Chapter 381: The Great Sage Who Muddies the Waters

In the second week after the publication of the Kelin Tower paper, the closed-door meeting of the Sage Council, the highest level of the Tower of the Great Sage, was held in a solemn and grave atmosphere.

Thirteen high-backed chairs made of white oak, symbolizing the Academy's undisputed authority and purity in the field of knowledge, surrounded a round table carved with star patterns.

The sages who could sit here to discuss matters were all scholars with supreme attainments in their respective fields. Regardless of academic standing or reputation, they were the undisputed strongest, and their strength was at least Purple Crystal level, while the Great Sage, as the head of all sages, was a demigod!

And—

This demigod was not through the grace of Saint Xisi, but through the exploration of the Void Realm, breaking through from the Grandmaster level!

The initial Void Realm was opened by him fifty years ago!

At this very moment, these undisputed powerhouses were sitting around the wide round table, looking down at the topics on the table like gods.

"Gentlemen."

The Great Sage Adothuliu, sitting in the main seat, spoke first, his calm voice echoing in the hall like an ancient bell.

"I believe everyone has already read this report submitted by Kelin Tower. Regarding the research on the 440th Void Realm, as well as the 'guidance' mode mentioned therein, let's talk about your views."

The first to speak was the sage of the Protection School, a thin old man with a perpetually tense expression who stood up.

His pupils flickered with wise light, but the voice from his throat was hoarse and dull, like armor and shields waiting in battle array.

"I believe Prince Kelin's behavior is extremely reckless and has set a dangerous precedent!"

He looked around at the sages behind the round table and continued slowly. "Every interference we make in the Void Realm is a declaration of our existence to an unknown world. Gentlemen, please do not forget that ancient warning—when we gaze into the Void Realm, the Void Realm is also gazing at us."

"I agree with the Protection Sage's point of view!"

At the same time the Protection School sage sat down, a tall, thin middle-aged man stood up and tapped the table with his withered fingers.

Unlike the Protection scholar who spoke gently, the words of this sage from the Summoning School were more intense and specific.

"What I am worried about is not a counterattack on the physical level, but a deeper 'spiritual pollution' from another world! Changing the progress of a civilization so drastically will inevitably attract the attention of some kind of 'inhibitory force' in the void, and may even cause us to suffer its backlash! Professor Keynes's loss is a lesson from the past! We cannot bring unknown disasters to the entire Academy because of one seemingly successful 'miracle'!"

As soon as his voice fell, the sage of the Elemental School stood up and immediately retorted.

"Worry is superfluous! Not to mention that the existence of an 'inhibitory force' in the void is just our conjecture, not a conclusion! The Academy's research over the past half-century has proven countless times that the material and energy exchange that the Void Realm channel can conduct has an upper limit! The worst case is just someone from the other side throwing a bomb that cannot explode at us."

That was an old man with a fiery temper, whose explosive temper might be related to his expertise in fire magic and his experience serving in the frontline mage corps.

Although the Elemental School does not mean radicalism, they also have conservative times, but they have a natural affection for the Empire.

As for his last point, it is of course also traceable.

The Void Realm channel also has boundaries for material transmission, and all material exchanges are based on common cognition.

In other words, they can guide the natives to build wands and learn the magic of the Aus Continent, but they cannot throw wands to the other side, or steal things they don't understand from the other side.

Once, a Void Realm creature threw a "big iron lump" at them, which was later confirmed by the Artillery Engineering Academy of the Imperial Royal Naval Academy to be a bomb from a design perspective, but for some reason, the warhead had been replaced, and the launch principle was also confusing.

After refuting the Summoning Sage's point of view, the Elemental Sage paused and continued in an inspired tone.

"Gentlemen, I believe Prince Kelin has pioneered an unparalleled research model! Instead of acting like a timid thief in the past, just to steal a little bit of poor information from the pockets of stupid aliens, it is better to cage them up and guide them to develop according to our wishes! I have finally figured it out; isn't this the process of establishing common cognition?"

