Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 433 Weathervane

Ron walked out of the "fast track" and headed towards his classroom.

After several days of deep meditation and breath control, the body's adaptation period after the Moon-level breakthrough is basically over.

That surging feeling, as if the power of stars was flowing through my veins, has gradually stabilized.

The moment he stepped into the main corridor, his keen senses immediately picked up on the subtle changes in the environment.

An indescribable tension filled the air, like the calm before a storm.

The wizards moving through the corridors were walking with more hurried footsteps than usual.

Occasionally, people would talk, but they would keep their voices very low and would occasionally look around warily.

The wizards who passed by no longer looked at him with the same simple admiration and respect as before.

Instead, a more complex examination has emerged.

Some people looked ingratiating, but many more showed obvious aloofness and a wait-and-see attitude.

The whispers that the young apprentices had been making ceased abruptly when they saw him.

They hurriedly bowed and left, as if staying even a second longer would bring them trouble.

"These people are really good at changing their tune with the wind..."

Ron calmly analyzed this change in his mind.

A larger crowd than usual had gathered in front of the bulletin board outside the academic hall.

They were having a heated discussion, and each of them wore obvious anxiety and unease.

As Ron approached, fragmented snippets of conversation could be heard:
"...The Third Fleet of the Expeditionary Force suffered heavy casualties; even the commanders of the Dark Sun-class squadrons were killed in action..."

"...Element Garden has publicly requested a reassessment..."

"...I heard that the High Wizard of the Tower of Resonance, Melvis, publicly questioned the Tower Master's command abilities..."

The crowd stopped talking as soon as they noticed Ron's arrival.

Everyone turned to look at him, their expressions varied.

Some of the young wizards looked on with anticipation, as if they wanted to get some inside information from him;
Some senior researchers showed obvious wariness, as if assessing the risks of contacting him;
Some people simply pretended not to see it and looked down at the documents in their hands.

This divided attitude reminded Ron of the intelligence Elliott had mentioned earlier.

Cassandra's expeditionary force is experiencing an unprecedented crisis.

As a "rising star" publicly acknowledged by her, she was naturally drawn into this political vortex.

A middle-aged researcher from the Tower of Resonance stepped forward.

Ron knew him—Harrison Raine, a researcher with considerable expertise in acoustic magic, who was usually cautious and discreet.

"Instructor Ralph, first of all, congratulations on breaking through to the Moon-level Wizard."

Harrison's tone sounded formal, but his eyes held a hint of probing:
"Congratulations on becoming the chief of the Rising Star Program. This is a well-deserved honor."

But Ron noticed that the other person's eyes were shifty as he spoke, clearly indicating that he had other motives.

"Thank you," he replied politely.

What are your thoughts on some of the recent...rumors?

The researcher cautiously probed, "There are many different accounts circulating about the expeditionary force."

This is clearly a trap question.

No matter how Ron answers, it could be misinterpreted as a statement.

"I focus on academic research and have no say in military operations."

He gave a watertight answer:

"I believe the Tower Master and all the great wizards will make the right decision."

The researcher looked disappointed, clearly having not obtained the information he wanted.

He forced a smile and then made an excuse to leave.

On his way to the lecture hall, he continued to observe the changes in the crowd around him.

Those who still showed him friendliness mostly had a clear conquestist background.

Their enthusiasm wasn't just admiration for his academic achievements; it was also a desire to gain some benefits through his "bridge."

Those who exhibit a detached attitude mostly come from traditional academic circles or neutral factions.

They worried that getting too close to Ron would cause them trouble in the current delicate situation.

"Sure enough, the setbacks suffered by the expeditionary force have begun to affect the environment of the entire Central Land."

He calmly assessed the situation in his mind:
"The blindly optimistic enthusiasm for conquest that we had before is fading, and it is being replaced by a more realistic calculation of interests."

"Moreover, the movements of the Court of Truth are also intriguing."

Ron recalled the information Yutel had mentioned:

"They did not suppress the news of 'the awakening of the Great One,' and even fueled it to some extent, which was clearly putting pressure on Cassandra."

The complexity of this high-level power struggle has plunged the entire Central Region into a delicate state of observation.

No one wants to hastily choose sides before the situation becomes clear.

However, no one dares to completely ignore Cassandra's still formidable personal strength, as well as the Crown Clan's millennia-long reign.

"The public protests at the Elemental Garden and the Tower of Resonance are just the tip of the iceberg."

He continued to analyze in his mind:

"What's truly fatal is the change in attitude of those neutral forces."

As more and more people begin to question the viability of a policy of conquest, Cassandra's foundation of authority will begin to crumble.

………………

The lecture hall for the advanced potion-making course is located in the core area of ​​the teaching building.

