Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 397 Power Bank

The library of the Abyss Observatory, a small reading room protected by special runes.

This space, personally designed by Yutel, boasts the most stringent privacy protection within the observatory.

The walls are inlaid with "silence stones" that can completely block any form of spying and eavesdropping.

The room was small, only able to accommodate a round table and four chairs.

But it is precisely this small space that creates a close and focused learning atmosphere.

Ron sat facing the door so he could immediately detect any potential disturbances.

To his left, Euphemia was intently reading a thick theoretical book.

She seemed much more relaxed today than when we first met.

The carefully maintained facade of perfection has vanished, replaced by the focused expression characteristic of a seeker of knowledge.

Chloe on the right still had her eyes covered by black silk and listened silently.

"The core of spell reversal lies in redefining the chain of cause and effect."

Ron's voice sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet room:
“Traditional sorcery follows linear logic: the caster uses runes and magic to produce a specific effect on the target. Sorcery reversal, on the other hand, flips this process in space.”

He used his mental power to sketch a complex three-dimensional structure on the desktop.

The graphic looks like a twisted ribbon.

The surface and the inner surface form a strange connection at a certain node, forming an infinite ring without a distinction between inside and outside.

“Look here…” Ron’s finger pointed to a key node in the diagram:
"When the energy of the spell flows through this reversal point, the identities of the caster and the victim will be switched."

Those who should have borne the effects became the source of them; while the original perpetrators became the sufferers.

Euphemia frowned, her face filled with confusion:

"But what are the triggering conditions for this substitution? If sorcery reversal is so powerful, why isn't every wizard learning it?"

As expected of Number 18, who stood out from so many test subjects, she is indeed very smart.

Ron nodded approvingly: “Very good question. Spell reversal is indeed powerful, but its limitations are equally severe.”

He adjusted the energy structure diagram on the table, adding more details:
"First, the reversal process requires an extremely deep understanding of the original spells."

You must be able to perceive every rune node, every flow of energy, and even fully grasp the characteristics of the caster's mental energy.

"Secondly, the timing of the reversal must be extremely precise."

Too early, the spell isn't fully formed; too late, the effects are already irreversible.

This time window is often only a few seconds, or even shorter.

He paused for a moment, his expression becoming even more serious:

"Finally, and most importantly."

Each time the spell is reversed, it causes permanent damage to the user's soul.

This damage is cumulative, and when it reaches a certain critical point…

"What will happen?" Chloe, who was standing nearby, asked softly when she heard the direction that interested her.

Although her eyes were covered, her "gaze" appeared unusually focused.

“The soul shatters, consciousness dissipates.” Ron stated this terrible consequence without any attempt to conceal it:

"Most of the wizards who attempted to study this art in history did not have a good end."

They either died from a breakdown of their souls or were killed by the backlash when a reversal failed.

This candid explanation of the risks caused both women to fall into deep thought.

Chloe, in particular, was reminded of the astrologers who had been killed by the backlash of excessively peering into the river of fate.

“But…” Ron changed the subject:
"In your special case, Euphemia, these risks are manageable."

Because what you need to reverse is not external magic, but the control imprint deeply rooted in your blood.

He readjusted the energy structure diagram, presenting a more complex model:

"The control methods Aiden left in your body are essentially a kind of continuous bloodline curse."

It deeply integrates with your life force and magical cycles, forming a relatively stable energy circuit.

"In this case, spell reversal is more like... changing the direction of a river, rather than reversing the fall of a waterfall. The difficulty is greatly reduced, and the risk is correspondingly reduced."

A spark of hope rekindled in Euphemia's eyes: "So I have a chance to succeed?"

“Not only is there a chance, but the success rate is also quite high.” Ron gave a clear answer:
"As long as you can fully grasp the theoretical foundation and maintain sufficient patience and caution in practice."

For the next two hours, he explained in detail the basic theory of spell reversal.

From the rearrangement of runes to the precise control of energy flow, from the layered application of mental power to the key techniques of anchoring consciousness.

As a seasoned instructor who has taught numerous courses, Ron already has his own experience in teaching.

He meticulously analyzed each point of knowledge listed by Euphemia.

Euphemia, on the other hand, demonstrated an amazing talent for learning.

As a perfect creation made by human hands, her memory and comprehension far surpass those of ordinary geniuses.

She can often fully grasp many complex theoretical concepts after only one explanation.

"This learning speed..." Ron marveled inwardly.

“Aidan really put a lot of effort into creating her. In terms of learning speed alone, she is even faster than Eve.”

But at the same time, he also noticed a subtle sense of incongruity about Euphemia.

Her every reaction was too rigid, and her understanding of knowledge was merely superficial, lacking any personal interpretation.

It's like it's running according to a preset program, lacking true individuality.

"Perhaps this is the limitation of artificial genius," he thought to himself.
"No matter how sophisticated the technology, what is created is ultimately just a kind of creation, and it is difficult to have enough self-creativity."

During the explanation, he also clearly felt the kindness and support from the other party.

Although the quantity was not as abundant as when he taught Eve, the quality was exceptionally pure.

