Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Eve's pupils contracted sharply, and purplish-black magic almost overflowed from her fingertips.

The face was covered with the pallor characteristic of the dead, and the light in the eyes had dimmed to the point of almost going out.
It had only been such a short time, of course she could recognize him.

This is the prisoner trapped in an endless cycle of emotional extraction in the second cell of "Paradise".

Elena Moonlight.

The founder of emotional alchemy, a legendary great wizard in the late Third Age, and an undead forcibly summoned back by the "End of Death".

My mentor once said that she was long dead, but had been turned into a tool to forever repeat the work she did in life.

But why is she here now?

Did the ancestors release her, or did she escape on her own?

The black-haired princess's mind was filled with countless questions in that instant, and her heart pounded like a drum.

Elena noticed that stinging gaze.

Her previously empty and blank eyes flashed with an extremely sharp and cold light the moment they met Eve's gaze.

Like a wild beast that has been hunted for thousands of years, its muscles instinctively tense when it hears the barking of hunting dogs.

But then, the cold light quickly dimmed, replaced by a deeper weariness and a warning that was almost pleading.

"Ah, Luna, you're awake?"

Lilia was completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere between the two.

She put down the teapot, her smile as warm as the spring sunshine:
"Did you sleep well? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"

As she spoke, she got up to get another cup:
“Here, I just brewed some fresh tea for Princess Eve. You should try some. This is a recipe I recently improved.”

"Let me introduce myself..."

Lilia turned to Eve:
"This is Ms. Luna, whom I met in the alley."

She had collapsed on the ground and looked very weak, so I brought her back and took care of her.

"She seems to have amnesia; she doesn't remember anything, so I'll call her 'Luna' for now."

“Ms. Luna, this is my good friend, Her Highness Eve Saint Manzhi. She is also a student of our mentor.”

Eve felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her throat.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

She wanted to warn Lilia about the danger this person posed, to question Elena about her presence, and to contact her ancestor Hector immediately.
However, all words vanished under the gaze of those eyes.

Elena just watched her quietly.

He didn't speak or make any move.

He just stared intently at Eve with those tired, almost collapsing eyes.

Then, he shook his head very slightly, as if to say:
Shut up, don't tell anyone, I just want to rest.

"Your Highness?"

Lilia noticed Eve's unusual behavior and asked with concern:

"What's wrong? You don't look well."

The question was like a bucket of cold water, pulling Eve out of her swirling thoughts.

She lowered her head, forcing herself to calm down, and then gave a slightly stiff smile:

"Ah, it's nothing, I just suddenly remembered that there's something important I need to take care of."

She stood up, her movements so hurried that she accidentally knocked over a teacup on the table.

"oops!"

Lilia quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe up the spilled tea:
"Your Highness, are you alright? How could you be so careless today?"

"It's really okay."

Eve quickly crouched down to help tidy up, using this action to hide the panic on her face:
"Look how clumsy I am! I'm so sorry, Lilia, I've dirtied your tablecloth."

"What does it matter?"

Lilia smiled gently:

"I'm more worried about you than the tablecloth."

You looked really unwell just now. Is your magic power not fully stable yet after your advancement?

"may be."

Eve mumbled a reply, while glancing at Elena out of the corner of her eye.

The woman remained standing in the same spot, her body, wrapped in a blanket, now relaxed.

She resumed her blank and helpless expression, as if that warning look in her eyes had never appeared.

Eve straightened up after putting away the teacups and gave an awkward smile.

Then, she turned to Elena and gave a slight bow, her voice carrying a deliberate politeness:
"I am very sorry, Ms. Luna, it was my rudeness."

"I apologize for being so presumptuous at our first meeting."

She added in a thoughtful tone:
"You don't know why I was so surprised just now."

"Because you look almost exactly like an ancient great shaman recorded in the history of our Crown Clan."

Lilia was taken aback: "Huh? Really?"

"Yes."

Eve nodded, her tone becoming more natural, as if she were truly just stating a coincidence:
"That great wizard's name was 'Arei,' a legendary figure from the late Third Age."

“I have seen her portrait in historical records, and Ms. Luna and she look almost exactly the same person.”

She shook her head with a wry smile: "I thought I had seen a ghost."

This explanation sounds plausible, yet it's also full of coincidence.

Lilia nodded as if suddenly realizing something: "I see! No wonder Your Highness was so surprised just now."

