Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 155 Following this arduous journey, we finally arrived at the stars.

This information confirms the shapeshifters' claims.

With just one final step remaining, the Shapeshifter's Skin will become a true "Glorious Legacy," gaining the complete isolation ability indispensable to Ron's plan.

What does "pure soul energy" refer to?

Ron inquired further, "Is there a specific source or method of acquisition?"

"The soul of a supernatural being," the shapeshifter replied.
"Especially those with special bloodlines or talents. The rarer the bloodline, the purer the soul energy. Moreover, the extraction of soul energy must be completed at the moment of the creature's death, otherwise the energy will dissipate rapidly."

Ron fell into deep thought.

The soul energy of extraordinary beings is not easy to obtain, especially under the strict control of the school.

But if it's in a bloody gladiatorial arena.
“I understand.” Ron finally nodded. “You can rest now.”

The shapeshifter's outline melted away and reattached to Ron's skin, restoring his stealth.

Ron returned to his workbench, took out a new notebook, quickly wrote down some data, and began recording his findings and thoughts of the day in the Consciousness Library.

His plans began to become more specific:
First, he needs to further study the isolation layer technology and try to apply it to soul steel in preparation for the creation of the future magic sword.
Secondly, he needs to find a way to obtain pure soul energy to help the Shapeshifter's Skin complete its final advancement;

Finally, we also need to consider the potential negative impacts of the soul splitting, and how to safely dispose of the resulting soul fragments.

"Bloody Gladiator Tournament," Ron muttered to himself, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

The gladiatorial tournament may not only offer opportunities to acquire soul energy, but the champion's prize—the legendary "substitute puppet"—may also be the key to resolving the soul disposal problem.

Ron recalled the information he had received from the slave traders:
A substitute puppet can carry the user's consciousness, creating a "copy" that is almost identical to the original, and is unaffected by damage to the original.

"If the fragments of the soul could be placed inside the substitute puppet."

Ron pondered this possibility, "Perhaps it can avoid direct damage to the soul while gaining more room to maneuver."

But all of this is based on a series of bold assumptions:
Can the Shapeshifter's Skin successfully advance to the next level?
Can isolation layer technology be applied to the magic sword?
Are the stand-in puppets really as powerful as rumored?
"More experiments and verifications are needed," Ron reminded himself, maintaining his usual calm and rationality.

He walked to the window, gazing at the gradually brightening sky, his thoughts racing.

Power is a tool, not an end.

The goal is to control power, not to be controlled by it.

With this mindset, Ron returned to his workbench and continued his experiments.

The Soul Steel gleamed with a cold luster under the light, as if telling an ancient secret.

He stood in front of the experimental table, then turned to look at the crystal that had been successfully inscribed with a complete isolation rune system, and a sense of accomplishment welled up in his heart.

This crystal can simultaneously contain three different energy fields and completely isolate them, preventing them from interfering with each other, for up to a week.

In the preceding weeks of research, he devoted a significant amount of time each day to testing the energy barrier and putting his alchemy lessons into practice.

It was this focused dedication that ultimately brought him rewards:

[Basic Alchemy (Beginner) Experience +1]

[Breakthrough! Basic Alchemy (Beginner 50/50) → Basic Alchemy (Proficient 1/100)]

[Gain additional trait: Ideation (enhances creative inspiration for alchemical items)]

Ron was stunned for a moment, then felt a surge of new energy flowing through his mind.

Having broken through from basic alchemy to the proficient level, his understanding seemed to have reached a whole new height.

Of course, at his current level, simply breaking through to the proficient level is no longer enough to cause him much emotional turmoil.

“Idea.” When Ron saw the name of this additional feature, he felt as if a spark of inspiration had ignited in his mind.

Research on the energy isolation layer has progressed slowly in the past few weeks, but he now seems to see more possibilities.

The design scheme took shape naturally in his mind, as if someone was whispering instructions in his ear.

Looking back, this breakthrough was no accident.

Since he began studying energy isolation layers, each failure has brought new insights.

He tried dozens of rune combinations and various materials, and experienced countless setbacks.

Metals overheat and melt, materials become brittle, and energy fields become unstable. Every failure has a reason worth learning from.

