Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 160 Three Phases United
Ron stared at the parchment spread out on the workbench, its intricate rune arrangement and elaborate ritual procedures stirring his emotions.

"Soul Seal."

This is a ritual recorded in an ancient book purchased from Thompson, specifically designed to strengthen the connection between the user and the Soulsteel.

The ritual patterns may seem simple, but they actually contain countless subtle points of balance.

The position, angle, and stroke order of each rune are precisely calculated to form a perfect energy circulation system.

"Such an ingenious design."

Ron studied every detail with near obsession, letting time slip by unnoticed.

He suddenly realized that, with the long-term accumulation of knowledge in different fields, his comprehension ability seemed to have undergone a qualitative change.

Especially the "Extensive Knowledge" advanced trait he gained after breaking through to mastery of potion-making a few months ago has given him an amazing ability to integrate knowledge from various disciplines.

Furthermore, the newly developed "conceptual" feature further amplifies this creative thinking, making it even more powerful.

"The combined effect of the two characteristics is unexpectedly powerful."

Ron keenly observed:

"It's quite extraordinary that I could understand this ancient ritual to a certain extent during my apprenticeship, and even foresee the principles behind it. It seems that my snowball is rolling step by step with all sorts of enhancements."

Complex theories that used to require repeated readings to understand can now be grasped at a glance;

Skills that once required dozens of trials to master can now often be grasped in just a few tries.

This gradual improvement in his understanding, like a snowball rolling downhill, gave him creativity and comprehension far exceeding what an apprentice should have.

Ron turned to the other side of the workbench, where the silver-gray Soulsteel lay quietly in a specially made tray, its surface gleaming with a cold luster.

After nearly a month of "dialogue" and adjustment, Soul Steel has begun to adapt to his mental energy fluctuations and has become more compliant and sensitive.

However, to achieve a perfect match, this ancient "soul imprint" ritual is still required.

"According to ancient records, standard rituals require a great deal of mental energy and may even cause a certain degree of depletion of the practitioner's life force."

Ron frowned in thought, his gaze shifting back and forth between the soul steel and the ritual diagram.

At that moment, a bold idea formed in his mind—

"If we incorporate the energy conversion arrays from modern alchemy into ancient rituals, could we significantly reduce energy consumption?"

Once the idea was conceived, it spread rapidly like wildfire.

He picked up a pen and began to draw a modified version of the ritual diagram on another sheet of parchment.

The core of the traditional Soul Imprinting ritual has been preserved, with all the ancient runes that directly interact with the Soul Steel intact.

However, on the outside, Ron added a ring of modern alchemical runes, specifically designed for the efficient collection and conversion of energy.

These runes are arranged into a precise closed-loop system that can recycle and utilize dissipated spiritual energy, greatly improving overall efficiency.

A few hours later, the design of the improved Soul Imprinting Ritual was initially completed.

Ron carefully checked every detail to ensure there were no logical errors or energy incompatibilities.

"In theory, this improved ritual should reduce the consumption by nearly half while maintaining the core effect."

He looked at his work with satisfaction and then began to prepare the materials needed for the actual operation.

According to ancient records, the soul imprinting ceremony is best performed under specific celestial phenomena, usually on a night when the moon is relatively full.

And tonight is the perfect time.

Ron looked out the window. It was late at night, and a bright crescent moon was slowly rising in the sky.

"Everything is ready."

He carefully placed the soul steel at the center of the ritual, and then used special silver powder to draw the complete modified ritual diagram on the ground.

The runes shimmered with a soft silver light under the moonlight, and the entire ritual array resembled a living work of art, breathtakingly beautiful.

Ron took a deep breath, stood outside the ritual circle, and began to activate the array.

His mental energy, like a precise scalpel, was injected into the ritual array along a pre-set path.

The silver runes then glowed faintly, initially a pale bluish-white, then gradually turning into a bright silver, and finally reaching a dazzling platinum light.

Energy flows along complex paths, generating specific resonances and transformations at each node.

Ron could clearly sense that the energy that should have dissipated was successfully intercepted by the external modern alchemical runes and redirected back into the main cycle.

"The results were even better than expected."

He smiled slightly and continued to maintain a steady output of mental energy.

As the ritual progressed, the soul steel in the center began to undergo visible changes.

Its color became deeper, as if it could absorb the surrounding light;

The surface began to ripple slightly, like a pool of living water;
Even more remarkably, it seemed to begin to generate a certain rhythm, as if it had its own "heartbeat".

When the ritual reached its crucial stage, Ron did not hesitate to cut his finger, letting three drops of blood fall onto the surface of the soul steel as a catalyst.

The blood is immediately absorbed into the metal upon contact with it.

Immediately afterwards, countless tiny runes appeared on the surface of the soul steel, which were the manifestations of Ron's spiritual imprint.