"Moreover, we have already proven that a civilization established by spiritualists brings far more benefits than a civilization established by a group of materialists! Whether in an academic sense or a realistic sense!"

This sentence did trigger the approval of many sages.

The "flying boat" they painstakingly figured out from behind the Void Realm was eventually confirmed to be from materialists.

However, the reality is that this seemingly remarkable magic device actually doesn't have much use.

They need to consume a large amount of magic crystals to make it fly, but in reality, its role is just a large mule.

The Empire's sailing ships are faster and cheaper, and it can only play a role in the northern wasteland full of swamps.

On the contrary, they have learned more from the civilization of spiritualists.

Today, many theories of the hundreds of schools in the Academy were perfected in the exchange with the Void Realm, and among them, the Source Law School is the leader.

With the debate between the two factions, the Council was divided into radical and conservative camps.

Just then, the sage of the Enchantment School proposed a new topic.

"Compared to the debate about the Void Realm itself, I am actually more interested in the 'Magical Science Laboratory' signed in the paper. And the 'science' mentioned by Prince Kelin, I think this is a very novel point of view, and this point of view has brought inspiration to many mages under my command... although they are not engaged in Void Realm research."

Pausing, he looked at everyone, wisdom flickering in his eyes, and continued to elaborate on his findings after in-depth understanding.

"I read some lectures in Prince Kelin's classroom. Although what he taught has nothing to do with magic, the positivist spirit he imparted to the students and the so-called wisdom of mortals can be used to assist and even optimize our magic research."

"For example, using his mathematical tool—that calculus—to calculate the optimal structure of enchantment runes can very conveniently reduce unnecessary loss of magic power in the circulation link. For another example, his theory of force fields also has considerable inspiration for my personal research on the essence of spiritual power. Perhaps our spiritual power can also be explained as a special 'force field'."

"Force field? I think it's better to call it a playground."

A voice full of contempt sounded, coming from the sage of the Law School.

His hair was combed very neatly, like a judge, and that arrogant expression further deepened the stereotypical impression he gave others.

"This guy invented some new words, nothing more than wanting to be mysterious and sensational, so as to enjoy the pursuit of the crowd. Otherwise, why did he go to lecture to those preparatory students instead of those who really understand magic? What do a group of apprentices know!"

"With all due respect, he is just moving the tricks of the Shengcheng Royal Academy of Arts that please mortals to our northern wasteland. The precious and limited life of a mage should be used to pursue the mysteries of the soul and the root of power, and it is not worth wasting time on these petty tricks!"

He had also studied the calculus Kelin had come up with, but so far, the only role of that thing was to make him feel a headache.

The fierce debate lasted for a whole morning.

Rarely does a mentor cause such a huge controversy that the highest level of the Academy held a meeting for a whole morning for this.

Finally, everyone's eyes converged on the Great Sage Adothuliu, waiting for his final ruling.

The Great Sage was silent for a long time, and finally spoke slowly. Every word of his was like the Tower of the Great Sage, strict and unquestionable.

"... Prince Kelin's research on the 440th Void Realm, its results are groundbreaking, this is beyond doubt. The Council should recognize the academic status of the 'Magical Science Laboratory' and the achievements made by Kelin Tower, and affirm its achievements."

A group of radical sages suddenly showed joy on their faces, while the conservative sages mostly looked not very good.

However, the joy on their faces did not last long, and soon solidified because of the Great Sage's next sentence.

"... However, it is also an accepted fact that no mage tower has reproduced the results of Kelin Tower so far. Moreover, Kelin Tower itself has not proven that their active interference strategy can bring greater benefits. Prosperity behind the Void Realm does not mean that we can get more from the Void Realm... What do you think? Elemental Sage."

Seeing Adothuliu looking at him, the Elemental Sage felt his scalp slightly numb, his face tense, and he nodded slightly.

"This is the truth... The mage tower under the Elemental School has not yet successfully reproduced the experiment, but it shouldn't take long for us to make new progress."

"Then wait until progress is made." Adothuliu threw down a sentence lightly, blocking the second half of the sentence in the Elemental Sage's throat.

