Chapter 367: Updating a New Map Again?

Early in the morning, in the faculty dormitory tower, the diligent Teaching Assistant gathered the homework early in the morning, bringing two apprentices to push a small cart to deliver it.

In fact, he didn't have to deliver it personally, the Tower of the Grand Sage had Teaching Assistants like Ke Ji who were specifically responsible for administrative work, who were best at running errands and passing messages.

However, I don't know who spread the news, it is said that Prince Kelin is an incomparably generous gentleman, the tips he gives casually are magic crystals that have a price but no market, so working for him has become a popular job in the circle of Teaching Assistants.

Receiving the homework from the Teaching Assistant, Sarah carried them into the study and placed them on the side of the desk.

Luo Yan, who got up early, sat at the desk and stretched, looking at the homework piled up like a small mountain on the side, roughly counting that there were thousands of them.

Some people, in order to show solemnity, specifically used parchment for making scrolls to write. Others, although using wood pulp paper, wrote several thousand words, stapled together more than one sheet.

All the homework was labeled with numbers and arranged in order.

Tafu was laughing "poof poof poof" on the side, the gloating expression seemed to say—'You pretend to be cool, look at how you end up!'

That sneaky laughing expression was really annoying, but Luo Yan naturally wouldn't be the same as a little ghost.

Moreover, he didn't intend to grade these homework personally, if she felt that this little thing could stump the respected Demon King, then she underestimated the power of the masses too much.

"Hearing You You, scan and upload, open an activity post," Luo Yan leaned on the chair, ordering the white mist group floating beside him, sipping coffee, "Just say it's for the new map warm-up... ten Nether Coins for grading a paper, limited spots, first come first served."

"Okay~"

Hearing You You responded happily, the white mist surged, wrapping all the thousands of homework, and then uploaded them to the official forum of "Catastrophe OL", and matched with an eye-catching title—

【Guessing Activity: "The Demon King Who Is a Mentor in the Academy": How many points should I give these homework?】

The reward of ten Nether Coins wasn't high, but for players who were always paying attention to the game's trends, it was undoubtedly a rare fun.

Especially in this activity, the Academy, which only existed as a background board, actually appeared!

"Damn! New plot again? Wait, how did our Demon King run to the Academy to be a professor?!"

"Why is the sky green? I know this question! Because I moved the grassland to the sky! (Dog head)"

"Why don't you say you moved it to your dog head? (Sly)"

"Get out!"

"The sand sculpture upstairs, this is a serious discussion post! I think the guy who wrote a 6,000-word paper arguing that steel is soft is a talent, must give full marks!"

"This is a new map paving! Tell me it is!"

"Stop arguing, I voted 90 points or more for all! Say, when will the Academy map open? I can't wait to be a mage!"

In the discussion of the players, thousands of homework weren't enough to divide, the grading and grading comments were completed in an instant.

Luo Yan looked at the statistical results presented in the sea of consciousness and nodded with satisfaction.

On this barren land of thought, after all, a few different "flowers" bloomed, the probability wasn't high, about one percent, but it was enough.

By the way, it didn't matter how many points the players gave, anyway, he could guess with his feet that they definitely wouldn't grade them seriously, so he wouldn't adopt them at all.

He mainly looked at the grading comments, which was equivalent to the players helping him summarize, and then summarized by Hearing You You.

In this way, he could greatly save the time of reading long papers.

It didn't exclude people writing blindly, but out of a hundred people, there were always one or two who read it seriously.

That was enough.

Luo Yan waved his magic wand, signaling the dozen quill pens floating beside him to start working, and then pulled out a few special homework.

And among these special homework, the answer written by a student named Ilara made him particularly satisfied.

But her answer wasn't sharp enough.

She should have written directly—the sky is the sky, water is water, steel is steel, before discussing "why," one must first clarify the concept of "whether."

Many people actually didn't have this concept, and this was also the so-called "leek fate," not even figuring out what logic was, and started doing logical deduction.

Of course, Luo Yan also knew in his heart that most of these homework were written by deliberately guessing the examiner's train of thought.

The Academy didn't lack smart people, only stupid people who didn't know they were stupid would feel that one in ten thousand people was really stupid, rather than pretending to be confused while knowing.

They were just using the safest and most utilitarian way to exchange for the "reward" of one credit.

This was understandable, but it wasn't what he wanted.

"My laboratory happens to be missing an apprentice, it's okay to let her come to help me." Luo Yan's mouth curled into a smile, placing this relatively satisfactory answer sheet aside.

