Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 332 Wildfire Spreads
Last night's communication with the King of Illusions existed only at the level of consciousness.

But the oppressive aura emanating from a Witch King-level being still left a deep imprint on his mind.

However, this experience also unexpectedly strengthened his mental resilience.

He could clearly feel that his ability to process high-dimensional information had significantly improved compared to before.

"Master, you look great today."

Ailan's voice came from outside the door, and a verdant figure appeared at the entrance of the room:
"You slept twice as long as usual last night. Have you been too tired lately?"

"It's like giving my brain a little break."

Ron gave a brief response, without revealing any further details.

Some knowledge is too dangerous to be easily shared, not even with the most trusted assistant.

He quickly used his magic to cleanse himself and prepared to head to the forbidden area of ​​the library.

The associate professor-level access granted to him by Cassandra yesterday gave him the opportunity to access previously inaccessible confidential information.

He desperately needed to learn about the requirements for becoming an ancient alchemist and about those long-lost ancient techniques.

The moment Ron stepped out of the mobile workshop, he immediately sensed a subtle change in the air.

It was an exciting scent, similar to the smell of blood.

The crystal display boards lining the streets no longer show academic research findings.

Instead, what emerged were dazzling and mesmerizing landscapes of another world, each frame silently proclaiming the glory of conquest.

On the first display board, three blood-red suns hang high in the copper-green sky.

The ground is a forest made up of living skeletons.

Those "trees" are actually huge vertebrae, hundreds of meters high, covered with a network of blood vessels that move on their own.

In a clearing in this eerie forest, a group of spider-like creatures lay prostrate before the conqueror, offering up shimmering "bone marrow crystals" with their eight slender arms.

These indigenous creatures are disgusting to look at.

Their heads are huge compound eyes, and their bodies resemble skinned spiders with their internal organs clearly visible.

"I've heard that this 'life marrow' can increase the potency of magic potions several times over..."

A young apprentice with black spots on his face spoke tremulously, his eyes filled with a mixture of greed and fear.

The second display panel presents an even more distorted world.

There was no solid ground there; all matter was in a semi-liquid state, constantly changing shape and color.

In the center of the image, dozens of transparent creatures, resembling jellyfish but as large as houses, float in the viscous air.

Inside their bodies, you can see complex organ structures slowly wriggling.

These creatures are using their tentacles to hand out pulsating "heart fruits" to the wizards standing on the floating platform.

Whenever these heart-shaped fruits pulsate, the entire screen flickers slightly, as if even the display equipment is being affected.

"Functional enhancement materials..."

An apprentice wearing heavy goggles muttered to himself:

"It is said that consuming one can bring one's physical strength to the level of an ordinary dragon descendant, but the price is..."

He didn't finish speaking, but many apprentices gathered in front of the screen who had some understanding of the matter knew the price.

The user's appearance will gradually transform into those jellyfish creatures until they completely lose their human form.

In another scene, there is an icy world shrouded in the eternal aurora.

In this world, a frost giant nearly fifteen meters tall knelt before the conqueror.

With stiff fingers, these giants carefully offered up pieces of "soul ice crystals" that exuded a chilling aura.

Even more frightening is that the giant in the picture was clearly not offering his tribute voluntarily.

Each of them had a long, thin metal probe inserted into the back of its neck; that was some kind of control device.

Whenever the probes flashed, the giants would mechanically repeat the offering action, and the will-o'-the-wisps in their eyes would become even weaker.

“Complete enslavement…”

A highly learned-looking apprentice commented in a low voice, "This is no longer conquest, but..."

"And what?" a senior apprentice beside him sneered.
"The law of the jungle is the iron law of the universe. These alien races are inherently inferior life forms, and it is their honor to be able to contribute to the development of our wizard civilization."

The apprentices watching fell into a subtle silence.

Some people's eyes were filled with excitement, as if they could already see themselves embarking on the road to conquest;

Some people appeared worried and uneasy, clearly uncomfortable with this brutal plunder;
Others remain cautiously neutral, simply observing and reflecting silently.

"Are these scenes... all real?" a young girl asked timidly.

“Of course it’s true.” The older apprentice’s tone became even more arrogant:

“I have a cousin who works as a materials analyst in the conquest team, and he told me that these are just a few of the most common of the dozen or so worlds that Cassandra Tower Lord conquered.”

The truly valuable spoils of war are never publicly displayed here.

He lowered his voice and added mysteriously:

"It's said that the Tower Master also conquered a dimension entirely composed of time, where the natives can materialize memories into physical form. Imagine if we mastered this technology..."

The young apprentices' eyes began to gleam, a gleam a mixture of greed, fear, and morbid excitement.

The clamor ceased abruptly when Ron stepped onto the street.

All eyes turned to him, but no one dared to look him in the eye.

The apprentices scattered quickly like startled animals, but he could feel countless eyes following him.

"It's Instructor Ralph..."

"The temporary second-in-command of the Nova Project..."

"I heard that the Tower Master Cassandra personally hosted a private dinner for him..."

