Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 501 "The Metamorphosis"

The silence in the room was as deep as an abyss.

Only the giant eye on the cover of "The Extraordinary Ones" slowly rotates, as if scrutinizing every corner of Ron's soul.

After a long silence, the pages began to turn automatically, revealing exchange options specially designed for him.

[Targeted Recommendation Option 1: The Mysteries of Bloodlines]

Beautiful illustrations appear on the page:
A tree of life, its roots deeply embedded in the chaotic soil, its branches reaching towards the twinkling stars in the sky.

"Considering your most pressing needs, I offer this exchange."

The consciousness voice in "The Complete Guide to the Extraordinary" has become commercialized:
[Price: Surrender "the complete emotional experience of being with 'The Eye of the Abyss' Nari"]

[Specific content:
1. The warmth of being accepted
2. Satisfaction when spending time with family

3. The tremor deep within the soul during bloodline resonance...

A detailed "loss assessment" appeared next to the text:
"You will forever lose the emotional value of these memories."

While the information about the event itself will be preserved, all feelings, meaning, and the ability to draw strength from it will be stripped away.

This experience will transform from a 'significant fragment of life' into 'ordinary interaction'.

[Gain: A complete theoretical system of primordial bloodlines]

The page then unfolded a breathtaking list of knowledge:

1. How to artificially synthesize entirely new legendary bloodlines (including genetic blueprint design and soul adaptability tuning)
2. Thirteen forbidden techniques of bloodline fusion (each of which can break through racial boundaries)
3. The secret technique of extracting blood essence from living organisms without damage (preserving complete activity and memory inheritance)

4. The fundamental solution to bloodline conflicts (allowing all bloodlines to coexist harmoniously within the same vessel)

The most crucial item is the last one, highlighted in gold:
How to implant your own bloodline "seed" into another person to create eternally loyal bloodline descendants.

"Imagine Ron."

The sound of books becomes alluring:
"With this knowledge, you will be able to create a bloodline system that truly belongs to you."

No longer subject to any existing limitations, no longer dependent on accidental bloodline awakening.

You will become the founder of a new race, and your descendants will be found in every corner of the universe.

But Ron keenly noticed a detail.

The price of this exchange was one of the emotions he cherished most.

[Targeted Recommendation Option Two: The Shortcut to Strength]

The page flips, revealing another equally tempting option.

The illustration depicts the silhouette of a wizard surrounded by a dazzling vortex of magic, like a nebula.

[The cost: Giving up the possibility of advancement through traditional cultivation methods]

“What does this mean?” Ron asked.

"From now on, you will no longer be able to improve your level through conventional methods such as meditation, research, and practice."

The book explains this limitation in detail:

"Your learning ability will not be affected, but all your cultivation-related talents will be permanently sealed."

No matter how hard you try, no matter how much theory you master, you cannot break through to a higher level on your own.

[Harvest: A forbidden secret technique for rapidly compressing magic power]
The complete process of compressing magic power thirty times (can be achieved within one month)
Advanced techniques for 50x compression

[The secret technique to achieve 80 times compression under extreme conditions]

"But!" The book's warning followed immediately:

"You will never understand the principles behind it. These powers will only be tools to you, not the fruits of wisdom."

Looking at these two options, Ron felt an unprecedented temptation.

Every achievement directly addresses his current core needs.

It was as if someone had installed a surveillance camera in his mind, precisely knowing his every desire.

"These options... are too precise," he analyzed in his mind.

"It felt like it was tailor-made for my specific situation."

"Of course it's accurate." The voice in *The Complete Guide to the Extraordinary* carried a hint of pride.

“I’ve been watching you for a long time, little guy.”

From the very first time you opened this book, I've been analyzing your thought patterns, values, and deepest desires.

"Everyone faces unique choices because everyone loses something different."

As the pages turned, a disturbing picture emerged.

Countless silk threads hung down from the sky, each one connected to the heart of a wizard.

"Little one, how do you think those great wizards reached such heights in just a few hundred years?"

The book's tone became mocking and somber:
Do you think that meditation and accumulation alone are enough?

