Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 511 The Stoker and the Art of Metal Burning
The portal's light vanished abruptly, and Ron held his breath.

He wasn't standing on the ground, but on a huge hexagonal metal platform.

He looked up and was amazed by what he saw.

Countless identical hexagonal platforms are tightly joined together like a honeycomb, stretching infinitely towards the horizon, forming a vast and boundless metal plain.

Each platform pulsated at a subtly different frequency, and the entire plain seemed to breathe like a living organism.

What stands in the distance is not a mountain range, but a towering energy spire reaching into the clouds.

These towers are made entirely of translucent crystal, with swirling energy vortices visible inside.

At the top, beams of energy interwoven with red, blue, and gold colors constantly emerge and disperse in the air, like the aurora borealis.

Those winding "rivers" are actually giant pipes with diameters of tens of meters.

Through the translucent tube walls, one can see the silver liquid magic and the deep blue coolant flowing alternately, emitting a gentle sound like ocean waves.

A unique blend of smells filled the air.

The sharpness of ozone, the fresh scent of metallic coolant, and the cloying sweetness of pure energy.

The sky overhead was an eerie orange-red, and two stars of different sizes were slowly sinking in the west.

"There is absolutely no sign of life here."

Ron activated [Supernatural Identification], attempting to sense the presence of creatures around him, but the feedback he received made him frown slightly.

The whole world is like the inside of a precision mechanical watch, where every part is performing its predetermined function, but it lacks the randomness and warmth that life should have.

Countless alchemical golems are the only "residents" of this steel world.

Some of them climb between buildings like giant spiders, their eight mechanical legs leaving a trail of sparks on the vertical surfaces;
Some resemble armored beetles, carrying enormous cargo containers on their backs, ceaselessly transporting goods along pre-set tracks.

There are also some flying golems with wings made of pure energy, weaving their own patrol routes in the air.

"This isn't a real colony, but rather... a relay station?"

Ron quickly grasped the situation.

Based on his prior knowledge of colonial construction theories.

A successful alien base must take on the responsibility of "civilizing the natives" and obtain benefits in return through the spread of civilization.

But this place is clearly just a giant workshop that Vinard uses to dock mechanical equipment.

The real colonies may be elsewhere on this planet, or even on other planets.

Just as he was engrossed in observing his surroundings, the sound of machinery came from behind him.

A three-meter-tall, multi-legged alchemical golem was walking straight toward him.

The design of this puppet is full of Vinard's personal style—a combination of perfectionism and practicality.

The main body is a smooth silver sphere about one meter in diameter, with no superfluous decorations on the surface, only functional heat dissipation grilles and sensor arrays.

More than a dozen robotic arms of varying lengths extend from the center of the sphere, each a masterpiece of engineering.

As the puppet approached, Ron could hear the soft turning of the internal gears.

It stopped two meters away from Ron, and the loudspeaker above the sphere flashed blue.

Vinard's impatient voice came from within:
"You're finally here, Ralph. I thought you were lost in some time rift."

The dissatisfaction in his tone was obvious:
"Don't just stand there, the project schedule won't wait for you to adapt. Every minute of delay now could lead to..."

At this point, as if sensing something, she suddenly stopped speaking.

The multiple optical sensors on the puppet's head began to flash, with red, green, and blue light scanning Ron's entire body in alternating patterns.

The sensors can even detect the subtle fluctuations in the magic within his body, as well as the special imprints left by emotions in his mental power.

A faint electrical hum came from the loudspeaker; Vinard seemed to be processing and analyzing data.

A few seconds later, the voice sounded again, but the tone had changed noticeably.

It has lost some of its technical indifference and gained more of a humanistic consideration:

“You have the aura of 'death' about you…”

The voice hesitated for a moment:
"It's not your own, but comes from someone closely related to you. It's Senior Yutel, isn't it?"

Ron was taken aback, not expecting Vinard to be able to analyze such subtle information so accurately.

Before he could answer, Vinard continued speaking to himself:

“I saw it long ago. His ethereal body was decaying faster than the critical threshold, and his soul fire could be extinguished at any moment.”

The mechanical puppet's posture relaxed slightly, like a doctor diagnosing a patient:
"Wizards at our level are quite perceptive of life states at the same level."

