked familiar trails, memories resurfacing. Once, he’d been a mere candidate apprentice barely meeting the minimum spiritual aptitude. Now, ranked nineteenth among Intermediate Apprentices and a young Potion Master, he reflected on the two months since earning his certification.

Pausing beside a wildflower, he considered visiting Madame Ellen—the first guide on his supernatural path—before heading to the candidate apprentice district. The Transcendent Perception ability, recently acquired, had sharpened his senses. No longer merely perceiving objects, he could now discern innate talents in people.

The Prospective Apprentice Dormitory Area remained unchanged—low, shabby buildings exuding damp mold and acrid fumes from failed experiments. As Luo En strode past stone pathways, several apprentices practicing foundational spells suddenly froze.

Their eyes widened at the sight of his dazzling badges.
"I-It’s… it’s Luo En, Potion Mastersir!" one stammered, bowing low. Others hastily followed suit, avoiding eye contact as if confronting a formidable presence.

"Continue your practice", Luo En said calmly. "No need to stand on ceremony."

They nodded anxiously until he disappeared from sight, then lifted their heads—eyes glowing with admiration and longing.

Stepping deliberately slower, Luo En activated Transcendent Perception, scanning the apprentices’ potential and latent abilities.

The results were disappointing.

Most of these apprentices' spiritual aptitude fell around the lower end of the Fifth Class Star or the Sixth Class Star—comparable to Luo En's own level initially, or even worse.

Their innate talent was mediocre, their potential limited. Even with relentless effort, they'd likely struggle to become Elementary Apprentices, then remain stuck at that level for life.

Continuing forward, Luo En overheard excited chatter from several young candidates behind him.

"That's Lalf Luo En! The genius who supposedly ascended from an ordinary person to an Intermediate Apprentice in just six months!"

A familiar voice exclaimed, unmistakably the tall, lanky candidate apprentice from earlier. It seemed the young man had somehow learned about Luo En's accomplishments.

"Seriously? Six months?"

Another voice chimed in with disbelief:

"How's that even possible? Usually it takes at least three to five years! Even the Third Class Star prodigy Cui Xi supposedly took more than six months. Are you saying his talent surpasses a Third Class Star...?"

"Absolutely true! He's also a professional Potion Master. Recently, I heard he shot straight into the top twenty of the Backup Mage Sequence!"

The lanky one's voice grew even more excited. "Plus, he allegedly started with only an upper Sixth Class Star spiritual aptitude when he first arrived—just like us!"

"Th-This..." The other voice, now filled with shock, shifted into excitement:

"Does this mean we also have hope?"

"Exactly! As long as we find the right methods and work hard enough, we can become like him!"

"Yeah! Don't give up! We can do this!"

Hearing the excited discussion behind him, Luo En shook his head with a slight, helpless smile.

He understood these candidate apprentices didn't grasp the true reasons for his success:

The blessing of infinite career slots, the Dual Soul special innate talent, and the Timekeeper Pocket Watch—a god-tier artifact that let him work nonstop without rest.

Without these, no matter how hard he worked, achieving his current accomplishments in such a short time would've been impossible.

These candidate apprentices saw him as a symbol of defying odds, using his example to motivate themselves. That was a good thing in itself.

But thinking about how they'd inevitably hit wall after wall in the brutal reality, ultimately forced to accept mediocrity...

One could only say fate differs for each person.

"Wandered around without finding anyone. Seems lost geniuses aren't so easily discovered."

Luo En felt little disappointment. He'd come here with no strong expectations, treating it as a casual attempt. Finding nothing, he left the candidate apprentice area directly and headed toward Madame Ellen's Herbal Medicine Shop.

Crossing the stone archway of the Apprentice Market, passing various exotic race merchants, the familiar Herbal Medicine Shop brought a warm sense of nostalgia.

This was where his extraordinary journey truly began.

From a candidate apprentice with mediocre talent to his current status as an Intermediate Apprentice and professional Potion Master.

Pushing the door open, the familiar herbal fragrance greeted him. Jars and bottles lined the shelves neatly.

Behind the narrow counter, Madame Ellen was bent over a ledger.

However, unlike before, two girl apprentices, both around fifteen or sixteen years old, busily sorted herbs.

One was slender, ordinary looking, with short brown hair tied back. Her expression showed focus and concentration. She carefully separated the leaves and stems of a herb with precise, methodical movements.

The other was tall, with deep purple-black hair flowing down to her waist like a dark starfield. Her face bore some kind of makeup, though it couldn't hide her delicate, refined features.

She wiped a row of glass bottles with quick, nimble movements, occasionally consulting a notebook.

"Madam, long time no see." Luo En greeted softly.

Madame Ellen lifted her head, her emerald green eyes lighting up as the wrinkles on her face eased.

"Oh, Luo En! You finally remembered this old woman!"

Her voice carried mock scolding but couldn't hide her joy.

"You haven't visited in ages. I thought once you entered the Backup Mage Sequence, you'd forget about your old teacher."

Luo En chuckled and shook his head. "How could that happen? Lately, my courses and training have been too busy—I couldn't find time. How's your health?"

"Thanks to you, everything's relatively stable."

Madame Ellen set down her ledger with a light huff.

"Youni Mentor mentioned you the other day, saying you're doing well in elemental courses."

"Mentor Youni gave me a lot of guidance", Luo En said earnestly.

Then his gaze shifted toward the two candidate apprentices, who had stopped working to stare at him curiously.

"These are Feina and Liliya, my new assistants."

Madame Ellen introduced them along his line of sight.

"This is Lalf Luo En, my former student. He's now an Intermediate Apprentice in the Backup Mage Sequence and also a professional Potion Master."

Hearing this introduction, the two girls' eyes widened instantly, their expressions filled with astonishment. They hadn't expected a genius like this to have any interest in visiting this place.

"Good day, Lalf Sir."

Feina, the ordinary-looking girl, greeted respectfully with a gentle, humble voice.

"Madame Ellen often speaks of you, saying you're the most outstanding student she's ever taught."

"Good day, Lalf Sir."

Liliya, the prettier one, followed with her bow. Her voice was more melodious, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and a hint of ambition.

"It's an honor to meet you. Madame Ellen said you're one of the most talented Potion Masters she's ever seen."

Luo En replied casually, silently activating his "Transcendent Perception" ability to observe their aptitudes and innate talents.

Feina's spiritual aptitude was upper Fifth Class Star—slightly higher than average candidates, though nothing extraordinary. She showed good understanding of alchemy, precise technique, and rigorous thinking. With a dozen years of refinement, she might become a professional Potion Master, but no further.

Unfortunately, Luo En detected no special innate talent from her.

When his gaze shifted to Liliya, however, a peculiar energy fluctuation caught his attention.

Liliya's spiritual aptitude was only mid-Fifth Class Star—slightly lower than Feina's. Yet within her body flowed a unique mana pattern.

[Liliya

Spiritual Aptitude: Mid-Fifth Class Star

Special Innate Talent: Diligence Compensates for Inadequacy (Second Tier)

When focusing on learning a skill, her learning ability gradually increases over time, eventually reaching an extremely high limit.]

Luo En's heart stirred slightly. What a pleasant surprise! He had unwittingly found another second-tier special innate talent right here!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end