Chapter 392: Jealous Alisite and Ubiquitous Kelin

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun plated the Great Sage's Tower with a layer of golden warmth. Almost at the same time the bell rang, Luo Yan arrived at Professor Heketuo's office as agreed.

As soon as he entered the door, Heketuo immediately stood up from behind the desk, walking quickly to greet him with an irrepressible smile on his face.

"Ha ha, Prince! You finally came! Sit, please sit!"

"Professor Heketuo, you are too polite."

Luo Yan nodded with a smile and sat on the familiar guest sofa, as skilled as if he were returning to his own office.

Keji, who was waiting on the side, felt refreshed when he saw him arrive, and quickly poured him a cup of steaming tea.

The tea soup was clear in color and emitted a refreshing and strange fragrance.

This was the "Quiet Snow Bud" that Professor Heketuo cherished most, made from the petals of the ice lotus from the extreme northern glacier; it was said that it could make a mage's spiritual power clearer and more limpid during meditation. Usually, he couldn't bear to drink it himself, but at this moment, it was offered voluntarily by his teaching assistant.

If it were before, seeing his teaching assistant waste such a thing, the stingy Professor Heketuo would have frowned even if he didn't say anything.

But now his mood was very good, so these insignificant flaws were not worth him taking to heart.

Moreover, treating this Prince well was also something he had personally ordered.

Just three days ago, the paper published by Kelin Tower in the *Sage's Report* shocked the entire Great Sage's Tower.

And as the "recommender" who strongly supported Kelin in obtaining the research permission for Void No. 440, Heketuo had fiercely raised his eyebrows this time.

It wasn't just scholars of the same school who expressed envy and compliments to him, even the respected Great Sage rarely expressed recognition of his work.

Luo Yan drank tea calmly, and while chatting with Heketuo, he was also observing the expression on the old professor's face with interest.

Just as Keji had revealed to him in advance, although the expression on that old face was trying hard to restrain itself, the raised corners of the mouth and eyebrows still exposed the joy in the old man's heart.

"Prince, your paper really opened my eyes! Especially your inference on the 'spiritual resonance' phenomenon, it is simply a stroke of genius!"

"Professor, you overpraise me," Luo Yan smiled and took a sip of tea, responding calmly, "I just summarized some observed phenomena. And to have such results, the numerous researchers in Kelin Tower have made great contributions. Instead, I myself have only done a little bit of work."

"Ha ha, you are always so humble!"

Heketuo laughed openly.

After the pleasantries, he leaned forward slightly and finally cut to the main topic: "Prince, the Sage Council has reached the latest resolution, and... it is unprecedented good news!"

When he said this, he sold a suspense, deliberately pausing for a moment to wait for Prince Kelin to ask.

Luo Yan originally had no interest in cooperating with him, but seeing the anxiety and eagerness on that face, he still couldn't help but smile, satisfying him.

"What is it?"

Seeing the curious look on Prince Kelin's face, Heketuo smiled triumphantly, his eyes shining as he continued.

"There are three resolutions in total. First, the Council fully affirms your research results in Void No. 178 and formally revokes the previous risk warning! This means your research method can be borrowed and learned by all scholars!"

"Secondly, in order to support your pioneering research, the Council decided to give greater resource support to your 'Magic Science Laboratory,' including but not limited to priority in funding and personnel allocation!"

Looking at the excited Professor Heketuo, Luo Yan drank a sip of tea calmly, just listening quietly, without much change in his expression.

He didn't care much about praise and resources.

The former was just an empty name; by now, regardless of whether there was the Council's recognition, the name Kelin and the scientific school had already taken root in the hearts of people in the Great Sage's Tower.

As for the latter, it was nothing more than worldly money, and the thing he lacked the least was exactly this.

Luo Yan believed that Professor Heketuo must also be clear about this point.

If it were just this little thing, there was absolutely no need to talk to him in person; letting Mr. Keji pass a word would be enough.

Luo Yan gently blew the mist on the teacup, waiting for his head chef to serve the "main course" to the tea table.

And just as he had expected, Professor Heketuo suddenly lowered his voice, and the solemn tone added a trace of unprecedented excitement.

"Finally, it is the third resolution, and also the most important one!"