"Indeed, anyone would be startled if they suddenly saw someone who looked exactly like an ancient portrait."

Upon hearing this explanation, Elena's tense body immediately relaxed.

Her empty eyes finally shifted from Eve to Lilia, her voice weak and confused:
"Am I...?"

"I don't remember."

"Okay, don't think about it."

Lilia immediately stepped forward to support her:

"Don't force yourself if you can't remember. You can't rush memory."

"The most important thing for you right now is to get plenty of rest and take good care of your health."

She helped Elena to sit down on the sofa, then took a clean blanket from under the coffee table and carefully covered her legs.
"You've just woken up and are still very weak. Have some tea to warm yourself up first."

Lilia turned to pour tea, her movements gentle and practiced.

Eve stood aside, quietly observing the scene.

She could tell that Lilia was genuinely taking care of this "stranger with amnesia".

But she doesn't know.

She was taking care of a terrifying entity that had once been able to easily manipulate the emotions of millions and turn the entire nation's inhabitants into puppets.

He is an immortal who was forcibly conscripted at the end of death and imprisoned in "Paradise" for seven thousand years.

He is a dangerous individual who, if he truly regains his memories and power, would be capable of overturning the entire Central Land.

But at the same time, Eve can also see it.

Sitting on the sofa, Elena's eyes held no dangerous glint.

She was just tired and lost, like an orphan abandoned by the world, yearning for a little warmth.

Lilia returned with a teacup in her hand.

"Here, Luna, this is my specially made 'Tranquilizing Tea.' It contains Moon Dew and Calming Herb, which is very helpful for restoring your spirit."

Elena took the teacup somewhat clumsily, as if she hadn't been treated so gently in a long time.

She held the warm porcelain cup and sipped it slowly.

In the rising steam, a rosy hue appeared on her pale face, almost like that of a living person.

Eve watched nervously from the side, able to sense the massive yet chaotic energy fluctuations within Elena's body.

Strangely, this power did not leak out at all, and there was not even a basic defensive stance.

It's like an ancient sword sealed in its scabbard, so rusted that it has forgotten how to draw it.

"Luna, are you hungry?"

Lilia asked with concern, "I have some honey bread that I just bought, and some fruit."

Elena raised her head, her empty eyes staring at Lilia.

After a long silence, she slowly nodded, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

".want."

"Okay, you wait."

Lilia immediately got up and went to the kitchen.

Only Eve and Elena remained in the room.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

Elena continued to drink her tea with her head down, seemingly completely unaware of Eve's presence.

But just as Lilia's footsteps disappeared behind the kitchen door, she suddenly spoke.

The voice could only be heard by Eve; it was like a whisper squeezed from the depths of her soul.
"The calming herb was ground too finely; the 'story' has been shattered."

"Moonlight Dew should be diluted with 'Resonance Fluid' first, otherwise it's too 'noisy'."

"She also used the 'bridging narrative' technique in the wrong way."

Eve's pupils suddenly contracted.

These terms... "story", "bridging narrative", "resonance fluid".
This is the core concept of "Narrative Potions" founded by Ron!

And "emotional alchemy" itself is one of the important theoretical sources of narrative potionology!

Even in this dazed, almost dreamlike state, Elena instinctively pointed out the shortcomings in Lilia's potion-making.

Moreover, her assessment was shockingly accurate.

Lilia has indeed been troubled by the issue of "grind size of the calming herb" lately.

She had consulted Ron, whose mentor gave similar advice—don't over-process the material, and preserve its "narrative integrity."

But she never fully understood the deeper meaning of that sentence.

Now, Elena has clearly explained the essence of the problem and the solution in just a few words.

This intuitive and accurate judgment, this ability to blend "narrative potionology" and "emotional alchemy," can only be achieved by true masters.

"you"

Eve couldn't help but speak, her voice extremely low: "Do you remember your skills?"

Elena did not answer.

She simply continued drinking her tea, her gaze vacant, as if those words had not come from her.

Just then, Lilia returned with a plate of bread and fruit.

Elena immediately shut up and resumed her blank expression.

She reached out and took the bread, mechanically chewing it in small bites, her eyes blank like a puppet.

Lilia watched her tenderly from the side, her eyes full of pity: "Eat slowly, there's no rush."

Eve stood to the side, watching this scene and sighing softly.

