Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 184 Under the Crown
Tanuki sat up from the lab table, carefully moving her fingers, and was surprised to find that she could control the length of her nails at will.

When she concentrates, her claws can extend to twice their original length, forming sharp weapons.

As she gained further control, a faint purple light began to emanate from her claws, a sign that the toxins were being activated.

“This is…unbelievable,” Trish exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"You not only completed the toxin fusion, but also gave her the ability to manipulate toxins!"

Tanuki Moon tried to retract her claws, then extended them again.

The process was smooth and natural, without any discomfort.

"Thank you, Your Excellency Ralph."

She rarely smiled: "This power... will allow me to better protect my master."

"Your bloodline potential is far greater than this."

Ron assessed, "If given the opportunity for a more comprehensive bloodline activation, you might reveal even more surprising abilities."

As he spoke, he placed all the various leopard woman tissue samples he had "casually" collected during the bloodline modulation process into a preservation container.

This is also one of the reasons why he readily agreed to this bloodline modulation; the monarch's bloodline must be of great research value.

The brown-haired girl turned around at that moment, preparing to go find the magic stone pouch, turning a blind eye to Ron's little tricks.

As Ron put away the samples he had collected and prepared to conduct a final examination on the leopard woman, a powerful surge of magical energy suddenly came from outside the door.

The oppressive feeling made the air stagnate, as if it had been suddenly injected with an invisible, viscous substance.

Even a high-ranking apprentice like Ron felt a pang of fear.

This is a "radiation field" unique to formal wizards.

The door opened silently, and a figure dressed in a white robe floated in like a ghost.

"Looks like things are going well," a hoarse voice said.

The sound was as harsh as metal scraping, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Ron looked up and saw Corinna wearing a white robe and that familiar, exquisite mask on her face.

“Mentor.” Trish immediately stood up to greet him, her tone filled with obvious reverence.

Ron also bowed respectfully: "Lady Corinna."

"No need to be polite."

The white-robed wizard's gaze swept between Ron and Li Yue, finally settling on the leopard woman's completely altered claws.

“An interesting improvement,” she commented, a hint of appreciation in her voice.

"It's much more complex and effective than I originally thought. The level of skill in toxin guidance and structural remodeling is equivalent to that of a professional modulator. Maxim's judgment is indeed excellent."

Ron's heart skipped a beat, sensing something amiss:
"Lady Corinna, is there something you need to tell me specifically?"

"Hehe, you're very perceptive."

The white-robed wizard tilted his head slightly and chuckled softly, his eyes behind the mask gleaming with a mysterious light:
"You guessed right. It was precisely because I learned of your unusual interest in the Abyss that I arranged for Trish to invite you here."

"As for the bloodline modification of Li Yue..." Corinna continued, her voice calm to the point of being almost indifferent:
“If you hadn’t demonstrated this level of skill, I was planning to ask Maxim to step in himself. He’s an old friend of mine, and he’s an expert on research involving the Abyss.”

Ron was alarmed; the situation before him was far more complex than it appeared.

When a fully qualified wizard shows special attention to a senior apprentice, it often means that some special task or test is about to begin.

"Lady Corinna is also interested in research on the Abyss?"

He asked cautiously, trying to figure out the other party's true intentions.

“It’s not ‘I’m also interested,’ young people, but ‘I was once obsessed with it.’”

Corinna's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of bitterness:

"However, your performance just now far exceeded expectations. This fusion technique is approaching the level of a senior modulator. The value of Li Yue has greatly increased, which deserves a higher reward."

As she spoke, she took out a complete magic stone from inside her robe and handed it to Ron:

"This is your preparation fee."

Ron took the magic stone and felt the pure energy contained within it.

A complete magic stone is more valuable than a hundred magic stone fragments; it's enough to buy a single-person dwelling in the Black Mist Forest.

"Now, please come to my research lab."

Corinna turned and walked toward the door: "There are some things that need to be discussed privately."

She turned to Leopard and Trish:

"You two go and rest first. I have some things to discuss with Ralph and his apprentice privately."

The two nodded respectfully and then left the room.

Ron silently followed the white-robed wizard through several winding corridors to a room half-hidden in the shadows.

Corinna lightly touched a rune on the door frame, and the heavy stone door slowly opened inward.

The room was dimly lit, with eerie blue magic crystal lamps illuminating various strange instruments and devices on the walls.

“Come in,” she said, gesturing for Ron to follow her in.

Ron clutched the silver pocket watch in his pocket and activated the "Thousand-Faced Illusion" on his body.

