Wizard: Start with Biological Transformation to Grind Experience-Chapter 153 - 028: More than just good luck

Bike sighed, "I’m afraid next time we meet, I’ll have to address you as Sir, won’t I?"

The High-level Apprentice tier in Shadow Tower already represents a group with potential status—after all, reaching this level means being just one step away from completing the ultimate transformation as an apprentice and joining those who truly wield power.

Lynch modestly smiled, "It’s just a matter of luck."

Bike shook his head, "It’s not just luck."

"As an Immortal Species, I’ve been here for countless years and have observed numerous apprentices. Some came from nobler backgrounds than you, some had exceptional talents greater than yours, and others were so much smarter."

"But to be honest, you’re the most persevering one I’ve ever seen."

Bike exclaimed, "Sometimes I even wonder whether you’re actually an alchemy machine disguised as a human, fueling yourself with a magic crystal to keep running endlessly. Don’t you ever get tired?"

Lynch was speechless: "That comparison is anything but friendly."

After a pause, he admitted frankly, "I’m simply interested in knowledge, and I love magic. That’s all."

This was the truth.

Others cultivate for powerful strength or to live longer. Lynch, of course, shared these motives, but beyond that, it was primarily out of love.

A pure love for understanding mysterious knowledge, a fondness for the wondrous magic built upon such mysteries.

Bike replied, "Wouldn’t that be considered a type of talent? No, more accurately... this is actually the most precious talent a wizard can possess."

"I hope you can hold onto it; it’s the key to traveling farther along the Wizard’s Road."

Lynch nodded, "Understood."

After a pause, Lynch continued, "Did they reassign you here again?"

Bike shook his head, "Not yet. Before the Blood Moon..."

At this point, Bike seemed to realize something and didn’t continue his sentence.

He added, "The Tower’s trial zone has been expanded, and I was sent back to recruit more manpower. Otherwise, it’s impossible to manage everything."

Lynch raised an eyebrow. Blood Moon? What is it?

Recently, this term seemed to surface frequently. Rumors surrounding it were stirring all sorts of speculation within the Tower.

Some said it foretold a disaster; others claimed it meant war with the Black Wizards; still, others suggested it was some kind of opportunity.

Almost everywhere, Tower apprentices discussed the term, but no one could offer a definitive explanation of what it really meant.

Lynch even tried researching it in the library but found nothing useful. Frankie told him outright that this part of the content had been erased from the Silver Key Library. To know more specifics, access to the Golden Key Library was necessary.

Golden Key Library...

That’s the Tower’s highest-level library, storing the Shadow Tower’s most critical knowledge, the most secretive materials—essentially, its core of cores.

Basic entry requirements include at least Wizard-level strength, and reportedly, a slew of other regulations. Even among wizards, hardly anyone has permission to enter...

Lynch asked, "The Blood Moon you mentioned earlier—is that the Crimson Moon? It seems to be a hot topic lately."

Bike shook his head, "Sorry, there’s a Tower restriction—I can’t say much about this. All I can tell you is that it’s a millennial cycle, something this land must undergo every thousand years, unavoidable by anyone..."

"For the specifics, wait for the Tower’s official disclosure. There’s not much time left in the thousand-year cycle. If you’re determined to learn early, ask your mentor."

You think I wouldn’t want to?

When it came to this point, Lynch couldn’t help feeling resigned. He had known from the beginning that Wizard Somda wasn’t someone who enjoyed guiding apprentices. He was aware that opportunities for interaction under Somda’s tutelage were rare.

But Lynch truly hadn’t anticipated this—a complete absence of contact!

Yes,

In the entire decade since Lynch became his apprentice, aside from the initial day of apprenticeship, a brief meeting, and an exchange of a few words...

He had never seen him again.

Ten full years!

If it weren’t for the exceptional memory granted by the Spirit Attribute common to Transcendents, Lynch probably wouldn’t even recall what his mentor looked like.

Spirit Coefficients bring numerous extraordinary effects, and enhanced memory is one of them. The higher one’s Spirit Coefficient, the stronger their memory. While an ordinary mortal might struggle to recollect ten-year-old memories, a Transcendent could effortlessly recall images from a decade ago.

Memory serves as a perception-based measure of time for living beings. Often, the sense of time passing slowly for mortals is judged based on gradually fading memories. For Transcendents, time flows slower largely due to the slower fading of memories tied to their perception of time.

Lynch responded, "Alright."

Failing to draw out any valuable information, Lynch decided against pressing further. If he was still curious, he could perhaps ask Graham the next time they crossed paths—that guy was always well-informed—though lately, Graham’s whereabouts were unknown...

...

After completing the task assignment, Lynch headed to the Fairy Tavern, where he had plans to meet Subaru and the others.

Unlike Lynch, an inner Netta Apprentice, Subaru and Carl were both pushing thirty years old yet hadn’t found an opportunity to enter Netta. Soon enough, both would face eventual departures from the Tower.

Lynch valued his two friends, often attempting to find ways to help them enter the Tower, but always to no avail—slots for Netta Apprentices were heavily restricted, and entry channels exceedingly scarce.

This parting meant dispersal to distant corners of the world, making future reunions incredibly challenging. So lately, they’d been meeting more frequently, arranging gatherings, meals, and catching up. Though Lynch generally disliked social gatherings, he mostly attended their invitations.

"Caw! Caw!"

Just as he stepped out of the task zone, he heard a dry croaking sound overhead.

Lynch looked up to see a raven gliding through the sky above, quickly landing on a flower bed beside the road.

"Mr. Lynch Valen, you have a registered letter."

The raven greeted Lynch politely before retrieving a letter from its jet-black feathers to hand over.

"Thank you."

Lynch accepted the letter and examined it.

It was an uncommon third-edition magic envelope. This type of envelope featured long-term preservation capabilities in non-magical environments, though its crafting was complicated and costly. Hence, it wasn’t often used in the Wizard World—more frequently by wizards for communication with the mortal nobles of the Human World.

’A letter from the Human World? And addressed to me?’

’Who could it be from?’

With a mix of curiosity and doubt, Lynch opened the letter...