She knew she had to leave.

We can't stay any longer. The longer we stay here, the more likely we are to expose something.

She also needs time to think.

Consider how to handle this situation, whether to tell the ancestor Hector, and the safety of Lilia.

"Lilia."

Eve gave an apologetic smile:

"I might have to leave early today; I still have some things to take care of with my supervisor."

"Huh? So fast?"

Lilia said with some reluctance, "I wanted to talk to you a little longer."

"Next time."

Eve smiled gently: "After I finish dealing with what I'm doing, let's find some time to get together."

She walked to the door and began to change her shoes.

Just then, Elena suddenly stood up.

"Luna?" Lilia asked worriedly, "Where are you going?"

"Toilet"

Elena mumbled something, then wrapped herself in a blanket and headed toward the bathroom.

But her route happened to pass right by the door.

As they brushed past each other, Elena whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Don't tell anyone."

“Especially ‘He’, I don’t want to ‘work’ anymore.”

Eve's body stiffened.

She turned her head to look at Elena's pale profile and nodded gently.

The movement was so small that it was enough for the other person to see it.

Elena's body visibly relaxed.

Then he continued walking towards the restroom, his steps unsteady, as if he might fall at any moment.

Eve put on her shoes, waved goodbye to Lilia, and quickly left the inn.

Walking on the streets of the central area, she felt as if her brain was stuffed with cotton.

Countless thoughts intertwined, collided, and became entangled.

Should she tell her ancestors?

From a rational perspective, of course it should be.

Elena is a prisoner of "Paradise," an undead summoned by "The End of Death."

Her escape itself signifies a loss of control.

If left unchecked, it could lead to unforeseen consequences.

But Eve remembered Elena's tired, almost broken eyes.

I remembered the despair in her voice when she said, "I don't want to work anymore."

I recalled the scene I saw in "Paradise," the woman whose soul was consumed day after day in a false mission.

What would happen if we told our ancestors?
Elena might be captured and locked back in that palace to continue her endless "work".

Until the soul completely dissipates, even the feeling of "tiredness" ceases to exist.

"But... is this what she deserves?"

Eve thought to herself:

"She has paid the price for the mistakes she made seven thousand years ago."

"Seven thousand years—that's the rise and fall of countless human kingdoms?"

"Now she has finally escaped and has a chance to get a moment's rest."

Should I send her back?

The black-haired princess stopped and leaned against the stone wall by the roadside.

She looked up to the sky.

The sky over the Central Lands is always so bright and so pure.

Everything seemed to be in good order, and everything was running on the right track.

But the black-haired princess, who had returned from "Paradise," knew how much unknown darkness lay hidden beneath the shadows of this bright sky.

The imprisoned souls in "Paradise," the altered history, the truth that was "optimized" away...

And what that "nameless person," whose name cannot even be mentioned, said:
"The problems have only just begun."

"Eve."

She said to herself:

"You have already chosen to embark on this path."

"You have decided to understand the absurdity of this world."

"Now, you must make a choice."

"Is it about upholding that 'correct order' and sending Elena back to where she belongs?"

"still."

She shook her head:

"Or should we respect the final free will of a soul?"

After a while, the girl straightened up, her eyes becoming determined.

"Never mind. I'll just keep it from telling anyone for now."

She made a decision in her heart:
“Give her some time, if she really just wants to rest, just wants to find a moment of peace with Lilia.”

"Then let her rest. As for what will happen in the future, we'll see."

After making this decision, Eve felt a sudden lightness in the burden on her shoulders.

She quickened her pace and headed to the aircraft's landing pad.

Inside the small inn, Lilia was clearing the table, humming a cheerful tune.

Elena sat on the sofa wrapped in a blanket, eating small bites of bread.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm golden glow on her pale face.

She looked at the cozy little room and at the young girl who was busy and caring towards her.

Then, she closed her eyes and let out a barely audible sigh.

Lilia tidied up the table and turned to walk towards her lab bench.

"Luna, take your time eating. I'll go prepare for tomorrow's potion practice."

She began tidying up the experimental equipment, muttering to herself as she did so:

"Strange, why can't the 'Tranquilizing Grass' be perfectly blended with 'Moonlight Dew' after being ground?"

"My advisor said we should preserve the 'narrative integrity' of the material, but how exactly do I do that?"

