Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 253 The Hermit

Mental energy, like fine threads, weaves paths leading to the depths.

He had been a formal wizard for almost a month, and his mental strength and magical power were still growing rapidly, which even surprised him a little.

When I first broke through in the Black Mist Forest, my mental strength increased from 4.9 to 5.3.

It has now stabilized at a level of 5.4, which is much faster than expected.

This improvement is not a random leap, but a relatively smooth process.

Each meditation brings a small but real growth, while the "Star Projection" property provides an additional boost when the stars are bright at night.

The increase in magic power is even more astonishing, gradually surging from 3.8 to 4.2.

In terms of actual magical power, it is almost twice as much as that of a newly promoted formal wizard.

This is mainly due to the continuous effect of the "Star Projection" property, which lasts day and night.

Stellar energy flowed continuously into his body, nourishing his magic core and causing it to expand and deepen.

Ron's consciousness sank further, passing through the outer layers of thought fluctuations, and arrived at that vast expanse of stars—his deep consciousness world.

After becoming a formal wizard, his mental world underwent a tremendous change.

The spiritual sea, which was originally as calm as a lake, became unfathomable and crystal clear.

Countless stars dot the scene, forming a spectacular star map, as if the entire universe were compressed into his spiritual world.

These stars are not randomly distributed, but arranged according to a complex but real pattern.

Like a miniature universe, each star represents a potential or possibility, guiding the direction of his future growth.

However, most of these stars were dim, with only a very few twinkling faintly, showing initial signs of activation.

Like a giant occasionally turning over in his sleep, it foreshadows the great power that may awaken in the future.

"Gathering the light of the stars through meditation and continuously illuminating the star map in the spiritual world is the growth path of 'The Star Eater's Whispers' in the formal wizard stage."

Ron recalled what he had seen in the meditation commentary, his thoughts wandering across the star chart.

In terms of strength, he has just crossed the threshold of the Morning Star level and is far from reaching the pinnacle of this realm.

To truly solidify this state, one must light up the first star in the spiritual world, bringing one's spiritual power to 5.5 and forming a complete energy cycle system.

At this moment, in Ron's mental world, the brightest star is still in a semi-activated state.

Like the morning star before dawn, it flickers with light, seemingly just one step away from being fully illuminated and releasing all the potential within.

That is the "Hermit Star," a celestial body symbolizing solitude and wisdom.

In the "Comprehensive Compendium of Common Celestial Bodies", this star is described as "the guardian of knowledge, the wise one who understands the secrets of silence".

Once lit, it will grant the person who lit it extraordinary intelligence and insight, enabling them to see through appearances and grasp the essence.

According to the description of the meditation method, once the Hermit Star is lit, Ron's mental strength will not only break through 5.5, but also reach a new standard.

He will also receive a permanent attribute boost—Intelligence Enhancement, which will significantly improve his learning and comprehension abilities.

At night, especially when Hermit Star is high in the sky, this bonus effect is further enhanced.

This bonus effect, combined with the added benefits of one's own "extensive knowledge" and "ideas," provides further enhancement.

This allows him to understand complex concepts more quickly and discover subtle clues that are difficult for ordinary people to notice.

In some cases, it can even generate near-predictive intuition.

"Only one last step remains."

Ron gazed at the half-bright, half-dim star in his mental world, feeling both anticipation and an indescribable sense of urgency.

According to The Star Eater's Ramblings, as stars are lit up one by one, they will gradually connect to form constellations, creating more complex and powerful energy structures.

Once a complete constellation is formed, the power of all the stars will merge into one.

The constellation will further enhance the ability and endow it with unique characteristics, which also means transcending the Morning Star and advancing to the Moon Star level.

The Hermit Star occupies a central position in the Intellect Constellation, which is relatively harmless and has the most significant positive effects.

This is also why Ron chose it as the first one to activate.

When most of the important constellations in the star chart are fully illuminated, and an attempt is made to forge the "virtual prototype" under the power of will.

This means that he has reached the Dark Sun level and has begun to advance towards the Great Wizard realm.

This road is long and arduous, and each time it is lit up, it requires a great deal of effort and patience.

Ron didn't expect to achieve success overnight; he preferred to take things one step at a time and steadily make the most of each stage of his journey.

On the other hand, since advancing to become a formal wizard, he has felt a qualitative leap in his level of life.

The most obvious change is the sharp decrease in the need for rest.

I used to need at least five or six hours of sleep, but now I only need two or three hours to recover my peak energy.

This sustained state of alertness increased his research efficiency by at least 100%.

Nights that used to require me to force my tired brain to think have now become the times when my mind is most active.