A slight unease arose in his heart. If Corinna wanted to do anything malicious to him, she wouldn't have used such a complicated method.

As Ron stepped inside, the stone door closed automatically, and the protective magic array inside the room quietly activated, isolating all magical fluctuations and sounds from the outside world.

Corinna went straight to the only chair in the room and sat down, crossing her legs, a corner of her white robe revealing her beautifully curved calves.

She looked at Ron standing three meters away from her, feeling no offense, but simply chuckled and got straight to the point:

"Don't be so nervous. I heard you're very interested in the Abyss, and even spent a lot of money to buy part of the Lion Scorpion's organization from that gladiatorial battle. This unusual interest in the Abyss reminds me of myself when I was young."

Her words carried a strange emotion, seemingly a mixture of nostalgia and warning.

"The pursuit of knowledge is in the nature of all wizards."

Ron responded cautiously: "And the Abyss, as a realm full of unknowns, naturally attracts people to explore it."

"But not all exploration is harmless."

Corinna slowly raised her hand, reaching for her mask:
"Some truths, once seen, can never be forgotten."

As she spoke, she slowly removed her mask, revealing her true face beneath.

Ron felt a sudden pang of fear.

The silver-haired witch's face didn't resemble that of a normal human at all.

It was a face that was severely distorted.

The skin appeared unnaturally pale, almost transparent, and the writhing blood vessels underneath were visible.

His left cheek was covered with scattered silver scales, very similar to those on Maxim's body, but covering a wider area.

The right eye has completely transformed into an ellipse, with no pupil, only constantly changing light patterns flowing across its surface.

Her lips were almost nonexistent, replaced by a slit that ran almost across her entire lower face, revealing bizarre teeth that did not conform to human physiology when she spoke.

Even with Ron's current mental fortitude, this sudden visual shock still caused him to involuntarily take a step back, his fingers unconsciously clenching. Corinna noticed his reaction but showed no displeasure.

On the contrary, she seemed to have become accustomed to this kind of reaction.

"Don't panic, Ralph the Apprentice."

She spoke calmly, her voice still carrying that harsh, metallic scraping sound.

But Ron can see it now because her vocal cord structure has completely changed:
"This is the greatest gift the abyss has left me, and I will never be able to erase it unless I advance to the rank of Grand Wizard."

Ron looked away, and the more he looked, the more a chill ran down his spine.

This degree of distortion far exceeds that of the silver scales that Maxim displayed.

He quickly regained his composure and regained his usual calm: "You are also an Abyss Explorer?"

"Exactly."

Corinna nodded: "Maxim should have already mentioned his experience to you. I had just been promoted to Morning Star Wizard not long before. We were members of the same exploration team and entered the sixth level of the Abyss, the 'Labyrinth Domain', together."

She swung her crossed legs slightly, reducing the radiation field around her, gesturing for Ron to come closer:
“We paid a heavy price for that expedition. Of the twenty team members, only the two of us came back alive, and you have already seen our current situation.”

Ron cautiously approached Corinna to within two meters and listened carefully.

This is a rare opportunity to hear the truth about the abyss from another person who experienced it firsthand.

"But it was this exploration that allowed my mental strength to improve at a rate far exceeding that of ordinary people."

Corinna continued, her silver eye gleaming with an eerie light:

"My spiritual aptitude is only fourth-class, but I reached the critical point of the Morning Star level before I was even fifty years old, which is almost impossible on the normal meditation path."

Many wizards who are unwilling to venture into the abyss, even if they dedicate their entire lives to meditation, will only reach my current level.

She stroked the scales on her face, her expression complex:

"But the price is what you see here: once tainted by the curse of the abyss, it can never be completely eradicated."

It will become a part of you, constantly reminding you of the reality of that experience.

Ron nodded slightly: "But you still seem to think this exchange is worthwhile?"

"The answer to this question depends on each person's pursuit."

Corinna's voice became even lower:

"For wizards who yearn to break through conventional limitations and seek higher realms, the abyss is a shortcut, but it is also a thorny path."

She suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, I heard you're practicing a special kind of meditation?"

Ron was startled, but his expression remained unchanged:
"Yes, it's a gem-quality meditation method that Mrs. Allen taught me."

"The Star Eater's Ramblings, right? Heh... This meditation method is almost universally known among the official wizards of the Crystal Spire."

