Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 548 The Vein of Resentment
For the next two weeks, life at Cuihuan No. 2 returned to its original course, like a pendulum swinging back to its original state.

Traditional wizards responded to this change with satisfied smiles.

In their view, this young "heretic" has finally been brought back on track.

Those dangerous "innovative experiments" were properly curbed.

The colonial teaching order returned to the rigorous framework they were familiar with.

However, Silas Draven could not derive any pleasure from this "victory".

Every morning, as starlight streams into the classroom through the windows, this heir to the Draven family always arrives ten minutes early.

He chose a seat in the last row against the wall.

He took out the recording device from the storage bag and carefully recorded every detail.

On the surface, he was fulfilling his duties as the "evaluation team leader".

In reality, he was more like a student eager for answers.

He tried to decipher the secrets that kept him up at night from every word and gesture of Ron.

This inner turmoil made his mental state extremely delicate.

At certain moments, when the young wizard on the podium used almost poetic language to expound on the elemental theories he had already memorized by heart...

Silas would briefly forget his own position and become completely immersed in this new perspective.

But at other times, when he realizes he is being drawn into the “enemy’s” explanations, a wave of anger and shame washes over him.

The self-esteem and pride he had built up over the past century were repeatedly torn apart by this contradiction, causing him to feel an extreme sense of torment.

Sitting alone in the laboratory late at night, he began to gradually discover an extremely terrifying fact.

I can no longer have the same absolute confidence in traditional methods as before.

When he tries to perform his daily enchanting work, the "resonance theory" always comes to mind.

And I recalled the other person's strange concepts about "understanding the story of the material".

This process of "pickled" thought is slow and profound.

Like a piece of meat that has been continuously moistened by the passage of time.

The surface retains its original shape, but the interior has been permeated by salt.

That afternoon, after Ron's class ended, Silas stayed in the classroom alone as usual to organize his notes.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting shadows between the empty seats.

This interplay of light and shadow reminded him of the philosophical question that had recently been troubling him:

How should light and shadow, tradition and innovation coexist?

Just as he was lost in thought, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the classroom.

Alistair Leonard pushed open the door and entered.

An unusual look of anxiety appeared on that usually icy face.

His robes were covered with mineral dust, indicating that he had just come from a laboratory or a mining area.

"Silas, I've finally found you."

Alistair's voice was clearly weary:
“I need you back to the Resentment Vein project team immediately; the situation is much worse than we anticipated.”

Upon hearing the name of the project, Silas's expression turned serious.

"The Vein of Resentment"

This was a thorn in the side of the colony's technical team, a major problem that had plagued them for decades.

That vein, containing precious "dormant salt," should have been a crucial turning point for the colony's development.

This mineral salt possesses extremely special magical properties:
When it exists in trace amounts, its magical properties are negligible, and it can even be used as an everyday seasoning.

However, when a large amount of mineral salt is gathered together, its internal magical density will increase explosively.

If we take one magic stone fragment as the standard unit.

One gram of mineral salt may contain less than 0.01 standard units of magical properties.

However, when one kilogram is gathered together, the total magical power content can reach an astonishing 10 standard units, far exceeding the simple cumulative effect of quantity.

This phenomenon of "convergence resonance" is extremely rare in the entire wizarding world.

If the underlying principles can be deciphered, it will completely revolutionize the energy system of colonies.

According to Alistair's calculations, if this vein could be fully developed...

Not only can we obtain an extremely large amount of pure energy, but we also have the opportunity to develop a brand-new "magic aggregation technology".

The application prospects of this technology are almost limitless:

From constructing a "super magic field" that covers the entire galaxy;
To manufacture "large-scale jump gates" that can more easily cross dimensions;
It might even touch upon the legendary creation of "artificial stars"...

However, reality is far more complex than theory.

As mining operations progressed, a fatal problem emerged:
The "aggregation and resonance" effect of dormant mineral salts not only amplifies their magical density but also exponentially amplifies the spiritual pollution they contain.

Initially, the miners only felt a slight sense of depression when dealing with small amounts of loose salt.

This level of pollution is almost negligible, like a mild hangover that will be relieved with a good night's sleep.

But as mining expanded and tons of salt were stored in large quantities, a terrible “spiritual plague” began to spread throughout the mining area.

The miners became extremely depressed and desperate, as if shrouded in some ancient gloom.

Their work efficiency plummeted, and there were even horrific incidents of mass self-harm.

What's even more frightening is that this kind of mental pollution is contagious, similar to a "virus".

Anyone who has been exposed to large amounts of mineral salt will be affected to varying degrees.

Therefore, using human lives to fill the gap is not a viable option.

Not to mention that human resources are already very valuable here.