At dawn, Ron opened his eyes from meditation, feeling the abundant magic flowing through his body.

Since becoming a full-fledged wizard, and especially after gaining the "Star Projection" ability, his magical reserves have been steadily increasing every day.

Like a constantly expanding reservoir, it has far surpassed the level of its initial advanced apprenticeship.

Outside the window, the morning in Town 69 has already begun to bustle.

Gray smoke rose from the chimneys, mingling with the low clouds in the sky, like ink staining rice paper.

The faint traces of energy visible within the smoke were the result of the interaction between the abyssal aura and ordinary combustible matter.

Ron stood up and casually waved his hand.

The teapot in the room floated up automatically, pouring out a cup of tea at just the right temperature, which then floated steadily to his side.

The surface of the tea was as calm as a mirror, without a single drop spilling, demonstrating his gradually improving and precise control over magic.

Such precise manipulation of magic is an almost impossible task before becoming a formal wizard.

Even with the aid of spells like "Radiant Ring," it's difficult to achieve such precise control.

At most, it's about moving objects roughly, rather than performing complex actions with such flexibility.

Now that the flow of magic has become more active and smooth, this is merely a manifestation of a random thought of his.

He took a sip of tea, feeling the warm liquid flow down his throat and into his body.

"The refinement of mental and magical control is one of the most obvious changes after a wizard advances."

Ron pondered, gathering magic between his fingers to form a tiny point of light.

He had tried to keep such a light spot stable some time ago, but it would always collapse in less than three seconds.

And now, the light is dancing on his fingertips.

Sometimes it transforms into a lifelike butterfly, and sometimes it becomes a flower bud about to bloom.

Each transformation is so precise it's astonishing, even capable of simulating the fine lines on butterfly wings and the veins on petals.

He could even make the point of light pass through the wall and still maintain its shape on the other side; the precision of his control was simply unbelievable.

"However, flight remains an unresolved issue."

Ron pondered, looking out the window at several slightly larger birds with dark gray feathers soaring high in the sky.

Their flight is exceptionally graceful, and they can maintain basic balance even in turbulent air.

Ron placed the teacup back on the table, walked to the window, and gently raised his hand.

An invisible force lifted his body, slowly raising him half a meter off the ground.

This type of floating can indeed achieve a flight effect for a short period of time, but the speed is generally slow and the direction is difficult to control precisely.

He slightly adjusted his magic output, causing himself to spin once in the air, then move forward two steps, and finally come to a steady stop in place.

The whole process seems simple, but it consumes a considerable amount of magic.

Like trying to drink water from a wine glass, it's neither economical nor practical. Dispelling his magic, he landed back on the ground, his brow slightly furrowed.

“The Crystal Spire must have a special flight spell.”

Ron formulated a plan in his mind:
"Or a more efficient spatial jump spell, such as 'teleportation'. This could be one of the first things to learn after arriving in the Central Lands."

Proper flight spells not only significantly reduce mana consumption but also greatly improve speed and stability.

To make flying a practical mode of transportation, rather than a luxurious waste of magic.

"Instant teleportation" is obviously more difficult. It is said that anyone below the rank of Grand Wizard who wants to perform such a spell must have a special talent related to space or use a special casting medium.

However, its applicability far exceeds that of ordinary movement spells, as it is not limited by distance or obstacles, making it arguably the pinnacle of all movement spells.

Just then, a soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

He responded calmly, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Ailan's elegant figure appeared in the doorway.

The tree spirit's emerald green vines shimmered in the sunlight, and her elegant, marble-sculpted female face revealed her usual gentle expression.

“Master, Guide Ethan has been waiting outside for quite some time.”

Ailan's voice was like a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves:
"He said that special goods trading in the Shadow Zone usually only takes place during the day, and if you want to go and take a look, it's best to set off now. Apparently, several explorers just returned from the Abyss today, bringing back a batch of rare items."

Ron nodded and stood up.

This was one of the purposes of his trip—to find rare materials needed to build the simulated combat device, and to find suitable fusion carriers for the various "cores" of the Chimera bloodline.

“Tell him I’ll be there soon. I’ll prepare the collection container and testing tools first, as there may be live tissue samples that need to be processed.”

Ailan nodded gently and left the room silently.

Ron walked to the window, looking at the gradually brightening sky, a barely perceptible hint of anticipation appearing on his lips.

In the spiritual world, the Hermit Star, half-bright and half-dim, still flickers with its light, patiently waiting for the moment when it will be fully illuminated.

This moment may come soon, because every acquisition of new knowledge and every insight into the nature of the world will bring this star, which symbolizes wisdom, closer to a state of full awakening.