Time is fair, but achievements are not.

Those at the top have all made similar deals; no one tells you.

The page then displayed specific examples, each one a name Ron was familiar with.

“Take Cassandra, whom you know, for example.”

A portrait of Cassandra in her youth appeared on the page.

Do you know why she was able to drive away a quasi-Witch King-level 'Star Domain Lord' all by herself?
Why was he able to overwhelm three great wizards of the same level?
Why is her virtual body's completion level so high, a level that ordinary people cannot achieve?

The book's narration became slow and heavy:
"She came to see me after she was promoted to Dark Sun Wizard."

At that time, her magic compression level was less than thirty times, which was indeed unique among geniuses of her generation, but it wasn't yet at the level that would allow her to leave her mark on wizarding history.

The portrait began to change; the witch's eyes gradually turned cold, and all emotion vanished from her face.

“She surrendered her ‘compassion’—not just simple indifference, but a complete loss of the ability to perceive the suffering of others.”

She could no longer truly understand what pain or despair meant.

To her, the screams of others sounded like birdsong, and their tears were like ordinary drops of water.

The portrait of Cassandra on the book page has lost its last glimmer of light in her eyes, replaced by an unfathomable emptiness.

"In exchange, she upgraded her 'Devour' magic property to the 'Plunder' ethereal property—allowing her to permanently extract essence from the enemies she kills, with virtually no cost."

"Do you know why she's so keen on wars of conquest? Every massacre is a feast for her growing power."

Her Void Completion level is now on par with other ranged characters, which is why she was able to easily defeat 'Emerald Laurel' Ashe, that useless girl who only knows how to sleep, but the price is..."

The book paused, and the voice became exceptionally cold:

"She can no longer truly care about anyone's life or death."

Including her daughter Eve, whom she claims to love deeply.

In her eyes, Eve's pain was merely a problem that needed to be 'solved,' not a heartbreaking tragedy.

This revelation jolted Ron awake.

He recalled Cassandra's indifference towards the cognitive virus project, and the way she looked at Eve...

"Let's take a look at the great wizard Vinard."

The page flips to reveal Vinard's image.

"In order to gain technical inspiration regarding spatial rules, he gave up the possibility of returning to his hometown."

"Hometown?" Ron asked, puzzled.

"The Great Wizard Vinard is not from the main world."

The book begins to tell this little-known story:

“He comes from a colony plane called ‘Emerald Ring,’ a successful colony established in the early Third Era by a top archmage.”

“That world had a pleasant climate and was full of magic. Vinard had a happy childhood there, with beloved friends and family.”

"But after Vinard became a Dark Sun Wizard there, he was unwilling to spend his life in a remote colony. He longed to come to the main world to prove himself and become a true ruler."

The page shows a scene of Vinard saying goodbye to his hometown.

He looked back at that green world, his eyes filled with reluctance.

"He found me in order to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to establish himself in the main world."

"The cost of exchange is not simply geographical limitation."

He has forever lost his sense of belonging—no matter where he is, he can only feel endless loneliness and alienation.

"This feeling is more terrifying than simple homesickness; it is a deeper existential loneliness."

Like a ghost forever wandering in a foreign land, never finding a true home.

The image of Vinard on the pages began to blur, as if it had lost its physical form.

"The base he built was a technological masterpiece, but he could never feel the warmth of 'home' anywhere."

Ron recalled Vinard's impatience during their initial communication.

And the other party always emphasizes their technical authority in front of me, and is always showing off something.

In retrospect, it may have just been a cover for the emptiness that occasionally crept into his words.

Through endless exploration and research, I strive to fill the void that has always been missing in my heart.

“There are many more examples.”

The pages continued to turn, revealing familiar or unfamiliar names:

"Alchemist Alberto traded his 'sensory ability to taste fine food' for a perfect talent for chemical analysis."

From then on, even the most precious delicacies were nothing more than a pile of chemical components in his mouth.

He could analyze the precise proportions of each ingredient, but he could no longer experience the pure joy that food brought.

"Savis, the famous astrologer of the Second Age, relinquished his 'ability to dream' and gained a significant increase in the accuracy of his prophecies."

