Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 154 The Furnace Concept
Despite the tense atmosphere outside, Ron felt both exhausted and fulfilled from the tireless research he conducted day and night in the workshop.

Clearly, in this extraordinary world, true security can only be obtained by wielding power.

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the floor of the workshop laboratory, Ron put down his alchemy tools.

He rubbed his shoulders, which ached from working for six hours straight.

Dozens of metal plates were neatly arranged on the workbench in front of him, each engraved with different arrangements of runes.

Some have oxidized and changed color, while others have retained their original luster.

"After so many attempts, I've finally made progress," Ron muttered to himself, carefully picking up the last piece of metal.

The arrangement of runes on this special alloy is subtly different from that in the previous dozens of attempts.

In the previous experiments, Ron tried various rune combinations, but none of them achieved the desired isolation effect.

Some runes cause metal to overheat and melt, some make metal extremely brittle, and some are simply unable to form a stable energy field.

But this last piece—the metal piece marked Ψ-23—exhibited promising properties in the tests.

When Ron infused it with two mutually repulsive energies, the metal sheet successfully isolated them in two completely separate regions without any leakage or interference.

Ron picked up a specially made glass rod and carefully touched the runes on the left side of the metal plate.

The metal immediately emitted a faint blue light, but this light was limited to the left half, while the runes on the right side remained completely inert.

"An energy isolation layer is theoretically feasible."

Ron meticulously recorded his observations in his notebook:

"But the duration still needs to be improved."

He glanced at the hourglass hanging on the wall. The insulating effect of the metal plate could only last for about five minutes after activation, which was far from sufficient for practical applications.

Ron opened the thick notebook on the table, which was filled with detailed data and reasons for failure from previous experiments.

Every failure brings new insights, and every mistake paves the way for eventual success.

"The key to the isolation layer lies in the arrangement of the runes, not the runes themselves."

Ron muttered to himself, his fingers gliding over the lines of small print in his notebook:

"It's like building a dam; the way the stones are placed is more important than the stones themselves."

The research on this metal insulating layer stemmed from materials he had recently read in the library about dark wizards.

Ancient texts mention that during the awakening process, dark wizards are gradually corrupted by polluted energy, leading to personality distortion.

But at the same time, Ron noticed a detail:
A few dark wizards are able to maintain their sanity for a considerable period of time, and even continue to grow stronger.

They often wear special amulets or equipment, or use other special means to create a "buffer zone" to mitigate the direct impact of pollution on the soul.

"If we could create a perfect insulating layer..."

Ron pondered, a cautious glint in his eyes:
"Theoretically, it should be possible to completely separate the two energy fields so that they do not interfere with each other."

This idea sparked his interest in the study of isolation layers.

The pursuit of power must always be approached with calm and rationality. Ron never considered embarking directly on the path of a dark wizard, as that would represent irreversible distortion and madness.

"Power is only valuable when it is under control." This is a creed engraved in the Library of Consciousness.

Ron checked the parameters of the Ψ-23 metal sheet again and carefully placed it into a specially made wooden box.

Then he took down another notebook from the shelf, which had the words "Soul Steel Data" written on it.

During the past week or so of martial law across the entire school, in addition to various daily exercises, he has been working on two research lines in parallel:

On one hand, there was the testing of the energy isolation layer; on the other hand, there was the preliminary analysis of that precious soul steel.

These two studies seem unrelated, but in Ron's plan, they will be perfectly combined at some point in the future.

The analysis of the properties of Soul Steel is exceptionally complex.

This mysterious metal has extremely high plasticity and magical conductivity, but it is also extremely picky, seemingly able to "sense" the intentions and abilities of the operator.

Ron has spent dozens of hours trying to establish initial "communication" with the metal, allowing it to gradually adapt to his mental characteristics.

"If we can successfully apply the principle of the isolation layer to Soul Steel..."

He gently stroked the rare metal that gleamed with a silvery-gray luster:

"Perhaps we can create a completely new type of alchemical item with unprecedented properties."

