Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 293 Breathing
Ron sat in the observation cabin of the small high-speed airship, gazing through the crystal window at the scenery rushing past below.

This airship, named "Feidian," is a lightweight vehicle specifically designed for short-range, rapid transportation.

From Dawn Harbor to the nearest Abyss Outpost, a conventional airship would typically take five to six days to reach its destination, while the "Flying Lightning" could arrive in just one and a half days.

These airships are quite expensive at the main rental stations in the Central Lands, costing almost twice as much as ordinary airships.

But for researchers who are racing against time, this expense is absolutely worthwhile.

"I usually choose the teleportation array, but the teleportation network seems to be unstable lately."

Reynolds had already sat down opposite Ron, took a sip of his energy drink, and spoke with a hint of complaint in his voice:
“Last week, a colleague had a headache for three whole days after the teleportation, saying it was caused by spacetime misalignment due to energy flow disorder. The observatory immediately suspended non-emergency teleportation services.”

Ron nodded slightly: "Teleportation is indeed a double-edged sword. It is extremely efficient, but the risks cannot be ignored."

“Teleportation, especially near the abyss, is even more unstable.”

Reynolds added:

"Abyssal energy has a subtle interference effect on spatial structures, which can cause slight deviations in teleportation coordinates."

While in most cases you'll only be within a few meters of the designated location, sometimes more serious situations can occur…

He took a sip of his drink, and a gloomy atmosphere enveloped the depths of his vision:

"For example, being teleported into mid-air, or appearing inside a solid substance..."

“It’s fine in mid-air, but the latter…” Ron frowned.

Reynolds gave a wry smile:
"Two years ago, the observatory lost a promising young researcher because the teleportation coordinates were off-target, and half of his body was absorbed into the high-density protective wall..."

He shook his head, as if trying to shake off these unpleasant memories:
"Therefore, although airships are slower, they are at least much safer."

Ron nodded, making sure he remembered the reminder.

The firsthand accounts of these individuals are more vivid and powerful than any examples in textbooks.

The light inside the cabin suddenly dimmed. He turned to look out the window and saw the airship passing through a strange, gray-black cloud.

These clouds are not ordinary water vapor condensates, but rather energy polymers with subtle magical fluctuations.

The colors range from dark gray to almost black, and the edges of the cloud formations are irregularly jagged, like the bite marks of some huge creature.

“Nightmare Cloud.” Reynolds’ voice turned serious. “We’ve entered the edge region.”

He pointed to the strange clouds outside the window:

"These are special phenomena formed when energy escapes from the abyss and comes into contact with the atmosphere. Although the concentration has been diluted hundreds of times, it still contains trace amounts of abyssal properties."

Are the protective measures on the airship sufficient?

Ron asked cautiously, while activating "Supernatural Identification" to assess the potential dangers of these clouds.

“More than enough,” Reynolds replied confidently.
“‘Feidian’ is equipped with a triple protection system. The first layer is a physical barrier, the second is an energy isolation field, and the last is a fine purification circuit that can filter out any impurities that may penetrate the first two layers.”

He gently knocked on the window:

"Can you feel it? There's an almost invisible protective layer on the outside of the window, specifically designed to resist the pollution of the abyss."

Ron nodded; he had indeed sensed the extremely subtle energy fluctuation as soon as he entered the airship.

After passing through the clouds, the airship began to gradually slow down, and the view below gradually became clearer.

In stark contrast to the prosperous and fertile Central Plains, the landscape here presents an unsettling and peculiar style.

The ground was a mix of dark red and deep brown, as if it had been stained with the blood of countless creatures;

The vegetation was sparse and twisted, and the trees were abnormally shaped, with their branches bent like figures struggling in pain.
The distant hills have irregular outlines, and from certain angles they even resemble the curled-up body of some giant creature.

But the most striking feature is undoubtedly the deep black crack at the horizon—the mouth of the abyss.

That huge, dark opening resembled a cracked wound in the earth itself.

It was so deep that no end could be seen, and gray-black gas kept churning out from the edges, like some kind of alien substance breathing.

Ron's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the large crack.

"It's spectacular, isn't it... My reaction was similar to yours when I first saw it."

Reynolds followed Ron's gaze:
"The mouth of the abyss has different shapes when viewed from different angles."

Sometimes it resembles a crack, sometimes a whirlpool, and sometimes it even takes on a terrifying form like a living, gaping maw.

Ron could clearly sense that his mental fluctuations became more active as the airship approached the abyss.

My thinking was noticeably sharper than usual, but this was accompanied by a subtle sense of unease and pressure.

“That feeling is normal.” Reynolds noticed Ron’s unusual behavior:
"Everyone reacts differently when they come into close contact with the abyss."

Some people will feel extremely excited, while others will be gripped by unusual fear.

This is a natural reaction of the spirit to the abyssal aura; unless it reaches an extreme level of overload, there's no need to worry too much.

"I'm more concerned with that kind of attraction."

