Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

"Owner."

As soon as Ron returned to his manor in the Central Lands, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

He turned around and saw Ailan standing at the entrance of the manor.

The tree spirit was wearing a simple linen dress today, and her long green hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall.

A few pale pink flowers adorn the ends of her hair; they are part of her body, blooming or fading with her emotions.

The little flowers were swaying happily at that moment, clearly indicating that she was in a good mood.

"Welcome home, Master."

"you……"

Ron looked Ailan up and down, keenly noticing the change: "She's been growing all along."

"Ah."

The tree spirit blushed slightly upon receiving the praise.
"But my combat power is still weak. I have made some progress mainly in life magic and plant cultivation."

"too humble."

Ron shook his head: "The tree spirit race is not good at fighting, so this is already quite remarkable."

He recalled that Eve had mentioned Ilan's latest achievement during their previous date:
"By the way, in the letter you sent before, you mentioned that a new cultivation space had been established?"

"Yes!"

Ailan's eyes lit up, and the little flowers adorning her hair seemed to bloom even more brightly:
"Master, I have so many things I want to show you!"

The tree spirit was like a child eager to show off their homework:
"I built a huge greenhouse underground in the manor, using my tree roots to create a natural pipe system, and now I've cultivated several new varieties of potions!"

"Come on, come on, I'll take you to see it!"

As she spoke, she reached out to pull on Ron's sleeve, but then withdrew her hand halfway and instead gently tugged at the hem of his clothes with a vine.

This little gesture made Ron chuckle. Even though he had grown a lot, Ailan's inherent cautiousness had never changed.

The spiral staircase extends to a depth of about thirty meters underground.

When Ron finally stepped onto the last step, the view opened up before him.

The dome is woven from countless thick tree roots, forming a structure similar to a church dome.

The ground was divided into dozens of cultivation zones of varying sizes.

Ailan led her master toward one of the breeding areas:

“This ‘fast-growing datura’ variety takes three years to mature, unlike ordinary datura which takes three years to mature.”

"And this, 'Multi-Effect Healing Herb'."

Traditional healing herbs are only effective against external injuries, but my improved version has some effect on internal injuries, curses, and even minor mental damage..."

The tree spirit, who had always been quiet and reserved, was now behaving unusually, talking non-stop.

Ron understood why the other person had become like this.

The tree spirit must have felt that its strength would only fall further and further behind in the future.

Therefore, she could only do her best in these logistical and training aspects, fearing that she would be abandoned because of insufficient "value".

"Thank you for your hard work, Ailan."

Ron touched the vines extending beside him: "These achievements are all remarkable."

“No…” The tree spirit’s face turned red again: “I just… wanted my master to know that I could also help.”

"No need for 'also'".

Ron corrected her: "You've been helping all along, and you've been a huge help."

Ailan lowered her head, and the little flower on her head seemed even more vibrant.

Just then, footsteps were heard at the entrance of the greenhouse.

Immediately afterwards, a silver-haired girl poked her head in; it was the siren, Dale.

"Master! You're back!"

“Dale?” Ron was somewhat surprised. “Weren’t you mentoring Airo in the Kingdom of Farouk?”

"Yes, but..." Dale lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly:
"Princess Eve said you've returned and told me to come back immediately to report on my work."

"You silly girl," Ron chuckled, "Have you taken care of things over there?"

“Of course!” Dale immediately puffed out her chest:
"Miss Airo's progress is very good."

Three years ago, she was just an ordinary girl who knew nothing about magic; now she's a mid-level apprentice!

The siren began to report in an organized manner:
"As per your original request, in addition to conducting a comprehensive test on Miss Airo once a month, I also guide her in training her special talents."

[Special Talent - Puppet Manipulation]

Ron's expression turned serious.

Awakening one's talent is not particularly rare in the entire wizarding world.

Out of approximately one thousand apprentices, perhaps one or two will awaken.

The value of these talents varies drastically:

Some third-tier spells simply make the casting speed slightly faster;
Some second-tier methods can completely alter a wizard's growth trajectory.

The keyword "puppetry" reminded Ron of certain possibilities.

"What level is she capable of now?" he asked.

"This... is difficult to describe clearly in words."

Dale scratched her head somewhat awkwardly: "How about I show you the dolls she made?"

The siren walked to a corner of the greenhouse and carefully took out something.

