Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 114 Chaos Cube Level Skip Arrangement
What shocked him even more was that when he tried to concentrate and listen, some stars seemed to notice his attention and began to slowly approach him.

For a moment, Ron seemed to see the eyes of some giant creature, staring at him from the depths of the universe.

"Damn it!" He suddenly broke out of meditation, cold sweat soaking his clothes.

His breathing was rapid, his heart was beating like a drum, and he felt as if he had just woken up from a nightmare.

"Spiritual pollution... has it reached this level?" He trembled as he grabbed the pocket watch beside him and rechecked his condition.

Sure enough, the accumulated spiritual pollution is close to a moderate level, which is already a dangerous signal.

According to the information he read some time ago, moderate mental pollution can cause hallucinations, affect sleep quality, and even interfere with daily judgment.

If we leave it alone and the pollution reaches a serious level, it will not be far from madness and distortion.

Ron immediately activated the "reset" function of the pocket watch. A cool feeling flowed through his body from the contact point, and the pollution hidden deep in his mind was cleared away bit by bit.

[Successfully reset negative status: moderate mental pollution, energy - 6]

Six energy points... This was the highest energy consumption since he started using the pocket watch.

Ron's heart sank, and he felt an instinctive unease.

Logically speaking, this level of mental pollution should be a problem only faced by advanced apprentices.

A big part of the reason why those advanced apprentices take the initiative to serve as teaching assistants is to obtain "favors" to purify their own spiritual pollution.

"Is it because I practiced too fast?" Ron pondered, "Or is it the aftereffects of those two 'special inspirations'?"

A more terrifying possibility slowly emerged in his mind, but the idea was too horrifying and he didn't dare to think about it any further.

"No matter what, we must find a better solution." Ron looked at the pocket watch, and his desire to upgrade it became stronger.

Although the current pocket watch is powerful, its energy is limited. If spiritual pollution continues to accumulate at this rate, sooner or later it will exceed the pocket watch's ability to clear it.

"Once Andre and I are both promoted to Bloodline Knights, and with the help of various spells, we will be able to fight even high-level apprentices. Then we must go explore Lizard Alley again."

Ron secretly decided in his heart: "Perhaps we can find clues to the origin of the pocket watch through that mercenary group of goblins and orcs, or even the forces behind that mysterious old woman."

After calming down, Ron began to prepare for today's weekly test.

This was what he had promised Eric and Leah, and it was also the key to his advancement in the course.

He washed up quickly, put on a clean robe, and fastened the leather bag containing the magic stone fragments around his waist, making sure he looked energetic.

Before leaving, he looked back at the "Mutterings of the Star-Eater" notebook on the workbench, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

Although this meditation method brought him a lot of trouble, it is undeniable that it did greatly increase the growth rate of his mental power.

This contradictory feeling put him in a dilemma, but the most urgent thing was to pass the weekly test and move to a higher level.

"Ai Lan, I'm going to take the weekly test. I'll leave the workshop to you."

Ron said to the tree spirit who was sorting herbs in the corner.

Ailan's leaves swayed gently, forming the characters: "Good luck to the master."

Ron smiled and nodded, then walked out of the workshop and headed towards the teaching area.

The air in the foggy jungle in the early morning was damp and fresh. Ron took a deep breath and gradually calmed his thoughts.

Today is an important day, he must give his all and not let the shadow of mental pollution interfere with his performance.

Passing through a dark woodland, the outline of the teaching area gradually became clear.

The ancient and solemn stone tower looked particularly solemn in the morning light. Countless wizards had started their extraordinary journey here, and countless others had fallen here, never reaching the end.

The hall of the teaching area was bustling with people, and apprentices of different levels were hurriedly moving around with scrolls or books in their hands.

Ron followed the signs and found the weekly test venue - a spacious classroom on the third floor.

When he opened the door, he saw Eric already waiting inside, sorting some papers on his desk.

There were several apprentices in the classroom, and they all seemed to be here to take the weekly test.

"Oh, Ron." Eric looked up and saw him, and greeted him with a smile: "You came early, it seems that you take this test very seriously."

"Of course, Lord Eric," Ron responded respectfully. "This is an important step for me to enter the next stage of my studies. I am fully prepared."

Eric nodded and gestured for him to take a seat in the front row.

Ron looked around and recognized several classmates he had seen in previous classes. Some of them looked confident, while others looked nervous.

"Today's weekly test covers the content of the two courses 'Magic Circuit Optimization' and 'Mental Stabilization Techniques'."

When the appointed time came, Eric immediately began to announce the exam rules:

"These two courses are basic courses for apprentices and their contents are related to each other, so we arranged the tests on the same day to save everyone's time running back and forth."

He went on to explain: "First is the theory test, followed by the practical operation. Each part accounts for half of the total score, and you need to pass both parts to advance."

Leah entered the classroom from the side door, holding a stack of papers.

She nodded to everyone and began to distribute the test papers. "Please remain quiet and answer the questions carefully. The test will last one hour."

Ron took the test and glanced over it quickly.

The content covers the basic theory of magic circuits, the core techniques for stabilizing mental power, and an analysis of the relationship between the two.

These problems were undoubtedly challenging for ordinary apprentices, but for Ron, who had already mastered both skills to the proficient level, they were relatively simple.

He picked up his pen and began to answer, the tip of the pen moving smoothly across the paper without the slightest hesitation.

Concepts that once required repeated thinking have now been integrated into his way of thinking and become instinctive understanding.

