Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 225 Projection of the Stars
That dark area seemed to be calling to Ron, like an empty abyss waiting for his consciousness to fall into it.

As his meditation deepened, Ron could feel his consciousness gradually separating from his body.

This feeling was not unfamiliar; he had experienced similar states many times during his previous study of "The Star Eater's Ramblings".

But this time, the degree of separation is far greater than before.

Ron's consciousness was like a drop of water leaving the ocean, drifting alone in the boundless universe.

When the last thread of connection with his body was severed, all his senses were pulled into that dark region.

This is not true darkness.

Ron's "vision"—though he no longer had physical eyes—was able to detect a peculiar energy fluctuation.

It was neither light nor heat, but a form of existence that transcended conventional senses.

"Is this the higher space?" Ron's thoughts drifted through this strange space.

There is no up, down, left, right, no distance, no size.

All conventional spatial concepts lose their meaning here.

His consciousness floated in this "nothingness," feeling an unprecedented loneliness and sense of loss.

Ron felt as if his senses had been completely stripped away.

Not only are the five physical senses disappearing, but even the mental senses are gradually fading away.

Fear surged forth like a tidal wave.

There was no sound, no light, no temperature, no touch. Even the sense of one's own existence was gradually fading away.

His consciousness struggled, trying to grasp any familiar feeling, but there seemed to be only endless "nothingness" left in the void.

"Who am I?" This question suddenly appeared in his mind, but he could not find the answer.

"I am Ron?"

He tried to recall his identity, but found that his memory was becoming blurred.

A terrifying thought arises: if even the self cannot be confirmed, then does "I" still exist?
Just when self-awareness was about to be eroded by nothingness, specks of light suddenly appeared in the void.

At first, it was just a faint point of light, like a distant star.

But soon, these spots of light began to increase in number, densely filling the entire range of perception.

The points of light begin to connect, weaving into a complex network.

Ron was surprised to discover that these were not simple lights, but fragments of memories—fragments of his own memories.

The initial memories come from Earth, the daily life of an ordinary college student:
The exhaustion at 8 a.m., the late-night gaming sessions in the dorm, the final sprint in the library before exams.
These ordinary moments seem so vivid and precious at this moment.

Then came the moment of his sudden death in his previous life, the suffocation and darkness, and the confusion and unease he felt when he woke up after transmigrating.

The scene shifts to a dark, misty jungle, depicting the despair of someone with sixth-rank spiritual power, the first learning of the "Corona Breathing Technique," and the first experience of the wonders of meditation.
Memories flashed by like a revolving lantern:

A career leap from nothing to something, the excruciating pain of being tempered with scorching essential oils, the carnage in the corridor, the acquisition of the Chimera bloodline.
Every memory is incredibly clear, far exceeding the level of detail found in conventional recollections.

Ron seems to stand simultaneously in the past and the present, both an experiencer and an observer.

As memory fragments accumulate, a completely new perception is forming:

The memories of two souls intertwine, forming a complete life trajectory.

Ron saw memories of being in this world:
The extravagant life of a noble's son, the setbacks at the Knight Academy, the helplessness and overindulgence of his father and brothers, and the despair upon arriving in the Black Mist Forest.
The two memories are no longer simply pieced together, but rather intertwined.

With the time traveler as the main character, and the elements perfectly combined at certain points, the identity of "Ron" becomes more complete and three-dimensional.

Just then, the points of light suddenly began to rearrange, forming a huge and blurry outline.

That is not a shape that can be described.

It transcends the limits of human cognition, seemingly existing in countless dimensions simultaneously, presenting a completely different form from every perspective.

That twisted structure defied all logic; just looking at it was enough to drive one mad.

Ron's consciousness became as insignificant as dust in the face of this terrifying form, no, even more insignificant than dust.

At least the dust still occupies space, but in the face of this being, he doesn't even have the right to "exist".

The outline made no sound, made no movement, and didn't even give Ron any "attention".

It was just “there” that was enough to drive Ron to the brink of a mental breakdown.

It was a complete disregard, a despairing indifference.

Just as a person wouldn't care about the bacteria on their feet, this being didn't even consider Ron a worthy person to talk to.

He suddenly understood what true despair was.

There was no threat, no attack; it was simply treated as if it didn't exist, regarded as something even smaller than nothingness.

