Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 173 Z. Kruniag. Rotip.
The pocket watch is not actually "charged," but rather displays the "energy level."

Once these limits are used up, he doesn't need to replenish them intentionally; they will automatically refresh to the maximum value at midnight.

Its energy mechanism is more like a "quota" system.

The function of the Sands of Time is to expand the maximum energy capacity of the pocket watch, rather than simply to charge it.

It is precisely this characteristic that makes the pocket watch the most stable and reliable of all his rare and precious antiques.

"It seems the Sands of Time are indeed the key..."

Ron stroked the face of the pocket watch thoughtfully:
"If we can acquire more Sands of Time and raise the maximum amount to a higher level, the potential of this magnificent legacy will be even more astonishing."

He carefully put the pocket watch away, calmed down, and began to carefully experience the various changes that came with becoming a senior apprentice.

Unlike the vagueness of his early apprenticeship and the indistinctness of his mid-level apprenticeship, he can now perceive the flow of magic around him with unprecedented clarity.

This feeling is like someone who used to only be able to observe the outside world through a murky window suddenly getting a pair of glasses that can see the details of everything.

Every energy fluctuation in the room, the faint magical residue contained in the walls.

Even the tiny magical particles floating in the air were clearly perceived by him.

These details, which used to require all of one's attention to be vaguely perceived, can now be captured with just a thought.

The more significant change occurred in his spellcasting ability.

Ron could clearly sense the three spells he was proficient in:

The sonic vibrations, the splattering of mucus, and the radiant rings have already formed a stable "thought circuit" in the ocean of the mind.

This is just as described in The Apprentice Ladder:
"When an apprentice masters more than three spells and reaches a certain level of proficiency, these independent thought circuits will begin to intertwine and form an organic whole. This is not just an accumulation of quantity, but a qualitative leap."

Ron tried to build a spell model for "sonic oscillation" and was surprised to find that the construction process, which originally took more than ten seconds, now only took a few seconds.

Mental energy flows naturally along the established thought circuits, like water rushing down a pre-dug channel—effortless and efficient.

In the past, when constructing spell models, he needed to repeatedly check the precise location of each node and energy flow; the slightest mistake could cause the entire model to collapse.

But now, this process has become almost intuitive, as natural as muscle memory.

"Is this the 'mind network' mentioned in The Apprentice Ladder?"

Ron's eyes sparkled with surprise and curiosity.

The Apprentice Ladder described it this way:

"Those who meet the requirements to advance to the level of advanced apprentice will form a complex 'thought network' in their spiritual ocean, with various spell models acting as nodes, interconnected and supporting each other."

Once this network is formed, the efficiency and success rate of spellcasting will be greatly improved, and it will also lay the foundation for mastering more advanced compound spells in the future.

The denser and more complete this network, the higher the wizard's talent is considered to be.

Many great wizards developed exceptionally complex thought processes during their advanced apprenticeships, laying a solid foundation for their future achievements.

This change is reflected not only in the speed of casting spells, but also in the precision of control over magic.

Ron found himself able to control the amount and direction of his magic output more precisely, like a brute who could only swing his sword with all his might turning into a master swordsman who was proficient in controlling the force.

In addition to these changes in standards, Ron also noticed a unique phenomenon—after hearing the “talking” only a few times, the syllables left an unforgettable mark on his mind.

In that battle of consciousness, in order to counter the sea urchin monster's delirious attacks, he had to meticulously analyze and record those strange syllables.

This process made him realize that babbling was not a random and meaningless sound, but a mental fluctuation with a specific structure and internal logic.

“'Zi...Kru...Niag...Lotip...' These syllables seem to imply some kind of grammatical structure…”

Ron could recall the exact pattern of those syllables with just a little effort:

Whenever the sea urchin monster utters the syllable "zzzz," his mental defenses will feel a tingling sensation at a specific frequency.

"Kru" brings a sense of distortion, as if mental energy is being forcibly stretched;
"Niagh" causes a kind of dizziness, as if being caught in a vortex;
As for "Rotip," it produces a hallucination that causes him to briefly see some non-existent scenes.

These effects are not simply mental interference, but rather mental manipulation techniques with certain unique rules.

