Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 212 The Authentic Path
Ron nodded slightly: "Indeed, the 'favor' I felt from her was quite pure."

He admitted it directly, without any need to pretend in front of Mrs. Allen.

"It's not just pure, but also has a rare persistence."

Mrs. Allen said thoughtfully, gently toying with a strand of pinkish-purple curls:
"Her talent should have a cumulative effect; in the long run, this 'blessing' will only become stronger and more stable. It's almost like an inexhaustible source."

Ron raised an eyebrow: "You mean..."

"She may become an excellent formal wizard in the future."

Mrs. Allen spoke bluntly, with an unusual seriousness in her tone:
"Of course, this is all predicated on having a suitable mentor. Only with the right guidance can her talent be brought to its fullest potential."

A subtle atmosphere flowed between the two.

"However, now is not the time to discuss this."

Mrs. Allen abruptly ended the discussion, a hint of solemnity flashing in her deep green eyes:
"You came here for that 'advancement path without using key potions,' right?"

Ron nodded readily: "Yes, I hope to know more details."

He stopped pretending and looked directly into Mrs. Allen's eyes. For him, the most important thing was always the thirst for knowledge and power.

Mrs. Allen took a deep breath.

A complex expression, difficult to describe, appeared on her face, a mixture of nostalgia, wariness, and a barely perceptible hint of pain.

The pink-haired witch stood up, walked to the bookshelf in the corner of the room, and reached down to take down an ancient book.

The book cover has faded due to its age, and only a few blurry gold-stamped runes can be vaguely seen.

"This book is called 'The Forgotten Path,' which records a long-lost path to advancement—the Authentic Path."

Mrs. Allen's voice was low and filled with awe, as if she were talking about something forbidden.

Ron's gaze was drawn to the ancient book; he could sense the faint energy fluctuations emanating from its surface.

That was not ordinary magic, but a more ancient and profound power.

“In the early days of the First Age, when the profession of wizard was just born, there was no such thing as a ‘key’ potion.”

Mrs. Allen gently stroked the book cover:
“The practitioners of that time relied entirely on meditation and the power of their visualization to establish a connection, directly triggering a qualitative change and opening the door to wisdom.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Ron's eyes: "Establish a connection directly? No medium needed?"

"Yes."

Mrs. Allen slowly opened the ancient book and turned to one of the pages.

The top is decorated with a complex star map, with a disturbingly large shadow at the center:
"The 'Star Eater's Ramblings' you are practicing is one of the few Crown-level meditation introductory methods that can unlock the path to one's true nature."

“Crown level?” Ron raised an eyebrow. He had heard of this classification from Corinna before, but he hadn’t looked into it in detail.

"Meditation methods are strictly divided into levels, with each level corresponding to a different object of visualization and a different level of power."

Mrs. Allen explained, her fingers lightly brushing across the pages:

"The most basic one is the 'Basic Meditation Method' that you used during your apprenticeship. It has no level classification and is simply a tool to guide the flow of mental energy."

"The next level is advanced meditation, which involves visualizing relatively simple natural spirits, elemental essences, and so on. At its peak, one can reach the level of a Morning Star Wizard."

The next level is the Gem-level meditation method, which involves visualizing ancient individuals or the unconscious remains of great beings, and can help one break through to the level of a Grand Wizard.
The Crown-level meditation method involves directly visualizing the most powerful beings, with a limit reaching the Witch King realm.

Mrs. Allen's voice lowered, a hint of awe flashing in her eyes:
"I've heard there are even higher levels of cultivation methods, but those are beyond our reach."

That level of knowledge carries weight in itself; even mentioning it could trigger disaster.

Ron nodded thoughtfully; this information gave him a completely new understanding of the "Star Eater's Whispers" he was studying:
"So, all meditation techniques starting from the gem level can gain meditation technique characteristics upon advancement?"

“That’s right.” Mrs. Allen gave Ron an approving look.
"The characteristics of meditation are the concrete manifestation of spiritual transformation, and also the key to distinguishing an ordinary wizard from a powerful wizard."

The properties of meditation acquired through authentic means are often purer and more powerful than those obtained through 'key' potions.

"This is one of the reasons why some wizards, even if they follow the same path to advancement, can have vastly different levels of strength."

Mrs. Allen continued flipping through the old book, pointing to a disturbing illustration:

A human figure is entangled by countless tentacles, its face contorted in pain:
"The core of meditation is actually to establish a connection with the visualized being through mental power and absorb the essence of its power."

The stronger the visualized presence, the higher the level of the meditation technique, and the greater the power it brings—but the price is also greater.

Ron recalled the colossal being that had devoured stars in his meditation, and his body trembled slightly involuntarily.
"So what 'The Star Eater's Ramblings' made me contemplate was..."