They were able to detect subtle fluctuations in the energy of the ethereal body and deduce the approximate remaining time.

Although his voice was synthesized electronically, Ron could sense a hint of regret in it:

"That's why I didn't refuse him outright when he pleaded for you."

The final request of a great soul should always be given due respect.

Seeing the somewhat dejected young man before him, Vinard tried to comfort him, but in an extremely "technocratic" way:
"From the perspective of the law of conservation of energy, his knowledge and willpower have been passed on to you through teaching."

This form of continued existence is, in some ways, more valuable than mere biological survival.

The puppet's mechanical arm gestured complex formulas in the air:
"Indulging excessively in the emotions of parting is an inefficient form of mental drain."

This is a significant disruptive factor with a high negative impact on your current development goals.

Although his words sounded cold, Ron could sense the underlying concern within them.

"...taking into account the inherent characteristics of the human brain's emotional processing module."

Giving you a day to adjust your mindset is a reasonable arrangement that aligns with the principle of maximizing work efficiency. You can start formal work tomorrow.

Ron silently stroked the Cool Ring on his right hand.

A slight coolness emanated from the metal, like sweet dew soothing the anxious heart caused by parting.

He recalled Professor Utter's parting words and the old man's expectations and trust in him.

Ron shook his head, his eyes regaining their resolve:

"Thank you for your consideration, Professor Vinard."

But what Professor Utter least wants to see is me wasting my precious time because of him.

Ron stared directly at the puppet's main sensor:

"Please arrange work for me immediately. I came here to learn and grow."

Vinard's puppet remained silent for a moment.

The lights from all the sensors were flashing rapidly, clearly indicating that some kind of computational analysis was being performed.

Finally, an electronic voice came from the loudspeaker:
Willpower strength: 23% above average.

Emotional regulation ability: Pass.

He approved of Ron's performance:
"Self-discipline and goal orientation both meet my work standards."

However, an agreement is an agreement. Since I've been made to wait so long, I must prove my worth starting with the most basic tasks.

The puppet turned around and began to move towards a huge building in the distance:

“Come with me, Ralph. Let me introduce you to your first ‘patient’.”

As he moved, more details came into Ron's view.

That building was a maintenance hangar specifically designed for the Starforged Titans.

The building is over a kilometer tall and features a retractable dome design, capable of fully accommodating the massive bodies of the Titans.

Vinard's puppet led Ron to an elevator platform deep inside the hangar.

This platform itself is an engineering marvel.

The circular structure, with a diameter of over 100 meters, is inlaid with countless precise and stable runes on its surface.

When it starts operating, the entire platform rises as gently as a feather, without the slightest vibration.

As the altitude increases, the feet of the Starforged Titan as it lies down gradually come into view.

Ron held his breath.

Upon closer inspection, it is far more stunning than previous holographic images.

A single Titan's foot is the size of a village.

The soles of the feet are a dizzying maze of runes.

Tens of thousands of energy circuits, as thick as river channels, crisscross and weave a network on the soles of the feet, much like city streets.

Based on these main circuits, there are countless secondary circuits as fine as hair.

They are distributed like capillaries on every inch of the metal surface, ensuring the precision of energy conduction.

"The energy transmission capacity of each main circuit is equivalent to the entire power supply demand of a city."

Vinard's voice came through the loudspeaker, carrying the pride of a creator:

"And the precision of those secondary circuits is something even Cassandra's 'experts' can only admire from afar."

But now, this engineering marvel is suffering from the erosion of foreign lands.

Ron could see that in certain areas on the soles of his feet, the originally pure blue light had been tainted into a sickly yellowish-green.

In some places, it has even completely lost its luster, appearing dull and lifeless like dead blood vessels.

"The level of contamination is more severe than when I tested it before."

Vinard's tone became serious:

"If the situation continues to deteriorate, Titan's mobility system may experience some malfunctions."

The platform stopped three meters above the surface of the foot.

This height allows Ron to work safely without disturbing Titan's hibernation.

A dedicated maintenance golem glided over.

Its robotic arm also carried a heavy protective suit and an information crystal that emitted a blue light.

"This is an isolation suit specially designed for operations in foreign regions."

Vinard explained:

"It has a built-in seven-layer magic barrier and an outer coating of corrosion-resistant alloy."

