Chapter 372: Unexpected twists and turns

Just as Luo Yan's words fell, the group of researchers led by Miller panicked, their faces drained of color.

Use the "Source Power" lodged on the stone tablet to bestow a harvest upon the natives in the Void Realm?

This...

Is this Prince joking?!

"Prince... no, Mentor!"

Miller hurriedly stepped forward, his voice incoherent with nervousness, "Would you reconsider? Source Power is not used like this..."

It wasn't just Miller and the group of teaching assistants who were surprised.

Including Ta Fu, who was curled up on Luo Yan's shoulder, and You You, who was floating secretly beside him, all showed surprised expressions.

Whenever he didn't play by the rules, only Shala would stand firmly by his side, supporting every decision he made regardless of right or wrong.

Looking at the teaching assistant whose face was full of anxiety, Luo Yan just smiled faintly and asked back in a gentle tone.

"Oh, then please tell me, how should the so-called 'Source Power' be used?"

Miller swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his voice continuing nervously.

"Just as I explained to you just now... we can first extract a small piece of matter from behind the Void Realm, or wait for the prophets among the natives behind the Void Realm to actively understand our existence and establish a stable communication mechanism with us... these are all more stable practices. Only step-by-step contact can ensure the stability of the Void Realm and ensure that our interests in the Void Realm can be maximized."

Seeming to be worried that this Prince didn't realize the seriousness of the problem, he added a sentence behind him without stopping.

"Professor Gangte should have reminded you, right? Our interference with the Void Realm has a limit; excessive interference may not only lead to negative results but may also lead to the collapse of the hard-won passage! Even for the sake of the future of the magic world, please... be more cautious!"

This actually made sense; being cautious in everything is always good.

However, this is "someone else's treasure" after all, so Luo Yan certainly wouldn't cherish it as much as his own.

Of course.

Having said that, he wasn't here to cause damage on purpose; on the contrary, he made this decision after careful consideration.

These mages of the Academy completely didn't realize what kind of role they were playing on the other side of the Void Realm.

And—

The energy attached to the stone tablet wasn't any "Source Power" at all, but the root that transcends all extraordinary power—the "Thoughts of the Multitude" that possesses the power to change the world!

That is the power of gods!

"Miller, I agree with you; we should indeed be more cautious."

Seeing that the Prince finally listened to advice, Miller and the group of teaching assistants breathed a sigh of relief.

However, before the expression on that face could relax, Luo Yan changed the subject, and a "but" made their hearts, which had finally been put down, hang back in their throats.

"... But! This doesn't mean we should stop our steps of exploration!"

Looking at the panicked teaching assistants, Luo Yan changed his usual gentle tone, suddenly raised his volume, and said in a calm and unquestionable voice.

"If no one dares to make sacrifices for exploring the boundaries of the Void Realm, if everyone is hesitant and shrinking for the sake of the petty interests in their hands, let alone a hundred Void Realms, even if another ten thousand come—our understanding of the Void Realm will forever stay on the surface!"

"Since you don't dare to make changes, let me be the one rushing to the front. If I lose the key to exploring the Void Realm world because of this, I will feel honored and proud of my failure! Even if I can't be the pioneer on this path of progress, I can cast my bones into the bricks that pave this path of progress—"

"Everything is for science!"

Passionate rhetoric was almost second nature to Luo Yan.

Although he didn't deliberately seek to convince these teaching assistants, these words still unexpectedly moved some people who were wavering in their hearts.

For example, Miller.

Even though this experienced teaching assistant believed from the bottom of his heart that adopting such a radical experimental strategy was by no means a wise move, he still had to admire the courage of this Prince to be the first!

If it were other professors in the Academy, they would absolutely not dare to use the Void Realm resources in their hands to make such a bold attempt.

They had always been playing the role of thieves for their research on the Void Realm, stealing things from the other world or learning knowledge from the other world behind the Void Realm.

Those theories about the Void Realm were almost built around this core goal, and the first priority of all professors was to seek breakthroughs in soul level.

Although it cannot be said that their research on the Void Realm itself has no achievements, to say how amazing it is, that is absolutely laughable.

For a moment, a hint of shame of being unworthy suddenly arose in Miller's heart.

He asked himself, he was not a noble person. The reason he discouraged Prince Kelin was even less likely to be for the interests of the Academy or the future of the magic world; in the final analysis, it was just worrying about his own future.

Although failing to explore the Void Realm didn't require him to take responsibility, the opportunity to explore the Void Realm was something he had fought for with great difficulty.

Selfishness is understandable; people should prioritize their own interests and then consider others.

However, when this selfishness was placed in front of a noble soul, he almost immediately felt his own insignificance and pitifulness.

Undoubtedly, the risk he bore was not worth mentioning compared to Prince Kelin.

