"Shouldnât such an existence have surpassed the level of the Witch King?" Ron couldnât help but ask.
Lady Allen shook her head:
"No, the âDevourerâ envisioned in the âStar Eaterâs Ravingsâ may be far stronger than most Witch Kings, but it is still roughly at the same level. Higher up, there are âDemon Godsâ that transcend everything..."
Ron was silent for a moment, digesting the vast flow of information.
Then he raised his head and asked the most critical question: "So, how does one ascend to an Official Wizard via the Path of Truth?"
Lady Allen smiled slightly and flipped the ancient book to another page.
This page was almost entirely occupied by a complex rune, with a grand star gate pattern at its center:
"The traditional way of ascension involves using the âKeyâ potion as a medium, allowing the Apprentice to slowly and safely unlock the Gate of Wisdom.
The âKeyâ potion is like a... well, it really is just a key, capable of slowly opening the portal to a higher level. This method has a high success rate, with nearly seventy to eighty percent of Candidate Wizards passing smoothly."
"The Path of Truth, however, is differentâit involves directly contacting the envisioned existence through the Meditation Technique.
At the moment of breaking the critical point, allowing that ancient existenceâs will fragment to directly imprint on oneâs mental structure, forming higher-level Meditation Technique traits, thereby triggering transformation."
At this point, Lady Allenâs gaze turned extremely serious:
"This method is far more dangerous, without buffers, without a safety net. Once it begins, you either succeed in breakthrough or..."
She made a throat-slitting gesture:
"In ancient times, less than one in ten who took this path survived."
"But the power gained after succeeding is stronger?" Ron asked keenly.
"Of course." A hint of approval flashed in Lady Allenâs eyes:
"Wizards who ascend via the Path of Truth have a similarity in their mental structure with the envisioned existence, enabling them to acquire purer and stronger Meditation Technique traits. Such Wizards often possess strength beyond common imagination at the same level."
Ron pondered for a moment: "Do you know the specific method of breakthrough?"
Lady Allen seemed to have been waiting for this question. She took out a small crystal bottle from her bosom.
Inside it contained a silver-blue liquid, shimmering with subtle light under the lamp:
"Do you remember those materials I asked you to help me collect earlier?"
Ron nodded, surely recalling that strange "list."
"Those materials, coupled with several rare herbs Iâve cherished for years, are just enough to refine this âStar Dew Morning Glowââan extremely rare auxiliary potion.
Itâs not a âKeyâ potion; it canât directly help you open the Gate of Wisdom, but it can enhance your connection with the envisioned existence, increasing your success rate when hitting the critical point."
She carefully handed the crystal bottle to Ron:
"When your Spiritual Power reaches the critical point, take this potion, then proceed with the deepest level of meditation.
If all goes well, you will directly establish a connection with the âDevourer,â acquire Meditation Technique traits, and complete the transformation."
Ron took the crystal bottle, feeling the faintly pulsating energy inside, like a miniature star tumbling within the bottle:
"How high is the success rate?"
"With your talent and the compatibility of âStar Eaterâs Ravingsâ..." Lady Allen paused thoughtfully: "About fifty percent."
Ron raised his eyebrows slightly: "Higher than I imagined."
"Donât get too excited yet." Lady Allen warned:
"Once you embark on the Path of Truth, thereâs no turning back.
If you fail in the attempt, it not only means death but could lead to a fate more terrifying than deathâmental shattering, soul swallowed by those great existences."
Ron took a deep breath, carefully placing the crystal bottle into his bosom:
"Sounds worth a try."
Lady Allen gave a meaningful smile: "I knew youâd be interested. But donât rush to decide, first listen to the experiences and lessons of predecessors."
She turned the ancient book again, pointing to a page with several recorded cases:
"Grim Oster, born in an ordinary fishing village during the early Third Era, was discovered at fifteen by an itinerant Wizard for his rare Fourth-class Star Spiritual Talent and taken back to the school for training.
He performed mediocrely in the school but had an unusual obsession with astrology, often observing the starry sky all night."
"At twenty, he inadvertently came across an ancient book documenting the âDark Sunâ and started researching this mysterious celestial body.
Three years later, he chose to directly ascend by envisioning the âDark Sun.â No one in the school believed in him at the time, and even some Masters advised him to abandon this suicidal attempt."
Lady Allenâs tone gradually took on a mysterious air:
"But Oster stuck to his guns, climbing alone to the schoolâs highest observatory for that astonishing attempt.
For three whole days, the tower echoed with his screams of agony and manic laughter, and no one dared to approach."
"On the fourth morning, when the schoolâs Masters opened the tower door, they found Oster sitting quietly, his eyes completely blackâno whites, no irises, only endless darkness.
Yet he had succeededâafter enduring three days of madness, he acquired the Meditation Technique trait called âEternal Night Vision.â
After this, Osterâs strength advanced by leaps and bounds; within thirty years, he reached the level of a Moonlight Wizard, took another eighty years to become a Dark Sun Wizard, and eventually broke through to a Great Wizard before three hundred years old."
Ron listened, captivated; this detailed account of predecessorsâ feats was far more convincing than dry theory.
Seeing him listening attentively, Lady Allen continued to turn the page: