Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 417 How much longer?

Nari only took Ron to the edge of the Sea of ​​No Light.

Because he was going to come into contact with Yutel's ethereal power later, Nari, as an apostle, could not show himself.

She could only hide beneath the distant surface of the sea, casting her reluctant gaze upwards.

The specially designed small docking platform of the observatory is currently suspended between the deep blue sea and the twisted jungle.

Ron walked to the edge of the platform and stared down at the perpetually writhing darkness.

Even from an extremely long distance, he could still feel that call.

As time passed, the platform began to glow with a silvery light.

That was the manifestation of the power of the ethereal body.

The light slowly descended, like a luminous ribbon dancing in the darkness.

As it drew closer, Ron could sense the immense power contained within the Yutel Void Remains.

But this feeling made him frown involuntarily.

too strong.

It's ridiculously strong.

When I last saw him, Yutel's ethereal state was clearly weakening.

The signs of life gradually slipping away cannot be faked.

But now, the power of the ethereal body rising from the abyss is unusually stable, even stronger than when he first met him.

“This feeling…” Ron activated “Supernatural Recognition” and carefully sensed the subtle changes in the silver light.

In his unique perspective, Yutel's ethereal form did indeed exhibit an astonishing degree of solidity.

However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this strength is not a natural state.

Deep within those silver lights, an unstable fluctuation was hidden.

It's like energy that's been forcibly compressed, ready to be released violently at any moment.

He recalled a term he knew well from his past life—a final burst of energy before death.

Many terminally ill patients will briefly exhibit an abnormal mental state in the final stages of their lives, appearing more energetic than usual.

This state often signifies the final burning, the last burst before death.

As the word surfaced in Ron's mind, a strange heaviness settled over him.

Silver light gathered in front of the platform, gradually forming a familiar phantom image to Yutel.

The old professor looked younger than ever before, with gleaming silver hair and eyes full of wisdom.

But Ron felt a deep unease from that near-perfect state.

"Ron, welcome back."

Yutel's voice remained gentle, but the power it contained caused a subtle resonance in the surrounding space:

"It looks like you had a great time this time."

“Professor…” Ron began cautiously, his gaze lingering on Yutel’s phantom image:

"You look...much better than expected."

"Haha, keen observation." Yutel chuckled and nodded, his silver eyes revealing approval.

"The decay process of the ethereal remains is not linear; sometimes there are some... fluctuations."

Instead of directly answering Ron's potential questions, he began to guide the connection process.

A silver light, like a ribbon, gently enveloped Ron, and then began to slowly rise in height.

As he ascended, Ron could feel the surrounding reality gradually distorting.

The direction of gravity began to blur, and the passage of time created a subtle sense of disorientation.

"I have indeed put in a lot of effort these past few months to cover up your frequent trips into the abyss."

As Yutel descended, he spoke calmly, his voice exceptionally clear amidst the silvery light:

"The inspectors of the Court of Truth have recently increased their attention to activities in the Abyss."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you," Ron said sincerely.

“No need for formalities.” Yutel waved his hand, the edge of the phantom rippled slightly:

“Your growth is beneficial to the entire observatory, and…”

He paused, a deep meaning flashing in his silver eyes:
"Recent developments have made me even more convinced that investing resources in you is the right choice."

This sentence made Ron's heart move.

Utter rarely expresses his support for him so directly, and this statement itself implies a certain urgency.

As the depth decreases, the surrounding environment begins to change.

Crimson clouds churned in the silver light, forming various strange patterns.

In the distorted space in the distance, indescribable shadows occasionally flash by, which are the abyssal creatures carrying out their daily activities.

"Speaking of which, your progress has indeed far exceeded everyone's expectations."

Yutel's tone was tinged with emotion, but also with a certain sense of relief:

“From the moment he first arrived, he showed his talent. Now, whether it is interpersonal relationships, academic ability, or spiritual cultivation, he has made leaps and bounds in all aspects. Such a growth trajectory is an extremely rare case, even in history.”

“This wouldn’t have been possible without your guidance and the environment provided by the observatory,” Ron replied with his usual humility.

