Becoming a mage without prior extensive training was almost impossible because of the rampaging mana in their brains.
The most challenging part of becoming a mage was that a person had to nurture their brain with a special strand of mana, which was both terrifying and required significant training and preparation.
There was only one chance to become a mage because the brain would be irrevocably damaged on a second attempt.
The more powerful the mana, the less likely someone was to become a mage, as purer mana held more power.
In contrast, with the right guidance, even a child could become a mage, as mana guidance was not particularly challenging, and failure was rare.
An ordinary person had to prepare for at least thirty years before they had any chance of becoming a mage using a method like Lu Zhen.
However, if they relied on the guidance of their seniors or others, they could become proper mages in as little as 20 years with a better method.
