Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

"He's so impatient."

Ian frowned slightly, but remembering Sterling's instructions, he remained calm.

"Master Bronzebeard, I need to check the inventory list. Also, each material requires approval from Wizard Sterling or Leader Hank..."

"Approval slip? I fought my way here from Violet, almost losing my life, what do I need an approval slip for?" Copperbeard's voice grew even louder.

"These materials are for reinforcing the overall defenses of the camp. If we delay and the defenses aren't completed in time, are you going to take responsibility if the Crimson attacks?"

"Bronzebeard!" a deep voice interrupted the dwarf's roar.

Hank appeared at the warehouse entrance at some point, his face serious.

"The wizard Sterling has ordered that all supplies must be distributed according to the rules, and I have brought the permit with me."

He handed the approval slip to Ian, "Prepare the materials for Master Bronzebeard according to the list. The camp has its rules, please understand. Fortification is of utmost importance!"

Copperbeard grabbed the approval slip, glanced at it, and then handed it to Ian.

"Hurry up, my time is precious."

Ian took the approval slip, said no more, and turned to start looking for materials according to the list.

The stock of ash moss and century-old ironwood sap is plentiful, but the earth vein crystal powder is only seven-tenths of what it should be in the warehouse.

"Master Copperbeard, we currently only have seven parts of the earth vein crystal powder."

Ian took out the materials and placed them on the table next to him.

"Only seven portions? What kind of lousy warehouse is this?!" Bronzebeard's dissatisfaction was almost overflowing.

"Fine, seven portions it is. Let's use them for now. You, potion master kid, I remember this stuff can be refined using ley lines and acid-corroding vine liquid, right?"

Ian nodded. This was considered advanced potion knowledge, which rune masters generally didn't understand, but this dwarf seemed to be an exception.

"I need to obtain the remaining three sets of materials within three days, and their purity must at least meet the standard, otherwise it will affect the magic conductivity of the runes."

Looking at the dwarf's wide eyes, Ian's initial joy at his breakthrough faded somewhat, and his heart gradually calmed down.

This rune master may indeed be skilled, but his impatient personality will likely cause a lot of trouble in the future.

Ian took a slow breath and responded calmly.

"I will review the relevant extraction methods and do my best."

"Do your best? I want it to be done."

Copperbeard picked up the materials, turned around, and strode away.

Hank watched Bronzebeard's departing figure and shook his head helplessly.

"That's just his temperament. His skills are truly exceptional. I heard that the defensive rune array he personally set up withstood three powerful attacks from Crimson. If it weren't for a traitor within his ranks who destroyed the rune core, he should have been able to hold out until reinforcements arrived."

"A traitor? Who is it?"

"It was a Crimson spy, who was killed on the spot, but it seems to come from a small family nearby. You should keep an eye on the wizards of these families."

"I understand, Captain Hank," Ian nodded.

He certainly understood the importance of the camp's defense and was willing to cooperate, but being pointed at and poked by this dwarf made him feel a little uncomfortable.

As the number of people in the camp increased and the relationships became more complex, internal hidden dangers also increased.

He suppressed his thoughts, looked at the remaining materials in his hand, and his gaze fell on the earth vein stone and the acid-corroding vine liquid.

"Refining the ley line crystal powder... perhaps the 'Insight' special effect will come in handy."

Ian put aside his thoughts, and his eyes sharpened again.

First, we need to handle this unexpected task, and at the same time, we need to break through the limits of "Crystal Energy Barrier" as soon as possible.

Then, accelerate the accumulation of contribution points, exchange them for the resources he needs, and continuously become stronger.

Even greater dangers are on the horizon after this camp is merged.

Only strength can be the fundamental way to cope with all changes.

The next morning, the campsite was no longer as dull as usual.

A team of more than eighty people arrived at the "Furnace" camp in the morning mist.

They were almost all wizarding apprentices, most of them looked tired, their robes were tattered, and many of them had wounds on their bodies.

