86: White wolves march in packs, tigers retreat

Putting away Green's contract... Mentor Jordan handed Green a thick parchment scroll.

He said to Green:

"The second phase of the Armor Special Training is different from the first. In the first phase, you only needed to learn to take a beating, to temper your fighting spirit through harsh training."

"In the second phase, there are many small goals and assessment requirements."

"This is your training plan for the coming year, which also includes the requirements and assessment standards for you."

"Take it back, study it carefully, and make sure you understand it."

"Before we start today's training, I will mainly explain to you the main purpose and training methods of our second phase of Armor Special Training."

"First, put this parchment scroll away."

..."Understood, Teacher."

Green took the parchment scroll.

He carefully placed it in the locker outside the special training room and locked it.

Returning to the special training room, Green listened attentively to Mentor Jordan's lecture.

"Green..."

"Your goal is to become someone with the combat power of a Peak Wizard Apprentice."

"Therefore, our training goal is also to raise your combat power to the Peak Wizard Apprentice level."

"However..."

"That will have to wait until you become an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, and we begin the third phase of special training."

"The first two phases of Armor Special Training are all about building your foundation. You know that, right?"

..."Teacher, I understand."

Green replied.

"A towering building starts from the ground up, and the foundation is extremely important."

"A great man in my hometown once said: If the foundation is not firm, the ground will shake."

"I will diligently complete every assessment requirement you set, and lay a solid and deep foundation."

Mentor Jordan nodded in satisfaction, looking at the steady Green.

He thought to himself:

"Perhaps, that incident was a good thing for Green."

"At least, the current Green has lost his impetuousness, and his whole person has become more mature, able to devote himself wholeheartedly to the great endeavor of climbing the wizard's path."

..."Your idea is very good."

"Green..."

Mentor Jordan praised him. Green's performance today was too good; Mentor Jordan had praised Green several times, breaking his historical record.

"The first phase of special training is to cultivate your fighting spirit, which is the cornerstone of a combat Wizard Apprentice and the core that supports a complete combat system."

"The second phase of special training takes your fighting spirit as the core, supplementing and perfecting the framework of your combat system, forging for you a combat system that initially possesses combat power and has infinite growth potential."

"In the first two phases, only after you have laid a good and solid foundation can you enter the third phase."

"—The Baptism of Death!"

"In a series of baptisms of death and fierce battles, your combat system will gradually be tempered to maturity. This process varies from person to person; some only need three to two years, some need ten or more years, or even decades..."

"Finally..."

"Only then can you become a powerful Peak Wizard Apprentice, both internally and externally."

..."Green..."

"This year, I will help you build and perfect your combat system."

"The construction of a combat system is a very scientific and systematic process."

"Especially for our Plant Heart Wizard Academy, our Academy's training for the construction of an apprentice's combat system is already very complete."

Mentor Jordan's magnetic voice slowly sounded.

"Green, do you know a widely circulated proverb on the Mist Coast—"

"A lone tiger lurking in the dark cannot defeat a pack of White Wolves traveling together."

"Green, can you understand the meaning within it?"

"This student does not fully understand, please enlighten me, Teacher."

Green said very respectfully.

"Tigers always travel alone; this refers to those Black Wizards, whose combat power is as strong as a tiger's, but who can only cunningly hide in the dark. Black Wizards are just a group of failures clinging to life in the shadows."

Mentor Jordan's contemptuous tone was full of disdain and scorn for Black Wizards.

"In the Wizarding World of this Mist Coast, White Wizards are the true masters."

"Large packs of wolves travel in groups, walking openly and honestly in this free world. Our numbers are more than ten times theirs, and we White Wizards occupy more than eighty percent of the resources of this vast land."

"We are the victors."

"When White Wolves move in packs, all tigers retreat!"

"Green, do you understand what I mean?"

"There's no need to fear any Black Wizards; instead, Black Wizards should fear you."

...Green was a little confused.

Over the years... Green had heard from both his mentor and from those apprentices who went out to battle.

The news he heard was always how cruel Black Wizards were, and how even White Wizards of the Formal Wizard level had fallen victim to them.

Green voiced his confusion.

Mentor Jordan heard Green's confusion and then understood why Green was so afraid of Black Wizards.

He couldn't help but laugh heartily:

"Ha ha ha..."

"Green, oh Green..."

"Don't you know the saying—rumors stop with the wise?"

"Think carefully with your clever brain. Black Wizards are indeed cruel, but have we White Wizards killed fewer Black Wizards?"

"In the exchange hall, there are so many red missions completed every year; where do those Black Wizard heads for the missions come from?"

"There are so many miscellaneous items from Black Wizards in the flea market, enchanted organs, damaged enchanted items; where do these things come from?"

"And..."

"Our Academy has expanded another resource point in the Mist Islands in the past two years. Was that not snatched from the hands of Black Wizards? Did it fall from the sky?"

..."Uh..."

Green was a little confused.

"Then why are so many apprentices still dying on combat missions?"

"I've heard that the death rate for combat apprentices in my cohort is close to 50%, which has already broken the Academy's historical record."

"Green, you're thinking about it wrong. I admit, there is some truth to that."

Mentor Jordan saw the fear deeply hidden in Green's heart... Green's eyes showed no belief in his words, "When White Wolves move in packs, all tigers retreat!".

He secretly thought to himself:

"It seems Green's psychological barrier of fearing 'Black Wizards' is quite severe."

"It has even formed a fixed cognitive concept."

"I must help Green solve this problem before starting the second phase of training."

"I cannot let this small Black Wizard problem affect Green's combat state."

"I must find a way to straighten out this crooked sapling..."