Chapter 381 Research and Rhythm
Over the next few days, the magnificent hall seemed to regain its former atmosphere of research and exchange.
The high-ranking wizards continued to explore the profound laws, while the lower-ranking disciples also studied on their own or engaged in small-scale competitions.
But for Jemin, the situation was completely different.
Ever since he demonstrated his "fantasy element" ability in the competition, he has become a minor focus within the hall.
People flocked to him to exchange witchcraft and discuss alchemy, and among them, a group had a specific purpose—to buy the "imaginary elements" he created for research.
The exchange was acceptable, and we inspired each other.
But this purchase research... is giving Jemin a bit of a headache.
The problem mainly stems from some people buying too frequently.
Looking at Rex standing in front of him again, Jemin couldn't help but rub his temples and sigh: "Rex, it hasn't even been an hour, and you've already finished your last serving?"
Rex, his face showing frustration and a hint of helplessness at the failed experiment, pointed to a specially made crystal container in his hand that was now empty:
“Your ‘imaginary element’ is too peculiar. Once it leaves the enclosed environment you’ve protected, its lifespan is terrifyingly short under the continuous correction of the laws of the plane! I just guided it into the observation rune array, and before I even had a chance to record the basic fluctuation spectrum, it had already begun to dissipate and its properties shifted!”
Jemin looked at him speechlessly: "Then why don't you take it back to your personal lab in the academy and conduct research on it using the highest-level isolation field!"
"Furthermore, with your current level and understanding of the laws, it's simply impossible for you to effectively analyze 'imaginary elements' at this level, right?"
As he spoke, he skillfully drew a wisp of pure, concentrated spiritual energy from his inner space, placed it into a specially made test tube, and handed it over.
Rex skillfully transferred a substantial amount of low-level military merit to Jemin's account via the magic network terminal.
He took the test tube, sensing the extraordinary energy within, and sighed in frustration: "I know, I know it all in theory! But... I just can't help it!"
"This thing is so strange. I can clearly sense it, but I can't guide it deeply with my mental energy. It's like observing the scenery on the other side of the world through an invisible frosted glass. The less I can see, the more I want to see!"
Jemin could only shake his head helplessly.
In his eyes, Rex's behavior was like throwing military merits into the water, leaving no trace.
The Imaginary Element, or what it disguises as the "Imaginary Element"—Aura—is essentially based on a fundamental logic that differs from the mainstream rules of the current Wizarding Universe.
In Jieming's view, spiritual energy is the real and true foundation for cultivating immortality.
However, within the cognitive framework of wizarding civilization, it fully conforms to all the definitions of "fantasy element": originating from "fictional laws", not fully compatible with the existing system, and unstable under the plane adaptation mechanism.
These kinds of "fantasy elements" have a particularly significant impact on wizards at a certain stage.
Especially those wizards who have already made initial contact with and begun to understand the laws, but whose mastery is not yet sufficient to build a complete view of the laws, and whose souls and cognition are in a critical period of reshaping—specifically referring to the third to fourth level stage!
Wizards of higher ranks have a more stable system of laws and a more deeply ingrained understanding.
It will not be swayed by the "noise" from different external systems.
Wizards of lower rank haven't even touched the door of the laws; their souls and understanding are like blank sheets of paper.
When exposed to a spiritual environment, one may only feel that casting spells is not smooth, like punching in a viscous liquid, but there will be no essential "rejection" or "discomfort".
Only third- and fourth-level wizards like Rex are in a sensitive period of transition in their souls and cognition, moving from "using the rules" to "understanding and defining the rules."
It has extremely poor resistance to Reiki, an energy that represents a different set of "rules"!
Simply being in an environment rich in spiritual energy can create a feeling of "cognitive suffocation," similar to lack of oxygen, causing mental energy to stagnate and making it difficult to effectively mobilize and analyze.
This is why, in the previous competition, those level three and four wizards who recognized the "Imaginary Element" decisively conceded defeat.
In that environment, they lost 70% of their skills and were simply unable to fight.
This is also the reason why Jemin prioritized eliminating the more threatening level 5 wizards in his previous tactics, and was not too worried about being besieged by mid- to low-level wizards.
Therefore, given Rex's current level as a third-level wizard, it would be extremely difficult for him to delve into spiritual energy.
Even with a full set of top-notch laboratory equipment, it's like asking a primary school student who has just learned addition and subtraction to understand calculus—it's incredibly inefficient and almost impossible to achieve any substantial results.
“Rex,” Jemin couldn’t help but advise, “with your talent, it probably won’t even take you a thousand years to advance to the fifth level of wizardry. By then, your soul will be stable and your cognition will be self-contained, and it will definitely be much easier to study this. As long as I don’t die halfway through, I will definitely sell it to you again when you come to buy it.”
Rex certainly understood this principle.
He nodded with a wry smile: "I know, it's just... I can't resist the urge."
The frustration of being powerless to delve into unknown knowledge is undoubtedly a torment for a genius wizard who thirsts for knowledge.
