My inventory is full of monster materials.

despair!

Mark snapped his fingers, feeling a bit better.

Great, the problem is back on track.

He came here today to resolve his job change issue, which is a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone.

"Cecily, I'd like to confirm whether the Intelligence attribute requirement for the next tier of 'Mage' through the 'Wisdom' pathway is greater than or equal to 15 points?"

When Mark asked the question, his voice was full of confidence.

That's right.

Cecily nodded slightly, adding as she did so.

"I remember you also have an affinity for ice elements, so maybe a slightly lower intelligence wouldn't be a problem."

Mark put two fingers together and gently waved them in front of the elf girl, a smile playing on his lips.

"No need. Can I borrow your little gadget from last time to play with?"

"That little gadget from last time?"

Cecily was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening.

"You mean testing the crystal, right?"

After saying that, Cecily took out a palm-sized, crystal-clear crystal ball from her robe pocket and handed it over.

Mark took the crystal ball, held it in his palm, grunted, and focused his attention.

On her fair arms, the light blue ice marks glowed faintly, and the deep blue magic flowed like a trickle, slowly gathering from her fingertips toward the crystal ball in her palm.

Within two seconds, a thin layer of frost condensed on the surface of the crystal ball, and the frost was climbing upwards step by step, soon covering most of the crystal ball.

Eight or nine seconds later, Mark was holding a small iceberg in his palm, completely encasing the crystal ball, with wisps of cold air emanating from it.

The instant the tenth second arrived—

Swish!

Suddenly, a dazzling white light burst forth from inside the small iceberg, illuminating the entire wooden house and making the doors and windows bright.

Click!

A crisp sound of shattering glass rang out, and the dazzling light suddenly receded. The iceberg collapsed instantly, revealing a dimly lit crystal ball with deep cracks.

Mark placed the crystal ball back on the counter, gently shook the water stains off his palm, and said with a hint of apology.

"Excuse me, I accidentally broke your things."

Cecily was stunned, her mouth agape as she stared at Mark in disbelief.

Although this testing crystal is only used to screen the aptitude of mage apprentices, it can withstand the mental and magical impact of a regular mage.

However, when it fell into Mark's hands, it not only displayed a strong ice element phenomenon, but the crystal ball also shattered due to the violent magical reaction.

This means that Mark's current magical aptitude even surpasses that of most newly promoted formal mages.

Is he really human?

How could someone so young possibly reach this level?

Could it be because after the bloodline awakening, both magic power and aptitude increased dramatically?

Cecily's mind was in turmoil, a jumble of thoughts swirling within her, and for a moment she was lost in thought.

Mark watched all this unfold, and taking advantage of the elven girl's distracted thoughts, he stepped forward and playfully blew a cool breath behind her ear and neck, whispering a question.

"Cecilia Valencia—can I become your apprentice?"

The cool breath brushed against Cecily's fair and delicate skin, and a blush instantly rose on the back of her neck, spreading down her neck to her cheeks and the tips of her ears.

"what!"

The elven girl gasped, quickly covering the back of her neck, biting her lower lip, her eyes filled with panic and embarrassment as she questioned her.

"What did you say?!"

Mark dropped his teasing expression, but his gentle smile remained, and he repeated himself in a firm and clear voice.

"I wish to become your apprentice. You led me onto the path of magic, and now I've achieved some success. Are you just going to watch me leave?"

"..."

This confessional speech left the elf girl's mind blank and her entire body stiff.

Elves have a normal lifespan of up to a thousand years and a very low fertility rate. Therefore, elves highly value the bonds between people who are not related by blood, especially the master-disciple relationship.

In the eyes of the elves, this is a bond comparable to that of family, even more solemn and pure than marriage.

For a moment, Cecily blushed, her heart pounded, and she stood there helplessly, biting her lip.

She and Mark have only known each other for a little over two months.

Although they treated each other with great respect and sincerity, it was only a fleeting encounter for the immortal race, far from enough to forge a close bond.

Perhaps we should get to know each other for another forty or fifty years before we can talk about it.

After a few seconds of frantic contemplation, Cecily shook her head violently, like a rattle-drum, and refused.

"No, no, I'm too young, and my magical skills aren't deep enough. I'm simply not qualified to take on students!"