Facts speak louder than words.

The Great Sage's meaning is already very clear; he wants to see more results before deciding whether the Academy holds a positive or negative attitude toward the "radical interference strategy".

The conservative sages present breathed a sigh of relief, at least this shows that the Great Sage was not blinded by Kelin Tower's temporary success and relaxed his vigilance toward the Void Realm.

On the surface, others adopting radical research strategies doesn't seem to hinder their own research, but in fact, it is impossible.

This is not just an academic problem, but also a political problem.

If the Academy holds a supportive attitude toward Kelin Tower's results, a large number of mentors and professors engaged in Void Realm research will adopt more radical strategies to encourage the development of civilization behind the Void Realm, even pulling up seedlings to help them grow, and then ignore the output of the Void Realm itself.

Because as long as results are obtained, more Void Realm resources can be obtained, and sacrificing one or two worthless resources for this seems acceptable.

Over time, Void Realm resources will be even tighter, and limited resources will be concentrated in the hands of those radical scholars.

So sometimes, they must curb this trend. This is not just for the Academy as a whole, but also for themselves.

Of course, this is just the conservative view, and the radical sages, including the Elemental Sage, of course have their own views.

Kelin Tower's research strategy may indeed weaken the output of the Void Realm in the short term, but it can get them more in the long run.

For example, the Elemental School, although they are one of the three major factions, their influence in the Academy is far less profound than in the Empire, so the Void Realm resources they master are not particularly high-quality resources, mostly leftovers picked by other mages.

Similar situations include the Enchantment School, the Star School, etc.

Since this is the case, why not use the trash in their hands to gamble?

Like the conservative sages, they also stand on the position of conforming to the collective interest of the Academy, and then put forward views favorable to their own factions.

Even if their views are completely opposite.

And besides the radical and conservative factions, there are also sages who hold a neutral position; for example, the sage of the Holy Energy School had no reaction.

They are not close to the Empire, but they are close relatives to the Empire's Church, and their interest in the Void Realm is not very large.

By comparison, they are more interested in the soul, and Prince Kelin's research doesn't seem to involve this.

The meeting is coming to an end.

And just then, footsteps suddenly came from outside the meeting room.

A scholar wearing a mage robe walked hurriedly to the side of the Great Sage Adothuliu and whispered to the latter.

Adothuliu listened patiently to the scholar's report, his brows slightly wrinkled.

The sages sitting in front of the round table did not talk, but waited patiently.

After about two minutes, Adothuliu waved his hand, signaling the scholar beside him to retreat, and then looked at the sages sitting at the table.

Looking at the Great Sage's serious expression, a bad premonition suddenly arose in the Elemental Sage's heart.

"... Just now, a serious accident occurred in the 178th Void Realm. In the process of reproducing the Kelin Tower experiment, Mentor Moke, who was in charge of the Void Realm, turned the world behind the Void Realm into a barren wasteland."

The Elemental Sage was slightly stunned and almost subconsciously said.

"But this cannot explain—"

"This cannot explain that the active interference experimental strategy is useless, I know what you want to say."

The Great Sage looked at him calmly, waiting for the excited expression to recede before speaking slowly.

"But this is still enough to show that the active interference research strategy is risky, and we should control the risk."

This is an impeccable reason.

The conservative sages showed joy, and this time it was the radical sages who were nervous.

Pausing, the respected Great Sage Adothuliu looked around the round table and announced the final ruling of the Council in an unquestionable tone.

"Before Kelin Tower achieves sufficient results, we should issue a risk warning and freeze this research strategy within a limited scope... for example, within Kelin Tower."

"Before Kelin Tower achieves more research results, the Council will restrict the mage towers of various schools from adopting radical research strategies toward the Void Realm."

"This is to protect our limited Void Realm resources."

Just as the sages were listening to the Great Sage's wisdom, the "Magical Science" laboratory was as lively as ever.

Nearly a hundred young apprentices were busy with their respective topics.

