Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 532 The Sun King and the Kingdom in the Mirror
Meanwhile, in the dormitory of Cuihuan No. 2, a subtle reversal of probability is quietly taking place.

The third and final "reversal" effect of the Paradox Dice begins to appear.

This time, it neither eliminated the threat nor introduced rescue efforts, but instead carried out a more subtle operation:

It turned a near-certain death threat into a battle of wits where victory was still within reach.

Among countless parallel possibilities, the Cerberus should have chosen to launch a direct attack.

With their Dark Sun-level strength, they could launch a sneak attack when Ron was completely unprepared, with a very high success rate.

However, the "reverse" effect of the dice, combined with the time fog created by Sackran, affected the hounds' judgment.

They chose a "mental trap" that seemed safer but actually gave Ron an opportunity to retaliate.

The effect was so subtle that even the hounds themselves were unaware of it.

They thought they were making the most rational choice, but little did they know they had stepped into a trap set by fate.

Inside the room, Ron was deep in thought about the results of the divination.

The inspiration from the "Bridge" card made his thinking incredibly clear.

He needs to be the sole link between Vinicius and Cassandra, possessing the core technologies needed by both sides.

But at that moment, a faint yet persistent stinging sensation suddenly came from the Chaos Ram's Head Bloodline in his chest.

This feeling is completely different from the sharp alarms that I used to hear when facing direct threats.

It's more like a "dissonant background noise," a kind of irritating feeling that "something is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on what it is."

Ron immediately stopped thinking and began to carefully examine his own condition.

The cultivation is normal, the flow of magical energy is smooth, the mental state is good... all physiological indicators are normal.

But that lingering unease clung to me like a leech.

"Sakran's Time Mist..."

He suddenly remembered the warnings and protective measures of the hunting dogs:

"While the fog is concealing me, it may also be interfering with my own senses!"

It's like walking in a thick fog; you gain a sense of security, but you lose the ability to see dangers in the distance.

The reason why the signal of "crisis warning" is so vague is precisely because it is affected by the fog of time.

He immediately called out to his "family" deep in his mind.

"Mom, Acelia, have you sensed anything unusual?"

"baby!"

Nari's voice rang out immediately, filled with anger and vigilance:

"I sense something nasty is watching you! Even though they're well hidden, Mom can smell the stench of a predator!"

The apostle's instincts are the purest; what she feels is a sense of disgust from her natural enemy:
"Stay away from that book! I have a feeling something's wrong with it!"

Acelia's perception was more refined and rational:
"Something's not right. This feeling... isn't direct killing intent."

The dragon soul slowly condensed in the consciousness space, its silver eyes flashing with vigilance:
"It's more like a fisherman patiently setting up his net than a tiger pouncing on him."

This is a 'luring' trap; the target is your mind, not your body.

"The enemy is trying to lead you into a trap."

Hearing the two men's warnings, Ron's thoughts became clearer.

All the clues began to converge in his mind:

The radical timehound mentioned by Sackron;

The residual effects of the "reversal" effect of the paradoxical dice;

And this "inducing" threat pattern...

"I see……"

He analyzed the situation with a cold smile in his heart:
“The enemy is nearby and has already laid some kind of trap targeting my mind.”

“The trap is luring, and it will take advantage of my own habits and thought patterns.”

"The reason the enemy chose this method is because of the fog surrounding Sakran and their fear of my strength, they dare not launch a direct attack."

With this in mind, a bold idea arose in Ron's heart:
Instead of passively avoiding an unseen trap, it's better to actively step into it and uncover the enemy behind it.

There will be considerable risks, but it is also an excellent opportunity to thoroughly understand the enemy's situation and solve the problem once and for all.

"Mom, Acelia."

He proposed in his mind:

"I'm prepared to walk into the trap, but I need your support."

"What?! Honey, are you crazy?" Nari's voice was filled with surprise:
"Knowing it's a trap, why would you still jump in?"

"This is indeed very dangerous..."

Acelia's tone was also full of worry:
"The Time Hounds' attacks on the mental level are extremely cunning. Once you are dragged into the illusions they construct, it is very difficult to escape."

"But that's precisely why it's the only chance."

Ron said firmly:
"If I always remain on the defensive, I will never be able to ascertain the enemy's true strength and intentions."

"Moreover, I believe that with the cooperation of the three of us, we are capable of waging a psychological war."

Nari was silent for a moment, then let out a helpless sigh:

"Okay, since my darling has made up her mind, Mommy will go crazy with you this once."

