Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 487 You are just an observer

As the doors to the core area of ​​the crystal spire slowly closed, Ron felt a sense of relief wash over his chest.

Some invisible burden was finally lifted from his shoulders, allowing him to breathe freely again.

"Finally out!"

Acelia's voice echoed in his mind again, carrying a clear sense of relief:
"I knew there was something wrong with that plan a long time ago!"
The fanaticism in Cedric's eyes was exactly the same as that of those wizards corrupted by the abyss back then.

"Withdrawing now is definitely the wisest choice."

Trust me, a dragon's intuition never fails in these matters!

Ron chuckled inwardly.

Just now in the core area, Azalea didn't even dare to breathe.

However, he could understand that reaction.

Now Azalea is also comforting him in her own way, proving that his choice was right.

"but……"

Acelia's tone suddenly became worried:
“Withdrawing from a project in this way is likely to be interpreted by outsiders as ‘insufficient ability’ or ‘marginalization’.”

“Especially since you are currently in the critical evaluation period of the ‘New Star Program,’ this withdrawal could be used as a weapon by other competitors to attack you.”

"Euphemism, that vampire witch, and Oscar, that multi-element genius, they will definitely take this opportunity to spread some rumors that are detrimental to you."

This concern is indeed very real.

In wizarding circles, reputation and status are sometimes more important than actual ability.

A researcher who is considered "out of favor" will find it difficult to obtain high-quality collaboration opportunities and resource support.

"Let the reputation decline."

Ron's tone was as calm as still water:
"True strength will always find an opportunity to be displayed."

Moreover, compared to being strapped to a potentially exploding tank, a temporary drop in evaluation is nothing.

He gently stroked the silver pocket watch on his chest, feeling the subtle resonance emanating from its "hunting" ability:

"Furthermore, I am confident that I can prove my worth again in a short period of time."

At dusk, he returned to his private residence in the North District.

Ailan is tending to those special medicinal plants in the garden.

The slender vines swayed gently under her touch, as if expressing a joyful emotion.

"Master, you are back."

The tree spirit keenly sensed his return and turned to greet him:

"You look...much more relaxed than this morning."

"Indeed."

Ron nodded in confirmation, his gaze sweeping over the exotic flowers shimmering in the setting sun:

"We're going back to the observation station, and this time we might stay for a longer period of time."

Ailan's branches trembled slightly, an unconscious reaction expressing her excitement:

“That’s wonderful! Dale and I have been missing that place so much.”

The next morning, the familiar observatory came into Ron's view once again.

The buildings constructed from active abyssal stone emanate subtle energy fluctuations in the morning light.

Each piece of stone seems to have a life of its own, "breathing" slowly and rhythmically.

When he first arrived here, this eerie activity gave him a strong sense of oppression.

But now, these familiar energy fluctuations actually relaxed his tense nerves.

"Ron, you look tired."

Professor Yutel's ethereal projection appeared the moment he stepped into the main hall.

The silver eyes held concern, and even through that ethereal light, one could still feel the warmth of an elder.

"What happened? Your mental state seems a bit unstable..."

The old professor seemed to be searching for the right words:

"Chaos. Not chaos on a magical level, but a state of mental turmoil."

"Some setbacks at work."

Ron answered concisely, deliberately avoiding the intricate details of the Central Lands:

“I want to leave there temporarily and focus on completing the rite of passage for becoming a historian.”

"Perhaps, immersing myself in the exploration of ancient history will help me find my direction again."

Yutel keenly sensed the hidden message in his words, but did not press for further details.

As an ancient being who has lived for thousands of years, he has seen too many young people encounter confusion and setbacks in the process of growing up.

Sometimes, giving someone space is more helpful than forcing them to ask.

"Historians do need to be fully prepared when they switch careers."

The old professor nodded, and the illusory figure rippled slightly in the air:

"In particular, the infiltration of historical events is an extremely dangerous process."

"We had already agreed on a suitable historical event—the process of Salyn Vestra's fall from grace more than a hundred years ago."

Given the current situation, this option remains the most controllable.

Upon hearing this name, Ron recalled the tragedy that Master Varen had once mentioned.

Salyn Vestra, the genius witch who was contemporaneous with Mrs. Ellen and Warren.

Initially the smartest and most trustworthy of the three, he was ultimately corrupted by a high-ranking being in the abyss.

What are the specific risks involved in infiltrating such a historical event?

"The main risk is mental pollution."

Yutel's expression turned serious, and the light from the phantom became more solid:
"You will directly experience the process of Salin's corruption. If your will is not strong enough, you may be influenced by the malice of history."

