Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 180 The dust has settled
Lilia straightened her apprentice robes, making sure every fold was neat and orderly.

"I must complete the teacher's request well..." the girl murmured to herself in front of the mirror.

Ron had instructed her the day before to carry out the important agreement with Mrs. Allen on her behalf.

He was too busy attending the quarterly meetings of the candidate wizard sequence to attend in person.

Lilia placed the specially made box containing the precious materials into the storage bag, and after confirming the list was correct, she left the workshop.

The first light of dawn pierced through the perpetual fog of the black mist forest, gilding the path with a hazy silver edge.

She straightened her collar again, took a deep breath, and strode toward Mrs. Allen's potions shop.

This was her first time traveling alone since becoming Ron's apprentice. Although she knew the route very well, she was still a little nervous.

The road to Mrs. Allen's herbal medicine shop wasn't far, but it passed through the apprenticeship area.

This was the place where Lilia had lived briefly, and the starting point for her escape from the middle-ranking apprentice who coveted her.

As she hurried across the main road of the apprenticeship area, several familiar faces caught her attention.

Those were several former apprentices who had been in the same cohort as her, and they were chatting quietly together.

Upon seeing Lilia, their eyes were immediately drawn to the gleaming novice apprentice badge on her chest.

“That’s… Lilia?” a tall, thin boy whispered in surprise. “She’s already a novice apprentice?”

"I heard that she is now working in the workshop of that genius apprentice Ron Ralph, as his personal assistant."

Another girl bit her lip, a look of envy flashing in her eyes.

Their whispers were not deliberately concealed, and Lilia could hear every word clearly.

This was in stark contrast to the disdainful and suspicious looks she received when she first arrived in the waiting area a few months earlier.

As she approached, the trainee apprentices suddenly became unusually respectful, even spontaneously stepping aside to make way for her.

"Good morning, Lilia-senpai."

A noblewoman who had previously ignored her even greeted her cautiously, her voice full of restraint.

Lilia nodded slightly in acknowledgment, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

She was never one to be complacent about rising in status, but at this moment she had to admit that the stark contrast that came with rising status could indeed be satisfying.

"Is this the benefit of attaching yourself to the strong?"

She asked herself the question, then shook her head and dismissed the idea:

"No, I earned my current position through my own efforts. My teacher has already said that he only gave me an opportunity, not charity."

After passing through the reserve dormitory area, she soon arrived at Mrs. Allen's herbal medicine shop.

The familiar shop still exudes that unique herbal aroma, and the wind chimes at the door sway gently in the breeze, making a crisp sound.

As Lilia pushed open the door, she felt a little uneasy.

Mrs. Allen was both her mentor and the first person to shelter her.

"Come in, don't just stand there."

A familiar, hoarse voice came from inside the store.

Mrs. Allen was sitting behind the counter, fiddling with some medicinal herbs, her deep green eyes still as sharp as ever.

"Good day, Madam," Lilia greeted softly as she walked to the counter.

"Looks like that brat is too busy to see me, so he sent you, little girl, instead."

Mrs. Allen put down the pestle in her hand and examined the girl in front of her: "I have to say, you have changed quite a bit during the time you have been with him."

Lilia felt as if those eyes could see right through her soul, and she couldn't help but lower her head slightly to avoid looking directly into them.

“He carries traces of Ron’s magic.”

The old woman sniffed: "It seems that lad really taught you a lot. Elementary Apprentice Badge, how long has it been? Three months? Four months?"

“Four months and seven days, madam,” Lilia replied softly.

"Alright, stop pretending."

Mrs. Allen waved her hand impatiently, but a hint of gentleness flashed in her eyes: "Sit down. The tea is in the usual spot. Go pour yourself some."

Lilia skillfully walked to the coffee table in the corner and poured herself and Mrs. Allen a cup of hot tea each.

This was a habit she developed while working here; whenever Mrs. Allen felt tired from reading or making medicine, she would always prepare a cup of warm tea for her.

"The teacher asked me to bring all the materials you need."

Lilia sat down opposite Mrs. Allen and took out the carefully packaged box:

"And his greetings and thanks."

Mrs. Allen ignored the second half of the sentence, simply raising an eyebrow: "All of them? He's already collected them all?"

Lilia nodded and carefully opened the box.

The remaining three rare materials were neatly arranged inside, each sealed in a special container to maintain its optimal condition.

"Night Talk Pollen"—the powder produced by a flower that blooms only on the night of a full moon, emitting a faint silvery glow, is said to allow the deceased to briefly speak and recount their last memories of life.

"Dream-Eating Spider's Eye Drops"—a semi-transparent, milky-white liquid from a special spider species on the second level of the abyss—allows users to see scenes from other people's dreams.

