Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 254 Ecological Bagbug
Ron nodded briefly in confirmation: "Then, let's get going without delay."

Ethan pointed in the direction of the east of the city:

“We need to go through the main city and then exit through the east gate. The Shadow District is outside the official city walls, but it has its own set of protective systems—not to prevent the abyssal energy from seeping in, but to maintain its unique ecological balance.”

Ron understood his implication.

This is a lawless land with its own rules and order, which are based on power and interests, not morality or law.

The two walked through the city in the morning light, where some early-rising vendors and residents were already on the streets.

As they crossed a stone bridge, Ethan pointed to a stream below.

The stream had an unnatural purple hue, with a faint fluorescence floating on its surface, and its flow was as slow as solidified syrup.

"That is 'blood of the abyss'."

Ethan explained, his voice filled with awe:

"It's said to be the 'blood' of the abyss itself, seeping into the surface world from certain special nodes. No one has been able to fully analyze its composition to this day, but if you dare to take a sip..."

He paused, a chill running down his spine: "At best, it permanently alters the senses; at worst, it causes direct distortion."

Ron stopped to observe the peculiar stream.

Through "extraordinary perception," he can sense the complex energy structure contained in the water.

It is not a single form of energy, but a mixture of dozens or even hundreds of energies that intertwine and collide, yet maintain a strange balance.

“Where does it flow?” Ron asked, his eyes following the direction of the stream.

"It eventually flows into the 'Silent Lake' in the east, which is one of the places where the abyssal energy is most concentrated in the entire region."

Ethan answered, his expression turning serious:
"The Silent Lake is a forbidden zone; no one can approach it without official permission. Even certified wizards need special approval to conduct research."

Ron nodded in understanding and did not ask any further questions.

As soon as you pass through the East Gate, the scenery changes immediately.

The neat stone-paved road has been replaced by a bumpy dirt road, and the orderly buildings have been replaced by various temporary sheds.

The abyssal aura in the air became even stronger, carrying a subtle sense of oppression that made it slightly uncomfortable to breathe.

"We've officially entered the outer area."

Ethan reminded him, his voice unconsciously lowering:

"The protective array here is no longer as sophisticated as inside the city, and the penetration of abyssal energy is more obvious. However, it shouldn't be a problem for the wizard."

Ron could clearly sense the changes in his surroundings.

It's not just the energy field that's abnormal, but also a subtle spatial distortion, as if the distance in front of you is being slightly stretched or compressed, making it somewhat difficult to judge distance.

What's even more unsettling is that the surrounding pedestrians are clearly behaving differently than normal people.

“The residents here are mostly ‘marginalized people’.”

Ethan explained in a low voice, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily:
"They were either criminals expelled from the city, explorers whose influence from the abyss had made them unable to adapt to normal society, or special researchers who voluntarily stayed here."

Ron noticed a small figure huddled in a corner by the roadside. The person was wrapped in a tattered cloak, with only a pair of glowing eyes showing.

As the two passed by, those eyes turned towards them, filled with an indescribable hunger and fear.

"Sir, try not to make eye contact with them."

Ethan reminded him, quickening his pace:
"Some people have lost the ability to think normally, and are left with only the basic instincts shaped by the abyss."

Ron nodded slightly, understanding the warning perfectly.

Similar records can be found in the "Illustrated Compendium of Abyssal Creatures":

The final stage of the Abyss's influence is often the degradation of intelligence and the enhancement of instincts, simplifying originally complex higher beings into simple predators or scavengers.

As they ventured deeper, the surrounding buildings became increasingly dilapidated, and the air was filled with an indescribable odor, like a mixture of metal, sulfur, and rotting organic matter.

“We’re almost there.” Ethan’s voice became tense.

"That black wall in front is the boundary of the Shadow Zone."

Ron looked up and saw a black wall about three meters high come into view.

It appears to be composed of some kind of black metal or mineral, with a surface covered in tiny pores, occasionally emitting wisps of purple mist.

There were no guards above the wall, but the wall itself seemed to possess some kind of life-like quality, wriggling slightly as if it were breathing.