"But you have to promise me that if things go wrong, you'll retreat immediately!"

"I will always be ready to tear through time and space and forcibly pull you back to reality."

Acelia nodded slowly:
"Although my power is limited in this low-magic environment, the dragon race's mental resistance remains strong."

“I will build a defense deep within your consciousness to ensure that even in the worst-case scenario, your core soul will not be damaged.”

With the support of two powerful allies, Ron took a deep breath and perfectly concealed his vigilance.

He walked to his desk, his face showing the focused expression typical of a scholar, as if his recent thoughts had given him important academic inspiration.

Take out "The Complete Guide to Extraordinary Things" from the storage bag.

As usual, filled with plans for the future and a thirst for knowledge, he gently stroked the book cover:
"I need your guidance."

His voice was filled with a genuine thirst for knowledge:

"How can we create a completely new technology that integrates history, soul, and cognition, and make it an irreplaceable core?"

The giant eye on the cover slowly opened, but Ron keenly sensed a subtle anomaly.

Although the eye retained its familiar deep blue color, a strange silver light flickered faintly deep within its pupil.

More importantly, the rhythm of turning the pages was slightly different from usual.

The true "Complete Explanation of the Extraordinary" will always "test" him first, confirming his qualifications through complex philosophical speculation.

But the "books" of today seem unusually cooperative, even somewhat eager:

"What an interesting question! This kind of cross-disciplinary technological integration certainly has enormous potential."

The voice still carried that familiar, wise tone, but upon closer listening, it lacked that signature "thoughtfulness":
"I happen to have a perfect case study that I can share with you."

"However, this level of knowledge exchange comes at a considerable cost..."

The book paused for a moment, then continued:
"Considering your recent outstanding performance, I can let you preview a portion first, and you can decide whether to pay the full price after you experience the effects."

"This is a special privilege for old friends."

Ron inwardly sneered at the other party's suggestion to "enjoy first, then pay."

This level of freebies feels like a brothel madam soliciting customers.

The true "Complete Guide to the Extraordinary" never makes such deals.

The King of Absurdity's style has always been to "examine the soul through paradox," rather than this kind of straightforward temptation.

"Thank you so much." He feigned delight. "Then, please begin."

The pages began to flip rapidly, eventually stopping at a completely new story page he had never seen before. Gold decorative patterns shimmered along the edges of the page, and a beautiful illustration appeared in the center.

The Sun King and the Kingdom in the Mirror

In the image, a majestic monarch draped in a golden robe stands on a towering throne, surrounded by dazzling light.

Every ray of his light illuminated the vast kingdom beneath his feet, but in the corners where the light could not reach, deep shadows still existed.

"Once upon a time, there was a supreme Sun King."

The spurious "Complete Explanation of the Extraordinary" begins to tell this captivating parable:

"His light shines throughout the kingdom, bringing warmth and order to his subjects. The kingdom prospers because of him, and the people live in peace and well-being because of him."

"But the Sun King always had a deep-seated belief—no matter how powerful he was, there were always some shadows that he could not completely eliminate."

The scene begins to change, revealing details of the kingdom.

Although most of the area was bathed in golden sunlight.

But some deep canyons, caves, and the backs of buildings stubbornly remain dark.

"The Sun King tried countless methods:"
Increase the intensity of the light, adjust the angle of illumination, even create multiple light sources... but the shadows still remain.

"They were like malicious reminders, telling the monarch that even the most powerful forces have their limitations."

Ron feigned deep interest, his eyes revealing a thoughtful consideration of the philosophical metaphor:
“Shadow and light…” he murmured to himself, “It is indeed a profound topic.”

The pages continued to turn, and the story reached a crucial turning point:

"Finally, the Sun King came up with a brilliant solution."

"He wants to create a 'mirror world'—an ideal world entirely shaped by his own will."

A new scene unfolds: the Sun King stands before a giant crystal mirror, reflecting a flawless world.

There was no shadow there; every inch of land was bathed in pure light.

"In the mirror world, the Sun King is not only a monarch, but also a creator god."

"He can shape the terrain at will, weave history, and even create subjects who are completely obedient to his will."

"Most importantly, in that world, there is no corner that he cannot illuminate."

"Because everything there originates from his perception and is governed by his will."

This parable is extremely alluring, suggesting a supreme skill of "perfect control" and "cognitive creation."

