"Four-leaf clover: A common plant with no supernatural properties. However, there is an extremely low probability of mutation due to unknown factors, transforming it into a supernatural plant. According to existing literature, the probability of mutation is approximately one in a hundred billion. A mutated four-leaf clover possesses faint mental power fluctuations and can perceive its surroundings, but it lacks actual supernatural abilities."
One in a hundred billion.
Ethan's lips twitched. Those odds were more ridiculous than winning the lottery.
He continued reading.
"Under specific conditions, a mutated four-leaf clover may undergo a secondary mutation. When a mutated four-leaf clover remains in an environment with a high concentration of wood-element energy particles for a long period and continuously absorbs a large amount of pure mana, there is an extremely low probability that it will condense its entire essence into a crystal-like object known as a 'Lucky Crystal.' According to estimates in existing literature, the probability of a secondary mutation is approximately one in a trillion."
One in a trillion.
"Lucky Crystal: Emerald green throughout with silver patterns on the surface. It contains pure, unknown energy within. If consumed by any being, it can increase their luck value. This value cannot be quantified and has no specific manifestation, but it will exert unpredictable influences at certain specific moments."
"Note: This conclusion is based on long-term tracking research of seventeen Lucky Crystal samples by the Seventh Laboratory of the Wizard Council. Due to the limited sample size, the conclusion is for reference only."
Ethan closed the book and placed it back on the shelf.
He had actually hit the one-in-a-trillion jackpot.
A four-leaf clover bought for a single gold coin had been chosen simply because of his Plant Affinity, then casually placed on the balcony.
Then he had learned Plant Growth and bombarded it with energy.
Then it mutated.
And then it became a Lucky Crystal.
"Is my luck actually a bit too absurd?" Ethan muttered to himself before turning toward the stairs.
...
Ethan returned to his villa, closed the door, and took the emerald-green crystal from his storage ring.
"One-in-a-trillion odds," he whispered, turning it over a few times. "I wonder if it actually works."
Whatever.
He opened his mouth and tossed the crystal in.
The moment the crystal entered his mouth, a cool liquid seeped from its surface, sliding down his throat and into his stomach. The liquid had no taste and no temperature change; it was just cool, like taking a sip of fresh mountain spring water.
And then, nothing.
"That's it?"
Ethan smacked his lips and waited for over a dozen breaths, but there was still no sensation in his stomach. No heat, no stinging, no abnormal reaction whatsoever.
"Fine, it's not like it cost me anything anyway."
Ethan shook his head and stopped dwelling on it.
He sat cross-legged in the center of the cultivation room, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.
In the days that followed, Ethan's life became extremely disciplined.
He woke up early every morning, went to the cafeteria for breakfast, and then buried himself in the Teaching Area, tackling one basic course after another.
Runic Basics, Energy Particle Basics, Supernatural Material Identification, Wizardry Model Principles, Mana Circulation Basics, Mental Power Tempering Method...
One course followed another. As the content on the light screens flipped page after page, Ethan's mind was like a bottomless pit, devouring everything that came its way.
With his learning speed boosted by over a hundredfold, knowledge points that would give ordinary students a splitting headache could be mastered by him in two readings at most. He spent two days memorizing all thirty-six basic runic structures of Runic Basics, along with their complex transformations and combination rules. He spent three and a half days mastering the characteristics and operational laws of the seven major categories and one hundred and thirty-seven common types of energy particles in Energy Particle Basics.
Supernatural Material Identification was the most troublesome, as there was an immense and disorganized amount of information to memorize. The bones, blood, fur, and cores of magical beasts; the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Spirit Plants; the color, hardness, and energy reactions of various ores... The classification of magical beasts alone consisted of nine major categories and over forty sub-categories, with each beast yielding anywhere from three to over a dozen usable materials. It took Ethan a full eight days to finish the entire basic volume.
After two months, Ethan had swept through every basic course on the curriculum list.
Runic Basics, Energy Particle Basics, Supernatural Material Identification, Wizardry Model Principles, Mana Circulation Basics, Mental Power Tempering Method, Common Supernatural Creature Illustrated Handbook, Introduction to Alchemy, Wizardry Array Basics, Pharmacy Basics...
Over forty courses in total, all completed.
When the completion screen for the final course popped up with the words "Course Finished," Ethan leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.
"Finally done."
He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes. The knowledge automatically filed, categorized, and linked within his mind, forming a massive knowledge network. Two months of high-intensity input, even with a hundredfold learning speed, made him feel as though his head was packed to the brim.
But the results were tangible.
Now, when he looked at information regarding runes, energy, or materials, he was no longer as confused as he had been at the start. He had mastered the basic concepts, principles, and rules; all that remained was deeper specialized knowledge.
And that specialized knowledge couldn't be obtained just by attending classes.
Ethan scrolled down the course list. The subsequent courses were all intermediate and advanced content.
"Intermediate Runic Structure," "Advanced Energy Particle Operational Mechanisms," "In-depth Analysis of Rare Supernatural Materials"...
The price for each course had increased several times over. Furthermore, the content on the light screens was no longer enough; one needed to buy their own materials, conduct experiments, and verify results repeatedly.
In fact, the academy didn't even provide most of this knowledge. You wanted it?
Then go find the Wizards who were willing to teach.
What? The Wizard won't teach?
Hah, that just means your sincerity isn't enough.
What sincerity?
Magic stones, naturally.
...
Certification Hall.
When Ethan pushed the door open, there were significantly more people inside than last time. There were long and short queues in front of a dozen windows, mostly consisting of older students, with a few fresh faces looking nervous and expectant.
He joined the queue for the "Comprehensive Certification" window. When it was his turn, a round-faced middle-aged woman was sitting behind the window, looking down as she flipped through a ledger.
"Certification."
The woman looked up, scanned his face, and reached out to take his identity plaque, pressing it into the groove. A faint blue light swept over it, and after a few breaths, her eyebrows shot up.
"You've completed all the basic courses?"
"Yes."
"All of them?" the woman asked again, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
"All of them."
The woman fell silent for a moment, scribbled a few notes in her ledger, and then pulled a thick stack of parchment from under the counter, pushing it toward him.
"Forty-three basic courses. You intend to test for all of them?"
"All of them."
The woman glanced at him and said nothing more, merely pointing toward a corridor on one side of the hall. "Exam Room 1. Go in. The exam lasts three days. You can come out for meals or the restroom, but the timer won't stop. Each subject is out of a hundred points; seventy is a passing grade."
Ethan took the exam papers, turned, and walked into the corridor.
Rate on N.U.
