Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 353 The Hidden Genius
Ron was able to glean basic information about that knowledge from the images the other party deliberately displayed:

Transformation between reality and illusion—the ultimate technique that allows one to switch between physical and illusory forms;
Spell Reversal—a forbidden technique that can reverse the effects of any harmful spell or contract, applying them back to the caster...

"The Chimera bloodline in your veins... comes from the Age of Gods... and a complete sample is preserved in my kingdom..."

The last promise made Ron gasp for breath.

In the image, a huge bloodline sample bank appears.

Countless crystal containers are neatly arranged, each containing the essence of the bloodline of a different creature.

One of the containers contained blood that shimmered with multicolored light, embodying the grandeur and terror of primordial creation.

Simply watching it gave Ron a strong sense of longing from the very source of life.

Every promise was incredibly tempting, especially the part about the Chimera bloodline.

Ron knew very well that with his current abilities, obtaining a sample of the divine bloodline was almost impossible.

Those rare samples are usually kept by the Court of Truth and will never be easily circulated to the outside world.

However, he also maintained the necessary vigilance.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Behind every promise made by the King of Illusions, there is bound to be a corresponding price.

"What do you need me to do?"

Ron asked directly, his eyes showing no greed, only calm weighing of options:

"At your level, these things may not mean much to you."

But it's priceless to me. You certainly wouldn't offer this kind of help for no reason.

The King of Illusions let out a muffled laugh, a laugh tinged with approval of Ron's rational attitude:
“Smart child…I just hope…you can continue on the right path…”

"The right path?" Ron keenly caught this key phrase:
"Are you referring to research on virtual reality technology, or... something else?"

“You have seen those corrected civilizations through the astrological ritual…”

The King of Illusions' voice grew deeper:
“Every timeline…has its own inherent trajectory…but also all have the potential to deviate…”

The surrounding space began to reveal a more complex picture.

Ron saw countless streaks of light.

They start from the same point, and then branch, converge, and break at different nodes.

Each trajectory represents a possible path of development, and most of them end in some kind of disastrous outcome.

“Cassandra’s route of conquest… the conservative strategies of the traditionalists… and some other radical attempts…”

In the image, several particularly bright trails are marked, each emitting a different color of light:
"They all have their own value... but they all have... fatal flaws..."

"But in you... I see a different possibility..."

The King of Illusions struggled to regain his composure, a profound expectation flickering in his eyes:
"A path that is neither blindly conquering nor passively conservative...a truly sustainable development path..."

Ron outwardly expressed his anticipation for these empty promises, but inwardly he was carefully considering their true intentions.

Someone at this level would never provide such tremendous help simply because they "have faith" in a younger generation.

There must be deeper considerations of self-interest involved.

Regardless, the other party's suggestions and resources are of great value and deserve serious consideration.

"Regarding the direction of my bloodline's development..." He followed the other person's lead and took the opportunity to raise the question that was currently of most concern to him:
"Do you have any suggestions for improving the Yangyanlong bloodline? Also, what about the choice of a second head for the Chimera bloodline...?"

This is a critical decision he is currently facing.

Further enhancement of the Yangyanlong bloodline undoubtedly requires specific rare samples and higher modulation techniques;
The choice of the second head for the Chimera bloodline is crucial to the fundamental direction of its future development.

When Ron inquired about bloodline selection, the King of Illusions did not answer directly, but instead offered a more valuable suggestion:

"Now that you've become an astrologer... many doubts... can be resolved through divination..."

These words were like a wake-up call, making Ron realize the truth.

He has been relying on external information sources, neglecting the professional boost he has just gained:
Astrologers' divination abilities are highly accurate in matters related to themselves.

"Regarding matters concerning myself... the divination results will be clearer... and there's no need to worry about... the motives of the source of the information..."

"Thank you for reminding me." Ron highly valued the suggestion.

“I should definitely rely more on my own abilities instead of constantly seeking external guidance.”

"No need to thank me... I have my own plans..."

