Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 158 Characteristic “Boiling Blood”

Paid consultation opportunities are hard to come by.

In the Black Mist Forest, this kind of high-end one-on-one tutoring is usually the exclusive privilege of students who have outstanding grades or special contributions.

Thompson pondered for a moment, then took an old book from the shelf and carefully turned to a page.

The edges of the pages are yellowed and curled due to their age, and the ink on them is somewhat blurred, clearly indicating that the book has been read countless times.

"The 'memory' properties of some advanced extraordinary materials can indeed be enhanced, but this requires a special 'imprinting ritual,' the most typical example being Soul Steel."

The old man smiled knowingly, without revealing anything, and pointed to the yellowed pages of the book, on which were drawn intricate diagrams and runes:

"This is a ritual used by ancient alchemists to strengthen the connection between Soul Steel and the user. Through a specific sequence of energy input, a unique 'energy circuit' can be established inside the Soul Steel, making it more receptive to the user's will."

Ron intently observed the diagram, memorizing every detail.

He memorized the arrangement of the runes, the trajectory of energy flow, and even the subtle energy balance points.

This was precisely the crucial information he needed, the precious knowledge he couldn't obtain from ordinary books.

He solemnly took a complete magic stone from his pocket and handed it to Thompson.

The other party would naturally not give him such a valuable ancient book for free.

However, even if an apprentice has a complete magic stone, they rarely have the opportunity to share such valuable knowledge, let alone receive guidance as a bonus.

"Of course, although this book looks quite old, it's a rubbing that has changed hands countless times. You can take the rituals in it back for reference, but please don't try to apply them blindly..."

Thompson handed him the book, skillfully took the magic stone, and continued explaining:
"Another thing to pay attention to is the mental state of the practitioner. They must remain highly focused and calm, as any emotional fluctuations may cause the ritual to fail."

Ron nodded, already conceiving a concrete implementation plan in his mind.

"As for the isolation layer..."

Thompson closed the book, his expression becoming even more serious:
"This is an extremely complex and dangerous field. Isolating different energy fields is an advanced application of alchemy. The slightest carelessness may lead to energy leakage or even an explosion."

A warning glint flashed in the old man's eyes:
“I’ve noticed your research direction. It’s very unique. If you’re planning to combine Soul Steel with isolation technology to divide and store some kind of energy, then I must warn you that this type of experiment is extremely dangerous.”

Ron felt a chill run down his spine, but maintained a calm demeanor on the surface.

“I understand the risks, mentor. My research is still in the theoretical stage, and I will not rush into practical operations. I will repeatedly test each step to ensure that everything is foolproof before continuing.”

As the consultation drew to a close, Thompson explained several key alchemical techniques in detail, particularly advanced theories on energy conversion and material fusion.

This knowledge cannot be found in ordinary books; it is the secret formula passed down from generation to generation by alchemists.

After the paid consultation, Ron left the tower and began his journey back to the workshop.

Night had fallen, and the dark, foggy jungle remained eerie and terrifying.

Strange howls echoed from afar, and the shadows of the trees swayed in the moonlight, as if countless eyes were watching from the shadows.

The twinkling stars illuminated the path ahead.

Ron's thoughts returned to today's gains.

As his research deepened, he became increasingly convinced that he was on the right track.

After all, some predecessors had already succeeded, and although they became "apostles" and were infamous for eternity, they still left a significant mark on the history of wizarding.

Those thirteen Supreme Apostles are capable of rivaling top-tier Grand Wizards...

As Ron approached the workshop, he saw warm light shining through the windows.

He enhanced his magical perception and could already sense the familiar presence within the workshop—Lilia and Dale had returned.

Pushing open the door, a petite figure with silver hair rushed over.

"Owner!"

"Dale shouted excitedly, her eyes sparkling with the joy of victory!"
"I won! That big guy didn't even see half of my strength!"

Her eyes were frighteningly bright, and she exuded an aura of satiation, like a predator that had just had a full meal.

Ron smiled and patted her head:

“Well done, Dale. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”

He immediately noticed the change in Dale, her increasingly bright purplish-red eyes.

This is a sign of successfully devouring the spoils, indicating that her bloodline is evolving to a higher level.

"Next time I'll try to swallow two in one go," he said half-jokingly.

“Lilia, how is it?” Ron then turned to the girl standing to the side.

Lilia bowed slightly, a joyful yet restrained smile on her face:

“Everything went well, teacher. Dale performed exceptionally well in the elimination rounds and advanced with ease. I have also completed my novice apprentice certification and have been rated as ‘medium potential’.”

Ron noticed the brand-new badge pinned to her chest and nodded in approval:

"Well done. Breaking through to the fifth-level star aptitude within half a year is a remarkable achievement."

"I have recorded all of Dale's battles."

Lilia took out the crystal ball and carefully handed it to Ron:

"Based on observation, she successfully absorbed some of the fishman's abilities, especially in terms of adaptability to the deep-sea environment and strength, which have been significantly improved."

