Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 274 Twelve Sages and Four Cornerstones

"Please come in." Ron didn't even look up, continuing to organize the densely packed manuscripts on the table next to him.

These are all the design schemes and calculation derivations he has been studying for the simulated combat device during this period.

He plans to summarize his research findings on this mobile device in a while and use them to earn contribution points.

The door opened, and Franka's somewhat rigid female voice came through:
“Wizard Ralph, His Highness has invited you to the Emerald Pavilion today. As agreed, today is the day for our exchange.”

Today was indeed the day for his regular conversation with Eve.

The intense research and analysis work has made his concept of time increasingly blurred.

"Thanks for reminding me, Franka."

He looked up and carefully put a stack of important notes into his spatial bag:

"I'll get ready right away."

The half-dragon maid nodded slightly, her silver-gray eyes remaining as wary as ever.

But upon closer inspection, there seems to be a touch of ease that is rarely seen on ordinary days.

Ron keenly noticed this subtle change, but didn't ask any further questions.

Ten minutes later, they left the teachers' residential area and went out onto the street.

Ron immediately noticed that the atmosphere today was very different from usual.

Colorful ribbons and crystal ornaments hang on both sides of the street, and carefully decorated flower baskets and ornaments are placed in front of the buildings along the road.

The air was filled with a sweet, pleasant aroma.

The most eye-catching sights were the various temporary stalls set up along the roadside, where crowds thronged and laughter filled the air, creating a truly festive atmosphere.

Are there any special days these days?

Ron asked, his gaze sweeping over the oddly shaped pastries at a stall.

They would change color in response to the surrounding magical fluctuations, just like living things.

Franka's lips curled up slightly, a rare occurrence.
"Lance Memorial Day is in a few days. It is one of the most important festivals of the year in the Central Lands. Everyone has already started preparing to celebrate."

Seeing Ron's questioning look, she offered to explain:
"Lance was one of the most outstanding alchemists of the ancient times, listed among the Twelve Sages, and was a key figure in the 'Creator's' season."

"Lance? The one who invented the Bloodline Modification Department and created the autophagic slime?"

Ron raised an eyebrow slightly; he certainly knew of this ancient being from the Third Era.

"As a professional modifier, you must frequently use autophagic slimes in your experiments, so I don't need to explain further."

Franka nodded firmly.

The two continued on their way, and as they crossed a small square, Ron noticed an exquisite stone statue standing in the center.

He was a middle-aged man dressed in an ancient-style robe.

Holding a test tube, his face was calm and wise, and his eyes revealed curiosity and enthusiasm for exploration of the unknown.

The base of the statue is inscribed with the words "Lanshevet - Explorer of Life".

Ron stopped and carefully examined the statue.

Although the stone is simple, the carving technique is extremely exquisite.

The master seemed to come alive, gazing intently at the ever-changing mysteries of life within the test tube before him.

"In the Central Land, there has always been a tradition of commemorating the wise and virtuous wizards."

Following Ron's gaze, Franka explained:
"Each of the twelve months corresponds to one of the twelve sages who made significant contributions to the wizarding civilization. In this way, people express their respect and pass on their wisdom and spirit."

Ron nodded, indicating his agreement with this tradition:
"It is indeed a very good way to commemorate this tradition. I come from a marginal school of thought and I lack understanding of this tradition."

"Not only that."

Franka continued, her voice unusually warm:
“In addition to the twelve months corresponding to the twelve sages, we divide the year into four quarters, each of which is dominated by a ‘great one’, thus forming a complete year.”

"The quarter of the 'Great Ones'?" Ron keenly caught the key phrase, somewhat curious.

Franka nodded and led Ron to a fountain on the other side of the square.

In the center of the fountain are four mysterious statues standing back to back, each imposing and exuding an indescribable sense of majesty.

"Among all the great beings, only four have independent titles—'The Progenitor,' 'The Creator,' 'The Revelation,' and 'The End of Death.'"

Franka's voice was full of reverence:
“They represent the cycle of beginning, construction, enlightenment and end, and are the four cornerstones of the entire wizarding civilization.”

She pointed to one of the statues.

It was a tall figure with an indistinct face, holding countless stars in his hands, as if he were giving birth to a new universe.

"The 'Ancestor' is the origin of all magic and the source of all methods. Legend has it that the path of magic only began with Him. He is both the first wizard and the supreme being of the wizarding path."