The King of Illusions' voice grew deeper, and various images began to appear in the surrounding space:

"And... I do see hope in you... hope for the continuation of this timeline..."

The scene depicted countless shattered worlds.

Each of them was once a cradle of prosperous civilization, but now only ruins and desolation remain.

Amidst these scenes of destruction, only a few points of light still flicker with the glow of life, like candlelight in the darkness.

"Most timelines... will eventually lead to destruction..."

The King of Illusions' voice was filled with deep weariness: "I have witnessed too many rises and falls... too many hopes shattered..."

“But you…” The scene shifts to Ron himself, his image standing out brightly amidst countless shattered fragments of the world:
"You possess a certain... quality... a possibility that allows you to break free from predetermined paths..."

The surrounding images and scenes were being disturbed more frequently, and Ron felt his consciousness was about to return to chaos.

This is a sign that the dream is about to end...

But at this moment, the King of Illusions threw out an even more crucial message to him:
"In the history of wizarding... every change of era... was because a King of the Era was born..."

The word struck Ron's heart like a thunderbolt.

King of the Era... what does that mean?
"The progenitor, the creator, the revelation, the end of death... they were all once the kings of an era..."

The surrounding space suddenly revealed a magnificent yet terrifying scene:

Four enormous figures stand in the universe, each radiating an aura of greatness beyond comprehension.

They are clearly some kind of more essential being.

"The four Kings of the Era ultimately became the cornerstones for maintaining the balance of the universe..."

In the scene, four figures gradually merge into the basic structure of the universe, becoming the embodiment of fundamental concepts such as time and space, creation, life, and death.

This information struck Ron's consciousness like a heavy hammer.

King of the Era... the Four Cornerstones... that means...

"To surpass... we cannot rely solely on plunder; more importantly, we must spread, exchange, and pass on our knowledge..."

With these words, the dream began to crumble.

The floating islands vanished like bubbles, and the image of the King of Illusions gradually blurred.

But his last sentence clearly reached the depths of Ron's consciousness:
"When you are ready to take on this responsibility... I will provide you with the necessary support..."

"But remember... becoming the King of an Era... means you will no longer belong to yourself..."

………………

The morning light at the abyss observatory never feels warm.

The light projected through those specially made reinforced glass windows had an eerie reddish-purple hue, a distorted spectrum produced by the friction between the abyss's aura and the atmosphere.

When this light shines on the skin, it produces a subtle stinging sensation, as if countless tiny tentacles are gently caressing the blood vessels.

When Ron awoke from his deep sleep, he found it was already broad daylight.

The environmental control system inside the sleep pod is working hard to regulate the temperature and humidity, trying to provide him with the most comfortable environment.

But at this moment, his heart was churning like a storm.

King of the Era...transcending everything...no longer belongs to himself...

These words echoed repeatedly in his mind.

"If this claim is true..."

Ron slowly sat up, a complex light flickering in his eyes:
"So the path I'm on now ultimately leads not to personal strength, but to a much heavier responsibility."

He recalled the devastation he had witnessed during the stargazing ceremony, the cold-blooded corrections by the anomaly hunters, and the countless shattered civilizations.

If anything could break this cycle, it might be the "King of the Era" that the King of Illusions spoke of.

But what kind of price does that mean?
To give up personal freedom and bear the weight of the entire civilization and even the entire universe?
Does a savior have to sacrifice everything?
Let whoever wants to be this kind of savior be it...

"Let's not think about things that are so far ahead." Ron forced himself back to reality:
"The most urgent tasks are to enhance our strength, improve our research, and... conduct divination."

He remembered the King of Illusions' advice.

Indeed, as an astrologer, many of the questions that trouble him can be answered through divination.

Especially regarding choices concerning the development of one's own bloodline, divination results are more reliable than any external advice.

"Master...you've finally woken up."

Ailan's voice came from the other end of the laboratory, carrying an undisguised sense of relief.

Her emerald green branches were swaying gently, and tiny water droplets clung to the leaves.

