In the small reading room of the Abyssal Observation Station, the magic crystal lamp emits a gentle blue light.
This room, designed for small gatherings, is surrounded by walls made of special stone, capable of automatically adjusting temperature and humidity.
Occasionally, small tendrils emerge from the wall cracks, cleaning the excess impurities in the air, then silently retreating.
Ron sits in his usual old spot, gently stroking an exquisite crystal teacup in his hand.
The cup contains the station’s unique "Calming Tea," a light green liquid with an herbal fragrance, effectively alleviating the mental fatigue from prolonged exposure to the abyssal aura.
Opposite him, Chloe still shields her eyes with black silk, rhythmically stroking the "Celestial Sphere" crystal at her chest.
Compared to a few months ago, the spiritual waves emanating from the blind girl are noticeably more stable and profound.
Sitting between them is Uphemia, whose attire today is more meticulously crafted than usual.
Her long white hair is complexly braided, held together by ribbons.
Her enchanting and delicate face carries a deliberately maintained polite smile.
Sensitive individuals can perceive that this smile conceals a certain tension.
"It seems everyone has gained quite a bit over the past few months."
Ron breaks the subtle silence in the room by speaking first.
"Indeed."
Chloe softly replies, her voice still as gentle as a feather, yet now imbued with unprecedented confidence.
She slowly raises her right hand, revealing a ball of silver-blue magic light in her palm.
Compared to a few months ago, this light not only appears slightly brighter but also contains increased complexity.
Upon close observation, one can find within the light a nebula-like spinning energy structure, indicating a significant advancement in her spiritual power.
"My spiritual power has slightly improved recently."
Chloe’s tone carries undeniable pride:
"Moreover, through the skills of a historian, my perception of the flow of time has also improved, refining some of the magic I’ve focused on."
She gently strokes the "Celestial Sphere" crystal at her chest, which immediately emits mysterious waves.
Although the amplitude is small, it is enough for the two present to feel the subtle dissonance in perception.
"Besides that..." Chloe’s voice takes on a more mysterious tone:
"The combination of astrology and historical research has also opened a brand new door for me."
Despite her eyes being covered by black cloth, her "gaze" still accurately "fixates" on Ron:
"Now I can not only foresee future possibilities but also better examine past memories in divination images through historical marks, enhancing my prophecy accuracy by at least thirty percent."
Upon hearing this number, even the well-informed Ron raises an eyebrow.
Improving prophecy accuracy is exponentially difficult.
A thirty percent increase signifies Chloe’s prophetic abilities are evolving towards a higher plane.
"Recently, I’ve successfully predicted several actions of abyssal apostles and some personnel changes within the station."
Chloe continues:
"These achievements have already been recognized by Professor Yutel, and related academic papers are being drafted."
Upon hearing this, Uphemia’s teacup trembles slightly in her hand.
She naturally understands the significance of such achievements.
The practical value of prophecy is extremely high, and sufficiently accurate prophecies can lead many forces to compete for one’s favor.
"And what about you, Uphemia?"
Ron’s gaze turns to her, attempting to ease the subtle tension in the atmosphere: "How is your recent cultivation progress?"
"There has been good growth in spiritual power."
Uphemia strives to maintain the smile on her face while releasing her own magic glow.
It is a deep crimson energy, emitting an alluring yet dangerous aura, clearly exceeding Chloe’s in intensity.
"Already close to a 6.0 scale, just a step away from the Morning Star level’s critical point."
Her tone carries some pride but quickly dims: "However..."
The white-haired witch pauses, showing a defeated look:
"The mastery of magic construction and radiation field is still quite lacking, and I’ve focused mainly on curse reversal in recent months, with slow progress in these basic skills."
She omits mention of the far more challenging process of learning curse reversal.
It requires deep understanding of various magic principles, coupled with continual practice and failure in actual combat.
Every failure brings minor soul-level trauma, accumulating to render her overall state unstable.
What frustrates her even more is Aiden’s recent silence, robbing her of her most vital guidance source.
Those control marks planted deep in her bloodline feel like silent mockery, constantly reminding her she is but a gilded cage canary.
Ron keenly detects the fluctuations in her emotions, initiating "Hermit’s Knowledge" for deeper analysis.
In his perception, Uphemia’s spiritual power, though formidable, exhibits clear instability.
This instability isn’t due to lack of talent but rather the deviation in cultivation direction.
Over-focus on high-level skills like curse reversal, neglecting the consolidation of foundational abilities, is akin to constructing skyscrapers on sand; seemingly grand yet fundamentally fragile.
"Magic construction requires extensive practice accumulation, cannot afford haste."