The first quarter—which we call the 'Origin Season'—corresponds to new beginnings and origins.

She then pointed to the second statue.

A figure with outstretched arms, from which countless buildings and objects rise.

"The Creator, the shaper of all things, the guardian of structure and order. He transforms the primordial chaotic energy into an ordered form of existence."

The second quarter—the 'Creation Season'—is a period we are currently in, corresponding to building and innovation.

The third statue is a mysterious figure holding a scroll, surrounded by countless runes of knowledge.

"'Apocalypse' is the transmitter of the light of wisdom and the revealer of knowledge. He can see through the essence of all things and reveal the deepest mysteries."

The third quarter—the 'Season of Enlightenment'—corresponds to understanding and inheritance.

The last statue is a blurry figure holding a scythe and wearing a black robe. The face is not visible, but it gives people a sense of boundless solemnity.

"'The end of death,' the end of the cycle, is also the beginning of new life. He governs the end of everything, while simultaneously nurturing new possibilities."

The fourth quarter—the 'final season'—corresponds to tranquility and transformation.

Of course, these statues only capture glimpses of the sages and great men of the human era.

Sculptors naturally cannot fully reproduce their ethereal forms or even their transcendent postures at higher levels.

Franka gently stroked the crystal decorations along the edge of the fountain, a fiery glint in her eyes:

"These four 'great ones' have transcended the boundaries of the Witch King; their existence has almost become a symbol, an idea."

Other witch kings, no matter how powerful, can only be named after their specialties or achievements, such as the 'King of Absurdity,' the 'King of Illusions,' and the 'King of Blood.'

Ron listened quietly, his mind churning with thoughts.

This practice of linking the four most powerful beings with time cycles not only reflects awe of power but also suggests a certain understanding of the laws of the universe by the wizarding civilization.

Origin, construction, enlightenment, and end—an eternal cycle, like the breath of the universe itself.

"Speaking of which, why does the Central Land distinguish time in this way, instead of the usual spring, summer, autumn, winter, or dry and wet seasons in the outside world?"

Ron asked, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Franka pointed into the distance, where magical light streamed through the air like rivers:

"As you may have noticed, the Central Lands have almost no seasonal changes in the traditional sense because of the unusually active magic."

Temperature, humidity, and light levels remain relatively constant, making it difficult for us to perceive the passage of time through natural changes.

Her voice carried an undisguised pride:

"Therefore, our ancestors created this time system centered on sages and 'great ones' both to commemorate those great beings and to provide people with a way to perceive the passage of time."

Ron nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes:
“It’s a brilliant solution to combine respect with practicality.” The two continued on, passing through several ornately decorated streets.

Ron kept seeing various displays and celebrations related to Lance.

There are temporary experimental demonstration stands that allow the general public to observe some basic alchemical reactions up close;

Performers dressed as Lance were telling various anecdotes about this ancient sage;
More often, there are various food items and decorations themed around autophagic slimes.

What's particularly eye-catching are the exquisitely crafted "autophagy slime cakes".

These pastries not only resemble autophagy slimes in appearance, but what's even more amazing is that they can change color depending on temperature and the surrounding environment.

From light green to deep purple, the variations are endless.

“Those pastries are really interesting,” Ron said, pointing to a stall displaying colorful treats.
"It reminds me of those real autophagic slimes in my experiments."

"This is also a way to commemorate Lance."

Franka explained:

"After all, one of the greatest inventions of the Lance alchemists was the autophagic slime. Its invention greatly promoted the development of bloodline science. It can even be said that without the autophagic slime, modern bloodline science might be at least an era behind."

Ron pondered for a moment, then asked, "How long will the formal festival celebrations last?"

"Three days," Franka replied.

"The most important of these is the triennial 'Rainbow Ring' competition, where bloodline modifiers from all over the world showcase their talents in bloodline modification. Traditionally, mentors from the Crystal Spire and some outstanding senior apprentices are eligible to participate."

"Sounds interesting."

Ron seemed quite interested: "What's the format of the competition?"

"Participants will receive the same basic materials and a clear modulation goal, and then complete the bloodline modulation within a specified time. The judging criterion is to determine the degree of success by the color change of the autophagy slime."

