Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 392 Time-Traveling Eye (Expert Level)
The following morning, as Ron stepped out of the mansion, he felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

It wasn't just because of the shock of last night's conversation with Vinard.

The research funding he had secured through the "Abyss Simulation Device" gave him the confidence to make large-scale investments.

The donation of five hundred complete magic stones, plus the funds accumulated previously.

This gave him the ability to completely upgrade his mobile workshop.

The central commercial district, "Starlight Market," is the largest trading center for extraordinary items in the entire Huan Yuan Continent.

When Ron stepped onto the main street of the market, he was immediately overwhelmed by the bustling scene before him.

Every building here exudes a magical glow.

The shop signs are made of living crystal and automatically adjust the displayed content according to the customer's needs.

On both sides of the street, vendors from different races were hawking their goods.

A short goblin was displaying intricate mechanical parts;

Elegant half-elves are demonstrating the extraordinary properties of plants;
There were even a few fully metal-enhanced individuals selling their "upgrade services".

The air was filled with various strange fragrances, a complex aroma created by the mixture of scents from different materials.

Some are invigorating, while others bring a subtle sense of disorientation.

Ron's first stop was the "Heart of All Things" alchemy supplies store.

This is the most authoritative supplier of alchemical materials in the Central Lands, and their procurement network is said to cover all known alternate worlds.

The shop's exterior is made of obsidian and abyss crystal, with dark red patterns flowing across its surface like blood.

As he pushed open the door made of dragon bones, a rich aura of magic rushed towards him.

"Welcome, esteemed wizard."

He was greeted by a tall minotaur, but this minotaur had clearly undergone extensive alchemical modifications.

His left horn was replaced with a spiral-shaped metal structure, and his eye was replaced with a prosthetic eye capable of analyzing the composition of matter.

"I am Saluk, a senior advisor here. What level of materials do you need today?"

Saluk's voice was deep and powerful, each syllable precisely trained in pronunciation.

"We have three levels of product areas: basic, professional, and master."

Ron looked around and was amazed by the store's displays.

Materials of various odd shapes are carefully preserved in specially made containers:
Some were slowly wriggling, some were emitting an eerie glow, and some were even silently singing a melody beyond human comprehension.

"I need some rare materials with spatial properties, as well as auxiliary equipment that can improve the accuracy of alchemy."

He showed his identification badge:
"The budget is approximately one hundred complete magic stones."

Upon seeing the insignia indicating he was the second-in-command in the Nova Project, Saluk's attitude immediately became even more respectful.

“Understood, Instructor Ralph. Please come with me, and I will introduce you to some of the best options.”

The Minotaur consultant led him to the professional-grade area deep inside the store.

The concentration of magic there was significantly higher, and even the air seemed thicker.

“This is a ‘void thread,’ originating from the edge of the rift space.”

Saruk carefully displayed a nearly transparent, filamentous substance:
"It can add spatial expansion properties to alchemical products without damaging the original structure."

One ounce costs the equivalent of twelve complete magic stones.

Next, he introduced more than a dozen precious materials, such as "anchor stone", "dimensional film" and "stabilizing core".

Each one has its unique function and application, and they are all quite expensive.

Ron listened attentively to the presentation while using his "Supernatural Recognition" skill to analyze the true quality of the materials.

To his surprise, Saluk's account was quite honest, without any exaggeration or deception.

“Your judgment is very professional, Instructor Ralph.”

Noticing Ron's meticulous observation of each material, Saluk showed an approving expression:

"Many young alchemists only value price and reputation, but ignore the actual applicability of materials."

"It comes from experience," Ron replied modestly.

“I need these: three ounces of Void Silk, two Anchor Stones, and this Stabilizing Core.”

"A total of sixty-eight complete magic stones." Saruk quickly calculated the price:

"Considering your status, I can offer you a 5% discount."

After the payment was completed, Saluk proactively recommended some high-end alchemy equipment:

"If you are interested in upgrading your experimental setup, I recommend you visit the 'Snap Moment' workshop."

Although the equipment parts there are expensive, their quality is absolutely top-notch in the Central Region.

After leaving the Heart of All Things, Ron went to the Snap Moment workshop as recommended.