"That wall is said to be the product of an alchemist's experiment, cast from a special material called 'living metal'."

Ethan explained, his voice filled with awe:

"It can autonomously assess the strength and intentions of those who enter, and automatically launch attacks against dangerous individuals, but because it is merely an experimental product, it can sometimes be unstable..."

Ron squinted. He could sense the complex energy flow inside the wall, which indeed bore a striking resemblance to the energy cycle of a living organism.

"Please follow me."

Ethan led Ron toward one side of the wall, where there was an inconspicuous little door that blended into the wall and was almost indistinguishable.

"This is the 'certification entrance,' which requires paying an admission fee and completing a simple strength assessment."

A dwarf, about half a person's height, sat in front of the small door. His skin was dark purple, and he had a pair of curved horns on his head. His eyes were completely black, with no whites.

He wore a robe made of an unknown material, its surface shimmering with faint runic light.

"Ethan, brought another new guest?" the dwarf asked in a hoarse voice, his eyes sweeping over Ron.

"This time it looks like it's someone important."

"Balk, this is the wizard, who wishes to tour the Shadow District."

Ethan introduced himself respectfully, his voice trembling with nervousness: "Please treat him with the appropriate courtesy."

The dwarf Balk's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly stood up from his seat, bowing to Ron:
"Welcome to the Shadow District, Wizard."

His attitude was noticeably more respectful, and his voice even carried a hint of obsequiousness:
"The entrance fee for a formal wizard is ten magic stone fragments, but considering this is your first visit, five will be enough."

Ron didn't haggle; he simply took five magic stone fragments from his spatial bag and placed them on the small table in front of the dwarf.

"Thank you very much for your generosity, Wizard."

Balk quickly put the magic stone fragment into his pocket, then took out a small black crystal ball from under the table:
"Please allow me to conduct a simple strength assessment for you. Don't worry, there's no other meaning behind it; it's simply a safety procedure in the Shadow Zone."

Ron understood the purpose of this assessment—to determine the visitors' level of power and ensure they were not offended.

He reached out and gently touched the crystal ball.

The sphere immediately lit up with a dazzling blue light, then quickly turned purple, and finally became deep red.

"A very stable Morning Star level!" The dwarf glanced at the crystal ball's color with practiced ease, a hint of surprise in his eyes:

"Your instantaneous output is at least at the level of Morning Star!"

Ron already knew the answer. Judging from the instantaneous reaction of the magic input, he was indeed only at the mid-level of the Morning Star, after all, he had only advanced for a month.

“Then, please accept this.” Balk deftly retrieved a red badge from the drawer and handed it to the other person.

"This means that your identity in the Shadow Zone will deter some low-sensory-ability rats, thus avoiding unnecessary bloodshed."

Ron took the badge and pinned it to his robe.

The badge was engraved with a complex rune that shimmered with a peculiar light under the illumination.

"Where's my payment?" Ethan whispered, his eyes filled with greed.

Burke impatiently pulled out a few crystal coins and tossed them to Ethan: "Okay, okay, take them."

When he turned to Ron, the dwarf's attitude became obsequious again:
"My lord, everyone in the Shadow District will treat you with utmost respect. If you encounter any problems, simply present your badge. In the core area, you will also find special services and items available only to VIP visitors."

Ron nodded in understanding and gestured to continue.

Balk quickly opened the small door and respectfully stepped aside.

As Ron passed through the small door, he immediately felt a strong energy fluctuation, as if he had passed through some kind of invisible barrier.

The surrounding scenery changed instantly—the gray and dilapidated outside world was replaced by strange, colorful light.

The entire Shadow Zone looked as if it were shrouded in eternal twilight, yet illuminated by countless colored lights.

"Welcome to the Shadow District, Wizard."

Ethan also became more relaxed, as if he had returned to familiar territory: "With your clearance, you can go directly to the core area, where the Shadow District's unique 'Silent Market' is located."