That was a special fluid secreted by the tree spirit when it was worried. "You have slept for ten hours and thirty-seven minutes."

The tree spirit's report was exceptionally accurate; it was her habit to always record every detail.
“Your breathing rate is somewhat unstable in mid-sleep, and I'm worried about what might be the aftereffects…”

Seeing Ron's long-term high-intensity research and irregular schedule filled the tree spirit with deep worry.

Dale, who was standing nearby, also heard the commotion, and her long silver hair floated in the water like seaweed.

When she transformed into human form and stepped out of the pool, the water droplets did not drip down, but instead formed a thin protective film on her skin.

The siren girl's golden eyes were full of anticipation: "Master, did my lullaby work?"

Last night, after talking with Alan, she sang a lullaby for Ron all night long with her natural siren voice.

Ron felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he looked at his two caring companions.

He reached out and gently stroked Dale's silver hair, feeling its silky smooth texture:

"Of course it was very effective. I felt like I slept very soundly."

He rarely showed such a genuine smile: "Thanks to your care..."

Dale felt the warmth of her master's hand, and her heart began to race involuntarily.

This gentle touch almost melted her.

She crept closer, almost touching Ron, yearning for more intimate contact.

But Ron quickly realized the inappropriateness of such intimate behavior.

He subtly withdrew his hand, while gently pulling away the siren girl who had gotten too close, his movements gentle yet resolute.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Dale's eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

She understood that her master's care for her was pure and without any other ulterior motives.

This realization filled her with both sweetness and bitterness, like tasting a cup of bitter medicine with honey.

Ailan noticed the subtle change in the relationship between the two, but wisely didn't say anything.

She quietly prepared breakfast, her verdant branches deftly manipulating the various tableware and ingredients.

Breakfast was plentiful and exquisite, including fresh vegetables, nutritious monster meat soup, and Dale's favorite seaweed pastry.

Each dish exuded an enticing aroma, showcasing Ailan's culinary talent.

"What are Master's plans for today?" Dale asked, while pretending to savor her food in small bites.

Her pretentious, grown-up manner, combined with her delicate features, made her exceptionally adorable.

This contrast made Ailan, who was standing next to her, cover her mouth and chuckle softly, her eyes full of affection.

“I’m going to do a divination,” Ron thought, pondering the insights he’d gained from last night’s dream.

"You just continue with your own skills training and routine maintenance of the lab, don't worry about me."

The newly acquired Astrologer profession brings various bonuses and synergy effects.

He needs time to familiarize himself with these new abilities.

In particular, the specific application of astrological skills after obtaining the astrologer profession bonus, combined with the "predictive star" characteristic.

Just then, the magic communicator suddenly rang, interrupting the cozy breakfast time.

Elliott's face was projected into the communication crystal; he looked somewhat anxious.

Her golden curls were a little messy, and her blue eyes, which usually shone with confidence, were now filled with a sense of urgency, clearly indicating that she had made the contact in a hurry.

"Ron, I'm sorry to bother you, but there's some important news I need to tell you immediately."

Elliott's voice carried a palpable sense of urgency, and he even forgot his usual formalities:
"The detailed rules for the Nova Project have just been released, and the situation is much more intense than we imagined."

“Tell me more about it?” Ron put down his cutlery, his expression turning serious.

He activated his "Hermit's Insight," keenly capturing every subtle change in Elliott's expression.

There are a total of one hundred seats, and the rankings are updated once a year.

Elliott pulled up a detailed data projection, which was a complex three-dimensional chart:

"Moreover, the scoring system is much more complex than imagined."

The scoring criteria displayed on the projector were dazzling:

1. Academic achievements (35%): including published papers, technological innovations, theoretical breakthroughs, etc.

2. Combat Ability (25%): Abyss exploration records, combat performance, survivability, etc.

3. Influence (accounting for 20%): Reputation in academia, mentorship, social contributions, etc.

4. Potential assessment (20%): A comprehensive evaluation based on age, talent, growth rate, etc.

It must be said that the conquest movement did bring about significant changes.