Whenever he turned around, everyone would quickly lower their heads and pretend to be focused on the display board.

This strange atmosphere reminded Ron of scenes from certain animal documentaries.

When a top predator appears, other animals will instinctively keep their distance, neither daring to provoke nor ignore it.

The several official wizards maintained a calm demeanor, but the complex emotions in their eyes were clearly visible.

Awe, envy, curiosity, and a subtle fear.

But it wasn't fear of Ron himself, but fear of the conquerors behind him and Cassandra.

As Ron continued toward the library, he observed further changes in the schools of thought.

Wizards who were originally focused on pure academic research are now stopping in front of information boards on the street to inquire about the conditions and requirements for joining the conquest team.

The usually deserted bookstores specializing in "Otherworld Geography" and "Major War Spells" now have long queues in front of them.

Ron even saw several normally mild-mannered theoretical researchers having a heated discussion about various plundering techniques and methods of enslavement.

"I've heard that the 'Mental Shackles' spell can completely control the minds of alien races..."

"But that kind of magic... the personality of the person being controlled might be corrupted..."

"It doesn't matter. Who cares about those alien races? As long as we don't suffer a backlash from them."

These conversations reminded Ron of the colonists and slave traders in Earth's history.

Under the lure of enormous profits, the boundaries between civilization and morality become blurred, and the darkest side of human nature begins to emerge.

Even more worrying is that some young apprentices have begun to organize small groups to discuss how to form teams to participate in the conquest plan.

Although their current strength is far from sufficient for cross-border conquest, this dangerous idea has already begun to take root.

The atmosphere of the entire Crystal Spire is undergoing a fundamental transformation.

The academic rigor of the past is giving way to adventurous restlessness, and the pure pursuit of knowledge is being replaced by a pragmatic desire for exploitation.

Knowledge remains important, but it has now been given a more sinister meaning.

No longer a beacon illuminating the path of civilization, but a tool for conquest and enslavement.

Ron calmly analyzed the change in his mind.

From a sociological perspective, this is a typical characteristic of a civilization shifting from inward development to outward expansion.

When internal resources become scarce, plundering from the outside becomes the only option to maintain development.

The problem is that this transition is happening too fast, giving people almost no time to adapt.

By showcasing the enormous achievements of conquest, Cassandra artificially created a "conquest frenzy," causing even rational scholars to be driven by greed.

This situation presented Ron with both opportunities and dangers.

On the one hand, in this environment, he, with his strong abilities and ample academic reserves, is more likely to gain recognition and resources; on the other hand, when the whole society is in a frenzy, maintaining rationality may become a dangerous "heretic" trait.

………………

The entrance to the Crystal Spire Library is marked by an awe-inspiring stone door.

It is a living mineral that changes color according to the observer's emotions.

As Ron approached, the dormant runes on the facade began to awaken.

It gradually changes from a dull gray to a warning orange-red, and finally settles into a gold that symbolizes high authority.

The gatekeeper is a three-meter-tall crystal structure.

Its body is made of translucent blue crystal, and a constantly rotating energy core floats inside its chest cavity.

The "face" of this construct is a smooth mirror that reflects the observer's deepest fears in real time.

When Ron stared into the mirror, he didn't see his own face, but a figure entangled by countless tentacles.

That was a concrete manifestation of his fear that the future might spiral out of control.

"Identity verification in progress..."

The construct's voice was as grating as shards of crystal rubbing together: "High-level privileges detected. Initiating deep scan."

The subsequent authentication process was extremely unpleasant.

The construct first scanned Ron's magical signature, then analyzed his thought patterns using some kind of invasive mental probe.

The scan lasted for nearly five minutes, and the feeling of being thoroughly examined was extremely uncomfortable.

He could sense that the construct was searching for certain specific "marks".

...those subtle clues that might indicate a connection between oneself and danger.

Fortunately, last night's conversation with the King of Illusions did not leave any obvious traces in his mental structure.

A being of the Witch King level clearly possesses the ability to perfectly conceal their influence.

The construct's mirror-like face suddenly turned towards Ron, its voice tinged with mechanical confusion:

"Your mental structure exhibits an extremely rare multi-layered protective pattern."

This level of complexity... is exceptional, even for an associate professor.

Its energy core rotates at a significantly faster speed, emitting a deep humming sound:

"Access level: Associate Professor level."

Special note: Member of the Rising Star Program.

Resistance to mental pollution: Real-time testing is needed to determine specific values.

The construct extends an arm made of crystal.

Strange runes flowed across the surface of the crystals, pointing to a hidden door deep within the library, almost completely swallowed by shadows:
"Please proceed to the testing area to complete the pollution resistance assessment."

Please note that this is a necessary procedure for entering the forbidden area, and any attempt to bypass this procedure will be considered a direct threat to the school's security.

Ron followed the construct through the hidden door and immediately sensed the change in air quality.

The atmosphere here seems to be compressed by some unseen weight, and every breath requires extra effort.

He could hear a faint heartbeat coming from inside the walls, as if the entire building were the viscera of some enormous creature.

