Chapter 15 - Measuring Talent (3)

Seeing that Theodore's injuries stabilized and his condition improved, Nathan intended to take his disciple to rest properly.

Nathan first took out a blanket from his storage artifact, a normal-looking bracelet he wore. He then spread it under a tree's shade and carried Theodore to lie on it.

He then cleaned up the used coercion altar.

After the bronze coins lost their mana, they became the common copper coins that ordinary people utilized for dealings. However, these copper coins were unexchangable. The relevant kingdoms and empires needed to seal the usable coins to prevent too many copper coins from floating in and affecting the markets.

After arranging his disciple and finished cleaning up, Nathan sat and meditated to resume his practice under a tree's shade nearby.

...

Theodore did not know how long he went unconscious, but he saw a sun setting down when he regained consciousness; he inferred that it was almost evening.

He fell into a daze as he was confused; he looked around and found his teacher nearby.

Sensing Theodore's gaze, Nathan stopped his meditation and opened his eyes.

"Is your condition convenient for the last test? We can continue tomorrow." Nathan asked Theodore with concern.

"Teacher, can you tell me the last test?" Theodore inquired. He hoped to understand the remaining examination before deciding whether to resume taking the test today. At the same time, he felt his condition rapidly improved.

Nathan responded to Theodore's inquiry with a nod and began his explanation. He started, "The last test is the comprehension test, or to examine a person's perception of the world."

"Although mana users can quickly cultivate and gather mana into their body by having great mana sensitivity and willpower, they need to break through to reach the next rank by comprehending a law and condensing the related power."

"Mana users can only display into reality the supernatural power of their comprehended laws and their understanding of the world."

"Having a high comprehension means it is easier to understand the world's rules."

"People with high comprehension can grasp more complicated rules, thus capable of displaying a higher power and more applications than those who learned simpler rules."

"Like a person who condenses the law of starting a fire can use power more thoroughly and comprehensively than the person whose law is a fireball."

Theodore listened to Nathan thoughtfully.

The concept of comprehension of a mana user was abstract to him, but he could understand its importance from his teacher's explanation.

In his previous life, he was too focused on improving his mana user's rank. He used to believe that he could be powerful by being a high-rank mana user, as he could bring out more significant damage.

He was ignorant in the past and neglected the comprehension of the laws that could bring his understanding into reality.

He only hoped to increase his mana user's rank quickly, and the power he condensed was superficial.

There were instances of him meeting people of the same rank who could more thoroughly control their power and win battles against him. He did not lose to these people regarding the mana user's rank and experience, but he still lost.

'This time, I need to concentrate more on comprehending and condensing the laws at each rank,' Theodore silently considered when he thought about the significance of the comprehension.

At the same time, he was also faintly uneasy about his understanding of the law; after all, the laws he condensed in his previous life were simple and crude.

While uneasy, Theodore worriedly asked his teacher, "Can a person's comprehension be improved?"

"Difficult, enhancing a person's comprehension requires using rare natural resources." Nathan pondered before he answered truthfully.

Sensing Theodore's nervousness, he added, "However, having a low understanding does not mean that a person cannot comprehend the complex rule; it is just more challenging."

"Ultimately, a person's choice and determination determine their future's successes." Nathan consoled as he included his view from his experience.

'Now, it is much better than his previous life.' Theodore felt better from Nathan's explication as he comforted himself.

He then checked his condition. Although he did not know what potion his teacher had given him, he already returned to his peak state.

"How to take the comprehension test?" Theodore decisively asked. Since he needed to take the test sooner or later, it was better to finish it straightaway so he could start cultivating mana earlier.

Nathan brought out a milky-white stone the size of a baby fist and calmly clarified, "This is an enlightenment stone; it is a consumable resource that can help a mana user has a deeper connection with the world and perceive the world's laws more easier."

"The faster a mana user can consume the enlightenment stone, the higher that person's comprehension is."

Theodore felt astonished at the word 'enlightenment stone.' He had heard about it in his previous life and knew it was an extremely precious resource.

Enlightenment stone was on the exchangeable resource list when he fought in wars for humanities, and the merit required to exchange it was incredibly high.

'It was too extravagant,' Theodore thought and felt that his teacher was as wasteful as the designer of this house. An enlightenment stone could even help a high-ranking mana user comprehend the laws, but Nathan used it to test a newbie's comprehension.

While thinking, he felt fortunate to choose to have Nathan as his teacher rather than going to the Roxarch Academy.

Theodore earnestly listened to Nathan's explanation as he tried to cover his shock. It did not make sense for the current him to know about the enlightenment stone.

Nathan looked thoughtfully at his disciple when he explained. He was suspicious about Theodore's reaction but held back from asking.

Everyone had a secret, so did he, and so did his disciple.

After clarifying everything that required attention, he looked silently toward Theodore to see if he had any more doubts.

Theodore shook his head in response; Nathan's explanation was already exceptionally detailed, more than he could ask for.

He understood that the comprehension topic was a classified secret as even he who reached and became a 4th-rank mana user did not know much about it.

Theodore calmed himself down before he said firmly to Nathan. "Teacher, I think I am ready for the comprehension test."