Without any communication or transmission of ideas, the mere energy fluctuation of this being was enough to distort and deform Ron's mental world.

He felt his consciousness being stretched, compressed, and folded, undergoing all sorts of indescribable changes.

After a period of time... maybe a second, maybe a century, time loses its meaning here...

Ron found himself in a place that was all too familiar.

Earth, his home.

To be precise, it's the city he lives in.

The sun was shining brightly, the air was fresh, and people were coming and going on the streets, creating a peaceful scene.

Ron was surprised to find that he could feel the presence of a physical body.

The warmth of the sun on my skin, the flow of air in my lungs, the beating of my heart—everything felt so real.

"I'm back?"

He couldn't believe it; was all of this just a dream?

Were those memories of the Black Mist Forest and the wizarding world just a hallucination he had on Earth?
Just as he was confused, a familiar figure walked towards him.

"You silly boy! Hurry up and go home!"

His father's irritable voice was just as he remembered.

"Let's eat right away." His mother's simple words gradually calmed him down.

Ron wanted to go forward, but suddenly stopped.

His gaze was involuntarily drawn to a strange sight in the sky.

Against the azure sky, two celestial bodies that shouldn't be there were slowly moving.

The solitary silver light of "Hermit Star" and the purplish-black cloud of "Annihilation Cluster" are approaching each other along a specific trajectory, forming an almost perfect geometric arrangement.

"How is this possible?" he whispered in shock. "This is Earth, how can there be star patterns from the wizarding world here?"

In an instant, Ron's mind became incredibly clear, and he realized that none of this was real.

The joy of reunion and the familiar scenes were all part of a carefully constructed illusion.

Ron's alertness was fully activated, and the effects of "Stardew and Dawn" began to appear:
His mental perception became exceptionally sharp, enabling him to detect the energy fluctuations behind the illusion and even sense the breathing rhythm of that enormous being.

The moment this realization was formed, a terrible change occurred in the sky.

The once azure sky gradually darkened—no, not simply darkened, but was occupied by some indescribable "existence."

It is neither cloud nor fog, nor even any visible matter, but a distorted "nothingness" that violates the laws of nature.

People looked up at the sky, their expressions shifting from confusion to fear, and finally settling into despair.

The once azure sky began to twist and tear, revealing endless darkness behind it.

It was not a simple disappearance of light, but a complete "nothingness," a state of existence that transcends comprehension and violates the laws of nature.

Time seemed to stand still; everyone and everything was frozen in place, except for Ron, who remained conscious.

The next moment, terror descended.

Countless dark, twisted "tentacles" descended from the sky, each one larger than the most majestic mountain.

When the first "tentacle" touched the ground, the entire planet began to tremble.

The earth cracked layer by layer, shattering like glass.

The skyscraper collapsed in an instant, turning into dust;

The ocean churned and boiled, forming towering waves;
The distant mountains melted and twisted, like candles melted by flames.
Even more terrifying, those "tentacles" began to "lick" the surface of the planet.

Each "lick" wipes away a large area along with all life on it.

—To be completely erased from existence, as if it had never existed.

Ron watched helplessly as his parents and friends were "erased" before his eyes, disappearing from reality without even having time to scream.

The city was being "eaten up" piece by piece, and the land was being "stripped away" layer by layer.

The entire planet is like a tiny candy, constantly being "licked" by an indescribable "tongue".

He felt an unprecedented sense of fear and powerlessness.

Faced with an existence of this caliber, any resistance seems utterly insignificant.

Even his most powerful spells and most exquisite swordsmanship are nothing more than ants trying to shake a tree in the face of such a being.

When the Earth was "licked" down to its core, the enormous, dimensional-transcendent "mouth" was finally fully revealed.

It seems to exist simultaneously in countless dimensions, and each perspective reveals a completely different form.

Ron, along with the remains of Earth, was swallowed by that "mouth".

An indescribable terror descended.

He felt the earth...including himself, being slowly and meticulously chewed up.

It was a complete decomposition; every atom, every proton, every quark was broken down, absorbed, and assimilated.

The creaking sound echoed in Ron's mind.

He could "hear" the final struggle of every life, the final decomposition of every substance, and the final dissipation of every wisp of energy.
The pain became clearer than ever before.

