Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 557 Dying Surrounded by Crowd

In the stationmaster's office at the Abyss Observatory, Yutel sat quietly at the somewhat worn oak desk, his fingertips gently tracing the marks of time in the wood grain.

Outside the window, the dark red light, stained by the abyss, shone through the translucent layer, like a blood-red veil onto his increasingly transparent palms.

The once solid aggregate of magic is transforming into a purer state.

He could sense that the life-giving candle, which had burned for thousands of years, was finally about to offer its last drop of wax to the darkness.

His "empty body" is now irreversibly dissipating from its constraints:

Thoughts become as clear and transparent as stars, each idea carrying the purity of crystal;

Their bodies were so light that it seemed they would drift away with the wind at any moment, turning into a speck of dust in the long river of history.

Memories came flooding back.

Yutel was born in a time of war.

He still remembers the shock he felt when he first came into contact with knowledge.

It was in the ruins of a library destroyed by artillery fire, where a tattered textbook on basic alchemy lay quietly among the rubble, the words on its pages shimmering in the setting sun.

The starving orphan picked up the book with trembling hands.

From then on, knowledge became the only light in his life.

On those nights when we were starving and wandering aimlessly.

While other orphans fought over a piece of bread, he held a stolen book and read it voraciously under the moonlight.

The glimmer of knowledge pierced through the gloom of survival, allowing him to find meaning in living.

Rather than saying we study in order to live, it's more accurate to say we live in order to learn.

He then thought of his teacher, that equally great but little-known sage.

In the final moments of his life, the old man sat alone in a cold laboratory, facing a formula that could never be completed.

When his assistant found him, his hand was still in the position of holding a pen.

His eyes were fixed on the unsolved matrix on the blackboard, his face filled with deep regret.

There was no farewell, no last words.

No one even knows what he wanted to say in his last moments.

That image was branded into the young Yutel's heart, becoming a nightmare that lasted for a thousand years.

"The flame of knowledge, however brilliant, will eventually return to darkness if no one witnesses it."

Yutel muttered to himself, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing something.

His gaze pierced through the abyss of mist outside the window, as if he could see into a more distant place.

There are countless eyes thirsting for knowledge, searching for light in the darkness.

He didn't want to accept that outcome.

Rather than fade away in solitude, he preferred to end his life on the grandest stage, amidst countless eager eyes.

This is not only to fulfill a vow I made when I was young, but also to make up for my teacher's regret from back then:
To proclaim to the world that inheritance is the eternal flame of wizarding civilization.

He slowly raised his right hand.

Magic flowed from his fingertips like water, activating the communication crystal on the table.

The other end of the crystal connects to the most prominent of his living students.

The runes on the crystal surface slowly lit up, like stars awakening in the night sky.

Soon, Cassandra's cold and beautiful face appeared in the projection, and a rare look of worry appeared in her purple eyes.

"Teacher?" Her voice trembled slightly, "Your breath..."

"Cassandra."

Yutel's voice was gentle, like the warm autumn sun:
"Please send a notification to the academic alliance for me."

His gaze was fixed on the setting moon outside the window:
"My final lesson is about to begin."

………………

The news was like a boulder thrown into a lake, its ripples spreading at an unimaginable speed.

From the crystal tower in the central lands to the border outposts;

From an observation post in the abyss to an outpost in another world...

In every corner of the wizarding civilization, the same name is being sung: Yutel Gustav.

This living legend, a wise man with countless students.

He will soon give his last public lecture in the "Truth Square" of the central land "Dawn Harbor".

Within three days of the news breaking, Dawn Harbor was practically overwhelmed with visitors.

Wizards from all schools and levels flooded into the city like a tidal wave.

Among them were an elderly dean with white hair, spirited young mentors, and bewildered apprentices who had just embarked on the path of wizardry.

At Truth Square, a huge open-air square that can hold 100,000 people, an emergency magic array was set up.

Sound transmission arrays, image amplification arrays, and barriers to maintain order are layered on top of each other.

Ensure that everyone present can clearly see and hear this final transmission of wisdom.

Meanwhile, the communications departments of various universities were working overtime to debug the remote projection equipment.

Those wizards who were unable to come in person due to distance or duty also longed to witness this historic moment.

On the morning of the third day after the news broke, at Truth Square.

Before the morning mist had even dissipated, a dense crowd had already gathered in the square.

From above, it resembles an ocean composed of black and gray robes, silent and solemn.

The newly enrolled young apprentices stood on the outermost edge.

Their eyes were filled with curiosity and awe.

Many people still hold the part of the basic textbook that Professor Utter helped write, the pages yellowed and curled from frequent reading.

Further inside are the official wizards from various schools of thought.

Their expressions were solemn, and many of them had tears in their eyes.

Because they understand what this lesson means.

In the very center of the room stood some Dark Sun-level wizards who rarely appeared in public.

They toned down their usual imposing manner and waited silently, just like ordinary students.

Everyone's face wore the same expression:
Solemnity, reluctance, and deep sorrow at the impending loss of a giant.

Among the crowd, familiar faces outlined Professor Utter's illustrious and long life.

