Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 553 The Key to the Void Remains

As dawn broke, Ron had already spent the entire night in front of the sand table.

After countless attempts and adjustments, he finally found a relatively feasible solution.

While it's far from perfect, it's the limit he can achieve at this stage.

What frustrated him most was a truth he gradually discovered during the experiments:
The effects of resentment and the accumulation of magic are essentially two sides of the same coin.

Like light and shadow, life and death, they are interdependent and inseparable.

Resentment provides a kind of "spiritual anchor," allowing the originally loose magic to gather;

The accumulation of magic provides a "breeding ground" for resentment to thrive.

Completely removing the pollution of resentment is tantamount to completely destroying the special value of mineral salt.

This is as absurd as trying to remove all the carbon from a diamond—without carbon, there is no diamond.

"Therefore, all I can do is 'reduce the toxicity,' not 'detoxify' it."

Ron concluded with a wry smile.

According to his calculations, this solution can reduce pollution residue from 40% to about 5% at most.

Although cumulative risks still exist, they are now within an acceptable range.

As for those resentments that have crystallized...
Ron frowned as he stared at the black crystal that shimmered with an ominous light.

This is the salt that he used as raw material to simulate the sand table, and it was extracted from that salt.

But Ron could imagine that the salt he needed to deal with in the mine could crystallize into mountains of resentment.

How to safely dispose of this "mental bomb" will be another problem that needs to be solved.

Perhaps we could continue to seal them in special containers?
Or perhaps, we could find a way to slowly process this energy?
These all require further research and experimentation.

Even so, his achievements are already quite remarkable.

The leap from "completely unusable" to "possible for limited mining" represents a qualitative leap.

For colonies desperately in need of energy, the value of this breakthrough was immeasurable.

The morning light shone through the window onto Ron's slightly tired face.

He slowly stood up and stretched his stiff body.

Deep within his mind, a detailed technical document had already taken shape:
An Orderly Transformation Scheme Based on "Historical Emotional Entropy"

—Subtitle: On How to Coexist Peacefully with Millennial Resentment
This document contains not only all the technical parameters and operating procedures.

More importantly, it also represents a completely new way of thinking:

Pollution is no longer seen as an enemy, but rather as something that needs to be understood and guided.

“Silas, no, Astellil and Vinard will be very surprised.”

Ron smiled.

………………

"Honey, are you sure you want to do this?"

Nari's voice gently echoed from the depths of her consciousness, her tone filled with worry:
"Those old foxes are no pushovers."

"If they gang up on you, Mom can't just rush into the meeting room to save you from this distance."

Aseria's dragon shadow slowly appeared in the corner of the room:

"From a strategic perspective, this is indeed a gamble."

If you succeed, you will gain an unshakeable position in the colony;
If you fail, you may be marginalized or even forced to leave prematurely.

"But the dragon's survival philosophy tells us that true opportunities are always accompanied by corresponding risks."

Staying in a safe zone will never lead to a qualitative leap.

Carlos's voice also came from the pocket watch:

"According to my calculations, the current timing is indeed the optimal choice."

Professor Vinard's anxiety about the project's progress is rising, and Alistair's team's traditional approach has reached a dead end.

In this context, any groundbreaking solution will be given exceptional attention.

He added:
"Moreover, what you possess is not only technical solutions, but also strategic intelligence about the true situation of the Stoker Star."

Even if the plan is questioned, the value of this intelligence is enough to ensure your central position.

Ron nodded slowly and carefully placed the technical document he had stayed up all night to finish into his storage bag.

"I understand everyone's concerns; this is indeed a risky move."

He turned to the three "advisors" in the room, his gaze resolute:

"But sometimes, caution alone is not enough."

Vinard brought me here, giving me this platform and resources, hoping I could provide solutions that traditional thinking couldn't address.

"The opportunity is right in front of me. If I choose to be conservative out of fear, that would be a real failure."

Nari sighed softly, the worry in her voice turning into firm support:

“Since you’ve made up your mind, my dear, I will fully support you.”

Her tone became more serious:

"However, in the unlikely event that something unexpected happens, your mother will immediately sense any changes in your mental state."

"At that time, anyone who dares to harm my child will face the full wrath of the 'Eye of the Abyss.'"

Although this statement sounds like an overprotective mother, the underlying threat is real.

"thank you all."

Ron straightened his clothes and walked towards the door.

"Alright, it's almost time, I should head over soon."

………………

After submitting his proposal, Ron found the atmosphere in the room to become as heavy as solidified amber.

The oval conference table was now filled with the colony's top technical experts.

In front of each person lay a thick stack of photocopied documents, the covers bearing perplexing titles in silver, cursive lettering:
An Orderly Transformation Scheme Based on "Historical Emotional Entropy"

The subtitle is even more baffling: "On How to Coexist Peacefully with a Thousand-Year-Old Resentment"

Some experts were flipping through the documents, their brows furrowed;
Some whispered among themselves;

Some simply pushed the documents aside and looked at the young wizard sitting next to the podium with suspicion.

