Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 245 Corona
In the stillness of the night, Ron stood atop the watchtower of Ralph Castle, his gaze piercing through the stars and reaching for the deep universe.

The "projection of stars" characteristic is particularly active at this moment, with countless stellar energies flowing like trickles through some invisible bridge, continuously pouring into his spiritual ocean.

When all is quiet except for the whispering of the stars, Ron often ponders that age-old question—the theory of lifespan.

As someone who could potentially live for hundreds of years or even longer, he had to confront this issue.

Over the course of time, he will witness the birth and death of countless loved ones, the rise and fall of countless dynasties, and the prosperity and decline of countless civilizations.

"Aren't you sleeping yet?"

A familiar voice interrupted Ron's thoughts.

He looked back and saw Edmund walking slowly up the tower, holding two cups of fragrant hot tea.

"Big brother." Ron nodded slightly and took the teacup.

The aroma of the tea is refreshing and delightful; it was his favorite sweet floral tea from childhood and a family specialty.

“I thought you wouldn’t remember.” Ron took a sip; the taste was as mellow and sweet as he remembered.

Edmund chuckled. "How could I forget? When you were a kid, you were always pestering old Martin in the kitchen, just to have a few more drinks of this."

The two stood side by side, gazing at the distant starry sky, speechless for a moment.

After a long silence, Edmund finally spoke softly:
“When you were fifteen, you stood here and told me you didn’t want to go to the Black Mist Forest. At that time, I thought you would leave for a few years at most, and then come back with some magic and knowledge to continue living the life of a nobleman.”

His gaze held a hint of emotion: "Who would have thought that you would actually become a legendary wizard?"

Ron looked at his older brother, who was about a decade older than him and had now passed the age of thirty.

In his perception, due to overwork, Edmund's vitality was like a candle that had begun to burn halfway through, bright but already starting to wane.

In just a few short years, my father's hair has started to turn gray, and the corners of his eyes show the marks of time.

However, due to the activation of his bloodline and his advancement to wizard, his vitality was even more abundant than when he left, and even more vigorous than when he was fifteen years old.

This paradox, this fundamental difference in the nature of life, becomes so stark at this moment.

"What are you thinking about?" Edmund asked curiously, interrupting Ron's thoughts.

“Time,” Ron answered simply, his gaze still fixed on the distance.

"For you, it is fleeting; for me, it is as long as eternity."

Upon hearing this, a complex emotion flashed in Edmund's eyes, a mixture of longing for the path to transcendence and helplessness at the brevity of mortal life.

I don't know whether to envy you or pity you.

He said softly, "Immortality is a dream gift for most people, but it also means endless separation."

Ron smiled slightly, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes:
“Every life has its own meaning, regardless of its length. Shortness does not mean insignificance; on the contrary, it is precisely because of its brevity that it is all the more precious.”

Edmund was moved by these words, wiped his eyes, and didn't know what to say.

"Brother, I'm going to the palace to see Andrei tomorrow, and then I'll be leaving the kingdom for the central lands."

Ron spoke suddenly, his tone calm and firm.

"So fast?" Edmund was somewhat surprised, but quickly understood:

"Indeed, the kingdom can no longer provide any more room for growth for someone like you."

Ron nodded: "The Central Lands hold more knowledge and power; it is the true gathering place of wizards."

Edmund paused for a moment, seemingly preparing something, before finally mustering his courage to ask:
"When we were little, we often lay here, counting stars and making all sorts of wishes. Do you remember what your wish was?"

Ron closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting back to that distant night.

Two boys, one big and one small, lay side by side on the top floor of the castle, gazing at the starry sky, and made an extremely innocent wish.

"I hope one day I can fly into the sky and touch the stars," he answered softly, a nostalgic smile appearing on his lips.

"And now?" Edmund pressed. "What is your wish?"

Ron pondered for a long time, a resolute glint in his eyes: "To understand the essence of this world, and to become a truly bright and inextinguishable being in the sky."

Edmund nodded slightly and said nothing more.

The two brothers stood side by side, gazing quietly at the starry sky, until the moon set in the west and the first rays of dawn rose in the east.

In the dim light of dawn, they smiled at each other, as if they had returned to their carefree childhood.

But they both knew that everything was no longer the same.

The next morning, the family stood quietly in front of the gates of Ralph Castle, seeing off Ron, who was about to embark on a long journey.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar faces before him, he felt a surge of indescribable emotion.