Looking at the densely packed data in the notebook, Ron's understanding of alchemy had transformed from theoretical mastery to a true inner comprehension.

This improvement is directly reflected in his other skills, including potion research and spell practice.

What surprised him even more was that the "conceptual" feature not only brought him an enhanced inspiration, but also a completely new perspective.

He began to see the subtle balance of energy flow within alchemical artifacts, and the resonance and repulsion between different materials.

Looking at the panel to check his alchemist advancement requirements, Ron shook his head slightly and smiled:

[Job Advancement Information Unlocked: Alchemist (Two-Star)]

Job transfer conditions:
1. Basic Alchemy has reached the proficiency level. √
2. Mastery of alchemy

3. Exceptional recognition skill achieved (proficient) √

4. Independently craft three or more basic alchemy items. √

5. Successfully improve at least one existing alchemy item blueprint.

He has taken the time to complete the refining of three energy crystals with different attributes, bringing greater stability and energy savings to the workshop, and incidentally fulfilling the conditions for creating three basic alchemical items.

“Two conditions are still missing.” Ron refocused his attention on the experiment:
"Now that the 'Imagination' feature is available, completing the remaining conditions should be much easier."

With his mastery of alchemy and the "Conception" property, he made groundbreaking progress in his research on energy isolation layers.

The process that used to require repeated trial and error is now more intuitive. He can predict the effect of a certain rune combination without having to conduct actual tests every time.

The path to becoming an alchemist has been opened up, and this is only the first step in the "Forge Concept".

"There's still plenty of time," he thought to himself.

"Because of Oliver's affair, the bloody gladiatorial contest has been postponed to a month and a half later, which gives me more time to prepare."

In the next month or so, he needs to improve his alchemy skills to a higher level to lay the foundation for forging the magic sword.

At the same time, they must train Dale to ensure she has enough strength to stand out in the gladiatorial games.

With that thought in mind, Ron took a deep breath and continued his meticulous work.

Outside the window, the sky was already bright; a new day had begun...

………………

Oliver leaned against the cold rock wall, his breath coming in weak gasps.

His eyes still retained a certain clarity, a rational light that was extremely disproportionate to the degree of his distortion.

His once robust body was now shriveled like a dried corpse, his skin was an unnatural grayish-white, his eye sockets were sunken, and his cheekbones were prominent.

His once handsome face was now unrecognizable as human, with the right side of his face showing even more severe distortion. Black liquid continuously seeped from his pores, emanating a putrid odor.

The most terrifying thing was his eyes, which were no longer eyeballs, but two thin tentacles that hung limply on either side of his cheeks, occasionally twitching slightly, like a dying snake.

“My...lovely...little Oliver,” Cynthia’s voice came from the depths of the cave, sticky and distorted:
"He's not dead yet, is he?"

Oliver turned his neck with difficulty to look at the woman who had once been beautiful.

Cynthia's lower body swelled to at least three times its normal size, covered with a thick layer of mucus, and countless tentacles extended from all directions, some as thin as hair and some as thick as an arm.

Her face still retained human beauty, but rows of small compound eyes had grown around her eyes, and her mouth was exaggeratedly split open, like a gaping monster from ancient legends.

"Why don't you just drain me completely?" Oliver's voice was hoarse, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Cynthia gracefully writhed her completely mutated body, but contrary to her bizarre appearance, all her movements possessed a strange beauty.

The tentacles, like meticulously designed dance props, trace perfect arcs in the air.

Although the skin was covered in mucus, it had a pearly luster, shimmering alluringly in the dim light of the cave.

Cynthia's voice was as sticky as honey: "Do you think I'm just mindlessly exploiting you?"

A thick tentacle reached out and gently stroked Oliver's chapped lips, secreting a viscous liquid.

The liquid was greedily absorbed the moment it came into contact with Oliver's skin.

His eye antennae lifted slightly, as if a glimmer of life had appeared.

"Don't look at me like that, darling."

Cynthia's tone suddenly softened: "I just need so much energy. This newborn body needs a lot of nutrients to stabilize."

"Besides, I'm actually helping you." She chuckled softly.

"Your mental pollution has reached a critical point. If left unchecked, you would have long since become an unconscious monster."

Oliver paused for a moment, recalling the first time he saw his fully awakened companions in the cave.