But those who lose their dreams also lose the source of their imagination.

His predictions, though accurate, could no longer be expanded upon. "The most extreme example is the 'Time Hounds,' an incredibly powerful and extraordinary race."

Their herds collectively relinquish the possibility of aging, and by reaching the level of elite hounds, they can achieve a lifespan approaching immortality.

But never growing old also means never maturing; one's thinking will forever remain at the level of making an exchange, unable to acquire the wisdom that comes with age.

Each example struck Ron's heart like a nail.

“Power is never free, child.”

The voice of "The Complete Guide to the Extraordinary" deepened:

"The only difference is whether you actively choose the cost or passively accept the consequences."

"Those who refuse to exchange often pay a heavier price at crucial moments due to their lack of strength."

Death, humiliation, and the powerlessness to watch those you cherish suffer.

"At least, exchanging with me is a fair transaction with a clear price."

You know perfectly well what you will lose and what you will gain.

A scale pattern appeared on the page, with "known costs" and "unknown disasters" on either side.

"The King of Absurdity is called 'absurd' because of this."

The sound of the books carried a deep sorrow:

"It's simply because He discovered the biggest joke in the universe—those who pursue power will eventually lose sight of their original intention in using it."

He has seen too many stories like this:
A wizard sought power to protect his lover, but ultimately lost the ability to love.
A scholar dedicated himself to the pursuit of truth, but ultimately lost his curiosity;

A ruler who becomes powerful in order to govern the country ultimately loses his compassion.

"This is absurdity—the complete divergence between goal and result, the absolute irony between original intention and ending."

The atmosphere in the room became heavy, as if an invisible weight was pressing down on Ron's shoulders.

But the book's tone suddenly softened:

"Kid, do you know why I always tease the questioner first?"

"Why?" Ron couldn't help but ask.

"Because those who are eager to gain power from the beginning will eventually be destroyed by power."

A heartwarming scene appeared on the page.

It was an old man telling a story to a group of children.

“I’d rather you think of me as a joking old man than see you turn into one of those monsters who would sell everything for power.”

“Every sarcastic response, every seemingly unreasonable rejection, is a test of your mindset.”

If you can remain calm in the face of such teasing, it means you haven't been blinded by greed and ambition.

The voice in "The Complete Guide to the Extraordinary" became even deeper:

"The true purpose of the King of Absurdity in creating this 'copy' of me is not to spread power, but to find an heir who can bear the truth without being lost."

"Every transaction is a test."

I'm observing your choices when faced with temptation, watching where your bottom line lies, and observing whether you still retain your initial innocence.

"Those who pass the test will ultimately gain something far more valuable than mere strength—wisdom, understanding, and the ability to remain true to oneself amidst chaos."

The pages kept turning:

"Therefore, I do not recommend that you use options that come at too high a cost."

What truly matters is not what you acquire, but what you choose when faced with temptation.

“But,” the book’s tone turned serious again:

“I can’t make the choices for you. That’s the price of growing up—having to face those tough decisions on your own.”

The giant eye on the cover blinks slowly, waiting for a response.

Faced with these tempting yet cruel choices, Ron fell into a long silence.

His rationality analyzed each option like a cold, sharp blade:

The secrets of bloodline are indeed precious, but losing the emotional memories with Nari is equivalent to losing the softest part of one's heart;

While the shortcut of magic compression is efficient, it permanently eliminates the possibility of growth through cultivation, which is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.

"These costs... are far too heavy."

He weighed the pros and cons in his mind:

"What I need is knowledge and guidance, not power at the cost of self-destruction."

A true strong person becomes strong while remaining whole, not by acquiring deformed abilities through self-castration.

But he also understood that "The Complete Guide to Extraordinary Things" had revealed the true nature of a "businessman".

Without an equivalent exchange, it is impossible to obtain a valuable return.

Magic? Too ordinary. For a book that records the wisdom of countless powerful beings, ordinary energy holds no appeal.

Treasure? Too vulgar. Material wealth is just a numbers game for beings at this level.