This blessing carries a special quality of "liberation," as if every strand contains a yearning for freedom.

The blessings accumulated deep within his consciousness, flashing continuously, each increase accompanied by a subtle sense of satisfaction.

"Chloe's learning progress is also very good."

When the explanation turned to Chloe, the blind girl showed the same focus and talent.

It's unclear whether the other party said something to Yutel, but the old professor handed over the teaching work that he was supposed to be doing himself to him.

What Ron needed to impart to the other party was knowledge about historians.

"The core competency of historians lies in reconstructing the true scenes of the past through memory imprints."

He explained while demonstrating the relevant technical principles:
"But this kind of restoration is not a simple replay of information, but a highly immersive experience."

Historians' consciousness is partially integrated into historical contexts, resonating with the environment, people, and events of the time.

“This sounds dangerous.” Chloe keenly sensed the risks involved.

"If we become overly immersed in historical scenarios, will we lose ourselves in the past?"

The girl had an extremely keen understanding of the concept of time, and immediately grasped the key information from the description.

“That risk certainly exists,” Ron nodded in confirmation.
"In history, there have indeed been scholars who, due to excessive immersion, were unable to return to reality and ultimately died trapped in the labyrinth of their memories."

"So... how can we avoid this risk?" Chloe's voice was visibly tense.

“A powerful mental anchoring ability.” Ron’s answer was concise and direct:
"The greatest historians in history often possessed some kind of special time-related talent or equipment."

For example, the legendary "Clock Queen" Erica, with her profound understanding of time, successfully explored countless dangerous historical events.

When Erica was mentioned, Ron recalled the legendary wizard's knowing glance back at him.

“And the hound of time…” Chloe mentioned this dangerous term that historians cannot avoid:
“In divination, I have seen blurry images of these creatures. Do they really hunt historians on their own?”

“They’ll only hunt down researchers who touch on sensitive history.” Ron’s tone became cautious:

"If you just study some ordinary historical events, they won't pay attention to you."

But once it comes to certain... forbidden areas, they will find you by following the fluctuations of the timeline.

At this point, his eyes deepened:
"However, if one can master a sufficiently powerful time-based ability, it is not impossible to counter these creatures."

Erica, the Clock King, once successfully hunted down a Time Hound of King-level power.

This information ignited a flame of hope in Chloe's eyes.

Although that goal seemed unattainable, it at least gave her a direction to strive for.

The subsequent learning process went into greater depth.

Ron not only imparted theoretical knowledge but also shared a great deal of practical experience.

From techniques for analyzing memory crystals to methods for securely infiltrating historical scenes, from identifying time imprints to measures for protecting mental energy.

Chloe's talent during her studies was equally impressive.

Her perception of the flow of time was extremely keen, often allowing her to detect subtle changes that ordinary people could not. "This talent..." Ron assessed in his mind.

"If she can successfully transition into a historian, coupled with her already strong talent as an astrologer, she might become a new generation of mystic in the future."

The feedback from Chloe was equally pure and abundant.

However, unlike Euphemia's "liberation" quality, Chloe's grace carries a "search" quality, full of a desire for the unknown and a pursuit of the truth.

"An interesting phenomenon..." Ron analyzed to himself:

"Students with different personalities seem to produce different gracious traits. This differentiated feedback may play a special role in future research."

As the teaching progressed, he could clearly feel the continuous growth of the reserves of grace within his body.

That sense of fulfillment is like the melting of snow in spring, warm and lasting.

When the first phase of the course ended, all three of them looked somewhat tired.

Even for wizards, prolonged periods of intense study can be a significant burden.

"You have already grasped the main theoretical foundations," he concluded.
"Next comes the practical stage. But remember, whether it's spell reversal or historical research, you can't rush things. The more solid your foundation, the greater your future achievements will be."

After they left, Ron sat alone in the reading room and began to ponder the issue of accumulating favors.

"The current sources of benefits are already quite abundant."

He was calculating in his mind:

"Eve's regular feedback, the growth of several students in the elite group, Lilia far away in the Emerald Tower, the academic influence she gained through publishing papers, and now Chloe and Euphemia's studies..."

"All these odds and ends add up to a considerable amount."

He could feel the ever-increasing feeling of fullness within his body.

"According to Eve, Grace will play an important role in Moon-level magic compression."

He recalled the black-haired princess's earlier warning:
“And in the process of condensing the ethereal body at a higher level, grace is an indispensable ‘soul adhesive’.”

This filled him with anticipation for his future promotion.

With such a wealth of favors in reserve, his promotion process will undoubtedly be smoother than that of ordinary people, and he may even become more powerful after his promotion.

"Moreover, I have the advantage of a pocket watch."

He gently stroked the surface of the silver pocket watch, feeling the power of time contained within it:
"There is absolutely no need to consume grace to cleanse the pollution; all grace can be used to enhance strength."

This advantage is rare even among the most exceptional geniuses in history.

He also had a clear plan regarding how to recharge the pocket watch.

"The hunting of the Time Hound is actually the most effective way to recharge."