"The Council decided to establish a special committee to re-evaluate those Void resources that were frozen due to channel decay!"

"Oh?" Luo Yan put down the teacup in his hand, a look of interest appearing on his face.

He had heard Heketuo mention it once before; the Academy's attitude toward most Void resources that were about to be exhausted was to squeeze out as much as possible.

But among them, there were also some Voids that belonged to the extent of being so weak that they couldn't even pull out a feather pen.

For this kind of Void that had neither development value nor research value, the Academy's high-level approach was to freeze it temporarily.

In the words of Great Sage Duoliuke—they always had to leave a little hope for future generations.

Although Heketuo hadn't yet explained the content of this special committee's review work, Luo Yan could guess just by common sense that this was going to be a "reorganization of bankrupt resources"!

And just as he thought in his heart, Heketuo tried hard to restrain the excitement in his voice, announcing in a solemn tone.

"This special committee will be responsible for selecting Voids with potential for recovery and appointing new research teams to conduct restorative research using your research ideas!"

"And you will serve as the executive chief of this special committee, directly participating in this two-way screening work of resources and talent!"

The air in the office was quiet for two seconds.

Even if he was mentally prepared, Luo Yan was still fiercely surprised by the Great Sage's Tower's big move.

Joining the special committee established by the Sage Council meant he would possess the power to evaluate and even allocate the Academy's most core strategic resources!

His influence would no longer be limited to a small Kelin Tower, but would be able to radiate into the shadows of the entire Great Sage's Tower!

Although the Academy was a vassal state of the Empire, it was ultimately two different systems... did these guys trust him so much?

Or was it that these mages were certain he wouldn't stay here forever, so rather than choosing someone from the other party's school, it was better to let him, an outsider, be the executive chief.

But regardless—

A happy smile appeared on Luo Yan's face.

"This is indeed good news, thank you, Professor Heketuo."

Professor Heketuo heard this, and the joy on his face was even greater.

"Heh heh, Prince, you are too polite, this is all what you deserve. Speaking of which... this special committee, I'm afraid you will have to work hard in the future. Those frozen Void files are piled up like a mountain, and picking out the valuable ones from them... is not an easy task."

When he said this, he rubbed his hands embarrassedly, heh heh laughed, and the expression was like a child who coveted candy but was embarrassed to speak.

"Of course, in case... I mean in case, Prince, when you are reviewing, you find any resources that are particularly suitable for my mage tower... please... cough, take care of it."

This old-fashioned professor obviously wasn't good at asking for help, and he said it in a roundabout way, and felt embarrassed himself after saying it.

Looking at Professor Heketuo who wanted it but was embarrassed to speak, Luo Yan smiled; this little thing was naturally not a problem for him.

"Of course, your academic ability is obvious to all scholars; even without the relationship between us, I would naturally give you priority... please don't worry, Professor."

In a place like the Academy, the thing that was least lacking was researchers with talent; you could throw a brick down and hit a large crowd.

Since the decision-making power was in his hands, giving this opportunity to anyone was the same.

As a Demon King, his first choice was naturally those whose remote controls were in his own hands.

Heketuo's old face flushed, scratching the back of his head, as if to ease the embarrassment, he laughed loudly.

"Ha ha, that's true... it's not that I'm bragging, I am also one of the most famous Void researchers in the Great Sage's Tower, otherwise they wouldn't have come to me for recruitment."

Only he was laughing in this office.

"..."

Watching Professor Hektor talk to himself, Luo Yan silently picked up the teacup on the table, using the act of drinking tea to mask his awkwardness while letting out a long sigh in his heart.

To be able to reach the position of professor with this guy's emotional intelligence, it seemed that he really had some real skills in his hands...

Just as the Demon King's corruption was spreading silently toward the top of the tower, another possessor of divinity was not idle either.

This giant of the Source Law school, Professor Alisite, who had always been reclusive in the legends of the apprentices, had gone against the norm and changed his usual style, starting to appear frequently in the public eye.

The upper library of the Great Sage's Tower, a mentor with considerable qualifications was racking his brains for a complex rune matrix.

Just when he was sighing at the model, Professor Alisite, who was passing by, suddenly stopped, glanced at it casually, and said lightly.