She was frowning in thought, completely unaware that Elena behind her had opened her eyes.

Do you think they're dead?

Elena closed her eyes, her voice as soft as a dream:
"They're 'screaming'."

Don't grind it so finely.

"Start with 'comfort'."

"Add 'bridge' as well."

"It's so noisy, I'm going to sleep."

As the last syllable faded, her breathing became even and deep.

Lilia turned around abruptly, staring wide-eyed at "Luna," who was already fast asleep.

Those words just now.
"Is the material 'screaming'?"

"'Comfort' and 'bridge'?"

Her mind raced, and she suddenly remembered what her instructor, Ron, had said in class:

"Advanced potion masters will regard materials as sentient beings."

"They are able to 'listen' to the demands of the materials and to 'appease' the conflicts within them."

"The concept of 'bridge' is one of the most core techniques in narrative potionology."

Lilia's heart began to race.

She strode to the lab bench and, following the vague instructions from before, began processing the calming herbs again.

This time, she did not grind it into powder, preserving its relatively intact granular structure.

Then, she took out a small bottle of "resonance liquid," diluted the moonlight dew with the resonance liquid, and then mixed it with the calming grass.
A miracle happened; the "inability to merge" problem that had plagued her for months disappeared!
The two materials combine as if they were a match made in heaven, resulting in stable and harmonious magical fluctuations.

Lilia stared blankly at the liquid in the test tube, then turned to look at Luna, who was fast asleep on the sofa.

"She just said a few words casually in a dreamlike state."

"So that solved the problem that I couldn't solve for months?"

"This intuition and understanding of potions."

Lilia felt a chill run down her spine, but at the same time, an irrepressible excitement welled up inside her:

"She is definitely not an ordinary person!"

"Before losing her memory, she must have been a reclusive potions professor!"

"It might even be"

She dared not think any further, but a bold guess had already formed in her mind:

Perhaps the "Luna" I picked up is a true "professor" level.

Now, due to amnesia and weakness, she can only temporarily reside here.

“If…if I could learn more while she’s still here…” Lilia’s eyes sparkled.

"Perhaps this is an opportunity given to me by fate?"

Looking at Elena sleeping soundly, she made a decision in her heart.

We must take good care of this "Ms. Luna" so that she feels warm and safe and will be willing to stay.

Perhaps, at some unexpected moment, when she falls into that "dreaming" state again, she will be able to receive more valuable guidance.

Lilia tiptoed to the sofa and carefully covered Elena with a blanket.

Beyond the dimensions, the figure of the King of Absurdity appears and disappears.

As He watched this scene, the expression on His face was hard to tell whether it was relief or worry.

"Elena, I hope your peaceful time can last a little longer."

The sound of bells echoed deep within the dimensions, like a prelude to an impending storm.

Neither Lilia nor Elena herself knew any of this.

………………

At the control center, the chief examiner, Pauline, stood before the central observation platform, his hands gripping the railing tightly.

Behind him, the assistant examiners fell into a state of near-speechlessness.

"He did it."

Finally, a voice broke the suffocating silence.

That was Michelle, the deputy examiner in charge of recording the assessment data. Her voice was hoarse and dry, as if something was stuck in her throat.

"By using timing perturbations, a time difference of 0.02 seconds was created... just 0.02 seconds..."

Her fingers moved through the air, manipulating the virtual data panel:
"This level of precision, this depth of understanding of the nature of time..."

She abruptly turned to look at Pauline:
"Examiner, we need to re-evaluate this candidate's file. This level of skill has exceeded what is expected of a Moon-level wizard. Such time manipulation ability is extremely rare, even among Dark Sun-level wizards!"

Pauline did not respond immediately.

He simply stared at the screen, at Ron's exhausted yet still upright figure.

After thinking for a while, he slowly said:
"Do you know what the real test in the third level is?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Power?" someone asked tentatively.

Pauline shook her head.

"Resistance to chaos?"

Some people are speculating.

Pauline shook his head again, his gaze becoming deep and distant:
"It's about understanding."

"understand?"

"Yes."

Pauline turned around and looked around at all the assistant examiners present:

"The tests set by the King of Absurdity have never aimed to have candidates 'defeat' a powerful enemy or 'destroy' an insurmountable predicament."

What He wanted to see was whether the examinee could let go of all obsession with 'power' in the face of adversity and truly understand the essence of that predicament.

