Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Browsing through the files in his hands, Douglas remarked while turning the pages, “It’s true that the style of the combination of different magic patterns is highly different from that of our version, but it is also possible that he modified it on purpose after exchanging for it. The sorcerers who have the qualifications and clearances to acquire the full structure of artificial planets can’t be stupid.”
The structure model of a spell or a magic circle was not unique. As long as it agreed with the corresponding mechanism and process, the eventual magic model or magic circle would achieve the desired effect. Therefore, the spells that different sorcerers built based on the same arcana principle often turned out to be models whose core was the same but whose details were different from their personal styles.
Sometimes, when the details in their design were perfect and close enough to the mechanism, their model would have a better effect than other models did. That was also one source of unique magic. However, a better effect was not essentially better. It was still limited by the core and could not surpass its maximum.
Therefore, most spells that were open to the public had been united as the magic models with the best result. They were known in the Magic Empire as “standard spells”. That was even more obvious in the Congress of Magic where the research was open. In many cases, the improvement in spells had to depend on the deeper understanding of the mechanism.
However, during the recent hundred years, it had occurred to the arcanists of the Congress of Magic that perhaps “standard spells” did not really exist. That was to say, the magic model with the best effect was not universal. Different sorcerers had their own different models to achieve the best effect.
The weird phenomenon raised a lot of attention at that time. Further research indicated that it was because of the different cognitive worlds of different sorcerers. The magic models that best matched their cognitive worlds would achieve the best effect.
After that, many sorcerers would both analyze the standard spells and adjust the details after they exchanged for them so that the standard spells would better suit themselves. But of course, the cognitive world would only be stabilized after the middle rank. There was no need for the magic apprentices and the regular sorcerers to do that.
“Hehe. It’s good enough that the range is narrowed down. I don’t believe that he would lay low in the future. We will figure out who he is if he does a few more similar things!” Fernando drew circles on the list, loathing the traitor so much that he almost wanted to grab him and let him taste the feeling of a storm.
After the discussion on the matter, Douglas suddenly asked Fernando, Brook, and Lucien their research progress on the quantum field theory, “There’s still no solution to the problem of infinity? I think that your idea about the field theory is correct. If you walk down the path, you will figure out the essence of the electromagnetic force sooner or later. At the very least, the current explanation is much more advanced than the past. Maybe after the theory takes shape, Brook’s broken and solidified cognitive world will be restored, and he’ll find his own path to demigod.”
Judging from his tone and his choice of words, he was still rather concerned about Brook, his “insubordinate” student. However, finding the path did not mean advancement. Leaving the odds of success aside, the perfection of the details on the path would probably take many years. For example, Douglas had “seen” the path to demigod through the general theory of relativity for many years, but he was still far away from “finding” his path. He would have to wait for the feedback of the truth of the world based on planets or black holes.
“Infinity…” Fernando repeated in a low voice as if he were trying to swallow it.
Lucien replied with a smile, “We’ve decided to submit the papers recently so that more arcanists could work on them. It’s possible that their ideas will give us the inspiration to solve the problem.”
“Yes. Arcana studies are not like magic. With enough fundamental knowledge and talents, the middle-rank and senior-rank arcanists can also make enormous contributions. Over the past decade, many achievements in the new microscopic domain have been accomplished by the young arcanists whose arcana level is not very high. This is an era of the young. You are the most distinguished representative of them,” Douglas said in mixed feelings.
Lucien smiled. “A major part of the studies were completed by Mr. President and master. Mr. President, how is your preparation to search for planets going?”
“Better than I thought. Probably in one to two months, I’ll be able to conduct a super-remote space jump. I hope I can find the little guys who have been giving me a headache for hundreds of years,” Douglas replied with unusual humor.
“One to two months?” Lucien was rather surprised. Didn’t the president estimate that it would take one to two years?
Douglas chuckled. “I’ve changed my plan. I have postponed searching for the planets that are far away because it may be easier to find the sun which is closer to us, although no one has ever succeeded before.”
During the Magic Empire, the legendary sorcerers had tried searching for the sun through space jump, to no avail. Therefore, they believed that the sun was the “symbol” of a certain demigod and could not be located without his permission. Also, based on the comparison between the sun and the silver moon, it was possible that the God of Sun was not a demigod but a real one!
