Chapter 395: The Seminar Ends

The seminar ended, and the scholars left one after another.

The twelve Void Realm resources released in the first batch all found researchers whom Luo Yan deemed most suitable for them.

Those selected naturally could not hide the excitement and ecstasy in their hearts; they repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Prince Kelin and swore a solemn oath that they would certainly not fail his expectations.

As for the scholars who were not selected, apart from the arrogant Professor Kamirel and the incompetent Tutor Lukoro, most of them, while regretful, did not harbor much resentment in their eyes; they were more convinced and resigned to the result.

After all, they had witnessed the entire process of the qualification review with their own eyes, and every scholar who was approved had earned it through their own strength.

This was, of course, a good thing for those scholars who possessed true talent and learning.

Many people had already secretly made up their minds to prepare seriously after returning this time, striving to impress this selfless Prince with genuine scholarship in the next selection.

In the corridor, the whispering of the scholars rose and fell.

"That Prince is truly unfathomable! He saw through the problems in Professor Kamirel's report at a single glance!"

"Indeed, I really didn't expect that Prince would actually be willing to give an 'old antique' like Tutor Rockwell a chance!"

"It seems the sky of the Tower of the Great Sage is truly about to change..."

A flash of resentment crossed Professor Kamirel's eyes, but in the end, he swallowed his anger and hurried away from the corridor.

Inside the seminar room.

Luo Yan leaned back comfortably in his chair, looking at the files in his hand with a satisfied expression on his face.

Velich, who was serving as the scribe, was carefully organizing the interview records on the side, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at the Prince.

Noticing his gaze, Luo Yan smiled and said casually.

"It seems you have something you want to say to me."

"No, Your Highness, I am just... a bit surprised."

Velich stopped his work, scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, and after a pause, continued.

"I never thought that the selection for Void Realm resources could be so fair. Thank you, you have let me see what academia should look like."

Luo Yan smiled faintly and said in an easygoing tone.

"This is nothing, or rather... this is what this world should have been like in the first place. Since you have seen it here with me, I hope you can pass on this atmosphere. Sooner or later, I will leave this place, and when that time comes, it will be up to you all."

Looking at that trusting gaze, a sense of mission suddenly welled up in Velich's heart, but there was also a hint of faint sadness.

Recently, the Prince had often said this, making him unable to help but worry whether he was already about to leave this snowfield.

He truly hoped that this Prince could stay here for a while longer.

The time he spent working with him was the most relaxed and free period he had experienced since stepping into the Academy.

He saw another possibility in him; they actually had a chance to jump out of the vortex that trapped them all.

As long as they made a small change, it would be enough.

This heartfelt longing was just like the creatures behind the Void Realm, looking up at the ancient gods in the void through the whispers in the dark.

Velich took a deep breath and placed his palm on his chest.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness! I will definitely pass on your teachings to my students and let them pass them on forever and ever!"

Luo Yan nodded with a smile.

"With those words from you, I can rest easy."

The bell of dusk rang, and Luo Yan returned to the dormitory tower.

Sarah, who was waiting in the entryway, walked to his side and gently took the coat stained with a hint of chill from him; those vertical pupils, which were always filled with indifference on ordinary days, only revealed a shape filled with concern when seeing her Demon King.

"Your Highness, did everything go smoothly today?"

"Mm, it went quite smoothly," Luo Yan revealed a slightly tired smile on his face, "It's just that dealing with a group of old foxes is a bit tiring, but none of it is a big problem. Actually, I was quite surprised; I originally thought that Mr. Alistair Thorne would not be able to sit still, but it turned out he was unexpectedly able to endure."

Sarah was slightly stunned.

"That person... has a grudge against you?"

Luo Yan replied casually.

"No, he even helped me a few times... although that wasn't for my sake, but for some plan of his own."

Sarah pondered for a moment and said.

"Then why do you think he would be... detrimental to you?"

"This is inevitable," Luo Yan smiled and said in a gentle tone, "Sarah, this high tower is more crowded than we imagined, even more crowded than the Demon Capital and the Shengcheng. Do you remember Elder Dragon? He actually doesn't have any grudge against me either, but... once we reach that position and are unwilling to give up our own resources, we will automatically become his enemies, and he will also become someone we have to defeat."

For those in high positions, personal grievances are a superficial emotion, and the conflicts arising from such emotions are actually quite easy to resolve.