The testing room was a perfectly circular space, devoid of any decoration, with only pure black walls and floors.

A huge crystal ball, about two meters in diameter, floated in the center of the room, its interior filled with nauseating dark mist.

The mist was not still; instead, it formed complex spiral patterns inside the sphere.

Each rotation releases a weak but extremely dangerous mental shockwave.

“This device…” Ron activated “Supernatural Recognition” and carefully observed the crystal ball.

In his special vision, the surface of the sphere was covered with a dense network of runes, which were constantly absorbing and transforming the surrounding energy.

Even more terrifying, he could sense that inside the sphere, there were indeed fragments of the consciousness of some living being sealed away.

"Did you notice anything?" The construct seemed to notice the change in his expression.

“This is not a simple testing device,” Ron analyzed calmly.
"The sphere contains fragments of the spirit of a true abyssal creature, whose intensity is regulated through a network of runes. This design... is quite ingenious, but also extremely dangerous."

"Very keen observation." The construct's tone held a hint of approval.
"Indeed, these fragments of consciousness came from various higher beings killed by the Abyss Exploration Team."

Their resentment and chaotic consciousness were extracted and used to test the wizards' resistance to corruption.

It paused for a moment, then continued explaining:

"The test will be conducted in two phases."

If you experience any discomfort at any stage, please signal to stop immediately.

The construct's energy core began to pulsate slowly, each flicker causing the room temperature to drop a few degrees.

"It is worth noting that there was once an associate professor who thought he had a strong will, but during the test, the latent pollution within him was completely activated."

After the test, he started gnawing on his fingers, crying and laughing at the same time, saying, "Finally, I've found real deliciousness!"

This detail made Ron's expression even more serious.

The terrifying aspect of spiritual pollution lies in its ability to fundamentally distort the victim's cognition and values.

People who are contaminated are often unaware of their abnormality and instead believe that this distorted state is "normal" or even "beautiful".

Moreover, he felt that the intelligence and rich emotional expression of this "construct" were somewhat unlike artificial intelligence.
“I understand the risks.” Ron nodded and walked toward the test crystal ball.

When he was still three meters away from the sphere, the first phase of the test quietly began.

The mist inside the crystal ball suddenly surged violently, releasing a nauseating mental pressure.

It is not simply fear or anxiety, but rather a manifestation of a more fundamental negation of existence.

It was as if countless voices were whispering in his ear at the same time:

"You shouldn't exist..."

"Your efforts are pointless..."

"Death is the only relief..."

"Why struggle at all? Why not accept nothingness?"

That's it?

For Ron, who was practicing "The Star Eater's Whispers," this level of mental impact was almost negligible.

His meditation method is based on communication with higher beings, which has long since adapted his mental structure to the pressure from higher dimensions.

"Phase one complete, time taken seventeen seconds." The construct recorded the data.

"This speed is excellent for an associate professor. Proceed to the second phase of testing."

The crystal ball's color began to change, from dark gray to deep purple.

The concentration of fog also increased significantly, almost completely obscuring the internal structure of the sphere.

The second phase of psychological impact is more complex and cunning.

It is no longer a simple denial and despair, but an attempt to fundamentally distort Ron's cognitive structure.

Hallucinations began to appear before his eyes:
He had transformed into a writhing mass of tentacles, devouring all his companions, yet he felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
Ailan's emerald green figure rotted and melted before him, turning into a pool of foul-smelling pus, but her voice still thanked him for "liberating" her;
Even the entire central region collapsed beneath his feet, countless innocent lives perished because of his actions, yet he stood atop the ruins, laughing maniacally…

These illusions attempted to convince him that destruction and depravity were true "happiness," and that reason and order were merely self-deceptive shackles.

But these twisted temptations could not shake Ron's core of rationality.

The mental resilience he developed amidst the pursuit of the Time Hounds and the threat of the "Devourer" enabled him to clearly distinguish between reality and illusion.

More importantly, his strong obsession with "controlling himself" provided him with a sufficient spiritual anchor.

No matter how alluring the illusion may be, he will not relinquish control over his own destiny.

"Phase two completed, taking one minute and ten seconds." The construct's voice carried obvious surprise.
"Test complete, total time: 1 minute and 27 seconds."

The construct's voice was filled with disbelief:

"Pollution Resistance Level: IV. This is a high rating within the Associate Professor level, granting you safe access to most of the restricted areas."

It paused for a long time, seemingly processing some complex data:
"According to historical records, only six associate professors have achieved Level IV. Of these, three later successfully advanced to become Dark Sun Wizards, one even became a Grand Wizard, and one became the captain of the Abyss Exploration Team..."

The construct didn't say what happened to the sixth person, but Ron could sense an ominous hint from its slightly dimmed energy core.

After the test, a door that was previously completely invisible appeared on the wall.

The door itself is a work of art, made of some kind of living material that breathes on its own, with a surface covered by a network of wriggling blood vessels.

As Ron approached, those veins began to pulsate faster, as if welcoming a long-awaited guest.

(End of this chapter)