This is a fundamental tearing apart that goes far beyond mere physical pain; it's as if the soul is being dissolved bit by bit, and consciousness is being disintegrated inch by inch. No, this is not an illusion, but something far more complex—a possibility, a premonition, a warning.

The "devourer" is showing him the process of a planet being swallowed, but not to intimidate him; rather, it is some kind of incomprehensible "teaching."

Just like a teacher demonstrating an experiment to students, the "devourer" is conveying a message to Ron in the most intuitive way.

The pain was beyond Ron's limits, almost annihilating his consciousness.

At this most desperate moment, Ron's special talents and skills were suddenly activated.

The characteristics of "dual souls" begin to take effect, spreading this tearing pain between the two souls;
The "Sun's blessing" forms a weak layer of protection at the level of consciousness.

While it's difficult to withstand an attack of this level, it can at least slow down the rate at which the soul is decomposed.

The most surprising thing is the manifestation of the "eternal engraving" property.

Although physical, flowing protective barriers cannot form in this pure space of consciousness.

But this characteristic had penetrated Ron's soul and become part of his mental structure.

At the level of consciousness, mental barriers spontaneously form like fluid.

Each one carries the characteristic of "eternal imprint": it can remember and adapt to attack patterns, constantly evolving more effective defensive strategies.

These barriers were initially almost powerless to stop the Devourer's power.

However, with continuous impact and adaptation, they gradually became more resilient and flexible, forming a defense system that constantly improves itself.

Meanwhile, the effect of "Starry Dawn" became even more apparent.

The energy components in the potion seemed to resonate with some kind of fragment of the "devourer's" will.

This made it easier for Ron to receive and analyze the information that would otherwise drive him crazy.

The multiple talents and skill characteristics form a strong protective net at this moment.

Although it couldn't completely withstand the impact of the "Devourer," it at least gave Ron a chance to catch his breath and think.

After the trial of mental strength came to an end, he felt a deeper change.

The energy fluctuations in the void became more subtle and precise, no longer a wide-ranging impact, but rather acting precisely on his soul structure.

The feeling was like an invisible hand trying to unbutton his clothes, carefully yet irresistibly dismantling his soul.

The pain was far beyond the limits of what the body could perceive.

Ron let out a silent roar, feeling his very existence crumbling.

If completely separated, not only will a breakthrough be impossible, but it could even lead to the collapse of the entire consciousness.

At this critical moment, a memory suddenly surfaced—it was the scene when the Chimera bloodline was activated.

When he defeated the battered monster, he gained the ability of "bloodline replication".

"Copying, Assimilation, and Integration"

These keywords flashed through Ron's mind, bringing a glimmer of inspiration.

He attempted to introduce the characteristics of the Chimera bloodline into the spiritual realm, not simply by copying or assimilating, but by achieving a true fusion.

Ron no longer resisted the tearing sensation, but instead followed its direction, actively separating the two souls temporarily.

But while they were separated, he used the characteristics of the Chimera bloodline to maintain a certain resonance between the two souls, like two different sides of the same individual.

Ron was surprised to find that his two souls, after a brief separation, were not weakened like ordinary souls; instead, they each maintained a considerable degree of integrity and power.

It's like a complete individual being temporarily divided into two sides, but each side inherits most of the characteristics of the whole.

[Mental strength has reached its limit]

The special talent "Dual Soul" has unlocked a new ability - Dual Casting.

"Is this the true power of 'two souls'?" Ron suddenly realized.

It is not merely a simple superposition of two souls, but a deeper coexistence that makes the whole far exceed the sum of its parts.

As the fusion deepened, Ron felt an unprecedented power surging within him.

An incredibly bright light burst forth from the depths of his soul, instantly illuminating the entire space of his consciousness.

In this light, Ron saw the full picture of his mental world.

It was a complex and ingenious structure, woven from countless energy lines, each containing a specific function and meaning.

At the center of this structure, a massive portal slowly opened:
That is the legendary "Gate of Wisdom," the only path to becoming a formal wizard.

Mental strength is undergoing a qualitative change, not just a quantitative increase, but a fundamental transformation.

As the last wave of energy fluctuations gradually subsided, Ron felt that his mental power had undergone a qualitative change.

The change was very subtle, yet incredibly profound.

Just like a rough stone that has been polished and transformed into a sparkling gem.

At the same time, he felt that something deep within his soul had been completely changed.

