Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 202 After the knife cuts the meat, will you thank it?

The light from the crystal pillar grew clearer, casting ever-changing red shadows on the faces of the three-person team.

The red crystals on the ground became clearer as they approached, resembling some kind of translucent flesh and blood covering the ground.

As he drew closer to the core area, Ron fell into deep thought, recalling his experience at the "control point".

He vaguely sensed that the teleportation process was not as simple as it seemed.

When his palm touched the surface of the stone pillar at the control point, a strange energy fluctuation spread from the point of contact, rapidly spreading along his arm and throughout his body.

The feeling was both unfamiliar and unsettling.

It was as if countless invisible hands were wandering inside and outside his body, touching every inch of his skin, every nerve, and even every corner of his soul.

Through his unique perspective of "superhuman perception," he saw the flow of information that is difficult for ordinary people to perceive.

Countless tiny energy threads extended from the control point, winding around his body and constructing a complete blueprint for life.

These energy threads not only scanned his surface but also penetrated deep into his flesh and blood, and even permeated his spiritual realm.

A surprising discovery formed in his mind:
The control point is not only a means of transportation, but also a complex life scanning device.

It read everything about him—his bloodline traits, his abilities, his thought patterns, and even the deepest desires and fears in his subconscious.

"What are you thinking about, Ron? Have you discovered something wrong?"

Trish turned her head and asked, with a hint of inquiry in her voice.

Those brown eyes shone with an unusual brilliance under the reflection of the blood-red crystals, making them exceptionally eye-catching.

Holt also stopped and looked over with a questioning gaze.

Before anyone knew it, Ron had become the backbone of this three-person team.

"I'm thinking about the mechanism of control points."

Ron answered in a low voice, his eyes still scanning his surroundings warily:

"Have you noticed that when we touch the stone pillars at those 'control points,' we have a feeling of being 'read'?"

Holt frowned slightly: "There is indeed a strange feeling, like someone is going through my memories."

“It’s not just memories.” Ron shook his head, his voice growing even deeper:

“I discovered that control points are actually scanning our entire life structure—bloodline, abilities, and even the subconscious.”

What he didn't tell his companions was that at that moment, he felt a subtle reaction from the puppet on his waist.

The unassuming little wooden puppet suddenly became unusually active, as if it had been stimulated, trembling slightly but rapidly.

Even more strangely, the energy fluctuations it emitted resonated with the control point, as if the two were having some kind of silent exchange.

"The substitute puppet also comes from the fourth layer of the abyss."

Ron secretly speculated:

"Although the space where the control point is located is not the real abyss, it does have the characteristics of the abyss. There is a certain linkage effect between the two."

This discovery both excited and alarmed him.

He realized that his clones were likely more than just ordinary bloodline mappings.

Rather, it was influenced by the characteristics of a substitute puppet during the generation process, which gave it special properties that go beyond those of a regular clone.

“I believe the generation of the clones is based on the scanning results during the transmission process.” Ron snapped out of his thoughts and forced a smile.
"But some things have changed."

He did not tell his two companions his true thoughts; the information involving the stand-in puppet was too sensitive to be shared with outsiders.

"Indeed, the situation here is permeated with an eerie feeling."

Holt nodded in agreement, constantly scanning his surroundings, his fingers already poised to summon the Earth Elemental Colossus at any moment.

The three continued onward, while Ron continued to sort out his thoughts about clones deep within his mind.

Through that strange contact, he established an unusual connection with his clone—a one-way, unequal connection.

This connection allows Ron to vaguely perceive the clone's actions and emotions, while the clone remains completely unaware of them.

Even more interestingly, he discovered that the clones seemed to inherit some of the traits of the substitute puppet—especially the ability to absorb abyssal energy and the tendency to self-evolve.

It is no longer a simple mapping, but an entity with self-awareness and growth potential.

From the emotional fluctuations emanating from the clone, Ron sensed a powerful craving—a hunger for power and a desire to devour other lives.