Ron calmly stated his observation:

"It's like the abyss itself is constantly breathing. With each 'exhale,' it releases those gray gases, while with each 'inhale,' you can feel an invisible pull."

Reynolds' face showed approval:

"A very keen observation. Yes, the abyss can indeed periodically generate a material attraction."

Normally, one would only feel it noticeably when standing near the mouth of the abyss, but some highly perceptive individuals can sense it even at such a distance.

"When I was in Town 69, I also felt some of the effects of the abyss tide cycle, but now that I'm closer to the mouth of the abyss, it really feels completely different..."

Ron paused for a moment before asking, "The observatory should have specific research on this kind of 'breathing,' right?"

"That's one of the core research topics of the abyss observation station."

A passionate light shone in Reynolds' eyes:
"The prevailing view is that the 'breathing' of the abyss is related to the flow of energy in some higher dimension, and may be a natural regulatory mechanism at the weak points of the dimensional barrier."

He lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret:
"Some scholars have even proposed a bold hypothesis: that abyssal tides may be related to certain existing activity cycles."

However, this is still just a discussion at the hypothesis level, without conclusive evidence.

Ron nodded in understanding and silently memorized the information.

Any details about the abyss are crucial for future exploration.

“We’ve arrived.” Reynolds pointed ahead, interrupting his thoughts.

The airship had begun its descent, revealing a vast area enclosed by high walls below.

The wall was dark gray, with countless silver runes inlaid on its surface, shimmering faintly in the sunlight.

As the airship began its descent, Ron used his "Supernatural Perception" to sense the near-perfect energy isolation field surrounding the entire outpost.

"This is the newly built outpost No. 137, established decades ago when Cassandra Tower began to expand the deep-sea observation network."

Although it hasn't yet developed into a fully-equipped town like No. 69, it is currently the largest newly built outpost.

Reynolds explained, his tone brimming with the pride of someone who had personally participated in the construction:
"The newly established outposts are closer to the mouth of the abyss, so there are basically no native inhabitants here."

But in other respects, like most outposts, it served not only as a research site but also as a complete trading hub.

The airship eventually landed on a specially designed docking platform.

The moment the hatch opened, a whiff of air mixed with the smell of rusty metal, a peculiar herbal scent, and the odor of sulfur rushed out.

Stepping out of the airship, Ron immediately sensed an atmosphere completely different from that of the Central Lands.

The outpost was divided into several distinct areas:

In the center was a huge trading square, with various temporary stalls lined up one after another;

On the right are rows of neat warehouses and laboratories, which should be the researchers' work area;

On the left is the rest and supply area, which includes a few simple inns and food stalls;
At the farthest point, a thicker inner wall separates these areas from the closest point to the abyss, which should be the core area of ​​the observation station.

At the edge of the square, an elderly man with a face full of scars was haggling fiercely with someone. His eyes were swollen as if he had a disease, and the outside of his arms was covered with hard tissue.
Several female explorers passed by Ron, one with an unnaturally hunched back, and another with a repulsive, distorted face...

“Aberration?” Ron asked in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the group of people who clearly exhibited abnormal characteristics.

"This is the norm for Abyss explorers."

Reynolds nodded: "No matter how careful you are, prolonged activity in the abyss will lead to varying degrees of alienation."

Mild changes in physical appearance are the most common; some people experience deeper mutations in their abilities, while others develop complete abnormalities.

He pointed to his eyes:
"I've been relatively well protected; only my pupils have shown slight changes in shape."

"Let's not talk about that now. I'll take you to the heart of the trading area." He shook his head and pointed to the center of the plaza:
"Most of the materials you're looking for are there. But before you go, I need to check into the office and get you a temporary pass."

They walked through the bustling crowd and came to a hemispherical gray building.

The building's surface is covered by a shimmering energy barrier, and two burly guards stand at the entrance.

The guards let Reynolds through immediately upon seeing him, but gave Ron a scrutinizing look.

"Security Management Office, Outpost No. 137," Reynolds explained as he walked.
"To ensure the stability of the newly built outpost, all visitors will need to obtain a temporary pass."

As a certified wizard, your screening process will be simpler, but basic records will still need to be kept.

The process of handling the formalities was surprisingly efficient, which may be related to Reynolds' internal relationships.

In less than half an hour, Ron received a silver hexagonal badge engraved with his name and access permissions.

"This is not only proof of identity, but also a basic protective device."

Reynolds explained:

"The rune array built into the badge can weaken low-intensity abyssal contamination and can also sound an alarm in special circumstances."

After leaving the security management office, the two went straight to the trading area.

As they crossed the last barrier, a vast and chaotic trading market came into view.

Unlike the well-organized shops and stalls in the Central Lands, the trading area here is more like a temporary maze.

Tents, temporary wooden sheds, and metal structures for various purposes were haphazardly crammed together, forming a complex trading network.

