Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 452 "The Plague of Flames" Salamander

The Elemental Morning Song is not merely a celestial spectacle, but rather the deepest dialogue between this ancient land and its cultivators.

When the four elements spontaneously played a harmonious melody under the resonance of the keel network, the entire Sand Sea School seemed to transform into a giant resonator, with every life a leaping note within it.

Ron tentatively activated the magic power within his body and immediately felt a strange change.

Guided by the rhythm of the morning song, the magic began to flow as if it had a spirit, following a specific rhythm.

Whenever the melody rises, the magic density naturally contracts;

As the notes descend, the energy unfolds like a tide.

This rhythmic interplay between expansion and contraction increased the efficiency of magic compression by about half a percent.

Although the improvement is not significant, it is continuous, permeating every detail of cultivation like a gentle rain.

Looking around at the other wizards of the Sand Sea School, Ron finally understood what it meant to be in harmony with nature.

Researchers meditating on the terrace in the morning synchronize their breathing rhythms with the Elemental Morning Song, each breath influencing subtle changes in the surrounding elements.

In the laboratory, the technicians operating the alchemical equipment moved with the elegance and fluidity of conductors.

Even the apprentices responsible for daily maintenance subtly echoed the melody of Morning Song when cleaning the rune array.

Every movement exudes a kind of indescribable harmonious beauty.

"Wizards who cultivate in this environment for a long time generally have a higher purity of magic power by 20% to 30% compared to those in other regions."

Magnus noticed Ron's amazement, and his voice carried a hint of pride:

"Of course, this excludes those privileged individuals in the central region."

The concentration of magic on the floating city is so high that we here are truly ashamed to admit we can't compare.

"But when it comes to the harmony of the cultivation environment, the Shifting Sands are absolutely unique."

The old man's fingers gently stroked a strange succulent plant on the windowsill.

The plant's leaves are arranged in a spiral pattern and covered with fine, silvery hairs.
"In the Central Lands, wizards must contend with surging torrents of magic, forcibly harnessing their power with an iron will."

"And here, we learn to go with the rhythm of nature and become part of the symphony of the earth."

The plant seemed to sense the affinity of Magnus's magic.

The leaves began to emit a faint silver light, echoing the morning song of the elements outside the window.

"Neither of the two cultivation philosophies is superior or inferior, but the latter is more... enduring."

………………

As the morning song of the elements gradually faded and returned to calm like the receding tide, a soft and rhythmic knocking sound came from the door.

The rhythm of three long and two short lines neither interrupts contemplation nor goes unnoticed.

"Please come in."

Sarah, the snake woman, pushed open the door and entered, carrying a beautifully crafted silver tray.

A special breakfast from the land of quicksand is laid out on a tray:
Several amber-like glistening sand berries, each the size of an egg, exude a faint honey fragrance and a mysterious magical aura;
A glass of emerald-green morning dew wine, with fine water droplets condensing on the glass, as if it had just been collected from the morning mist.

There were also a few perfectly baked scale cakes, with a pale golden surface and a unique aroma.

"My lord, this is breakfast prepared for you."

As Sarah set the table, the silver bells at her waist jingled softly.

“Sarah, your observation of the various factions yesterday was very insightful.”

While savoring the sand fruit, Ron tentatively began to speak:
"Perfect, why don't you help me analyze what's special about the elemental changes this morning?"

He recalled the fleeting glint of something unusual in Sarah's eyes last night, and a desire to investigate arose within him.

Sarah paused slightly, a hint of alertness flashing in her emerald eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
"You flatter me, sir. I've just lived here for a long time and am more sensitive to some... superficial phenomena."

Her gaze drifted intentionally or unintentionally out the window, and her words became more cautious:

"However, if you really want to know, there are indeed some unusual things about today."

"For example?" Ron continued to guide the conversation.

"The greenery in the northwest seems somewhat... restrained today."

Sarah chose a relatively safe topic:

"The life force over there is much weaker than usual, just like a flower closing its petals when it senses danger."

She pointed out the window to a patch of dark green light that was slowly wriggling.

The light was indeed much dimmer than what we saw last night:
"Based on experience, this phenomenon usually means... that the owner over there is not in a good mood."

"What about the northeast direction?" Ron deliberately asked, pointing towards the direction of the Burning Scale Clan.

Sarah's expression became complicated when this direction was mentioned.

She tried to remain calm, but Ron still caught the burning resentment in the depths of her eyes:

“Over there… as flamboyant as ever.” Her voice became somewhat stiff:
"Flames are shooting into the sky and heat is scorching; it must be some kind of large-scale event taking place."

