Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 286 Dance of the Elements
Ron nodded politely:

“Everyone is susceptible to being swayed by impulses in competition, Lecturer Muller. Being able to honestly face one’s mistakes is itself worthy of respect.”

Muller took out more than a dozen magic stones from his spatial bag and handed them to the contestants who might be affected by him:
"This is a small token of my appreciation, and I hope it can make up for the inconvenience and risks I have caused you all."

This sincere apology and substantial compensation gradually eased the expressions of the surrounding participants.

Müller's career may be affected by today's events, but at least he hasn't completely lost credibility among his peers.

During the ensuing exchange, Ron exchanged contact badges with every modifier present, including Muller.

Despite some twists and turns in today's competition, it unexpectedly became an excellent opportunity to expand one's network.

In addition to honing their personal skills, a wide network of interpersonal relationships is equally essential for a successful wizard.

Eve had already reached Ron's side, her amethyst eyes gleaming with undisguised pride:
"Congratulations, mentor! Your performance was absolutely outstanding! It seems everyone here today will remember your name."

“Thank you.” Ron smiled slightly, his gaze lingering on the Lance Experiment Notebook in his hands:

"This notebook will be of great help to my research, and may have more lasting value than fame and applause."

Eve nodded understandingly:
"I think Grandpa would be proud of you too."

He always said that true genius lies not in a glamorous appearance or eloquent words, but in the understanding of knowledge and the refinement of skills.

Your performance today perfectly exemplified this.

The surrounding audience gradually dispersed, but the discussion about Ron continued to ferment among the crowd.

"Did you see Assistant Coach Ralph's performance? Especially that precise energy control, it was simply unbelievable!"

A young apprentice wearing crystal glasses excitedly told his companion, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Furthermore, did you notice his composure when resolving the Müller crisis?"

The companion replied, "If it were an ordinary Morning Star wizard, facing that kind of explosive energy mixture, they probably wouldn't even have time to think."

Not far away, a group of tourists from afar were also discussing today's match.

"This assistant coach Ralph is quite a surprise. I heard he comes from a fringe school of thought?"

A middle-aged man dressed in exotic clothing asked.

"It's said so, he's a wizard from the Black Mist Forest," the companion replied.
"To reach this level in such a short time is truly a rare talent."

I heard he's already received a 'Treasure-level' rating, which is close to the potential assessment of Tower Master Cassandra.

"Judging from today's performance, this evaluation is clearly well-deserved."

A fat man dressed as a merchant interjected:

"It seems that the Central Region has gained another promising new talent worth paying attention to."

These comments and praises spread like ripples among the crowd.

A preliminary impression of "Ron Ralph" gradually formed:

A gifted young wizard from a fringe school, skilled, calm, and unflappable.

Within academic circles in the Central Lands, Ron's name began to gain wider recognition.

Previously, his reputation was mainly limited to the upper echelons of the academic alliance; now, his name has officially entered a wider circle.

As the old wizarding proverb says: Theory is easy to come by, but practice is king.

All academic achievements and theoretical innovations ultimately need to be validated in practical applications to prove their value.

Today, Ron proved his strength and insights through a public match.

Eve smiled slightly and whispered to Ron:
"Mentor, it seems you have successfully attracted a lot of attention. This will be a great help to your future research and development."

Ron nodded slightly:

"Reputation is a double-edged sword; it can open doors to opportunity, but it can also attract unnecessary attention. The key is to know how to manage it, rather than being managed by it."

When he was about to leave, William and Elliott came to congratulate him.

"Assistant Coach Ralph, your performance today was impressive."

William spoke sincerely, a rare gentle smile appearing on his usually serious face:
"Especially in their calm response during the crisis, they demonstrated a maturity and professionalism beyond their years."

Elliott nodded in agreement:
"As you have demonstrated, true strength needs no embellishment; solid research results will shine on their own."

Ron nodded slightly to accept the congratulations and then bid farewell to the two men and Warren, who was waiting silently behind them.

"Speaking of which, I noticed that Ms. Franka didn't show up from the start of the match."

While checking the laptop's energy fluctuations, he casually asked:

"This seems somewhat unusual, given the extent to which she protects His Highness."

Eve raised her head, a gentle light appearing in her amethyst eyes:
“I gave her a few days off. During the Lans festival, her father and brothers came to Dawnport, and they hadn’t been together for several years.”

Ron raised an eyebrow, keenly sensing the unusual nature of this arrangement:

"The Crown Clan has always had very strict security standards, I thought..."

Eve gently shook her head, a rare mischievous smile appearing on her face:
"Mentor, I'm not as fragile as you think."

My grandfather imbued me with the power of the Void, making it difficult for even a typical Dark Sun-level wizard to cause me real harm.

