Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 261 "Treat It Normally"

She took out a small crystal card from her spatial bag:

"This is the contact card for the reception area. Simply infuse it with magic to establish direct contact with the person in charge. Under normal circumstances, they will arrange for someone to meet with you within 48 hours."

Ron took the card, gently infused it with a wisp of magic to test it, and the card immediately emitted a warm blue light, confirming successful activation.

He put the card into his spatial bag and began planning his next move.

“Ms. Melanie, I have one last question,” Ron said calmly.

"Where in this city can I find the latest and most comprehensive academic materials? I have a particular interest in abyssal research and bloodline studies."

"As for academic knowledge," Melanie smiled slightly.
"The 'Dawn Library' in Dawn Harbor has one of the most complete public academic databases in the Abyss Continental Group, especially the non-regulated Abyss research materials. As for bloodline studies, you may need to go to the 'Institute of Life' in the east of the city, which specializes in the study of various bloodline theories and applications."

She paused briefly and added:
"Of course, if you are willing to wait for the School Alliance's arrangements, the information they provide will be more in-depth and comprehensive. The Bloodline Research Institute of the Crystal Spire may have the most advanced bloodline research facilities in the entire Abyss Continent."

Ron memorized this information and began to plan a preliminary exploration route in his mind.

First, familiarize yourself with the surrounding environment and adapt to the magical atmosphere of the Central Land. Then, head to the library to obtain basic information in preparation for further in-depth research.

“Thank you so much for your help, Ms. Melanie,” Ron said sincerely.

"I hope to have the opportunity to repay your warm hospitality."

Melanie bowed slightly:
"It is my honor to serve the Primal Wizard. If you need anything, simply activate the communication crystal in the villa, and I will be at your service at any time."

After Melanie left, Ron finally had the opportunity to examine the temporary residence more closely.

The courtyard was more spacious than it appeared from the outside, clearly indicating the use of some kind of spatial expansion magic.

The first floor houses the reception area and living room, decorated in an elegant yet understated style.

The second floor has three bedrooms and a small meditation room;

The third floor houses a fully equipped alchemy laboratory, which, while not top-of-the-line, is far more advanced than his workshop in the Black Mist School.

"Master, all your luggage has been delivered."

Ailan's voice came from behind, and her emerald green figure shone even brighter in the sunlight:
“Dale has settled in, and she loves the new crystal tank, saying the water here ‘contains a kind of comforting energy.’”

Ron nodded slightly: "Okay, help me tidy up the lab. I need to set up a suitable working environment as soon as possible."

The laboratory in the Jade Courtyard was more spacious than Ron had imagined, with three entire walls covered with various alchemical tools and potion cabinets.

In the central area stands a huge experimental table, its surface polished from some special black ore, with a ring of shimmering runes surrounding its edge.

"The material of this lab bench... is much more luxurious than the one in my workshop."

Ron's fingers gently traced the runes, feeling the magic flowing within them:
"It appears to be made of 'Dark Night Stone,' a material that can perfectly isolate the leakage of various energy reactions..."

As far as he knew, even the most advanced laboratories of the Black Mist School did not have experimental tables made of this material.

The presence of such a configuration in the temporary residences of Dawn Harbor, a "peripheral city," further confirms the abundance of resources in the Central Lands.

"Master, should I unpack all the equipment from the luggage?"

Ailan stood to the side, her emerald green eyes gleaming with a searching light.

Ron pondered for a moment, then shook his head:
"Only take out the basic testing tools and commonly used materials; leave the key items in the space bag."

Despite the seemingly safe courtyard, equipped with multiple protective magic arrays, he remained as cautious as ever.

On his first day in an unfamiliar environment, he wouldn't easily reveal everything, even in this seemingly friendly setting.

"And put the abyss materials we obtained in Town 69 into that isolation cabinet and set the highest level of seal."

He pointed to a specially made locker in the corner of the laboratory, its inner layer covered with multiple rune locks.

Ailan nodded; she was already used to her master's defensive mindset.

After tidying up his basic luggage, Ron headed to the third-floor balcony.

As dusk fell, Dawn Harbor was bathed in a golden-red sunset, and the distant towers shimmered with a dreamlike glow under the setting sun, like a forest made of light and energy.

He took out a small crystal and gently infused it with magic.

The crystal immediately lit up with a faint light, and after a moment, it projected a hexagonal energy projection screen, displaying the information in the communication confirmation process.

Unlike ordinary magic message boards, this specially made three-element connection crystal enables real-time long-distance conversations, making it an excellent alchemical artifact.