When she turned around, Ron saw that she was holding a palm-sized doll.

It depicted a little girl wearing a long blue dress.

The doll's craftsmanship is exquisite; the lace trim on the dress is all hand-sewn, with stitches so fine they are almost invisible.

From a craftsmanship perspective alone, this can already be considered a work of art.

However, what really caught Ron's attention was that he saw magic flowing inside the doll's body.

It wasn't simply "injected with magic," it was more like... the doll itself "possessed" a magic circulation system.

Ron leaned closer to examine it closely and discovered that those magical veins had actually "grown" out of himself.

Just like plant roots naturally extend and blood vessels naturally grow.

These magical circuits form within the doll in an "organic" way, with each branch fitting the doll's structure.

"Put it on the ground," he said.

As instructed, Dyer gently placed the doll on the floor of the greenhouse.

The doll immediately stood up.

It… no, it should be said that “she” shook her skirt, raised her head, and “looked” at Ron with her crystal eyes.

"Hello," the doll said.

The voice was a child's, clear and melodious, yet carrying a polite distance.

"My name is Alice, and I am the seventeenth creation made by my sister Airo."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Ron."

After speaking, the little doll solemnly performed a standard courtly salute.

Ailan's eyes widened, and the little flower at the tip of her hair forgot to bloom because of her overwhelming surprise;

Dyer, on the other hand, wore a smug expression that said, "I knew this would be the reaction."

Ron slowly crouched down, looking the doll in the eye.

"Can you...think?" he asked the most crucial question.

"Yes and no."

The little doll tilted its head: "Sister Airo said that I have the ability to 'simulate thinking'."

“I can react to external stimuli, learn new knowledge, and adjust my behavior patterns based on experience... but all of these are based on ‘preset rules’.”

"I don't have a real 'self-awareness'."

The little doll's voice became somewhat dejected:

“I’m just imitating life, but I… am not real life.”

These words stirred up a storm in Ron's heart.

A doll is able to clearly recognize that "it is not a real life."

This in itself proves that it already possesses a fairly high level of "intelligence".

What's even more terrifying is that the way this doll exists bears a certain resemblance to the "pseudo-human experiment" that he previously observed through [historical retrospection] on the "substitute doll".

Victor's creation, the "father of false men," is a terrifying life form that "grows" by devouring real souls.

The little doll in front of me, although it also simulates the characteristics of life, has an "empty" soul.

It truly has no soul, but precisely because of this, it doesn't need to plunder to maintain its existence.

"How did Airo do that?"

Ron looked at Dale.

"I'm not entirely clear on the specific principles either..."

The siren girl honestly shook her head: "But I've observed her making the dolls."

"She would first use ordinary materials—wood, cloth, and paint—to create the basic form of the doll. This stage was no different from that of an ordinary craftsman."

"But once the basic form is complete..."

Dale's voice became mysterious: "She will enter a very special state."

"She would close her eyes, place her hands on the doll, and then... her magic would automatically flow into the doll's body."

“But that inflow is more like ‘guiding’.”

Dyer struggled to organize her thoughts:

"It's as if the doll itself 'want' to have a magic circulation system, and Miss Airo is just following this 'desire' and helping it fulfill its wish."

"The whole process usually lasts three to five hours."

"When she opened her eyes, the doll came to life."

Ron stood up and paced back and forth in the greenhouse.

Traditional puppetry is essentially just using magic threads to control puppets, just like marionettes.
Even high-level golems are simply made up of complex runes within their bodies, enabling them to automatically perform pre-set tasks.

But Airo's special talent is completely different; if this special talent were to be developed further...

"Owner?"

Dale asked cautiously, "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking……"

Ron came to his senses:

"That child's talent is more precious than I imagined."

"And it's also more...dangerous."

He crouched down and gently touched the little doll's head.

Its cool, hard texture reminded him that it was indeed just a creation.

Ron turned to Dale: "Where is Airo now?"

"In the Kingdom of Farouk."

Dale replied, "His Majesty Andrei has arranged a special studio for her and has also provided her with several assistants."

“I’ll have to discuss that with Andrei,” Ron decided.
"I plan to send Airo to the Wizarding Academy in the Emerald Forest."

"The Emerald Forest?" Dale was somewhat surprised.

“Yes.” Ron nodded. “Lilia is there; she can take good care of Airo.”