Silas sat in the seat closest to Ron, his head bowed.

As a co-initiator of the project, he both hoped the plan would succeed and was concerned about many of the "non-mainstream" theories involved.

On the podium, Alistair was reviewing every detail of the plan with an extremely rigorous attitude.

His finger moved slowly across the document page, sometimes pausing on a key data point, sometimes frowning over the theoretical explanations.

This intense scrutiny had lasted for a full twenty minutes.

Apart from the occasional rustling of papers, the meeting room was filled with a suffocating silence.

Finally, Alistair slowly closed the document.

He gently tapped the table with his hand, drawing everyone's attention to himself.

As the chief technology officer second only to Vinard, his evaluation will directly determine the fate of this project.

"This proposal from Instructor Ralph."

Alistair's opening remarks were cautious and neutral, but everyone could feel the weight they carried.

"I must admit that it contains some rather innovative theoretical ideas."

He didn't look at Ron; his gaze remained fixed on the document cover.
“Emotional frequency modulation, mental fluctuation guidance, and historical reverberation processing—these concepts do sound very appealing.”

Hearing this, Silas breathed a slight sigh of relief.

At least Alistair didn't completely reject it from the start.

However, the next turn of events shattered his hopes:

"However, there are some parts that I don't quite understand."

Alistair then changed the subject:
"The core theoretical basis of the entire scheme is the so-called 'emotional resonance' mechanism."

Within our existing system of occult knowledge, there are no precedents or supporting data to refer to.

He turned to a page in the document and pointed to a formula:
"The key parameters of this model, known as the 'resonance transformation function,' depend entirely on the practitioner's 'subjective judgment' and 'intuitive perception.'"

"In other words, the success or failure of the entire plan seems to be entirely based on Ralph's personal 'intuition' that we cannot understand or verify."

A soft murmur began to emanate from the conference room.

Several senior experts exchanged worried glances, clearly deeply uneasy about this "unquantifiable" technological approach.

Alistair raised his hand to signal for quiet, then continued in that serious, almost rigid tone:
"From an engineering safety perspective, we cannot assess the true risks of this solution."

If a deviation occurs in actual operation, the consequences could be catastrophic.

“This technical approach, which relies heavily on individual skills, also lacks replicability and standardization. Even if Ralph the instructor can successfully implement it, we will not be able to train other technicians to master the same skills.”

His conclusion was as cold as a death sentence:
"Therefore, from a technical management perspective, I cannot sign off on the implementation of this plan."

I suggest that this be designated as a long-term theoretical research topic and entrusted to the research departments of the colonies for in-depth exploration.

Although these words were politely worded, they were a very heavy "soft rebuff".

Alistair did not directly criticize Ron's abilities.

It simply means, "Your proposal is too advanced; our technical capabilities are insufficient to verify it, therefore we cannot approve it."

This method of refusal may seem objective and fair, but it is actually more lethal than a direct attack.

This suggests that Ron's plan lacks a practical basis and is more like some kind of "metaphysics" or "pseudoscience".

He was right, after all, Ron couldn't possibly write down his experiences, which he had simulated more than ten times in the virtual sandbox.

The atmosphere in the meeting room plummeted to freezing point.

Suspicious and distrustful gazes began to fall on Ron.

An alchemist from the Garden of Elements said softly:
"Indeed, emotions are too subjective to be used as technical parameters."

Another enchanter from the Tower of Resonance nodded in agreement:

What we need are reliable, repeatable solutions, not artistic performances that rely on individual talent.

Silas turned pale; he could sense the entire project sliding into an abyss.

Could it be that I made the wrong bet?

At this critical moment, a familiar sense of oppression suddenly came from above the conference room.

A tall figure slowly materialized from the light—it was Vinard's projection.

As soon as he appeared, he scanned everyone present, immediately silencing the entire conference room.

"Looks like I came just in time."

Vinard's electronic voice echoed in the space, carrying a hint of playfulness:

“Alistair, I just heard your assessment.”

Your cautious approach is truly commendable; it's a quality that an excellent manager should possess.

Hearing his mentor's affirmation, Alistair's face showed a relieved expression.

"However, you were wrong in this matter after all. And you were very wrong."

Vinard's tone suddenly became stern:

"You believe there is only one path to truth, and that is a straight line paved with data and formulas."

Indeed, this path can make you an excellent Dark Sun Wizard, but it will never allow you to touch the threshold of true 'greatness'.

These words struck Alistair like a heavy hammer blow.

His face turned ashen; what Vinard had pointed out was the deepest inner demon that he had been unable to overcome for decades.

Vinard didn't give him a chance to respond, turning to face Ron's documents:

“You all think this plan is absurd, but I see a familiar shadow in it.”