An unprecedented sensory ability awakens within Ron.

It was as if someone had opened a brand new window for him, allowing him to directly perceive the power of the starry sky.

[Advanced Feature in "The Star Eater's Whispers": "Initiation" → "Star Projection"]

【Effect:
1. As long as one is in a place illuminated by the stars, one can absorb the light of the stars and continuously increase one's upper limit of magic power.
2. Additional buffs will be granted during specific celestial events.

Of course, the various hints that followed indicated that the qualitative changes leading to becoming a formal wizard were far from over...

………………

The lecture halls in the Crystal Spire are even more magnificent than those of the Black Mist School.

The towering dome is made up of countless tiny crystal fragments, which refract dazzling light when the sun shines on it.

The seats are arranged at precisely calculated angles to ensure that every apprentice can have a clear view of the central demonstration stage.

The entire classroom was enveloped in a subtle energy field, making the transmission of sound within it more precise.

Even the apprentices sitting in the last row could clearly hear every word their mentor uttered.

"That concludes today's elemental hedging theory. Remember to complete the quiz."

The instructor, dressed in a silver-gray robe, slowly put away his lecture notes, his gaze sweeping over all the apprentices:
"Next week we will explore advanced applications of element fusion."

Trish closed her notebook, looking with satisfaction at the densely packed notes.

Compared to the Black Mist School, the Crystal Spire's curriculum is not only more systematic, but also covers a wider and deeper range of fields.

Public courses are offered almost every week, and the number of magic stone fragments required is surprisingly small.

In the Black Mist School, such a class requires at least five magic stone fragments as tuition.

Here, only two are needed, and some special open courses are even completely free.

“The difference in resources is truly enormous,” Trish sighed softly.

She walked out of the lecture hall and onto the crystal bridge toward her residence.

The covered bridge is made of transparent crystal and is suspended in mid-air. Below it are layers of towers and gardens, while in the distance are rolling mountains and lakes.

Having been here for several months, she has gradually adapted to the rhythm and rules of the Crystal Spire, but its grandeur and richness still often amaze her.

As they passed the central square, Trish's gaze was drawn to the enormous light screen suspended in the sky.

That's the ranking list of candidate wizards for the Crystal Spire, which is updated daily.

Unlike the Black Mist School, the Crystal Spire's ranking system is more open and incentivizing.

Once you enter the top ten, you can apply to the higher-ups to obtain the "key" potion to attempt a breakthrough, instead of waiting for the once-a-decade judgment.

"The Wind Listener, Elliott Wander - the eighth."

Looking at the name, Trish couldn't help but feel a little envious.

Although Elliott did not perform well in the Bloodline Altar, he still remained in the top ten after his return.

It is said that before this, he was even firmly in fifth place.

"If it weren't for that failure at the bloodline altar, he might have already applied for a breakthrough," Trish murmured to herself.

In contrast, her own name was ranked in the thirties.

For a newly promoted senior apprentice, this is already a pretty good result, but there is still a long way to go to get into the top ten.

"If Ron were here..."

The thought flashed through her mind, and she shook her head slightly.

Ron Ralph—a genius whose growth rate was almost incomprehensible.

If he were to arrive at the Crystal Spire, he would likely be among the top members in no time.

After all, even in a resource-scarce place like the Black Mist School, he was able to rise to a high position in the hierarchy in a short period of time.

In such a resource-rich environment, his progress will only be faster.

With these thoughts in mind, Tracy returned to her residence.

It was a luxury suite on the 32nd floor of the West Tower, smaller than the detached cabins in the Black Mist Jungle.

However, the facilities are more complete, especially the central training ground, which is equipped with a complete energy regulation system that can simulate the flow of magic in different environments as needed.

Today's meditation plan

Corinna hadn't returned yet, so Trish opened her schedule and prepared to begin her afternoon practice.

His mentor, as a Morning Star, held a certain position within the Crystal Spire.

Therefore, she was able to benefit from a more favorable learning environment compared to other ordinary apprentices.

But for the descendants of those great wizard clans and even the Crown Clan, this meant nothing at all.

She knew clearly that only by constantly improving herself could she gain a foothold in this highly competitive environment.

Just as Trish was about to sit on the meditation mat, a small object in the corner of the room suddenly emitted a strange light.

(End of this chapter)