Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 391 Starforged Titans
"Alright, that concludes our discussion of the basic theory."

Vinard concluded:

"In practice, specialized gold refining equipment and a dust-free environment are required."

Prepare ten complete magic stones. Be at my private research room in the Central Lands at 8:00 AM tomorrow.

His tone became more formal:

“Charging a fee is necessary. Although I admire you, we are not yet in a formal master-disciple relationship.”

The transmission of knowledge always requires corresponding compensation; this is a generally accepted rule.

When Vinard brought up the consultation fee, Ron secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although ten complete magic stones are not a small amount, this kind of transaction with a clear price is much safer than owing favors.

At least he knew what the other party expected and how to repay it.

"Of course, that makes perfect sense."

He replied respectfully, "I will go to your lab tomorrow to pay the fees."

“Very good.” Vinard nodded in satisfaction, then seemed to remember something:
"By the way, since we've finally managed to get in touch, I'll show you some real alchemy."

He manipulated several mechanical tentacles, rapidly operating a control panel inside the colossus:
"My scheduled maintenance is almost finished."

This behemoth has been dormant for nearly ten years; today is the day it awakens once more.

"Why do we need to restart it?" Ron asked curiously.

“An asteroid has drifted into the skies above my extraterritorial territory.”

Vinard spoke casually, as if he were talking about the weather today:

"Although it's not very big, it would still cause a lot of trouble if it hit the ground. So it needs to be dealt with in advance."

He pointed in another direction of the projection:
"You can put the badge I gave you into your portable simulator for a more realistic experience."

Ron quickly did as he was told, placing the wrench emblem into the simulation device in the laboratory.

The moment the emblem was activated, his consciousness was completely enveloped by a stream of silver light.

He could feel his spirit traversing endless void, passing through one dimensional barrier after another, and finally arriving at some distant other world.

When the light faded, he found himself inside a suffocatingly large structure.

This is a control center specifically designed for some kind of being beyond conventional understanding.

The ceiling was so high that its top could not be seen, and the surrounding area was densely covered with countless glowing pipes and circuits, like the vascular and nervous systems of a giant beast.

The air was filled with the smell of ozone and molten metal.

"How are you feeling, little one?"

Vinard's voice echoed in his mind.

Unlike his usual businesslike tone, he spoke with an almost childlike excitement:
“This is the culmination of my centuries of hard work—the ‘Starforged Titan,’ and you are now in its core control room.”

Ron slowly turned around, trying to adjust to the unimaginable scale.

In front of him was a circular control console the size of a basketball court, densely packed with thousands of control devices with different functions.

Some are traditional crystal buttons, some are bio-interfaces with wriggling tentacles, and some are even constantly changing shape, seemingly alive.

The most impressive sights were the giant screens hanging from the ceiling.

Each screen is tens of meters wide, displaying complex and dazzling data streams in real time:
Energy distribution maps, structural integrity monitoring, environmental analysis reports, threat assessment systems...

The density and complexity of the information have exceeded the comprehension limits of formal wizards.

"These control systems..."

Ron struggled to process the information overload before him, his voice filled with astonishment:
"How advanced would one's mental manipulation skills be to control so many things simultaneously? I feel that even a great wizard couldn't process that much information at once, right?"

"Ha! You've hit the nail on the head!"

Vinard's laughter was tinged with bitterness.

Countless intricate mechanical tentacles extended from his body, connecting to various control nodes like an octopus:
"In fact, even I can only directly control about 40% of the system; the remaining 60% is handled by auxiliary intelligence."

As they spoke, the mechanical tentacles began to move rapidly, leaping between thousands of control devices with the precision of a well-trained pianist.
Do you know how much it costs to manufacture these assistive intelligent systems?
Each one is equivalent to ten years' worth of income for a wizarding clan! And I installed a total of thirty-seven!

Vinard's tone began to become somewhat excited, even boastful:

"This control system alone has emptied my savings several times! But that's not even the most expensive part..."

He paused deliberately, as if waiting for Ron to press for answers.

"What's the most expensive thing?" Ron blinked, taking the bait and satisfying the other's desire to show off.

"Hahaha! Good question!" Vinard's smug voice rang out:
"The most expensive part is the energy core! Do you know what a magic crystal is?"

"Magic crystals?" Ron shook his head, puzzled.

"Ah, I forgot that you're not at that level yet."

Vinard's tone became more smug, but he deliberately feigned a troubled expression:

"A magic crystal is the essence of a magic stone. Only one magic crystal can be naturally formed in a large magic stone mine that can produce hundreds of thousands of complete magic stones!"

His voice began to tremble, whether from excitement or heartache, it was hard to tell:
"It contains an energy density that is thousands of times greater than that of ordinary magic stones!"
Moreover, it possesses many unique bonuses that magic stones lack—such as spatial manipulation, time acceleration, and even reality reconstruction!