For example, Xino Dragon, that idiot who isn't very smart, now they have instead become friends who got to know each other through a fight.

Because after that power struggle, the Dragon family has lost its status as a first-tier family in the Demon Capital, even without 'Councilor Luo Yan', it is the same.

If they want to keep the resources in their hands, they can only cooperate with Councilor Luo Yan, who is currently the only one willing to pay attention to them and has infinite potential.

Luo Yan is, of course, happy to do so.

Just like he is happy to use the Shadow Demon General Thanos, they all belong to the type of people whose remote control is held in his hand.

As long as he feels unhappy, he can press it.

Just at this moment, a lazy voice came from the sofa.

"Oh? The great Executive Chief is finally willing to come back? I thought you intended to sleep on that pile of moldy parchment."

Only to see Taffy raising her head from a pile of soft cushions, her golden vertical pupils full of mockery, as if she were the owner of this house.

This guy's voice is still as annoying as ever.

However, after getting along for a long time, Luo Yan knows that this Dragon God is just bored, lonely, and cold.

Besides, perhaps it has been away from home for too long, and the excitement of first arriving at the Academy has passed, recently it has started to miss the tropical climate a little.

Luo Yan glanced at her and said with a smile.

"What, did you miss me?"

Taffy yawned.

"Miss you for what? It's true that I, this lord, am hungry."

Luo Yan smiled faintly.

"If you had learned to understand those 'moldy parchments' earlier, perhaps you could have helped a little, instead of only being able to complain about being hungry here."

Hearing this, Taffy rolled her eyes.

"Why should I study the graffiti of primitive people? What good is it for me to figure out this kind of elementary knowledge?"

"Elementary knowledge, huh," looking at the conceited 'Dragon God', Luo Yan teased, "How do I remember that someone's jaw almost dropped in shock when they saw the Void Realm? Could it be that you just didn't understand it?"

"You, you're talking nonsense!"

Taffy was instantly poked in a sore spot and sat up straight, although she was still being stubborn, her expression was clearly about to collapse.

"I don't understand? When I created Dragon Language Magic, you were still an atom in the vast ocean! I just... feel suspicious of those theories that are not systematic and lack evidence! And, and, stop talking nonsense! Hurry up and let the kitchen prepare dinner! I want to eat double the honey-glazed roast meat!"

"Alright, roast meat tonight," Luo Yan smiled and walked over, completely ignoring her baring her fangs and brandishing her claws, and skillfully scratched that fleshy chin, "Double the roast meat, and add more honey, right?"

Taffy narrowed her eyes comfortably from the scratching, but soon reacted, baring her fangs in dissatisfaction, but not knowing how to refute, she could only let out a grunt of unwillingness.

Sarah on the side looked at this harmonious scene, a faint smile hooking at the corner of her mouth.

Luo Yan, who had coaxed Taffy into a good mood, said casually.

"Sarah, leave the dinner preparation to you... as for me, the usual rule, noodles will do."

Taffy, who was enjoying the petting of the "hairless monkey," suddenly became alert, like a mouse smelling a cat, and with a 'whoosh', she burrowed under the sofa.

However, this little trick naturally couldn't stump Sarah.

Only to see her nod slightly and say with ease.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Regardless of how Sarah caught Taffy from under the sofa, Luo Yan turned and walked toward his study, sitting down in the comfortable armchair in front of the fireplace.

He closed his eyes, entered meditation, and in a sea of consciousness as vast as a sea of stars, opened his own Divinity interface.

【

Divinity: Luo Yan

Legend Factor: Demon King of Lei Ming County, Flame King of the South of the Wan Ren Mountain Range, the generous, wealthy, and benevolent Prince Kelin, the commoner councilor born in the Demon God Temple, Founder of Science...

Influence Share: 0.9% (↑0.8%)

Overdraft Limit: 0%

Domination Efficiency: 100%】

Having not checked the influence gains for a period of time, Luo Yan was satisfied to find that the number had skyrocketed by a large margin, as expected.

Especially that title of "Founder of Science".

It seems that after his persistent nonsense, the school of thought named "Science" has already become sufficiently deeply rooted in the hearts of the young men and women of the Academy.

"As expected of the Demon King! Congratulations, your power of faith has expanded again!" A milky white shadow appeared beside his consciousness, the leisurely voice filled with joy, saying with sincere happiness.

Luo Yan said in a gentle tone.

"It's alright, it's within my expectations."