Yutel shook his head: "Your talent and hard work are the main factors; the outside world just provided the right conditions."

The old professor's silhouette began to solidify, indicating that they were approaching the core area of ​​the observatory.

"Moreover, judging from your recent reports on the abyss explorations, you have already developed the ability to handle complex situations on your own."

He gave Ron a meaningful look:
"I even think you're three points better than Cassandra was back then, and you're also more...balanced than her."

Yutel said the last word very softly, but Ron keenly grasped its meaning.

Balanced – that's the highest praise you could give.

One must maintain rationality while pursuing power, and exercise restraint while venturing into taboos.

During the conversation, the silver light finally reached the docking cabin of the observation station.

The heavy bio-metal door sensed Yutel's ethereal power and silently slid open to both sides.

When they stepped onto solid ground, Ron felt a long-lost sense of order.

The flow of magic here is more stable and orderly, a stark contrast to the chaos of the lower abyss.

"Let's go to my office."

Yutel gestured, "There are some important things I need to discuss with you."

………………

Inside the office, the desk made of living skeletons emitted a faint "clicking" sound, as if it were chewing on something unseen.

Ron noticed some new items on the table that he had never seen before.

A divination ball made of black crystal, its surface covered with dense prophetic runes.

Several rolls of ancient parchment exude a heavy aura of time, their edges yellowed and curled, clearly indicating a long history.

The most striking feature is an exquisite silver hourglass.

What worries Ron even more is Yutel's current condition.

Occasionally, some chaotic specks of light would flash in the other party's projection.

The points of light, like fragments of stars, flickered irregularly, giving one an extremely unstable feeling.

“Professor, you look…” Ron began cautiously.

"Looks like you just had a nightmare?"

Yutel interrupted him with a wry smile:

“That’s true. The divination we did earlier… came at a higher price than I expected.”

He reached out and gently stroked the divination ball on the table.

“Chloe should have told you that I am no longer in a suitable state for deep divination.”

Yutel's voice became somewhat hoarse:

"The backlash from divination accumulated over thousands of years is like a venomous snake hidden deep in the soul, ready to strike at any moment."

“Then why…” Ron’s voice was filled with worry.

“Because there are some things I have to confirm.” Yutel’s eyes deepened:
"About Eve's treatment plan, about your future, and... about the fate of all of us."

Blurry images began to appear inside the divination ball, but those images were extremely chaotic, like the broken light and shadow reflected from a shattered mirror.

Ron was able to vaguely make out some fragments:
The pained expression on the black-haired girl's face gradually eased, and light flowed slowly around her;
But in the next instant, the scene shifted to a blood-red sky and collapsing buildings...

"Prophecy is never a definite answer, but a collection of possibilities."

Yutel seemed to sense Ron's confusion:

"What I see are only fragmented symbols that need to be interpreted and pieced together with wisdom."

He pointed to an image on the divination ball, which showed a flower in bloom, but its roots were deeply embedded in the dark soil:

“Eve’s treatment… is promising, but the process will be very difficult. Simply relying on the usual acts of kindness and gratitude is not enough. The essence of the demonic devouring is a backlash at the level of rules, and it requires much stronger assistance to completely eradicate it.”

His gaze shifted to the several scrolls of ancient parchment:

"To increase the success rate of the treatment plan, I am considering using a... extremely special method."

"What methods?" Ron asked, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

“Of course, it’s my specialty: historical projection.” Yutel’s tone deepened:
“I can expend a large amount of primal power and, through my connection with the ‘Eye of Observation,’ summon projections of wizards throughout history who were particularly skilled in healing and compensating for deficiencies.”

“If we can summon three or four such historical projections at the same time, and with the help of your grace, Eve’s healing success rate will exceed 70%.” Upon hearing this, Ron’s premonition became a reality.

Judging from the weakened state the opponent was in after summoning a projection during their last confrontation with Chazelle, the cost of this technology may be very high.

Moreover, the people who rallied to fight last time were all old acquaintances, such as students or friends.

The wizard projections summoned to help this time are certainly not as reliable as Cassandra and Kalix, and the cost will undoubtedly be greater.