“Father, elder brother, the future of the family is entrusted to you,” Ron said, his voice carrying a solemn promise.

"No matter what happens, the Ralph family will always have my protection."

With tears in his eyes, the old count held his son's hand tightly.

"My child, wherever you go, this will always be your home."

Edmund stepped forward and handed Ron a storage box:

"This is a family keepsake, containing a portrait of each of us and a lock of our hair. We hope that wherever you are, you can feel the presence of your family."

"Thank you, brother. I will cherish it."

Ron carefully put the storage box into his spatial bag, then took out a crystal ball from his pocket:

"This is a gift I prepared for my family. If the family is in danger, I can input commands into it and it can kill any enemy below the level of a formal wizard."

The old count accepted the crystal ball with both hands, as if holding a priceless treasure, his eyes filled with emotion.

The moment of farewell finally arrived. Ron took one last deep look at the castle, the place that held countless memories for him, before turning and stepping into the carriage.

Ailan lightly leaped onto the driver's seat, and the stand-in doll pulled the carriage, which began to speed away.

Ron's gaze fell through the car window on the figures that were getting smaller and smaller, and he felt a pang of sadness.

………………

"Are you finally ready to leave the kingdom?"

Inside the palace, Andrei felt a familiar sense of oppression approaching, muttering to himself as a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

Once upon a time, he was just an insignificant thirteenth prince in the royal family, with no power, no allies, and not even a decent fiefdom.

If he hadn't met Ron, if it hadn't been for that decisive bloodline activation, he might have already become Cynthia's plaything, or died in some dark corner.

But fate is a strange thing; a chance encounter completely changed the course of their lives.

The carriage stopped in front of the palace, and Ron stepped down slowly.

He was dressed in a long black robe, which made his skin appear even paler.

“Andrei.” He nodded slightly, a rare smile appearing on his lips.

"Ron!" Andrei strode forward, forcibly suppressing his inner excitement and maintaining the dignity befitting a king.

The two exchanged a smile, needing no words; everything was understood without being spoken.

………………

The atmosphere inside the palace was peaceful.

News of yesterday's victory had spread throughout the city, and people cheered and praised Crown Prince Andrei's wisdom and his mysterious wizard friend's power. Ron, guided by a maid, arrived at the east side of the palace.

There is a standalone building here, surrounded by tall gray stone walls.

There is only one heavy iron gate as the entrance, which is covered with complex protective runes.

Andrei was already waiting at the door, dressed in formal royal attire, his expression solemn and dignified.

“The guardians of the vault are in position.” He nodded slightly to Ron. “We can go in now.”

Ron's gaze swept over the protective runes, silently analyzing their energy composition and protective principles.

These runes clearly have a strong ancient character and are slightly different from the rune system he learned in the Black Mist Forest, placing more emphasis on the connection between bloodline and lineage.

The iron gate slowly opened, making a dull thud.

An ancient and mysterious aura wafted over, mixed with some indescribable energy fluctuations.

An elderly man with white hair and beard stood inside the door, his eyes wary and sharp.

"This is Steward Cullen, the guardian of the royal treasury, and also a blood knight."

Andrei explained, "His family has been in charge of guarding the royal treasury for generations, and they know every treasure inside and out."

Ron nodded slightly to the old man, who returned a respectful bow.

“Lord Ron,” Cullen’s voice was hoarse.

"His Highness Andrei has already informed you of your purpose. The inheritance items for the 'Corona Breathing Technique' are ready. Please follow me."

The three walked along the narrow corridor, with countless ethereal blue crystal chandeliers hanging on the walls on both sides, emitting a soft and mysterious light.

This light appears to have been specially treated to suppress the energy fluctuations emitted by certain treasures, preventing them from interfering with each other.

At the end of the corridor was a spacious circular hall, surrounded by dozens of display cases and showcases, each protected by a specially designed energy barrier.

In the center of the hall was a huge crystal ball, emitting a faint golden light, seemingly monitoring the energy balance of the entire treasure vault.

“This is the core area of ​​the royal treasury,” Cullen explained.

"Extraordinary items collected by successive royal families are stored here, some of which even date back to the very beginning of the monarchy."

Ron's gaze swept over the exhibits, a slight surprise creeping into his heart.

The Farouk royal collection was indeed extensive, far exceeding his expectations.

Some of the items exhibited obvious fluctuations of extraordinary energy, making them quite valuable.