After all, even if this Void Realm exploration failed, he could still enter other mage towers by virtue of his experience in participating in Void Realm exploration, while Prince Kelin probably wouldn't have a second chance to explore the Void Realm.

In the dark, he suddenly realized what the scientific theory expounded by Prince Kelin in the classroom actually was.

Just as the Prince said.

Science is not a theory.

But a kind of thought!

With an unprecedentedly earnest look on his face, Miller took a deep breath and looked at Prince Kelin solemnly and said.

"Mentor. Not long ago, I was often confused about what science you said was, but now... I think I might understand what that is."

"Please go ahead and do it! I will support you!"

Oh?

Luo Yan looked at Miller in surprise, not knowing how the topic got to science, and even more didn't understand how he got another loyal subordinate.

But this was undoubtedly a good thing, and he laughed heartily and said.

"Very good! This is the spirit I want to see! Miller, let's go ahead and do it!"

"Hmm! Mentor!" Miller nodded excitedly and returned to his position.

These were all teaching assistants of the Source Law Sect, and they were not good at using life-system spells to accelerate plant growth. And generally speaking, just accelerating the growth of crops would instead have a negative impact on the farmland.

However, this is not important.

The one leading them to explore the Void Realm is Prince Kelin with Platinum-level strength!

Although they didn't know how to do it, they thought that Prince Kelin must know!

Coincidentally, Luo Yan really knew how to do it; the players and dark elves in the Great Cemetery had long ago solved this problem.

It might not have been possible for Professor Gangte to handle this matter, but for him, it was actually just a matter of one sentence.

He didn't need to immediately let miracles descend on the other side of the Void Realm; he just needed to let those poor and pious "Suolipuxi people" have more harvest in their barren farmland than last year.

"You You, can you perceive the power of faith on the stone tablet?" The magic wand fell into his hand, and Luo Yan communicated silently with his divinity in his heart.

"No problem!" A voice full of motivation came from beside Luo Yan; it was from the deepest part of the soul, a voice only he could hear.

Luo Yan raised his magic wand and nodded slightly.

"Very good—"

"Leave it to you!"

Looking at Prince Kelin who pointed the tip of his wand at the Void Realm, the teaching assistants present held their breath, watching his every move nervously.

The Void Realms discovered by the Source Law Sect were mostly based on "Source Power."

Logically speaking, the Source Law Sect had no spells to urge crop growth. And generally speaking, just accelerating the growth of crops would instead have a negative impact on the farmland.

However, this is not important.

It is normal that they can't understand; only Luo Yan can see You You's movements.

In his perspective, the milky white mist had already wrapped the entire Void Realm, and the tentacles of spiritual power were penetrating behind the mirror surface like thousands of fine threads.

Interference with the Void Realm began!

Luo Yan's expression tightened slightly.

He felt his spiritual power tentacles, like invisible roots, penetrate the barrier of the Void Realm, cross the bustling pilgrims, and touch the soft and barren land under their feet lightly.

He didn't go to urge those sparse crops to grow; that would only be pulling up seedlings to help them grow.

What he wanted to do was change the land itself, and under the nourishment of moistening things silently, show his miracles to the world behind the Void Realm!

The pure power of faith began to undergo subtle changes under the interference of his divinity, guiding substances such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium salts wandering in minerals and air to slowly deposit on the barren land under the feet of the Suolipuxi people!

This was like an invisible rain, on an unknown afternoon, causing earth-shaking changes to the world of the Suolipuxi people.

And this power did not come from behind the Void Realm—

But came from themselves!

On the other side, in the eyes of the teaching assistants, the world behind the Void Realm did not undergo any changes.

The connection passage remained stable as before, and the Suolipuxi people on the opposite side seemed completely unaware, still prostrating and praying over and over again.

Time passed minute by minute.

Everything was calm.

Miller and the group's tense heartstrings finally relaxed slightly. They looked at each other, although regretful, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief in their hearts.

It seems that the Prince finally adopted a cautious plan and didn't really carry out large-scale interference.

Those words just now might just be to test their determination...

Miller sighed lightly in his heart.

I don't know why, but at this moment when he should have been rejoicing, there was some loss in his heart.

He originally thought Prince Kelin was different from other professors, but now it seems that this Prince is also a mediocre person; those passionate remarks were just to test their loyalty.

However, Miller admitted that the moment he opened his mouth just now, he was indeed awakened for a moment by the desire hidden in his heart—

That is the desire to explore the unknown.

They are scholars, not like tyrants in a castle, guarding the treasures given by heaven without thinking of making progress, calculating each other, and thinking all day about how to squeeze more resources from people far weaker than them to fill the greed that simply cannot be satisfied.