Ron took the crystal ball, briefly sensed the records inside, and nodded in satisfaction:
"Great, the consumption efficiency is even higher than expected. It seems that the potential of the 'big eater' is far beyond our imagination."

He held the crystal ball up to his eyes and carefully observed the energy flow trajectory recorded inside.

The bloodline energy within Dale's body is already close to the critical point of the Gold Ring, far surpassing the Silver Ring level of ordinary sea monsters.

If she continues to be nurtured at the current pace, and undergoes several more targeted absorptions, she will likely be able to enter the ranks of those with the Golden Ring bloodline before the end of the gladiatorial tournament.

"The next battle of the beasts may be even more dangerous."

He turned to Dale: "Take a break, the upcoming battles will be even tougher. But I believe that with your current abilities, you should be able to advance to the finals smoothly."

Dyer confidently raised her delicate chin:

"Don't worry, Master, I will definitely win the championship! That puppet will definitely be ours! Those guys are just delicious snacks in my eyes."

Ron smiled and nodded, but in his mind he was thinking about a more far-reaching plan.

………………

In the laboratory, candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on the walls.

Ron stood in front of the workbench, spreading out the experimental data records from the past month and examining them one by one.

Those charts and formulas bear witness to his daily sweat and thought, and every failure and breakthrough.

"It's time to do a comprehensive review."

Ron gently closed his eyes and constructed his own personal library of consciousness in his mind.

He had already built this magnificent palace of knowledge within his mental space.

Every book and every bookshelf is arranged according to precise logic, making it convenient for him to access and organize information at any time.

His conscious avatar strolled among the towering bookshelves and arrived at the "Personal Growth" area.

In this area, rows of books are neatly arranged, each recording his progress and insights in different fields of cultivation.

Ron took down the first book, the cover of which had the words "The Star Eater's Whispers Meditation Progress" written in gold lettering.

Turning the pages, one finds detailed accounts of his mental state, energy flow, and skill improvements during each meditation session.

"The progress of meditation is steady, without any special leaps, but there is substantial improvement every day."

Ron has added the latest progress to the book:

[Current progress: "The Whisper of the Star Eater" (Proficiency 192/300)]

With his continuous practice, his mental strength steadily improved, and he was only one step away from the 4.0 standard line for advanced apprentices.

"If we maintain the current pace, we should be able to break through to the Advanced Apprentice level by the end of the Bloody Gladiator Tournament at the latest. By then, the next quarterly meeting of the sequence won't be too far away."

He put the book back in its place and took out another one, this time a record of the progress of spell construction and mental interference.

[Current Progress: Spell Construction (Proficiency 65/100)]

[Current Progress: Mental Interference (Proficiency 78/100)]

With Sauron's additional guidance, both skills progressed rapidly, especially the Mind Disruption, which had begun to show the beginnings of "Mind Blast".

Although it is vastly different from that of a formal wizard, it undoubtedly adds a highly effective auxiliary attack method for him now.

During the continuous practice, even Sauron expressed surprise, saying that Ron's mental control precision far exceeded that of his peers.

A flicker of emotion crossed Ron's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He knew this wasn't due to innate talent, but rather the result of countless days and nights of precise practice.

Every bit of progress he made was earned through his time and hard work.

The third book is about element perception, which records in detail the characteristics and interaction methods of various elemental fluctuations.

[Current Progress: Elemental Awareness (Proficient 67/100)]

“Teacher Yuni’s ‘Energy Anchoring Crystal’ is truly a treasure, which has elevated my understanding of elemental perception to a new level.”

Besides that, there's the extra tutoring after class. Without Eunice Lafin's special attention, it would have taken him several times longer to reach his current level.

However, now that all the advanced courses have ended, he will have to pay for paid consultations himself if he wants such private tutoring opportunities again.

Such paid consultations are only available once a week.

Leaving the bookshelf area, Ron retrieved the special scroll "Asset List" from the Consciousness Library.

It contains detailed records of every single one of his income and expenditure, clearly and concisely.

"We also have a considerable amount of capital accumulated."

Over the past month, he has completed several large orders for potions, in addition to the ten magic stones reserved from the Shapeshifter's Skin.

After deducting all the workshop's expenses, he now has fifteen complete magic stones and three to four hundred scattered magic stone fragments as assets.

"Not particularly wealthy, but quite considerable for an apprentice."

Ron examined the fortune and felt a little relieved; this was the powerful money-making ability of a "professional potion master".

Sufficient magic stone reserves mean he can purchase the necessary materials and information in emergencies, and also support more complex experiments and research.

"Finally, there's the training for activating bloodlines."

Ron exited the Library of Consciousness, reopened his eyes, and his gaze fell on the exquisite glass bottle at the other end of the experimental table.

It contained a dark red liquid that churned slightly under the light, wriggling as if it were alive.