There is also a last one, which is the most precious and rarest: "the throat bone of the Phantom Songbird".

This endangered bird has a throat bone that can mimic any sound and can also convert sound waves into special mental fluctuations.

Mrs. Allen's eyes showed obvious surprise when she saw the last item:

"The throat bone of a Phantom Songbird? Such things are almost extinct in the Black Mist Forest. Where did he get it?"

"It must be through Master Magnus's connections with the Potions Masters Association."

Lilia answered softly, "The teacher has been collecting these materials through various channels during this time."

Mrs. Allen snorted, but a hint of satisfaction flashed in her deep green eyes:
"This kid has never disappointed me."

Her voice was so soft that only she could hear it, then she looked up at Lilia:
"How are you doing with him? Have you achieved your desired outcome?"

Lilia was taken aback, unsure of what Mrs. Allen was referring to.

Does it refer to her getting out of Keynes' predicament? Or does it refer to her possible relationship with Ron?

She recalled that she had never explicitly expressed her "purpose" to Mrs. Allen.

"I think I've basically achieved that."

Thinking of this, she lowered her head and murmured:

"My teacher is very good to me. She gave me the opportunity to learn and also provided me with a safe and comfortable living environment."

Mrs. Allen gave her a meaningful look, as if she had gleaned more meaning from her words, but she did not press the matter further.

Lilia looked around and suddenly realized that the familiar shops had changed:

"Madam, where is Fina? I don't see her."

"Oh, that girl? I've already sent her away."

Mrs. Allen waved her hand casually:

"I handed her over to the Potions Masters branch of the school, and now she's in charge of some basic potion-making work there."

“You mean she was…removed from here?” Lilia was somewhat surprised, then carefully used a neutral term.

"Heh, they were simply eliminated by me. Not everyone is suitable to stay here with me."

Mrs. Allen stood up, leaning on her cane, her voice turning somewhat cold:

"She has a decent talent for potion-making and her technical skills are not a problem, but she lacks the necessary determination and adaptability."

Lilia couldn't help but think of Fina's always cautious nature, and Mrs. Allen's assessment didn't seem wrong.

"Eliminated," she murmured to herself.

Fina's talent was clearly enough to support her becoming a professional potion master in the future, which was why I went to great lengths to please her back then.

If people like that are eliminated, then how high are Mrs. Allen's standards?
Thinking about this, she suddenly realized something...

"Um, Mrs. Allen," Lilia mustered her courage to ask, "Is he... the only student you approve of?"

Mrs. Allen glanced at her, her sharp, hawk-like gaze making Lilia feel a surge of tension.

"That kid is indeed quite unusual."

The old woman pursed her lips and said slowly, "But nothing is absolute. Perhaps one day I'll meet a better student than him, who knows?"

Her words sounded somewhat perfunctory, but Lilia keenly noticed the pride in Mrs. Allen's eyes as she spoke.

"Don't think about it so much." Mrs. Allen seemed to have seen through her thoughts:

"This world has never been equal. Some people are suited to the top, while others are better suited to doing the groundwork. Fina is doing well in the association, at least much better than being constantly scolded here with me."

"Alright, let's get down to business now that we've finished catching up."

As she spoke, she took two items out of a drawer:

An exquisite black sealed box, and a letter that shimmered with a faint silver light.

The sealed box is engraved with complex protective runes, each line of which is exquisitely crafted, forming a perfect sealing array.

The letter was shrouded in a magical barrier, with runes faintly flowing across its surface.

That's a self-destruct mechanism; if someone tries to force it on, the contents will immediately be destroyed.

"I have already inspected the materials. Now you can hand them over to him."

Mrs. Allen handed two items to Lilia:
“Tell him that the final stage of ‘The Star Eater’s Whispers’ is extremely dangerous, and he should not attempt it without adequate preparation.”

Lilia carefully accepted the two precious items, feeling a heavy sense of responsibility:

"I will definitely hand it over to the teacher intact."

“And…” Mrs. Allen hesitated, a rare look of uncertainty crossing her face:
"Tell him that I hope he can successfully complete the journey that I couldn't finish back then."

Lilia nodded in agreement. Although she didn't quite understand the meaning of those words, she could sense the intense regret they contained.

The old woman suddenly reached out her calloused hand and gently stroked Lilia's cheek:
"You're not bad either. Compared to Fina, who already had considerable talent, your growth makes me even more gratified."

This sudden tenderness left Lilia stunned, unsure how to react.

As she spoke, Mrs. Allen produced another parchment scroll, the seal of which was far less secure than that of the box:

"You probably don't have any meditation methods besides the basic ones, right? This is a gem-level meditation method I used when I was an apprentice. Although it's not as powerful as the one I gave that kid, it's more consistent and stable." Gem-level meditation method?