Hayek stood in the front row, his hands behind his back, his knuckles white from the effort.

Salamander, along with her student Edwin, stood at the very front.

This lava giant, usually as volatile as fire, was now as quiet as a statue.

His eyes were slightly red as he tried to maintain the demeanor of a leader of the Sand Sea School, but his trembling lips betrayed his inner turmoil.

Valen stood alone in a corner.

This Dark Sun-level wizard was once a competitor of Mrs. Allen in the same period.

A choice they made in their youth led them down completely different paths.

At this moment, looking towards the podium, his eyes were filled with nostalgia for a bygone era.

Deep within the Emerald Forest, Mrs. Ellen, supported by Lilia, gazed at the projected image.

The benefits that came from Ron's advancement made her vitality increasingly abundant.

But looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar aged figure on the projected screen, her eyes still welled up with tears.

She recalled the days when she was young, discussing academic matters with Varen under the watchful eye of the old professor.

Back then, they were all spirited young people who thought time was endless and that parting was always in the distant future.

There are far too many people "participating" in this farewell in various ways.

In a remote alien base, a Moon-level wizard who was negotiating with the natives put down his work.
Inside the teleportation base station on the sixth level of the abyss, the researchers sat around the projection crystal.
The envoy from the Elemental Plane has suspended negotiations with the Elemental Lords...

They are all seeds of wisdom sown by Professor Yutel, and now they are the pillars supporting the sky of wizarding civilization.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the morning mist and fell upon the marble floor of Truth Square, a figure slowly appeared on the podium.

There was no teleportation light, no spatial fluctuations.

He appeared so quietly, as if he had always been there, only now being seen by people.

Everyone held their breath.

Yutel's body was already semi-transparent.

The morning light pierced through his body without obstruction, casting an almost invisible shadow on the ground.

His eyes, however, shone brighter than the brightest stars in the night sky.

Beautiful and fiery, yet it carries an irreparable sorrow.

Fellow practitioners.

Yutel's voice resounded throughout the entire plaza via the magic circle:
"Thank you for listening to the ramblings of an old man at this special time."

The square was completely silent, save for the sound of a gentle breeze rustling through the crowd.

"Today, I want to talk to you about a topic called 'eternity'."

The sound wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears as clearly as a morning bell or evening drum.

At this moment, the whole world is listening.

Yutel did not teach any specific spells, nor did he explain any profound theories.

He was simply recounting, using the last glimmer of his life to recount his understanding of the "wizard's" way.

What is eternity?

His gaze swept across the square, his voice soft yet possessing a power that penetrated the soul:

Many people believe that eternity is immortality, which means extending one's life to the end of time.

But I must tell you—this idea is completely wrong.

He slowly raised his translucent hand, magic spilling from between his fingers: "True eternity exists in the transmission of knowledge."

It exists in that moment when knowledge ignites in the hearts of the next generation, emanating from the hearts of one.

"Knowledge," he began slowly, "is never light."

His gaze swept over the young faces:
"When you successfully cast a spell for the first time, you may feel a surge of pride in conquering the world."

But I must tell you—with great power comes great responsibility in the pursuit of truth.

"Every page of knowledge is filled with the cost."

Knowledge is like a sharp blade; it can save lives or kill silently.

The choice of how to use it reflects a wizard's true character.

In the square, a newly enrolled apprentice couldn't help but lower his head and look at the well-worn basic textbook in his hand.

The edges of the pages were curled, and the dense notes on them bore witness to his hard work day and night.

Yutel continued, his voice carrying the wisdom accumulated over the years:
"As for the choice of road..."

He looked at the formal wizards who were stuck in a bottleneck, his eyes filled with encouragement:

“I’ve seen too many people stagnate at the Morning Star level. They’re afraid of change, afraid of losing everything they have.”

"But I would say that a true wizard should be like a stream, clearing its way through mountains and winding around rocks."

Be brave enough to question, break down, and reshape your own perceptions, because stagnation—is the true death of a wizard.

Valen clenched his fist inwardly, thinking of the research direction he had given up when he was young, and a wave of indescribable emotions welled up in his heart.

"at last."

Yutel's voice softened, like a father about to embark on a long journey giving instructions to his children:

"I'd like to talk about passing on the torch."

His gaze became incredibly profound:

"The true greatness of a wizard lies not in how much forbidden knowledge he has mastered, nor in how many planes he has conquered."

True greatness lies in how many sparks of wisdom he ignited.

"In my life, I have not created any world-shaking magic, nor have I established an immortal empire. But I have nurtured you..."

His gaze slowly swept across the square:

"Each of you is a continuation of my life."

I will gain immortality when you pass on your knowledge to the next generation.

As he spoke, the magic of the entire square began to resonate with him.

Countless points of light rose from the ground, coalesced in the air, and danced around him like fireflies.

The points of light gathered together, eventually forming a dazzling galaxy that surrounded the soon-to-be-vanished sage at its center.

As the course drew to a close, Yutel slowly surveyed the faces in the square, some young, some mature, and some old.

His gaze was as gentle as a loving father's, yet it also carried a certain searching quality.