Given its terrifying transmissibility, no matter how many people are sent, as long as the contact volume is large, there will be cases of collective depression or even suicide due to infection.

This situation also conveniently answered a question they had had since discovering the mineral vein:

Since this resource is so valuable, why don't the local forces on Stoker Star mine it in a concentrated manner?
"So far, we have tried almost every possible protective measure."

As Alistair walked, he reported the latest situation to Silas:
"Stronger energy shields, multi-layered mental damping fields, and even advanced protective equipment imported from the main world... are all ineffective."

They left the teaching building and walked along the Crystal Path toward the colony's industrial area.

The surrounding scenery gradually transforms from an elegant academic style to engineering architecture full of industrial aesthetics.

The industrial area under the night sky exudes a unique magical glow, and the sounds of various large machines operating echo in the distance.

But in those sounds, Silas detected a discordant tone.

It was a resonance, akin to a mournful wail, emanating from deep within the mine.

Alistair continued:
“Whenever we try to strengthen the protection system, the negative energy inside the vein becomes more active and dangerous.”

"This negative ability is escalating."

The latest monitoring data shows that the intensity of mental pollution deep within the mine has increased by a full 20% in the past year.

It's like...it's like we're actively adding explosives to a bomb.

Silas nodded; he had a deep understanding of the project's difficulty.

As a seasoned enchanter in the colony, he had spent a full ten years studying this problem.

Various traditional purification methods have been tried:

Light purification arrays, elemental balance adjustments, and even high-level exorcism techniques from certain hidden channels...

However, these seemingly powerful spells are of little effect when faced with the "Resentment Vein".

The spiritual pollution that contains centuries of painful history seems to possess a certain "learning ability," enabling it to quickly adapt to and resist various purification methods.

"Since you've come to inform me, have you discovered new clues?"

"Hera asked."

"Yes, and this discovery has given us a new understanding of the essence of the whole problem."

Alistair stopped and took out a recording crystal from his robes:
"Through in-depth tracing and archaeology, we have finally found the true origin of the pollution."

When the crystal is activated, a three-dimensional historical image begins to unfold in front of the two.

That was the planet Stoker a thousand years ago, a dark age filled with suffering and oppression.

Deep within the mine, countless generations of Stoker Star natives have carried out mining operations under extremely harsh conditions.

They were treated as cheap labor.

To spend a short and painful life in a mine filled with high temperature, high pressure and toxic gas without any protection.

"Their deaths from overwork were not accidental."

Alistair's voice grew heavy:

"These indigenous workers are systematically exploited and oppressed."

When they died from exhaustion, illness, or accidents, their bodies were simply dumped deep in the mine, becoming part of the soil.

The footage shows real historical scenes:
The emaciated miners wielded their rudimentary tools in the darkness;

The children, carrying heavy bags of ore, crawled with difficulty through the narrow tunnels;
The sick were ruthlessly abandoned, left to die in despair...

“Dead mineral salts have extremely strong ‘memory’ properties.”

Alistair explained:

"It not only absorbed geological information, but also drew upon the spiritual pain of those dead workers."

Thousands of years of oppression, despair, anger, and hatred are all sealed within the mineral structure.

As Silas listened to this explanation, a scene suddenly flashed through his mind:
A few days ago, someone was handling those dormant mineral salts with ease during that cooking demonstration class.

Although it is only a trace amount of mineral salt, it should theoretically contain a corresponding proportion of spiritual pollution.

However, during the cooking process, the other person seemed to easily dissipate those negative energies in some way that he couldn't understand at all.

At the time, he thought it was just because the amount of mineral salt was too small and the pollution was negligible.

But now that I think about it, it was definitely not a coincidence.

"This explains why traditional purification methods are ineffective."

Silas stated his judgment:

“We are not facing simple negative energy pollution; these mineral salts all possess activated resentment with complete ‘stories’ and ‘memories’.”

"Correct." Alistair put away the crystal.

"These resentments possess a complexity akin to that of a living organism."

They have their own 'logic', their own 'purpose', and even their own 'learning ability'.

Using standardized spells against them is like using a mechanized assembly line to fight a group of enemies with independent thought.

"In fact, as of the latest update, we have successfully eliminated approximately 60% of the pollution," he added.
"But the remaining 40% is like a stubborn disease that cannot be completely eliminated no matter what method is used."

Over time, these residual pollutants are slowly 'regenerating' and 'evolving'.

The two arrived at the heart of the industrial zone, where a complex of buildings surrounded by multiple protective arrays came into view.

This is the main experimental base for the "Resentment Vein Purification Project," and also the culmination of Silas's hard work over the past ten years.

The building's exterior resembles a steel fortress, its surface covered with layers upon layers of runes.

Various energy detection devices hummed all around, constantly monitoring the internal conditions.