Just as he was about to continue forward, a surge of energy came from behind him, accompanied by crisp footsteps.

Ron turned around and saw a young woman in an airship uniform walking quickly towards him.

"Ralph the Wizard?"

The woman gave a slight bow, her voice respectful:
“I am Marian, the chief purser of the ‘Dawn Walker’. The captain asked me to come and inform you of some news.”

Ron nodded to signal her to continue, wondering why the airship management would specifically send someone to look for him.

"We will be welcoming another official wizard passenger this afternoon."

Marian explained:

"Given that both of you are residing in the A-level area, the captain would like to consult you in advance about whether you would like a partition to be installed between the two suites. This will ensure that your privacy is not disturbed during the voyage."

Ron raised an eyebrow; this was unexpected news.

"Can you tell me more about this wizard?" Ron asked indifferently.

Marian hesitated slightly, seemingly considering which information she could reveal:

"The other distinguished guest is Wizard Reynolds, an experienced Morning Star wizard who is also qualified as a professional bloodline modifier."

As far as I know, he frequently travels between the Central Lands and various Abyss exploration points; he's a regular visitor to us.

She paused and added:

"The wizard Reynolds is relatively introverted, but kind-hearted, and has never had any unpleasant incidents with other passengers in the past."

The captain hoped the two could get along well, but also understood the wizards' need for privacy.

Ron pondered for a moment.

An experienced Morning Star wizard, and also a bloodline modifier.

Such a person would undoubtedly bring a lot of valuable information and experience.

In particular, this wizard frequently travels to and from the central region, so he should have access to the latest intelligence and information.

For Ron, who was new to this place, this was the best way to learn about the details of the Central Lands.

“There’s no need to set up barriers,” he finally decided. “I’d be happy to get to know this fellow traveler.”

Marian breathed a sigh of relief, clearly satisfied with the reply:
"Thank you very much for your understanding, Wizard. Wizard Reynolds is expected to board the ship in the evening."

If you are interested, the captain would like to invite you both to dinner tonight so that we can get to know each other.

"I will think about it."

Ron gave a vague response, neither rejecting nor promising.

He wanted to observe his companion before making a decision.

Marianne nodded in understanding; naturally, they dared not act on their own initiative.

"Then I won't disturb your tour any longer."

If you decide to attend dinner, please inform us via Service Crystal before evening. Have a pleasant visit to Town 69.

The woman bowed gracefully and left, leaving Ron pondering this new development.

Stepping out of the "Dawn Walker," Ron spotted Ethan's grey figure below the docking tower.

The guide was wearing a simple but high-quality dark gray coat today.

The number of small bottles around his waist was more than yesterday, clearly indicating that he was well prepared for any possible contingencies.

Good morning, Wizard.

Ethan bowed respectfully, the angle of his bow just right, showing respect without appearing overly obsequious:
"I will accompany you throughout today's trip to ensure your safety and convenience."

I've already taken care of the access control for the Shadow Zone; that should prevent some unnecessary trouble.

He gestured for them to proceed, and the two walked along the wide stone-paved road toward the town.

A peculiar type of street lamp is installed on both sides of the stone-paved road.

The lampshade does not contain ordinary flames or magical light sources, but rather a mutated firefly sealed in a container.

Their bellies emitted an eerie blue light that penetrated the unique gray fog of Town 69 more effectively than ordinary light sources.

The town appears significantly more vibrant today compared to yesterday.

The number of pedestrians on the streets has at least doubled.

Long queues formed in front of many stalls, and the sounds of trading filled the air, creating a bustling atmosphere.

A makeshift stage had even been set up in the center of the market, where several singers dressed in grey robes were performing a strange tune.

The lyrics contain words that Ron has never heard before, and the melody is sometimes pleasant and sometimes jarring, clearly influenced by the culture of the Abyss.

Even more eye-catching were the adventurers dressed in all sorts of colorful costumes.

They moved through the streets in groups, well-equipped, with a complex mix of vigilance and excitement on their faces.

Some teams even carried massive supply trucks, piled high with various special tools and protective gear needed for abyss exploration.

Are there any special events today?

Ron asked, noticing keenly that many teams were heading in the same direction, as if drawn by some unseen force.

"It is a change in the 'Tide of the Abyss'."

Ethan explained in a low voice, his tone tinged with awe at the supernatural:

"Last night, the observation station detected that the abyssal energy is about to enter the trough of a small cycle."

Many adventure teams are making the most of their time to prepare for short-term explorations.

These opportunities only occur four or five times a year, and each lasts for varying durations; if you miss one, you may have to wait several more months.

(End of this chapter)