[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wizard-unlimited-profession-slots":3,"chapter-wizard-unlimited-profession-slots-wizard-unlimited-profession-slots-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Wizard: Unlimited Profession Slots",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},226633,494,"Chapter 20: Spreaders and a Race Against Time","wizard-unlimited-profession-slots-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Peeking through the door gap to the outside, a familiar figure was stumbling past—it was another Candidate Apprentice, Andy, who had arrived at the Black Mist Jungle at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This young boy from a merchant family usually looked fearful every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he was clutching a large pile of books, running anxiously in the direction of the Library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Another one looking for a breakthrough at the last minute...\" Ron shook his head to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of situation was becoming more and more frequent recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the examination deadline approached, those Candidate Apprentices yet unsure of passing were either going astray like Locke and Emily or desperately researching like Andy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless of the choice, the results are often unsatisfactory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You still have to proceed step by step.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron looked at the Stimulant Potion in his hand and made up his mind silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although his current progress wasn’t particularly fast compared to those higher Star Level geniuses, this was just the beginning of his growth path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this path, every step was solid, every bit of progress visible and tangible, and it would get faster and faster until finally, he would surpass everyone completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that in mind, he sat back on the bed to continue today’s cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was precious; he couldn’t waste the effect of this Stimulant Potion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron had just finished his Meditation Cultivation and was resting when laughter came from the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That necklace is so beautiful, it must be very expensive, right?\" A female voice drifted through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s okay, just a gift from the master. Speaking of which, do you know what Sir Marcus has been researching recently...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened a crack in the door, silently peeking outside, from afar he could see several Servants of apprentices conversing; judging by the sound, it seemed they weren’t the same group as last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, from their meticulously dressed clothing and jewelry, it was clear that their status was far beyond that of ordinary servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not everyone has such luck.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One voice carried a hint of envy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard that the newcomer, the one who ’broke through’ just last month, apparently also took a special route.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shh—keep it down. But seriously, I heard it too, and it only took three days...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really? I remember he seemed to be from the black market area...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t get into too many details, but I’ve heard some new merchants arrived recently, specializing in rare material purchases.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tone in which they spoke seemed casual, as if just small talk, but every word carried a certain implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron noticed several dimly lit rooms behind closed doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Candidate Apprentices still troubled by breakthroughs were evidently listening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, who’s that over there? Yes, the one who went to find the black market merchants a couple of days ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the servants suddenly whispered, \"I heard...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t talk about it, don’t talk about it, it’s better not to discuss such things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another hurriedly interrupted, \"But indeed, the stuff those merchants have is quite potent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes, I’ve heard the effect is very quick, my master said, as long as you manage the dosage and timing well, especially in the...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the servants’ conversation, Ron suddenly recalled that yesterday, just after leaving the Herb Store, he encountered a few flamboyantly dressed female servants loitering at various street corners of the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, the looks they gave carried a hint of scrutiny, thinking back now, they were probably searching for potential ’targets.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those servants were clearly specially trained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They always chose to talk loudly about those ’special channels’ in crowded places, and they were all attractive females, which drew even more attention and appeared more natural when speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every detail was meticulously designed to get those nearly desperate Candidate Apprentices to believe this was ’reliable information.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Such means are truly...\" Ron sighed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His upbringing at Earl Ralph’s Mansion made him very familiar with this kind of ’information guidance.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, those subordinates wanting to curry favor with his father often intentionally spread favorable rumors in certain situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the Black Mist Jungle, such means had far more severe consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, a wrong decision not only meant a fall in status but could directly threaten life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servants continued chatting away, gradually moving further away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet those subtle ’messages’ had already ignited like sparks on dry wood, secretly burning through the dorm area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Truly insidious.\" Ron shook his head with a cold smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ’three-day breakthrough’ example they mentioned was precisely the mutated Locke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in their narrative, they deliberately omitted the tragic aftermath, only emphasizing the potion’s effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To those Candidate Apprentices with no way out, this was undoubtedly a fatal temptation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The three-month deadline is indeed too short for some people...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked out at the gradually darkening sky, sighing internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, those unable to see hope would inevitably grow more desperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the spread of these ’messages’ was undoubtedly pouring oil on the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few short days, several Candidate Apprentices had already taken reckless chances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke and Emily were just the beginning; likely more would follow down this doomed path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t hard to guess who was behind the servants spreading information, and who the black market merchants were connected to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this survival of the fittest world, the weak are always the prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they become test subjects or someone else’s servant, for some, it was just a harvest game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I still have to get stronger quickly; I don’t want to be manipulated like this forever...\" Ron took a deep breath, readjusting his mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forcefully shut the door tight and sat back by the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the chatter from outside slowly faded away, those deliberately planted ’messages’ had already left ripples in the dorm area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could hear pacing from Darrend’s room next door, evidently indicating that his neighbor, deeply absorbed in noise magic research, had also been affected by the chatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, Darrend was always focused on his experiments, rarely concerned with the outside world, but now even he couldn’t sit still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There really isn’t much time left...\" Ron felt a sense of urgency stirring within.\u003C\u002Fp>",1033,"2026-05-29T14:43:43.608Z","2026-06-01T04:29:33.427Z",1,"novelbin.me","c7eca43ee129e7c4602c33173967f11e3fb092bd9fefca91bc59e3c25202b490","wizard-unlimited-profession-slots-chapter-21","wizard-unlimited-profession-slots-chapter-19",911,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwizard-unlimited-profession-slots-cover.jpg"]