"and……"

He recalled something Lilia had mentioned before: "The Emerald Tower has a 'Special Talent Development Program'."

"Hmm... although I'm not too clear on this."

Dale immediately replied, "But there are indeed many other races living around the Emerald Forest—half-elves, orcs, treants, and so on."

"If these mixed-race descendants of different races awaken special talents or wizard aptitude, they may be sent to the Emerald Tower to receive systematic training."

"Yes, I've heard that Lilia has a high status in the Emerald Forest now, so I feel at ease entrusting Airo to her training."

As they spoke, Ron had already established a remote communication link to the Emerald Tower.

As the image gradually became clearer, he first saw a large, open glass greenhouse.

The greenhouse is filled with rows of potions—from the most common healing herbs to the rare starflower, a dazzling array of varieties.

In this sea of ​​potions, a woman dressed in a formal wizard's robe is on patrol.

That's Lilia.

After many years, the once somewhat naive young witch has now completely transformed.

Her long hair was tied into a simple ponytail at the back of her head, with a few strands playfully falling in front of her forehead, adding a touch of softness to the serious image of the mentor.

The childishness on his face has faded, leaving only a gentle and refined mature temperament.

She was squatting in front of a seedling, gently stroking the tender green leaves with her fingers, and whispering something.

Several apprentices were surrounding him.

Some of them were taking notes diligently, some were observing carefully with magnifying glasses, and several were using measuring instruments to test the concentration of the soil's "magic."

Just as Lilia was about to continue explaining the next point of knowledge, her body suddenly stiffened.

"Everyone, please study on your own first."

She tried her best to keep her tone calm, but her voice still trembled slightly.
"Based on what we've learned today, each of you should select three Star Grass plants to observe and record. We'll check your observations in the next class."

After saying that, she practically ran towards the conversation room.

Only when she got closer did she remember to tidy her appearance.

He hurriedly tidied his hair, brushed off the dirt from his robe, took a deep breath, and then gently touched the surface of the crystal ball with his fingers.

The magical energy spread out, and the image expanded accordingly. Lilia saw the black-robed wizard standing opposite her.

It's still the same young face I remember, but some details have changed.

"tutor……"

Lilia opened her mouth, but found that a thousand words were stuck in her throat, ultimately turning into a greeting so soft it was almost inaudible:
"haven't seen you for a long time."

"Long time no see, Lilia," Ron's voice came through the screen.

"It seems you've been doing quite well since you returned to the Emerald Forest."

"Hmm...it's actually not bad."

Lilia subconsciously smoothed her hair again, then realized the action was somewhat unnecessary:
"Mentor, when... will you return to the main world?"

"I just arrived the day before yesterday morning."

Ron smiled and said, "I was planning to take care of some things first before contacting you, but plans can't keep up with changes."

I've run into a bit of a problem and need your help.

"What's going on? What can I do?"

Lilia immediately dropped her girlish shyness and her eyes became serious.

Ron then briefly explained Airo's situation—her identity, her awakened talent, the dolls she created…

"So I'd like to ask, can the Emerald Tower accept her?"

Ron said directly, "I know this request is a bit sudden, but..."

"of course can!"

Lilia blurted it out almost immediately, then realized her reaction was a bit too enthusiastic, and added:

“What I mean is… the Emerald Tower already has a ‘Special Talent Development Program’.”

“We have many children of different races here—half-elves, descendants of treants, and even some mixed-race children with bloodlines from different orc tribes.”

"The talents they awaken are often very special, and some are even regarded as 'heretics' by mainstream academies."

Her tone softened:

“But in the Emerald Forest, we are more accustomed to treating these special characteristics with ‘inclusivity’ rather than ‘rejection’.”

"and……"

“Your family is my family.”

"I will take good care of her, please don't worry about that."

Upon hearing this, Ron felt a strange sense of nostalgia.

Lilia has indeed grown up in the more than 20 years since we last met.

No longer the girl who was always worried about "whether I can help my mentor", she has found her own path and value.

"Then I'll have to trouble you." He said somewhat ramblingly:

"Ailuo is a good child, but her talent is rather unique. If any problems arise during her training..."

I will contact you promptly.

Lilia nodded, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "Mentor, how long will you be staying this time?"

"I'm not entirely sure about that."

