The workshop in the deep night was silent, with only the rhythmic "gurgling" sound from the lava core of the Alchemy Furnace, like the heartbeat of some ancient creature.
Ron sat cross-legged in the center of the Meditation Room, slowly opening his eyes, the golden-red glow in his pupils gradually fading back to normal.
He took a deep breath, feeling the flow of his Spiritual Power within.
Now he was close to the edge of the Critical Point, like a river about to burst its banks, just waiting for the final raindrop to add.
["Star Eater’s Ravings" Experience Points + 1]
[Current Progress: "Star Eater’s Ravings"(Proficient 295/300)]
"Five points to go..." Ron murmured softly, a glint of both anticipation and caution in his eyes.
Just as he was about to stand up, a strange feeling suddenly surged in his heart.
It was as if countless tiny ants were crawling on his spine, or as if some sharp gaze was piercing directly from afar, through the walls, the air, reaching deep into his soul.
Ron instinctively tensed all his muscles, the keen senses brought by the Demon Hunter Knight being instantly activated.
Senses multiple times sharper than ordinary people keenly captured every ripple around him.
But strangely, no matter how he perceived, he could not determine the source of that prying.
The feeling was both there and not there, yet incredibly real.
Like a fleeting ghostly wind, disappearing the moment you were about to catch it.
"Is someone watching me?" Ron frowned, slowly standing up.
His fingertips quietly brushed against the Silver Pocket Watch at his waist, feeling its cold touch, his heart slightly calmed.
No matter what kind of enemy it was, at least he still had this final safeguard.
Then he lightly passed over the inside of his left arm, where the Thousand Transformations resided.
This already advanced "Glory Legacy" was now one of his most powerful trump cards.
Outside the window, the Black Mist Jungle appeared particularly deep under the moonlight.
The magic crystal lamps in the central area of the School far away also dimmer than usual, the entire Black Mist Jungle seemed to be shrouded in an invisible shadow.
The feeling of being watched still existed, faint yet persistent, but never fixable to a specific direction.
This feeling was more unsettling than direct hostility — like being targeted by something beyond comprehension, yet you couldn’t even confirm its presence.
Ron took a deep breath, deciding to set aside this doubt for now.
The day of the Star Ring Convergence was approaching, and he couldn’t let such vague disturbances affect his final preparations.
Leaving the Meditation Room, he noticed that the magic crystal lamps in the corridor were also dimmer than usual, enveloping the inside of the workshop in a layer of dim yellow glow.
In the hall, Lilia was intently organizing a few bundles of newly collected herbs. Hearing the footsteps, she looked up, a faint smile emerging on her face.
"Master, is your meditation over?" she asked softly, her voice carrying undisguised fatigue.
Ron nodded, his gaze falling on those herbs: "Were these collected today? They seem to be of average quality."
Lilia sighed lightly, putting down the bundle of herbs in her hand:
"Yes, today was quite difficult. The vendors in the market are becoming fewer, and the herbs available are not very fresh."
She looked up at Ron, a trace of concern flashing in her eyes:
"Master, the atmosphere in the School has been strange lately. The apprentices going out are becoming fewer, and even the usually bustling market has become deserted. I passed by the Slave Trading Association today and found it completely empty, not even a gatekeeper."
"Empty?" Ron raised an eyebrow; this was indeed unusual.
That Slave Trading Association had always been one of the busiest places in the Black Mist Jungle, even during the School’s lockdown, there were often Alien Race merchant groups coming and going.
Its complete closure now was no coincidence.
"Anything else unusual?" he asked in a low voice.
Lilia thought for a moment before answering softly:
"The Law Enforcement Team’s patrols have become more frequent, but it seems they’re not looking for something, rather they are..."
She hesitated, searching for the right words:
"Rather they are on guard against something. Every time two teams of Law Enforcement Officers meet, they verify each other’s identities very cautiously."
"On guard..." Ron repeated the word thoughtfully, a deeper concern growing in his heart.
There was less than two weeks until the Star Ring Convergence, yet the tense atmosphere within the School was intensifying day by day.
This deliberate suppression of all outdoor activities seemed like a precaution against the occurrence of some disaster.
"Any response from within the School?" he asked calmly.
"The Masters seem to be shutting themselves indoors, even Soron, the one we usually see most often, barely shows up," Lilia replied softly:
"Moreover, I heard that the Vice Dean has set up additional Protective Arrays around the School and even used some usually sealed Alchemy Tools."
Ron’s brows were deeply furrowed, his mind swiftly analyzing various possibilities.
Such anomalies were not without reason; either some external threat was approaching, or some major incident was about to occur within the School.
And in either case, they were likely related to the imminent Star Ring Convergence.
"You did well."
Ron nodded to Lilia, his tone carrying an unusual hint of praise:
"Try to reduce outings in the coming period. If you must leave the workshop, at least have Ailan accompany you."
Lilia nodded, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes.
Gathering useful information for Ron was perhaps the most meaningful thing she could do with her limited time.
"Two weeks left..." Ron murmured softly, his gaze becoming profound.