They had almost lost all reason, leaving only primal desires and instincts.

“It’s me.” Cynthia proudly raised her head, her voice filled with pride:

“It periodically absorbs the excess polluted energy from your body, helping you maintain the balance between sanity and pollution.” Her tentacles wrapped more intimately around Oliver’s body, her tone becoming alluring and gentle:
"This is good for both of us, isn't it? You stay clear-headed, and I..."

Cynthia's mutated body stretched out in the darkness, displaying a bizarre yet undeniable beauty.

"I have become more perfect."

Oliver stared in shock at the creature before him, and gradually understood everything.

After awakening, Cynthia did indeed become a monster, but she did not completely lose her mind.

Instead, she seems to have found a way to guide the aberration towards a distorted “evolution” rather than a chaotic decline.

"How did you do that?" Oliver couldn't help but ask.

Cynthia's compound eyes gleamed with a mysterious light:
“Dear Oliver, this is a secret that belongs only to me. Maybe one day I will tell you, provided that you behave well enough.”

Her tentacles secreted that energy liquid again, nourishing Oliver and deepening their almost symbiotic relationship.

Oliver could clearly sense that every time Cynthia drew energy from him, she would give back a portion of the processed energy to him.

This cycle not only sustained his life, but more importantly, helped him maintain a clear mind.

Her tentacles wrapped around Oliver's body, gently lifting him up:

"Besides, I didn't abandon you, did I? Everyone else has already run away."

Indeed, the cave was completely empty.

Just before dawn, the man in his thirties who claimed to be the representative of the "Eye of the Abyss" suddenly changed his expression and announced that the clearing force was already on its way.

He disappeared without even notifying the other members of the cave through a secret passage.

When the other awakened ones discovered this, they scattered and fled for their lives, and no one was willing to help Oliver, who had already been drained dry by Cynthia.

Only Cynthia, driven by some twisted emotion or attachment to the energy source, is prepared to escape with Oliver.

Just then, the two of them simultaneously sensed a terrifying magical fluctuation coming from afar.

“It’s time.” Cynthia’s voice suddenly turned serious. “We can begin our departure…”

"Those irrational people only know how to run away in a panic, unaware that all the passages to the outside world have already been blocked..."

Cynthia sneered, and the soft tissue in her lower body rapidly expanded, completely enveloping Oliver.

The tentacles, having accumulated enough energy through continuous extraction, now spin at high speed like a biological drill, digging deeper into the ground.

"They're coming."

Cynthia's voice came from all directions, carrying a hint of barely concealed fear:

"That massive surge of magical power came from Vice Dean Hayek."

………………

Hayek hovered above the edge of the forest, his purple robes fluttering in the wind.

His face was calm and composed, yet his eyes held a captivating light like a raging storm.

When this Moon-level wizard looked down, the entire forest seemed to tremble under his aura.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

The sound was not loud, but it penetrated hundreds of meters of space and was clearly heard by every law enforcement officer.

"Yes, Vice Dean."

The captain of the enforcement team stood respectfully at attention, his head bowed, not daring to look directly at this important figure.
“We have already set up a sealing array, and all possible escape routes have been cut off.”

Hayek nodded indifferently, without even glancing at the captain.

In his eyes, these law enforcement officers were no different from ordinary apprentices; they were all insignificant cogs in the academic system.

"let's start."

The Moon-level wizard raised his right hand and cleanly drew a purple arc.

He took a deep breath and began preparing to cast a super magic spell.

This mere preparatory action caused the surrounding air to distort, and the distant trees rustled as if paying homage to this powerful being.

Without even chanting an incantation, he simply waved his finger, causing the magic circle to expand at a visible speed, quickly covering the entire target area and creating visible energy ripples in the air.

The complex spell formation left a bright trail of light in the air; the magic circle was composed of countless nested and combined micro-links.

Each component floats in the air with an arrangement so precise that it reaches the millimeter, forming a grand and complex energy structure.

Hayek remained calm and composed, as if constructing such a complex spell was merely a matter of course for him.

The law enforcement officers looked up at the sky in horror, and some of the less knowledgeable ones were even stunned by the spectacular sight.

High-density energy flowed from Hayek's fingertips, flowing into the spell's structure like a river, making its light even more dazzling.