Ron answered honestly:
"I still have a few projects to move forward, which may require me to travel back and forth between the Central Land, the Great Abyss, and the Chaotic Blood World several times."

The two chatted for a while longer.

Lilia was mainly reporting on her academic achievements over the years, as well as the latest progress of the "Symbiotic Potions System" that she and Ailan had developed in collaboration.

When she mentioned that the system had been fully implemented in the Emerald Tower and had even attracted the interest of several other schools of thought, the undisguised pride in her tone made Ron feel genuinely gratified.

But just as the conversation was about to end, Lilia's expression suddenly turned serious.

“Mentor, actually… there’s something I must tell you.”

Her voice lowered: "About the Emerald Forest."

Ron's heart tightened: "What happened?"

"The forest... is undergoing some kind of change."

Lilia organized her thoughts, trying her best to describe it in the most accurate way possible:
"Starting about ten years ago, the plants around the college began to exhibit some...unusual characteristics."

"What characteristics?"

"Initiative attack".

Lilia's expression was grave:

"As you know, although the plants in the Emerald Forest are full of magic, most of them are gentle in nature."

Even those aggressive, mutated plants will only retaliate when threatened.

"But now..."

She shook her head: "Some plants have started to 'actively' attack any creatures that approach them."

"It wasn't just attacks; they also exhibited something... I don't know how to describe it, something akin to 'intelligence'."

"for example?"

“For example, they might set traps,” Lilia explained.
“There is a type of ‘Venus flytrap’ that originally only grew on the edge of swamps, but recently it has started to migrate deeper into the forest.”

"They will deliberately grow along animal trails and then lure prey with traps disguised as flowers."

This is not surprising; many carnivorous plants have this habit.

"But the problem is..."

Her voice was even lower: "These Venus flytraps have learned to 'cooperate'."

“Three to five plants will form a ‘hunting team’, taking turns releasing bait and launching a collective attack when the prey gets close.”

"If the first attack fails, they will 'remember' the characteristics of their prey and change their strategy the next time they encounter it."

Ron's brow furrowed deeply.

The plants exhibit "learning ability" and "cooperative awareness," which cannot be explained by simple magical anomalies.

Has your college conducted a survey?

"Did it."

Lilia nodded: "The dean will personally lead the team to explore the core area of ​​the forest."

“We discovered…” she seemed to be choosing her words carefully: “Those plants that underwent the mutation all had a faint ‘abyssal aura’ deep in their root systems.”

In the Emerald Forest, not too far from the Kingdom of Farouk, an abyssal aura has appeared.

"How strong is the aura?" Ron immediately pressed, "Is it a surface penetration, or...?"

"uncertain."

Lilia shook her head, her expression worried:

"We excavated the root systems of several mutated plants and found that the abyssal aura was mainly concentrated at the root tips, the parts of the plants that absorb nutrients from the soil."

"This indicates that the source of pollution is deeper, possibly in the groundwater system, or perhaps..."

Both of them knew the more terrifying possibility:
The barrier between the abyss and the outer world may be cracking somewhere unknown.

"What does Mrs. Allen think?"

"The lady believes this could be one of the precursors to a 'periodic shift in the era'."

Lilia's voice was very soft:

"As an era progresses from its early to middle stages, the rules of the world begin to loosen, and the boundaries between different planes become blurred."

"The aura of the abyss seeping into the main world is merely a manifestation of this process."

Ron remained silent for a long time.

He noticed that the other party was referring to periodic changes, not an era restart, which seemed to be the common understanding among wizards other than the Grand Wizard.

The Fourth Age has been going on for a long time and is now entering a critical turning point.

The arrival of this turning point will be accompanied by numerous "signs":
The abyss has infiltrated, the rules have loosened, the old order has collapsed, and the new order has yet to be established...

The entire wizarding civilization is standing at a historical crossroads.

“I understand,” he finally said. “I will keep this in mind.”

"Once I've finished dealing with what I'm doing, I'll send someone to investigate the Emerald Forest."

"Thank you, instructor."

Lilia looked relieved, but then quickly remembered something: "There's one more thing, about Mrs. Allen."

"What's up with her?"

"Madam, she probably misses you very much."

Lilia lowered her eyelids:
"Besides her daily potion-making work, she likes to take out the newspapers that record your glorious achievements and look at them repeatedly."