Her gaze shifted slightly, glancing at the two floating nanny golems beside her:
"Franka's role is more about surface-level vigilance and routine care. As for these two 'friends,' their protective capabilities far exceed what their surface appearance suggests."

Ron did not respond directly, but with the "Supernatural Identification" activated at this moment, he could indeed sense the extraordinary energy flow within Eve's body.

It was an ancient and powerful protective force field, like an invisible fortress, firmly protecting the girl within it.

If he had to describe it, the texture of that energy was closest to the ethereal essence he had previously sensed in Yutel, but it was more restrained and peaceful.

"Professor Utter's foresight is admirable."

Ron concluded, "He may seem casual on the surface, but he is always extremely thoughtful behind the scenes."

Eve smiled slightly: "That's just how Grandpa is. He seems absent-minded, but he's actually very attentive in everything he does."

She abruptly changed the subject, a sly glint in her amethyst eyes:
"Just like you, mentor. Always so calm and composed, as if everything is under control."

Ron smiled noncommittally and carefully put the "Lance Experiment Notes" into his spatial bag.

It is said that Lance conducted thousands of experiments on autophagic slimes, including attempts to fuse the characteristics of abyssal creatures with those of surface world creatures.

This is one of the key areas of his current research.

As Ron walked out of the backstage awards area, he noticed that there were very few spectators left at the competition venue; most of them had dispersed into various celebrations throughout the city.

The festive atmosphere permeated every corner of the city.

In the distance, cheerful music and laughter drifted by, and the air was filled with the aroma of various delicacies and the energy fluctuations of magical fireworks.

"Mentor! Mentor!"

A familiar voice interrupted Ron's thoughts.

He turned his head and saw the silver-haired boy Herman rushing over with the other members of the "elite group," his face full of excitement.

Six young people made their way through the sparse crowd and quickly gathered around Ron.

Hermann couldn't hide his excitement as soon as he opened his mouth:
"Mentor, the match just now was absolutely amazing!"
Especially your performance in the final stage, I recorded it all with a recording crystal! That way of controlling bloodline energy…”

The red-haired girl, Lucia, immediately chimed in, her eyes filled with adoration:
"Really, mentor."

I'd only ever seen descriptions of that level of precision in bloodline studies textbooks, but witnessing it firsthand was a completely different kind of awe! Even seasoned bloodline modulators in professional laboratories might not reach that level.

Liz stood at the front of the group, holding a delicate crystal box in both hands.

Beneath her adorable freckles, her cheeks flushed slightly with excitement:
"Mentor, this is a gift that we prepared together. We hope you like it."

Ron raised an eyebrow slightly and accepted the crystal box.

The moment he opened the box, a subtle magical fluctuation immediately spread out.

It was a uniquely shaped pastry with a subtle bluish-purple hue.

Its surface was dotted with tiny, shimmering crystals, making it look like both a work of art and a miniature experimental sample. "An autophagy slime?" Ron was slightly surprised, then understood:

"It's quite exquisite, but I noticed that you seem to have added some of your own interpretations to the traditional method?"

A look of pride appeared on Hermann's thin face:
"Exactly! This is made by combining Hernock syrup and moonflower extract."

Not only does it retain the appearance of autophagic slime, but it also offers seven different flavor profiles, each representing a different energy attribute.

"The main ingredients are all food-grade, exceptional plant extracts."

Albert, who was usually quiet, suddenly added that the oldest apprentice in the group spoke incredibly fast:
“We conducted multiple safety tests, and each ingredient underwent detailed energy analysis.”

Ron's gaze swept across the faces of the six students, each with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness in their eyes.

This pure emotion from the students is the purest source of "favor".

Even someone as rational as him felt a warm current flowing through his heart at that moment, like the first ray of sunshine on a summer morning.

"Thank you so much."

He spoke briefly but sincerely, then carefully put the crystal box into his spatial bag:
"This is one of the most creative gifts I have ever received. Even from an academic point of view, the application of this multi-layered integration of materials is quite ingenious."

Eve stood to the side, her eyes filled with envy.

He then nodded slightly to the six students:
"Ron is truly fortunate to have gained the recognition of such an outstanding and dedicated student."

"We are the more fortunate ones, Your Highness!"

Liz responded immediately, her voice filled with awe:

"It is a great honor for us to learn from Mentor Ron. His understanding of knowledge and his way of imparting it have benefited us immensely."

Liz's words were not empty flattery.

Since she started learning from Ron, her potion-making skills have improved by at least two levels, and she has finally found an advancement path that suits her aptitude.

This kind of substantial progress is incomparable to any false flattery.