Benefiting from the legend of "Prince Kelin" continuously fermenting in the Janna Continent and the Shengcheng, coupled with this series of operations he recently carried out in the Academy, his influence share on this planet was soon to reach the milestone of 1%.

And when that time comes, the "Amethyst Seed" he holds in his hand will also formally condense into a "Master Seed"!

Regarding the current situation, Luo Yan was very satisfied.

This is a good start.

The map of faith on this planet, divided by Saint Xisi and the Demon God, was once again pried open at a solid corner by him...

Just as the Demon King from hell was quietly digging at the corner of Saint Xisi's wall, the Great Sage of the Academy finally accepted the Empire's invitation and set off for the Huang Tong Pass.

After several days of long-distance flight, the giant nightingale he was riding finally pierced through the gale and sandstorm raging in the middle section of the Wan Ren Mountain Range.

Seeing the city wall winding through the mountain range through the dust, the giant beast, several meters long, let out a long roar announcing its existence, then folded its wings as black as night, and circled several times before slowly landing on the incomparably wide city wall.

Here, it was different from the perennial severe cold of the Academy; almost as soon as it landed, a scorching and dry gale rushed toward them.

The wind was wrapped with sand and sulfur breath from the Dimensional Desert, rudely pouring into the mouth and nose of the accompanying magic apprentice, almost taking away all the air in his lungs.

He coughed violently several times.

Just at this moment, a broad and thick palm was placed on his shoulder, patting him gently.

Immediately following, a magical scene happened; a gentle and cool breath instantly flowed through his whole body, that scorching and suffocating feeling vanished without a trace, and all that remained was unprecedented comfort.

The apprentice raised his head in surprise, then met the Great Sage's kind face, so he hurriedly lowered his head, blushing.

"Thank you... Great Sage."

Duoliuke smiled kindly, signaling him not to be so formal.

"You're welcome, the climate here is different from the Academy, you must tell me if you feel any discomfort."

After finishing, this elderly old man jumped down from the back of the nightingale, his calm gaze sweeping over the magnificent scene before him.

This is the miracle legendarily forged by the Dwarf Kingdom with all its national strength—the Huang Tong Pass!

Its city wall was not simply built of bricks and stones, but seemed to grow directly from the spine of the mountain range, integrated with the steep rock wall.

On the wall, huge rune battle flags fluttered in the wind.

And between the battlements, the Black Iron Eagle flag of the Os Empire, the Golden Lion flag of the Lei En Kingdom, and the Silver Leaf flag of the Elf allies... all declared that multiple forces were gathered here.

The air was filled with the sternness of war and the fishy rust smell of ironware.

On the city wall, human musketeers, dwarf infantry wearing heavy armor, and elf rangers with light postures were patrolling nervously.

And outside the city wall, on the horizon of the boundless desert, the shadows of the Chaos army were looming, the dull and oppressive war drums of the ogres coming with the wind, as if it were the ominous pulse of the earth.

This giant beast descending from the sky immediately aroused the vigilance of the garrison, especially since its arrival did not trigger the alarm of the early warning rune magic array!

There was a commotion on the city wall, the elf ranger drew his longbow, and the human musketeer aimed the pitch-black muzzle at this uninvited guest, ready for battle.

A knight captain wearing the emblem of the Lei En Kingdom stepped forward quickly, his hand already pressed on the hilt of his sword, shouting sternly: "Stop! State your identity!"

While speaking, a drop of cold sweat had already rolled over his brow.

In his impression, only the Chosen of Chaos could land safely on their city wall without triggering any early warning mechanism.

Pointed at by countless guns, Duoliuke's expression remained as usual.

The giant nightingale beside him was the same, snorting at these mortal weapons, as if mocking the toys in a child's hands.

The apprentice sitting on the back of the nightingale hurriedly searched for the documents in his bag, but before he could find them, a magic crystal waist tag automatically floated out of the bag and landed in Duoliuke's hand.

Looking at the guard captain ready for battle, Duoliuke handed out the waist tag, saying in a gentle tone.

"I came here under the order of His Majesty the Emperor, because the matter is urgent, he did not give me a written notice, but I think... this is enough to prove my identity."

The captain took it hesitantly, and when he saw the emblem of the Tower of Source Magic engraved on the waist tag, his face changed drastically.

He hurriedly knelt on one knee, saying in panic.

"Forgive my offense, I didn't expect it to be the Great Sage!"