These runes are arranged in a unique pattern, forming a "code" that only Ron can decipher.

As the last bit of energy was injected, the light of the entire ritual array gradually dimmed, eventually returning to ordinary silver powder lines.

But the Soul Steel had completely changed—its color had become deeper and richer, and its surface flowed with a subtle luster, like a living liquid metal.

Ron carefully picked up the Soul Steel and immediately felt an unprecedented sense of familiarity.

The metal was no longer a cold, inorganic substance, but had become something that resonated with him.

With just a light touch, he could feel the energy flow inside the Soul Steel, as clearly and directly as feeling his own pulse.

Surprisingly, when he tried to use his mental power to guide the Soul Steel to transform, the metal reacted several times more sensitively than before.

With just a simple thought, he can instantly transform the soul steel into the basic shape he desires.

"Amazing."

Ron watched as the Soul Steel in his hand changed shape with his will:
One moment it's a knife, the next a coin, and then it transforms into a delicate little bird.

Through this soul imprinting ceremony, he achieved a certain degree of harmony with the soul steel.

The next step is simply figuring out how to shape it into a demonic sword embryo, which will undoubtedly be an extremely long process...

But for him at this moment, this improvement and practice of the "soul imprint" ritual is a valuable experience.

His understanding of alchemy has reached a whole new level.

Alchemy (Proficient) Experience +1

Breakthrough! Alchemy (Proficient 100/100) → Alchemy (Mastery 1/200)

[Additional features have been advanced:

Resonance → Tripartite Unity
(The synergy between wizarding arts such as alchemy, potion-making, and enchanting will be enhanced.)

An unprecedented sense of enlightenment rose within Ron.

The essence of alchemy is not merely the transformation and recombination of matter, but also a profound understanding and communication with matter itself.

The requirements for advancing to Alchemist (2-star) have been met:

1. Alchemy proficient √
2. Alchemy proficiency achieved √
3. Exceptional recognition skill achieved (proficient) √

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

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

[Should I immediately change my class to Alchemist (Two-Star)?]

Ron was slightly surprised, not expecting that the last condition—improving the blueprints for existing alchemical items—would be met through this improvement of the Soul Imprinting Ritual.

Without hesitation, he confirmed in his mind: "Yes."

A warm current surged from the bottom of my heart and quickly spread throughout my body.

Similar to each previous career change, yet subtly different. This time, the energy was deeper, carrying an ancient rhythm, mysterious and profound like an ancient inheritance.

His perception instantly improved, and the molecular structure of the surrounding objects seemed to unfold before his eyes.

Ordinary tables, chairs, walls, and utensils all became complexes composed of countless tiny particles in his eyes, each with its own unique structure and energy characteristics.

Even more remarkably, he could not only see these structures, but also intuitively understand how they formed, how they changed, and how they could be modified and enhanced through alchemy.

[Job transfer successful! 】

[Occupation Obtained: Alchemist (Two-Star)]

【Basic attribute improvement:
Mental Strength: 3.8 → 3.99 (+0.2)

Mana: 2.1 → 2.55 (+0.45)

【Special bonus:
1. The speed at which experience points are gained for alchemy-related skills has increased moderately.
2. Enhanced material perception capabilities
3. A moderate improvement in the ability to control changes in matter.

Each job change brings substantial skill enhancement, and this job change is no exception.

Ron took a deep breath, feeling the changes in his body and mind.

As expected, it became increasingly difficult to improve as one progressed, but even so, he was only one step away from the 4.0 mental strength standard required for advanced apprentices.

The only pity is that this breakthrough in mental strength seems to be driven only by meditation, and advanced apprenticeship is undoubtedly a key step.

[Class synergy detected: Alchemist + Wizard Apprentice + Potions Master + Blood Knight]

[Gain collaboration bonus:]
1. Increased efficiency in energy extraction during alchemy.

2. Increased extraction rate of essential substances

3. Improved energy conversion efficiency of the reaction

Looking at the various synergy bonuses, Ron felt somewhat satisfied with the rapid growth of his own power.

This is the snowball effect brought about by having multiple professions:

The different paths of cultivation not only did not interfere with each other, but to some extent they complemented each other perfectly, resulting in a qualitative leap in overall strength.

The ripple effect seems to extend beyond this, after all, when he advanced to the rank of Alchemist, some of his skills did advance as well.

When becoming an alchemy apprentice, two skills are also combined.

So the next step should be—

Skill synergy detected: Potion Making (Proficient) + Alchemy (Master)
→Material Transmutation (Proficiency 30/100)】

With the prompts from the transparent panel, a surge of new knowledge and insights instantly flooded into Ron's consciousness.

As a fusion skill, "Material Transmutation" not only inherits all the advantages of potion making and alchemy, but also achieves a breakthrough in essence.

Ron couldn't wait to test this new skill.