Just when Luo Yan was picking the team for the future "Science School," Tafu, lying by the fireplace, widened her eyes at the quill pens writing furiously.

"You don't even look at them?!"

She couldn't see Hearing You You, and even less knew about the existence of "Catastrophe OL", of course, she didn't know that these papers had already been graded.

Looking at her ignorant appearance, Luo Yan teased with a smile.

"When you didn't notice, someone had already finished reading them for me."

Tafu replied without hesitation.

"I don't believe it! Can you still pause time?"

Luo Yan smiled lightly.

"Maybe I can?"

Tafu: "???"

Luo Yan noticed that her tail was clenched.

There were no classes all day today, Luo Yan used the rest of the morning for meditation.

I don't know if it was because of being close to the Void, he could clearly feel that the speed of cultivation near the Mage Tower of the Academy was much faster than in other places in the North.

Of course, it might also be because of Tafu.

With the slow development of her body, the magic power contained in the dragon eggs she laid now was also much purer than before.

Under the effect of the two buffs superimposed together, Luo Yan felt that the efficiency of his meditation was like being plugged into a rocket, and the experience bar was approaching the edge of upgrading again.

Just when he was thinking about whether to continue meditation in the afternoon, the young man who brought him to the dormitory earlier came to the door again.

"Prince! The Council has already arranged a laboratory for you! It's on the 40th floor of the Tower of the Grand Sage!" Standing in the porch outside the elevator, Ke Ji's face was filled with excited red light, looking at Prince Kelin and continuing, "Let's see when it's convenient? I can take you to take a look!"

"Better today than tomorrow, let's do it today." Luo Yan smiled, signaling him to lead the way in front.

Under the eager guidance of Teaching Assistant Ke Ji, the two passed through the wide Scholar Square, boarded the elevator driven by floating stones, and soon arrived at a huge laboratory that had just been renovated.

"... This place previously belonged to a Mentor proficient in making magic puppets, later that gentleman moved away from here, and this laboratory became vacant. We cleaned it up for you, but there are still some magic puppet parts left inside that we didn't have time to deal with. Professor Hector said you might be interested, so he let me keep them for you. If you don't need them, you can also tell me, I can help you deal with them!"

"Thank Professor Hector for his kindness on my behalf, I like this gift very much, as for dealing with them, no need, I can just ponder them when I have nothing to do." Luo Yan said with a smile, and then glanced at this unusually spacious laboratory.

The decoration of the laboratory looked antique, overflowing with a rich academic atmosphere, rows of heavy oak experimental tables extended in the spacious space, on which precision instruments made of brass and shining glass vessels were neatly placed, as well as puppet parts stored in wooden boxes.

Tall bookshelves reached the ceiling, although most were empty, one could see the scale, enough to accommodate a hundred professional experimental personnel to conduct routine magic research at the same time.

"I'm glad you like it!"

Ke Ji smiled shyly, took Luo Yan for a tour of the laboratory, and finally a trace of apology suddenly appeared in his eyes, and he said in a small voice.

"It's just, Prince... there is one thing I have to convey to you on behalf of Professor Hector. Regarding the application for research permission for the 'Void', the process is really a bit cumbersome, the Council still needs some time..."

Speaking of this, he changed the subject, and hurriedly added a sentence behind.

"But please rest assured, the professor already has progress! Especially recently Professor Alistair also submitted a petition to the Council, believing that this is an opportunity to show the Academy's latest research results to the Empire, maybe it can attract the attention of the Holy City and fight for more resources for the Academy."

Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and said with interest.

"Professor Alistair is?"

To him, this was an unfamiliar name.

"Alistair Thorne! He is also a very good gentleman!" Ke Ji's cheeks were flushed, introducing excitedly, "He is excellent in reputation in the Tower of the Grand Sage, and is a leader in the field of Void exploration and Source Power research! If you want to understand his theory, I recommend his work 'Conjecture on the Isomorphism of Star Power and Magic Power Conduction' to you, many of his academic achievements are on it!"

Luo Yan nodded with a smile.

"I will."

It seems this Professor Alistair has a good popularity in the Tower of the Grand Sage.

As for why he would take the initiative to offer favors, Luo Yan could roughly guess three possibilities, and the biggest possibility among them was nothing more than recognizing that Hector couldn't keep the Void he ate leftovers of.

This was a clear thing.

As for whether this Professor Alistair had other purposes, he was too lazy to ponder, and wasn't particularly concerned.

As an Imperial Prince with real power, he only needed to shake the bell in his hand gently when he was hungry.

It's just strange to say.

Professor Hector, Professor Alistair, these "human spirits" who rolled out, why do they all like to pick up what others have used?