Given Yutel's current state, this attempt is very likely to be...

“Professor, what is the price of this summoning…” he asked cautiously.

"The price?" Yutel chuckled softly, but there was a hint of relief in his laughter:
"To be honest, I don't have long to live anyway. The powerful state you just felt was actually the result of me compressing my remaining life force."

He pointed to the silver hourglass:

"At a normal rate of aging, I could live for another twenty or thirty years at most, but after this profound divination and historical projection summoning..."

The star fragments in the hourglass flowed faster:

"This timeframe will be shortened to a few years, or even less."

Yutel's candor shocked Ron.

The old professor was discussing his time of death in an almost relaxed tone.

“However, you don’t need to feel burdened by this.” Yutel seemed to have seen through Ron’s thoughts:

"Even without this summoning, my lifespan of twenty or thirty years is almost gone in the long timescale of my several thousand years."

Rather than letting vitality slowly fade away, it's better to use it to accomplish something truly meaningful.

His silver eyes became even brighter:

“I’ve witnessed Eve’s suffering since she was a child. If my death can bring her relief, then the exchange is entirely worthwhile.”

A brief silence fell over the office. Ron opened his mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by the other party.

"Of course, I'm not a complete altruist either. Eve's recovery actually involves some deeper issues..."

Yutel suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with self-deprecation:

"Moreover, this practical operation of historical projection is also a valuable learning opportunity for you."

The old professor chuckled softly:
"Haha, although I keep saying I don't have much time left, I can actually hold on for a few more years, enough time to hand over my duties at the observatory."

"A change of duties?" Ron keenly caught the key information.

"The new station chief has been appointed." Yutel smiled mysteriously again:

"It's someone you know, but I can't reveal who it is right now."

There was a certain pleasure in his tone; he was clearly looking forward to Ron's reaction when he learned the truth.

"Next, let's talk about something more important."

Yutel's expression turned serious again, and the silver light surrounding the phantom began to recede:
"Regarding the disposal of my remains after my death."

The divination ball on the table automatically turned off, and the parchment was rolled up and put away.

Only the silver hourglass remained, silently counting down the passage of time.

“The original plan was to give half to Eve and half to Cassandra,” Yutel said slowly.

"But now... the plan needs to be changed."

Disappointment flashed in his silver eyes:
“Cassandra’s situation is worse than I expected. Recent intelligence indicates that her conquest of the other world has completely spiraled out of control.”

"out of control?"

“It’s not just about strategic radicalism, but also psychological alienation,” Yutel explained in detail:
"Her choice of conquest objectives became increasingly irrational, with casualty ratios completely disregarded."

Even more frightening, she began to exhibit some kind of...morbid emotional state.

The old professor shook his head:
"The Devourer's curse has penetrated to the bone marrow and is irreversible. Continuing to support her will only fuel an even greater disaster."

"Therefore, I have decided to give most of the illusory remains to Eve."

This decision surprised Ron, but upon reflection, it made perfect sense.

"The remaining funds will be used to maintain the operation of the observatory's critical facilities," Yutel continued.
"Especially for submersible devices and deep-sea monitoring systems, these devices require stable virtual energy support."

His gaze shifted to Ron:

"Of course, this arrangement will also provide you with some conveniences."

From now on, your entry into the Abyss will be more covert and safer. The monitoring system will appropriately... shield your activities, and it will also involve some plans that will only be activated after my death.

This suggestion stirred something within Ron.

Even in the final stages of his life, Yutel still managed to leave some contingency plans.

“There’s one more thing…” Yutel’s tone became more serious:
"Regarding what I promised before, the illusory remains of the 'Lady of Blood' Selna, the Archmage."

Selna's illusory remains represent the key to entering the chaotic world of bloodshed, as well as precious inherited knowledge—truly priceless treasures.

"From what I've seen so far, your performance has undoubtedly met my initial expectations." Yutel nodded approvingly.
"Instead of undergoing the same alienation as Cassandra, he exhibited an extraordinary balance and rationality. This stability... even gained the approval of some higher beings."