These words were like a thorn, piercing Ron's heart.

Mrs. Allen was his first mentor.

The other party's potion shop also holds his complete memories from his apprenticeship to his formal wizarding career.

Even after discovering that Cassandra had instructed her to approach him, the kindness of her guidance was never diminished in the slightest.

“I understand.” Ron’s voice was a little hoarse. “Take good care of her for me.”

Tell her I'll contact her when I have time.

Lilia was taken aback.

She thought her mentor would say, "I'll go and see the Emerald Forest," but instead she received a message saying "remote communication."

A dull ache came from somewhere in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it.

When she came to her senses, Lilia nodded vigorously and forced a smile: "Actually, Madam is in pretty good spirits lately."

“Just a few days ago, she was guiding me to optimize a treatment potion formula, saying that the formula had been passed down for many years, but no one had ever thought of improving it.”

"She said... the thing she is most proud of in her life is teaching a student like you, her mentor."

The image began to blur at this point, as the time for maintaining the remote communication had reached its limit.

At the last moment, Ron saw that Lilia seemed to want to say something.

After waiting for quite a while, this former first student finally only said one sentence:

"Teacher...take care."

Then, the image shattered completely, turning into countless tiny specks of light that scattered back onto the ground.

Ron stared at the shattered images, speechless.

He certainly understood what Lilia was expecting.

I'm waiting for him to say, "I'll come to see you," and for him to say, "We'll see each other soon."

But he didn't want to make a promise he couldn't keep.

Instead of giving her a vague "go whenever you have time," it's better to make it clear now.

Communication, at the very least, is a clear and achievable agreement.

"Master?" Ailan's voice sounded from the side, tinged with worry, "Are you alright?"

“It’s nothing.” Ron shook his head, suppressing these distracting thoughts. “I still need to contact Andrei.”

The communication crystal at Farouk Palace connected very quickly.

“Ron!” A delighted smile immediately spread across the old friend’s face:
"You're finally back! I thought you were planning to settle down in that chaotic, blood-soaked world!"

“No, not at all.” Ron chuckled. “It’s just that things are a bit more complicated than expected.”

"I understand, I understand." Andrei waved his hand, then changed the subject: "Miss Dale said you were planning to kidnap my granddaughter?"

“That’s a rather helpless statement,” Ron said. “It’s sending her to receive a better education, how can you call that ‘abducting’ her?”

"To me, isn't it just a 'bending'?" Andrei frowned, looking distressed.

"You're sending her to the Emerald Forest, which will keep her away for at least several years. How can I, as her grandfather, not feel heartbroken?"

“But you also know that this is the best choice for her,” Ron said earnestly.
"Her talent is unique and requires professional guidance. In the Kingdom of Farouk, the resources you can give her are ultimately limited."

“I know, of course I know.” Andrei sighed.

That's why I didn't refuse.

In this extraordinary world, the opportunity to wield power is incredibly rare.

"It's foolish to not seize something that's right in front of you."

He added:
"And to be honest, if Airo can go further on the path of a wizard, it will also be a good thing for the Kingdom of Farouk."

At least from now on, our lineage will be able to stand more firmly in this world.

The two chatted casually for a while about their recent situations, and Andrei waved his hand:
Take care, old friend. I don't know when we'll meet again.

“It will be soon,” Ron said.

After ending the call, he stood up and pushed open the door to his study.

Ailan and Dyer immediately came to greet them.

"Master, you..."

Ron waved his hand: "I'm done with my work. How are the preparations for tonight's engagement dinner going?"

"Everything's ready!" Dale exclaimed excitedly. "Sister Ailan and I have prepared a huge feast!"

"Thank you for your hard work."

Neither he nor Eve planned to make a big fuss about their engagement.

On the one hand, everyone is too busy and simply can't find the time to prepare any large-scale banquet;
On the other hand, they didn't want to turn what was originally a very private matter into a social show.

So the final "celebration" was that everyone had dinner together that evening.

There were no red tape or lengthy speeches.

It's simply about sitting together, eating, chatting, and sharing our recent lives.

Perhaps, this is what he truly wants.

It's not about superficial glamour; it's enough to sit with people you truly care about and spend some quiet time together.

………………

The ancestral land of the crown, a secret sanctuary buried deep within the central land.

There is no sunshine, no wind, and even the passage of time becomes blurred.