Lilia had indeed been worried about this matter before. She and Ron had agreed to find an opportunity to buy a copy from other mentors, for use only during the apprenticeship stage.

Lilia is currently raising funds, and Ron has been paying her a salary as an assistant.

She already had a small fortune of over two hundred magic stone fragments, but she was still far from mastering the most basic advanced meditation techniques.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Allen has now solved the problem for her directly?
"Alright, stop standing there like an idiot."

The old woman resumed her usual sharp tone:

"Take this back to that brat right away. Remember, don't let anyone see the box, and definitely don't let anyone touch it."

"Yes, ma'am."

Lilia bowed deeply and carefully put the items into her bag: "Thank you for all your help."

As the girl left the herbal medicine shop, her feelings were complicated and heavy.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and it looked like it was going to rain again.

Lilia quickened her pace. The rain in the Black Mist Forest always carried a strange smell that would make her skin itch if she came into contact with it for too long.

As she passed through the market, she habitually looked around.
Now that she is carrying such an important item, she must be extra careful.

Just as she was about to leave the market area, a figure suddenly came into her view.

That was Aug Caines, the former apprentice who had once harbored ill intentions towards him, standing by the roadside chatting and laughing with several companions.

Lilia instinctively wanted to avoid them, but then she calmed down and walked past them expressionlessly.

She is no longer the helpless apprentice she once was.

Keynes noticed her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly returned to normal, even nodding slightly in greeting, with a hint of... awe in his eyes?
The other party wasn't afraid of her, but rather of Ron standing behind her.

A rapidly rising senior apprentice who has gained widespread attention from the upper echelons of the school, and a genius with dazzling achievements in many fields.

The clouds in the sky grew thicker and thicker, and distant thunder could be faintly heard.

"The teacher will be very happy to receive these."

She murmured to herself, her fingers tracing the wooden box she kept close to her body, a smile appearing on her lips.

The girl quickened her pace on the way back, with only one thought in her mind—to get back to the workshop as soon as possible, back to the place that had become her true home.

………………

The central tower of the Black Mist School held an exceptionally solemn and dignified meeting hall today.

Under the high dome, long circular tables are arranged in sequence, with a numbered plaque in front of each seat.

In the center of the conference hall, a huge 3D projection slowly rotated, displaying a complex pyramid-shaped structure—a three-dimensional model of the Bloodline Altar.

Ron was dressed in a neat apprentice robe, with the double badges of senior apprentice and professional potion master pinned to his chest.

He arrived at the meeting venue early this time and sat quietly in his seat.

Fourteenth seat, that's his position after the last evaluation meeting.

Although it was already a pretty good ranking, the distance between them and the higher seats at the front of the conference hall was still obvious.

People arrived one after another. Chief Holt remained calm and composed as usual, and nodded to Ron upon arrival.

Other members of the sequence also arrived one after another, each with varying degrees of anticipation or nervousness on their faces.

When the appointed time arrived, Vice Dean Hayek's voice echoed in the hall:
"Now that everyone is here, let's begin the evaluation meeting."

He wore a dark purple robe with intricate badges on his chest, and his face was dignified and unapproachable.

"First, let's confirm the two main topics of this meeting: the allocation of slots for the Bloodline Altar, which will open in a month, and the replacements for the vacant positions left by Oliver and Cynthia's defection."

The whispers in the conference room immediately ceased.

The topics of the Bloodline Altar and the rise and fall of positions are enough to make any sequence member hold their breath.

"Regarding the Bloodline Altar," Hayek continued:
"According to the official notification from the Crystal Spire, our Black Mist School will have five slots available this time, as in the past. Considering the characteristics and risks of the altar, participants must possess sufficient strength and suitability."

His gaze swept over every member of the sequence present, lingering a little longer on some.

His gaze swept over everyone present, as if he were assessing something.

"First, let's deal with some necessary procedural issues."

Regarding the defection of Oliver West and Cynthia Novik, the school has established a special investigation team and hereby formally announces their removal from the list of candidate wizards.

A murmur rippled through the hall before quickly fading into silence.

Hayek continued, “The vacant positions in the sequence will be filled based on the latest assessment. Now, let’s get to the main topic—the adjustment of the sequence rankings.”

He waved his hand, and the crystal ball in the center of the hall emitted a soft light, projecting a transparent ranking list.

The list displays each member's name, current ranking, and various evaluation metrics.

"Based on the overall performance this quarter, the top five in the sequence remain unchanged:"
Holt Irwin remains in first place, while Herbert Levine and Caitlin Gardner remain in second and third place respectively.

This result was expected; Holt's ability had consistently been far ahead of the rest of the group, and no one had questioned his top position.

However, the subsequent ranking adjustments drew everyone's attention.