However, just as Miller calmed down and was about to open his mouth to ask about Prince Kelin's next plan, a change suddenly occurred—

I saw the Void Realm screen located in the center of the magic array shaking violently like a lake surface into which countless stones had been thrown.

Looking at the gradually blurred mirror surface, Miller froze first, then his face changed suddenly!

"This is..."

The Source Power gathered on the stone tablet—

Was used up?!

In just a split second, the azure mirror surface returned to dead silence like a TV that suddenly lost power.

The mage tower was dead silent, and the teaching assistants standing on the magic array looked at each other, and then whispering sounds spread.

"Good fellow, what did you do?"

Ta Fu, who was curled up on Luo Yan's shoulder, looked at his handsome side face in surprise, seeming to realize the seriousness of the problem, and didn't dare to gloat this time.

Luo Yan didn't pay attention to her, but cast his gaze on You You, who was floating on the side.

"You used up all the power of faith on the opposite side?"

"How is it possible, Demon King Majesty, I... I used some, but clearly there was still quite a bit left." You You's voice was full of bewilderment and loss, like a child who made a mistake, not knowing what happened.

Luo Yan didn't blame You You, just pondered for a moment, then looked at Miller, who had a look of "life is loveless," and said calmly.

"Don't be nervous, the Void Realm passage is still there, our exploration didn't fail. Maybe it's just a lack of energy, or something we don't understand happened behind the Void Realm."

After a pause, he continued.

"Exploration of the future cannot always be smooth sailing; it is inevitable that various twists and turns will occur."

"In short, let's keep observing."

Although Miller had a look of "life is loveless," Luo Yan, as a mentor, was much more optimistic than him.

Unexpected situations occurred; doesn't it just show that the research strategy he adopted is effective?

Otherwise, what is research for?

Is it just to repeat what has already been done over and over again, and by the way, steal some tributes from the other world?

He doesn't care about that little bit of junk.

Of course, Luo Yan also understood that for these mages struggling at the bottom of the Tower of the Grand Sage, the practical significance of the Void Realm had long gone far beyond simple research materials, and more of these mages' ladders for climbing the high tower.

Even in most cases, "it's enough for me to be full if the respected mentor leaks a little soup into my mouth" is just a beautiful fantasy.

They completely forgot that the mentor they respected and they were fruits on the same vine; how could there be any soup leaking out?

That must be drinking the soup and then licking the plate.

After issuing the order to continue observation, Luo Yan placed a crystal ball near the magic array, and then sat on Professor Gangte's carriage, leaving the Kelin Tower standing in the ice and snow like a gust of wind.

And not long after he left Kelin Tower, the news that "the Source Power of Void Realm No. 440 was exhausted by Prince Kelin" also spread like wildfire.

Regardless of whether someone was pushing it behind the scenes, this news was like a huge stone thrown into a quiet lake, setting off a huge wave in the entire Tower of the Grand Sage!

As everyone knows, the Void Realm is the most precious strategic resource of the Academy.

And such a precious "sacred object" was squandered by an "outsider" who just came, which made it hard not to make countless mentors and teaching assistants who had expectations for it sigh.

"Don't know what the Council is thinking... rather give it to an outsider from the Shengcheng than distribute it to their own people."

"Hehe, isn't that very normal? Your friendship is not as important as the friendship of the Shengcheng; who knows, maybe you are the 'outsider'."

"If that Void Realm is really scrapped, Professor Gangte is afraid he will be unlucky."

"That's not necessarily true; it wasn't just Professor Gangte who pushed this matter, but also Professor Alister. Professor Gangte is a bit short, but that gentleman cannot be counted as an 'outsider'; the Tower of the Grand Sage is still very gentle to 'true own people'."

"Saint Xisi above... I beg for your grace, hurry up and take this Prince back!"

Inside the Tower of the Grand Sage, from the cafeteria to the corridor, and from the corridor to the classroom, there were whispering discussions everywhere.

Only in the public library that required absolute silence could one not hear those discussions that were either regretful or gloating.

Of course, not hearing doesn't mean there weren't any; maybe it was just that the voice of speaking was very small.

For example, Kuersi, who was studying, was obviously a member of the gloating faction.

People without self are mostly like this; extreme love and extreme hate are like two sides of a coin, which can be flipped seventeen or eighteen times with a casual toss.

Although he was very worshipful of that Prince at the beginning, not only because that Prince not only entered the Tower of the Grand Sage by strength but also maintained the interests of the candidates, but since the "Sixty-Point Incident" and the "Ninety-Nine-Point Incident," he, who felt left out, immediately turned from a fan to a hater.

Secretly glancing at Ilana sitting opposite, his jealousy and gloating made him lower his voice and complain to Finn beside him.

"... I knew that Prince was a guy who likes to show off! Now it's good, he really messed things up!"

Finn raised his head blankly, looking at this senior in confusion, especially not understanding the expression of "Look, I'm really smart."