He sighed, took the newly acquired spiritual energy sample, and turned to find a place to try his observational experiment, which was destined to yield little result.
After seeing Rex off, Jemin was about to take out his spatial knowledge to have some peace and quiet when Viola, like a butterfly drawn to a flower, fluttered close from the side.
"Junior brother~" she said excitedly, "One more, no, three more! I want the high-concentration kind!"
Jemin glanced at her: "Senior, are you also going to increase your research investment? Have you discovered any new characteristics?"
Viola's eyes lit up as she said excitedly, "That's right! My preliminary experiments have revealed that your 'imaginary element' has an exceptionally gentle yet profound nourishing effect on biological tissues! It's not a brutal infusion of energy, but more like... um... the immersion and guidance of the essence of life! I plan to buy more and try using it to cultivate several high-level magical plants to see if it can induce benign mutations or improve their quality!"
As she was speaking, even the usually composed mentor, Clark, stepped over.
Without any pleasantries, he went straight to operating the Magic Network terminal.
[Ding! Received 10,000 points of high-level military merit from Clark.]
Jemin stared wide-eyed at the skyrocketing numbers in his account, nearly dropping the knowledge crystal in his hand: "Mentor?! You want so many?! That's enough to fill a small level six elemental pool!"
Mentor Clark explained calmly, “This isn’t entirely my request. Several gentlemen on the platform, including Ancestor Norn, are also very interested in your ‘Imaginary Elements’ and have asked me to purchase some on their behalf.”
He paused, then looked at Jemin with a rare, undisguised admiration: "Jemin, your 'fantasy element' is truly extraordinary."
"After preliminary research, Master Norren believes that it has extremely high potential, a complex and orderly internal structure, a very large energy level, and even... vaguely touches on the level of the four basic elements."
Jemin's heart tightened suddenly.
Clark continued, "Moreover, Ancestor Norn speculates that what you are doing is not simulating a single element. Your 'fictional law' framework seems to be attempting to use one or two variants of 'imaginary elements' to encompass or even replace the functions of the four basic elements? You are constructing fictional laws based on the 'grand unification theory,' aren't you? Very bold and very imaginative."
His tone was encouraging: "We are all looking forward to it. If you can really make it through, perhaps a brand new top-level fictional law that is no less powerful than 'fate' will be born in the future."
Upon hearing this, Jemin broke out in a cold sweat.
It's no wonder that wizards are a profession that pursues knowledge; their research abilities are terrifying!
With only a small sample and lacking systematic knowledge of cultivation and advanced research equipment, the wizard Norren almost grasped the core of "spiritual energy" in just a few days.
They even guessed the essence of Yin and Yang spiritual energy as the basis of all things with great accuracy!
At this moment, he was extremely grateful that he had chosen to use the "fictional law" as a cover to package spiritual energy, and he was also extremely grateful that there were so many geniuses in the wizarding civilization, and that all sorts of ingenious ideas had been proposed.
Otherwise, when he becomes more powerful in the future, this fundamental difference in systems will be exposed, which will likely not trigger curiosity and research, but rather unpredictable turmoil.
Seeing that he seemed a little nervous, Clark softened his tone and comforted him, "You don't need to put too much pressure on yourself. The 'Grand Unified Theory' itself has many controversies and unresolved loopholes in academia, and the path of exploration is destined to be difficult."
"Even if you don't succeed completely in the end, with the excellent characteristics that your current 'fantasy element' shows, adjusting your direction in time and focusing on developing its applications will be enough to take you very far on this path. If all else fails, it's not too late to wait until you reach level six, when your soul and cognition undergo a qualitative change, and then turn to studying other laws in depth."
Upon hearing this, Jemin smiled with relief and nodded, saying, "Thank you, mentor. I understand. I will do my best."
Then, looking at the huge sum of money, he added somewhat embarrassedly, "However, mentor, extracting such a large quantity of 'Imaginary Element' at once will take some time. I don't have that much on hand, but the reserves on the Purgatory Sulfur Plane are enough, but transportation and purification..."
Clark waved his hand and said calmly, "It's alright, we can make up for it later, there's no rush."
Before the two could finish speaking, suddenly...
A strange and grand rhythm, like the heartbeat of a sleeping beast awakening, or like the first note of the universe at its beginning, suddenly spread out from the small figure in the center of the hall without warning, instantly sweeping across every corner of the entire hall!
This rhythm was neither sound nor an energy surge, yet it clearly shook the very essence of each wizard's spirit, causing a momentary ripple in their perception of the surrounding laws.
All conversations, experiments, and reflections within the hall came to an abrupt halt at that moment.
Everyone, regardless of rank, turned their gaze in unison to the source of the rhythm—Anton Buchanan, the advisor, who sat upright beside the main seat, his eyes closed at some point, and whose body began to ripple with indescribable laws.
Without a word, a realization dawned on everyone's minds:
The time has come for Anton Buchanan to be promoted to wizard!
(End of this chapter)
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