In the eyes of some apprentices, there remained the shock of defeat and the grief of losing their companions.

This is the remnant force that was evacuated from the Violet Logistics Camp.

The composition of the group was somewhat complex, including combat personnel who had been withdrawn from the front lines, apprentices from the tower, and members of wizarding families who had gathered from the surrounding area.

Leading the group was a powerful middle-aged witch with a serious expression, dressed in a dark blue witch's robe.

Her left sleeve was empty, but the magical energy emanating from her body was still unsettling.

Sterling the wizard was already waiting at the camp entrance. When he saw the witch, he nodded slightly.

"Eleanor, you've worked hard." The two belonged to the same tower and were naturally familiar with each other.

"Sterling," the witch Eleanor said in a hoarse voice, filled with deep weariness.

"The Violet Front is gone!"

Sterling already knew this information: the collapse of the Violet front had resulted in heavy casualties at the logistics base due to lack of preparedness.

"It's good that we got out alive." Sterling's eyes swept over the group behind her.

"Welcome to the 'Furnace' camp."

Another leader of the group stepped forward, bowed to Sterling, and said, "Sterling the Wizard."

This man was nicknamed "Anvil," and as his name suggested, he was stocky, with dark skin and hands covered in calluses and burn marks.

He was an alchemist and craftsman, skilled in repairing and making witchcraft tools and fortifications.

"We brought twelve boxes of standard magic stones, seven boxes of various mid-to-high-level materials, and..."

He paused, his voice low, "There are also three damaged 'Runic Ballistae.' If Brann can repair the runes, perhaps they can be redeployed."

Sterling's eyes flashed: "Rune Ballista? Good, Brann Bronzebeard is reinforcing the camp's defensive runes; I'll let him see it later."

The merger proceeded swiftly, with Tower Apprentices being absorbed into the core ranks and Family Wizards being incorporated into patrol teams and defense squads.

The supplies were inventoried and stored, the wounded were sent for treatment, and the camp size was expanded by almost half.

The number of apprentices in the entire camp has reached more than 400, which is comparable to a small front-line outpost.

Ian was also assigned by Sterling to mentor several new intermediate potion masters.

They have some basic skills and also undertake some potion-making tasks.

With the increase in the number of people in the camp, Ian also had more potion-making tasks, which correspondingly reduced his training time.

Ian seemed to be under increased pressure, but he was also secretly delighted, as more tasks meant more contribution points.

Thinking about the good stuff in the warehouse, Ian was filled with energy.

That day, after completing all the refining and instruction work.

He took the overpowered version of "Awakening Potion" and began meditating.

After the breakthrough, the meditation time was extended by two hours, but most people just endured this stage and their meditation efficiency was low.

The advanced apprentice stage of training involves gradually strengthening the previous eighteen small runes.

When they are the same size as the original nine Will Runes, fifty-four more Will Runes are drawn, eventually forming a more complex group of eighty-one Will Runes.

Time flowed slowly, and the sky gradually darkened.

[Star and Moon Low-Level Meditation Skill Proficiency +1]

An hour later, Ian stopped meditating, looking at his proficiency which had only increased slightly, with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"My meditation efficiency has decreased significantly."

This was something he had already anticipated; ordinary advanced apprentices would have long since given up on such low-level potions.

He's the only one still using it thanks to the over-limit version. If he goes all out with the meditation method, he can gain about 8 proficiency points a day, but it takes up too much time.

To save time, you can only spend contribution points to exchange for some [Mind Concentration Potions] for cultivation.

Moreover, the low-level meditation methods are no longer sufficient for my current level. I will see if I need to change them after I break through the limits.

He looked at the two skills on the panel and pondered.

[Awakening Potion: Proficient (216/400)]

【Crystal Energy Barrier: Mastery (795/800)】

The effects of the "Awakening Potion" were not good, so he decided to give up making it in the future.

The Crystal Shield is only 5 points away from achieving a breakthrough.

Create brand new, limit-breaking special effects!