Wizards begin by accessing the Inspiration panel.

Chapter 129 To Sign or Not to Sign?

The third type is those who naturally break through to the first-level wizard level through advanced meditation. The innate wizardry they master is usually a first-level wizardry that comes with advanced meditation, or a first-level wizardry that has been proven to be extremely compatible with meditation.

When meditation and first-level sorcery are combined, the power of casting innate sorcery far exceeds that of ordinary first-level sorcery.

Moreover, as long as one continues to cultivate advanced meditation techniques and accumulate sufficient foundation, one can break through to the second-level wizard step by step, which can be said to be the best choice for breakthrough.

However, advanced meditation techniques are almost entirely controlled by major powers, including the three major necromancer academies and even the White Wizards.

"And you, Richard, with your current age and abilities, have a great chance of signing the third contract with the Ignis school and successfully obtaining advanced meditation techniques. Therefore, you don't need to waste time searching for the incomplete follow-up content of Rodrigo's meditation techniques."

"Mentor, are you also the third type?" Richard understood what Seres meant. The mentor believed that there was no need for him to waste time searching for subsequent Rodrigo meditation methods, because the possibility of finding them was extremely slim.

He was well aware of this, so he had already devised three contingency plans before returning to the surface.

However, according to his mentor, if he could sign a third contract with the school, he should be able to directly obtain an advanced meditation technique.

Signing a contract will get you a high-level meditation technique? Is there really such a good thing?

I'm afraid there must be very strict additional conditions!

"Yes." Seras nodded. His wizarding aptitude was far superior to Richard's, so more than a hundred years ago, the school took the initiative to approach him and sign a third contract with him.

"Master, could you tell me what I need to do if I sign the third type of contract with the school, according to the terms of the contract?" Richard felt that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Just because you have good talent, they will sign a training contract with you?

Based on past experiences, various universities have many students on commissioned training programs, where tuition is waived and living allowances are provided for undergraduate and even postgraduate students.

In other words, normally you can complete your undergraduate and even postgraduate studies without spending a single penny.

However, after the contract ends, you are required to serve in a certain place, company, or school for a certain number of years and cannot be transferred or leave for any reason. Otherwise, it will be considered a breach of contract, and you will have to pay a huge amount of liquidated damages.

Seras smiled slightly and said:

"Of course there is. If you sign the third type of contract, you will need to serve the Ignis School for life. Similarly, as long as you live, the school will continue to provide you with the resources needed for your future advancement, various research materials, and so on. All of this will be written into the contract."

Moreover, the contract you signed is a soul contract; you must retain a wisp of your soul essence and swear an oath never to break it for the rest of your life!

"Hiss! A lifetime contract?" Richard exclaimed in surprise.

This is way more ruthless than my previous life. In my previous life, it was a fixed number of years, but here it's a lifetime.

"That's right, but the contract actually applies equally to both parties. You serve the school for life, and the school guarantees you for life," Serales explained, seeing Richard's surprised expression.

"What, you think a lifetime is too long? But at least you can learn advanced meditation techniques, and you have a chance to break through to the level of a second-level wizard, don't you?"

Richard seemed to understand the wizarding leadership's intentions: to wipe out all talented wizarding apprentices and bind them tightly to the major powers in order to maintain the existing ruling order.

Otherwise, battles will erupt one after another in the wizarding world in the face of newly ascended wizards who are out of control.

A level one wizard who advanced through a potion that breaks limits? In the eyes of wizards with advanced meditation techniques, these are just trash wizards who can't make any waves at all.

"Mentor, could you allow me to consider this more carefully?" In fact, Richard had already rejected the plan in his mind. Lifetime service—who could bear that!

I was a working-class person in my past life!

Am I destined to be a wizard for life, or a working wizard for the rest of my life?

At worst, I can return to the Underdark and rob the wizarding forces of the subterranean humans. Although it's risky, I'll most likely be able to obtain the first level of the Advanced Meditation Technique. Once I have all three, I can forcibly break through the limits of the Rodrigo Meditation Technique.

"Of course, the school has a second type of contract, which is to provide you with a breakthrough potion and a level one sorcery. If you successfully break through, you will need to serve the school for one hundred years. But Richard, with your talent, signing this kind of contract would be a real waste, cutting off your future path," Seras continued to persuade.

Richard would never consider such a breakthrough method that would cut off all other avenues.

Seeing Richard remain silent, Seras seemed to realize that continuing the topic would be a bit dull, so he changed the subject and asked, "By the way, Richard, how about studying pharmacology with me?"

Upon hearing this, Richard smiled and said, "Mentor, I was just thinking of learning pharmacology from you. When I was traveling alone, I discovered that if you know pharmacology and can make your own potions, the benefits are truly immense."