But the most striking feature is the enormous "mental isolation shield" atop the building.

This translucent shield, composed of pure energy, resembles an inverted giant bowl, completely isolating the entire building from the outside world. Silver-white runes flicker intermittently on the shield's surface, each flash representing a resistance to some kind of spiritual impact.

A subtle tension permeated the air, as if even the building itself trembled at the dangers sealed within.

“I know you’ve been thinking about some new ideas lately.”

Alistair stopped in front of the door and turned to look at Silas:

"Have your views on Instructor Ralph's theories begun to change?"

This question made Silas's heart skip a beat.

He knew that Alistair was testing his position, trying to understand what kind of ideological changes had occurred in him during this time.

As Vinard's most trusted student and technical lead, Alistair's attitude often represented Vinard's opinion.

“I…I’m reassessing some possibilities,” Silas replied cautiously.
"Faced with such a dilemma, perhaps we need a more open mindset."

Alistair nodded: "Then perhaps now is the time to try a new approach."

He activated the building's entrance security system, and the heavy metal door slowly opened.

What comes into view is a laboratory filled with all sorts of sophisticated equipment.

Dozens of monitoring eyeballs are suspended from the ceiling, constantly scanning every corner of the room.

In the center of the laboratory, there is a sealed container.

The container contained several piles of silent mineral salt specimens, each as tall as an adult, emitting a faint, dark luster.

Even through multiple layers of protection, Silas could still feel the despair and pain emanating from within.

These are the largest samples that can be stably preserved.

Any larger scale will trigger an uncontrollable mental storm.

Even these samples are enough to plunge an unprotected person into a state of severe depression within minutes.

He stared at the salt deposits, and involuntarily recalled something someone had said in class:

“Every material has its own story… To change them, you must first understand them.”

Suddenly, a bold idea sprouted in his mind.

“Alistair.” He turned to his old colleague:
"What if... what if we changed our approach, instead of trying to 'eliminate' or 'purify' these resentments, we tried to 'understand' and 'communicate'?"

This suggestion surprised Alistair slightly: "You mean?"

“I was reminded of Ralph’s performance during a cooking demonstration.”

Silas's voice began to tremble with excitement:
"He demonstrated a certain... a certain skill that I could not understand at all in dealing with dormant mineral salts."

Even though those mineral salts contained spiritual pollution, he was able to easily transform them into harmonious energy.

"Are you sure you're not seeing things?" Alistair frowned.

“Even trace amounts of dormant mineral salt should be perceptible in terms of contamination.”

“I absolutely did not see wrong.” Silas’s tone became firm:
"I was sitting in the classroom at the time, watching him infuse the mineral salts into the soup."

Logically, that pot of soup should have emitted a faint aura of despair.

But in reality, the final soup exudes a pure resonance of elements.

A look of near-enlightenment appeared in his eyes:
“Treat these resentments as having emotions and stories, and then… try to establish some kind of empathetic relationship with them.”

“As Lecturer Ralph said, you have to understand the ‘story’ of every material. Perhaps we’ve been dealing with these grievances the wrong way.”

“We try to erase them, but perhaps we should… listen to them.”

Alistair remained silent for a long time.

“This is…an extremely dangerous idea,” he finally said.
"But considering that we have hit a technical bottleneck, it may be worth a try."

His expression turned serious:

"As you just said, this kind of attempt needs someone who understands the 'resonance theory' to lead it."

While we understand the basic concepts, we lack practical experience and intuition.

The two looked at each other again, and a tacit understanding formed in the air.

Silas took a deep breath and made a decision that could change his destiny:

“I’m going to see Professor Vinard and make a proposal.”

"What proposal?"

"Invite lecturer Ron Ralph to join the Resentment Vein project as a special advisor."

Let his 'Symphony of the Soul' theory be tested on the real 'battlefield'.

The moment those words were spoken, the air in the laboratory seemed to freeze.

"Silas, are you sure?" Alistair's voice was filled with worry:

"By doing this, you are essentially admitting that... your past methods were fundamentally flawed."

Moreover, by admitting this, he would be betraying his original academic faction and would likely face backlash from his colleagues.

"Perhaps that's how it is." Silas gave a wry smile: "Acknowledging flaws is the beginning of progress."

He looked at the mineral salt specimens that radiated a painful light, and stretched his body with a sense of relief:
"Instead of wasting more time and resources being stubborn, it's better to take a gamble."

If Ralph's method works, then we will all benefit from it. If he fails…

Silas stopped talking, not going into anything deeper:

"If he fails, at least we tried."

Of course, the main reason is that the responsibility for failure will not fall entirely on oneself.

This is his real plan.

Silas, a veteran of decades in academia, certainly understood the potential risks and benefits of this proposal.