"Why not reverse the conduction direction of energy? This is not a very complex problem; you are the one who made it complex."

That light sentence was like a thunderbolt, making the mentor freeze on the spot. At first, his eyes were full of doubt, but not long after, that doubtful look turned into ecstasy.

"Thank you—Professor Alisite?!" The moment he raised his head, he suddenly realized who the person who opened his mouth to point him out was.

And at this very moment, he was completely dumbfounded.

Looking at this ignorant fool, a trace of disdain flashed in Alisite's eyes, but he still responded gently and humbly.

"You're welcome, being able to answer your confusion is my... honor." He spent some effort to spit out the last word, as if it were an obscure spell.

That mentor opened his mouth wide, as if he had really been hit by a spell, and didn't recover for a long time, with a ghostly expression on his face.

Alisite didn't waste time on this "dumbfounded forest rat," nodded in greeting with a smile, and then walked away under the subconscious attention of countless scholars.

Another time, in the corridor leading to the library, a preparatory student accidentally knocked a pile of files to the ground because of nervousness.

Just when he was busy picking them up in a panic, he found that Professor Alisite had already squatted down and picked up one of them for him personally.

That apprentice was flattered and plucked up the courage to ask a question that was childish to the point of being ridiculous, about the essence of source power.

Everyone thought he would be mocked or scolded, but Alisite not only didn't get angry, but instead stopped and patiently answered his confusion with the simplest metaphor.

For a time, rumors about Professor Alisite being generous, wise, and willing to promote the younger generation blew through the entire Great Sage's Tower like a spring breeze.

Although many teaching assistants and mentors were puzzled why this big shot suddenly changed his nature, objectively speaking, these behaviors did change his reputation.

Especially for those apprentices who were not familiar with him.

However, hidden behind this praise was an unknown restlessness.

Deep in the night, in Alisite's private study.

He stared at his own reflection in the mirror, his gaze falling on the ring that symbolized the power of the "Suoen Society."

A wisp of twisted gray mist was slowly emerging from the ring, winding around his arm and into his shadow.

That was his divinity—

The fragment given to him by Awano.

"Xiao Wa, our efficiency is too low," Alisite's voice was full of impatience, "This bit of insignificant power of belief is just a drop in the bucket, not enough to make me touch the bottleneck at all."

He gave this divinity, who claimed to come from the Crown of Arrogance Awano, a catchy code name, so as not to know how to call it usually, and say something wrong at a critical moment.

That gray mist rolled happily, persuading him in a gentle voice: "Be patient, my master. In this regard, you have to learn more from your opponent."

"Kelin..." Alisite's eyes instantly turned cold.

"That's right," Xiao Wa's voice carried a smile, "He is using his way to nibble away at Saint Xisi's belief bit by bit, and it is in the name of Saint Xisi. Haven't you noticed? Half the people in the tower are talking about him, even treating him as Saint Xisi's chosen one... Ha ha, what stupid mortals, as short-sighted and ignorant as bugs."

Alisite's voice was ice-cold.

"I know what he is doing; you don't need to instigate me."

"I didn't," the gray mist's form appeared incomparably innocent, "I just remind you to be careful... and, at this point, it's not suitable for you to take action against him, is it? The dead him is more terrifying than the living him, and besides, you may not necessarily be his opponent."

"A mere platinum level." Alisite snorted coldly.

"Don't underestimate the platinum level, and... aren't you a diamond? Actually, you are only one level higher than him."

Before the master lost his temper, the twisted gray mist disappeared.

A few more days passed since then.

Alisite restrained his temper and continued to play the role of a "pro-people scholar," doing the things Prince Kelin had once done.

He wandered between various seminars, generously sharing his knowledge, and occasionally stopped to personally point out those young apprentices full of worship.

Of course—

Those gazes looking at him were not all worshipful, more were scholars who were startled by his inexplicable enthusiasm.

When an old fox suddenly starts to show favor, no one will think it has changed its nature to eat vegetarian, but will only suspect that they have been targeted.

And unlike him, Prince Kelin had rarely appeared in the public eye recently.

The two people were like swapping identities.

Recently, the Council seemed to have reached some resolution, and this Prince was busy dealing with this matter, almost putting all his energy into it.