He looked around and continued to perform his duties as a guide:
"The trading model there is completely different from the outside world. Each trader has their own isolation cage, and they cannot sense each other's energy fluctuations or conduct mental probing. All communication is conducted through the central magic panel. It is safe and secluded, making it an ideal place to exchange rare items."

Ron's gaze swept across the entire Shadow District.

The architecture here is bizarre and varied, some resembling giant mushrooms, others like twisted bone towers.

He then carefully observed the so-called "silent market".

Its dome is divided into dozens of hexagonal isolation zones, each of which is completely sealed by a semi-transparent energy barrier, making it almost impossible to see inside from the outside.

In the center stands a huge black crystal plate, its surface constantly flashing with various words and patterns—the supply and demand information posted by countless traders.

This design is indeed ingenious, effectively avoiding accidents caused by energy fluctuations or mental pollution during the trading process.

For the trading of Abyssal materials, such protective measures are by no means superfluous.

As he went deeper, Ron noticed that the quarantine zones were not all the same size.

Some are noticeably more spacious and luxurious, seemingly reserved for a specific tier of visitors;
Others are small and simple, just big enough for one person to move around in.

This tiered design reflects the internal hierarchy of the exchange, and Ron himself is clearly classified as an upper-level visitor.

“Each trader will be assigned a temporary isolation area,”

Ethan continued explaining, speaking slightly faster to save time:
"You can post your own trading information or respond to other people's needs within it. All substantive communication and exchange of goods are handled by a central system, ensuring that neither party knows the other's true identity unless they voluntarily disclose it."

A strangely shaped puppet stands at the reception desk.

Its body is made of silver-white metal, with countless tiny blue crystals inlaid on the surface, and its head is a perfect sphere without any facial features.

Ron examined the intricate energy flow within its body, which contained some kind of artificial intelligence structure.

"Dear visitor, welcome to the Silent Market."

The puppet spoke in a neutral voice, the voice resounding directly in Ron's mind, completely bypassing his ears:

Please show your access credentials.

Ron showed the red badge on his chest to the puppet.

The spherical head flickered slightly, as if it were performing some kind of scan or authentication.

"Advanced permissions confirmed."

The puppet's voice carried a sense of respect:

"You will be assigned to a special trading area, Quarantine Zone 7. Please allow me to introduce you to the basic rules of the silent market."

(Specific rules omitted)

The No. 7 quarantine area is spacious and comfortable, at least three times larger than the quarantine area for ordinary traders.

In the center is a chair made of some kind of black metal, and in front of the chair floats a small magic panel, which is the personal interface of the central panel.

"Special access holders can view historical transaction records and lists of special items." The puppet added after explaining the general rules:
"If needed, please browse through the 'File' option in the bottom right corner of the Magic Panel. We provide full access to visitors with 'Advanced Permissions'."

Ron was very interested in this privilege.

Historical transaction records may contain valuable information about the Abyss, while a list of special items may reveal the rare materials he needs.

The energy barrier in the isolation zone is a deep blue-purple hue, blocking both sight and all energy fluctuations and mental probes.

"Have a pleasant transaction, esteemed wizard."

The puppet bowed slightly and withdrew, leaving Ron to explore the system alone.

Ethan had already been arranged to wait outside; guides were not allowed to enter this high-level trading area.

Ron sat down in the chair and gently touched the magic panel with his mental energy.

The board immediately responded gently, revealing a complex menu structure on its surface.

He first browsed through the interface layout and quickly understood the operation method—simple and efficient, clearly designed for VIP visitors whose time was precious.

First, he searched for "deformable resin" hoping to find transaction records for this precious material.

However, the results made him frown slightly—there were only two related transactions in the past three months, and the number was extremely limited.

The description in "The Abyssal Creatures Illustrated Guide" was indeed correct; this substance is extremely rare.

As planned, Ron began researching materials related to the Chimera bloodline, especially those Abyss bloodlines suitable for the "Lion's Head" core.

The Lion Scorpion bloodline he obtained in the Black Mist School arena last time was modified and lacked activity, thus losing its potential for advancement. Therefore, he did not choose to integrate it into his own "Chimera" bloodline at that time.