He picked up several materials from the workbench and began mixing them casually.

Surprisingly, the potion-making process, which used to require precise measurements, strict temperature control, and complex procedures, has now become exceptionally smooth.

He can accurately determine the optimal amount and timing of adding various materials simply by relying on his intuition.

It was as if every substance was actively "talking" to him, telling him how they should combine and transform.

The complex process that originally required dozens of steps has been greatly simplified.

It's not because any step was omitted, but because the "Matter Transmutation" skill allows him to handle multiple steps simultaneously and adjust and optimize them in real time.

In just half an hour, a bottle of "awakening potion" that would normally take several times longer to prepare was perfectly formed.

But when Ron picked up the potion, he discovered another astonishing detail:
The quality of this potion far exceeds the highest level he could previously concoct.

The purity of the liquid, the stability of the energy, and the duration of the effect have all reached an unprecedented level.

"This feels amazing."

Ron then quickly took out an ordinary crystal and attempted to extract energy crystals.

This is a basic alchemy technique used to seal specific energies within crystals, serving as the foundation for creating various alchemical tools.

Previously, this process required at least two hours of meticulous operation and also necessitated the use of complex guiding devices and specialized alchemical equipment.

Now, he only needs to concentrate, hold the crystal with both hands, and guide the energy to flow along a specific path.

In just ten minutes, a perfect "fire element crystal" was formed, and its energy concentration and stability undoubtedly far exceeded those of products available on the market.

"Matter transmutation".

Ron whispered, a gleam of surprise in his eyes:
"This is not simply a combination of two skills, but a completely new form of ability."

He suddenly remembered a clue that Thompson and Mrs. Allen had mentioned before:
Ancient alchemists, the legendary profession that combined the three main wizarding arts into one.

Potions represent the combination of medicine and energy, while alchemy represents the transformation of matter and structure.

Ron organized his thoughts:

"Then the third major wizarding art is the communication of runes and energy—enchanting!"

Thompson once vaguely mentioned that the real ancient alchemists mastered these three core skills and were able to create miracles that were unimaginable to ordinary people.

Ron drew upon the library of consciousness and quickly jotted down these connections:
Potions - Medicines and Energy - Partial Mastery (Potion Master 2-Star)
Alchemy – Matter and Structure – Partial Mastery (Alchemist 2-Star)
Enchanting – Runes and Power – Not yet mastered (???)

He then thought of the new advanced trait he had just acquired: Tripartite Combination.

"The three combined," Ron murmured to himself, "is the ancient alchemist."

Judging from the current synergy, once he has mastered all three core skills, he may develop an even more amazing comprehensive skill.

Perhaps that is the key to reaching a higher level.

"Enchanter" Ron muttered to himself, "They're said to be even rarer than bloodline modifiers."

He recalled the various self-activating magic circles and persistent devices he had seen in the school, all of which were inseparable from the rune effects carefully engraved by the enchanters.

Ordinary apprentices and formal wizards who are not proficient in runic literature can only copy the runes mechanically, unable to understand their deeper principles.

This applies to himself as well; he knows what to do but not why, and can only simply copy existing runes without being able to improve them according to his needs.

As a result, these imitations are often ineffective, short-lived, and prone to producing unstable side effects.

However, the runes engraved by genuine enchanters are vastly different from these imitations.

It is said that a rune left by a professional enchanter can still be effective even after decades, while an ordinary imitation may become ineffective after a few months.

Enchanters understand the underlying principles of runes, enabling them not only to copy existing runes but also to create entirely new rune combinations based on specific needs.

They can even infuse their own will and spiritual imprint into the runes, making their effects more powerful and lasting.

"To complete the path of the ancient alchemists, enchanting is an indispensable part."

Ron firmly wrote this goal in the Library of Consciousness.

The problem is that there are almost no formal wizards specializing in enchanting in the Black Mist Forest, and the opportunity to systematically learn this field is extremely slim.

All clues point to one place—the rich central land where the Crystal Spire is located.

That place is the center of the entire Huan Yuan Continent Group, and it is said to have a more complete wizarding system and richer extraordinary resources.

The Crystal Spire is not only one of the most prosperous gathering places of extraordinary beings in the Ring Abyss Continent, but also a treasure trove of rare extraordinary knowledge.

It is said that there is a complete enchanting system there, which specializes in training specialists for this rare profession.

"It seems the path forward is clear."

Ron closed his notebook, a determined glint in his eyes.

Becoming an alchemist is not the end, but a necessary step towards a higher level.

The legends of ancient alchemists undoubtedly revealed a much grander possibility for him.

But there are two further advancements: Potions Professor and Alchemy Master, as well as the most crucial Enchanter. These will likely only be achieved after he becomes a full-fledged wizard.

The unity of the three phases may be the ideal state he wants to achieve...

(End of this chapter)