"That's right, it's the being referred to as the 'devourer' in ancient texts."

Mrs. Allen's voice lowered:
"Legend has it that it wanders among galaxies, devouring star after star to draw energy to sustain its existence. No one knows its true purpose, nor does anyone know its limits."

“Shouldn’t this being be beyond the level of a Witch King?” Ron couldn’t help but ask.

Mrs. Allen shook her head:
"No, the 'devourer' envisioned in 'The Devourer's Whispers' may be far stronger than most Witch Kings, but they are still roughly on the same level. At an even higher level, there are 'demons' that transcend everything..."

Ron remained silent for a moment, digesting the massive flow of information.

Then he looked up and asked the most crucial question: "So, how does one advance to become a full-fledged wizard through the authentic path?"

Mrs. Allen smiled slightly and turned to another page of the ancient book.

This page is almost entirely occupied by a complex rune, with a grand stargate pattern at its center:

"The traditional way of advancement is to use the 'key' potion as a medium to allow apprentices to slowly and safely open the door to wisdom."

The 'Key' potion is like a key—yes, it really is a key—that slowly unlocks the portal to higher levels. This method has a high success rate; almost 70-80% of aspiring wizards pass through successfully.

"The authentic approach is different—it is to directly contact the visualized being through meditation."

At the moment of breaking through the critical point, the fragments of the ancient being's will are directly imprinted into one's mental structure, forming a higher level of meditation characteristics, thereby triggering a qualitative change.

At this point, Mrs. Allen's expression became extremely serious:

"This method is far more dangerous; there's no buffer, no safety net. Once it starts, it's either a successful breach or..."

She made a throat-slitting motion:
“In ancient times, only one in ten people who took this route survived.”

"But the power gained after success is even greater?" Ron asked astutely.

“Of course.” A hint of approval flashed in Mrs. Allen’s eyes.
"Wizards who advance through the authentic path have a mental structure similar to the being they visualize, and can obtain purer and more powerful characteristics of meditation. Such wizards often possess power beyond the imagination of ordinary people at the same level."

Ron pondered for a moment: "Do you know the specific method to break through?" Mrs. Allen seemed to have been waiting for this question, and she took out a small crystal bottle from her bosom.

It contained a silvery-blue liquid that shimmered subtly under the light.

"Do you remember those materials I asked you to collect for me before?"

Ron nodded, of course he remembered that inexplicable "list".

"Those materials, along with several rare medicinal herbs that I have treasured for many years, are just enough to refine this 'Star Dew Morning Glow'—an extremely rare auxiliary medicine."

It's not a 'key' potion; it can't directly open the door to wisdom for you. But it can strengthen your connection with the being you visualize, increasing your success rate when reaching the critical point.

She carefully handed the crystal bottle to Ron:

"When your mental strength reaches a critical point, take this medicine and then engage in the deepest level of meditation."

If all goes well, you will establish a direct connection with the 'Devourer,' gain the Meditation Technique, and undergo a qualitative change.

Ron took the crystal bottle and felt the slightly pulsating energy within, like a miniature star churning inside:
What is the success rate?

"Given your talent and the compatibility with 'The Star Eater's Whispers'," Mrs. Allen pondered for a moment, "about fifty percent."

Ron raised an eyebrow slightly: "Much higher than I expected."

"Don't be too happy yet," Mrs. Allen warned.

"Once you embark on the path of authenticity, there is no turning back."

If the attempt fails, it not only means death, but may also lead to a fate far worse than death—spiritual shattering, the soul being devoured by those great beings.

Ron took a deep breath and carefully put the crystal bottle into his pocket:
"Sounds like it's worth a try."

Mrs. Allen gave a meaningful smile: "I knew you would be interested. But don't rush to make a decision; listen to the experiences and lessons of those who came before."

She reopened the ancient book and pointed to several cases recorded on another page:
"Grim Auster was born in an ordinary fishing village at the beginning of the Third Era. At the age of fifteen, he was discovered by a passing wizard to have a rare fourth-class spiritual talent and was taken back to the school for training."

He was mediocre within the school of thought, but possessed an extraordinary fascination with astrology, often spending entire nights observing the night sky.

"At the age of twenty, he came across an ancient book that recorded the 'Black Sun' and began his research on this mysterious celestial body."

Three years later, he chose to advance directly through visualizing the 'Black Sun'. At the time, no one in the school believed in him; some mentors even advised him to abandon this suicidal attempt.

Mrs. Allen's tone gradually became mysterious:

"But Auster persisted in his opinion, and he climbed alone to the highest observatory of the school to begin that amazing attempt."

For three whole days, his agonizing screams and maniacal laughter echoed from inside the tower, and no one dared to approach.