Only those crystal coffins remained, quietly sealed away.

Eve stood in front of the third crystal coffin.

Behind her, Diaz and Vivian stood on her left and right sides respectively.

Eve's experience with the previous two awakening rituals had made her quite familiar with the entire process.

The construction of magic circuits, the activation of rune sequences, the rhythm of consciousness guidance... every step is thoroughly familiar to him.

“Reginald Saint Mange”.

Eve murmured the name, her amethyst eyes reflecting the sleeping figure within the crystal coffin:
"My mother's distant ancestor was a Dark Sun-level wizard in the early Fourth Era, and one of the candidates for patriarch of the Crown Clan..."

She took a deep breath and raised her hands.

A soft silver light emanated from his fingertips—the energy fluctuations of a resonance spell.

After long-term training by the King of Absurdity, he has now achieved a level of precise control.

The light flowed like a living thing, outlining ancient runes in the air.

These runes are not part of the common system of wizarding civilizations; they are older, more primitive, and carry a certain rhythm that goes straight to the source.

"Using mirrors as guides and light as a bridge..."

Eve's voice echoed in the empty sanctuary:
"Traverse a thousand years of slumber, and awaken the lost soul..."

"Om..."

The crystal coffin trembled slightly.

Eve could sense that the power was gradually becoming active, transitioning from a state of "hibernation" to a state of "awakening".

Unlike the previous two times...

When Diaz woke up, he was somewhat confused, but he quickly accepted the situation and even took the initiative to ask how to help the clan.

When Aunt Vivian woke up, her first thought was to check on her sister Cassandra's safety. Although she was worried after learning what had happened, she still chose to trust and support her...

And this time.

As the lid of the crystal coffin slowly opened, as those eyes, which had been asleep for a thousand years, finally opened...

What Eve saw was doubt, pure and undisguised doubt.

Reginald Saint-Mange slowly sat up.

He looked to be in his early fifties, with long, gray hair draped over his shoulders and his face covered with deep wrinkles left by the years.

The old wizard's gaze swept over Eve, then landed on Diaz and Vivian, before finally returning to Eve's face.

The whole process took no more than three seconds, yet it seemed as if he had seen through everyone present.

"Where is Cassandra?"

His first sentence went straight to the point:

Why is it you who woke me up?
According to clan rules, only the clan chief or his official successor is qualified to preside over the awakening ceremony.

"you……"

Reginald narrowed his eyes slightly: "Do you have the qualifications?"

Eve could sense that the magical fluctuations of Diaz and Vivian behind her had become more intense.

That's a protective stance; if Reginald makes any rash moves, they will not hesitate to intervene.

But Eve raised her hand, signaling them to calm down.

She knew that this moment was the real test.

"My mother has gone missing."

Eve spoke calmly, her amethyst eyes fixed on Reginald:

"Thirty years ago, she encountered an accident while on an expedition in the Vital Starfield, and her whereabouts remain unknown to this day."

"Currently, I am in charge of clan affairs."

"Loss of contact?"

Reginald sneered and stood up from the crystal coffin:
"What a convenient way to put it, 'disconnected'."

"It sounds milder than 'disappearance,' more dignified than 'death,' yet it cleverly avoids the most crucial issue..."

He walked towards Eve step by step, each step intensifying the oppressive atmosphere in the air:
"Is she dead, or is she still alive?"

"I do not know."

Eve did not back down:

"All I know is that after she went missing, the ancestor King of Absurdity entrusted the clan to me."

"Entrust?"

Reginald stopped three meters away from Eve, sizing up the young heir:

"What qualifications does a mere girl who has just broken through to the Moon-level have to shoulder the future of the entire Crown Clan?"

"Do you know how many years this clan has existed? It spans two entire eras!"

His voice suddenly rose, like thunder:
Do you know how many trials and tribulations we went through in those years?
Era shifts, school divisions, dark wizard wars… each is a test of life and death!

"But every time, it's us 'old guys' who pull through!"

Reginald pointed to his chest:
"Before I fell into slumber, I was already at the late stage of the Dark Sun level, ranking fifth in the clan!"

“According to the bloodline, I am your mother Cassandra’s distant ancestor!”

"In terms of seniority, ability, and understanding of the clan..."

He said, enunciating each word clearly: "Why should you lead me?"

These words were spoken without any mercy.