Franka explained, then added meaningfully:

"Her Highness thinks you should participate; she says it's a great opportunity to showcase your talents."

Ron smiled slightly but did not respond immediately.

As they spoke, the two arrived at the Emerald Pavilion.

Unlike usual, the small building has been decorated for the festival today.

A delicate crystal wind chime hangs at the entrance, tinkling softly in the breeze;

Several rare alchemical flowers were planted in the courtyard, and they were now blooming with strange lights of various colors.
Even the guardian golems were adorned with festive wreaths, adding a touch of liveliness to this usually solemn building.

Eve was already waiting in the reception room, wearing a light blue dress.

Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, and her amethyst-like eyes seemed even brighter than usual.

"Mentor Ralph!"

Seeing Ron enter, Eve immediately stood up, her face beaming with undisguised joy:
You look great today.

Ron nodded slightly, keenly noticing Eve's state of mind today.

She definitely looked much better than usual; her complexion was rosy, her movements were light, and even her voice was stronger than usual.

"Your Highness seems to be in a good mood. Is it because the festival is approaching?"

Ron asked, his voice gentle.

"Yes, but that's not all. I'll keep you in suspense for now."

Eve's gaze shifted to the exquisite instrument the other person had taken out.

It was the "Silent Furnace" that Ron had borrowed from her before.

"The effect of the 'Silent Furnace' was unexpectedly good."

Ron smiled and said, "As expected of one of the Crown Clan's treasures, it has now been returned to its rightful owner."

"I'm also glad it was helpful to you."

Eve smiled and gestured for Ron to sit down, then turned to Franka:

"Please prepare some refreshments for us, thank you."

Franka bowed slightly and quietly left the room.

Once the footsteps faded away and Eve was sure no one else was around, her expression became even more serious.

"Today, I would like to impart some more core knowledge to you."

She spoke softly, her amethyst eyes gleaming with wisdom:
"The real secrets of historians and astrologers."

Ron straightened up slightly, looking somewhat expectant: "I'm all ears."

"Before we officially begin, I must remind you of one thing."

Eve's voice lowered, taking on an unusual seriousness:

"This knowledge carries 'weight,' which can put a certain amount of pressure on the mind and may even cause pollution. This is one of the reasons why history and astrology have not become mainstream wizarding arts."

Ron recalled the unsettling mental pressure he felt while reading "The Abyss Creatures Compendium," and the repeated warnings.

"I understand that stargazing and peeking into history can easily attract unwanted attention."

In fact, such things had been happening one after another ever since he began cultivating "The Star Eater's Ramblings," so he was naturally prepared for it.

"exactly."

Eve nodded approvingly:

"The spread of these skills needs to be strictly controlled, otherwise it can easily lead to large-scale distortion and pollution incidents."

The most devastating mass aberrations in wizarding history have almost all been related to the improper dissemination of this type of knowledge.

She took out an old-fashioned wooden box from under the table and opened it gently.

The box was lined with a layer of soft black velvet, and a thin booklet lay in the center.

The cover is yellowed and has no title, but there seems to be some subtle flowing pattern on it.

“I got this from my grandfather, um… Professor Yutel.”

Eve explained softly, carefully taking out the booklet:

"It records some of the most basic but also the most essential stargazing techniques, especially how to protect oneself from being noticed by those ancient beings while exploring the mysteries of the starry sky."

She opened the booklet and showed Ron the strange symbols and diagrams on the pages:
"Stargazing is not just about observing changes in celestial phenomena; it is also a way to communicate with higher-dimensional consciousness. Behind every star, there may be some indescribable existence."

Most will ignore us, but some will take an interest in observers gazing at the stars.

Ron took the booklet, and as he read, he felt a subtle pressure begin to build in his mind.

The words were not like ordinary ink marks, but rather like some kind of living thing crawling on the paper. Each symbol seemed to carry weight, leaving an imprint on the reader's consciousness.

The booklet details various techniques for observing celestial phenomena and how to interpret the mysterious laws governing the movement of celestial bodies.

Unlike typical celestial studies, this research focuses more on the "gaps" and "interfaces" that are difficult to detect with the naked eye.

The stars are not always truly empty; rather, they may conceal many ancient entities.

A passage of text caught Ron's attention.

"When you gaze at the stars, always remember—never look directly at those 'dark areas'..."

(End of this chapter)