Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots Chapter 1369 - 540: Corridor

Ron sat somewhat exhausted in front of the lab bench.

"Darling, are you okay?"

Nari’s concerned voice echoed in his consciousness.

"I’m fine, Mom."

Ron gently stroked the silver pocket watch on his chest, adjusting his breathing:

"I just need some time to sort things out."

Carlos’s reminder just now was actually very clear.

Yet he inexplicably felt a slight resistance, thinking that it was more reliable to verify this hypothesis himself.

"Maybe... I should analyze it more carefully."

Ron took a deep breath and activated the Historical Research skill.

The "Eye of Time" glowed faintly on his chest, and scenes began to slowly reverse around him.

This time, the target he was pursuing was quite clear—the exact sequence of the explosion just now.

The world began to rewind.

The scattered fragments reassembled, smoke rolled back into the test tube, and flames reversed into nothingness.

Time retreated frame by frame like film, until the moment just before the explosion occurred.

Ron activated Essential Insight, focusing all his attention on that critical moment.

In his special vision, the entire explosion process was slowed down to the extreme.

The trajectory of each molecule’s movement, the flow direction of each wisp of energy, all became clearly visible.

Just 0.1 seconds before the explosion occurred.

The remnants of two originally unrelated materials, catalyzed disorderedly by chaotic power, resonated in their intrinsic elemental essence.

The stability of earth and the agility of wind, under the role of chaos as a medium, reached a subtle balance.

It was the establishment of this balance that triggered the violent release of energy.

"So that’s it..."

Ron slowly opened his eyes:

"The key was never the ’formula’; the real core was the ’resonance’ between the intrinsic nature of materials."

This discovery illuminated his train of thought like lightning.

He immediately thought of his experience cooking Multi-element Soup in the Main World.

At that time, the Extraordinary Comprehensive Guide had told him a crucial sentence: "Form is exterior, essence is interior."

This sentence became clearer in his mind than ever before.

The "form" of the Fiery Mushroom is a special fungus, but its "essence" is the qualities of "passion and transformation" within the Fire Element.

The "form" of the Deep-sea Kelp is an aquatic plant, but its "essence" is the traits of "inclusion and flow" within the Water Element.

The "form" of the Mountain Mint Leaf is a wind attribute herb, but its "essence" is the spirit of "freedom and communication" within the Wind Element.

The "form" of the Stone Carrot is a mineralized vegetable, but its "essence" is the strength of "stability and support" within the Earth Element.

Since the key is to create a "resonance" between different essences, isn’t this a kind of "originality"?

Thinking of this, Ron’s heart began to race.

He recalled one of the core conditions for becoming a Magic Potion Professor:

"One must create at least one original magic potion formula."

All the clues converged at this moment, like scattered puzzle pieces finding their places.

Ron slowly stood up:

"This trial was a huge ’mental trap’ from beginning to end."

He turned to look at the densely packed formulas on the wall:

"All the formulas are ’noise’, meant to trap me in a step-by-step thinking pattern."

"The real test is to have me abandon the search for ready-made answers and instead move towards independent creation."

Aselia nodded, admiration in her eyes:

"This design is indeed very clever.

Most wizards would instinctively seek ready-made solutions when faced with such a rich ’database.’

Only those who truly understand the essence of Magic Potion Making can see through these appearances and find the true meaning of creation."

Nari’s voice carried a hint of concern:

"But darling, if this really is the trial, does realizing it now mean you’ve already passed it?"

"Mom, I hope so too."

Ron took a deep breath:

"But now, it’s just a theoretical breakthrough. I still need to prove the correctness of this path through practice."

......

And when he announced that he would forgo all formulas and go for originality, the atmosphere of the Inverted Potion Workshop changed subtly.

The dense formulas on the wall began to fade slowly, like pencil marks being erased by a rubber eraser.

Carlos, who had been watching coldly from the side, showed an approving smile:

"This is indeed a path full of unknowns, but it is also the only path to truth. Lecturer Ralph, please go ahead."

This reaction did not reassure Ron; in fact, it only made him feel stranger.

The whole puzzle-solving process went too smoothly.

Every "difficulty" was just within his capability, every "inspiration" just fit his knowledge structure.

Such coincidence was suspiciously coincidental.

"Why did he let me find the right answer so easily?"

Ron pondered in his heart while his hands did not stop moving:

"Given the cunning nature of the Time Hound, there are only two possibilities: either I haven’t found the real answer yet, or..."

"Or this is a trap within a trap."

The second possibility sent a cold sweat down his back.

If this were true, then every step he took, every "clue" he discovered, was anticipated by Carlos.

He wasn’t solving a puzzle at all but playing a role in the script written by his opponent.

Even the magic potion he was about to create might not be a key, but a vial of deadly poison that would be his downfall.