This time, he hopes to find a more pristine and active bloodline sample.

Ron's gaze swept through the data stream like a scanner, his extraordinary ability to identify and discern allowed him to quickly filter out valuable information.

He ignores 90 percent of the transaction records, only marking those that are truly rare or relevant to his needs.

Through a systematic analysis of historical archives, Ron identified two particularly valuable sources of information:

The first type is the "Desert Hunter's" main extraordinary organ.

This apex predator, which lives in the "Black Sand Wasteland" on the third layer of the abyss, resembles a giant snake and is covered with hard, dark black scales. It can move through the sand sea as if it were in water.

Its most distinctive feature is its amazing environmental adaptability and hunting talent, enabling it to survive and reproduce even in the harshest areas of the abyss.

Ron paid particular attention to a detail mentioned in the transaction record:
The Sand Hunter possesses an extremely strong energy conversion ability, capable of transforming abyssal pollution into its own power.

The second type is the core extraordinary organ of the "ecological raincoat beetle".

This creature is not particularly powerful, yet it can move freely between the different layers of the abyss without being restricted by its environment.

Its secret lies in a special "ecological membrane" on its surface, which can quickly analyze and adapt to the characteristics of the surrounding environment, creating a stable microenvironment for itself.

“These two bloodlines.” Ron mentally considered possible fusion paths, a thoughtful glint in his eyes:

"Combined, they should be able to create a very interesting 'lion's head.' Chimeras are inherently composite bloodlines, and to have a second bloodline composite on top of that, I wonder what kind of chemical reaction will occur."

Further investigation revealed records of several special materials used to protect soul fragments:
“Spirit Crystal”, “Stardust Sand” and “Phantom Pearl”.

These are key components in building the simulated combat device, capable of stabilizing and protecting the soul fragments within the device, preventing loss of activity or deterioration.

Ron memorized this information into specific areas of his memory palace, while simultaneously posting his trading requests on the magic board.

He planned to exchange the high-level potions he carried with him and the rare materials brought by the Black Mist School for these special items.

The first to respond was a trader who offered a "Spirit Crystal," willing to exchange a thumb-sized crystal for Ron's "Mental Stabilizer."

This potion is already considered rare in the wizarding world, and Ron's improved version is more potent and stable, which has clearly piqued the other party's interest.

Ron confirmed the transaction through the system and placed the potion into the teleportation platform.

A moment later, a crystal with a faint silver glow appeared in the same spot.

He picked up the crystal and examined it carefully with his extraordinary ability to identify it—its structure was stable, its energy was pure, and its quality was excellent, perfectly meeting the requirements of the simulated combat device.

Next, he reached agreements with several traders and obtained "Stardust Sand" and a considerable number of "Ghost Pearls".

These transactions went smoothly, with the other party offering relatively reasonable terms, and Ron being generous in paying enough magic stones or potions.

In his view, the best materials must be used for this key device that is crucial to future development; this is an expense that cannot be cut back on.

However, there has been no response yet regarding the extraordinary organs of the "desert hunter" and the "ecological raincoat beetle".

Ron wasn't in a hurry. He knew that tissue specimens of this type of abyssal creature were rare, and it would take even longer to find a suitable seller.

After waiting patiently for about an hour, a response finally appeared on the magic board:
A trader calling himself "Wanderer" claimed to possess the complete "ecological membrane" of the "Ecological Cloak Beetle," but asked for a hefty price—five bottles of advanced magic potions plus a magic stone.

After a moment's thought, Ron decided to accept the price.

With his current financial resources, this expenditure, though not small, is still within an acceptable range.

Moreover, the energy core of the ecological raincoat beetle is crucial to his bloodline experiments, making it well worth the investment.

The transaction was completed quickly.

He received a transparent crystal ball, inside which floated a mass of energy that constantly changed color—that was the legendary "ecological membrane".

Through exceptional identification, he confirmed that the sample was intact and had sufficient activity.

You can even sense that unique "adaptability," as it tries to connect with its surroundings.

(End of this chapter)