The pages were yellowed, the edges fragile, as if they would crumble at the slightest touch.

  But strangely, when Pandora held the Wizard’s Book in her hands, she “felt”… that the book wasn't as “ancient” as it appeared.

  To her, it felt new.

  “Strange…” Pandora murmured, but she didn't dwell on it. She had more important things to worry about.

  She opened the book.

  She didn't start by comparing it with Dulles’s notes. She went straight to the beginning.

  The text was a kind of script she’d never seen before, full of spirals and curves, yet she could miraculously understand it.

  She read, page by page.

  A long time ter, she closed the book and looked up, a strange expression on her face.

  According to the Wizard’s Book, to become a “Wizard,” the first step—the equivalent of the “first-rank” in the Demon Hunter system—was actually… to read. To read a massive, incalcuble number of books, to expand one’s knowledge, temper the mind, and strengthen the spirit in preparation for truly touching the power of a Wizard.

  In addition, rich life experience and deep observation of the world; extreme emotional experiences beyond the ordinary, whether it was immense joy, sorrow, fear, or hatred… these could all have a simir effect, making a person’s “spirit” more condensed and resilient.

  From this perspective, Pandora had actually… already met the requirements.

  Whether it was the “experience” of a transmigrator, carrying the souls of two worlds, or those unforgettable “extreme emotions” from surviving in this apocalypse, or even just the sheer volume of her reading… she perfectly fit. One could even say she was overqualified.

  Furthermore, the Wizard’s Book, in a serious, almost warning tone, mentioned a rule.

  During the first-rank period, a Wizard’s apprentice should try their best not to learn about, or actively seek out, the deeper “knowledge” about “breaking through the first rank.”

  But once they learned of it, they must seize the time to advance as quickly as possible!

  The faster, the better!

  If they deyed for too long out of fear, hesitation, or a belief that they were unprepared, then a promotion that would have had a high chance of success would be very likely to encounter unforeseen complications!

  This was the fundamental reason for the complex expression on Pandora’s face.

  Because in Dulles’s notes, she clearly saw his undisguised scorn for this ancient warning. Dulles believed it was a sign of weakness, an excuse for failures made by those with insufficient talent and the courage of mice.

  But, Pandora also saw, in the ter parts of Dulles’s notes, the subtle changes in his mentality presented between the lines.

  The radicalization of his thoughts. Changes in his habits. His handwriting shifting from neat at the beginning to sloppy and frantic ter on.

  The kind of sickeningly self-aggrandizing “praise” that even Pandora found hard to read…

  In other words, Dulles had, without realizing it, already been “influenced”!

  And he himself was completely unaware of it, even wallowing in the arrogance that he was correct.

  This situation, in turn, further validated the Wizard’s Book’s cim—once you learned the knowledge of advancement, you should advance as soon as possible. Otherwise, dey would bring disaster.

  The key was… the moment she read this part of the content… she, already knew.

  In other words…

  Pandora’s heart suddenly sank.

  A threat, cold and born from the rules, quietly rose in her heart. The invisible “clock” had already started its countdown… for her.

  “No… can't think like that…”

  Shaking her head, Pandora suppressed the sense of threat. In truth, that kind of “influence” wasn't so terrifying. According to the Wizard’s Book, as long as one could successfully advance to the second rank in another power system, this erosion of the spirit would also dissipate.

  Although this path, for her, was not viable.

  But at least it partially proved that the “influence” was not irreversible.

  As for her choice, looking at her options now, the only choice seemed to be “Wizard.”

  But luckily, she didn't dislike this path herself.

  “I should act ‘as soon as possible’… but that doesn't mean ‘immediately’,” Pandora murmured, her thoughts shifting. A conclusion formed in her mind.

  Before betting everything on that unknown advancement ritual, there was one more stable, more necessary thing she had to do.

  And that was… to first concoct a vial of “Dulles’s Red Moon’s Tears.”

  She carefully and thoroughly inspected Dulles’s room one more time, this time with a very clear goal.

  Soon, among the messy pile of papers, she found Dulles’s final potion formu, as well as the complete research record that documented how the potion formu had evolved, step by step, from its initial theory to its final form.

  It even included detailed notes from every one of Dulles’s failed experiments, plus his deductions and analysis of the reasons for the failures.

  It had to be said, aside from being weak in the talent for “advancement,” in the field of “potion-making,” Dulles was unexpectedly brilliant.

  He was not only logically rigorous and meticulous in his thinking, but he also had an astonishing insight into the properties of every material. Reading his notes, Pandora felt like she was learning not just the knowledge of this one potion, but even a kind of… method for research itself.

  However, probably because he had spent most of his resources on researching the potion, there weren't many other usable resources in the room. Even his personal belongings seemed simple and shabby. The bedsheets were washed white, the tableware was worn with long use, and in the corner was a pair of leather boots with soles almost worn through.

  Pandora, of course, had no interest in these simple personal items.

  She only packed the things most useful to her: all of Dulles’s notes, the mysterious Wizard’s Book, a thick stack of potion books, and the two precious doses of “Witch’s Blood” and other potion materials.

  Carrying these heavy “knowledge” and “wealth” herself, Pandora then pointed at the massive, already-smelling corpse of the second-rank Live Iron Golem downstairs.

  Elsa understood, silently walked downstairs, and with her seemingly slender but immensely powerful arms, dragged the heavy corpse out entirely.

  And so, with Pandora in the lead and Elsa following behind, the two of them left the research facility.

  Pandora didn't choose to act near the research facility. She had Elsa drag the corpse all the way to the creek in the forest, far from the facility.

  Only then did she have Elsa drop the corpse, creating the illusion that it had been dumped in the water.

  Then, in her mind, she issued a command to the void.

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