"Given his recent performance and achievements, Ron Ralph will be promoted from fourteenth to sixth place, directly replacing the defector Oliver's original position."

This decision was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, immediately creating ripples.

A murmur of surprise rippled through the hall, and many eyes turned to Ron.

An eight-level leap! This is almost unheard of in the history of any school of thought.

Hayek seemed to have anticipated this reaction, adding:
This decision is based on several objective indicators, including but not limited to:
His recent outstanding performance in the Blood Gladiator Tournament has earned him the Bloodline Modifier qualification certificate and the Advanced Apprentice certification.

Furthermore, both mentors Soren and Yuni provided strong recommendations.

Ron remained calm, though a slight sense of joy lingered in his heart.

This leap forward in the sequence is not only a recognition of his efforts, but also a crucial step in entering the Bloodline Altar.

"Furthermore," Hayek continued, "Trischlind has risen from tenth to seventh place, right after Ralph the Apprentice."

While Trish's improvement wasn't as astonishing as Ron's, it was still quite considerable.

Ron looked at the brown-haired girl and met her gaze, which was filled with complex emotions.

There was joy, admiration, and a hint of subtle competition.

Hayek announced several more ranking adjustments, most of which were minor increases or decreases, and did not cause much of a stir.

"These are the main changes in the rankings for this quarter."

Hayek concluded by saying, "Please adjust your seats according to the new rankings."

Ron stood up and walked toward the seat that represented sixth place—Oliver's former spot.

As he sat down, he could feel the gazes coming from all directions.

But he had grown accustomed to this gaze.

From the day he became a junior apprentice, every step of his progress was accompanied by all sorts of speculation and discussion.

These external voices could no longer sway him.

After everyone was seated according to the new rankings, Hayek moved on to the second item on the agenda—the allocation of places at the Bloodline Altar.

"The Bloodline Altar will open again in one month. This is a rare opportunity for participants to gain a deeper understanding of and enhance their own bloodline potential."

Hayek's voice became more solemn:
"According to the agreement between the school and the Crystal Spire, we have been granted five places to participate this time."

Taking into account various factors, the school of thought decided to allocate the five slots as follows:
Holt Irwin, Herbert Levine, and Caitlin Gardner each secured one of the top three spots, while the remaining two were awarded to Ron Ralph and Trish Lind.

This allocation plan immediately sparked some discontent.

The expressions of the two advanced apprentices, ranked fourth and fifth and who were skipped directly, were visibly grim.

However, since it was a decision made by many mentors and the vice dean, these apprentices naturally dared not have any complaints.

The difference in status between apprentices and formal wizards is absolutely clear.

No one dared to object at this time; it was impossible for someone sitting in this meeting room to be such a fool.

"Alright, the allocation of places has been finalized."

With everything settled, Hayek surveyed the room:

"The five apprentices who have been selected, please stay after the meeting. We need to provide you with some important information and guidance about the Bloodline Altar."

The meeting then went on to discuss some internal affairs of the school and external threats, mainly the latest intelligence and countermeasures regarding the Eye of the Abyss organization.

After the quarterly meeting officially ended, the other apprentices left one after another, leaving only the five people who had obtained the Bloodline Altar slots and a few mentors.

Congratulations on getting this rare opportunity.

Hayek walked up to the five men, his voice unusually gentle:

"The Bloodline Altar is not only an opportunity to improve yourself, but also an important investment by the school in you."

Soren stepped forward and added:
"While the Bloodline Altar is full of opportunities, it also carries risks. Throughout history, many apprentices have met with accidents or even lost their lives there. Therefore, thorough preparation and a cautious attitude are extremely important."

His gaze lingered on Ron for a moment, a complex and unfathomable emotion flashing in his eyes:
“Especially for Ralph’s apprentice, as a bloodline modifier, your expertise will be a vital pillar of the team.”

Ron nodded in understanding: "I will do everything I can to ensure the safety and success of the team."

After the meeting, when everyone else had left, Hayek suddenly called out to Ron:
“Ralph, apprentice, come with me for a moment.”

Ron was a little confused, but he quickly caught up with Hayek.

Hayek led Ron to a quiet little room, and only after making sure no one would disturb them did he speak:

“I’ve been watching your progress closely, Ralph apprentice. Your growth rate is quite remarkable, and it’s rare to see such multi-faceted development, which is truly exceptional.”

Ron responded cautiously, "This is all thanks to the excellent environment provided by the school and the guidance of the mentors."

Hayek smiled slightly: "False modesty means nothing to me. You and I both know that your achievements mainly stem from your own talent and hard work."

He took out a recording crystal ball from inside his robe, on which complex spell models appeared:
"I have a spell model here that might suit you right now."

Ron took the crystal ball and sensed the intricate structure of the spells recorded within.

(End of this chapter)