The store's exterior was more understated, but the equipment inside was an eye-opener for him.

"Adaptive Alchemy Platform", "Mental Power Amplifier", "Environmental Simulation Chamber"...

"This 'micro-manipulation arm' can perform precision operations at the atomic level."

The shop's owner was a half-elf whose hands were completely mechanized, with all ten fingers replaced by sophisticated tools.

"When used with an energy focusing lens, it allows for the finest processing without damaging the material itself."

Ron spent over eighty magic stones to purchase several pieces of equipment that would be most helpful in improving the workshop's precision.

Although he felt a little heartbroken, he thought it was worth it when he thought about the long-term returns these investments could bring.

During the procurement process, a detail caught his attention.

Unlike the strict supervision when those fifty magic stones were used before.

No staff member asked him about the purpose of the purchase or the source of the funds.

Even when he purchased potion materials that were clearly unrelated to the "Abyss Exploration Simulation Device," no one questioned him.

"It seems that the improvement in status brings not only resources, but also a degree of freedom."

He mentally summarized the meaning of this change:
"With the subsidy of 500 magic stones, the supervision was basically non-existent. But with the previous 50 magic stones, every expenditure was carefully reviewed."

This difference clearly reflects the hierarchical order of the wizarding world.

When your status is high enough, the entire system will assume that your choices are reasonable and will no longer intervene at the micro level.

"Do you need me to arrange transportation, Instructor Ralph?"

The owner of the last shop took the initiative to ask:
"These materials are quite heavy in total and require special storage conditions."

"No need, I have my own storage space."

Ron patted his storage bag: "But thank you for your suggestion."

As he walked out of Starshine Market, the sun had already begun to set.

Today's purchase will give his personal equipment a comprehensive upgrade.

On the other hand, he also personally experienced the various conveniences brought about by his improved status.

"Power is indeed a good thing."

He reflected inwardly, while simultaneously maintaining a degree of vigilance:
"But we must not forget that all of this is based on strength."

If these conveniences lose their value one day, they will also disappear instantly.

With that thought in mind, Ron quickened his pace, preparing to go back and organize today's gains.

Tomorrow I need to go to Vinard's lab to pay the consulting fees and also to work on fusing those two alchemical items.

………………

The following morning, when the doors of the private elevator slid open, Ron was immediately overwhelmed by the metallic aura and the sense of mental pressure that rushed towards him.

The air here has weight, and every breath brings a stimulating sensation from the high concentration of magic.

Vinard's private laboratory is the perfect embodiment of a mad scientist's dream.

Dozens of sophisticated devices, each over ten meters tall, are neatly arranged, each radiating an awe-inspiring energy fluctuation.

Some of the devices were covered with tentacle-like conduits, indicating that some kind of mysterious alchemical experiment was underway.
Some are surrounded by a transparent force field, and atomic-level precision operations can be seen inside.

The most eye-catching items are the "specimens" hanging from the ceiling, which are samples of exotic materials from different worlds.

"Arrived on time, very good."

Vinard's ethereal projection appeared in the center of the laboratory, and he was completely different from when he communicated last night.

In order to perform precise alchemical operations, he projected more of his ethereal physical bodies here.

The silver metallic body became more "realistic," with its surface engraved with densely packed rune circuits.

The face has completely abandoned human features, replaced by a sharply defined metal structure.

A triangular blue crystal was embedded in his forehead; that was his core computing unit.

Only those pure silver eyes still retained a trace of the "warmth" they once possessed as human beings.

"The consultation fee is ten magic stones; just put them into that payment device."

Vinard pointed to a strangely shaped container in the corner.

It looked like the stomach of some kind of abyssal creature, its surface covered with writhing tentacles and blinking eyes:
"Don't be afraid, it only eats magic stones and has no interest in living people."

Ron carefully placed the magic stone into it.

The container immediately emitted a satisfied gurgling sound, and the vein patterns on its surface flickered a few times like a heartbeat.

Several eyes blinked, seemingly expressing their gratitude.

“A truly novel design,” he couldn’t help but remark. “Haha, that’s the little guy I brought back from the tenth level of the Abyss, the ‘Greed Dimension.’ After some modifications, he became the perfect toll collector.”

