After all, the path of advancement for Class holders was filled with bottlenecks, whether in combat techniques, physical constitution, or other aspects...
By extension, the path of a wizard would surely not be a smooth journey either.
In fact, because the path of a wizard was more promising, the difficulty would naturally rise accordingly.
With these thoughts, he made a clearer judgment in his mind.
If it was the former—limited by talent or equipment—the problem was still relatively simple. It would just be a matter of finding an environment with denser energy, or finding a way to upgrade his equipment to improve efficiency.
But if it was the latter, touching upon the bottleneck of the wizard realm itself, then it would be far more difficult—he would have to acquire deeper and more professional wizard knowledge to find a direction for a breakthrough.
After all, if not for Instructor Calm's guidance back then, who knew how many detours he would have taken and how much time he would have wasted just to cross the threshold of a Class holder.
The path of a wizard was far more profound and obscure than that of a Class holder. Without systematic knowledge and the guidance of predecessors, relying solely on his own exploration would likely lead nowhere.
He might even damage his foundation under unknown risks, leaving behind irreversible hidden dangers, much like improper cultivation of a breathing technique.
“Hmph?!”
Matthew let out a soft hmph, his thoughts interrupted as his consciousness was forced out of meditation.
Following that was the howling wind outside the tent, the occasional crackling of the campfire...
His consciousness returned, as if rising to the surface from the bottom of a silent, soundless lake. All the surrounding sounds, touch, and temperature became real once again.
“Was it because my mind was too cluttered just now that my meditation was interrupted...?”
He exhaled a breath of turbid air, slowly sorting through his thoughts in his mind.
“A path must be walked step by step. Though the path of a wizard is difficult, since I have already set foot on it, there is no reason to turn back.”
“As long as the meditation method is still running, my Spirit will grow bit by bit. Even if it is slow, it is still better than stagnating.”
“What's more, I still have my panel. Once the proficiency of my meditation method breaks through, perhaps it will open up a whole new world?”
With this thought, his mind stirred slightly.
A translucent interface glowing with a faint blue light, visible only to him, quietly floated in the darkness before his eyes, clearly listing the various skills he currently mastered and their current progress:
【Name: Matthew
Age: 16
Strength: 27.5 (+0.5), Agility: 25 (+0.5), Constitution: 27.5 (+0.5), Perception: 7, Spirit: 8.1 (+0.3)
Equipment Slots: Dawn Sword (Blue), White Fang Bow (Blue), Filthy Bone Chain (White), Steel Chainmail (Green), Damaged Staff (White)
Skills: 【Basic Swordsmanship: Practiced (185/500)】 (+51)
【Basic Archery: Practiced (111/500)】 (+60)
【White Snake Breathing Technique: Novice (209/500)】 (+21)
【Elemental Meditation Method: Mastered (170/500)】 (+16)
【Melting Slash: Basic (23/300)】 (+10)
【Energy Missile: Novice (45/200)】 (+11)
【Eagle Eye Gaze: Novice (63/100)】 (+31)
【Fireball spell: Mastered (7/30)】
【Detection Spell: Mastered (21/30)】】
After looking over the numerical bonuses on the panel, the anxiety in his heart caused by the bottleneck quietly settled, replaced by a settled patience.
After all, the proficiency of his various skills was steadily rising. Especially his basic combat techniques and archery, under the enhancement of handy weapons and the honing of his environment, were progressing far faster than before, almost equivalent to one or two months of training in the past.
In comparison, the progress speed of the Elemental Meditation Method was a step slower.
However, he could not rush now, nor was there any point in rushing.
The most important thing right now was to arrive safely at the county seat and establish a foothold.
Resources gathered there, and information was readily accessible. Whether it was looking for an environment with denser energy, acquiring better auxiliary equipment, or seeking out that profound wizard knowledge, there was far more hope there than being trapped on the border or wandering in the wilderness.
“I will wait for my chance,” he whispered to himself. The growth of strength was never achieved overnight. This was true for the path of a Class holder, and even more so for the path of a wizard.
Instructor Calm had once taught him that true growth often occurred between continuous, unremitting daily accumulation and decisive action at critical moments.
With this thought in mind, Matthew gathered his focus and quieted his mind once again, sinking his consciousness back into that spiritual space.
Even if the efficiency was not as expected, every single meditation was a stepping stone forward.
He no longer dwelled on the speed of growth, instead focusing entirely on every bit of conversion of his Spirit in the present moment.
The long night and cold wind outside, the whispers of the camp, and the faint glow of the campfire were all isolated outside the lake of his mind.
...
The next morning, a sliver of faint light leaked through the gap in the tent.
Matthew slowly opened his eyes. The moment his thoughts gathered, he realized that he had unknowingly sat for the entire night!
It was not deep sleep, but being deeply immersed in meditation, only naturally emerging as the sky gradually brightened.
He was slightly taken aback, a wave of surprise and contemplation welling up in his heart:
“I actually entered a night-long meditation so smoothly last night?”
Over the past period, the bottleneck of meditation had always hung faintly over his heart. The growth rate had gradually slowed down, occasionally causing him to feel anxious and uneasy.
Yet last night, when those cluttered thoughts were smoothed out one by one, and his mind truly returned to tranquility, he had instead unintentionally entered an unprecedented state of focus.
Could it be... that the depth and effect of meditation lay not only in the duration of time or the quality of the environment, but even more so in that single point of “stillness” in the heart?
“When one's state of mind fluctuates, even the best meditation method is like a candle in the wind; once the mind is at peace, it is like water returning to a deep pool, naturally able to hold out longer and sink deeper.”
He slowly stretched his body, which was slightly stiff from sitting for so long, while silently noting down this realization.
Gathering his thoughts, he briefly adjusted his robes and bent over to step out of the tent.
The spring morning wind still carried a chill, blowing against his face and waking him up considerably.
Aidan was already tending to the cooking nearby. Seeing him come out, he immediately picked up a bowl of steaming meat broth and walked over quickly:
“Brother Matthew, you're awake.” He handed over the soup bowl as he spoke, then turned around to efficiently pack up the tent.
His movements were practiced, and he spoke little.
Matthew took the soup bowl, warmth transferring from his palm.
Looking at Aidan's busy figure, a trace of warmth could not help but well up in his heart.
Then, his gaze swept across the surrounding camp, keenly noticing two details he had not seen before—
On the carriage that Regg rode in, a flag had already been raised, depicting a lion standing with its head held high; and on the chest of Porter, who was slightly further away, there was now a round badge faintly shimmering with a silver light.
“Hmm?”
Matthew was somewhat puzzled. His gaze drifted between these two suddenly appearing objects, and a guess formed in his mind:
“This is probably to deter enemies...”
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