But at the same time, there is also an unspeakable fear, an instinctive dread of unknown threats.

“It’s afraid of me,” Ron thought to himself with a sneer, “even if it doesn’t know why.”

This one-sided information advantage allowed him to gradually gain a thorough understanding of their actions.

The clone's every move was within his expectations;

He witnessed every instance of it devouring, every instance of it strengthening itself, and every trace of fear it felt.

Through this unusual connection, he captured the replicant's behavioral patterns:
It will first seek out weaker targets to accumulate energy and experience, and then gradually challenge stronger opponents.

This behavioral pattern is remarkably similar to Ron's own way of thinking, almost like a distorted mirror reflecting certain traits deep within him.

He could feel the clone's excitement after each time it devoured another clone, its fear when facing an unknown threat, and even its instinctive dread of the original being about to arrive.

It was all like a meticulously crafted play, with Ron as the sole audience.

As their thoughts raced, they continued on their way.

The crystal floor beneath my feet hummed softly as it rubbed against the air, as if countless tiny lives were whispering within it.

The outline of the crystal enclosure was already clearly visible, and the towering crystal pillars, illuminated by the crimson light, resembled a palace formed from congealed blood.

Suddenly, Ron sensed a violent fluctuation in his mental perception, and a powerful energy tide surged from afar.

The feeling was so strong that he involuntarily stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowed.

"What's wrong?" Holt keenly noticed Ron's unusual behavior.

Ron did not answer immediately, but closed his eyes and focused his attention on feeling the energy fluctuations.

Through a special connection with the clone, he "saw" an astonishing scene:

The clone is fighting two twisted humanoid creatures that have merged into an even more terrifying being.

"Oliver and Cynthia," Ron murmured the two names to himself, a chill running down his spine.

"It looks like we need to speed things up."

He said to his two companions, "I can feel the abyss's aura growing stronger. We should go back as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications."

Trish and Holt exchanged a glance, and although they didn't fully understand Ron's plan, they nodded in agreement.

The three quickened their pace and headed towards the central area of ​​the crystal enclosure.

In the distance, the clones engaged in a fierce battle with the fusion of Oliver and Cynthia.

"My clones are eliminating other clones and even real awakened ones."

Ron thought to himself, "This saves me a lot of trouble."

Meanwhile, at the other end of the crystal field, the replicant was delivering the final blow to the fusion of Oliver and Cynthia.

The flaming sword pierced the core of the fused entity, ending the lives of the two awakened beings.

The fusion began to disintegrate, releasing a large amount of abyssal energy, which flowed towards the clone like a black river.

The clone opened its arms, greedily absorbing the energy and feeling its body constantly strengthening and transforming.

Elliott stood to the side, his clothes soaked with cold sweat, fear almost overwhelming him.

He watched as the clone absorbed all the energy, and its crimson-gold eyes slowly turned towards him, realizing that something terrible was about to happen.

"Thank you for your help, Wind Listener."

The clone's voice grew hoarser and deeper, as if it came from the depths of hell: "But now, your value has been exhausted."

Elliott's large ears twitched violently, catching a deadly threat in the air.

He had been secretly observing the clone's every move, waiting for the best opportunity to escape.

"I thought you would thank me for finding such a delicious source of energy for you."

Elliott tried to keep his voice steady while secretly reaching for the special emblem in his pocket.

"Thank you?" The clone revealed a cold smile, a smile devoid of any human warmth.

Why should we thank tools? After you've cut the meat with a knife, do you thank it?

The clone raised its hand, and a dark spell model condensed at its fingertips, preparing to launch a fatal blow.

But in that instant, its expression suddenly froze, and a strong sense of threat emanated from afar. It was an instinctive fear; it knew that the real Ron was approaching.

This brief hesitation gave Elliott enough time.

He quickly pulled out the special emblem given to him by Valen from his pocket and activated the protective barrier on his body.

That's a protective measure that only genius students of the Crystal Spire can obtain, capable of withstanding attacks from formal wizards for a short period of time.