"What's more troublesome is that Salin from back then has now become the Abyss Apostle 'Sweet Nightmare'."

The old professor's voice became low:

“By peering into historical events related to high-ranking apostles, she may have become aware of the observer’s presence and exerted a counter-influence.”

"Such reverse effects could include memory manipulation, personality distortion, or even direct mind control."

Ron frowned.

This risk should not be underestimated.

The essence of the Abyss Apostles' power lies in the distortion and manipulation of the rules of reality.

Even when looking back at history across a century, they still have the power to influence observers.

"but……"

Yutel then changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction:

"Considering that you have already established a stable connection with that more powerful apostle and have shown an unusually strong resistance to the corruption of the abyss, I am not too worried about these things."

"Nari's protection should provide you with sufficient safeguards. Furthermore, the chaotic nature within you can also play a protective role in critical moments."

This assessment reassured Ron somewhat.

While historical infiltration remains dangerous, it is at least not a complete suicide mission.

Over the next two days, Ron made thorough preparations under Yutel's guidance.

During this time, he also sorted out his current situation and choices.

Ron had also considered whether, given the success of the bloodline awakening during the Night of Elements, they should continue to stay at the elemental convergence point in the Shifting Sands to compress magic.

But the reality is much more complicated than it appears.

First, Cassandra has been waiting for him to return and advance the "peaceful evolution" plan.

Although he has now chosen to withdraw, he had not yet seen the true nature of the Cedric Plan at that time.

At that time, he did need to fulfill his promise to Cassandra.

Secondly, the points where the elements converge are all located in the heart of the quicksand, far from the sphere of influence of the Sand Sea School.

With Cassandra and the Tree of Life School having completely broken ties, the risks of him continuing to cultivate there alone were far too great.

In addition, Salamanda also told him a crucial piece of information:
"If you have the means to compress magic deep in the abyss, that's actually the most efficient way."

The chaotic energy in the abyss environment has a unique catalytic effect on the compression and purification of magic.

Although the level of danger is higher, with the guidance of experienced guides and strong protection, this environment can make the training of Moon-level wizards twice as effective.

And he now happens to have such ideal conditions for cultivation.

Once he completes his career change to historian, he can re-enter the fifth level.

At that time, they will have the special advantages of the abyss environment, as well as guidance and protection from an apostle like Nari.

This is the real reason why Ron was so eager to return to the observation station after finishing his business in the Central Lands.

That night, Ron went alone to his private meditation room deep inside the observatory.

This is a sealed space surrounded by special abyssal stone, with various protective magic arrays carved by his own hand on the walls.

The air was filled with a faint smell of sulfur and some mysterious, unidentifiable aroma.

That was the unique aura produced when the energy of the abyss came into contact with the real world.

He took out the "Core of Contradiction" bestowed upon him by the King of Absurdity from his storage bag.

The obsidian-like sphere radiated a subtle warmth in my palm, its smooth surface rippling like water reflecting in a mirror, or like lake water with pebbles thrown in.

"Another painful training session."

Ron sighed softly and began to adjust his posture to enter a meditative state.

When he initiated the meditation rhythm of "The Star Eater's Whispers," the core of contradiction immediately began to take effect.

An unprecedented sense of oppression began to emanate from the sphere, directly affecting the magic power within him.

Each flow of magic became exceptionally difficult, as if what flowed through his veins was not energy but viscous liquid metal.

But during this painful process, the compression effect of magic is exceptionally significant.

Under the influence of the special force field of the core of contradiction, the originally loose energy particles are forcibly compressed into a more compact structure.

This compression not only increases the density of the magic, but also fundamentally changes its stability and purity.

Sweat poured from his forehead, and a sharp pain shot through his temples.

But Ron gritted his teeth and persevered, clearly feeling that each compression cycle was making him stronger.

Based on his current progress assessment, it will take approximately two more months to reach the minimum standard required to break through the double magic compression barrier.

Furthermore, if one can cultivate under the influence of the abyss environment, this time can be further shortened.

After completing a round of magic compression training, Ron began to explore the meditation method of "The Star Eater's Whispers" more deeply.

Besides the "Intellectual Triangle"—Hermit Star, Scholar Star, and Observer Star—with which he has already established connections, countless other stars in the vast cosmos await his connection.

His consciousness followed the starlight and extended into the deeper reaches of the universe.

In this boundless star field, each star emits a unique energy frequency, representing different power essences and conceptual connotations.

But tonight, when his senses reached those distant stars, he perceived something unsettling.

Those stars... seemed to be "watching" him.

It is not passive energy radiation, but active and conscious observation.