Previously, academic achievements would have accounted for at least 60-80% of the weight in such rankings, but now they only account for about one-third.

"Now let's talk about the rewards..."

Elliott's voice grew more excited, his eyes burning with a burning desire: "This is completely beyond imagination!"

He began to explain in detail the reward system of the Nova Project, each one enough to make any ambitious young wizard's heart flutter:

“Those who retain their seats will receive basic rewards, including monthly resource allocations, special access to the central library, and monthly mentorship from associate professor-level advisors.”

"The top ten will receive special rewards, including access to ancient books, priority access to rare materials, and professional consultation with full professors."

"Of course, these are just the basics..."

Elliott's voice trembled, clearly shocked by what he was about to say:

Those who maintain a top-three position for ten consecutive years will also receive a royal clan treasure.
Maintaining the top position for thirty consecutive years grants access to the complete coordinates of a resource dimension!

As he manipulated it, the communication crystal began projecting the true image of the treasure vault being revealed.

But it wasn't a glamorous showroom; it was an underground space filled with an eerie atmosphere.

The walls are made of some kind of living stone that moves on its own, and hundreds of transparent containers are embedded in them.

Each container holds a different "collectible":
A still-beating heart, surrounded by a vortex of time, each beat subtly distorts the surrounding spacetime;

Dozens of crystal bottles filled with an unknown liquid contained some indescribable organs that were slowly wriggling in the nutrient solution, as if they still retained some kind of primitive vitality.
Rows of ancient parchment scrolls, recording the knowledge of a lost civilization, but the words seem to spontaneously rearrange themselves when observed, as if they possess their own consciousness…

"Those who ranked in the top three ten years ago can choose one item from these collections."

Elliott's voice was low, as if he were speaking of some forbidden secret:

"Next up is the... complete resource dimension image."

The projection suddenly switched, revealing a world floating in the void.

That world is covered by a dazzling crystal forest, contains countless rare minerals underground, and floats pure magical clouds in the sky.

This is a pristine world, untouched by any powerful force...

"A complete resource dimension..."

Ron repeated softly, his eyes filled with deep thought.

That means being able to independently develop all the resources of a world, and having the foundation to establish an independent power.

The allure of such a reward would drive any ambitious wizard mad.

What is the current ranking?

Ron inquired, while activating his newly acquired divination bonus, attempting to better perceive future possibilities.

Elliott pulled up the latest rankings, his expression turning unusually grave:

"You're currently in second place, but the situation isn't looking good. The gap in ratings is narrowing rapidly, and..."

He paused for a moment, his voice filled with worry:

"The major clans and schools of thought have started to get serious, and the young wizards who had been kept hidden have all come out."

A series of detailed information appeared in the projection:

[Currently third seat - Euphemia Pelle (Blood Moon Clan)]
Mental Strength: Approaching 6 (reaching the critical point of the Morning Star level)
Possibly possesses a first-tier talent: Bloodline Domination (can forcibly control creatures with a bloodline level lower than their own).

Meditation Technique Special Feature: Bloodline Reconstruction (temporarily gains the abilities of the controlled creature)
Recent Achievements: Successfully subdued a powerful Blood Demon approaching the Moon-level in the sixth layer of the Abyss, the "Labyrinth Domain".

A beautiful white-haired witch appeared in the projection.

Her skin was as white as porcelain, but her eyes were an eerie dark red, like congealed blood.

Beside the witch, several blood demons of various shapes and sizes were waiting quietly.

These abyssal creatures, which should have been incredibly ferocious, were now as docile as tamed pets.

The largest of them is over eight meters tall, and its entire body is covered with pulsating blood vessels. Each heartbeat causes the surrounding air to tremble.

"His mental strength is approaching level 6, which is almost at the threshold of the Moon-level."

Elliott's voice carried a deep sense of apprehension:
"But what's truly terrifying is her first-tier special talent—bloodline domination."

Any creature of lower bloodline level than her will involuntarily submit to her.

(End of this chapter)