His voice deepened:

"I have seen countless geniuses like this, confidently applying to take on the most difficult challenges."

"But they failed in the third round."

"Because they are trying to use 'force' to fight against 'concept,' which are two completely different dimensions."

It's like smashing a mathematical theorem with your fist, burning a logical deduction with flames, and freezing a philosophical proposition with frost...

"And this examinee named Ron..."

Pauline turned back to the screen, her eyes filled with admiration:
He did not choose to confront them.

He chose to understand, and then used that understanding itself to deconstruct the core of that concept.

"Temporal perturbation, this can hardly be called an 'aggressive' tactic."

It only created a 0.02-second asynchrony, nothing more.

"But it was this 0.02 seconds that hit the fatal flaw of the 'loop'."

"Because the essence of a cycle is that the 'head' and 'tail' must come into contact at the same moment."

Even the slightest deviation will prevent the cycle from functioning.

"This is true...wisdom."

Pauline's words echoed in the observation room, and all the assistant examiners fell into deep thought.

After a moment, the deputy examiner in charge of the combat capability assessment stood up, his expression grave:

"Examiner, I must remind you of something."

The combination of abilities this candidate has demonstrated has already touched upon certain... taboo areas.

"Time manipulation, concept deconstruction, chaotic resonance... these abilities may be manageable individually, but once combined..."

He didn't finish speaking, but everyone understood what he meant.

Throughout history, there have been some genius wizards who, by mastering overly dangerous combinations of powers, ultimately went down an uncontrollable path.

They are either consumed by their own power or become a calamity threatening the entire wizarding world.

Pauline remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he took a deep breath and made a decision:

“From now on, all of Ron Ralph’s files are upgraded to ‘red surveillance’ level.”

"This……"

One of the assistant examiners hesitated:
"Red surveillance is typically used only for high-risk individuals who are suspected of having inhumane tendencies or are suspected of participating in taboo research."

Ron only passed the test, isn't this going too far...?

"Do you think it's normal for someone in their early twenties to become a Moon-level wizard and receive an 'Excellent' rating in the Golden Ring assessment?"
Even the most powerful genius in nearly a thousand years—Cassandra Tower Master—wasn't this powerful in her youth.

Pauline interrupted him, her voice icy:
"Either he is being nurtured by a powerful force unknown to us, or he himself possesses some extraordinary secrets."

In either case, it warrants our close attention.

"Our responsibility is not only to select talent, but also to ensure the stability and security of the academic alliance."

After he finished speaking, the observation room fell into a long silence.

Meanwhile, in another dimension, there was also a "king" closely watching Ron.

The realm of the King of Records is entirely different from the chaos and disorder of the King of Absurdity.

Everything here is orderly and frighteningly precise.

Countless towers made of pure white marble stand tall in the void.

Each tower has hundreds of floors, each floor piled high with books, scrolls, stone tablets, crystal balls...

All media capable of recording information can be found here.

At the very center, atop the tallest tower, the King of Records sat at His desk.

Those hands were now holding a quill pen, writing rapidly.

"Ron Ralph, male, estimated age 29, actual age questionable..."

"Assessment: Resilient, rational, with exceptional adaptability and learning ability..."

The King of Records paused mid-writing.

"His growth trajectory is completely different from the typical template of a genius."

"Generally speaking, a wizard's growth requires following a three-stage cycle of 'accumulation-breakthrough-consolidation'."

Every promotion requires a significant amount of time to prepare, to mature, and to allow the body and soul to adapt to the new level of power.

"But this young man..."

The King of Records opened another book on the table, a complete record of Ron's life from his apprenticeship to the present:

"From apprentice to full-fledged wizard, it took less than two years. From Morning Star level to Moon Star level wizard, it took even less than three years. This speed of advancement..."

He was silent for a moment:

"It was as if someone was 'pushing' him forward from behind."

"After each promotion, he never showed any signs of instability in his position."

On the contrary, it seemed that each promotion deepened his understanding of power and refined his control over himself.

"This violates the basic principles of wizarding practice."

The King of Records put down his quill and placed his hands, crossed, under his chin:

"unless……"

A glint of light flashed in his eyes:
"Unless there is a huge difference between his 'real age' and 'physiological age'."

Or rather, he experienced some kind of 'time anomaly,' resulting in his actual experience and accumulated knowledge far exceeding what is outwardly apparent.

