Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 182 Soul Anchoring
Multiple protective arrays are set up here, which can not only block external magical fluctuations but also prevent internal energy from leaking out.

He carefully deactivated the magic circle, pushed open the door, and went inside.

The room was softly lit, with a research table made of special materials in the center and protective runes engraved on the surrounding walls.

Ron first put the black sealed box and letter aside, then went straight to the sealed area and took out the thick "Illustrated Compendium of Abyssal Creatures".

Since the intense mental shock he experienced last time, he has temporarily put aside his study of this forbidden book.

But now, with his advancement to senior apprentice and the acquisition of bloodline altar qualifications, he must quickly acquire more knowledge about the abyss.

The pages of the book slowly unfolded in his hands, and the moving text and images reappeared before his eyes.

This time, he deliberately avoided the chapters that might trigger strong mental fluctuations and went straight to the description of the boundary between the abyss and the outside world.

"The boundary between the abyss and the outside world is not a fixed physical boundary, but rather a gradient change in energy density..."

Ron read the text carefully, his eyes shining with focused concentration:
"Because of the 'Great Exploration of Dimensions' at the end of the Second Era, many other worlds merged and collided with the main world, thus creating countless alternate dimensions. Once they come into complete contact with the main world, they will inevitably be affected by this special energy gradient..."

As Ron continued reading, he gradually connected these descriptions with Hayek's explanation of the bloodline altar:

"The most famous alien space is the 'Bloodline Domain,' a semi-independent space forcibly torn apart by ancient wizards, which in turn gave rise to numerous smaller 'Bloodline Altars.' Here, bloodline potential is fully unleashed, and the essential form of a creature often manifests..."

"Bloodline Altar!" A hint of excitement flashed in Ron's eyes.

Continuing to read, the book describes in detail the characteristics of this "bloodline altar":
"Unlike the Abyss, the Bloodline Altar, as a type of alien rift, is not an absolutely dangerous environment, but the trials within it often exceed ordinary endurance."

Each participant will confront the truth of their own bloodline; the ancestral memories hidden deep within their genes will be awakened, forming various illusions or materialized challenges…

"Most importantly, the connection between the bloodline altar and the abyss makes its internal environment extremely sensitive to spiritual pollution."

Explorers who enter with a polluted mind often trigger more dangerous mutations…

This warning made Ron frown.

He realized that he had to ensure his mental state was at its best before entering the bloodline altar, otherwise he might find himself in danger during the trial.

The book continues:

"The trials at the Bloodline Altar are usually divided into three stages:"

The first stage is 'retrospection', where explorers will experience fragments of their own bloodline's history;

The second stage is 'resonance', where the bloodline energy begins to interact more deeply with the explorer;

The final stage is 'transformation,' where the bloodline potential is fully released, and the explorer may gain a fundamental improvement..."

"However, not everyone can complete all three stages. Most explorers reach their limits in the first or second stage. Forcing their way past these limits often has disastrous consequences..."

Ron memorized this information and understood why the school attached such importance to the opening of this bloodline altar.

This is a rare opportunity for any apprentice aspiring to the path of wizardry.

Not only can one gain a deeper understanding of the essence of one's own bloodline, but one may also achieve a qualitative leap.

However, such opportunities come with enormous risks, and those who try rashly may pay a heavy price.

Since his mental state was relatively stable at this point, Ron decided to continue looking at what piqued his curiosity even more.

He first flipped to the chapter he had only read the beginning of last time: "Abyssal Matter and Treasures," and then continued reading from there.

The book details the unique substances in each layer of the abyss, describing not only their appearance and basic properties but also analyzing their "overwriting" effect on the laws of the surface world.
The first and second layers contain "blood crystals"—red crystals that can automatically absorb and store life energy.

The book reveals that the blood crystal is actually a manifestation of a primordial consciousness from the abyss, which "learns" the rules of the material world by absorbing the life energy of the surrounding creatures.

The third layer, "Black Sand Essence," is a black crystal formed by the compression of countless microscopic life forms.

This substance possesses astonishing spatial manipulation properties, capable of folding and distorting space at the microscopic level.