His classes were occasionally taught by his assistants, and sometimes even by apprentices.

However, unexpectedly, no one felt it was inappropriate; the atmosphere of his science class was no different from usual, and even more intense than usual discussions.

After all, asking questions to the Prince required some courage, but asking questions to the Prince's students didn't require too much courage.

However, Alisite saw this as an opportunity!

On this day, Alisite suddenly announced rarely that he would personally open a public class for the apprentices of the Source Law school.

As soon as the news came out, the lecture hall was full, and even the aisles were full of students who came for his reputation... just like when Prince Kelin taught.

Looking at the full classroom, a meaningful smile appeared on Alisite's face.

Although he admitted that the Prince from the Holy City had a set of Void research, in terms of academic status alone, he was still too far behind compared to himself.

As long as he wanted, he could catch up with the gap between the two sides in minutes!

"Since everyone is almost here, let's start." Alisite cleared his throat and announced the start of the class.

The content of the course was the basic part of source power composition in source power morphology.

Although the lesson plan was prepared by the mentors under his command, these shallow knowledge were easy for him even without looking at the lesson plan.

Regardless of how Nuoweier, the fog of trickery, viewed his status as a scholar, the title of "Academic Newcomer" he obtained twenty years ago didn't fall from the sky.

At least in the Source Law school, the only one who could surpass him in theory was probably his mentor—Great Sage Duoliuke.

The atmosphere in the classroom was enthusiastic; after all, it was a master's lecture, and everyone listened with fascination, and the notes were taken for several pages.

Alisite was also satisfied.

Especially during the lecture, he suddenly found that teaching apprentices was not as boring as he had imagined.

Recalling shallow knowledge not only helped him relax his brain, but also helped him recall those obvious but easily overlooked knowledge details.

He might consider opening a few more classes.

Alisite, bathed in the gaze of worship, thought so, and announced the entry into the Q&A session, letting the teaching assistant standing on the side help him call names.

Hands were raised one after another.

Soon, an apprentice sitting in the front row was selected by his teaching assistant, stood up excitedly, and opened his mouth with a sharp voice.

"Professor, regarding the principle of 'observation precedes assumption' you just mentioned, this reminds me of... Prince Kelin once said that before we think about why, we must first study the question of whether. Is this the same principle?"

He obviously thought about it seriously, trying to integrate the newly learned knowledge.

As for why he didn't ask core questions related to source power, but instead asked a trivial thing, that was naturally because he only understood this.

This was actually very normal; the more notes, the less understood.

Generally speaking, professors wouldn't be as knowledgeable as apprentices; after all, everyone knew these rookies had empty heads, and it was normal not to understand.

However, the words "Prince Kelin once said" were like an invisible poison thorn, accurately piercing Alisite's heart.

On the podium, the gentle smile on his face instantly froze, and those eyes full of wisdom also became incomparably cold and ruthless.

A powerful spiritual pressure that made people suffocate flashed away like an invisible storm, and even the professors sitting in the back row to listen couldn't help but hold their breath.

The classroom was silent.

The air that was boiling because of academics a second ago was now so dead silent that you could hear a pin drop.

That apprentice who asked the question was pale, and in the terrified eyes of his companions, he slowly sat down, his body trembling uncontrollably.

He probably wouldn't be able to recover for the whole day today, and it was estimated that he would only slowly get better tomorrow.

Realizing that he had overreacted, Alisite quickly controlled his emotions.

That gentle face gradually returned to calm, but the gentleness and patience belonging to the "pro-people scholar" had already vanished.

"I don't deny that his words may be reasonable, but you don't have to talk about it to everyone like a parrot, and I think that Prince probably doesn't want you to be this stupid."

"Especially, we are not talking about the same thing at all."

He answered this question simply in a calm tone, and then announced the continuation of the Q&A session.

But his voice fell for a long time, and no one raised their hands again; everyone was trembling with fear.

A trace of annoyance flashed in Alisite's eyes, although he hid this annoyance deep in his eyes very carefully.

"Since you have nothing to ask, then class is over."

Leaving the classroom, he couldn't help but start to reflect.

Was he too kind to these guys?

So much so that they gradually forgot humility.

At this time, Alisite suddenly thought of Kelin again, and the gentle expression almost twisted again.