Some stalls displayed strange items that Ron had only ever seen in books:
A black substance that keeps changing shape floats in a transparent container;

Another glass jar contained a purple liquid that emitted an eerie pulsating light;
There was also a seemingly ordinary stone that caused a noticeable distortion in the surrounding air.

Reynolds introduced to Ron:

"Most of the materials from the first to the third floor can be found here, and the prices are usually much cheaper than through official channels."

How safe are these materials?

Ron asked, while using his "Supernatural Insight" skill to assess the energy fluctuations of the surrounding objects.

"All materials entering the trading area undergo preliminary purification and packaging."

Reynolds explained:

"While it's impossible to completely eliminate the abyssal characteristics—after all, that's where their value lies—we can at least ensure that they don't cause immediate pollution to the surrounding environment."

He led Ron through several rows of stalls to a relatively spacious area:

"This is the core area of ​​the material exchange zone, where most of the high-quality abyssal samples are concentrated."

The stalls in this area are noticeably more formal than those in the outer areas, with many even equipped with simple protective barriers and testing equipment.

The stall owners are no longer ordinary explorers, but rather blenders or researchers with clearly professional backgrounds.

Reynolds led Ron straight to a large tent located in the center of the area.

The tent was covered with a layer of metal cloth on the outside, while the inside was arranged like a small laboratory, with various precision instruments and storage containers neatly arranged.

A burly man stood at the entrance of the tent.

His right arm was made entirely of a composite material of some kind of metal and crystal, gleaming coldly under the light.

Judging from the fluctuations in his aura, he is clearly a formal wizard.

“Casso!” Reynolds greeted him warmly. “This is the bloodline modifier friend I told you about.”

The man called Kaso turned around, revealing a rugged face.

His left eye was a normal brown, but his right eye had an unnatural bluish-white color, and the shape of his pupil was also slightly abnormal.

"Welcome, new face."

Caso's voice was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to his imposing appearance.

"Reynolds introduced you; are you looking to purchase some high-quality Abyss samples?"

Ron nodded in agreement: "That's right, I'm looking for some special materials suitable for bloodline research."

"Then you've come to the right place."

Casso grinned, revealing a row of sharp teeth:

"I specifically collect samples from the third layer and below of the abyss to ensure quality and purity."

He turned and walked into the tent, gesturing for the two to follow:

"Come on, let me show you something truly valuable."

The interior of the tent was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, clearly due to some kind of space-expanding spell.

In the center is a large display stand, surrounded by rows of well-sealed storage cabinets.

Kaso took out a small crystal key and opened one of the cabinets.

He carefully took out a silver container and placed it on the display stand.

"The third layer of refined 'Void Mucus' has a purity of up to 85%," he proudly announced, opening the container lid.

Inside was a deep black liquid with a peculiar metallic luster on its surface.

Subtle ripples constantly appeared on the surface of the liquid, as if countless tiny lives were swimming within it.

"This is the best base material for making 'autophagic slime'."

"It's much purer than the cheap, mass-produced stuff you often see on the market, and naturally, it's several times more effective," Casso explained.

Ron activated "Supernatural Identification" to carefully assess the energy fluctuations and purity of the liquid.

Indeed, this batch of "void slime" was of significantly higher quality than the ordinary samples he had seen before.

The energy flow is more uniform and stable, and the impurity content is much lower.

"How many magic stone fragments are in one standard unit?" Ron asked directly.

"The market price is usually between 200 and 260, but for the sake of Reynolds, and since you seem to know what you're doing, how about 160?"

Caso offered a discounted price.

Ron raised an eyebrow slightly: "It is indeed much lower than the market price."

"To be honest, Void Mucus is not difficult to collect, but the storage and transportation costs are quite high."

Casso explained:
"Many businessmen are too greedy and drive up profit margins too much. But for me, stable customer relationships are more important than short-term windfall profits."

He then took out several different containers, containing other materials that Ron needed:

"Mutant catalysts, energy conduits... these are all in stock, and the quality is top-notch."

For the next hour, Ron carefully examined the quality and properties of each material.

In the end, he purchased the complete set of materials needed to cultivate the autophagic slime at a reasonably satisfactory price, still a little short of the five complete magic stones he had expected.

"These materials are enough for you to cultivate a fairly good autophagic slime."

Casso nodded in satisfaction as he helped Ron pack the materials into a special storage box.
"If you need any other Abyss materials, feel free to contact me anytime."

“There’s one more thing,” Ron said.
"I also need some high-energy-content abyssal materials for energy replenishment and conversion experiments."

Casso pondered for a moment, then grinned: "I guess you're not looking for that common type?"

“Indeed.” Ron nodded in agreement.
"What I need is a crystallized product with a sufficiently high energy density, preferably one with a layer below the fourth layer."

"That's a bit troublesome." The man stroked his chin.

"Materials for the fourth level are already scarce, and with the unusual abyss activity these past few months, the difficulty of exploration has increased significantly. However..."

(End of this chapter)