In particular, the obvious interference caused to the sea urchin monster when the ever-changing phantoms recorded and reflected the babbling further convinced him that the babbling was indeed a form of energy transfer with tangible effects.

"If we could incorporate the characteristics of babbling into sound wave vibrations..."

Ron muttered to himself, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes:
"Perhaps it could create a completely new and more penetrating attack method."

Conventional sonic oscillations primarily rely on physical vibrations to damage targets, much like an invisible hammer violently striking the target's physical structure, causing damage from the outside.

However, the babbling seemed to be able to directly affect the opponent's mental level, bypassing physical defenses and directly interfering with the core.

If the two could be combined to create a composite attack that could cause both physical vibrations and mental shocks, its power would far exceed that of a single sonic vibration.

Ron began to form the prototype of this new spell in his mind.

He attempted to use the basic structure of sound wave oscillation as a carrier, and then incorporated the specific frequency and wave pattern of babbling into it.

This process is extremely complex, much like merging two completely different languages ​​into a new way of communication.

But with the support of thought networks, this attempt is no longer as incredible as it used to be.

"Perhaps this is my first step toward specializing in magic."

Ron's gaze was firm, his heart filled with anticipation.

To advance to become a full-fledged wizard, an advanced apprentice must possess at least one fully specialized personal spell.

And now, he seems to have found a direction with great potential:

Sonic spells incorporating the characteristics of babbling might become his signature ability.

Ron sat quietly at his workbench and began to meticulously record his understanding of the babbling and his ideas for new spells.

As its concrete form continues to take shape in consciousness, a whole new possibility is unfolding.

That was his own unique system of magic.

"The Star Eater's Ramblings is indeed a double-edged sword."

He thought to himself, "It brings both danger and opportunity."

This perfectly illustrates the saying: "True knowledge is a heavy burden, and wisdom is often accompanied by madness."

Human cognition is so fragile that a single glance from a great being can have such a profound impact.

So, as he delves deeper into "The Star Eater's Ramblings", what awaits him?
Ron looked out the window, where the starry sky was obscured by black mist, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

In that endless and profound universe, perhaps those ancient beings are watching this world, and watching him as well.

He was only just beginning to understand the meaning of this gaze.

………………

In the laboratory, Ron picked up Soulsteel once again.

The internal crystal structure of the metal, the energy flow path, and even the distribution of trace elements were clearly presented in his perception.

"Alchemist..." He thought of his two-star class that he had recently completed.

Alchemists can not only create various alchemical items.

More importantly, their understanding of the nature of matter surpasses that of ordinary people, enabling them to perform deeper material changes and energy conversions.

In particular, there is the special bonus of "significantly enhanced material perception capabilities".

This allows him to intuitively perceive the internal structure and properties of substances, which is of decisive help in creating advanced alchemical items and improving existing recipes.

To conduct further testing, Ron took out a piece of ordinary iron and attempted an alchemical transformation.

He infused his spiritual power into the iron sheet, guiding its internal molecules to rearrange.

With the aid of the "Matter Transmutation" skill, the process becomes exceptionally intuitive and easy, much like shaping a lump of soft clay with your own hands.

Under his guidance, the originally hard iron sheet gradually became flexible while maintaining the strength of the metal.

Moreover, this conversion does not consume much energy; the entire process is efficient and precise, with almost no energy loss.

"The ripple effect is even stronger than I imagined."

Ron looked at the perfectly transformed metal in his hand, somewhat amazed:
"This level of efficiency and precision is a qualitative leap."

Ron picked up the Soul Steel again, feeling its warmth and rhythm in his hand.

The Soul Steel had achieved a perfect match with him, and the Soul Imprinting Ceremony successfully engraved his unique spiritual imprint inside the metal.

This means that the magic sword forged from this soul steel will possess unprecedented affinity and stability, making it an ideal vessel for realizing the "furnace concept".

Now, with the aid of alchemist skills and the synergy of "material transmutation," he has greater confidence in forging the magic sword.

Those complex processes that seemed almost impossible to accomplish before now appear to be within reach.

Ron turned to the workbench and began drawing detailed blueprints for the magic sword.

With the alchemist's blessing, his imagination reached a new level.

Complex designs that used to take weeks to complete can now be refined to an astonishing degree in just a few days.