It can provide sufficient protection even when facing unknown sources of pollution.

His robotic arm pointed at the information crystal:
"As for this crystal, it contains a complete cleaning procedure, safety guidelines, and emergency plan. I suggest you study it thoroughly before you start practicing."

"Aren't you going to provide guidance personally?"

"I have more urgent matters to attend to."

Vinard's tone became impatient:

"Although foot cleaning is important, it is relatively easy to perform."

If you follow the procedures, you should be able to handle it.

In case of emergency, simply activate the distress signal within the crystal.

After saying that, Vinard's puppet hurriedly left, leaving Ron alone to face the dirty big foot.

For the next half hour, Ron was completely absorbed in studying the contents of the information crystal.

The crystal displays the characteristics of pollutants, treatment methods, and safety precautions in detail through 3D projection.

[Type 1 of pollutants: Blast furnace slag]

The projection displays the molecular structure of the dark gold patches:

"It has strong metal assimilation properties and can change the molecular arrangement of the carrier alloy."

Cleaning method:

Using a 7:3:1 ratio of reverse alchemy solvent, each treatment area should not exceed 50 square centimeters, and the reaction time should be controlled within 3-5 minutes…

[Type 2 of contaminants: Tin dust]

The energy analysis graph of the silver flowing powder appeared before my eyes:
"The solidified residual sensory energy of those who died in battle has strong spiritual radiation characteristics."

Cleaning method:

"Personal radiation field must be used to cover the area first, and after it loses its activity, it must be removed one by one with precision energy tweezers. Direct contact is strictly prohibited..."

……

After learning the theoretical knowledge, Ron began to practice.

The process of putting on the protective suit was more troublesome than I had imagined.

This equipment has more than a dozen different components, each of which needs to be installed in a specific order, and each layer of protective barrier needs to be activated by magic.

Once the helmet's built-in communication system is activated, a synthesized mechanical voice prompts the following:
"The protection system has completed its self-test, and all parameters are normal."

Recommended work schedule: Take a 15-minute break every 2 hours to avoid excessive magic consumption.

As required by the procedure, he started practicing with the simplest area.

Ron's hands trembled noticeably when he first prepared the reverse alchemy solvent.

He carefully added three different colored reagents to the test tube in a ratio of 7:3:1.

The first is a transparent basic solvent, the second is a light blue catalyst, and the third is a golden-yellow stabilizer.

However, the first attempt to allocate the funds ended in failure.

He didn't get the proportions right when adding the catalyst, and the ratio was off.

The entire tube of solvent immediately turned an ominous dark red and emitted a pungent acidic smell.

"Reallocation is necessary..."

The second time, he was even more careful.

Each drop of reagent must be added and observed to ensure that the color change conforms to the procedure description.

Fortunately, with the experience bonus from the potion master, the second attempt was easy and successful.

The solvent is a standard milky white color with a subtle sheen on the surface.

Ron carefully dripped a few drops of solvent onto a small piece of blast furnace slag.

White steam rose from the surface of the molten slag, and the dark golden color gradually faded.

But the reaction was faster than he expected, almost out of his control.

"Sure enough, the actual operation differs greatly from the written instructions..."

After hours of repeated practice, Ron finally learned how to clean up the contamination accurately.

Each pollutant has its own unique "personality".

The reaction of blast furnace slag is the most violent, and it can easily get out of control if not handled carefully.

The tin dust is extremely sensitive to magic, and the intensity of the radiation field must be precisely controlled;
Corrosive moss is the most cunning, quickly shrinking into the deepest part of the rune when it senses danger.

On the second day, as Ron's skills improved, a bold idea formed in his mind.

"These pollutants... perhaps I can use my historical research skills to learn about the stories behind them..."

But he was cautious.

While historical research is a powerful tool, it must be used with extreme caution.

He chose a relatively isolated piece of blast furnace slag as his target.

Ensure that even if an unexpected event occurs, it will not affect the main rune circuits.

Taking a deep breath, Ron carefully activated the [Historical Research] skill.

The next moment, the world underwent a dramatic transformation in his eyes...

He was no longer standing at the feet of the Starforged Titans, but "floating" above a magnificent aerial manor.

The estate is made entirely of refined precious metals; every pillar is made of pure gold, and every floorboard is inlaid with rare crystals.