When used in moderation, it can create space bags or storage devices with a capacity far exceeding its appearance, while when used in large quantities, it can create short-distance teleportation portals or spatial traps.

The fourth layer, "deformable resin," is a translucent liquid extracted from ancient trees in the Twisted Jungle, exhibiting ever-changing rainbow colors.

The most amazing property of this substance is its ability to blur the boundaries of life forms, allowing users to temporarily acquire the characteristics or abilities of other organisms.

The book describes an alchemist who created the "Skin of a Hundred Forms" from deformable resin, which allowed the wearer to freely switch between different biological forms.

But the price is equally terrible—long-term use will cause the user's body and soul to "forget" their original form, eventually turning into an amorphous mass of biomass.

The fifth layer is called "Time Amber"...

And then there are the "Maze Crystal", "Soul Metal", "Void Fragment"...

When Ron read these words, he was deeply moved.

The descriptions of these abyssal substances far surpassed any knowledge of extraordinary materials he had ever encountered before, completely changing his understanding of the nature of alchemy and magic.

Abyssal materials appear to be more than just resources and tools; they are a medium for directly manipulating the very nature of reality.

Through them, a sufficiently knowledgeable and technically proficient wizard can even briefly escape the constraints of the universe's established rules, achieving effects that conventional spells cannot.

But what interested Ron most was the detailed analysis of the relationship between dark wizards and the abyss:

"The path of the Black Wizard is essentially a path that leads closer to the abyss."

The so-called 'awakening' is actually the transformation of a part of one's own existence into an abyss form, thereby gaining the ability to transcend conventional laws.

This is not merely the acquisition of power, but a fundamental transformation of the form of existence.

The area below the sixth layer of the Abyss, the 'Labyrinth Domain,' has long been the center of activity for various dark wizard organizations.

Due to the 'maze-like turbulence' characteristics of these areas, the spatial structure is constantly being reorganized, making it difficult for outsiders to locate and track them.

More importantly, the deeper layers of the abyss contain abundant chaotic energy, making it an ideal location for dark wizards to perform advanced awakening rituals.

"Of particular note is the ancient organization known as the Eye of the Abyss."

Unlike typical dark wizarding groups, they do not pursue simple power accumulation, but rather dedicate themselves to the grand plan of 'abyssifying' the material world. Through special rituals, they attempt to gradually weaken the boundary between reality and the abyss, with the ultimate goal of completely merging the two.

"The core tenet of the Eye of the Abyss is 'cognition is reality'—they believe that by changing the cognitive patterns of enough intelligent beings, they can fundamentally rewrite the basic rules of reality."

Their missionaries primarily used infiltration of various academic institutions, employing distorted knowledge and unique techniques of psychological influence to gradually change the way of thinking of those they came into contact with.

This description sent chills down Ron's spine.

The goal of "Eye of the Abyss" is far grander and more terrifying than he imagined; it is not merely the pursuit of power, but the reconstruction of the entire reality.

What truly shook Ron was the book's explicit connection between the Abyss and the path of the Great Wizard:

"Since the First Era, the path to becoming a Grand Wizard has always been inextricably linked to the Abyss."

According to reliable records, every being who successfully ascends to the rank of Grand Wizard has inevitably undergone a ritual known as the 'Abyssal Baptism,' typically occurring below the seventh level, the 'Soul Abyss.'

The book specifically mentions a key technique known as "soul anchoring," a core method mastered by all successfully ascended archmages:
"The essence of soul anchoring is to divide a part of one's soul and anchor it to a specific object in the material world before entering the abyss."

These items are usually personal belongings with a deep connection to wizards, such as weapons, staves, or jewelry.

Anchored items provide a 'real-world reference point' for the wizard during the Abyss's baptism, preventing them from being completely assimilated by the Abyss.

"The highest level of soul anchoring can even preserve a wizard's core memories and personality when his consciousness is corrupted by the abyss."

This allows it to 'reset' itself in times of crisis, a crucial safeguard for surviving the ritual.

Ron's heart raced, and his mind immediately conjured up his "furnace concept."