“The Sword of the Forge…” Ron wrote the name at the top of the design, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

This sword will be more than just a weapon; it will be a miraculous furnace that can purify spiritual pollution and transform it into pure power.

Of course, there is an even more important point:
It is an important tool for reaching that higher level and the key to realizing his "furnace concept".

"Time will prove everything."

Ron stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the black mist forest outside. "The quarterly meeting is in a month; it will determine who will ultimately receive a spot at the Bloodline Altar..."

His gaze deepened as he began to plan his next steps.

The quarterly review meetings are crucial, and he already has a comprehensive plan:
Half a month later, I will apply for advanced apprentice certification and at the same time get certified as a bloodline modifier, so as to break into the top five in the sequence and strive to obtain that key spot as much as possible.

"First, we need to sort out the current resources and tasks."

He began to systematically list his next plans in the library of consciousness:
1. Trish's Nature Affinity Potion Refining (High Priority, Commitment in progress)
2. Preparation for Advanced Apprenticeship Certification (to be completed within two weeks)

3. Bloodline Modifier Certification (conducted concurrently with Advanced Apprentice Certification)

4. Sketching the Soul Steel Demon Sword (ongoing)
5. Substitute Puppet and Furnace Concept Implementation (Ongoing)

6. Selection of Rare Ancient Books (You can go if you have time)

The plan is clear; the next step is to execute it systematically.

Just as he was about to begin his first task, a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Teacher, breakfast is ready."

Lilia's gentle voice came from outside the door.

Ron smiled slightly. Over this period of time, Lilia had unknowingly become an indispensable part of the workshop.

She not only demonstrated amazing talent in potion-making, but also managed the workshop's daily affairs in an orderly manner with her unique care and thoughtfulness.

From material procurement to equipment cleaning, from workshop environment maintenance to document organization.

These chores that used to take up a lot of Ron's time are now all handled efficiently by her.

Most remarkably, she also established a comprehensive material classification and recording system, which made the workshop run more smoothly.

Ron opened the door, and Lilia was standing outside holding an exquisite tray with a steaming cup of herbal tea and several perfectly shaped pastries on it.

"The teacher looks to be in good spirits."

Lilia smiled and handed the tray to Ron:

"I've noticed that we're running low on several key materials in the warehouse. I'm planning to go to the market this morning to buy some. Is there anything you particularly need?"

"There are indeed a few."

Ron took the tray and pulled a list from his pocket:
"These are the ingredients Trish needs for her Nature Affinity Potion. Some of them are quite rare and may require going to a few specific shops."

Lilia took the list, read it carefully, and nodded:

"I know where to buy Evening Primrose and Starflower, as for Elf Bark..."

She frowned, pondered for a moment, and then regained her confident expression:

"I saw it at the Camp shop last time, so I should be able to buy it there."

Ron was pleased with her increasingly refined professional skills:
"It seems you are more familiar with the market than I am."

"This is all thanks to the teacher's excellent teaching."

Lilia said modestly, a faint blush rising to her cheeks:

"I'm just trying my best to remember the lessons learned from each purchase, hoping to save teachers more time."

Ron nodded: "You did a great job. By the way, also keep an eye out for 'star crystal sand' for me. It's a special alchemical material that's quite rare."

“I will definitely keep that in mind.” Lilia nodded solemnly, keeping the request firmly in mind.

After seeing Lilia off, Ron began to examine the design drawings he had made for the magic sword.

In his vision, this "Forge Sword" will be one of his most important sources of power.

But right now, he has to fulfill his promise to Trish, since he had made a promise to someone else before.

Ron walked to the dedicated potion-making area and began preparing to concoct his first batch of nature-affinity potions.

The recipe provided by Trish is indeed precious. Just by looking at the complex proportions and special refining requirements, one can understand why this potion is considered a rare treasure.

The recipe not only contains regular plant materials, but also requires several rare natural element crystals and the essence of fairy creatures.

For ordinary potion makers, such a formula is almost an insurmountable hurdle.

The ability to precisely control those highly volatile fairy essences alone is enough to deter most potion masters.

But Ron is certainly not an ordinary potion master.

He first habitually arranged all kinds of materials precisely in the order of use, preparing to start the familiar refining process step by step.