“At our level, ordinary magic stones can be extracted and manufactured from the void, as easily as you breathe air.”

Vinard continued, his tone becoming increasingly boastful:

"But even the ancient alchemists couldn't artificially synthesize magic crystals, a natural treasure! Unless..."

His voice became mysterious:

"Unless you possess the legendary Philosopher's Stone, an ultimate creation that exists only in theory!"

But that's too vague and unrealistic; over several eras, only two or three potentially similar examples have been heard of.

Vinard manipulated the console, and the Titan began to emit a deep startup sound:
"Back then, I poured all the wealth I had accumulated over eight hundred years into this magic crystal! I even mortgaged the mining rights to my several otherworldly territories!"

His tone became even more exaggerated:

"We owe an astronomical debt equivalent to 500,000 complete magic stones!"

So much so that I, a dignified great wizard, am forced by debt to become a mercenary!

But at this point, Vinard's tone became smug again:
"But now... hehe, those guys who used to laugh at me for being a spendthrift are now insanely jealous when they see my wealth report."

"Even a great wizard can be troubled by debt?" Ron asked incredulously.

"You silly child, do you think a great wizard is above worldly concerns?" Vinard laughed heartily.

"The higher the level, the more terrifying the consumption becomes."

The cost of each interdimensional teleportation is enough to make even a Dark Sun-level wizard feel the pinch.

Crafting a decent piece of alchemical equipment easily requires at least several thousand magic stones.

As the activation process progressed, Ron could feel increasingly intense vibrations coming from beneath his feet.

It didn't feel like the turning of mechanical gears; it felt more like the rhythmic movement of some enormous life form awakening.

It was as if they were inside the body of an ancient giant god awakening.

Through the external sensory system, Ron saw the true form of the Titans for the first time.

It was a colossal humanoid statue, a thousand meters tall, made entirely of a special alloy that emitted a dark golden luster.

Its surface is covered with luminous patterns like blood vessels, which are flashing in rhythm with the "heartbeat".

The two enormous spheres of light, each over a hundred meters in diameter, at the head are slowly lighting up, like two newly born stars.

Is it beautiful?

Vinard's voice was full of pride:
"This is my masterpiece! Every screw, every circuit, has been meticulously designed!"

The planet where Titan resides also came into Ron's view.

This is a completely transformed metal world.

The earth's surface is covered with countless crystal-clear energy spires, each of which releases beams of light of different colors into the sky.

The distant mountains were not made of rock, but of enormous clusters of crystals, shimmering under the light of the two moons.

The ocean has an eerie silver color, with luminous algae floating on its surface, like a liquid starry sky.

The whole world exudes a surreal beauty, but at the same time reveals traces of human intervention.

"When I first discovered this place, it was a desolate and barren planet. I spent hundreds of years transforming it into what it is today."

Vinard's tone carried the pride of a creator:

"The atmospheric composition, the gravitational field, even the geological structure have all been redesigned according to my will. This place is now one of the most resource-rich territories in this quadrant!" But soon, his attention shifted elsewhere:

"But we're not here to admire the scenery today. Do you see that little guy approaching?"

Ron looked in the direction indicated and saw an irregular asteroid, about tens of kilometers in diameter, slowly drifting towards him from the outer edge of the planet's orbit.

Its surface is covered with deep red metallic minerals that glitter under the starlight.

"Hmm... that should be a small celestial body rich in rare metals?"

"Haha, clever!"

Vinard laughed:
"That's why I bought this barren planet; it'll give my 'Starforged Titan' a chance to shine."

Because of the planet's unique location, such asteroid impacts occur every ten to twenty years.

Rather than letting it crash to the surface and cause destruction, I'd rather mine it clean—killing two birds with one stone!

As they spoke, Titan began to ascend.

The massive anti-gravity engine started, and giant energy wings, resembling angel wings, unfolded from its back.

When fully extended, their wingspan can reach several thousand meters, blotting out the sky.

This colossal steel behemoth, weighing an unknown number of tons, has already defied Earth's gravity and is flying into space.

"Each time this monster is activated, it consumes the energy of hundreds of complete magic stones."

While operating the vehicle, Vinard continued his "complaints":
"If we engage in high-intensity combat, the energy consumption in one day will be higher than the energy consumption of the entire Dawn Harbor in a week."

"A real cannon's roar is worth a fortune; this thing devours gold more than any weapon!"

But his tone couldn't hide his smugness:
"But investments always pay off... Over the years, 'Starforged Titan' has helped me mine more than thirty resource planets, and the profits I've made have long exceeded ten times the initial investment!"

When Titan broke through the clouds, the entire sky was illuminated by its light.

Those native creatures that originally flew high in the sky—some huge creatures similar to dragons.

Upon seeing the Titan, they immediately scattered in terror, like ants encountering a giant foot that had trampled them.