This description of soul anchoring bears a striking resemblance to his envisioned techniques for soul splitting and energy isolation!
Furthermore, the book mentions an advanced technology called "pollution conversion," which is almost the most crucial part of his "furnace concept":
"A select few outstanding wizards have mastered a special technique that allows them to transform the pollution of the abyss not simply by blocking or removing it, but by converting it into pure power."

The core of this technology is the creation of an 'energy circulation system' that introduces abyssal contamination into a specific container or medium, where it undergoes a series of complex energy transformations to ultimately 'purify' it into usable pure energy.

"Selvin Aldrich himself is believed to have mastered a rudimentary form of this technology, which was key to his ability to remain mentally sharp for nearly a century in the abyss."

His 'Transformation Furnace'—a specially crafted alchemical device—was said to be able to convert the corruption of the abyss into energy that could extend lifespan and enhance magic.

Ron closed the book, took a deep breath, and felt a wave of dizziness.

The contents of "Abyssal Creatures Illustrated" far exceeded his expectations, providing not only incredibly rich material for his extraordinary biological research, but also crucial theoretical support and technical details for the "Furnace Concept".

He even began to wonder if his encounter with the book was truly just a coincidence.

This description of "pollution transformation" and "soul anchoring" is so consistent with his independently conceived "furnace concept" that it is almost unbelievable.

“This can’t just be a coincidence…” Ron muttered to himself, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

But what disturbed Ron most was the content on the last page of the book—a seemingly casually added postscript, with handwriting distinctly different from the main text, suggesting it was written later:
If you have read this far, please remember:
Knowledge responds to the seeker, just as the abyss responds to the caller.

I once thought I was studying the abyss, until I discovered that the abyss was also 'studying' me.

Whatever your purpose, please remain vigilant.

Because now, 'they' know you exist.

—S. Aldrich

Ron carefully closed the book and locked it in a specially made rune safe.

The knowledge presented in "The Abyssal Creatures Compendium" was both exciting and unsettling; he needed time to digest the information and integrate it with his own research and plans.

"The abyss..." he murmured to himself, a complex light flickering in his eyes: "A perfect combination of danger and opportunity, or an elaborate trap?"

"Take it slow, achieve it step by step."

Ron muttered to himself, a determined glint in his eyes, "Let's deal with the immediate problem first, then we can think about the more distant future."

He closed the book, his thoughts churning like a surging tide.

This information is undoubtedly crucial for the upcoming journey to the Bloodline Altar, but more clues are needed to fully understand its mysteries.

Ron's gaze fell on the black sealed box, which contained the final stage of "The Star Eater's Whispers," and might provide him with the other piece of the puzzle he needed.

He took a deep breath, carefully placed the "Abyssal Creatures Compendium" back into the storage box, and then walked towards the mysterious storage box.

Where your fingers lightly touch, you can feel a peculiar energy fluctuation, a mysterious rhythm similar to the depths of the starry sky, both distant and profound, as if it comes from the edge of the universe.

Ron recalled the warning Mrs. Ellen had conveyed through Lilia: do not attempt anything without adequate preparation.

And that even more meaningful statement: I hope he can successfully walk to the end of the road that she couldn't finish back then.

“Mrs. Allen,” Ron murmured, “what exactly did you encounter on this road?”

He pondered for a moment and decided to examine the letter that had been sealed by magic.

Carefully taking out the letter, Ron noticed that the runes covering its surface were flowing slightly, as if they had a life of their own.

He knew the basic principle of this sealing spell—only the designated recipient could open it, and any unauthorized person attempting to read it would cause the contents to self-destruct.

Ron gently touched the surface of the envelope with his mental energy, and he could feel the magic within "detecting" his identity.

A moment later, the runes suddenly lit up with a golden light, then spread out like ripples on water, and the envelope opened automatically, revealing the parchment inside.

The writing on the parchment appeared to be done with some kind of special ink, shimmering with a faint blue light under the dim light.

“Ron, I have some business to attend to and need to leave the school for a while. Don’t tell anyone about this.”

However, by the time you return from the Bloodline Altar, I should be back around the same time.

Come find me at the herbal medicine shop later; I have something important to give you personally.

This was completely different from what he had expected. For this level of information, it would have been enough for Lilia to simply deliver a message to him. Why would he need to use a magical sealing letter?

(End of this chapter)