Corinna directly stated his name, catching Ron off guard:

"The Star Eater's Ramblings is a preliminary introductory method for the Crown Meditation Technique. This type of meditation, which leads to higher levels, can often help practitioners accumulate spiritual power more quickly, but it can also accelerate the accumulation of spiritual pollution."

Her voice carried a warning:

"This meditation method will make you more susceptible to the effects of the curse once you enter the abyss. Moreover, to reach a higher level of cultivation, you must also enter the abyss to seek a breakthrough. This is precisely why I specifically arranged to meet you today; we have both forged an inextricable bond with the abyss."

The Star Eater's Ramblings actually has such a hidden danger. Damn it, Mrs. Allen never mentioned any of this to him before. Could it be...?

"You don't need to think too badly of Mrs. Allen. Meditation techniques can actually be changed after advancing to a formal wizard. Moreover, it's easier to switch from a higher-level meditation technique to a lower-level one, while it's more difficult to switch from a higher-level one."

Corinna twirled the mask in her hand and explained casually:
"Mrs. Allen may simply think you have greater potential, so she promoted you directly."

Ron paused for a moment, processing the information: "Are you trying to give me some warning?"

"It's not just a warning, but also an opportunity for you to give it a chance to think it over carefully in advance."

The silver-haired witch continued:

"Everyone has the right to choose their own path, but this choice should be based on a full understanding of all possibilities."

She pointed again to her distorted face:

"If you want to climb to a higher level, this may be what your future looks like, or even worse."

The witch raised her scale-covered fingers and slowly traced them through the air:
"The abyss grants power, but also brings curses. Those contaminations and distortions will accompany you throughout your life."

"However, thanks to Trish's 'blessing,' the pollution and distortion on my body are much better than before. That's why I will do my best to nurture her; the 'blessing' of an excellent student is far better than any healing potion."

Corinna looked out the wall, roughly to the west, and continued:

“I plan to return to the Crystal Spire in the Central Lands after Trish advances to the rank of Senior Apprentice and completes this Bloodline Altar Trial. The resources and research environment there far surpass that of this fringe school.”

Her gaze returned to Ron:

"Given the talent and speed of your progress you've shown, I believe that you too will soon step through the gates of the Crystal Spire."

When Trish becomes a senior apprentice, he should take her directly to the Crystal Spire, instead of competing with them for the "key" potion promised by the school.
Ron was a little confused and was about to ask something.

Seeing his expression, Corinna roughly guessed what he was thinking:
"It seems you've just been promoted to the top ten in the sequence, and no one has informed you of the hidden details yet."

"The candidate wizard sequence is held once every ten years, but the key potion required to break through to become a formal wizard is only allocated once by the upper Crystal Spire."

Her voice held a rare emotional fluctuation:
"The choice between waiting in the fringe schools or heading to the resource-rich Central Lands as soon as possible is not difficult. The sooner Trish breaks through to become a formal wizard, the sooner she can bring me greater 'benefits,' which is beneficial to both of us."

Ron silently memorized this crucial information.

Once every ten years, and with a single key potion, it means that only one person in each cohort of candidate wizards can have the opportunity to officially break through.

During the conversation, Corinna also revealed more information about the Crystal Spire and some advice she had for the upcoming Bloodline Altar Trials.

This information was undoubtedly a valuable reference for Ron.

As the conversation drew to a close, Corinna put her mask back on, concealing her horribly distorted face.

"Your bloodline modulation technique and potion-making skills are both quite outstanding."

She spoke, her voice regaining its metallic calm:
"If the opportunity arises in the future, I wouldn't mind a deeper collaboration with you. Of course, that is, provided you can make a name for yourself in the Crystal Spire."

After saying this, Corinna turned around, and the tightly closed stone door opened automatically.

Ron bowed respectfully and took his leave. As he walked out of the underground level, he felt the burden on his shoulders grow even heavier.

Upon arriving in the foyer, the brown-haired girl was waiting for him, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"It seems your teacher has told you a lot of things."

Ron nodded but did not reply; he was not in the mood for idle chatter at the moment.

"Then you should head back early, it's getting late," Trish said softly as she saw him to the door.
“Your performance today was truly amazing, Ron. I think… I underestimated you before.”

Ron smiled calmly: "Then let's all work together properly at the Bloodline Altar."

"Hmm...you've always been a reliable companion."

On his way back, his thoughts kept replaying Corinna's distorted face and the secret information she had revealed.

The allure and danger of the abyss, the double-edged sword effect of special meditation methods, the scarcity of resources and competition in the candidate wizard sequence... these are all realities he must carefully confront.

(End of this chapter)