It was as if each star was a giant eyeball, coldly staring at this tiny being that dared to peek into their secrets.

What's even more chilling is that these "starry eyes" gaze with a kind of hungry longing.

It was like a wild beast long imprisoned, suddenly catching the scent of fresh flesh. "What's going on..."

Ron forced himself to remain calm and carefully analyzed this unusual phenomenon.

In previous meditations, these stars had shown some kind of "activity," but never so clearly exhibited characteristics of "consciousness."

As his observations deepened, a suspicion in his mind became increasingly confirmed:

These "stars" that wizards have contemplated for generations may not have been simple celestial bodies from the beginning.

They are likely the "eyes" or "tentacles" of some ancient being.

They lurk in every corner of the universe, disguised as stars.

Whenever a wizard establishes a connection with them through "The Star Eater's Whispers," he is actually providing an "anchor" for these beings.

This allows them to gradually permeate the real world through the path of starlight.

All star connections established through meditation will eventually converge on it, providing it with a continuous source of nourishment and information.

When Ron arrived at the archives early in the morning, Professor Yutel's ethereal projection appeared dimmer than usual.

The silver light flickered in and out, clearly indicating that a great deal of power was being used to maintain some kind of important "sealing" operation.

"Professor, your condition..."

"The Supreme Apostles in the Abyss have been unusually active lately."

Yutel didn't hide his exhaustion and went straight to the worrying news:
"Based on my observations of network feedback, they seem to be planning some kind of large-scale operation."

“In addition, some ‘connections’ are being reactivated.”

The old professor's tone became heavy:

"Even those things that should have been asleep forever are beginning to show signs of awakening."

As Ron ventured deeper into the archives, the anomaly immediately became apparent.

The documents documenting the Salyn affair began to spontaneously emit a faint but clearly visible fluorescence.

“These anomalies indicate that the ‘historical aftermath’ of the Salyn incident is being reactivated by some force.”

Yutel explained solemnly:

"This activation may come from the Sweet Nightmare Salin herself, or it may come from the high-ranking abyss behind her that corrupted her."

"In either case, it means that our historical infiltration operations face additional risks."

Ron carefully examined the fluorescent documents.

In his vision of "supernatural insight," these ancient records are resonating with some distant source of power.

It's like a receiver controlled by the same transmitter, receiving mysterious signals from the depths of the abyss.

"But this could also be an opportunity."

A thoughtful look flashed in Yutel's eyes:
"The activation of historical repercussions means that the relevant historical moments have become clearer and more stable."

“In this situation, although historical infiltration is riskier, the information obtained will be more complete and accurate.”

“We may not only be able to observe Salyn’s process of corruption, but also gain a deeper understanding of the true nature of the being that corrupted her.”

This prospect is both alluring and dangerous.

Understanding the true nature of those high above in the abyss is an invaluable asset for any wizard.

At this moment, the three historical relics were carefully placed on the rune platform.

Ron sat on the meditation mat in the center, feeling the heavy "historical weight" emanating from these objects.

It is a strange existence that exists between matter and spirit.

Like frozen fragments of time, they bear all the pain and regret of the past years.

Ron's gaze fell on the first relic.

Mrs. Allen's Broken Staff.

This staff should have been an elegant ivory-white object, but now it has an unsettling grayish-black hue.

There was a clear break in the middle of the staff, as if it had been forcibly broken by some force.

The jagged edges of the fracture point reveal the suddenness and violence of the break.

“That was broken by Allen himself after he killed Salyn.”

Yutel explained, his voice heavy with the weight of past memories:

She said that the staff stained with her friend's blood could no longer bring her any inspiration.

From that time on, Allen never used any casting medium again; all his spells were cast with his bare hands.

The second relic was Master Varun's confessional diary.

This is a thick leather diary, with words that seem to move slowly like living things, as if telling the story of the diary's owner's deepest pain and regret.

The corners of the diary were badly worn, clearly indicating that it had been read countless times.

The third, and most dangerous, item: contaminated crystal.

This is a piece of deep purple crystal, about the size of a palm, with liquid-like black veins flowing across its surface.

The crystal was placed in a specially made sealed container, which was surrounded by at least twenty layers of magic arrays with different functions.

Even through these protective barriers, Ron could still sense the malice and allure emanating from the crystal.

"This crystal is a direct product of Salin's fall from grace."

Yutel's tone became unusually cautious:

"It records the details of the entire pollution process, but at the same time retains the active characteristics of the abyss's power."

Contact with it is tantamount to engaging in a direct spiritual dialogue with the Apostle of the Abyss; the slightest misstep could result in being corrupted in the opposite direction.