The last question in the theoretical section was particularly complex, requiring students to analyze how to maintain the stability of the magic circuit under high-pressure conditions.

This requires the comprehensive application of the core knowledge of the two courses, while adding personal practical experience.

Ron thought for a moment, then wrote:

"Magic circuits are prone to disorder under high pressure, primarily due to mental fluctuations leading to uncontrolled energy flow. The solution lies in constructing a 'buffer ring', forming a secondary energy flow outside the main circuit..."

He described in detail some of the techniques he discovered while practicing spell construction. These were things not mentioned in regular textbooks and were insights he gained through practice.

Half an hour later, Ron had finished all the questions and became the first student to hand in his paper. Leah took his paper and flipped through a few pages. A flash of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

After the theoretical test, it is time for practical operation.

The trainees were taken to a special laboratory equipped with various testing devices.

"The practical test is divided into three parts," Eric announced:
"Building magic circuits, maintaining stable mental power, and the combined use of the two. Each student will be tested in turn. Please wait in the waiting area for your number to be called."

When it was Ron's turn, he walked to the testing table and faced a complex crystal device - an instrument specifically used to test the ability to construct magic circuits.

"Please try to build a triple-ring magic circuit in the crystal and keep it stable for at least thirty seconds," Eric instructed.

For many students, this is a very challenging task.

The triple ring structure requires precise control of the energy flows of three different frequencies, and any carelessness can cause the entire structure to collapse.

But Ron had already completed a more complex build during the morning practice.

He stretched out his hands easily and channeled his mental energy into the crystal.

With the help of the "stable state" feature, his magic control is more precise than before.

Three perfect energy rings soon appeared inside the crystal, intertwining with each other at specific angles to form a harmonious and unified whole.

The energy flows smoothly within the ring, with almost no fluctuations.

Eric and Leah exchanged a look, clearly surprised by Ron's performance.

Thirty seconds passed, and Ron's construction remained as solid as ever, showing no signs of weakening.

"That's good. Excellent." Eric signaled Ron to stop. "Next is the mental stability test."

Leah took out a black cube and placed it in front of Ron:

"This is an alchemical item—the 'Chaos Cube.' It will continuously release interference waves in an attempt to disrupt your mental power. You need to control the small ball to move along a specific trajectory under this interference."

She pointed to a small metal ball suspended in the air. "The track is marked. The duration is also thirty seconds."

Ron nodded, focusing.

As the test began, the black cube began to emit irregular energy fluctuations, as if a thousand people were whispering in his mind at the same time, trying to distract him.

In the past, such interference would have disrupted his mental control.

But now, with the blessing of special features, his control over the spiritual field within a specific range has risen to a new level.

He no longer tried to resist those interferences, but instead integrated them into his own mental flow, and then accurately filtered out the disordered energy, retaining only the useful parts.

The ball began to move along the predetermined track, with smooth and precise movements.

Even under the strongest interference waves, the trajectory did not deviate at all.

After thirty seconds, the test ended.

Leah closed the Chaos Cube, her face showing surprise.

"That's really impressive, Ron. Your mental control ability has basically reached the level of an intermediate apprentice. Maybe even many intermediate apprentices in the law enforcement team are not as good as you."

"One last test."

Eric said, "For comprehensive use, please simultaneously construct a magic circuit and perform a simple elemental operation while maintaining resistance to external interference."

This is the most challenging section of the entire test and requires students to apply all the skills from both courses simultaneously.

Ron took a deep breath and began to build his internal magic circuit.

At the same time, the Chaos Cube was activated again, sending even stronger interference waves towards him.

Under such pressure, he remained calm.

The internal magic circuit runs steadily like a precision gear, while a mental barrier is built outside to keep most interference out.

When everything was ready, Ron raised his hand slightly, and a faint light appeared at his fingertips.

This is a simple application of the light element, but when cast in a complex environment, it tests the caster's comprehensive ability.

The light was steady and bright, without any flickering or fluctuation, proving that his control over his magic had reached an almost perfect level.

After the test, Eric and Leah exchanged a look and then took Ron aside.

"Ron, your performance has far exceeded our expectations."

Eric whispered, "Honestly, with your current level, you can completely skip the second period and go directly to the third period."

Leah nodded. "Indeed. Your mental control abilities and magic circuit construction skills have already reached the level of many mid-level apprentices. There's no point in wasting time on basic courses."

Ron was slightly surprised: "This... does this comply with the school's regulations?"

"Typically, the school does recommend that students complete each course step by step."

Eric explained: "But for those students who perform particularly well, we have the right to make exceptions."

He smiled. "Also, you should have noticed the little extra work we've been doing for you lately. We were assessing your potential, and it seems our judgment was correct."

Leah added, "After the third course, outstanding students will have the opportunity to directly follow a formal wizard-level instructor to learn advanced content. Given your talent and rate of progress, this should be a good opportunity."

Ron felt pleasantly surprised. Skipping a grade directly meant that he could be exposed to more advanced knowledge more quickly, which was exactly what he longed for.

"Thank you very much for your guidance and trust," he said sincerely. "I will cherish this opportunity and live up to your expectations."

"You're welcome." Eric patted his shoulder.

"In fact, it's very rare to find a student like you who can demonstrate talent in multiple fields at the same time. We look forward to seeing your future achievements."

Ron felt particularly relaxed when he left the testing room.

"Skip directly to the third issue, and then the formal wizard's guidance..."

He muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with determination: "One step closer to true power."

The sunlight shines through the sparse treetops of the dark foggy jungle, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

(End of this chapter)