You didn't say that before...

Not reading the confusion in his junior's eyes, Kuersi only felt that his criticism was not sharp enough, and didn't attract Ilana's attention, so he added another sentence behind him.

"And what Platinum-level strength, I see I don't know if it's true or false; anyway, no one dares to test a Prince's strength, right? Who has seen him use magic above Bronze level in the classroom? What science, I see it's also a waste of time!"

His groundless speculation finally successfully attracted Ilana's attention.

She put down the book in her hand lightly and said in an unquestionable tone.

"Senior Kuersi, I believe Mentor Kelin must have his plan for doing this. As for your criticism of his theory... if you feel it's a waste of time, why don't you use your time on more valuable things?"

Kuersi's face stiffened.

Of course, he was embarrassed to say that he didn't want to listen to that boring science class at all, and the reason he went was just because someone was also in that class.

However, compared to the unspeakable reason, what made him even more angry was that a mere preparatory student dared to refute him, who was a mage.

"Hehe, you've already started speaking for him; it seems you are developing quite rapidly," Kuersi, who was angry from embarrassment, felt his brain heat up, and sourly blurted out a sarcasm, "But it's no wonder; after all, he gave you so many benefits, am I right? Teaching Assistant Ilana, or should I... consider changing the form of address?"

He regretted this as soon as he said it, but it was too late to take it back, making him look even more faceless.

Ilana looked at Kuersi in surprise, first shock in her eyes, then turned into a hint of pity, "How did you become like this?"

Seeing the atmosphere was wrong, Finn tried to smooth things over.

"Both of you calm down... Mentor Kelin's approach is indeed a bit... uh, not quite appropriate? But I think Ilana is also right; he has no obligation to disclose the details of the research to irrelevant people, right? That is his research... As for the benefits, I believe Ilana must not be defending him because of that—"

"Enough!"

Kuersi, whose jealousy was swelling, rudely interrupted Finn's words. He straightened his chest, putting on an appearance of defending the truth.

"I have always been such a person! I am very glad you can re-recognize me. Additionally, this is the Academy, not the Shengcheng! Even less the castle of the Kingdom of Luo De! Whether it is a Prince or a Duke, they are just scholars here; there is no one who cannot be criticized!"

The noisy sound attracted dissatisfied gazes.

Although Kuersi kept his voice very low, it still clearly reached the ears of the apprentices studying nearby.

This was actually correct; status doesn't need to be cared about in the Academy, at least in name, but this doesn't mean they have the obligation to listen to a guy who is incompetent and furious.

Ilana was laughed at by Kuersi's hypocritical remarks.

He didn't realize at all that he offended not only Prince Kelin but also those who were interested in his theory.

She retorted sharply.

"Then you should at least criticize specific problems, or do you have any better ideas, such as how the Void Realm should be studied, instead of using groundless speculation to deny all of his."

She paused, her eyes becoming colder, just like the cold wind howling outside the Tower of the Grand Sage.

"Also, don't feel how noble you are; you dare to say so just because Prince Kelin is a good person, and even if you speak ill of him behind his back, he won't make things difficult for you. Saying the harshest words in the safest place is not a heroic act; I hope you can be as tough when facing Professor Gangte; he is not a Duke, nor a Prince, you can criticize him boldly."

"I..."

Kuersi's face turned red instantly, and he said stubbornly with a stiff neck.

"I, how would I know how the Void Realm should be studied? I am just an apprentice, and I don't even have the opportunity to come into contact with that thing! And... why should I criticize Professor Gangte? I think everything he does is very right! I am too late to praise him!"

This time Finn didn't dare to smooth things over again.

Ilana was right; Prince Kelin was indeed a good person and never made things difficult for students, but Professor Gangte was different.

How small that old gentleman's heart was, even among their newcomers, it was rumored.

I heard that last month, a young man just complained privately that there were too many tasks, and he was punished to clean a whole magic potion laboratory.

And he was not allowed to use golems, even less allowed to borrow the power of magic.

Looking at Kuersi's cowardly and stubborn appearance, a last hint of disdain flashed in Ilana's eyes, and she threw down a sarcasm.

"Is that so? Even if he lets you lie in the snow and freeze into a dog, and calls it 'exercising your will'? And hypocritically says what is this for your own good? Winter recruitment is not the first day, don't tell me you didn't come in with a recommendation letter three years ago, and didn't have to experience Professor Gangte's care."

Her voice was not loud, but it clearly entered Kuersi's ears.

"At least... Prince Kelin thinks this is wrong!"

That was what he said in the first class, although many apprentices didn't remember it at all, or had long forgotten it.

After finishing, Ilana didn't look at Kuersi's face, which had turned pale because of turning iron-blue, and walked away without looking back. ===== CHAPTER 373 =====