"Time reversal? Time acceleration? Or... the difference in time flow when traversing worlds?"

He picked up the quill pen again and wrote down this conjecture:

"Further observation is needed."

"However, one thing is certain—this Ron is definitely not just an ordinary genius."

The King of Records turned to the last page of the notebook and wrote a line on it:

Priority: High.

"Note: This person has a very high probability of becoming a key variable that will influence the future landscape of the wizarding world."

It is recommended that the Court of Truth make advance contact and establish communication, but should not resort to coercive measures.

Forcing him will only backfire; the best solution is to get him to willingly choose to stand on our side.

After writing this, the King of Records gently blew a breath, the ink on the notebook dried, and then the page automatically turned back to the first page.

"So……"

He stood up, walked to the edge of the top of the tower, and looked down at the countless towers of records below:
“Let me see where you’re headed next, Ron Ralph.”

"Will you become a hero who propels history forward, or a catastrophe that triggers upheaval?"

"Whatever the answer is..."

“I will record everything truthfully, because this... is my duty.”

Observation station.

When the light from the teleportation array faded and Ron, Christina, and Urit reappeared, a brief silence fell over the surroundings.

Then, a deafening roar erupted!
"It's them!"

"The second batch of those who passed the Golden Ring assessment this year!"

"My goodness, so many people passed this year!"

Above the teleportation area, a crystal display screen floated, currently scrolling through the names and avatars of the three individuals:

Those who passed the Golden Ring assessment

Ron Ralph - Rating: Excellent

Christina Amagir - Rating: Good

Uriel Irving - Rating: Good

The buzz reached its peak when the crowd saw Ron's "excellent" rating.

"Excellent! It's actually excellent!"

"This is the first candidate in nearly a century to receive an outstanding rating!"

“Ron Ralph… I’ll remember that name!”

Ron stood on the platform of the teleportation array, feeling the overwhelming attention and admiration around him, yet his heart was surprisingly calm.

He knew that this attention was a double-edged sword.

It can bring resources, opportunities, and connections, but it can also bring jealousy, spying, and even danger.

"Let's go."

Christina walked to his side, her voice low:
"The longer we stay here, the bigger the trouble will be."

Believe me, at least a third of those onlookers are already plotting how to use you, or... how to get back at you.

Ron nodded.

The three quickly left the teleportation area and headed to the administrative hall of the observation station.

There, someone was already waiting to process their official registration as Golden Ring Explorers.

The process went very smoothly.

When Ron pinned the heavy gold ring badge to his chest, he could clearly feel that some kind of "authority" contained within the badge was activated.

He was able to apply to travel to other worlds that were originally designated as "forbidden zones" and automatically gained the "Otherworld Exploration Qualification".

"Pioneering qualifications..."

Ron gripped the qualification certificate tightly in his hand.

It was a card made of a special material:
"This is where the greatest value of the Golden Ring Explorers lies."

Explorers with pioneering qualifications can legally occupy parts of another world, mine resources, build portals, and even recruit other explorers to form teams.

Many powerful wizard clans initially rose to prominence through pioneering.

Establish a foothold in a resource-rich alternate world, gradually grow stronger, and eventually become a force to be reckoned with.

Now, Ron also has this opportunity.

After completing all the formalities, he returned to his private residence at the observatory.

The first thing to do after entering the room is to check your condition.

Although the Golden Ring assessment has ended, the impact of that battle on him has not yet dissipated.

The physical wounds are minor; with his current recovery ability, they will heal in just one or two days.

What truly needs attention is the change at the spiritual level.

Ron sat in the meditation room, closed his eyes, and sank his consciousness into the depths of his mind.

He could clearly feel that a qualitative change had occurred in his spiritual sea.

The spiritual ocean that was once surging with silver waves has now become even deeper and more tranquil.

Beneath the sea surface, some new "structures" can be vaguely seen forming.

"Understanding the language of all things..."

Ron reached out and lightly touched the wall in front of him with his fingertips.

The next second, he "heard" a "sound" from the wall.

That wasn't real sound; to be precise, it was a stream of information.

The wall's material, structure, history, temperature changes it had experienced, and pressure it had withstood... all this information flooded into his consciousness like a tidal wave.

This ability is now clearer and more controllable than when it is used in assessments.

He no longer needs to force himself to "listen"; instead, he is able to take the initiative to "ask questions."