The last sentence was very cryptic, but Ron understood that he was referring to the King of Illusions.

"Once you advance to the Moon Rank, I will fulfill my promise." Yutel made his final decision:
"Not only the illusory remains themselves, but I will also teach you techniques in history and astrology, as well as specific methods for opening up the chaotic world."

“After all…” he added meaningfully:

“Even Selna’s teacher has expressed his approval of you, so naturally I have no objections.”

This metaphorical expression confirmed Ron's guess.

Yutel was indeed aware of his contact with the King of Illusions, but chose to acquiesce and support it.

“Of course, the transmission of this knowledge takes time,” Yutel continued.
He looked at the silver hourglass:
"I will use the rest of my time to impart all my knowledge to you, and I only hope that my life can last long enough."

At this point, Yutel's expression turned gloomy.

Ron had rarely seen this gloomy expression on the usually cheerful old man before.

"Finally, there is one more... very worrying situation I need to tell you."

The office lighting seemed to have become even dimmer, and even the bio-light sources began to flicker slightly.

“Regarding the change in attitude at higher levels,” Yutel lowered his voice:
"Some beings beyond the level of Grand Wizards have become utterly disillusioned with the current situation."

"disappointment?"

“Yes, disappointing.” Yutel nodded in confirmation:

"They had hoped that Cassandra could lead civilization to new heights, but now it seems... she was just another failed experiment."

The old professor's ghostly figure began to become more transparent:

"What's even more frightening is that these entities have begun to gradually disappear."

Many of the elder members of the Court of Truth have recently entered a deep slumber, making even basic communication impossible.

“This collective silence…” Yutel’s voice became unusually heavy:
"Historically, it usually has only one meaning."

Ron's heart skipped a beat.

He recalled the concept of "reboot" mentioned during his conversation with the King of Illusions, and the kind of erasure that would wipe out an entire civilization.

“You mean…” His voice became hoarse.

“A harbinger of a restart.” Yutel uttered this terrifying word directly:

"When the great beings become utterly disillusioned with the current timeline, they choose to reset everything to zero and start anew."

A deathly silence fell over the office.

Even the normally active biological devices stopped moving, as if they too were stunned by the news.

“Of course, this is only one possibility,” Yutel tried to ease the tension.
"Rebooting is an extremely complex process that requires the unanimous agreement of multiple great leaders, and... the cost is enormous."

But his words of comfort seemed weak and ineffective.

“If a reboot really happens…” Ron began with difficulty, “what conditions would be needed to survive?”

"At least at the level of a Grand Wizard." Yutel gave the cruel answer:

"Only by reaching that level can one maintain the integrity of self-awareness during the process of reconstructing reality."

Ron felt a deep chill.

The sense of satisfaction I felt just moments before because of my various achievements was instantly replaced by a tremendous sense of crisis.

The level of a Grand Wizard... With his current strength, it would take him at least several decades to reach that level.

"How much longer?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"I can't be sure," Yutel said, shaking his head.
"It could be fifty years, it could be a hundred years, it all depends on when the patience of those great men finally runs out."

"However, you don't need to despair too much. The time scale of great people is measured in decades or even hundreds of years."

The old professor offered some words of comfort at the last moment:
"And although they were disappointed, they did not completely lose hope, otherwise they would have restarted the program long ago."

"They are still observing, still waiting for some kind of... turning point to appear."

Yutel looked at Ron with a meaningful gaze:
"And you are very likely one of the variables they are waiting for."

"Remember everything I've told you today," the old professor concluded.
"Time is more pressing than we thought. Both Eve's treatment and your own growth must be accelerated."

With these words, which were full of warning, Yutel's phantom image completely disappeared, and the office door opened automatically.

Ron left the office, a sense of urgency he had never felt before welling up inside him.

The word "reboot" was like a Damocles' sword hanging over his head, filling him with genuine fear.

That is humanity's instinctive fear of the unknown.

If civilization were to truly restart, what would become of those he cared about?

As for himself, although the King of Illusions said he possessed a heterogeneous and independent soul.

But in such a massive upheaval, can he really preserve himself completely?
(End of this chapter)