Some were arguing until their faces were red for the theoretical model of the "Thermo-Pressure Flame Bomb", while others were carefully assembling the "Reflective Observation Instrument" with an increasingly complex structure under Jiemi's leadership, or tinkering with other strange things.

Unlike the solemn Sage Council.

The entire laboratory was filled with a positive academic atmosphere, and it was simply two styles from other laboratories in the same mage tower.

At this moment, in a corner of the laboratory, Ilana, sitting at an oak table, was expounding her latest discovery to Mentor Kelin.

And her inspiration came from the basic mechanics taught by Mentor Kelin in science class not long ago.

"... In the mechanical framework you taught us, our core concern is 'force'. An object moves because a force acts on it. This expression is very intuitive and can be expressed by a very concise formula 'F=ma'."

"However, when I want to use it to analyze complex systems... such as a double pendulum, or a bead sliding on a curved track, the analysis of force becomes extremely complex."

Ilana raised her head, looked at Luo Yan with inquiring and expectant eyes, and carefully stated her conjecture.

"Since this is the case, can we change an angle? Not starting from 'force', but starting from 'energy', to describe the entire system?"

Hearing this question, a flash of surprise flashed in Luo Yan's eyes, which then turned into a smile of genuine satisfaction, and he praised.

"Of course you can, this is a great idea. When I talked about the concept of energy conservation in class before, I was thinking about who among you would be the first to connect the two core concepts of 'force' and 'energy'... Currently, you are the first person to see this shortcut."

For someone who has received nine years of compulsory education, realizing this is not difficult.

However, for someone living in the era before the Industrial Revolution, wanting to comprehend this point with limited knowledge and vision is not easy at all.

Getting the mentor's affirmative encouragement, Ilana's cheeks flushed slightly, and she buried her head to continue looking at Mr. James Wali's manuscript spread on the table.

She took a deep breath, calmed down, and continued.

"You mentioned before that we can use the 'path optimization equation' to verify the conjecture proposed by Mr. James. That is, when an object moves from one point to another, it will choose a path that minimizes a certain 'action'."

"I couldn't understand what this 'action' was at first, or how to describe it in mathematical language. But in your class, I was inspired by the law of conservation of energy you talked about."

She picked up the quill and wrote down a sloppy formula on the draft paper rapidly, and confident light flickered in her bright eyes.

"In order to quantify and calculate the idea of 'least effort', we need a mathematical tool to define the 'total cost' of a path. I define it as S, which equals the system's kinetic energy T at any instant minus its potential energy V."

"Then, the 'total cost' S of a system from time t1 to t2 is the accumulation of the 'cost' at every instant during this period—that is, the integral!"

"In this way, the 'principle of least action' becomes an incomparably concise description—the actual path of motion of the system is the path that minimizes this S value!"

"And the method to solve this 'function of a function' is the calculus of variations you taught me!"

【S=∫t1t2(T-V)dt】

Luo Yan looked at the formula on the draft paper, then looked at the girl beside him with light flickering in her eyes, his heart shocked.

Awesome.

Don't look at this formula as simple; one step further is the Euler-Lagrange equation!

Although he had discovered that this girl was a genius before, he didn't expect this guy to be a genius to this extent.

"... This is an incomparably genius idea, Ilana." Luo Yan praised sincerely, "I encourage you to continue exploring along this path. My intuition tells me... you are not far from the finish line."

"It's mainly your inspiration..." Ilana smiled embarrassedly, buried her head and said, "Relying only on my own strength, I definitely wouldn't have thought of so much."

To tell the truth, she had always suspected in her heart that her respected mentor actually knew the answer long ago. It's just that he deliberately didn't say it, but left the opportunity to discover the truth with her own hands to her.

As for why he wanted to do this, she didn't know.

Luo Yan smiled faintly and didn't speak.

Oufiya, holding a copy of "Advanced Mathematics", waited silently on the side, wanting to interrupt but not knowing where to start.

She was originally here to ask Prince Kelin for advice on calculus, but she didn't wait for an opportunity to speak after waiting for a long time.