Ron took a deep breath and began to adjust his mental state.

The technique of historical resonance requires the practitioner to tune their consciousness to a specific "historical frequency".

This process requires both sophisticated skills and strong mental fortitude.

He activated the meditation technique of "The Star Eater's Whispers," but deliberately suppressed its "devouring" characteristic.

In this context, any proactive use of force could undermine the neutrality of historical observation.

"Starting the first stage: emotional resonance."

Utter's voice echoed in the meditation room like a guide:
"Let your spirit touch these relics and feel the emotional imprints they carry."

Remember, just feel it; don't try to understand or analyze it.

Ron slowly extended his right hand, letting his fingertips lightly trace the surface of the broken staff.

The next moment, a wave of sorrow surged through his consciousness like a tsunami.

This is a despair that penetrates to the very soul.

That is the ultimate pain of losing a close friend and being forced to kill the person you cherish most with your own hands.

In the midst of this emotional turmoil, Ron "heard" Mrs. Allen's last words on that bloody night:
“Saline...forgive me…”

The tremor in his voice conveyed, as if it were a physical entity, endless pain and regret.

Then, he placed his palm on the cover of the confession diary.

This time, the emotions were more complex: guilt, self-blame, and a deep loathing for one's own cowardice.

Valen's spiritual imprint flooded into Ron's consciousness like a tidal wave:

"I should have noticed sooner... I should have stopped her... It's all my fault..."

This is the deepest self-reproach of a powerful wizard, a pain even more unbearable than death.

Finally, under Yutel's close supervision, Ron cautiously touched the contaminated crystal.

This time, the shock came not from sadness or guilt, but from a kind of twisted ecstasy and satisfaction.

This is the pleasure that Salyn experienced during her depravity.

That morbid satisfaction of believing that one is undertaking a "great cause".

"Now, let's begin the second phase: time rewind."

Yutel began to explain the key points of the operation in detail, and the phantom slowly moved in the air:
"You will enter the historical timeline as an 'observer,' but you must never change the course of any events."

“Even if you see that Salyn is about to fall into depravity, and that tragedy is about to happen, you must not intervene in any way.”

The old professor's voice became even more serious:

"No matter what terrifying scene you see, you must remain calm and rational."

“Strong emotions in history—fear, despair, anger, grief—can all try to influence your judgment.”

"You must always remember that you are an observer, there to learn and understand, not to empathize."

Ron closed his eyes and let his consciousness trace back along the path of his emotions.

The surrounding reality began to blur, and the walls of the meditation room rippled like water.

A strange sense of weightlessness enveloped him, as if he were passing through some invisible barrier.

When his vision refocused, Ron found himself in a familiar yet strange scene.

This is a room on a high floor of the Crystal Spire, but the decor is clearly from over a century ago.

The room has a warm color scheme, the furniture is mostly made of solid wood, and the walls are decorated with classical-style oil paintings.

A warm and academic atmosphere filled the entire space.

But now, that warmth has been completely destroyed.

In the center of the room, Mrs. Allen was kneeling beside a corpse.

The young woman's ears and body had undergone a horrific mutation:

The skin was an unnatural grayish-white color, and its surface was covered with strange patterns like snake scales;
The originally beautiful face was distorted and deformed, and the proportions of the facial features were completely out of the normal range of human beings.
The hands transformed into sharp claws, with nails as hard and sharp as obsidian.

This is Salyn Vestra.

Once a genius girl, now a fallen abyss.

Mrs. Allen held the broken staff in her hand, the tip of which was still stained with dark purple blood.

"You chose to betray everything we stood for."

Mrs. Allen's voice trembled.

The body did not respond, but the air in the room began to distort eerily.

Just then, Ron noticed a shocking detail.

At the moment of Salyn's death, an extremely faint "shadow" detached from her body.

The shadow was as ethereal as smoke, almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

But with Ron's enhanced perception, he clearly saw the shape of the shadow:
That was Salin's soul projection, but it had been completely transformed by the power of the abyss.

A smug smile played on the corners of Shadow's mouth.

"Death... is just the beginning of another form..."

As events unfolded later, Salyn's "death" may not have been the real end.

Her consciousness was preserved in some way and acquired a new form of existence in the abyss.

"Now, let's go back to the starting point."

Yutel's voice guided Ron like a compass:

“To observe the complete timeline of the entire event, start with Salyn’s initial signs of depravity.”

Reality was distorted once again, and Ron's consciousness was pulled back to an earlier point in time.

That was three months before Salyn's downfall.

(End of this chapter)