"Lava Drops" - an essential body-tempering drug for the third stage of "Corona Respiration".

"I'll try my best to complete the breakthrough and activate my bloodline tonight."

Ron glanced out the window; the bright full moon hung high in the sky.

Because it's not daytime, the yang energy level is insufficient, so it's not the best time to practice the "Corona Breathing Technique".

However, with a breakthrough imminent, he couldn't wait any longer, and he also had other things to do tomorrow...

With that thought in mind, Ron carefully picked up the glass bottle and walked to the center of the training field.

The ground here is paved with special energy-absorbing stone that can withstand high temperatures without being damaged.

He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and adjusted his breathing.

Upon opening the glass bottle, a wave of heat immediately hits you, as if you were facing the vent of an active volcano.

"It's now."

Without hesitation, Ron evenly applied the "Lava Drops" to several key points on his body where blood vessels connected.

In an instant, it felt as if a mass of magma had been directly applied to my body, burning all the way down to my skin and then rapidly spreading throughout my entire body.

Every inch of skin, every muscle, every blood vessel was filled with scorching energy.

"Uh……"

Even after numerous attempts, Ron couldn't help but let out a low groan of pain.

The pain was far beyond his imagination, as if his blood was on fire, surging and roaring within him.

His skin quickly turned bright red, as if it were being burned from the inside out. The sweat that had just seeped out was evaporated by the high temperature, forming a thin mist that surrounded his body.

"We must bring this under control."

Despite the excruciating pain, Ron began to adjust his breathing according to the requirements of the third stage of the Coronal Breathing Technique.

With each inhale, it felt like swallowing more flames; with each exhale, it felt like expelling scorching lava.

However, as her breathing gradually stabilized, the pain began to transform into a strange sensation:

The burning sensation was not entirely painful; rather, it was more like a profound purification.

Ron could feel the "Lava Drops" altering the composition of his blood, making it more active and aggressive.

The blood affected by the drug seemed to come alive, actively seeking out impurities and blockages hidden within the body and burning them away.

"The first breath..."

Ron chanted the mantra in a low voice, coordinating it with a specific breathing rhythm.

His chest expanded as if to hold more air and energy.

"Second breath..."

As the second breath began, Ron felt the heat within his body begin to circulate and change, forming an energy circuit.

This circuit starts from the heart, passes through the arms, abdomen, and legs, and finally returns to the heart, repeating endlessly. Each cycle makes this energy purer and more powerful.

However, when he tried to enter the third level of breathing, he suddenly felt a resistance.

"The third breath..."

The body's energy seems to have reached a certain limit, making it impossible to go any further.

It's like a small stream trying to contain the water of a large river, almost bursting its course.

"Just a little bit more. Just a little bit more."

Ron gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the feeling that his body was about to explode.

He knew that this was the most crucial moment for activating his bloodline—the critical point for breaking through the bottleneck.

But no matter how he tried, that resistance was always there, like an invisible wall.

The energy-absorbing stone on the ground has been heated to a slightly reddish hue by the high temperature, emitting a scorching heat.

"Since it's a bloodline activation, shall we continue trying to mobilize the power of the Chimera core?"

He closed his eyes and tried to communicate with the core within his body.

This wasn't his first attempt, but he'd always fallen just short of the mark. This time, however, he was undoubtedly at the final hurdle of breaking through...

As the scorching energy within him circulated repeatedly, a strange and ancient power began to awaken within him.

It is a primal life force, full of the wondrous characteristics of change and adaptation.

"It's now!"

Ron seized this faint connection and abruptly merged his bloodline with it.

In an instant, like a dam bursting, an unprecedented power burst forth from his body.

He could feel the blood vessels under his skin rapidly expanding, the muscle fibers being stretched to their limit, and then retracting.

This process is repeated, and in the process, it becomes stronger and more flexible.

And the blood that was initially altered by the "lava drips" is now fully alive.

It's as if it has its own consciousness, actively searching every corner of the body and delivering energy to where it's most needed.

This state lasted for an unknown period of time, until Ron was finally able to regain control of his body.

He found himself lying on the ground, his body soaked in sweat.

But unlike his usual fatigue, he felt an unprecedented sense of ease and strength.

It was as if I had been freed from heavy shackles, and my whole body felt much lighter.

"Success?"

Ron slowly sat up, feeling the energy flowing through his body.

That familiar and powerful bloodline force had completely merged into his bones and blood, becoming a part of his body.

Like a furnace that never goes out, it is always ready to unleash amazing heat.

[Bloodline Stimulation Experience + 1]

[Breakthrough! Bloodline Activation (Beginner 100/100) → Bloodline Activation (Proficient 1/300)]

[Gains additional trait: Boiling Blood]
(Enhances the "Blood Knight's" Life Burst effect and reduces the negative status effect of Physical Exhaustion)

(End of this chapter)