The seed called jealousy had already sprouted in his heart. Although he realized it himself, perhaps this was the price of becoming a god.

At least, this time Xiao Wa didn't persuade him to calm down; clearly, for gods, a little temper was harmless.

Anyway, people who respected him would still respect him, and people who hated him wouldn't stop hating him just because he did something.

A few more days passed. An invitation from the top of the tower was sent to Alisite's desk, stamped with Great Sage Duoliuke's seal.

Seeing that familiar emblem, Alisite's expression stiffened, a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, his face was pale, and his hands and feet were cold.

That panicked look was like a child caught cheating on an exam.

He looked subconsciously at the mirror next to him; the twisted gray mist seemed to have an appointment, slowly seeping out from his index finger.

It comforted him with the voice of coaxing a child.

"Calm down, brother, no one can see me except you, even a demigod can't see... your suspicious look is more likely to give you away."

Alisite lowered his hoarse voice and cursed.

"You underestimate that old thing; he has seen everything! And he knows everything! Not a single detail can escape his eyes!"

Xiao Wa suddenly laughed.

Alisite felt a trace of annoyance at its detached attitude, but couldn't do anything about it, so he could only say in a deep voice.

"What are you laughing at?"

Xiao Wa sighed and said.

"I'm laughing... you and your apprentices are actually very similar; you are not even two sides of a coin, but printed on the same side of the coin. Can I say that name? If it were him, even if Saint Xisi stood in front of him, he could chat for a while with a smile. When talking about holy light, Saint Xisi might even think he is one of his own—"

"Enough, shut up!" Alisite cursed angrily.

For a time, he couldn't tell whether he was angry because he was compared to an apprentice, or because he was mocked by his own divinity for being inferior to that man.

But now was not the time to hesitate.

He grabbed the letter, left the study in a hurry, and ran toward the elevator...

Great Sage Duoliuke's private garden was located at the very top of the Tower of Source Law.

Under the huge glass dome, exotic flowers and plants were evergreen under the nourishment of magic, decorating this small world like a corner of the divine kingdom.

Outside the dome was the boundless blue sky.

The stars were within reach here.

This was the apex of the Great Sage's Tower, the apex of the entire Academy, and the peak of magic academic prestige and power!

When he was young, Alisite had imagined countless times that he would stand here, overlooking this ice and snow world as the master.

However, in middle age, this ambition had long been smoothed out by reality.

His mentor, this living legend of the Academy, looked like he had no signs of withering at all; he was afraid he would live longer than him.

Facing this unfathomable mentor, Alisite restrained all exposed emotions, trying hard to restrain the nervousness in his heart.

Hope he, who is busy with everything, doesn't notice his recent abnormality...

However, just when he was nervous, Great Sage Duoliuke behaved as usual.

Unlike his majestic posture at the Sage Conference, he was leisurely pruning branches and leaves for an orchid that could glow.

Seeing Alisite arrive, the white-bearded old man nodded gently, signaling his favorite student to sit on a stone bench on the side.

"You seem very active recently," Duoliuke's voice was steady and slow, with a kind smile on his face, but his deep eyes made people unable to see the depth, "I heard that you have started to teach apprentices personally again recently?"

"Just sharing some shallow insights, hoping to contribute a little bit to the future of the Academy." Alisite replied humbly.

"Ha ha, that's good."

Duoliuke's voice carried a trace of nostalgia, as if he were missing the time that had passed. He was not unable to age, just that the speed of aging was slower than ordinary people.

"Time flies so fast... how many years has it been, do you still remember those basic theories?"

Alisite said respectfully.

"Of course I remember, you taught them to me."

Duoliuke smiled gently.

He didn't continue on this topic, just continued to chat with him about the recent situation of cultivation and Void research, as if this summons was just an ordinary teacher-student talk.

Just when Alisite was gradually relaxing his vigilance, the Great Sage put down the gardening shears seemingly inadvertently and suddenly spoke.

"By the way, Alisite, regarding that newly established 'special committee'... the Council has made a decision."

He paused and continued in a very light voice.

"I intend to appoint Prince Kelin as the executive chief, fully responsible for the selection and restoration work of those decaying Voids." ===== CHAPTER 393 =====