The runes on the projection screen flickered a few times, and then Mrs. Allen's aged face appeared.

Upon seeing Ron's image, a rare smile appeared on his usually stern face.

"You finally remembered to contact this old man, kid."

Mrs. Allen's voice still carried that familiar scathing edge, but the underlying concern in her tone was undeniable:

"It seems the air in the Central Lands is quite suitable for you."

Ron's lips curled up slightly:

“Madam, you look well too. Judging from the surroundings, you seem to have left the Black Mist Jungle quite far.”

"Hmph, your eyesight is not bad."

Mrs. Allen raised an eyebrow:

"We have reached the border of the Kingdom of Farouk and are preparing to cross the Dragonspine Mountains. If all goes well, we will be able to see the outline of the Emerald Forest in two weeks."

In the projection, the scenery behind Mrs. Allen is a vast grassland.

In the distance, a continuous mountain range can be vaguely seen; that is the famous Dragon Ridge Mountains, named for its shape resembling the spine of a sleeping dragon.

"Was the journey alright?" Ron asked.

Mrs. Allen let out a soft laugh:
"It went much more smoothly than I expected. You've managed to build such a wide network of connections in such a short time. Those lizardmen even provided us with a full escort."

“Lizardmen?” Ron frowned slightly, then suddenly realized, “Those tribes from the Serpentscale Swamp?”

“Exactly.” Mrs. Allen narrowed her eyes.
"I was prepared to fight those cunning and cruel lizardmen in the swamp, and my hands would probably get a little blood on them."

She shook her head slightly, her tone tinged with disbelief:

"As soon as we reached the edge of the swamp, we ran into a welcoming party led by Kazzak. It is said that they had been informed by the Black Mist School in advance that we had a close relationship with 'Wizard Ron', so they took the initiative to come and escort us."

Ron was slightly taken aback: "Kazzak is that old lizardman who took the Potions Master exam?"

"Yes, that's him."

A scrutinizing glint appeared in Mrs. Allen's eyes:

"As soon as that guy met us, he started talking non-stop about how you demonstrated amazing talent in potion-making during the assessment, and how you traded with them for improved potion formulas, which elevated their tribe's healing abilities to a new level."

She suddenly chuckled softly:
"It seems you've not only built connections in human society, but you've also won over those non-human races."

Ron smiled calmly. He had indeed met Kazzak once during the potion master assessment.

They maintained contact afterward, and he provided the other party with some basic improved potion recipes.

In exchange, they also provided themselves with a stable supply of swamp materials.

I never imagined that such a simple reciprocal relationship would play such an important role at this time.

“Kazzak is just the beginning,” Lady Allen continued, her tone laced with sarcasm. “When we crossed the swamp and reached the kingdom’s border, another royal guard was there to greet us. The new king, Andrei, personally ordered that we be given the highest level of courtesy and escort.”

"Andrei?"

Ron was somewhat surprised: "He's officially taken over?"

"Not only did he rise to a higher position, but he is also said to have performed exceptionally well."

Mrs. Allen gave him a meaningful look:
"The border situation of the Kingdom of Farouk is stable, and I have heard that the new king has introduced a brand-new bloodline enhancement training system into the army, which makes neighboring countries dare not act rashly."

Ron understood that the training system was also related to some of the things and prescriptions he had given him before he left.

"That kid Andrei even gave us a hybrid earth dragon beast."

Mrs. Allen continued, her eyes shining with joy:
"This big guy will be able to help us cross the Dragon Ridge Mountains. Without this gift, the two of us would probably have had to spend twice as much time taking the safe route."

As Ron listened to these unexpected yet logical developments, a warmth welled up in his heart.

All those fortuitous encounters from the past have now become an aid in protecting his mentor's journey, and this indirect feedback has brought him considerable comfort.

"Is Lilia alright?" he suddenly asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Mrs. Allen's expression softened as well:
“That girl is stronger than I imagined. She was really depressed for the first few days, like she had lost her soul. But slowly, she seemed to find some kind of motivation to move forward.”

A look of relief flashed in her eyes:

“Recently, she’s been studying potions even more diligently than she used to when she was in my shop. She often studies those basic books day and night. Last night, I happened to find her staying up late reading in her tent. Her focused expression reminded me a bit of you back then.”

"Give her my regards," Ron said in the end, as usual.

"Tell her when you have the chance," Mrs. Allen scoffed.
"I'm not a mouthpiece for you young people."