However, he has not yet fully determined what kind of instrument it is.

Ron is not the kind of person who acts on intuition alone; every step he takes must be based on thorough research and rigorous experimentation.

He closed his eyes, letting his tired brain rest for a moment, but his thoughts involuntarily drifted to the record he had seen in the library.

"...The awakening process is essentially a process of merging with polluted energy. As their awakening level increases, they gain increasingly powerful corrosive abilities, but at the cost of their rationality."

Ron recalled the written descriptions while pondering a question that would seem almost heretical to a normal wizard:

Is it possible to acquire the power of a dark wizard while completely avoiding its negative effects?
Theoretically speaking, if the awakening process can be confined to an external container rather than within one's own soul, direct personality erosion might be avoided.

But this requires a vessel that can hold the fragments of the soul, a container that can safely coexist with polluted energy.

Ron's gaze unconsciously drifted to the soul steel on the shelf, and a bold and insane idea gradually took shape:

If you were to forge a special "activated" magic sword from soul steel, and infuse it with a fragment of your own soul, allowing the sword, rather than the person, to "awaken"...

Moreover, since the soul is connected, is it possible that all the mental pollution generated by one's meditation can be transferred there, thus solving the problem of mental pollution once and for all?

They even used mental pollution to nourish the growth of the demonic sword, turning it into a "furnace" that forged the pollution and transformed it into their own pure power!
Instead of relying on the pocket watch's reset ability to repeatedly purify, as is the case now, which is ultimately not a long-term solution.

"However, it's still too risky at this stage."

Ron shook his head, interrupting his thoughts:

"Take it slow, we still need more research and preparation."

This idea is too radical, involving manipulation of the soul, and could potentially cause soul trauma if not handled carefully.

He needs more information and more experimental data before he can further consider this possibility.

Ron stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gradually brightening sky.

This energy isolation layer experiment has made initial progress, but there is still a long way to go before it can be applied in practice.

"Take it one step at a time, and be steady and methodical," he repeatedly warned himself.

………………

The atmosphere in the Black Mist Jungle became unusually somber.

The once bustling crowds in the school's central square are gone, replaced only by patrolling teams of law enforcement officers, who watch each passing apprentice with vigilance.

"Don't look around, keep your head down and walk."

An older novice apprentice lowered his voice and tugged at the sleeve of his companion beside him.

They walked briskly across the main road, keeping their eyes straight ahead, until they turned onto a secluded path and then relaxed.

"All field missions have been canceled, and my magic stone fragment quota for this month is only one-third of what it used to be."

The older apprentice cursed:

"If this continues, even basic necessities like food and clothing will become a problem."

"You've already calculated it all."

His companion sighed:

“Randall is in an even worse situation. He tried to sneak out of the school’s gathering point to collect rare herbs the day before yesterday, but he was caught red-handed by the enforcement team and is still in solitary confinement.”

Since Oliver's defection and the ensuing siege of the "Eye of the Abyss," the entire school has been like a pot of water about to boil, calm on the surface but turbulent beneath.

Everyone could feel the unprecedented oppressive atmosphere.

Even more serious is the sharp reduction in the supply of magic stones.

No field assignments mean no extra pay for completing tasks.

Without a collection permit, it means that one cannot independently find valuable materials to sell.

Most of the novice apprentices had their source of income cut off at once, and their lives suddenly became very difficult.

The central hall has received dozens of apprentices who have come to borrow money in recent days, but the number of people that can be helped is ultimately limited.

The situation was even worse at the market.

The once bustling shops are now deserted, and many stall owners have simply closed down.

Those vendors who persisted also more than doubled the prices of their goods.

"The price of bread has increased tenfold, why don't you just rob someone!"

A gaunt apprentice roared angrily.

The bread vendor shrugged:

"You can't blame me for this. The price of materials has gone up. I can't just do business at a loss, can I?"

"It's all that damn Oliver's fault!"

The gaunt apprentice spat:
"If he hadn't defected, things wouldn't be like this now!"

This is not the first person to blame Oliver for the suffering.