If Ron succeeds, he will actually receive an extra reputation bonus as the "wise recommender".

At the same time, he can observe and learn up close, and perhaps have the opportunity to learn something.

If Ron fails, it will fundamentally prove the emptiness and impracticality of the "artistic" theory.

The responsibility will be entirely borne by the other party, while he can solidify his position in Vinard's heart by presenting an image of "rigorous verification".

Regardless of success or failure, he has the opportunity to profit from it.

This is the wisdom a seasoned wizard should possess.

An hour later, in Vinard's office.

Vinard remained seated in the chairman's seat.

Data streams flashed in the mechanical eyes, clearly analyzing the "bold proposal" that Silas had just put forward.

"Let me confirm." His electronic voice rang out in the office:
"Silas, are you suggesting that we hand over this core technological problem that has plagued the colonies for decades to a young lecturer at the Moon-level?"

“Yes, Professor.” Silas’s answer was surprisingly firm:

"My team has reached the end of the road within the framework of traditional enchanting."

Continuing to repeat the same failures using the same methods is simply a waste of time and resources.

He took a thick research report from his storage bag and placed it on the conference table:
"This is all the research we have done in the last five years."

We tried 137 different purification methods, used advanced rune components imported from the main world, and even consulted three visiting associate professors… all to no avail.

Vinard extended his robotic arm and quickly flipped through the data in the report:

"Your technical approach is theoretically correct, and your execution is very professional, so why can't you solve the problem?"

"Because our fundamental assumptions are wrong."

Silas made no attempt to hide his past blind spots:

“We have always regarded resentment pollution as ‘abnormal energy’ or ‘mental waste’ and have tried to ‘clean it’ using physical means or standardized spells.”

"However, while observing Morall's teaching, I realized that we had overlooked the most crucial point: these grievances have a complete 'historical memory' and 'emotional logic'."

They have stories, they are meaningful, and they have their own reasons for existing.

Alistair added from the side:

"Traditional purification methods are like trying to erase a diary that is being written on with an eraser."

The words on the surface may be blurred, but the will and impulse to write remain, and may resurface at any time.

Vinard nodded slowly; the analogy aptly illustrated the core of the problem.

“Lecturer Ralph’s theory of ‘Symphony of the Soul’ offers a whole new possibility.”

Silas continued:
Instead of forcibly erasing these resentments, try to establish a kind of 'resonance' with them and resolve the negative energy through understanding and communication.

"That sounds...quite creative."

Vinard's tone carried a cautious interest:
"But the risks are also enormous. If not handled properly, it could trigger an even more severe mental storm."

"That's why I suggest adopting a phased, small-scale verification approach."

Silas was prepared:
"First, test with the smallest sample size. If the direction is correct, then gradually expand the scale."

Meanwhile, my team will provide full support and be ready to activate emergency safety procedures at any time.

A long silence fell over the office.

Vinard's mechanical fingertips made a sharp metallic scraping sound on the table, a habitual action he took when deep in thought.

“From a purely economic standpoint, this proposal is indeed worth trying,” he finally said.
"But I need to confirm one thing—Silas, are you really willing to take on a deputy role in this project?"

"You should know that the Resentment Vein project has always been your exclusive domain and a crucial pillar of your colonial power."

This question directly addresses the core conflict within Silas's heart.

He was an "old" wizard who had struggled within the traditional system for nearly a century.

It certainly takes a lot of courage to voluntarily give up the so-called "expert authority".

"Professor, if this method can truly solve the problem, then what do personal gains and losses matter?"

Silas's voice was composed, and he tried to use pleasant words as much as possible:
"I would rather see progress in the colony as a whole than in my own personal achievements."

Vinard slowly raised his head, without offering any further comment.

“Very well. So, Alistair, what is your opinion?”

Alistair weighed the matter carefully for a while:

"From a project management perspective, bringing in external involvement is indeed a common practice."

Although Lecturer Ralph's theories are unconventional, they have shown remarkable effectiveness in teaching practice.

Applying this to technical challenges makes logical sense.

“And,” he added:
"The project's progress has now come to a complete standstill."

Continuing to invest resources along the existing path is extremely inefficient. The opportunity cost of trying new methods is relatively small.

Vinard ultimately made his decision:

"Then it's settled."

"Silas, go contact Instructor Ralph and formally invite him to join the Resentment Vein project as a 'special advisor.'"

“Understood, Professor.” Silas rose and bowed. “I will arrange it immediately.”

After leaving the office, he stopped in the corridor and took a deep breath.

Then, feeling a little uncomfortable, he fanned his nose.

The smell of engine oil on Vinard and Alistair is really strong...

Why didn't I realize it before?
(End of this chapter)