The magic circle in the sky began to spin, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

—Super Magic Multi-Layer Spray!

As it drew upon its magic, a thick, deep purple beam of light suddenly erupted from the spell's structure.

Its diameter was several hundred meters, and it hurtled straight toward the location of the underground cave.

Wherever the beam of light passed, the air was instantly ionized, forming countless tiny lightning bolts that entangled around the main beam like a spider web.

The earth trembled violently under the terrifying energy impact, and everything around the cave—trees, rocks, soil, and even the moisture in the air—was instantly vaporized or decomposed by the high temperature.

All life within a radius of dozens of miles was reduced to ashes by this attack; no creature could survive such a blow.

The earth's surface was melted by the high temperature, forming a huge glassy crater with gray smoke rising from its edges.

Throughout this devastating attack, Hayek's expression remained calm and composed.

Even amidst the continuous bombardment of the beams of light, he calmly straightened the wrinkles on his robe.

For this Moon-level wizard, the spell he just unleashed, powerful enough to destroy an entire region, was merely a small demonstration of his many abilities.

When the beam of light finally dissipated, he slowly landed on the edge of the huge crater, indifferently surveying the scorched earth.

"Continue the search to see if any have slipped through the net."

Hayek's tone remained calm: "I've cleaned up the rat holes; the rest of the finishing touches are up to you."

After saying that, he didn't even wait for the captain of the enforcement team to respond before turning around and leaving. His figure gradually faded and disappeared into the air.

All that remained was the devastated land, silently proclaiming to everyone the terrifying power of a Moon-level wizard.

At the same moment, on the top floor of the Black Mist School's workshop, Ron gazed at the enormous pillar of light that stretched to the heavens and the earth in the distance, his heart also churning with turbulent emotions.

Even from such a great distance, the destructive magical fluctuations were still so clear.

The entire Black Mist Forest seemed to hold its breath in shock from that earth-shattering attack. All creatures involuntarily cowered in the shadows, instinctively fearing that power.

"This is the power of a Moon-level official wizard," Ron murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with endless longing.

There may be a huge gap between him and those novice apprentices, but it's only the difference between a carp and a small shark.

The difference between Moon-level wizards and their apprentices is like that between a deep-sea dragon whale and a shallow-water shrimp.

His gaze lingered, his mind churning with thoughts.

If a Moon-level wizard like Vice Dean Hayek can easily wipe out an area within dozens of miles, then how terrifying would an even more powerful Dark Sun-level wizard be?
As for the legendary Great Wizard and Wizard King, what kind of beings are they?
Light footsteps sounded behind her, and Lilia walked up, gazing at the sky in the distance, which had returned to calm.

"Teacher, what was that just now?"

“The vice dean’s cleanup operation,” Ron explained simply. “It seems that the hideout of ‘Eye of the Abyss’ has been completely destroyed.”

Lilia trembled slightly: "That power...it's simply incredible."

“Yes, unbelievable.” Ron turned around, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes:
"But this also reminds me that we still have a long way to go and a lot to learn."

Lilia seemed to sense the determination in the other person's words and nodded seriously: "Yes, teacher."

Back inside the workshop, Ron unconsciously glanced into the distance again, his thoughts drifting away once more.

This operation will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the situation in the Black Mist Jungle.

Where will the members of "Eye of the Abyss" who managed to escape go?
Are Oliver and Cynthia among them?
What level of power does the terrifying strength displayed by the vice dean represent?
In this endless chain of worlds, can a Moon-level wizard be considered a powerful figure who can stand alone?
These questions flashed through Ron's mind like stars, but he knew he was not yet qualified to seek their answers.

What he needs to do is continue to hone every skill and improve every attribute.

Until one day, he will be able to truly stand at that supreme height and look down upon all living beings.

"Per asprera ad astra (Through this arduous journey, one finally reaches the stars)"

This is a famous proverb from the mystical world, engraved on a stone tablet in the central hall of the school. Its origin is long lost to history, but its meaning is undoubtedly extremely rich.

Many people have tried to interpret this ancient saying, and Ron also has his own understanding:
"No matter how insignificant, the path to the stars will eventually come to an end."

With that thought in mind, he pulled his wandering thoughts back to his work.

(End of this chapter)