The concentration of magic here is higher than in other places, and the crystals embedded in the walls automatically adjust the color and intensity of their light according to the content being taught.

When Ron pushed open the lecture hall door, he immediately sensed an atmosphere that was completely different from usual.

The auditorium is always packed, with students arriving early to secure the best seats, their eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Now, although the seats are still full, the atmosphere is somewhat subtle.

What surprised him most was the arrival of many "uninvited guests" today.

Clearly, their purpose was not to learn about potions, but to observe this "rising star" who had a close relationship with Cassandra up close.

Among these bystanders, Ron even recognized a few familiar faces.

Sitting in the corner is Associate Professor Carmen from the Garden of Elements, a scholar with considerable achievements in elemental fusion.

The other party also attended my class last time.

This person was usually quite friendly to Ron, but today his eyes held a clear scrutinizing look.

On the other side was Associate Professor Miner, an "old acquaintance" who had attended Ron's thesis review twice.

Now, this senior associate professor is observing every detail on the podium with an almost anatomical gaze.

According to Chester, the other party was more senior than him in the conservatives, but it was unclear whether he had come to "sit in" with some kind of "mission".

In any case, one should try to make one's statements appear as "clever" and "ambiguous" as possible.

In contrast, the actual students seem more innocent.

The young faces sitting in the front row were still full of curiosity, and their eyes were not yet clouded by the political gloom.

"Today we will be discussing the topic of 'Potion Stability Research under Extreme Environments'."

Ron began his explanation, his voice maintaining its signature calm and professional tone:
"In my recently completed project to improve the abyss simulation device, I discovered an interesting phenomenon..."

He sketched out the complex molecular structure of the magic potion in the air while explaining the experimental process in detail.

"Traditional potion theory holds that the stability of a potion depends primarily on the balance between its various components."

The model, constructed of magic, slowly rotated in the air, with the position of every particle perfectly precise:
"But under the special magical radiation of the abyss environment, this balance will undergo subtle changes."

Liz, sitting in the front row, immediately raised her hand to ask a question:
"Mentor, are you saying that magical radiation directly affects microstructure?"

“Excellent question.” Ron nodded approvingly.

"In reality, the chaotic energy of the abyss does not directly act on matter, but rather affects the energy field that maintains its microscopic forces, much like..."

He paused for a moment, searching for a suitable analogy:

"Like an oil droplet on a calm lake, suddenly encountering the impact of an undercurrent."

While the surface appearance may not show much change, the internal microstructure has undergone a fundamental adjustment.

This vivid analogy made the students' faces light up with sudden realization.

Even some of the lecturers who were observing the class couldn't help but nod in agreement.

As he explained, he was also engaged in deeper reflection in his mind.

Cassandra's expeditionary force encountered resistance from an Ancient God-level being, suffering heavy losses and exposing fundamental flaws in its conquest strategy. "The 'Star Lord' of the Vital Republic..."

Ron recalled the information he had gathered from various sources:
"The existence of an ancient god that can defeat multiple archmages has completely changed the strategic balance."

What worries him even more is that this setback may exacerbate Cassandra's alienation process.

The combined effect of "The Star Eater's Whispers" and the Power Card has already caused her to show a clear tendency to revert to her old ways.

If the expeditionary force continues to suffer setbacks, she may well make even more outrageous decisions.

"But for me, this may also be an opportunity."

As Ron explained the theory, he was also planning his strategy in his mind.

He remembered the "Otherworldly Box" that Yutel had mentioned.

That legendary, mysterious creation that can grant any wish is indeed captivating.

However, the allure and cost of the power card also kept him on his guard.

Of course, while his mind was working, his lecture never stopped.

This may also be a manifestation of a dual soul.

“Well then, Instructor Ralph.”

A student from the alchemy department raised his hand and asked:
"How should we deal with this instability in practical applications?"

"This involves the core content of my research."

Ron began to showcase his innovative achievements:

"By adding specific 'stabilizing anchors' to potions, these are special factors I extracted from the adaptive mechanisms of abyssal creatures..."

Just then, Associate Professor Miner, sitting in the back row, suddenly spoke up:

"Instructor Ralph, the stable anchoring technique you just mentioned, is it equally applicable in... other environments?"

This question may seem normal on the surface, but the implications are quite obvious.

The entire lecture hall fell silent instantly, and everyone's attention was focused on Ron.

Although the students did not fully understand the deeper meaning of the question, they could still feel the tension in the atmosphere.

"It is theoretically applicable."

Ron maintained a calm tone, but inwardly he was on high alert:
"However, specific applications need to be adjusted according to the special characteristics of different environments. A basic principle of potion science is 'adapting to local conditions'."

“Since that’s the case…” Miner pressed on, his eyes revealing even greater anticipation:

"What if we encounter a completely hostile magical environment?"
For example, the magical laws of certain other worlds are fundamentally in conflict with our system…

The atmosphere in the lecture hall became more subtle.