At this point, she clearly didn't want to delve deeper into the topic and instead began tidying up the tableware:
"However, these are just my personal observations and may not be accurate. I apologize for making you laugh at me, sir."

Someone as insignificant as me can only watch the spectacle from afar.

However, although Sarah's words were vague, they contained a great deal of information.

Her understanding of the various factions, and the deep emotions hidden in her words, far exceeded what an ordinary maid should have shown.

"What you say makes sense."

Ron nodded in acknowledgment and did not press further.
"Sometimes bystanders have a clearer view and can see things that those involved cannot."

Sarah visibly relaxed after hearing this and nodded to him gratefully.

Clearly, the snake woman was grateful that Ron hadn't pressured her to reveal more information.

………………

In the early morning, Hayek appeared right on time outside Ron's door.

"Ron, Dean Salamander wants to see you."

The old man's expression was slightly more serious than usual.
"But you don't need to be nervous. The dean is straightforward and doesn't have many hidden agendas."

"Is there anything I should be aware of?"

“Just be honest,” Hayek said as he led the way.
"Dean Salamander underwent a rather radical bloodline modification, incorporating the bloodline factors of the Lava Giant, which made his personality more... direct."

He can easily see through other people's thoughts; instead of trying to hide them, he prefers to be open and honest.

The two walked along the complex corridors and eventually arrived at the depths of the school's buildings.

The temperature here is noticeably higher, and the air is filled with the rich aroma of sulfur and fire.

When the heavy stone door opened, the sight that appeared before Ron was an eye-opener.

This is no office in the traditional sense; it's more like a miniature volcano.

The room was an oval-shaped pit with a huge pool of lava at the bottom, and golden-red foam constantly rising from the surface.

In the center of the lava pool floated an obsidian platform, with no railings around it, only distorted waves of heat rising continuously.

Salamanda was sitting on a stone chair in the center of the platform.

Even when seated, he was over three meters tall, with deep, dark red skin, as if magma was slowly flowing through his veins.

The hair is pure flame, moving on its own in the heat without wind.

"Oh, you're the rising star of the Crystal Spire?"

Salamander looked up, her eyes, like molten gold, sweeping over Ron:
"I heard you improved the simulation device for the great wizard Vinard. That's interesting."

His tone was casual, as if he were commenting on a slightly interesting research report:

“Come on, since Hayek brought you here, let’s talk over here.”

Salamanda waved her hand, and a stone bridge solidified on the surface of the lava pool.

Ron carefully stepped onto the stone bridge, the scorching heat beneath his feet forcing him to use magic for protection.

"Your use of magic is fairly solid." Salamander nodded, giving a fairly positive evaluation.

As Ron stepped onto the obsidian platform, he immediately felt an even stronger sense of oppression. The concentration of fire element here was almost liquefied; every breath felt like swallowing flames.

"Lecturer Ralph, I heard you're here for an academic exchange?" Salamanda's opening remarks were direct and simple:
"The environment of the quicksand region is quite unique. I wonder what aspect you'd like to study?"

"I am mainly interested in the keel network and the phenomenon of element convergence."

Ron chose to answer honestly.

"Well, we chose the right place."

Salamanda reached into her pocket and took out a fiery red fragment of dragon bone:
"The secret of the keel network lies not in the bones themselves, but in the 'memory' contained within them."

He tossed the fragments into the air, and the bone pieces ignited in golden-red flames.

"Then again..."

At this point, his tone suddenly deepened, and his gaze fixed intently on Ron:

“Chief Ralph, there’s one thing you need to understand about coming here.”

"The land of quicksand is like this sea of ​​sand. It looks calm and peaceful on the surface, but underneath it is turbulent and full of dangers."

"Our Desert School is a latecomer here. The reason we have been able to gain a foothold amidst the various forces is the word 'balance'."

"Any pebble that tries to disrupt this delicate balance, no matter where it comes from or how shiny it may be, will eventually be swallowed up by the sea of ​​sand."

These words served both as an introduction to the complex situation in the Shifting Sands and as a warning to Ron.

"I understand what the dean means."

Ron nodded in acknowledgment:

"I came here solely for academic research; I have no other purpose."

"Great! I like smart people!"

Salamanda's expression turned friendly again:
"Well then, since this is an academic exchange, let's talk about academics!"

Over the next hour, the two engaged in an in-depth discussion of various elemental theories.

Although Salamander has a rough personality, her academic level is indeed commensurate with her Dark Sun-level strength, and she has unique insights into fire element and bloodline modification.

In particular, his understanding of the Dragonbone Network greatly benefited Ron.

“Each dragon bone records the power characteristics and bloodline information of that dragon species in its lifetime.”