Goodbye.

Without a second thought, Mark turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

He was secretly grumbling to himself, even feeling quite resentful—he was so outstanding, why was he worried about not being appreciated?

As Mark was about to step out the door, Cecily realized what had happened in the past—such a promising talent, although she didn't need him, someone else might!

So the elf girl chased after her and hurriedly called out.

"Wait, wait! Don't go!"

Mark stopped in his tracks, slowly turned his head, and a smile returned to his face.

"Oh? What's wrong? You agreed?"

"no."

Cecily still shook her head, perhaps afraid that Mark would turn around and leave, so she quickly added an explanation.

"I can recommend a tutor to you."

"what?"

Mark was a little confused. What kind of operation was this?

Then, led by Cecily, Mark followed her into a secluded room in the back.

The room was free of clutter, containing only a clear pool of water. A beam of sunlight shone through the skylight overhead, illuminating the pool and creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

Cecily carefully took out a small glass bottle from inside her robe, unscrewed the stopper, and dripped a drop of clear liquid into the pool.

The clear water rippled slightly, and the next second, a clear image appeared on the surface.

The bright moonlight shone on the courtyard filled with white flowers, where a tall, beautiful woman in her early thirties with silver hair stood.

With delicate, upturned ears on both sides, a glowing deer antler headdress on her head, and a close-fitting moon-white sacrificial robe with moon patterns, she exudes a gentle and serene temperament. Every frown and smile is lifelike, like a lily blooming in tranquility.

Meanwhile, to the left of the silver-haired woman was a green-haired girl of about half her height, whose features resembled Cecily's, only more childlike.

On his right was a younger silver-haired girl, exquisitely beautiful with bright blue eyes.

When Cecily saw this scene, her eyes softened considerably.

She turned slightly to the side, gesturing for Mark to look.

"This is the mentor I'm going to introduce to you, who is also my mentor—Serene Visible Valencia. She is one of the candidates for Moon Singer of Silvermoon City."

"Your mentor became my mentor?!"

A phrase suddenly flashed through Mark's mind—taking on a master's apprentice.

I never imagined that the legendary story of a master taking on a disciple would one day happen to me, especially with such a beautiful master.

Mark knelt down on the spot, hugged Cecily's leg, and shouted excitedly.

"Senior sister! You absolutely have to accept me on behalf of our mentor!"

"Don't rush."

Cecily struggled to pull her leg out and slowly helped Mark up, giving him instructions.

"Next, I will teach you a passage. You will be complete in becoming my apprentice when you face the pool and repeat it after me."

"Um--"

Mark nodded emphatically.

Then, Cecily stopped smiling, her expression became solemn and serious, and she read a passage in a language that Mark couldn't understand, with intonation and rhythm.

"Lunashil·Rána·na vandë nín, merin ontanë Seranwë·Lúna·Morna·Valencia tironna, ar hilya sanaryar ar tieryar."

(I swear to the moon goddess Lunahill that I will accept the guidance of 'Serenvie Hidden Moon Valencia' and continue her thoughts and path.)

The sound is pure and melodious, like a clear spring flowing in the mountains, or the tranquil echo of moonlight on a lake, clear and gentle, cleansing the soul.

After listening attentively once, Mark then imitated Cecily word by word.

At first, he stumbled and struggled, as clumsy as a baby learning to walk. But before long, Mark mastered the pronunciation trick and began to speak more and more fluently until he could speak fluently and smoothly.

Then, with Cecily's encouraging gaze, Mark solemnly recited the vow while looking at his reflection in the water.

"Lunashil·Rána·na vandë nín, merin ontanë Seranwë·Lúna·Morna·Valencia tironna, ar hilya sanaryar ar tieryar."

As soon as he finished speaking, ripples spread across the pool once more, and the night background quietly disappeared, replaced by a bright, full moon.

The gentle, silver-haired woman in the painting suddenly turned her head slowly, looking towards the distant past and space, and then nodded with a smile.

The next second, the image suddenly disappeared, and the water surface became crystal clear.

Mark stared blankly at the scene, a surge of indescribable emotion welling up inside him, as if a wandering soul from another world had finally taken root in this one.