"The lineage of the 'Corona Breathing Technique' is here." Kuren led the two to a specially made display stand on one side of the hall.

Three items are displayed on the display stand:

An old parchment book, a golden circular badge, and two small crystal statues.

The statue appears to be human-shaped, but it has become blurred due to its age.

"This is the original manuscript of the Corona Respiration Technique."

Kulen pointed to the book: "It is said to have been written by the first generation of Sun Knights, recording the complete training methods for the four stages."

Ron could sense the faint energy fluctuations emanating from the book, which had clearly undergone special treatment to resist the erosion of time.

“This badge is the ‘Sun Emblem’,” Cullen continued.
"Legend has it that it has the ability to guide and purify the energy of the sun, and is an essential item for cultivating the advanced stage of the 'Corona Breathing Technique'."

Finally, the old man pointed to the small crystal statue:
"This is the most precious item—the 'Ancestor Puppet,' which is said to contain the movement memories and energy imprints of the first generation of Sunfire Aegis Knights."

Ron's eyes were immediately drawn to the unassuming statue.

He could sense that the energy fluctuations emanating from this small object were completely inconsistent with its appearance.

That energy was ancient and pure, as if it had traversed endless time, still retaining a certain primal vitality.

“Can I get a closer look?” Ron asked, his gaze never leaving the statue.

Kulen hesitated for a moment and looked at Andrei.

The latter nodded slightly, and the old man carefully removed the protective barrier.

He placed the statue on a specially made tray and handed it to Ron.

Ron carefully took the tray and immediately used "Supernatural Perception" to delve into the energy composition of the mysterious statue.

As his mental energy seeped in, an astonishing discovery surfaced in his consciousness.

Inside this seemingly ordinary statue lies an extremely complex energy core!

The core emitted a golden light, like a miniature sun.

The internal energy circuits are incredibly sophisticated, clearly the work of an alchemist.

What interests him most is that the energy properties contained in this core are strikingly similar to the incomplete "Sun Protection" within his body!

Ron's heart raced involuntarily; he immediately realized the importance of this discovery.

"The final stage of the 'Solar Breathing Technique' mentions a crucial condition—the practitioner must possess complete 'Solar Blessing',"

Ron spoke slowly, his gaze still fixed on the statue:
"But as far as I know, this trait is extremely rare, and it is almost only possible to appear in royal bloodlines."

Andrei nodded in agreement:
"That is indeed the case. Our royal ancestors received the blessing of the sun god, and this blessing has been passed down in the form of 'Sun God's protection'."

However, as generations pass, this trait becomes increasingly rare, and now very few people can exhibit the full 'Sun's Blessing'.

Ron shifted his gaze from the statue to Andrei:

“I can feel that this ‘ancestor puppet’ contains the original and purest ‘Sun Protection’ energy imprint.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Andrei's eyes: "You mean..."

"Yes."

Ron nodded slightly:

"The energy core in this puppet is very likely the 'Sun Essence' extracted from the bloodline of the first generation of Sun Knights, used to record and pass on the purest cultivation posture."

Andrei and Cullen looked at Ron in surprise, clearly not expecting him to figure out the secret so quickly.

"Wizard Ron is indeed insightful."

Kulun exclaimed in admiration:
"This is indeed one of our royal family's most precious secrets."

Legend has it that when the first Crowned Knight created this breathing technique, to ensure that future generations could master the correct posture, he specially sealed a portion of his soul and blood essence into this puppet, forming a permanent memory imprint.

Ron carefully examined the precious doll, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

If one can extract the "Sun Essence" from the puppet and fuse it with the incomplete "Sun Protection" obtained through breathing techniques within one's own body.

In theory, he would then acquire the complete traits, thus fulfilling the key conditions for the final stage of the Corona Breathing Technique.

However, this process is extremely dangerous. The fusion of the external spirit with one's own characteristics can easily lead to the collapse of the soul's structure if one is not careful.

Ron carefully observed the two dolls.

Although they appear extremely similar, they have subtle differences in energy fluctuations, much like two different interpretations of the same piece of music.

The doll on the left radiates an even more intense energy, like a burning flame, as if a miniature sun is sealed inside;
The figure on the right is more reserved and peaceful, with the rhythm of its energy fluctuations closely resembling the natural laws of the sun's movement, like the warm, gentle sunlight of spring.

(End of this chapter)