"Now I'll teach you some basic operations."

Once in space, Vinard granted Ron some control:

"Try manipulating the sensory array in your left arm and feel the extension of this power."

When Ron’s consciousness connected to the control system, he immediately felt an unprecedented sense of control.

The feeling wasn't just about using a tool; it was more like acquiring a new body part.

Every joint and every energy circuit in his left arm was clearly visible within his perception range.

Even more remarkably, he can "see" the internal structure of asteroids through sensors in his left arm.

Mineral distribution, density variations, and even the nests of creatures hidden deep within.

"You adapt very well indeed."

Vinard commented with satisfaction:
"Most people faint on the spot when they first come into contact with this system due to sensory overload."

It seems you truly have the potential to become a master alchemist.

As Titan approached its target asteroid, Ron witnessed a chilling sight through his external senses.

In certain areas of the asteroid, enormous shadows are slowly creeping.

Those creatures had a spider-like body structure, but were incredibly large, each nearly a hundred meters long.

Their surfaces are covered with metallic scales, clearly indicating that they have adapted to the space environment.

"Parasitic organisms".

Vinard's tone turned cold:

"These disgusting bugs like to nest on mineral-rich asteroids and feed on precious metals. Although they pose no real threat, they can affect mining efficiency."

He manipulated the Titan to raise its right arm, and the mechanical hand began to rapidly reconstruct, extending into a giant beam saber thousands of meters long.

The blade is made of pure energy, emitting a blinding white light, and the surrounding space is distorted due to the high temperature.

"Precision strikes must not damage the mineral structure."

The beam saber swiftly sliced ​​across the asteroid's surface, instantly vaporizing and disappearing the massive, writhing shadows in its path.

The entire process was as precise as surgery, without causing any collateral damage.

The precious metal veins remained undamaged; only the parasitic organisms on the surface were completely removed.

"Now let's get to the real work."

Vinard's tone became excited, and Titan's hands began to undergo more complex changes.

The original mechanical hand was reconstructed and transformed into two multi-functional mining devices.

Shaped like a drill bit, its surface is covered with fine runes;
The other one resembles the digestive organ of some kind of organism, with a complex separation and refining device visible inside.

"Directly accessing the star's core and mining it in its entirety—that's the true value of Titan!"

What followed completely overturned Ron's understanding of resource extraction.

Titan drilled into the asteroid like a giant drill.

Wherever it goes, rocks and metals are instantly broken down into basic particles, and then reclassified and reorganized according to their value.

Useful rare metals are extracted and compressed into high-density energy blocks;
Useless rocks are broken down into basic elements and rearranged and combined into building materials;

Even the corpses of those parasites were decomposed and organic compounds were extracted from them.

"See that? This is a high-level application of alchemy!"

As Vinard operated the machine, he explained in a rambling, incessant manner:

"It's not a simple excavation, but a complete restructuring!"
I can transform a useless rocky planet into any substance I need!

During the drilling, Ron also saw the storage system inside Titan operating rapidly.

Various metallic essences were compressed into high-density cubes the size of a fist, each radiating a different color of light.

Some even pulsate slowly, like a living heart.

"What are those glowing things?" Ron asked curiously.

"Haha, good eye!" Vinard explained proudly.
"Those are the original forms of 'active metals,' which are refined into high-level materials with self-repairing capabilities."

It can only be found at the core of certain planets, and each gram of it is worth the same as a complete magic stone!

"I should be able to get a few hundred grams from this mining operation."

His tone was full of the joy of achievement:

"This one source alone yields several hundred complete magic stones!"

Ultimately, the entire asteroid was completely "digested," leaving only a negligible cloud of dust.

The Titan's storage compartments are filled with various refined and precious resources:
Rare metals, energy crystals, active materials, and even some strange substances that Ron couldn't name.

"A pretty good result."

Vinard piloted the Titan back to his home planet, his tone brimming with satisfaction:
"The profit from this trip is approximately 3,800 complete magic stones, while the consumption is less than 500."

That's why I'm much richer than those great wizards who only know how to fight and kill!

His voice grew even more smug:

"It is said that several top wizards envy my wealth accumulation. After all, conquering is one thing, but effectively utilizing resources is another!"

The experience will end when the Titan re-landes on the surface of its home planet.

But Vinard's last words left a deep impression on Ron:
"Remember everything you saw today, child."

This is true alchemy—not merely a producer, but a transformer, a conqueror, even a creator!

"When you can also wield such power, you will have truly stepped into our world."

The connection between consciousness and reality gradually broke down, and Ron returned to his mobile workshop.

But the shocking experience I just had is still crystal clear in my mind.

The feeling of wielding supreme power and reshaping matter at will ignited an even more fervent desire deep within him.

"True power...the power of creation..."

He gently stroked the silver emblem in his hand, his eyes burning with fire.

(End of this chapter)