Sometimes, the line between academic pursuits and politics is very thin.

Especially since he is now in such a sensitive position.

Ron realized that if he answered carelessly, it could be interpreted as his views on the plight of the expeditionary force, which could then lead to further speculation.

"Every technology has its limitations."

He chose a relatively safe way to answer:

"When faced with extreme situations that exceed the theoretical scope, the wisest choice is often to reassess the strategy and find a more suitable solution."

This answer caused a slight commotion in the back row.

Some wizards saw this as a veiled criticism of the expeditionary force's strategy, while others considered it merely an academic opinion.

“Of course,” Ron added, skillfully steer the conversation back to the technical aspects:
"In the theory of ancient alchemy, any seemingly impossible challenge can be solved through innovation."

The key is whether we have enough patience to explore new possibilities.

He pulled up a more complex microscopic model of the potion:

"Like this improved treatment, its creation stemmed from a breakthrough in traditional theories..."

For the next half hour, Ron skillfully steered the discussion back to purely technical topics.

He explained in detail several innovative potion recipes and how they perform in extreme environments.

This content is extremely valuable to students.

Even lecturers and professors who came with political motives had to admit that the young lecturer's academic level was indeed remarkable.

"...Therefore, we can see that through reasonable structural adjustments."

Even in the harshest environments, the potion's effectiveness is guaranteed.

Ron summarized while observing the reactions of the audience:
"This is the attitude we should have as scholars—always believe in the power of knowledge and always believe in the possibility of innovation."

This statement won enthusiastic applause from the students, and even some bystanders expressed their approval.

Miner, in particular, nodded in satisfaction again and began recording some information on his recording crystal.

………………

After the class, most of the students excitedly gathered around, full of curiosity about the new knowledge they had just learned.

"Professor, can that stable anchor point technique be used in our daily experiments?"

"Are there any research papers on the adaptation mechanisms of abyssal organisms that you mentioned?"

"I'd like to learn more about the specific steps involved in microscopic reconstruction..."

Ron felt a sense of relief when faced with the students' genuine thirst for knowledge.

At least in front of these young faces, he doesn't need to consider complex political factors; he can simply impart knowledge.

But the lecturers who were observing the class did not leave. They gathered in twos and threes in the corners of the lecture hall, casting meaningful glances from time to time.

Associate Professor Carmen nodded to Miner, who was standing to the side, and walked over as well, but his attitude was more cautious than Miner's:

“Instructor Ralph, your explanation was indeed excellent. However…”

He considered his words carefully, seemingly organizing his thoughts:
"I'd like to know your thoughts on some of the changes happening in academia right now?"

"What kind of change?" Ron asked knowingly.

“You know that,” Carmen said in a low voice.

"Many research resources have now been reallocated, and priorities have been adjusted..."

This is a more direct probe.

"It is normal for academic research to need to adapt to changes in the environment."

Ron gave an ambiguous answer:

"No matter how the external environment changes, our pursuit of knowledge should not change."

Carmen was clearly not satisfied with the answer, but she didn't press for more details.

He nodded and left.

After answering the students' questions, some lecturers and associate professors no longer came to "surround" them as they had done before.

"An interesting change."

Ron tidied up the materials on the podium, and a sense of relief unexpectedly washed over him.
"Rather than being surrounded by a group of people with ulterior motives, it's better to enjoy this relatively quiet environment."

He never liked the feeling of being overly noticed.

Previously, I had to deal with countless "asking for help" questions after each get out of class, most of which were just disguised attempts to get closer to them.

This cold treatment is actually allowing him to focus more on what truly matters.

Just as Ron was about to leave the classroom, a familiar figure stood up from his seat.

That's Eve, but she looks a little different than usual today.

His long black hair was carefully braided and secured with several jeweled hairpins.

Her delicate face was lightly made up, which not only concealed her paleness but also added to her elegant demeanor as a young lady from a prestigious family.

The amethyst-like pupils no longer held the gloom of pain that had lingered before.

"Eve, how have you been feeling lately? Have you been experiencing any discomfort?"

Ron asked with concern, while secretly checking her condition with "Supernatural Insight".

In his perception, the girl's vitality remained strong and stable, and her magic flowed smoothly.

"I've never felt this good."

Eve's voice was filled with undisguised joy:
"Being able to freely sense magic, being able to learn like everyone else... this feeling is just wonderful."

“Master, my mother sent me to fetch you. She said… as promised before, you can now go to the ancestral land to choose two treasures.”

This news made Ron's eyes light up.

The royal family's treasury is a collection of treasures accumulated over thousands of years, and any one of the items in it is priceless.

(End of this chapter)