In the eyes of many apprentices, Oliver was not only a traitor, but also the culprit who caused their impoverished lives.

If he were here, he would probably have been torn to shreds by the angry apprentices.

The atmosphere was even more tense at the temporary camp of the law enforcement team stationed outside the edge of the forest.

"Has the third squad discovered anything unusual?" Enforcement Captain Reincost asked a returning reconnaissance team member with a frown.

"Reporting, Captain, there is no trace of Oliver or any other Awakened."

The young apprentice, of medium rank, answered respectfully:

"However, some strange black slime was found near the stream in the northeast corner, and samples have been collected and brought back."

Raine nodded: "Send it to the alchemy department for analysis. Also, increase nighttime patrols and report the situation every two hours."

"Yes, Captain."

The enforcement captain turned and looked into the depths of the edge of the forest, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

Since Oliver's defection, more than five law enforcement officers have gone missing, including several mid-level apprentices such as Norris.

This was not only a serious loss of life, but also a blatant challenge to the school of thought.

"The defectors must be brought to justice."

Raine muttered to himself, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. This was a mandatory task assigned to them by the higher-ups of the school.

………………

In the following days, Ron's research entered a completely new phase.

He was no longer satisfied with simple metal insulation layers, but began to try to replicate the same effect on different materials in order to find the most suitable carrier.

He conducted detailed tests on wood, crystal, fabric, and even certain biological tissues.

Every material has its unique reaction mechanism.

Some can maintain the insulation effect for a longer time, some can withstand more types of energy, and some can enhance or weaken the insulation strength under specific conditions.

"Materials themselves are like a language."

Ron wrote in his notes:

“Every material has its unique ‘grammar’. By understanding their characteristics, we can use them to continuously ‘output’ complex ‘magical’ vocabulary.”

During this phase of the experiment, he discovered that crystals with good anti-magic properties performed exceptionally well when carrying isolation runes, often maintaining the isolation effect for several hours.

However, this type of crystal also has its limitations, namely that it is fragile and difficult to process.

Ron constantly modified the rune design, adjusted the energy input method, and recorded every tiny change and reaction.

This is an extremely delicate task that requires extraordinary patience and precise control.

There are no shortcuts.

He often reminded himself of this:
"Only sufficient experiments and data can support a true theory."

After countless attempts and failures, Ron finally succeeded in engraving a complete isolation rune system on a specially treated crystal.

This crystal can simultaneously contain three different energy fields and completely isolate them so that they do not interfere with each other.

More importantly, this isolation effect can last for up to a week.

[Alchemy Experience + 1]

[Alchemy Experience + 1]

[Alchemy Experience + 1]

……

[Current Progress: Alchemy (Proficiency 36/100)]

For him, researching the properties of Soul Steel and the energy isolation layer were the best ways to advance alchemy.

If this isolation technology could be applied to more complex alchemical items, it might actually create a "safe container" for storing and isolating dangerous energy or substances.

According to "Magic and Steel: The Secrets of Sword Forging," when a swordsman forges a master sword, he needs to seal a part of his own soul into the sword.

This process is extremely dangerous. If not handled properly, it can not only result in a low-quality magic sword, but may also cause irreversible soul damage to the caster.

"If an isolation layer were added to the magic sword..."

Ron pondered, quickly sketching a complex sword-shaped structure in his notebook:

"In theory, it is possible to control the process of soul importation more precisely and reduce the risk of backlash against the original body."

In the days that followed, he began to devote more time to the research of Soul Steel.

The biggest difference between Soul Steel and ordinary metals lies in its affinity for magic and soul.

Through the continuous guidance of his mental power, Ron gradually became familiar with the "personality" of this mysterious metal.

Yes, Soul Steel seems to possess certain properties similar to those of a living being, which is where its name comes from.

It reacts differently to different types of energy input, sometimes cooperating and sometimes resisting.

"It's like taming a wild beast."

Ron thought to himself, "It takes patience, respect, and unwavering will."