Vinard said smugly:

"It has an innate craving for magic stones and is absolutely honest, never embezzling, making it far more reliable than human accountants."

When Ron took out the "Eye of True Knowledge" and the "Eye of Time," Vinard's silver eyes immediately showed great interest.

He extended his mechanical tentacles, hovering above the two items to conduct a preliminary scan:
"The Black family heirlooms...and Cassandra's private collection...a fantastic combination."

His voice became more professional:

"These two alchemical items do indeed have a natural resonance point in their energy frequencies. If they are successfully fused, the effect will far exceed that of a simple superposition."

However, the process will be very complex, requiring a restructuring of the core architecture of both.

Vinard walked toward the workbench in the center of the laboratory.

When he activated the device, the entire platform began to emit a soft blue light.

Countless tiny energy lines intertwine in the air, forming a three-dimensional analytical network.

"The first step is material compatibility testing..."

Vinard's dozens of mechanical tentacles began to operate rapidly on the control panel, their movements as precise as those of a well-trained pianist:
“Every alchemical item has its own inherent energy resonance frequency, just like the unique genetic sequence of a living organism.”

We need to find the point of harmonious resonance between the two, and then establish a stable fusion node there.

Under his manipulation, the two items were suspended in the center of the workbench, surrounded by a complex energy field.

Stereoscopic projection reveals their internal structure:
The Eye of Truth presents an exquisite crystal lattice structure, with more than a dozen energy circuits interwoven like blood vessels inside;

The Eye of Time is even more mysterious in its structure, with a constantly pulsating time node at its core, surrounded by a distorted spatial membrane.

"Do you see these energy convergence points?"

Vinard pointed to several key locations in the projection using his mechanical fingers:

"These are our breakthrough points."

By redesigning the runic structures at these intersection points, two different energy systems can be seamlessly integrated.

"but……"

He turned to Ron, his silver eyes gleaming with anticipation:
"This advanced integration requires deep user involvement."

You must infuse your own spiritual imprint into the process, while also assisting me in designing new rune circuits.

When Ron extended his mental energy toward the workbench, something wonderful happened.

The "Blessing of the Creator" property began to take effect, allowing him to intuitively "see" the deepest energy workings within the two items.

Those originally abstract runic logics became as clear and understandable to him as simple mechanical structures.

Moreover, his "extraordinary creativity" characteristic allowed his thinking to operate at an unprecedented speed.

Countless integration solutions quickly formed, were compared, and optimized in my mind.

"Wait... this angle is interesting."

When Ron offered his first suggestion for modification, Vinard's silver eyes immediately lit up with surprise:
"You mean adding a tuning loop between the third energy node and the seventh node?"
This design approach... In my over a thousand years of studying alchemy, I've rarely seen such a precise solution!

He stopped what he was doing and focused intently on analyzing Ron's suggestion:
"If we follow your approach, we can not only avoid energy conflicts but also generate unexpected synergistic effects... My God, this is simply a brilliant idea!"

In his subsequent plays, Ron displayed a talent that increasingly amazed Vinard.

The "microstructure modification" feature allows him to perform extremely precise rune inscription.

With a flick of the finger in the air, precise runes at the nanometer level can be left on the surface of a material.

This level of precision even surpasses that of most professional equipment.

"incredible……"

Vinard's voice was full of excitement:

"Judging solely from the precision of your rune control, you are already close to the expert level!"

Moreover, this innovative approach... this intuitive understanding of the nature of materials..."

He put down his work, his silver eyes fixed intently on Ron:

"Child, I must ask you a question: are you interested in becoming my disciple?"

This sudden suggestion plunged the laboratory into a brief silence.

Becoming the disciple of the great wizard Vinard is an opportunity that countless alchemists dream of.

Throughout the entire Huan Yuan Continent Group, there are very few people who can gain the other party's approval.

But Ron had other things on his mind.

The master-apprentice relationship is extremely important in the wizarding world.

It not only signifies the transmission of knowledge, but also represents a strong binding of interests and the shackles of the transfer of favors.

His current situation is already complicated enough, and it is not advisable to add any new variables.

“Professor Vinard, I am deeply honored, truly.”