So, what truly makes something unique and precious?

In a flash of inspiration, Ron realized his greatest secret—knowledge and memories from another world.

It's not those grand scientific laws or mathematical formulas.

In his previous life, he majored in foreign languages ​​as an undergraduate, and his understanding of science and engineering knowledge was still at the high school level. If he were to rashly demonstrate it, he would only appear ridiculous.

What truly left an indelible mark on him were those literary works that contained profound philosophical reflections.

Ron focused his mind and began to dig into the depths of his memory a special story—Kafka's "The Metamorphosis".

This is precisely a classic allegory about absurdity:

A salesman woke up one morning to find himself transformed into a beetle.

But the focus of the story is not the incredible change itself, but the reactions of those around it:

The rejection from family, the indifference of society, and the collapse of self-identity.

"The alienation of existence..."

Ron pondered the core of the story in his heart:
"A person may lose all the values ​​recognized by society without any warning."

This kind of loss is often not because he did anything wrong, but because of the inherent uncertainty of the situation.

This philosophical reflection coincides with the core ideas of the King of Absurdity.

That questioning of the laws of reality, the mockery of certainty, and the deconstruction of common sense—this is precisely the theme that runs through the entire story.

"If this copy of 'The Complete Explanation of the Extraordinary' is truly an extension of the wisdom of the King of Absurdity, then this kind of absurd philosophy from another world should arouse its great interest."

Ron took a deep breath, carefully packaged the complete story memory, and then solemnly presented it to the book:

"I'm willing to share an interesting story from another world, called 'The Metamorphosis'."

This is not merely a fictional plot, but also a profound reflection on the essence of existence.

The giant eye on the cover suddenly stopped moving, as if it were caught in some kind of deep confusion.

Ron's heart began to race.

This reaction was completely different from the excitement he had expected.

Could it be that I'm mistaken?
Perhaps these otherworldly literary works are utterly insignificant in the eyes of wizarding civilization?
The pages began to turn slowly, but the movement was unusually sluggish, like an old man struggling to recall something.

"Strange... Really strange..."

The voice in "The Complete Guide to Extraordinary Antiques" conveys the deliberation and uncertainty of an appraiser encountering a rare antique:
"Little guy, why would you think of providing me with a text like this? Do you know what you've given me?"

Ron felt even more uneasy.

"Is it... a story?"

"what!"

The book suddenly let out a short laugh:

"You're right, this is just a story."

Moreover, in a sense, it's a somewhat... contrived and mysterious story.

Upon hearing this assessment, Ron's hopes began to crumble.

He gritted his teeth, preparing to accept defeat.

Perhaps I was too naive, thinking that literature from another world could have any value in the face of such extraordinary classics.

"If you take this story to any other knowledge carrier and ask for an equivalent exchange."

For example, books like *The Essentials of Alchemy*, *The Ultimate Mystery of Time and Space*, and *The Guide to Bloodline Modification* will only laugh at your naiveté without hesitation.

"The Complete Guide to the Extraordinary" continues its cold, hard analysis:
"In their view, a boring fantasy about humans turning into beetles has neither mystical theory, nor practical technology, nor historical value."

Several other classic books appeared as projections on the page, each exuding the air of an old scholar.

One of the books, "The Essentials of Alchemy," rolled its eyes on its cover, clearly showing its disdain for this kind of "literary work."

Another book, *The Guide to Bloodline Modification*, stated in a disdainful tone:

"What? A story about biological morphological mutation doesn't involve any modification technology?"
This kind of junk information is less useful than a piece of waste paper!

The third book, "The Ultimate Mystery of Time and Space," is even more blunt in its assessment:
"It even violates the basic laws of transformation. What research value does this pure fabrication have? It's simply a waste of time!"

Seeing the reactions to these ancient texts, Ron sighed slightly.

As expected, I had oversimplified things.

In a world where power and knowledge are central, a simple literary story does indeed seem insignificant.

"but."

In "The Complete Guide to Extraordinary Things," the tone suddenly shifts, becoming almost fanatical with excitement:

"I'm not like them!"

(End of this chapter)