Recalling the pocket watch's performance during the battle with the Time Hound, its charging efficiency far surpassed that of any artificial material:
"The Sands of Time are effective, but their cost-effectiveness is too low."

As one of the most precious materials on the market, the Sands of Time have always commanded high prices.

Not only because of its rarity, but also because of its irreplaceable role in various high-end alchemical devices.

Many time-based spells require the Sands of Time as a medium, which makes the market demand for them consistently exceed supply.

When he first obtained the second-place qualification in the New Star Project, he actually used his authority to spend dozens of magic stones to buy some Sands of Time.

However, those Sands of Time that were bought at great expense only increased the upper limit by five points, which was really not worth it.

"Once I advance to the Moon Rank and successfully become a historian, when I conduct in-depth historical research again, the Time Hounds will definitely come knocking on my door."

He was formulating a hunting plan in his mind:

"At that time, we can obtain valuable research data and recharge the pocket watch at the same time, killing two birds with one stone."

By then, the hunting by the hounds would no longer be the perilous danger that nearly brought him to the brink of death.

Instead, they were—living "power banks" arriving one by one.

When Erica forged this pocket watch, she used the Dog King's core power.

This may explain why the pocket watch's core ability, "Time Reset," is the same as the Time Hound's core ability.

So he hunted time-hunting dogs to power his pocket watch.

It feels like plugging the phone into the original charging connector, unconsciously conforming to this cycle.

Just as he was deep in thought, the door to the reading room was gently pushed open.

Yutel's ethereal projection slowly drifted in, casting a bright reflection of silver light on the obsidian tabletop.

"It seems today's lesson was very successful." The old professor's voice was filled with satisfaction.

“I can feel the changes in those two children.”

“They are all very talented,” Ron commented truthfully.

"Euphemism's learning speed is astonishing, while Chloe's understanding of the concept of time is extremely keen."

Giving them enough time has certainly lived up to the potential assessments they received in the 'Rising Star Project'.

“By the way, that person asked me to tell you.” Yutel’s tone became even more mysterious:
"The theoretical materials I gave you will automatically unlock the rest once you've studied them to a certain extent."

"This approach..." Ron raised an eyebrow: "Is it to prevent information leaks?"

“That’s right.” Yutel nodded in confirmation.

"After all, this involves the actions of two great men, so any risks must be kept to a minimum."

Only when you possess sufficient strength and understanding can you access the core.

Just as Yutel was about to leave, Ron suddenly spoke up:
"Professor, I have a question." His tone carried a hint of confusion:

"With your qualifications and abilities, wouldn't personally guiding Chloe yield ample favor in return? And I haven't even formally become a historian yet..."

Yutel's phantom stopped, and the silver light dimmed slightly.

After a long silence, he let out a barely perceptible sigh.

“You’re very perceptive, Ron.” The old professor’s voice carried a deep weariness.

"Indeed, based on my experience, guiding her would be more effective. But the reality is..."

He slowly turned around in mid-air, his afterimage appearing unusually heavy:
"Given my current situation, any further favors in return won't be of any real help."

This answer made Ron instantly understand something.

"what do you mean……"

“My decline has reached a critical point.” Yutel’s voice turned bitter:
"Like an oil lamp that is about to go out, adding a little more oil will only prolong its burning time by a few more minutes."

His afterimage began to drift slowly through the room, leaving faint trails wherever the silver light passed:

"Although Chloe is exceptionally talented, the favors she can offer can only extend my life by a few months at most, or one or two years, in my current situation."

This meager return is far less valuable than giving her to someone who needs her more.

“But you are different.” Yutel gazed meaningfully at Ron:

“You are about to enter the Moon Rank. The magic compression at that stage requires a lot of favor support. Chloe’s feedback is much more valuable to you than to me.”

He paused, a complex look appearing in his silver eyes:
"Moreover, this can be considered my way of repaying you."

The kindness you showed me before has extended my lifespan by decades.

Ron was shocked. The other party was giving away precious resources to others in an almost generous way.

"Professor, thank you so much for being able to..." His voice was filled with rare emotion.

"No need for further words." Yutel waved his hand, and the phantom became even more transparent:

“This is the most reasonable arrangement. You receive Chloe's favor and support, she receives the most suitable guidance, and I…”

His voice grew even more distant:

"All I need to do now is continue to rely on your and Eve's feedback to survive. This balance is best for everyone."

Ron gave the old professor a deep look.

In a wizarding society where profit reigns supreme, encountering such a selfless elder is truly a stroke of luck.

"Moreover, there is another benefit to having you mentor Chloe."

Yutel's tone became even more somber:

"The profession of historian requires not only technical skills, but also a special perspective."

"What perspective?"

"The observer's perspective." The old professor's answer was profound:

"Historians must learn to remain objective and rational under any circumstances, and not let emotions or prejudices influence their judgment."

His ethereal form swayed gently in the air:

"I've lived too long, seen too much, and seen too much come and go, so sometimes it's hard to stay truly objective."

But you are different. Your rationality is innate and pure. It's like that of some naturally superior beings…

(End of this chapter)