Ron carefully chose his words, his tone filled with genuine respect:
"But I already have a mentor—Mrs. Ellen Meredith."

Although she has now retired, the mentor-student relationship still exists.

I cannot hastily establish a new master-disciple relationship without her consent.

Upon hearing Mrs. Allen's name, Vinard's expression immediately became complicated.

His silver eyes dimmed slightly, and his voice carried a deep regret:
"Alan Meredith... that potion genius who was once the hope of the entire Central Lands."

If she could have become a Primal Wizard back then... if she could have successfully broken through to the Dark Sun level..."

Vinard shook his head, his mechanical tentacles tapping unconsciously on the control panel.

"She was the most promising candidate to become a Grand Wizard before Cassandra, but alas... what a pity..."

He remained silent for a long time, and finally sighed:

"In that case, I won't force you."

The master-disciple relationship is indeed sacred and inviolable; it is one of the most fundamental principles for us wizards.

When refocusing on integration work, Vinard remained enthusiastic, but his words lacked some of the warmth he had shown earlier.

The fusion process lasted a full four hours.

With their combined efforts, the new alchemical item gradually took shape.

Throughout the process, Ron's various talents and characteristics were fully utilized, leaving Vinard amazed several times.

"The blessing of the Creator" enabled him to intuitively understand the most complex alchemical principles;
“Extraordinary Ideas” have provided countless innovative approaches to the integration process;

"Microstructural modification" ensures the ultimate precision in rune inscription...

The final product satisfied both of them.

The newly created alchemical items have an elegant and mysterious appearance.

The main body is made of a deep blue time crystal, and silver light can be seen flowing slowly inside like liquid.

Inlaid on the surface of the crystal is the core crystal of the original "Eye of True Knowledge," like a mysterious eye that never closes.

"A perfect masterpiece."

Vinard admired the results with satisfaction, and the mechanical tentacles retracted into the void:
"This item now belongs entirely to you, and all possible external control measures have been completely eliminated during the fusion process."

Moreover, through our joint improvements, its functionality is more than 30% stronger than originally envisioned.

Ron carefully put the newly born "Time-Knowing Eye" on his chest and immediately felt an unprecedented boost in his senses.

The flow of time became clear and perceptible; he could even detect the microsecond-level delays in Vinard's movements.
The hidden information in the surroundings is also revealed in detail, and the energy flow of each rune is clearly visible.

[Obtained a special alchemical item: Eye of Time (Expert Level)]

[Effect 1: Time Perception - Ability to perceive changes over time, improving the accuracy of divination in predicting future developments]

[Special Effect 2: Realistic Visuals - Seeing through illusions, concealment, disguises, and other deceptive techniques]

【Special Effect 3: Mental Barrier - Resist mental attacks and mind control】

【Special Effect 4: Dimensional Perception - Detecting interdimensional teleportation and spatial anomalies】

The prompt on the transparent panel filled Ron with joy.

This fused item not only retains all the functions of the original two items, but also produces additional synergies.

Moreover, tests have shown that its various insight effects can be further enhanced based on its multiple observational characteristics such as "Hermit's Insight" and "Essential Insight".

In addition to the mental protection, the added benefit of divination for the future is an unexpected bonus.

As Ron prepared to leave, Vinard's tone became serious:
"By the way, there's one more thing..."

He paused, a thoughtful glint in his eyes:

"Even if we cannot establish a full master-disciple relationship, you can still consider becoming my ordinary student."

My territory contains a lot of equipment that requires regular maintenance, and I'm currently lacking reliable assistants.

This suggestion piqued Ron's interest.

Gaining practical experience under Vinard's guidance would be a tremendous opportunity to improve his alchemy skills.

He wants to become a master alchemist, and what could be better than being personally guided by an active master alchemist?
“I’m very interested, Professor,” he replied without hesitation. “When can we begin?”

"No rush," Vinard waved his hand.
"Once you complete your breakthrough to the Moon-level and have a stronger foundation, we can discuss the specific arrangements."

His ethereal projection began to blur, clearly indicating that maintaining his descent state was extremely taxing.
"Focus on preparing for your breakthrough. At your current pace, it shouldn't be long."

(End of this chapter)