It was as if they were telling Ron:

If you can master this power, you can create your own perfect world, no longer bound by any external restrictions.

Ron showed great interest, leaning forward slightly:
"This ability... sounds like the ultimate form of reality reconstruction."

"Indeed." The fake "Complete Explanation of the Extraordinary" continued with satisfaction:

"The wisdom of the Sun King lies in his understanding that it is better to create a completely new reality than to change the existing one."

"In the mirror world, every idea he has can come true instantly, and every decision he makes will be executed perfectly."

"There were no opponents, no surprises, and no obstacles of any kind."

The story has reached its most crucial part:
"But there is a problem—although the Sun King created the Mirror Kingdom, he cannot enter it."

"He can only observe that perfect world through the mirror, but cannot truly enjoy the ideal order he created."

"Because he belongs to the real world, while the Mirror Kingdom only accepts pure consciousness."

The scene shows the Sun King reaching out to touch the mirror, but his palm can only touch the cold surface and cannot penetrate into that ideal world.

"At the end of the story, a mystery was left unsolved:"
How can the Sun King enter the Mirror Kingdom and dispel the last shadow?

The pages stopped turning here, awaiting Ron's response.

The entire fable is exquisitely crafted, possessing both philosophical depth and practical value.

It cleverly caters to Ron's current need—to find a transcendent solution in a multi-party game.

Ron pondered for a moment, then looked up, his eyes burning with a thirst for knowledge:
"This parable is so ingenious; it reveals the profound relationship between cognition and reality."

"But regarding the method by which the Sun King enters the Mirror Kingdom..."

He paused for a moment, feigning an expression of sudden inspiration:
"I think the answer may lie hidden in some fragment of history. The experience and lessons left behind by a being that has successfully achieved this transformation."

"Could I explore the answer to this question through historical research?"

The fake "Complete Guide to the Extraordinary" chuckled with satisfaction:

"A very wise choice! History is indeed the best teacher."

"Go, use your abilities to find the answers. The secrets of the Mirror Kingdom await your discovery."

Ron activated the [Historical Research] skill.

The silver pocket watch glowed faintly on his chest, and the river of time began to flow around him.

But this time, the direction of the river seemed unusually strange.

It doesn't flow into the past, but into a "space of possibility" that never existed.

The world began to spin, and the boundaries of reality gradually blurred.

In the final moments before his consciousness was about to completely sink into the trap, he heard Nari's furious roar:

"My baby! Mommy's here to save you!"

Acelia's voice followed:

"Ron, stay alert! This is a war of minds, not a historical exploration!"

Then, everything was engulfed in a dazzling yet dangerous vortex of light...

Meanwhile, in the real room, the actual copy of "The Complete Guide to the Extraordinary" lay quietly on the desk.

The moment Ron's consciousness was dragged into the "Mirror Kingdom," the giant eye on the cover suddenly opened.

The pages began to turn silently on their own, each emitting a faint but pure golden glow.

This light was completely different from the light emitted by the "imposter" just now—it was deeper, more ancient, and also more...dangerous.

"This trap is actually quite well made..."

A familiar voice came from deep within the pages of the book, carrying the playful tone characteristic of the King of Absurdity.

The pages turned faster, eventually stopping on a blank page.

An intricate star map begins to appear on the page, marked with countless intersecting lines of fate.

These threads of fate have now been meticulously woven together by two powerful wills, forming a vast network.

At one end of the network, a bizarre and absurd light flickers;

On the other end, it exudes a psychedelic aura of "illusion".

Those three self-proclaimed hunters, the time-hunting hounds, are nothing more than insignificant nodes in this giant web.

"At the Dark Sun level, you want to construct such a complete mental labyrinth?"

A line of sarcastic text appeared on the page:

"It's as ridiculous as trying to do quantum computing with a wooden abacus."

The star map begins to zoom in on specific areas, revealing the true structure of the "mirror world".

That was no illusion created on the spot.

Every detail and every rule has been perfected and adjusted countless times.

The outer perimeter of the "Craftsman's Labyrinth" manifests as the "Land of Mirrors".

More text appears on the page:
"I went through a lot of trouble to move this here. It should be able to provide enough training for the kid and help him get what he needs in the area he desperately needs."

“Of course.” The tone of the text became more playful: “provided he can get out alive.”

With this sentence, "The Complete Guide to Extraordinary Things" closed again, and the giant eye on the cover slowly shut.

The room returned to silence, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

(End of this chapter)