That pure academic exchange atmosphere made her feel like an outsider.

A faint jealousy welled up in her heart, and she finally couldn't help but speak, muttering in a low voice.

"Saint Xisi is above, this is clearly a mage tower... does what you are saying have anything to do with 'magic'?"

"Of course it has a relationship."

Luo Yan turned his head, looked at the confused eyes of the young lady of the Duke, and explained patiently with a smile.

"Magic can also be understood as a kind of 'force', or a kind of 'action'... it's just that we don't know enough about its essence yet."

Ilana's eyes widened slightly, and a hint of excitement welled up in her heart. What Prince Kelin said was exactly the problem she was thinking about just now!

Sure enough—

She was now increasingly certain of her conjecture!

Prince Kelin knows!

Listening to this baseless explanation, Oufiya pouted a little unconvinced.

However, because the person who said this was Prince Kelin, whom she admired, she couldn't help but believe it a few points in her heart.

Just then, a burst of rapid footsteps came from near to far, and Teaching Assistant Keji ran into the laboratory like a gust of wind.

Ignoring the other apprentices around, he rushed to Luo Yan and said out of breath.

"Pri... Mentor! Professor Hector has something urgent to find you, asking you to go to his office immediately!"

Luo Yan raised his eyebrows unexpectedly. Seeing Keji's anxious expression didn't look like he was joking, he asked: "Is he very anxious?"

Keji nodded repeatedly, his face full of seriousness.

"Yes! The professor's tone was very anxious! I asked him what was the matter, but he refused to reveal it to me!"

Luo Yan nodded, preparing to follow Keji.

However, just then, he suddenly noticed the "Advanced Mathematics" in Oufiya's hand and the pitiful expression she was looking at him with.

His heart moved slightly, and he looked at Ilana on the side with a smile, instructing.

"Ilana, I have something to deal with. During the time I am away, the task of guiding Miss Oufiya is handed to you."

"You are her senior, I believe this little thing is not very difficult for you."

After speaking, he looked at Oufiya again.

"You will study hard, right?"

This sudden order was like a lightning bolt, leaving both Ilana and Oufiya stunned on the spot, with different expressions.

Ilana's eyes were full of flattered panic, and she was at a loss for a while.

She was both honored to receive such trust from her mentor and felt unprecedented pressure to be a "teacher" for a Duke's daughter.

This...

Would it be overstepping?

Oufiya was also at a loss.

However, she wasn't thinking about whether it was overstepping or not; she just didn't expect the Prince to let her rival guide her.

Admittedly, Ilana's strength was obvious to all the apprentices in the entire laboratory, but wasn't there anyone else here who knew calculus?

He clearly knew her heart!

Not only that—

He must also understand Ilana's heart!

Oufiya flushed, glanced at Ilana beside her, and finally nodded in grievance.

"Yes... Prince, if it is your order."

Before leaving the Shengcheng, she had silently made a vow in her heart that no matter what hardships and efforts she had to pay, she would make Prince Kelin face her charm.

If this is Saint Xisi's test for her, then let the storm come more violently!

By the way, this sentence is excerpted from Chapter 2 of "The Drifting of Baron Kosia"—The Baron Who Survived.

Looking at Miss Oufiya, who didn't know why she was blushing, Ilana also nodded cautiously and said in a low voice.

"I will work hard... Mentor, and Miss Duke."

"Just call me Oufiya!"

"Yes... Miss Oufiya."

Looking at the two who were "harmonious (awkward)", Luo Yan nodded with satisfaction, a look of approval on his face.

Very good.

Although the plan to "make Miss Kastelion retreat in the face of difficulties" was a step away, the plan to "lock Miss Kastelion in the Tower of the Great Sage" took a big step toward success.

"Keji, let's go, don't keep Professor Hector waiting." Luo Yan, who had finished a trouble, turned around and said to Keji with a smile.

"Ah... yes, Mentor." Keji, who was dumbfounded, came back to his senses and walked hurriedly to lead the way.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 382 =====