After speaking, he turned and sternly ordered the soldiers behind him to put away their weapons, those soldiers also showing expressions of horror, hurriedly putting away their muskets and sheathing their long swords.

Unlike the well-informed captain, they had neither been to the Academy nor had they come into contact with the Academy's mages. But they always heard people say that the mages there were the stingiest existence on the entire continent, and the thirteen Sages were the kings of those mages!

Thinking about it, that must also be a top-level stingy existence.

Although their first impression of this Great Sage was actually quite good, always feeling that he didn't look like a stingy guy...

Duoliuke had a gentle smile on his face, not getting angry at all because of everyone's offense. He waved his hand gently, just like an ordinary kind old man.

"It's fine, this is your duty. There's no need for pleasantries and politeness, just take me directly to see your commander."

"Yes, Your Highness—"

Just as the knight captain was preparing to lead the way for Duoliuke, a loud and heroic voice, accompanied by heavy metal footsteps, came from one side of the city wall.

"No need to trouble him, I am right here!"

Everyone standing on the city wall looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a sturdy dwarf general walking over with big strides.

His iconic red long beard was carefully woven into several battle braids decorated with rune gold rings, and the heavy rune plate armor on his body reflected the cold light unique to metal under the desert sunlight.

He was the supreme commander of the Huang Tong Pass—Sarut Copper-Helmet!

Although dwarves are generally xenophobic, they hold natural respect for knowledge and wisdom, even if this knowledge does not belong to dwarves.

Sarut walked up close and performed a standard dwarf military salute to this wisest man most famous in the human world.

His voice was heroic and rough.

"Welcome, Great Sage, what kind of noble wind blew you here?"

Looking at the dwarf general in front of him, Duoliuke smiled gently and said in a chatting tone.

"It is His Majesty our Emperor, he said this place needs me, so I came... but I see the defense line is solid, the military appearance is neat, the situation seems quite good?"

Hearing this, Sarut's hearty smile converged a bit, and he sighed heavily.

"To tell you the truth, the situation here is actually not optimistic. The ogre vanguard has launched several sieges, although they were all repelled by us, the coalition's losses are not small."

After a pause, he drove away the garrison captain who was pricking up his ears on the side, lowered his voice a bit, and said to the Great Sage in front of him.

"And just yesterday, a terrifyingly strong Chaos Chosen appeared on the front line, injuring several of our rune warriors. In the end, it was Mr. Gangte who personally took action to defeat him, but... that gentleman was also slightly injured."

The warm smile on Duoliuke's face instantly solidified, a hint of solemnity rising between his brows.

"Mr. Gangte is injured? This... is it serious?"

Sarut shook his head like a rattle, his beard sweeping back and forth on his breastplate.

"That's not serious, just a minor injury."

Duoliuke's solemn expression did not diminish in the slightest, including the apprentice lying on the back of the nightingale who couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

Rock Sword Saint, Gangte Steingraber!

A living legend, and a legend belonging to the Rode people, that silent-as-a-mountain figure almost immediately appeared in his mind!

Since the founding of the Adventurer's Guild, Gangte is the only mortal who has stepped into the demigod realm by virtue of pure martial arts and will, rather than magic or divine grace.

He sublimated the simple and tenacious national character of the Rode people to the extreme, his power like a mountain, and with one sword strike, even space would tremble for it!

It is said that there are three Demon Kings who died under his great sword.

Such a martial artist who has tempered himself to the extreme, would actually be injured by a mere Chaos Chosen?

This is too incredible!

Duoliuke said in a low voice: "Did Gangte say what the power that injured him was? Magic? Swordsmanship? Or... other things?"

Sarut shook his head, his rough face carrying a hint of confusion and solemnity: "I don't know, that guy's power is very strange! Mr. Gangte only said that it was a power he had never seen before."

Duoliuke sighed lightly and cast his gaze toward the boundless desert outside the pass.

"I didn't expect that Chaos's corrosion of our world had already reached such a degree..."

"Do you have any clues?" Sarut asked with a glimmer of hope. This is not only a question he cares about, but also a question their King cares about.

Duoliuke was silent for a long time, and finally shook his head slowly.

"Where Chaos comes from and why it comes is a problem the Academy has studied for a long time, its history can even be traced back to the late First Epoch, the era when the Dragon God and Saint Xisi cooperated... It's a pity that the progress of exploration about the void has always been very slow, until recently there was a little progress, but it is probably still very far from solving this problem."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Sarut's eyes, although regretful, he also expressed understanding.