If it were Eve from thirty years ago, still suffering from illness and emotionally fragile, she would probably have been devastated on the spot.

However, she is no longer the little princess who was tightly controlled by her mother.

She has experienced so much in the past thirty years.

The power struggles within the academic alliance, the pressure of awakening the ancestral land, the rigorous training of the King of Absurdity... every challenge is tempering her character and forging her will.

"You're right."

Eve did the opposite, first admitting:

"In terms of seniority, I am indeed inferior to you."

"In terms of strength, I am far from being able to match it now."

"In terms of knowledge about clans, I probably don't even have a fraction of what you do."

She paused, a cold glint flashing in her eyes:
"However……"

"You have been asleep for three thousand years."

This statement was like a sharp blade, precisely piercing the vital point.

Reginald's expression stiffened slightly.

"Three thousand years, how many things can happen in that time?"

Eve continued:

"The Third Age has long since ended, and even the Fourth Age is nearing its middle."

"Most of the allies you knew are no longer here."

"Many of the rules you know are outdated."

"Those experiences you're so proud of..."

Her tone became sharper:

"In this era, it might actually become a burden."

Reginald's face darkened completely.

But Eve hadn't finished speaking.

"Another point……"

She took a step forward, proactively shortening the distance between herself and this distant ancestor:
"The fact that the King of Absurdity chose to seal you in a crystal coffin shows that He trusts your abilities."

"The ancestors have chosen to awaken you, which means the clan needs your strength."

"However, He did not choose to let you inherit the position of patriarch..."

Eve's voice was low, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly:

"That means He thinks you're not good enough!"

"you!"

Reginald finally lost his temper.

The Dark Sun-level magical energy surged like a storm, distorting the air throughout the entire sanctuary!
But at this moment...

“That’s enough, Reginald,” Diaz’s voice rang out.

Both unleashed their Dark Sun-level magical pressure, colliding head-on with Reginald's power, and even subtly gaining the upper hand:
"You intend to attack a junior?"

Vivian pulled Eve behind her and said coldly:
"Don't forget, Cassandra is my sister. If she wants to lay a hand on my niece, she'll have to ask me first!"

Two waves of Dark Sun-level magic power pressed down simultaneously, and Reginald's face turned ashen. In the end, he withdrew his magic pressure.

He gave Eve a deep look, his tone icy:

"I'll be watching you."

“If you are truly capable of leading the clan, I will naturally obey.”

"If you are merely an heir in name only..."

He turned and walked deeper into the sanctuary:

"Then don't blame me for exercising my 'inheritance challenge' according to the clan's ancient law."

The footsteps faded away.

After Reginald's figure disappeared at the end of the passage, the sanctuary returned to silence.

Eve, however, did not relax.

She slowly exhaled, clenching and unclenching her hands several times before she could barely suppress her anxiety.

"Little Eve..."

Diaz walked up to her and said with some concern:
"I never met Reginald when I was young, but I heard my ancestors talk about him."

I've heard he's extremely stubborn; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it.

"And..." the old man lowered his voice:

"The 'challenge to succession' he mentioned does indeed exist in ancient clan laws."

"If clan members believe that the current clan leader is incompetent, they can launch a challenge under the supervision of the 'witnesses'."

"Challenges include, but are not limited to: magic duels, tests of wit, and comparisons of clan contributions..."

"By winning any one of these, the challenger will gain the power of 'temporary regency'."

Eve's heart sank.

She had seen this rule in the clan chief's notes left by her mother, but she never expected to face it so soon.

"But you don't need to worry too much."

Vivian turned around and gently stroked her niece's hair:
"Reginald may be stubborn, but he is not unreasonable."

"As long as you produce enough results to prove that you are indeed capable of leading the clan..."

He will approve of you.

"That's the problem."

Eve smiled wryly:

What does "sufficient results" mean?

“I have indeed accomplished a great deal over the decades—I have retained my seat in the academic alliance, maintained our alliance, and the awakening process is progressing steadily…”

“But in Reginald’s eyes, these might all be ‘what should be done’ and not anything remarkable.”

She raised her head and looked towards the still-sleeping crystal coffins deep within the sanctuary:

"There may be several elders waiting to be awakened."

"If they all questioned me like Reginald did..."

Eve didn't continue, but the other two understood her concerns. (End of Chapter)