"Oh, right." The old woman suddenly lowered her voice, her tone becoming serious:

"Regarding the situation in the Central Lands, I need to warn you about something: be careful of those who show excessive enthusiasm for the Primal Wizards."

Ron immediately became alert, his gaze fixed on the projection: "What do you mean?"

“Some forces in the Central Lands are extremely eager for the ‘blessings’ of the Primal Wizards, especially those high-ranking wizards whose minds are heavily corrupted. They will try every means to lure some geniuses into signing unequal contracts and turning them into their exclusive ‘energy sources’.”

Ron frowned.

This corroborated some of the information he already knew, and it was clear that his special status in the Central Lands was indeed both an opportunity and a risk.

“However,” Mrs. Allen’s tone softened slightly:

“Now that you have officially become a Primal Wizard, you are protected by the laws of the Wizard King. They cannot actually force you to sign any contracts; they can only do so through enticement or deception. Given your cautious nature, I believe I don’t need to remind you any further.”

"Please rest assured, Madam." Ron nodded solemnly.
“I will never easily sign any contract involving ‘favors’.”

"Besides, you've met old Valen and that kid Elliott, and you can trust them for now," Mrs. Allen added.

The two then discussed some important points regarding the Central Lands.

It includes practical information such as how to manage relationships with different schools of thought and which regions are best suited for private research.

The call lasted about half an hour, during which Ron inquired in detail about Mrs. Allen's future plans and Lilia's studies.

Before the call was disconnected, Mrs. Allen's expression softened, a rare occurrence.

"Remember, kid, no matter what difficulties you encounter, never give up your principles and bottom line easily. Power only has meaning when it is in your own hands; otherwise, it is just a tool in the hands of others."

Ron nodded deeply; this was precisely the belief he had always held.

“I will remember your teachings, madam. I wish you and Lilia a safe journey, and may the light of wisdom always guide your path.”

The old woman, unusually, did not respond to this formal farewell with harsh words, but simply nodded slightly: "Take care."

After the call ended, Ron stood on the balcony gazing at Dawn Harbor in the twilight, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

In the following hours, he contacted Hayek, Soren, and Eunice separately.

They all expressed some concern about Ron's situation at the Crystal Spire.

“Young man, the Central Lands do indeed possess countless resources and opportunities that we, the marginal schools of thought, do not have.”

Hayek's image appears slightly blurry in the crystal, but his voice remains clear:
"But remember, every opportunity there comes with a price."

“Master Valen is a good man. Now that you have been promoted, even if you are bound by his clan, he will not be ambiguous on matters of principle.”

Hayek added that his aged face revealed his trust in his old friend:
“Although Elliott is young, he has his own principles and bottom line. If it were the two of them, the situation would be better than I expected.”

Sauron was even more direct:
"If the terms of the contract they propose are too harsh, you can refuse them."

Given your original wizarding identity and the talents you've displayed, even without being affiliated with the Crystal Spire, countless schools of thought would open their doors to you.

Eunice's suggestion was more pragmatic:

"Understand their true intentions before making a decision. The Crystal Spire is rife with factions and intertwined interests."

Master Warren and Elliott belong to the relatively moderate faction, but behind them, there are many more unseen forces at play.

The three mentors' advice was largely consistent, which gave Ron a clearer understanding of the situation.

………………

At the top of the Crystal Spire, in a magnificent circular conference hall, a crystal-clear spherical object floats in mid-air, casting several figures on its surface.

They came from different places, but gathered here because of a common topic.

"Has the news been confirmed? The newly promoted Primal Wizard has arrived?"

Its voice was deep and authoritative, and the speaker's face was hidden in a mist of interplay of light and shadow.

"Confirmed."

Another figure responded, his voice sounding younger and more energetic:
"The energy screening gate at Dawn Harbor has given a positive response."

"Interesting, very interesting."

A third voice spoke up; it was a woman's voice:

"In this era, it is a miracle that someone can actually walk the path of authenticity and successfully ascend to become a Primal Wizard."

"Everyone has seen Melanie's report."

The fourth figure spoke, his voice hoarse and strained:

"According to the tests, the magical fluctuations emanating from this young wizard are indeed unusual..."

A silence fell over the conference room.

Finally, the first authoritative voice spoke again:
“I just connected to the tower master’s communication device and asked her for her opinion and advice on this newcomer.”

This statement immediately attracted the attention of others, and all eyes were on him, waiting for further information.

Her reply was brief, consisting of only one sentence...

The figure paused for a moment, as if pondering the deeper meaning of the answer:

"Treat it normally."

(End of this chapter)