"Perhaps... this is not a problem our generation can solve."

He laughed heartily, his voice returning to the firmness that a dwarf general should have: "In short, we must first overcome the difficulties before us, and drive this group of scum who don't know where they popped out from back into the desert!"

Just at this moment, a silent figure walked over from not far away.

That person was wearing simple leather armor, carrying a great sword disproportionate to his height on his back, his expression cold as the frozen soil of the North.

He was exactly the Rock Sword Saint just mentioned, Gangte Steingraber. Just looking at his appearance, one couldn't tell at all that he was injured.

After all, there was almost not an inch of his exposed skin that was intact.

Those scars were like medals branded on his body, radiating invisible pressure.

Gangte walked straight to the two, nodded to Duoliuke, and said straight to the point: "Master Duoliuke, I have something I want to discuss with you."

Duoliuke nodded happily, then looked at Sarut.

The dwarf general immediately understood and said readily: "You talk first, I will wait for you here. I will take you to the camp to rest later!"

There is nothing more important than the affairs of a demigod-level powerhouse.

Although in this era, mortals also have a chance to defeat demigod-level powerhouses by relying on numbers and equipment, it still cannot change the strategic-level ferocity of the latter!

The two left the noisy camp side by side and came to a quiet section of the city wall.

The biting wind and sand pulled at the hem of their robes, and beneath their feet was a bottomless abyss, just one look at which could make people feel dizzy and terrified involuntarily.

And on that boundless desert at the end of their line of sight, the silhouettes of the Chaos army were slowly squirming on the horizon, as if it were an endless rolling sea of blood.

They seemed to wind from the end of the world to here, together with the seemingly endless supplies behind them...

Duoliuke broke the silence first.

"I didn't expect that you would actually be injured by a Chaos Chosen."

He stared at Gangte's weathered side face and asked softly, "What level is that guy? Is he also a demigod like you?"

Gangte shook his head and did not answer this question.

He just stared at the Chaos army in the distance, his voice low and hoarse: "Recently, our power is weakening. Do you have any clues?"

Duoliuke immediately understood the deep meaning behind his words—the Chaos Chosen who injured him was definitely not a demigod, and might not even be a master.

Otherwise, he would never be so faced with a formidable enemy.

After being silent for a moment, a complex expression flashed in those turbid old eyes, and Duoliuke spoke slowly.

"Perhaps... it has to do with there being too many demigod-level powerhouses in our world."

Gangte frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"According to the Academy's research over hundreds of years, there is a limit to the power a world can carry." Standing from the scholar's standpoint, Duoliuke explained in a tone without any emotion, "Ideally, ten demigods might be the best balance for a world, because going further up, it is a true god."

After a pause, he said again.

"However, persuading those who possess power to return to reincarnation is not an easy thing. The nobles of the Empire showed a certain degree of restraint when facing the temptation of power and longevity, but this restraint is far from enough. Too many people possess overly noble souls, and even if one-tenth of them show a desire for power, they will divide the glory in your and my hands."

"Now, just in our human kingdoms, there are ten demigods, and there are a large number of artifacts containing demigod power. And the dwarves have their Rune Lords, the elves have their Forest Speakers, and there are the Demon Gods of hell and the lackeys of that guy dividing the faith that is already precarious for us..."

He looked at Gangte, who was lost in thought, and continued to say in a very low voice.

"Our world is too crowded. This probably has nothing to do with whether you and I practice hard... I thought you had discovered it long ago."

That voice couldn't tell whether it was regret or helplessness, more like an exposition of facts.

Gangte was silent for a long time, then suddenly grinned, that smile firm and stubborn.

"That's not the answer I wanted to hear."

Duoliuke sighed softly, his voice seeming to melt into the wind.

"But this is the fact."

Gangte nodded, indicating that he understood, said no more, and turned to leave along the city wall.

He still believed that since he could cut open the shackles of fate with the sword in his hand as a commoner and step onto the ladder of a demigod, he would definitely be able to break through his own bottleneck again and become stronger in his limited life!

If a demigod is not enough—

Then become an existence above a demigod!

He firmly believed that the path to becoming a god lay on the sword in his hand!

Presumably, as long as he became an existence above a demigod, he would not be held back by those weaklings...

Duoliuke did not hold him back, just quietly watching that back as firm as a rock.

And in those turbid pupils, a hint of profound meaning that no one could understand was quietly flowing...