"On the morning of the fourth day, when the school's mentors opened the tower door, they found Auster sitting there quietly, his eyes completely black, with no whites or irises, only endless darkness."

But he had succeeded—after enduring three days of madness, he gained a meditation trait called 'Eternal Night Vision'.

"After that, Auster's strength advanced by leaps and bounds. In just thirty years, he reached the level of a Moon Wizard, and in another eighty years, he became a Dark Sun Wizard. Finally, before he was three hundred years old, he broke through to become a Grand Wizard."

Ron listened intently; such detailed accounts of past deeds were far more convincing than dry theories.

Seeing that he was listening attentively, Mrs. Allen continued turning the page:
"And look at this one—Eleanor, one of the most renowned geniuses of the Crystal Spire in the last era."

He was assessed as having second-class spiritual aptitude at the age of twelve, and before the age of sixteen, he had completed the improvement of three complex spells, earning him the reputation of a potential Grand Wizard.

"Her mentor had high expectations for her and arranged a plan for her to advance through the 'Key' potion. But Eleanor scoffed at the traditional path, believing that only the authentic way could create a true wizard."

"On her sixteenth birthday, she chose to meditate on 'Touch of the Abyss' in an attempt to advance directly. The school sent two official wizards to supervise the process in case of any accidents."

Mrs. Allen's voice turned somber:
"She failed in her attempt, not by dying, but by something worse. Her spirit was taken over by a wisp of that will, and she became a shell walking in the world, no longer herself inside."

"In the first few days, the change was not obvious. She would just occasionally speak in a strange tone or stare blankly in a certain direction."

But as time went on, the abnormalities became more and more obvious. She began to be nocturnal, fine scales grew on her skin, and her eyes turned into vertical pupils.

Most terrifyingly, she began hunting and devouring live animals, even other apprentices within the school.

"It took three full-fledged wizards from the Crystal Spire to completely destroy her, and that battle resulted in a Moon-level wizard being severely injured and eventually dying from mental contamination."

After hearing the story, Ron felt a chill, but his face showed no sign of backing down.

Mrs. Allen nodded in satisfaction and continued:
"The last one—Victor Reinhardt, you may have heard of that name?"

Ron nodded: "One of the younger great wizards in history."

“It was him.” A hint of awe flashed in Mrs. Allen’s eyes:
“Victor was born into a declining wizarding family. He was of mediocre talent and was even once thought to be unable to become a formal wizard. But he had extraordinary perseverance and wisdom and never gave up easily.”

"When he was twenty-five, the last official wizard in the family—his grandfather—passed away, plunging the family into an unprecedented crisis. The young Victor decided to take a desperate gamble and choose to directly visualize 'Star Convergence,' a terrifying being on the same level as 'The Devourer.'"

Mrs. Allen's voice carried a hint of admiration:
“At the time, no one believed he could succeed, not even his own family thought it was a suicidal act. But to everyone’s astonishment, Victor not only succeeded, but also gained an unprecedented ability during his promotion – ‘Fate’s Thread,’ which allows him to briefly see branching paths in the future.”

A look of awe flashed in Mrs. Allen's eyes:
"With this ability, Victor was able to make the best decision in almost every critical choice, and in just over a hundred years he rose from Morning Star Wizard to Arch Wizard, creating one of the most amazing speeds of advancement in wizarding history."

"But what is the price?" Ron asked astutely, knowing that such powerful abilities would inevitably come with a heavy cost.

Mrs. Allen gave a bitter smile:
“Smart. Yes, but at a huge cost—after the initial surge in power, Victor would fall into a similar state of madness for three days every month.”

Moreover, this state lasted longer and longer over time. It is said that in the last few years of his life, he was less lucid than he was insane.

She sighed, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes:
"The great wizard who once dominated the wizarding world eventually had to secretly imprison himself in a secret chamber to prevent him from causing disaster in a state of madness."

It is said that in his last moment of lucidity before his death, he said the following to his family descendants: "Power is never given away for nothing; it always takes back what is rightfully yours."

Ron nodded thoughtfully, slowly processing the information.

In the wizarding world, power and cost are always directly proportional; this seems to be an immutable law.

"Do you understand now?"

Mrs. Allen's voice was serious and low:
"The authentic approach offers tremendous power, but it also comes with equally great risks."

This is not a path for everyone; only those willing to sacrifice comfort, even at the cost of their lives and minds, will choose this path.

Ron was silent for a moment, then looked up:
"I understand these risks and am willing to bear the consequences. But I need to know more details—what level of mental strength is required to reach the critical point?"

Are there any other methods besides supplementary potions that can increase the success rate of breakthroughs?

What specific meditation should be performed after taking 'Stardew and Dawn'? What are the key indicators of success?

(End of this chapter)