"Six hundred and twenty-three years ago, when I began to condense the nascent form of the Void into a complete Void, everyone below the rank of Grand Wizard came to dissuade me:"
'Vinard, you're insane.'

Who would modify their body into a machine?

As he spoke, Vinard raised his mechanical arm, its silver metallic surface reflecting the light of the magic crystal lamp:

"They said my choice went against nature, against tradition, and against the theory of constructing the void."

But now, my ethereal body has reached 87% perfection, and I am only one step away from becoming a top-tier grand wizard.

Most of those who questioned me back then have died in various accidents, and not a single one of them became a great wizard.

His voice became more serious:

"The improvement of the virtual skeleton has never been a pure accumulation of technology; it is only at the level of 'tool'."

True transformation requires the incorporation of irrational elements, allowing it to evolve from a simple vessel of power into a complete 'inner world'!

Upon hearing this, Ron's heart stirred.

He recalled his experience of consulting "The Complete Guide to Extraordinary Things" about constructing ethereal structures, only to be given a blueprint for a "Dream Theater".

It now seems that the other party may have received similar insights.

Vinard's criticism was directed at his own students:
“Alistair, you advanced to the Dark Sun class thirty years earlier than Ella.”

But why is your progress in forming the nascent ethereal body so far behind hers?

This question pierced Alistair's most vulnerable spot like a sharp sword.

His throat began to tremble as he tried to explain, but found himself unable to speak.

"It's because your thinking is too rigid!"

Vinard continued his relentless attack:

"Your nascent form is a cage made of logic, and you have locked yourself inside it with your own hands!"

Now, someone who might give you the key is standing in front of you, and you want to chase him away?!

The entire conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Every expert present could feel the anger in Vinard's words.

This anger wasn't directed at Alistair alone.

Silas shuddered.

He originally thought it was just a routine debate over technical approaches.

Unexpectedly, Vinard raised the issue to the fundamental question of "whether or not one can advance to the rank of Grand Wizard".

He himself also faces the bottleneck of rigid thinking.

Vinard's gaze swept over everyone present except Ron:

"Most of you have already reached a fairly high level in your respective fields of expertise."

However, at the same time, they were also constrained by their own 'professional advantages'.

"You are afraid to try any method that cannot be explained by existing theories because that means admitting the limitations of your own knowledge system."

But true breakthroughs often arise from these 'inexplicable' practices!

This "lecture" completely silencing all dissenting voices.

No one dared to continue adhering to their conservative stance in front of Vinard.

Because that would be tantamount to admitting that you are a "rigid thinker and a loser".

Vinard's projection turned to Ron, his tone softening again:
"Instructor Ralph, now please explain your proposal to us in detail."

I believe the experts present are ready to listen with a more open mind.

In the perfect speaking environment that Vinard had created, Ron slowly stood up.

Instead of immediately beginning his technical explanation, he first bowed deeply to all the experts present:
"First of all, please allow me to express my sincerest respect to all the seniors present."

It is precisely because of everyone's years of technical accumulation and tireless exploration that a solid foundation has been laid for my 'integration'.

This high-EQ opening remark immediately dispelled the resistance in many people's hearts.

Ron did not portray himself as a "disruptor," but rather as a "master of all trades."

He pulled up several past research reports and projected them onto the ceiling of the conference room:
"Associate Professor Alistair's 'High-Pressure Mental Damping Field Research,' Associate Professor Silas's 'Emotional Energy Solidification Rune Experiment,' and Associate Professor Ciarán's 'Life Field Induction Attempt'"

Each time a name was mentioned, Ron would nod to the corresponding expert:

"As you can see, these seemingly independent research directions actually touch upon different aspects of the same core issue."

He pointed to Alistair's research report:
“Mr. Alistair’s mental damping field can create the most stable ‘experimental stage’ to ensure that complex operations are not affected by external interference.”

Then turn to Silas's results:

"Associate Professor Silas's rune solidification technology can create the most robust 'energy cage' to limit dangerous mental fluctuations within a controllable range."

Finally, I looked at Associate Professor Ciren:

"Induction theory also provides a method for playing the 'basic musical notes,' allowing us to establish an initial energy connection with the target."

Ron's voice became even more impassioned:
"Dear seniors, each of you has actually touched upon the key parts of the solution."

He unfolded his technical solution, in which the core diagrams clearly showed the organic connections between the different technical modules:

"My proposal essentially provides the role of a 'commander-in-chief'."

These words not only gave all the bigwigs face, but also clearly explained his value as an "integrator" and "leader".

"I have no intention of replacing anyone's professional expertise."

On the contrary, I'm here to invite you all to join me in completing this piece, which each of us has only written half of.

The initially skeptical gazes in the meeting room began to shift to curiosity and anticipation.

(End of this chapter)