A fifth-level Meditation Talent Wizard Apprentice can freely choose their desired faction to join.
Generally speaking, they will join the wizard faction that recruited them.
Even if they don't join, they will choose a strong or special faction, like a single Elemental Faction or a three-element harmonious faction, or at least a two-element harmonious faction.
As for the unrelated Elemental Factions like Earth and Fire, virtually no outside fifth-level Meditation Talent apprentice chooses them.
Therefore, Kateya was extremely curious about Lor's choice.
"I feel exceptionally close to both earth and fire," Lor said with a smile, "and the Earth and Fire Faction just happens to allow me to delve deeper into understanding them."
Kateya scratched her head, "But in our faction, even if you count across the twelve continents, we haven't birthed a single Fourth Ring Wizard."
Fourth Ring Wizards correspond to god-level powerhouses.
Like the Wizard Tower where Lor was currently located, it was a miraculous building created by a Fourth Ring Earth Mage.
From this, one can infer the level of power of a Fourth Ring Wizard.
"There will be," Lor dismissed casually, without delving deeper into the topic, and instead asked: "Kateya, can you tell me where to buy witchcraft models?"
Kateya blinked, "Basic apprentice-level witchcraft models don't need to be bought. Just go borrow what you want from the Grand Library."
"Only optimized models need to be bought with contribution points. You just arrived, you probably don't have any contribution points, right? Want me to lend you some?"
"Contribution points?" Lor halted.
Goodness, hasn't this era even started using the Magic Crystal transaction system?
With this, many of his previous plans need to be overturned.
"Yes,"
Kateya nodded, stopping to explain: "You can earn contribution points by contributing to the Supreme Wizard Council."
"As long as you have contribution points, you can exchange them for Magic Crystals, optimized models, magic energy equipment, spaceships, and everything else."
"If you accumulate enough contribution points, you can even issue tasks, commissioning the Wizard Lords to handle some matters."
At this point, she suddenly felt a bit downhearted, "Everything is good about contribution points, it's just so hard to obtain. I only get 20 contribution points for guarding under the Wizard Tower for a month."
"What's the exchange ratio between contribution points and Magic Crystals?" Lor pursued, "Also, can improving witchcraft models earn contribution points?"
"The exchange ratio between contribution points and Magic Crystals is 1:1. Improving witchcraft models can certainly earn contribution points, but it's very difficult,"
Kateya continued, "If you can improve some particularly outstanding witchcraft models, and if there are still application slots in the school, you might even apply for a separate laboratory."
"However, there are hardly any apprentices who can achieve this level."
"In our Earth and Fire Faction, only Randolph has a third-class laboratory."
"Thank you for your explanation," Lor's heart was completely at ease, "I just want some basic witchcraft, so I won't borrow your contribution points."
For him now, this situation is even better than the Magic Crystal transaction system.
"Perhaps I should reconsider the term 'Wizard Expansion Era,'" Lor thought to himself.
If the Wizard Council had already initiated the Magic Crystal transaction system, asking a high-level wizard for help using Magic Crystals is something he would be unwilling to do unless there were absolutely no other options.
If a high-level wizard suddenly became greedy and wanted to mess with him, he would have no power to resist.
But issuing tasks with contribution points is different; all contribution point data is with the council.
If someone dared to cause trouble, the Supreme Wizard Council would definitely have countermeasures; otherwise, the contribution point system would collapse.
"No need to be polite," Kateya waved her hand, asking, "Do you want to go to the Grand Library first or settle in the Earth and Fire Wizard Apprentice residential area first?"
"Let's go to the apprentice residential area first," Lor said.
He was still carrying a large bag of gold coins; carrying it around wasn't practical.
"Alright," Kateya nodded, continuing to lead Lor forward.
Along the way, when passing through some special areas, she introduced the purposes of those areas.
Such as apprentice-level witchcraft experimental areas, Meditation acceleration training areas, Earth and Fire witchcraft public classes, apprentice potion production areas, apprentice task reception areas, optimization witchcraft model submission verification areas, apprentice free trade areas, etc.
Lor nodded from time to time, carefully noting each of these areas.
The two walked and chatted, zigzagging for a full hour, before Kateya led Lor to a house that looked quite spacious.
"I really envy you apprentices with fifth-level Meditation Talent. You can live in a single room as soon as you arrive,"
Kateya handed a key to Lor, saying with some envy: "Unlike us, who had to squeeze sixteen people together at first."
"Your current residence isn't worse than this house, right?" Lor took the key and responded with a smile.
"Yes, I was assigned to this kind of house after becoming a third-level apprentice."
Kateya said, her eyes suddenly showing some sadness: "Many of the sisters who shared a house with me at the beginning died while constructing the Meditation Technique."
"And some gave up the wizard's path and moved out of the tower."
"Respecting other's fate is a virtue," Lor shook his head, "Whether it is practicing the Meditation Technique or giving up the wizard's path, it's their own choice, no need to feel sad for that."
"Maybe you're right," Kateya breathed out, "You settle in first, and once you're settled, I'll take you to the Grand Library to have a look."
"Okay," Lor turned to open the door and went inside.
"Is he not interested in me?" Kateya watched Lor close the door again, touching her cheek with some disappointment and whispered to herself, "Did I not perform well enough? I'm not bad-looking, right!"
All the way, she had switched through several personalities to present herself.
Starting with being cheerful, then attentive, and now reminiscent and emotional.
Yet Lor didn't even think about inviting her inside for a sit.
This is simply ridiculous...
"You do look quite good, but perhaps it is due to his confidence and arrogance in his own wisdom that his mind seems focused on improving witchcraft,"
Fley, a wizard with blue hair, suddenly appeared beside Kateya, speaking in a slightly amused tone.
Having heard Lor's casual remark of 'There will be,' he knew the personality of this little guy.
"Mentor..." Kateya jumped in surprise, seeing it was her mentor, she breathed a sigh of relief, and asked:
"Are you here to take him as an apprentice?"
"No, I can't take him as an apprentice,"
Fley rubbed his brow, "Since Mala has set the price too high, and threatened that if we don't comply, he will take Lor to other continents to find a mentor, and Lor is indeed worth the price, several Second Ring Wizards have started negotiating with Mala."
"We... ahem, I've been watching from the side, your performance was indeed good. Unfortunately, you went in the wrong direction."
"What should I do then?" Kateya asked curiously.
"You should say you hope to become his lab assistant in the future,"
Fley said with a smile, "Don't worry about whether he can successfully apply for a personal lab during the apprenticeship stage; just trust him."
"Then tell him, that improving witchcraft models requires a lot of time, and you can help with daily chores."
"In this process, make sure you mean what you say, personally help him manage things like delivering meals, buying materials, etc."
"In time, all you invested will eventually be rewarded."
"I understand, mentor, I will do that," Kateya nodded with determination, memorizing all of Fley's words.