The clone realized what was happening and launched an attack, but it was too late.

Elliott's protective barrier blocked the attack, and at the same time, he crushed the emblem in his hand.

A dazzling light enveloped him, and his figure gradually faded in the light until it disappeared completely.

The clone let out a low growl, a hint of annoyance flashing in its eyes.

But soon, its attention was drawn to an even stronger sense of threat coming from afar.

………………

On the open ground outside the bloodline altar, magic condensed in the air as if it had a physical form, and a suffocating pressure spread from the two opposing figures.

Valen stood in the center of the open space, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

The Dark Sun-level wizard unleashed his full power, distorting and deforming the surrounding air.

His robes fluttered without wind, silver-gray patterns flowing across the surface, outlining the mysterious symbols unique to the crystal spire.

Mrs. Allen, on the other hand, seemed much more relaxed, with a slightly mocking smile on her seemingly young face.

After taking "Seven-Colored Star Dew", her aura has completely changed.

She was no longer the elderly woman who owned the old pharmacy, but a powerful wizard exuding an astonishing aura of oppression.

A rainbow-like magic surrounded her.

That power fluctuation did not come from a single element, but from the perfect fusion of seven basic elements, forming a higher and purer form of energy.

The standoff between the two powerful figures has been going on for some time.

Fine cracks appeared on the surrounding ground, and the air was thick with the smell of burning, as if a great battle that could destroy the area was about to erupt at any moment.

As a Dark Sun-level wizard of the Crystal Spire, Valen's mission on this trip is to oversee the opening process of the Bloodline Altar.

And ensure that the apprentices of the Crystal Spire can safely participate in the trials and obtain bloodline enhancements.

However, the current situation is far beyond what he had anticipated.

On one hand, there's the unexpected variable brought about by the sudden appearance of Mrs. Allen; on the other hand, there's the possible anomaly within the Bloodline Altar.

“The situation is terrible.” Valen looked at the Book of Life in his hand, his face growing increasingly grim.

The flames in the Book of Life represent the life states of the apprentices at the Crystal Spire.

The flames that should have been bright and stable are now mostly flickering.

At this point, five pages had already turned completely gray, indicating that half of the apprentices had died.

This even includes Lina, the special talent whose importance is second only to Elliott.

"Allen, I don't have time to waste with you any longer."

Valen's voice was calm, but a hint of worry flashed in his eyes:
“The Crystal Spire squad has suffered heavy losses. I must ascertain the situation inside the altar as soon as possible.”

Mrs. Allen sneered, and the rainbow light surrounding her shone even brighter:
"What can be confirmed? A group of so-called 'elites' instilled with a sense of superiority by you are nothing but chickens and dogs when faced with true geniuses. Is this the product of your Crystal Spire's training? Disappointing."

Valen's brow was furrowed, and his fingers trembled slightly, clearly suppressing his anger:

“Allen, I know you have many grievances about the Crystal Spire, but now is not the time to dwell on those. The situation inside the altar is out of control, and we must take action.”

"Take action?" Mrs. Allen scoffed.

“You and I both know the rules of the Bloodline Altar—once you enter, you cannot interfere midway and can only wait for the result. This is an ironclad rule that was set when the altar was designed, and even the Dark Sun Wizard cannot change it.”

Her eyes suddenly sharpened:

"You're not really worried about the safety of the apprentices, but about Ron, who has shown amazing talent, right? You're afraid that he has made unexpected progress in the altar and will pose a threat to the interests of the Crystal Spire when he returns."

Valen paused for a moment, then readily admitted:
“That’s right, Ron is indeed a variable. According to Hayek’s description, his potential far exceeds that of ordinary geniuses. Such talent deserves the best training and guidance. And the Crystal Spire can provide just that.”

"Cultivate? Guide?"

Mrs. Allen's voice was full of sarcasm:
"Don't use these high-sounding words to cover up the truth. All the Crystal Spire wants to do is to completely bind him through a soul contract and turn him into your tool and puppet."