In the center of the manor, a towering furnace beats slowly like a heart.

But just then, a piercing alarm sounded from inside the protective suit:
"An abnormal mental state has been detected in the user. It is recommended to immediately terminate the current operation!"

Ron suddenly woke up and realized that he had almost spilled the solvent in his hand on an area that shouldn't have been cleaned.

"That's too dangerous..." He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Using historical research when performing precision operations is too risky.”

You must wait until you are fully proficient in the technique before attempting it.

For the next few days, he focused intently on the cleaning work and stopped paying attention to anything else.

Only when his operation had reached an almost instinctive level of proficiency did he dare to try again to read the historical secrets hidden in these exotic contaminants.

As the orange-red stars slowly sank in the west, Ron had already cleaned nearly a third of the contaminated area on the soles of his feet.

His movements became fluid and skillful.

The solvent preparation was flawless, the intensity of the unfolded radiation field was perfectly controlled, and the precision of the energy tweezers even exceeded the program requirements.

The synthesized voice inside the protective suit also changed the evaluation:

"Operational proficiency: Excellent, can attempt to handle more dangerous contaminated areas."

Now, it's time to explore the secrets behind these exotic contaminations.

Ron chose a relatively safe work area.

A few isolated pieces of blast furnace slag will not affect the main rune circuits even if an accident occurs.

He first followed the standard procedure and dripped the solvent onto the surface of the molten slag.

While the reaction was in progress, the [Historical Research] skill was carefully activated.

This time, he was fully prepared.

One hand held the cleaning tool firmly, while the other hand rested on the emergency stop button.

If the historical imagery is too intense, he will immediately interrupt the skill.

A gentle force of time emanated from Ron, subtly resonating with the disintegrating slag.

The world before my eyes began to distort once more.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself "standing" in a breathtaking aerial city.

Historical fragments suggested that this magnificent man-made city belonged to an alien world called "Stoker Star".

The entire city is suspended above the clouds and consists of countless interconnected metal platforms.

Each building is a perfect blend of art and engineering, with its pure gold spire gleaming under the twin stars.

At the heart of the city is a colossal furnace, towering a kilometer high.

This furnace was not merely a smelting facility, but also a symbol of power.

Its ever-burning golden flames proclaim the "Blast Furnace Aristocracy's" dominance over the entire world.

Ron “saw” a grand celebration taking place.

Dozens of blast furnace nobles, dressed in magnificent robes woven from active metals, were performing some kind of sacred ritual around the furnace.

Their bodies have undergone deep metallization, their skin has a perfect metallic sheen, and their eyes burn with flames like molten gold.

The leading nobleman raised his hands, his voice echoing in the air like the grandest of bells:
"Another bumper year! The output in the city has reached a new high. Our glory, like this eternal flame, will forever shine upon the star of the furnace!"

The other nobles cheered in unison, their golden cups clinking together with a crisp metallic sound.

But Ron "overheard" their private conversation:
“Those bugs in the bottom city have been a bit restless lately; some radicals have emerged in ‘Tin Eye’ and ‘Copper Arm’.”

“Let them make a scene,” another nobleman said with a contemptuous laugh.

“This happens every few decades. Once their passion for resistance wears off, they obediently return to work in front of the furnace.”

"However, this time seems a little different." The third voice carried a hint of worry.
"They acquired some technology we don't recognize. Yesterday's crackdown resulted in the loss of three standard-issue puppets."

"Don't worry, we are all God's children." The leading nobleman waved his hand.

"Before the purest gold-burning technique in the world, any resistance is futile."

The scene began to change, and Ron "saw" the power structure of this stoker planet.

In this strict hierarchical system, the "Grand Duke of Pure Gold" is at the top, possessing absolute dominion over the entire Stoker Star.

Below them are nobles of various metal properties:

The "Steel Heart Marquis" specializes in attack, the "Iron Wall Earl" excels in defense, and the "Bronze Cauldron Viscount" is in charge of production management.
Every nobleman possessed a special metal manipulation technique known as "metal burning."

Their status is also directly linked to the "Gold Burning Technique" passed down through their bloodline.

And below this aerial city.

Through the thick clouds, one can see the "bottom city" shrouded in smoke on the ground in the distance.

(End of this chapter)