"Also Prince, I have a suggestion here."

Ke Ji hesitated for a while, and said in a small voice.

"You can actually apply for a research topic casually, and apply for the 100,000 gold coin research fund allocated by the Council for you to use first. This money is directly allocated to you to control. When there is a project you really want to study in the future, it's not too late to adjust the use of funds. This is completely compliant in the procedure, and other professors do the same."

Although he felt that the Prince probably didn't care about this little money, looking at the tip before, he felt he should remind the Prince.

Luo Yan smiled upon hearing this and said happily.

"Then I will trouble you to apply for me."

He really didn't lack this little money, but why not accept the research fund delivered to his door?

And this could be considered as the Academy's compensation for the previous "little unpleasantness."

"Happy to serve you!" Ke Ji nodded seriously, immediately taking out the notebook and quill pen for recording, "May I ask what your research topic is?"

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, and spat out a word he made up on the spot with a smile.

"——Magic Science."

Ke Ji's hand holding the pen paused.

He understood the word "Magic," but what is "Science"?

Is it some kind of lost ancient magic school?

A trace of confusion appeared on his face, but his good professional quality made him dare not ask more, just hurriedly nodded and wrote down this novel concept.

Whether it is approved or not is the Council's business, he, a small Teaching Assistant, doesn't need to worry so much.

"I understand, Prince! I will go and handle it for you immediately!"

"Well, hard work."

Luo Yan smiled and took out a magic crystal as a tip for providing information and taking him to visit, and placed it in Ke Ji's hand who was overjoyed.

Just a magic crystal could make him so excited, it was really hard for these little mages who were dogs for the Sages.

A few days later, Prince Kelin's second "Science Class" arrived as scheduled.

There were fewer people in the large lecture hall than last time, although it was still full, it didn't appear the exaggerated scene of crowding the corridor again.

Obviously, some students who purely came to join the fun or were not interested in "Prince Kelin's tricks" had automatically retreated.

The ones left were good students who truly had curiosity and desire for knowledge, or the grinders who were determined to get credits or Prince Kelin himself.

Before the course started, the Teaching Assistant distributed the graded homework back to everyone, and the score was written on the scroll.

Looking at the homework in his hand, Skain was stunned for a moment.

Sixty points.

Although he expected that Prince Kelin's homework wasn't that simple, he still didn't expect that Professor Alistair's answer only just reached the passing line.

It seems the respected "Society President" would also have times when he misjudged...

Can only rely on himself.

Skain shook his head with a smile, placing this failed paper aside.

He decided to listen carefully in the following courses and carefully ponder what the "science" in the Prince's mouth was all about.

On the other side, Barrett looked at the test paper in his hand with a bitter face, sighing at the number of only sixty points.

He seemed to always be unable to catch a hot one.

But fortunately, the kind Prince Kelin still gave him the credit, and I don't know if it was because of his name.

At the same time, in a corner of the classroom.

When Ilara received her paper, she was stunned.

Only to see a bright red number—"99" written in elegant font in the blank space at the beginning of the paper. And next to the score, there was a clear mark, representing that one credit had been registered.

She subconsciously looked around, finding that all the people who handed in homework were filled with joy, and without exception, they all got that precious credit.

And when she inadvertently glanced at Finn's answer sheet, she found that his score was "80", as for Kurs on the other side, it was only a "60" point that just passed.

Ilara's expression was a bit unbelievable, this Kurs was a senior who had been in the Tower of the Grand Sage for more than three years and had already obtained the title of Mage.

How could it be only sixty points?!

Obviously, it wasn't just Ilara who felt strange, Kurs himself was also depressed, muttering whether the Teaching Assistant judged wrongly when grading.

Clearly, this kind of paper couldn't have been graded by the Mentor himself, otherwise he would never have ignored his seamless answer.

However, seeing

"Sixty points isn't bad... anyway, there's no extra reward for a high score."

That was indeed the truth.

As long as those who handed in their assignments got at least sixty points, it was equivalent to everyone receiving this credit that was practically given away for free.

As the bell rang, the class began; the apprentices stopped talking one after another, and pairs of eyes focused on the podium.

Luo Yan walked onto the podium with a smile, said nothing, and simply wrote two lines of thought-provoking words on the blackboard behind him—

【Science is not a conclusion.】

【Science is seeking truth from facts.】

Afterward, he stopped explaining and, in simple terms, led the apprentices sitting in the classroom from the world of optics into a brand-new world of "acoustics."

