"Welcome to the Forbidden Knowledge Area, Lecturer Ralph."
The tone of the construct became more respectful:
"I hope you find the answers you seek here. But remember, once some knowledge is acquired, it can never be forgotten."
As Ron stepped through the door, he felt as if he had crossed an invisible barrier.
The space here was clearly not constrained by normal physical laws, with ceilings so high they were out of sight, and floors extending infinitely in all directions.
The bookshelves here were constructed from some kind of living bones that could grow autonomously.
The frameworks wriggled slowly yet perceptibly, covered with thread-like filaments similar to neural networks, changing color with the visitor’s thought processes.
Strangely, the shelves would automatically adjust the arrangement of books according to his mental needs.
When he thought of the concept "Three-phase Mage Skills," the related tomes immediately appeared in the most prominent position;
When he shifted his thoughts to "Ancient Skills," the contents on the shelves changed accordingly.
"This environment..." Ron activated the "Hermit’s Knowledge," attempting to perceive the essence of this space.
The shelves were "ribs," the floor was "muscle tissue," and the special energy permeating the air was "blood."
This living library continually analyzed, organized, and reassembled the knowledge within it, ensuring the most relevant information was always in the most easily discoverable place.
The reading area was equipped with mental stabilization devices and emergency medical equipment.
Upon detecting dangerous mental fluctuations, it would automatically release sedatives or initiate an emergency isolation protocol.
Ron chose a seat near the shelf of "Three-phase Mage Skills," and as soon as he sat down, the chair began adjusting to fit the curve of his body.
At the same time, a gentle voice sounded in his ear:
"Detected user with Associate Professor-level access, corresponding content unlocked. Recommended reading time is no more than four hours, as overtime may result in an accumulation of spiritual fatigue."
Ron nodded in acknowledgement and began browsing the tomes that captured his interest.
The first book was "Evolutionary Trajectory of Mainstream Wizardry," a comprehensive research work spanning eight hundred pages.
The author was the late Great Wizard Isaac Mendelssohn, who was said to have mastered seven different wizardry techniques simultaneously.
As Ron opened the cover, he immediately felt a subtle mental pressure.
Every page of this book contained a large amount of high-density information, requiring considerable Spiritual Power to fully comprehend.
Mendelssohn’s writing style was extremely rigorous, with every conclusion supported by a vast amount of examples and data.
Yet within the rigor was a deep sense of concern and warning:
"The ascension in wizardry skills is far from a simple accumulation of experience.
Each leap signifies a change in the essence of knowledge, implying contact with more dangerous forces.
Many wizards lose themselves in the pursuit of power, ultimately becoming slaves rather than masters of that power."
"I once witnessed a highly talented Alchemist, who, three days after successfully advancing to Alchemy Master, transformed his wife and children into ’perfect alchemy materials.’
When I questioned him, he responded in a purely rational tone: ’Emotions are the enemy of efficiency, I am merely optimizing resource allocation.’
As he continued reading, Ron began to understand the specific conditions for the progression of each profession.
Mendelssohn devoted an entire Chapter to analyzing the progression path of Alchemists:
"To become a Magic Potion Professor, one must achieve extremely high standards in theory, practice, and teaching. The most challenging part is not the technical requirement but the psychological test."
The pages surfaced detailed conditions, seemingly in response to Ron’s inner queries:
[Progression Conditions for Magic Potion Professor (Three Stars):
Magic Potion Making Skills must reach Expert Level;
Must create at least one original advanced Magic Potion Formula widely recognized in academic circles;
Must train at least five students to the level of Alchemist.]
Next was the section on Alchemy Masters, where Mendelssohn’s tone became even more solemn:
"Alchemy is the discipline among all extraordinary skills that approaches the ’Divine Domain’ the most.
Alchemy Masters attempt to understand and control the essence of matter, creating life forms that originally did not exist.
This action itself challenges the natural order."
[Progression Conditions for Alchemy Master (Three Star Profession):
Alchemy must reach Expert Level;
Must successfully refine a ’semi-permanent level’ alchemy device (operating independently for fifty years or more);
Must complete a ’life reconstruction’ experiment.]
Mendelssohn included a disturbing account here:
"I once witnessed the entire process of a ’life reconstruction’ experiment.
The applicant fused seven different species into a new life form.
That creature indeed lived and even exhibited intelligence surpassing its original species, but the pain and confusion in its eyes left an indelible impression on me.
It did not know what it was, or where it came from, only able to emit an eerie sound somewhere between the cries of many species.
Eventually, on the third day after the experiment completed, it chose to end its own life."
Lastly, the Rune Expert—the advanced form of an Enchanter:
"Rune Experts are the most dangerous progression choice among the three professions.
They push the power of runes to the extreme, even attempting to combine runes with living organisms.
Those who master this skill often gradually lose their perception of ’boundaries.’"