"Time disturbance..."

Ron reached out again, but this time he didn't touch anything; he simply made a light stroke in the air.

The flow of time in the surrounding area then exhibited subtle fluctuations.

The rate at which the water level in the glass on the table rose and fell slowed down.
A small insect in the corner of the meditation room crawls at varying speeds, as if it has been shuffled.

Ron nodded in satisfaction.

This ability has been fully mastered and can be applied at any time in actual combat.

Although its direct lethality is not strong, it can play a surprising role at crucial moments.

Just like in an assessment, use the least amount of effort to achieve the greatest result.

Just as Ron was testing his breakthrough, the communication crystal began to vibrate.

He took out the crystal and saw the contact name displayed on it: Chloe.

Good morning, Chloe.

Ron immediately connected the call.

Chloe's image appeared on the crystal surface.
The blind girl was still wearing that astrological robe, her long gray hair braided at the back of her head.

"Congratulations, Associate Professor Ralph."

Chloe smiled and said:
“I’ve already heard that you passed the Golden Ring assessment and received an ‘Excellent’ rating, which is no easy feat.”

"Thanks to your prophecy."

Ron nodded his thanks:
"Without your hint, I probably wouldn't have been able to pass the three levels so smoothly."

"too humble."

Chloe shook her head:

“My prophecy only points the way; the real choice and action are yours to make. And…”

Her expression turned serious:

"I contacted you not just to congratulate you."

I have a new prophecy that I need to tell you.

Ron's heart tightened:
"What prophecy?"

Chloe took a deep breath, the reflection of countless twinkling stars behind her—a sign that she was performing a divination:
"The moment you passed the test, I felt the thread of fate tremble violently."

I immediately performed an emergency divination to try and determine the source of the tremor.

"Then I saw..."

Her voice lowered:

"The 'singularity' has not disappeared; it is just waiting."

"You've cracked the 'test,' but the cycle... has only just begun."

Ron's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Singularity? That singularity that kept appearing around me?"

"Yes."

Chloe nodded:
“I once told you that there is a huge ‘singularity’ in your destiny line.”

It distorted all surrounding trajectories, obscuring all prophecies.

"At the time, I thought that as your strength increased and you experienced more and more trials, this singularity would gradually dissipate."

"But I was wrong."

Her expression turned serious:

"This singularity has not only not dissipated, but has become even larger and more active."

"just like……"

She hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering her words:

"It's as if it's been 'waiting' for a certain moment. And now, that moment has arrived."

"You have passed the Golden Ring assessment and obtained the qualification to pioneer, and are about to go to the Chaotic Blood World... This series of events seems to be 'driving' something forward."

"And that 'singularity' lies lurking at the end of this road, quietly waiting for you."

Ron remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he slowly spoke:
"Can you see the specific shape of that 'singularity'? Or rather, what does it represent?"

Chloe shook her head:
“I can’t see it. Every time I try to observe it, I see a distorted fog.”

In that mist, I could vaguely see countless 'you'.

Every 'you' experiences a different destiny, and every 'you' makes different choices..."

"just like……"

She took a deep breath:

"It's as if fate itself has 'forked' in your life."

"It's not a simple 'possibility,' but rather a deeper, more fundamental 'division.'"

"I have only seen this phenomenon recorded once in ancient books—it was about a legendary wizard."

It is said that the wizard encountered a 'storm of fate' when he was promoted to wizard king.

His existence 'split' into countless parallel versions at that moment, each continuing to develop on a different timeline.

Ultimately, only one version was successfully promoted, and all the others disappeared.

"And the version that successfully got promoted paid the price... he lost his 'past' forever."

Ron felt a chill run down his spine.

"You mean I'll encounter a similar situation?"

"I am not sure."

Chloe stated truthfully:
"Divination can only provide hints, not definitive answers."

But one thing is certain—every choice you make from here on out will be crucial.

"The Court of Truth, the King of Absurdity, the King of Records... Many high-ranking figures are watching you, waiting for you to make your choice."

"And your choice will determine where that 'singularity' will ultimately lead."

She said in an almost pleading tone:
"Associate Professor Ralph, I hope you remember one thing—no matter what happens, please stay true to your original aspirations."

Who are you? Who do you want to become? What do you want to protect?... The answers to these questions will be your only guide.

Communication was lost. (End of Chapter)