Wizard: There Is No Upper Limit For My Professional Panel Chapter 4: Apprentice Market - Novel Cool

Chapter 4: Apprentice Market

Chapter 4 Apprentice Market

"Come to think of it", Andie said curiously, "your Lalf family's ancestral breathing technique might not match the royal family's standards, but it's still decent. Why didn't you pursue it?"

Luo En awkwardly scratched his head. Indeed, in his original memories, his father and eldest brother had repeatedly asked if he wanted to train as a knight. Back then, however, he'd been obsessed with indulgence in sensual pleasures, dismissing knights' grueling cultivation as beneath him.

Now, regret washed over him, but it was too late.

Noticing Luo En's expression, Andie immediately understood.

"No wonder", he said with a smirk, "you were infamous in the capital as a spoiled nobleman."

His tone turned playful as he swirled the tea in his cup. "Remember that time you got so drunk in the Royal Garden you publicly propositioned a maid in front of several ministers?"

"Cough, cough!" Luo En hurriedly interrupted, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Those absurd memories from his past life now felt like a living nightmare to him.

Seeing Luo En squirm, Andie finally burst into laughter. "Alright, alright. For the sake of these fifty Mana Shard Fragments, I'll keep your secrets."

He set the teacup down, his expression turning serious. "But seriously, Luo En, have you really thought this through?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Solar Corona Breathing Technique is undoubtedly powerful. But precisely because of that, its cultivation difficulty far surpasses ordinary techniques." His eyes darkened. "Even within the royal family, few can fully master it."

He paused. "Plus, at your current physical condition, recklessly attempting advanced techniques could easily result in..."

"I know the risks", Luo En cut in. "But compared to what awaits me in three months, this is nothing."

So what if he failed? He had a cheat ability. Besides, he wanted to test whether cultivating breathing techniques could activate knight-related transcendent professions to boost his strength.

Meeting Luo En's determined gaze, Andie sighed deeply. "If you're set on this path, I won't stop you."

He stood, rummaging through his satchel before pulling out a crumpled stack of handwritten notes clearly meant for frequent reference.

"These are my copied manuscripts with cultivation essentials and warnings." He fixed Luo En with a stern stare. "But don't think you can just study this alone. That would be a grave mistake."

Luo En looked puzzled.

"High-tier breathing techniques aren't that simple", Andie said, shaking his head. "They require strict guidance and specific physical conditioning methods. Without proper supervision, things go wrong quickly."

He gestured at the notes. "Take the first and second stages, for instance. They require Burning Oil for body tempering. Miscalculating the formula or timing..." He pointed to his chest. "Mild burns at best. Worst case, spontaneous combustion starting from your lungs."

A cold shiver ran down Luo En's spine. Only now did he realize how naive his earlier thinking had been.

"And different stages require different tempering elixirs", Andie continued. "Stage Three needs Lava Drop Dew. The final stage requires..."

Seeing Luo En's pallor, Andie grinned. "Don't worry. Since I accepted your Mana Shard Fragments, I'll see this through." He handed over the notebook. "All the formulas are here, though I'll need to personally supervise their preparation."

Flipping the first page, Luo En found dense annotations detailing both breathing techniques and elixir refinement.

"Frankly", Andie said, pocketing the Mana Shard Fragments with a smile, "I'm genuinely curious how far you'll take this technique." His tone turned teasing. "Even among our royal family, few master the Solar Corona Breathing Technique. Most stall permanently at Stage Two."

"Are you trying to discourage me?" Luo En asked wryly.

"Never", Andie grinned wider. "I'm encouraging you." He adjusted his apprentice robe. "Let's go. First stop - the Herbal Medicine Shop. Burning Oil ingredients aren't rare, but the proportions matter. I'll help you choose them myself."

Watching Andie's cheerful demeanor, Luo En realized - this princely figure had been waiting for an opportunity to trade royal lineage for practical advantages in a mage-dominated world. What did family pride matter when survival was at stake?

After leaving the Dormitory Area, Luo En followed Andie along a winding cobbled path.

"Don't tell me you've never visited the apprentice market in months?" Andie asked over his shoulder.

Luo En awkwardly touched his nose. Truthfully, he'd barely left his room since arriving, dedicating himself entirely to the Basic Meditation Manual. He'd relied on servants for daily necessities, only leaving monthly to collect Mana Shard Fragments from home.

"I remember you had meals delivered directly to your room", Andie chuckled. "If I hadn't come today, I'd have thought you starved to death in there."

Azure moss illuminated their path, casting eerie light on strange nocturnal plants. Some swayed with their footsteps, others bloomed with ghostly luminescence.

"Watch out for these", Andie warned, pointing at purple mushrooms. "Those are Nightmare Umbrellas - they release..."

"I know", Luo En instinctively stepped back. "Hallucinogenic spores. The orientation guide mentioned them."

"Oh?" Andie arched a brow. "You actually studied the guide thoroughly?"

"Not much else to do", Luo En smiled bitterly. Those days had been consumed entirely by meditation and reading, leaving him ignorant of the outside world.

"I even got caught once", he added. "First week here, I slept for a full day near those mushrooms. Woke up hugging a venom-spewing mandrake plant."

Andie laughed, but a distant scream suddenly pierced the air. A gray-robed apprentice stumbled from bushes, his right arm twisted into gnarled vines.

"These incidents happen monthly", Andie sighed. "Though your hermit lifestyle seems safer by comparison."

He gestured ahead. "Here's the apprentice market. You'll find everything an apprentice needs - if you've got enough Mana Shard Fragments."

Passing the archway, they were hit by a pungent mix of medicinal herbs and potions. A cat in boots strutted by, its fur glinting metallically. A group of chattering sprites chased a bouncing crystal ball.

Luo En nearly collided with a stall as he stared, sidestepping a towering figure with tentacle-like limbs.

"No need to tense", Andie reassured. "Kraken Clan folk look scary, but they're excellent business partners. Just mind their corrosive saliva when chatting."

(End of Chapter)

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