He saw Cassandra, his most outstanding yet most worrying student. Would the allure of power ultimately erode her original aspirations?
He saw Eve, the girl who had been pulled back from the brink of death, now thriving as a new generation of hope.

He saw Hayek, he saw Salamander, he saw Varen…

Every face tells a story, and every name carries a sentiment.

However, he did not see the figure he most anticipated and missed: Ron.

That young man who, in such a short time together, showed him endless possibilities.

A faint, almost imperceptible regret, like the first autumn leaf, gently drifted down onto his fading heart.

He recalled seeing Vinard in a video message he received a few days earlier, where Vinard was working tirelessly on the purification project for the "Grievance Vein" in a distant colony.

The young man in the picture had bloodshot eyes, but he was still focused on adjusting the rune matrix.

He is conducting a "symphony" so precise that no mistakes are allowed, and he is the sole conductor.

Yutel knows that state all too well.

When a wizard is fully immersed in crucial research, any interruption could lead to the failure of all their efforts.

Opening an intergalactic portal requires enormous energy consumption and at least a week of preparation time.

Forcibly recalling Ron would not only render his months of effort futile.

The sudden absence of the leader could lead to the collapse of the entire project, or even trigger a catastrophic chain reaction.

"Don't bother Ron."

This was his final order to Cassandra:
"That child is climbing a mountain that is higher than all of us."

I can't let him be distracted and turn back at his most crucial moment.

His voice carried a transcendent magnanimity:
"Moreover, I have already passed on to him my most important thing—my way of thinking about the truth."

Whether he comes or not, whether he witnesses it with his own eyes or not, is no longer important.

Cassandra remained silent for a long time before finally nodding in agreement.

The old professor said this to himself, and he said it to everyone.

Reason told him that this was the right choice.

Ron's future is more important than a farewell, and the progress of wizarding civilization is more important than personal feelings.

but……

Just a second before his soul was about to fall silent, as the dam of reason finally collapsed, he couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart:
How wonderful it would be to see that child again, to hear him call me "Professor" once more.

The thought flashed by like a shooting star, and was quickly replaced by a sense of relief.

He recalled Ron's reserved demeanor when he first entered the observatory;

I recall the gleam in that young man's eyes as he listened to "history";
I remember that deep bow when we parted...

That's enough, really enough.

Yutel gave the tens of thousands of students in the square his last and most gratifying smile of his life:
"It seems my time has come."

The voice was so relaxed, as if saying the weather was nice today:
"Well then, I should leave get out of class now."

As soon as he finished speaking, his body began to undergo irreversible changes.

First the fingertips, then the palms, arms, torso...

My whole being is transforming into pure light.

Like a splendid and benevolent rain of wisdom, it gently sprinkles onto every corner of the square.

Someone reached out, trying to grasp the points of light, only to find that they simply melted into their palm, bringing warmth and clarity.

That was a mentor's blessing before he left.

As the last speck of light dissipated in the morning breeze.

Above the podium, only the shimmering, illusory remains, silently suspended in mid-air.

The square was deathly silent.

Then, someone bowed deeply first.

Then came the second, the third...

In the end, tens of thousands of people bowed in unison.

We bid farewell to this sage who dedicated his life to knowledge and its transmission with the oldest rites.

There was no crying, no shouting, only silent solemnity.

………………

At dusk, the funeral was held according to the highest standard of "the funeral of a sage".

Cassandra shed her usual elegant and aloof demeanor, donning instead a simple black robe.

There were no decorations or runes, just the most ordinary black cloth.

This is the most sincere expression of grief from students for their mentors.

She lifted the wooden coffin herself.

The coffin was very light because there was nothing inside.

Yutel's body has turned into light, and his wisdom has been passed on to the world.

This empty coffin is merely a symbol, a vessel for the living to express their grief.

Beside her were Valen, Salamander...

A dozen or so Dark Sun-level wizards who rushed back from various corners of the world joined together to form this magnificent coffin-carrying team.

Each of them could easily destroy a kingdom or conquer a plane of existence.

However, at this moment, they were just a group of students who had lost their mentor.

It expresses the deepest respect in the most primitive way.

Eve followed behind her mother, her vision blurred with tears.

She represents the newest generation illuminated by Professor Utter's wisdom;
It also represents Ron, the old professor's last student who could not make it back.

The procession moved forward slowly.

After passing through Truth Square and the main road of Dawn Harbor, we finally arrived at the Pantheon.

This building stood for two entire eras, and it is the final resting place of almost all the great sages of the wizarding civilization.

Today, it will welcome new "residents".

When the empty coffin was placed on the prepared stone platform, Cassandra finally couldn't hold back a tear.

And that incomparably precious "remains".

Long before the funeral began, it was carefully sealed in a crystal box by the messengers of the "Court of Truth".

The label on the box contained only one line of text:

"The Legacy of the Great Wizard - Yutel Gustav"
The ceremony will be held personally by Eve St. Mange, her designated successor, upon her ascension to the rank of a full-fledged wizard.

As the sun set, the funeral ended.

The crowd gradually dispersed, with only a few people remaining in front of the Pantheon, reluctant to leave.

(End of this chapter)