Valen did not answer immediately, but instead gave Allen a deep look, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Just then, the spatial passage of the Bloodline Altar flickered, and a blinding light exploded on the open ground.

After the light faded, Elliott appeared between the two, pale-faced and dressed in tattered clothes, but fortunately unharmed.

Immediately following, several more beams of light appeared, and several apprentices from the Crystal Spire emerged.

These apprentices were in far worse condition than Eliot.

Some were covered in black spots, some had their skin dissolving, and others had black liquid flowing from their eyes, having completely lost consciousness.

“Master Warren!” Elliott’s eyes lit up with hope when he saw Warren.

“Elliott!” Warren’s attention was immediately diverted. He quickly took a few steps forward, crouched down, and carefully checked the apprentices’ condition:
"This level of contamination is beyond the scope of a normal trial at the Bloodline Altar!"

He placed his palm on an apprentice's forehead and closed his eyes slightly.

The spiritual power seeped into the depths of the student's consciousness like fine threads, attempting to perceive the source and extent of the pollution.

“The situation is not good.” Valen’s voice turned grave.

“This pollution has penetrated to the level of the soul, and conventional purification methods will likely have limited effect. They must be sent back to the Crystal Spire immediately for professional treatment.”

Mrs. Allen took a few steps closer, the mockery on her face lessening slightly.

She crouched down and gently touched an apprentice's pulse with her fingers, feeling the faint pulse of life within it.

"A mixture of erosion and spiritual pollution." She quickly made the judgment:
"This damage originates from the whispers of the starry sky, yet it is also mixed with the corrosive properties of the abyss. A very rare combination."

Valen looked up at Elliott: "Tell me in detail what happened inside the altar."

Elliott took a deep breath and described his experience within the Bloodline Altar as concisely and comprehensively as possible.

From the moment they encountered their respective clones, to the devastating battle, and then to the scene where clone Ron killed the awakened Oliver and Cynthia.

"Impossible!" Valen's voice was filled with shock.

"How could a clone possess such immense power and a clear sense of self? This is completely beyond the design scope of the Bloodline Altar!"

He looked at Mrs. Allen: "Allen, what is the background of your student Ron?"

Mrs. Allen smiled slightly, a smile tinged with mystery:

"He's just a talented young man, nothing more."

“No, there must be other reasons.” Valen’s gaze sharpened:

"Ordinary geniuses couldn't create such a clone. Unless..."

He suddenly stopped, a look of realization flashing in his eyes:
"Unless he possesses some special talent or item that can influence the altar's operating mechanism."

Eliot, recalling his observations inside the altar, added:
"The clone seems to be able to absorb the power of other clones to strengthen itself, like... like a living abyssal substance."

“You mean,” Valen’s expression grew even more serious, “that Ron might possess some kind of Abyss artifact?”

“I’m not sure,” Elliott answered honestly.
"But the behavior of the clone is indeed very special. It not only absorbs the energy of other clones, but also shows a clear sense of self and judgment, which is completely unlike ordinary clones."

Instead of asking further questions, Valen quickly constructed a portal:

"In any case, these apprentices are in critical condition and must be sent to the Crystal Spire for treatment immediately."

He looked at Elliott: "You rest here, and I'll come back after I've dealt with this."

Eliot nodded and leaned weakly against a rock.

Valen began sending the injured apprentices into the portal one by one, his movements swift and practiced.

His expression grew increasingly grave; clearly, the apprentices' injuries were more serious than he had initially anticipated.

"This has exceeded the acceptable range of losses."

Valen said in a low voice, a hint of self-reproach in his tone, "I must explain the failure of this mission to the Alliance of Schools."

Mrs. Allen sneered:
"Hasn't the Crystal Spire always boasted about having the best apprentices? What, are you now afraid to answer to those old fogies?"

Valen's eyes sharpened:
“Allen, I know you have many grievances about the Crystal Spire, but now is not the time for you to mock them. I must ensure the safety of the remaining apprentices inside the altar as soon as possible.”

(End of this chapter)