But just as he was about to make a move, he suddenly realized that he had acquired the new skill of "Matter Transmutation".

"Perhaps it's time to try some new methods for potion making. I've been so busy with other things that I almost forgot about it."

Ron took a deep breath and began to activate the new sensory ability within him, focusing his attention on the materials in front of him.

In an instant, it was as if a whole new world unfolded before his eyes.

The microstructure of every material, the trajectory of every energy flow, and the interaction between every molecule were all presented to his perception in a peculiar way.

"This is the true power of 'material transmutation'..."

Ron was impressed and began to try to guide the potion-making process in a completely new way.

The first step is to process the evening primrose.

In the past, he had to carefully extract the essence by following strict cutting methods and time windows, and the whole process required at least half an hour of focused operation.

But now, with just a thought, he can sense the energy nodes inside the Moonlit Orchid.

Almost instinctively, his finger pressed lightly at a specific spot, and a silver light flowed out naturally, easily merging into the prepared container.

The entire process took less than five minutes, increasing efficiency several times over, and the purity of the extracted evening primrose essence far exceeded that of the past.

The same miracle happened in every subsequent step.

In the past, the most difficult part of the traditional refining methods was the bark of the forest elves. In the process of making ordinary potions, it required extremely complicated preliminary processing and slow energy guidance.

The slightest carelessness can disrupt the natural elements within it, rendering the entire potion useless.

Now, Ron can directly "see" the energy network inside the bark, allowing it to establish stable connections between different materials.

Three hours later, when the first bottle of Natural Affinity Potion was successfully completed, Ron was somewhat dazed.

The entire refining process was not only more than twice as fast, but the quality of the finished product was also surprisingly good.

The potion in the bottle was an almost transparent emerald green, with tiny specks of light floating slowly inside like fireflies, emitting a fresh and vibrant aura.

This level of purity and stability far exceeds the standards that the formula itself can achieve.

"This is not just a quantitative increase, but a qualitative leap."

Ron carefully sealed the potion, pondering the enormous changes brought about by this new ability.

As a product of the fusion of potion-making and alchemy, "material transmutation" not only inherits the advantages of both but also achieves a fundamental breakthrough in technology.

In the past, no matter how exquisite the techniques, potion-making was still essentially an "external guidance".

Potions masters use their mental power and skills to guide materials to change in a predetermined direction.

Now, "material transmutation" is a kind of "internal resonance"—the properties and potential of the material itself are directly awakened and guided, forming a more natural and harmonious energy fusion.

This is like shifting from forcing materials to obey to engaging in dialogue with them, naturally leading to improvements in efficiency and quality.

"With such high quality, perhaps I should make Trish pay extra... Heh."

Just as Ron was immersed in amazement at his new ability, Lilia returned with a basket full of materials, her face beaming with joy.

"Teacher, I've purchased all the materials on the list!"

She said excitedly, carefully placing the basket on the table:

"Furthermore, I discovered a newly opened materials shop that sells the star crystal sand you mentioned, and I bought a small bag of it."

Ron raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Star Crystal Sand? That kind of material is usually hard to find. You're really lucky."

“It wasn’t all luck,” Lilia explained with a touch of pride.
"Following your instructions, I observed the supply channels of several shop owners and discovered that the owner of this new shop seems to have a background from the dwarven city-state and specializes in dealing in rare materials."

She took a carefully wrapped small bag from deep inside the basket:
“They were asking for a high price, but I used the negotiation skills you taught me to successfully cut the price by 30%.”

Ron took the bag and sensed the unique energy fluctuations inside; it was indeed high-purity star crystal sand.

This material is crucial for the forging of the magic sword, as it enhances the affinity between the metal and magic.

“Well done, Lilia.”

He sincerely praised, "Your purchasing skills are now fully capable of handling things independently."

Lilia blushed slightly at the compliment and quickly changed the subject:

"I was just following the teacher's instructions. By the way, I saw that you've already finished a potion. Is it going well?"

She looked at the bottle of potion with curiosity:

"It looks very pure, much better than the samples I saw in the Potions Fundamentals book."

Ron didn't respond to that, but simply told Lilia to check on the old tree in the yard when she had time.

Based on my "supernatural ability" of observation, Ailan should wake up in a few days...

(End of this chapter)