Richard himself had experienced this firsthand after spending half a year in the Grey Fern Wilderness. Part of his growth in strength came from the recipes in the Murloc Potionology.

Meanwhile, through Fingart, Richard used many of the merfolk-specific potions he made to reward the merfolk warriors who worked hard to search for monsters and herbs, which had a very good motivating effect.

Unfortunately, although Richard had thoroughly mastered the art of fishman potion making, many of the potions were specifically made for fishmen and were not suitable for him.

Therefore, he still needs to relearn many human pharmacology formulas and principles.

However, since he already has a foundation in merfolk potion-making, if he were to learn human potion-making from Celes now, not only would his learning speed be faster, but he would also consume far fewer energy points to improve.

"Eh! It seems you've finally come to your senses." Seras smiled with satisfaction as he saw his favorite disciple finally willing to learn his specialty, potion-making.

"However, there's no rush. You just got back today, so take a few days to rest before you come and learn basic pharmacology with me."

Upon hearing the word "rest," a thought suddenly flashed through Richard's mind, and he said, "Professor, I just went to the dormitory, and it seems that my room has been occupied by someone else?"

"Haha, I almost forgot about that, Richard. You need to go and get your student status reinstated. The school thought you were killed by the Dark Fishman, so they canceled your student status. Therefore, your room and everything else have been taken back and reassigned."

Richard's face darkened. Sure enough, the school believed he was dead. No wonder his room was occupied by a girl.

Seras glanced at the insignia on Richard's chest, which was still that of a first-level wizard apprentice, and said with a smile:

"By the way, Richard, remember to apply for the Level 2 apprentice exam while you're at it. Once you pass, the school will assign you a dormitory for a Level 2 wizard apprentice, and the conditions will be much better than when you were a Level 1 wizard apprentice."

Richard's expression improved considerably after hearing what Serales said.

That's true. Anyway, I don't live there anymore, so why should I care about this? They're just some ordinary clothes, I don't need them.

Half an hour later, Richard arrived at the two-story building where he had tested his talent when he first came to the school last year, as Serales had instructed.

He still vaguely remembered that bald uncle, no, bald senior, whose name seemed to be something like Sass.

However, Richard was stunned when he got near the two-story building.

There was a long line of at least dozens of people in front of the two-story building, and they all seemed to be freshmen.

By the way, these should be new students selected in batches from various places, currently undergoing new wizard aptitude tests.

This made Richard frown. He had thought this place would be rather quiet, like the last time he came, but he didn't expect it to be so lively today.

Richard initially wanted to turn around and leave, but then he thought that the enrollment of new students could not be completed in a day or two, but would take several days.

It's not suitable for me to not have a dormitory, mainly because I'm currently like an unregistered resident, and I can't even borrow books from the school library.

It seems that the sorcerer at the entrance of the school's headquarters still has flaws. It only checked the password and did not link it to the student's registration in real time. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to enter the school's gate.

However, having been a student for a year, Richard was naturally not going to obediently wait in line behind the new students for half a day.

He strode to Sass's room and knocked on the door in front of all the freshmen.

"Thump thump thump!" At the same time, he took off his hood, revealing his face.

Sass was conducting a test and was annoyed that someone had disturbed him. He looked up and froze on the spot!

"Huh! You're that Richard? Aren't you already...?" Sass exclaimed in surprise when he saw that the person who came was Richard.

This immediately attracted the attention of many new students who were surprised to see the dignified third-level wizard apprentice's expression change so drastically. They couldn't help but become curious.

There must be a story here!

"Haha, yes, Senior Sass, long time no see!" Richard smiled.

"The entrance exam is suspended, Richard. Come with me to this room," Sass immediately announced loudly.

Richard then followed Sass into the room next door.

"Ah! What's going on? How much longer do we have to wait?" As soon as Sass left, many freshmen began to complain.

After all, everyone is eager to know how qualified they really are.

So everyone was waiting to take the wizard aptitude test. Unexpectedly, the person in charge of the test suddenly ran to the next room, seemingly very interested in that first-level wizard apprentice.

"Hey, did you guys see how terrified the bald old man looked? Is this Richard some kind of character?"

"I don't know, but judging from the insignia on his chest, he seems to be just a first-level wizard apprentice!"

"Yeah, yeah, does anyone know?" a girl with a pure and innocent appearance but a hot figure asked.

"Um... I need to ask a senior in the mutual aid society. Lina, please wait a moment." The boy was clearly quite concerned about the fiery girl who had asked the question.

Seeing that the qualification test wouldn't start anytime soon, he immediately asked someone to watch his position and ran to the dormitory area to find the senior member of the Green Kingdom Aid Association, whom he had just joined the day before, to inquire about the situation.

(End of this chapter)