Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 33: The Whispers of the Star Eater

"I-I thought you might be Mrs. Allen's daughter or a relative." Ron looked away awkwardly, his voice filled with obvious confusion.

She laughed again, this time even more recklessly. "Daughter? My old bones have lived for hundreds of years, how could there be a daughter?"

Only then did Ron notice that although her appearance was completely different, her way of speaking and the sharpness in her eyes were exactly the same as Mrs. Allen's.

"But you..." He didn't know how to describe the changes before his eyes.

"You don't have to be too surprised." Mrs. Allen turned slightly and explained, "During the days of each month when the magic fluctuations are most active, I can temporarily restore my youthful appearance."

She stretched her body, seemingly enjoying the comfort of her young body.

"That's why I closed early today. During these few days, I usually close the shop to concentrate on potion making and rushing to complete a month's backlog of orders. Old customers like Holt more or less know something about this."

Ron nodded, but his senses had already picked up more information.

As the junior apprentice's mental strength increased, he could clearly feel the terrifying magical fluctuations emanating from Mrs. Allen.

——That energy field, as dark and powerful as the abyss, is definitely not something that an ordinary apprentice or even a senior apprentice can possess.

An astonishing thought flashed through Ron's mind: Mrs. Allen's current strength might have reached the level of a formal wizard!
"I was planning to tell you this," the pink-haired witch continued, seemingly unaware of Ron's inner thoughts.
"But your conflict with Marcus landed you in solitary confinement, so..."

At this moment, Ron was somewhat curious about why Mrs. Allen's magic power was usually weakened and her appearance was so old, but he tactfully did not ask any further questions.

Everyone has their own secrets, and it is often not wise to pry into them rashly.

"However, you came at the right time." Mrs. Allen's tone became more relaxed: "Although I am a little surprised, but since you are here, let's talk business."

"Yes, ma'am."

Seeing that they had returned to their familiar way of getting along, Ron's awkwardness dissipated a little, and he replied respectfully:
"I came here to tell you that I have ended my confinement early. I also want to ask you some questions."

Mrs. Allen looked at him with great interest, her green eyes flashing with a penetrating light:

"Isn't it just that the confinement is over? The change in your aura is obvious. Have you broken through to the beginner level?"

Ron nodded slightly: "Yes, I broke through by chance in the detention room."

"By chance?" Mrs. Allen raised her delicate eyebrows, with a hint of playful smile on her lips.
"A breakthrough in that environment can't be explained by 'accident'."

She walked around the counter and took a few steps forward.

Her young body made her movements particularly light and graceful, completely different from her usual hunched posture.

"Your aura is very stable, and the fluctuations of your mental power are also very even." Mrs. Allen commented:

"Better than most apprentices who have just broken through. It seems that the environment of the confinement room has actually helped you a lot."

Ron did not deny it: "Indeed, being isolated from the outside world allows me to focus more on meditation and practice."

"So, what do you want to ask?" Mrs. Allen folded her arms across her chest, a gesture that made a certain part of her body stand out. "I have two questions."

Ron kept his gaze straight and tried to reply briefly. He knew the other party always advocated efficient communication:
"First, I want to learn more about advanced meditation methods. Basic meditation methods can no longer meet my needs."

Mrs. Allen nodded, seemingly not surprised by the question:
"Basic meditation methods are like a phonetic dictionary used by children. There will always be a day when you learn it and put it aside. Your mental strength has indeed reached a level that requires more advanced guidance."

"What about the second question?"

Ron hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask directly, "How much do you know about Oliver?"

Upon hearing the name, Mrs. Allen's expression suddenly became serious. Her young and beautiful face showed a solemnity and sophistication that was inconsistent with her appearance.

"Oliver? Did he look for you?"

Ron briefly described Oliver's visit and how he spent the magic stone fragments to free himself from the confinement room.

"This isn't a good thing. That guy never shows kindness for no reason. Every time he gives, there's a careful calculation behind it."

Her fingers tapped lightly on the counter, a haphazard rhythm.

A moment later, Mrs. Allen slowly walked back to the counter, her slender fingers sweeping across a row of locked drawers, finally stopping in front of a drawer that looked ordinary but had a tiny sealing rune on it.

"Regarding your first question." A small silver key appeared in her hand at some point.

The key was inserted into the lock, and with an almost imperceptible "click", the drawer slid open quietly.

Mrs. Allen took out a small notebook bound in dark leather. An irregular blood-red gem was inlaid on the cover, glowing strangely under the light.

"I do have some information on more advanced meditation techniques. Here it is."

When her fingers brushed the cover of the book, the gem seemed to react to her touch and flickered.

Her eyes also became deep and distant at this moment, as if they could penetrate the long river of time:

"'The Whispers of the Star Devourer,' also known as 'The Star Meditation Method'—this is a gem-level meditation method that's one level higher than basic meditation methods. It's said to have been created by an ancient traveling wizard on the brink of madness and sanity, whose mind was shattered by the terrifying beings among the stars."

Mrs. Allen's finger paused on a page in the book where a complex runic structure was drawn.

It looked like dozens of basic meditation runes intertwined in an incredible way, forming a larger and more complete energy circuit.

"It allows mental energy to flow along the trajectory of the stars, achieving twice the result with half the effort. Of course, this also comes with corresponding risks." The beautiful pink-haired witch continued to explain:

"It's very suitable for those who have reached the level of a beginner apprentice. It can even help you break through to the level of a full-fledged wizard..."

Ron almost held his breath, his eyes involuntarily drawn to the rune structure.

Even with just a brief glance, he felt an inexplicable attraction, as if the rune itself contained some kind of call.

(End of this chapter)