"We often think of sound as a substance, just like the table in front of me. But in fact, it is a form of energy—"

"Or rather, a wave that relies on a medium to propagate."

These were all superficial physical theories; even without the players helping to prepare the lesson, Luo Yan could handle them with ease. Through one small experiment after another combining magic and props, he explained the relationship between sound and media, the concept of mechanical waves, and so on, to the magic apprentices sitting in the classroom.

Ilana listened, completely mesmerized.

She had never imagined that those phenomena she took for granted actually hid such profound mysteries!

Just as Prince Kelin said, figuring these out did not require very advanced magic or power beyond that of mortals; it only required a pair of eyes good at discovering things!

They actually all possessed these eyes, but the dazzling Holy Light had made them close them, only caring about rushing around to find the treasure buried above the snowfields.

She felt as if a window had been pushed open in front of her, and the scenery outside the window was more brilliant and colorful than any magical radiance.

It was just a pity that happy times are always short.

She felt time passing by in a flash; the respected Prince Kelin finished shortly after, exiting the stage amidst applause that left everyone wanting more.

With a look of lingering regret on her face, Ilana buried her head to pack her things, preparing to leave the classroom.

However, just as she was surging out of the classroom with the crowd, Prince Kelin's teaching assistant suddenly squeezed through the throng and trotted toward her.

"Miss Ilana! Please wait a moment!"

The assistant's tone was filled with extraordinary respect, completely different from how he treated other students.

Ilana looked at him hesitantly and asked.

"Is there something the matter?"

"It's like this: Mr. Kelin was very impressed by your assignment. Recently, he just received approval from the Council to have an independent laboratory and is currently short-handed, so he would like to formally invite you to become the first assistant in his laboratory."

Seeming worried that this preparatory student wouldn't understand the situation, the assistant immediately added a sentence afterward.

"I suggest you consider it carefully. The number of apprentices wanting to be that gentleman's assistant could stretch from here to outside the Tower of the Great Sage. And regardless of which school's mage tower you were previously recruited by, that gentleman can help you change your preference, allowing you to remain at the Tower of the Great Sage three years from now. Of course, I'm not saying other mage towers aren't good, it's just that the conditions are definitely not as good as here."

Other mage towers are just single towers, but only the Tower of the Great Sage is a cluster of high towers; there is no need to mention whose status is stronger or weaker.

For professors, it makes no difference which school they choose, as the resources they can access are top-tier anyway. But for ordinary apprentices, naturally, the higher the tower, the better the shade.

This sentence struck Ilana like a bolt of lightning, leaving her completely stunned, her mind blank, unable to believe her own ears.

Becoming a mentor's assistant meant that not only could she receive personal guidance from the mentor, but she could also access rare resources found only in the laboratory!

Let alone a preparatory student, even for a teaching assistant who has already "landed," such an opportunity is something countless people dream of!

"My god! Ilana!" Fen Ni Ke, who was to the side, heard this, and her face was immediately filled with sincere envy and the joy of being happy for her friend, her face flushed with excitement, "You're too amazing!"

"I..." Ilana was a bit embarrassed, bathing in those countless envious gazes, and for a moment, she was actually speechless.

Of course.

Not all the gazes directed at her were envious; there were also some that were jealous, or hateful and vigilant.

For instance, Ku Er Si, who was standing to the side.

Upon hearing this news, his heart skipped a beat, as if the sky had collapsed.

No matter how he thought about it, as a mage, he was the better choice; he couldn't figure out for the life of him why Prince Kelin would take a fancy to Ilana.

In his view, excluding all impossibilities, the only remaining explanation was...

He subconsciously glanced at Ilana's delicate and pretty face, then recalled Prince Kelin's young and handsome features, and a wave of malicious bitterness surged in his heart.

It stood to reason that this young prince didn't really take a fancy to her academic ability; he was probably interested in something else.

Judging others by oneself is human nature.

However, jealousy is jealousy, but he knew he couldn't compete with that prince.

But fortunately, that prince couldn't stay in the Academy forever, and this silly woman would eventually realize that she was just the prince's toy, and as long as it's a toy, there will come a day when one gets tired of playing with it.

"Congratulations, Ilana..." Looking at Ilana, who was excited to the point of forgetting herself, and Fen Ni Ke, who was genuinely happy for her, Ku Er Si also squeezed out a hypocritical fake smile on his face while sourly comforting himself in his heart.

Thinking about it from another angle, this was actually a good thing.

When the day came that his goddess was heartbroken, he could just happen to offer her a warm shoulder, and taking her down then would surely be a matter of course.

But even so—

My stomach still hurts so much!