After all, until Douglas proposed the system of celestial body motion, the sun that illuminated the earth and radiated light and heat was generally worshiped. Great significance had been attached to it by the sorcerers, making it one of the special, influential celestial bodies in the school of astrology just like the silver moon.
Guided by such ideas, no legendary sorcerers attempted to locate the sun until Douglas became legendary, but he failed to find the sun, too. So, he acknowledged the theory that the sun was a demigod and aimed for the stars further away in his cosmic exploration later.
“Mr. President, you have to be careful. Our calculation might not have taken all the factors into consideration. It could be quite dangerous if you land on the surface of the sun after the teleportation,” Lucien reminded concernedly.
Lucien never considered the possibility of teleporting onto the sun because the terrifying heat and the enormous gravity would stop the space-time gate from being opened.
“That will be a good thing. I would die without regrets even if I’m killed on the spot,” said Douglas with a smile, as if it were really a good thing.
Fernando did not say much. It was not so easy to kill a top legendary sorcerer. He looked at Lucien with his red eyes. “What have you been busy working on in the last half of the year except for the field theory?”
“Analyzing legendary spells, improving my magic capabilities, and trying to reach the peak of level three so that I can try to advance to level four.” Lucien seemed unclear about what his teacher meant and answered “frankly”. However, he was not lying about the focus of his life recently. After “Snow Goddess’ Forgiveness” and “Elemental Protection”, thirteen legendary spells had been engraved into his soul, and the number would probably reach fifteen in a year. He would be qualified to sprint at the peak of legendary.
Fernando said in a bad mood, “I know that you are making remarkable progress. What I asked was the application you filed to the Magic Research Board. What are you planning to build inside the Atom Institution? The expensive materials you need are enough to build a level-nine magic item.”
Somebody mentioned it before he came here, and he did not know the details.
“I’ve devoted more ancillary materials to it than what I applied for.” Lucien shook his head with a smile. “The main reason is that many areas with lousy environments could only be visited by high-level sorcerers. Some places even demand archmages. Therefore, the common sorcerers with arcana gifts do not have a choice to explore and study such areas, which is a major restraint for the development of arcana. After all, many of our achievements today depend on the collision of particles, the unusual tracks during the experiments, and the screening of abundant data. It would take dozens if not hundreds of times longer if the legendary sorcerers and the archmages are doing the work alone.”
Douglas nodded. “That’s a fantastic idea. Do you have any product yet?”
“I’m close to success. After it works out, I’ll open it to all the arcanists, but they have to file an application in advance and receive thorough vetting.” Lucien briefly described his “alchemical item” and won the approval of Douglas and Fernando.
……
In Atom Institution…
Heidi and the other students looked at the door of a small laboratory. It was absolutely quiet, without any sound coming out.
“You said that our teacher has often locked himself in this small laboratory during the past few months, and that magic waves spread out now and then?” Although they had been away from each other for several months, Katrina did not feel alienated from Heidi and her other friends in the Atom Institution. Instead, she had a sense of familiarity and warmth now that she had finally come home.
Heidi nodded her head fast like a little chicken. “Yes. We don’t know what our teacher is working on. He is rather mysterious and locks the laboratory tightly every single time.”
Hardly had she concluded her sentence when the door of the small laboratory was opened, and Lucien walked out in his double-breasted suit.
“Good morning, Master!” Heidi and the other students greeted him at the same time. Their eyes were rolling nonstop as they tried to see what was inside the laboratory from the gap that Lucien was blocking.
“You are very curious?” Lucien said with a smile.
“Huh? Yes! I’m very curious!” After a brief daze, Heidi hurried to nod.
Lucien looked around at them. “If you are curious, do you want to give it a shot? However, only four people can take it at one time.”
“Me! I would like to take it!” Heidi had always been a girl of curiosity, and she believed that her teacher would not harm her.
With her as the example, Sprint, Katrina, and Annick raised their hands earlier than other people did.
“Alright. Come in with me.” Lucien turned around and showed everyone what was inside the laboratory.