Seeing the sparkle in the eyes of these young students, Ron took the opportunity to extend an invitation:

"Since we're all here, why don't we go and experience the celebration together? I remember there are quite a few unique programs at Dawn Square."

This suggestion was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples of joy.

The students' eyes lit up immediately, and even the usually composed Herman couldn't help but show a hint of anticipation:

"Mentor, would you like to join us? We've heard that this year's 'Illusion Garden' is especially spectacular, employing brand-new perceptual misdirection technology!"

"I also heard that the 'Elemental Dance Troupe' brought their newly choreographed 'Elemental Dance,' which is said to be able to perfectly simulate even the folds in space!"

Lucia couldn't help but add excitedly.

Ron nodded slightly: "Today is a holiday, and relaxation and celebration are the very meaning of it."

He turned to Eve, his eyes questioning:

"Would Your Highness be willing to accompany us? Of course, if it would make you uncomfortable..."

To his surprise, the girl nodded in agreement almost without hesitation:
"With great pleasure."

A hint of undisguised longing shone in her amethyst eyes: "This is my first time personally participating in the Lans Festival celebrations."

“Then we are honored to be Your Highness’s guide.”

The group left the competition venue and merged into the crowd at the Lance Festival.

The streets of Dawn Harbor are decorated with countless colorful magic lights, making them look like a dream.

The treetops, like a sea of ​​stars, twinkled slightly, making it feel as if you were under the heavens.

Various kinds of lanterns floated above the street, each projecting a unique pattern of light and shadow.

Some are three-dimensional displays of ancient patterns, while others are recreations of important scenes from Lance's life.

The air was filled with a variety of intoxicating aromas—the sweet scent of honey citrus blossoms, the rich aroma of grilled meat, and the refreshing aroma of star dew tea.

Together with countless illusion performances, they weave together a symphony of the senses.

The street was lined with stalls selling all sorts of exotic items and delicacies that could only be seen during festivals.

"Look over there!" Lucia suddenly pointed excitedly to a wide-open square:

"It's a performance by the 'Elements Dance Troupe'!"

The group followed the flow of people toward the square.

The square was already packed with spectators, but Eve's status clearly granted them some kind of privilege.

When the crowd noticed the crown emblem of the golems around her, they automatically parted to make way for the front row.

Several dancers dressed in light clothing were already standing in the center of the performance area.

Their skin shimmered with subtle runic patterns.

It's a kind of element imprint that allows the wearer to form a deeper connection with a specific element.

As the music began, the dancers started their performance.

Every movement is precise to the millimeter, and every rotation carries profound meaning.

As it dances, the four basic elements of earth, water, fire, and wind form dazzling and fantastical patterns around it.

The flames transformed into a phoenix that hovered in the air, scattering a shower of golden and red sparks with each flap of its wings.

The water flow transforms into a dragon weaving through the water, its scales reflecting rainbow luster;

Earth elements coalesce into the silhouette of an ancient castle, slowly rotating in the air;

The air forms countless transparent bridges, connecting all elements into a harmonious whole.

Ron's gaze was focused on observing every detail.

Through "superhuman insight," he can clearly see that the dancers use themselves as a medium to guide and shape the natural flow of elemental energy.

This method is several times more efficient and consumes less resources than traditional forced control.

"This is a unique technique from the 'land of shifting sands'."

Eve, noticing his confusion, explained softly:

"They have a unique philosophical view that elements are not lifeless tools, but partners with primal consciousness."

This dance is actually a form of dialogue with the elements, allowing them to voluntarily display their most perfect forms.

"An interesting concept."

Ron nodded thoughtfully, his mind already connecting this idea with his own research:

"Energy does indeed have a certain 'preference' or 'nature,' and forcing it against its nature often results in a lot of consumption."

If this nature can be understood and followed, efficiency will indeed be much higher.

"Just like the principles of potion preparation that our mentor taught us."

Liz suddenly realized, and a look of understanding appeared in her eyes:

"It's not about forcibly mixing materials, but about understanding their properties and guiding them to blend naturally, reducing repulsion reactions and energy loss."

Hermann nodded in agreement:
"That's exactly right. That's why the mentor's improved 'awakening potion' can increase its effectiveness without increasing the amount of materials."

Because what has changed is not the material itself, but the way energy flows.

Ron nodded slightly, pleased with the students' understanding, and he could feel the benefits beginning to flow through him.

This ability to draw inferences from one instance to another is precisely the quality he values ​​most.

However, beyond this basic understanding, he was already envisioning deeper applications.

If this concept of "following one's nature" is applied to the control of abyssal energy, it may reduce the risk of mental pollution and provide new ideas for the "furnace concept".

(End of this chapter)