Salamanda held up the fiery red dragon bone fragment in her hand:

"When different dragon bone fragments come together, these memories resonate and create entirely new energy patterns."

"This is the true principle of the intersection of elements."

………………

After leaving Salamander’s “volcano office”, Hayek took Ron on a tour of the school.

"There's a small gathering at noon. Elder Sheena was supposed to come to discuss some matters, but when she heard you were here, she offered to meet you."

Hayek explained:
"Elder Sheena is a diplomat from the Tree of Life School. She's very easy to get along with, so you don't need to be nervous."

"People from the Tree of Life school?"

"Yes, although their school doesn't have a good reputation, Elder Sheena is an exception. She is very sociable and has a good reputation in the Shifting Sands."

Around noon, several people had already gathered in the "Flowing Light Hall".

The ceiling of this magnificent banquet hall is made of transparent magic crystal, which can bring the flow of light from the outside into the room, creating a dazzling light and shadow effect.

Dean Salamander sat in the main seat, next to a gentle-looking witch—presumably Elder Sheena.

She had long chestnut hair, wore an elegant green robe, and always had a warm and welcoming smile on her face.

The three Moon-level vice deans of the Sand Sea School were also present:

Orlando, who specializes in elemental shaping; Carol, who excels in wind elements; and Hayek.

"This must be the famous lecturer Ralph, right?"

Sheena stood up voluntarily, her voice warm and friendly:
"I have long admired your name. Even those of us living far away in the quicksand have heard of your improved abyss simulation device."

"Elder Sheena, you flatter me."

Ron responded modestly, while secretly activating "Supernatural Insight" to observe everyone present.

The atmosphere became somewhat reserved after the banquet began.

After all, those present were representatives of different forces, and although they appeared to be in harmony, there was always a subtle sense of distance between them.

Sheena keenly sensed the atmosphere and took the initiative to speak:

"Since we're all academically inclined, why don't we showcase our respective strengths? I'll go first."

She gently raised her right hand, and a bright green seed appeared in her palm.

Driven by her magic, the seed began to sprout and grow rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it grew into a beautiful vine.

The vines spread along the edge of the table, blooming into colorful flowers.

Each flower exudes a different fragrance, some delicate and elegant, others rich and sweet.

Most amazingly, these flowers change color according to the viewer's mood.

"The miracle of life lies in its infinite possibilities."

Sheena said gently:
"Every life is a unique existence and deserves to be cherished."

Seeing the threatening look from his dean, the wizard Orlando gave a wry smile and began to demonstrate his elemental shaping skills.

He manipulated the decorative sand on the dining table to create a miniature model of the Sand Sea School.

Each building is meticulously detailed, with even the windows and doors clearly visible.

But Ron noticed that he needed to replenish his magic frequently.

This indicates that his magic compression level is probably less than five times, which is within the standard of a typical peak Moon-level magic.

Vice Dean Carol then manipulated the wind element in the air, creating a gentle breeze that flowed softly through the hall.

This breeze can precisely regulate the temperature and humidity for each guest, and can even bring different floral scents.

This kind of precise control requires extremely high skill. Ron estimated that her magic compression was more than five times, and that she was quite proficient in using magic.

When it was Ron's turn, he thought for a moment and decided to demonstrate some relatively safe skills.

He took out the magic sword and, amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, transformed it into a beautiful seven-stringed lyre.

The strings, formed from pure light elements, produced heavenly music when he gently touched them.

The music contained a subtle spiritual comfort, bringing a sense of peace to everyone present.

"What exquisite alchemical skills."

Sheena exclaimed in admiration:
"This combination of light and spiritual power has reached the realm of art."

Although Dean Salamander did not participate in the performance, his very presence was the best demonstration.

Throughout the banquet, the environment of the hall unconsciously mirrored his changing emotions.

The brightness of the lights, the humidity of the air, and even gravity are all being finely adjusted.

This kind of "environmental transformation" requires a vast and refined magical force, which cannot be achieved by simple compression.

As for Elder Sheena, she sat there smiling the whole time, yet her presence was so strong.

The surrounding light and elements were slightly distorted because of her, as if space itself had to give way in front of her.

This overwhelming difference in strength made Ron truly understand what "rank suppression" meant for the first time.

It's not just a difference in the total amount of magic, but also a world of difference in quality and efficiency of application.

Faced with these truly powerful individuals, he felt as insignificant as a stream before the ocean.

Especially if they become enemies with Salamander, even if they use all their trump cards, they will probably only have one option: to run away.

"It seems I was too optimistic about my own strength..." Ron thought to himself, a warning to himself.

(End of this chapter)