In his "dialogue" experiments with Soul Steel, he realized that the metal seemed to be able to "remember" the types and patterns of energy it had come into contact with.

If he inputs his mental energy in the same way for three consecutive days, the Soul Steel will become more compliant and accepting on the fourth day.

"This 'memory' property may be the key to why Soul Steel can be used in the Demon Sword."

Ron speculated: "It can remember the user's mental characteristics and form a unique resonance."

[Alchemy Experience + 1]

Ron's research into Soulsteel steadily improved his alchemy skills.

His mental control became more refined, enabling him to detect subtle energy fluctuations that he had previously overlooked.

This improvement is directly reflected in his other areas of simultaneous development, including potion research and spell practice.

But as his research deepened, Ron increasingly felt that alchemy alone might not be able to solve all the problems.

Especially when he considers the dangerous field of soul manipulation, he needs knowledge and support from other areas.

“It’s time to consult my other ‘expert’,” Ron decided.

He walked to an isolation array in the workshop to ensure that no one could see or hear the following conversation.

Ron focused his mind and gently touched his arm, awakening the mysterious entity covering his body—the Shapeshifter's Skin.

A wisp of silver liquid separated from his skin and condensed in the air into a blurry human-shaped outline.

"What are your orders, Master?"

The shapeshifter's voice was like the friction of metal, carrying a mechanical indifference.

"I'd like to know more about your isolation abilities."

Ron got straight to the point, his voice calm and restrained:
"Specifically, how did you completely isolate yourself from external mental probing? Does this isolation also apply to internal energy leaks?"

The shapeshifter remained silent for a moment, seemingly organizing information.

"My ability to isolate myself stems from my physical structure."

Its final answer was:
"I am made of a special kind of deformable substance that can form a perfect energy barrier at the microscopic level, blocking any form of energy exchange or information transmission."

Ron nodded and continued to ask:

"Can this barrier work in two directions simultaneously? For example, can it both prevent external energy from entering and prevent internal energy from leaking out?"

“Yes, Master,” the shapeshifter confirmed.

“My barrier is two-way, completely isolating the interaction between internal and external energies. This is why I can perfectly conceal the true aura of the host, and even disguise myself as an existence below the level of a Grand Wizard.”

This answer made Ron's eyes light up.

If the Shapeshifter's Skin can indeed provide this two-way isolation, then it may be the key to solving the problem of safely separating soul fragments.

"If I wanted to use your ability to isolate two separate soul spaces so that they would not affect each other, is that theoretically possible?"

Ron asked cautiously, his eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge.

The shapeshifter's silhouette rippled slightly, as if it were in thought.

"It's theoretically feasible, but there are practical limitations."

Its final answer was:
"My current energy reserves are only enough to maintain basic concealment and camouflage functions. To achieve complete isolation, especially long-term stable isolation, more energy and a higher level of activity are required."

"You mean advancing to the 'Glorious Legacy' stage?"

Ron astutely grasped the key point.

"Yes, Master. Only after fully advancing to 'Glorious Legacy' can I provide a sufficiently powerful and stable isolation ability to meet the high standards required for soul manipulation."

Ron pondered for a moment: "So, what conditions are needed to complete this advancement?"

"Soul energy," the shapeshifter replied directly.
"Pure, high-quality soul energy. My current charge is 99%, and I only need the last 1% to complete the advancement. But this last 1% requires exceptionally pure soul energy, which ordinary beings' souls can no longer meet."

Ron nodded, opened his job panel, and carefully examined the details about "Shapeshifter's Skin".

Rare Artifact: The Skin of the Shapeshifter

(Activated, 99% charged)

【Effect:
1. Recharge by devouring living souls
2. Consume energy to simulate the image and some abilities of the designated target
3. Isolate from mental detection and give yourself a seamless camouflage.

Special Note:
Once fully charged, "Shapeshifter's Skin" will evolve into "Glorious Legacy," gaining even greater power.

[Including but not limited to complete isolation, multiple energy barriers, and high-order simulation, etc.]

(End of this chapter)