Chapter 320: The Manipulated

"I understand your choice." He finally just said.

"Merely as a mother, your behavior can of course be understood."

Cassandra nodded with satisfaction:

"I knew you would understand; this is also the reason I appreciate you. You have thinking ability of maturity beyond your age."

She stood up and walked toward the window of the dining room, gazing at the starry sky outside:

"In this universe, every civilization is struggling for survival. Survival of the fittest is not a rule we set, but the basic law of the universe."

"All we can do is choose which link of the food chain to become. And I, choose to stand at the top."

When dinner was nearing its end, Cassandra finally said:

"What I hope you take away tonight is not just a delicious meal, but a brand-new way of thinking."

"When you stand high enough, you will find that those problems that once troubled you actually have simpler answers."

She turned toward Princess Yi Fu, her tone becoming gentle again:

"How do you feel now, dear?"

"Much better, Mother." Princess Yi Fu answered weakly, but there was still a shadow of fear in her eyes.

"That's good." Cassandra nodded with satisfaction,

"See, Luo En? Sometimes temporary pain can bring long-term happiness.

This is the wisdom a leader must possess, knowing when to persist and when to compromise."

"Speaking of persistence, I think it's time to fulfill my promise from this afternoon."

Cassandra took out a gorgeous storage box from her space equipment:

"300 complete magic stones; this is my private sponsorship for your simulation combat device project."

When the storage box opened, the magic stones neatly arranged inside radiated dazzling light.

"In addition, here are some technical materials of otherworldly civilizations I have collected over the years."

She took out several data crystals again:

"Including the 'Mechanical Federation's' modification technology, the 'Biological Factory's' cultivation method, and the 'Energy Integration' application theory; although none are the most core content, they should be enough to provide you with ideas."

Luo En took these precious materials.

Merely by browsing quickly, he discovered several unprecedented technical concepts, each of which made his research ideas suddenly clear.

"And one more piece of good news." Cassandra continued:

"After consultation with Mentor Suo Lun and several exploration team leaders, we decided to grant you some special research freedom."

Her tone became more formal:

"First, you can migrate your mobile workshop to the Abyssal Observation Station. The environment there is more suitable for conducting special material experiments and can obtain first-hand abyssal samples."

"Second, you will enjoy independent research permissions. Under the premise of ensuring basic safety, you can independently decide research directions and experimental content without going through cumbersome approval procedures."

The generosity of this treatment surprised Luo En.

Independent research permission belongs to the privilege of the Associate Professor level at the Crystal Spire, and he is currently just a lecturer.

"Of course, certain necessary systems must still be observed." Cassandra added:

"Periodic abyssal erosion testing cannot be omitted; this is for your safety. In addition, important research results need to be reported periodically; this is a need for academic exchange."

Her gaze became profound:

"This kind of freedom is based on trust; I believe you will use this privilege wisely; don't let me down."

Yuteer's void shadow nodded slightly, clearly also expressing agreement with this arrangement:

"The research conditions at the observation station are indeed more suitable for your project. And the activated environment there can provide unique variables for your experiments."

"Thank you, Tower Master and Professor Suo Lun; these materials and permissions are indeed of great value to me."

"Value?" Cassandra chuckled:

"Dear Luo En, at my level, we no longer talk about so-called value exchange. Between true strong people, sharing knowledge is a natural obligation."

"I hope one day, you can also stand at this height, overlooking the full picture of this universe."

Dinner ended, and Cassandra finally said:

"Luo En, you should be able to feel it yourself."

The female wizard stood up and walked toward the window, gazing at the night sky illuminated by magic:

"We are standing at a turning point in history. Perhaps in the next few decades or hundreds of years, the final direction of our era will be truly decided."

"And you, undoubtedly, will play an important role in this process."

"Your choices, your growth, your contributions, will all become components of this history."

She turned to face Luo En, her purple eyes like deep whirlpools:

"I gave you knowledge, gave you resources, gave you freedom. It depends on how you use them..."

Late at night, when Luo En walked alone on the way back, various scenes from tonight echoed in his mind.

Cassandra's generosity was real, and her support was also solid.

She was not a tyrant or madman in the traditional sense, but a practitioner with clear logic and firm beliefs.

Every action of hers had a self-consistent explanation, and every decision served a larger goal.

But it was precisely this rational cruelty that made her so terrifying.

In her value system, the development of the strong is more important than the pain of the weak, and the progress of civilization is more precious than the freedom of the individual.

The most terrifying thing is that many of Cassandra's viewpoints indeed have their rationality from a purely efficiency perspective.

And for him—the sponsorship of 300 magic stones, precious otherworldly technology, independent research permission...

The value of these resources is immeasurable.

But Luo En clearly knew that every favor had its price.

Every time he accepted Cassandra's "favor," it would make him sink deeper into the network she wove.

And this price would sooner or later require repayment in some way.

This is the game rule.

Making difficult choices between interests and bottom lines, between freedom and power.

And he, now stands at the crossroads of this choice.

Late at night, Luo En returned to his residence alone.

He carefully sealed those precious materials Cassandra gave him.

These pieces of knowledge indeed have huge value, but before in-depth research, he needs to establish sufficient protective measures.

After all, in this world, the most dangerous thing is often not power itself, but the price that needs to be paid to obtain power.

The star crystal radiated faint light in the darkness; those stars from hundreds of millions of light-years away seemed to be silently telling the indifference of the universe.

In this vast and boundless void, life is as small as dust, and reason is as fragile as foam.

Only power, only absolute power, can fight for a foothold for oneself in this darkness that devours everything.

Luo En sat cross-legged on the meditation mat and closed his eyes slowly.

He needed to calm the waves in his heart through meditation, and even more needed to seek guidance for power through connection with the stars.

When consciousness sank into that familiar sea of stars, Luo En immediately detected subtle changes.

Several months had passed since the Hermit Star was lit, and every meditation made his connection with this star closer.

And under the guidance of the Hermit Star, his perception of the entire sea of consciousness stars was also constantly deepening.

That Scholar Star located at the bottom right of the Wisdom Constellation was currently radiating increasingly bright silver-white light.

Different from the deep and mysterious purple light of the Hermit Star, the light of the Scholar Star was purer, like knowledge crystals refined countless times.

"Another breakthrough."

Luo En carefully observed the state of the Scholar Star, finding that the complex textures on its surface were rotating slowly but firmly.

Those geometric patterns were processing countless information flows, as if an endless thinking processor.

But to truly light up the Scholar Star, relying solely on meditation is not enough.

According to the records in "The Babble of the Star Eater."

The lighting of stars requires the practitioner to establish deep-level spiritual resonance with them, and this kind of resonance often needs the help of external forces to guide.

Luo En took a deep breath and began to apply the astrology techniques he had painstakingly studied over these months.

"Astrology is not just observing the changes in star signs, but a way to communicate with high-dimensional existences."

He recalled Princess Yi Fu's teaching, his spiritual power extending like silk threads, trying to establish a connection with the distant Scholar Star:

"Behind every star, some kind of indescribable existence might be hidden. The key is to call for their attention in the correct way."

The first few attempts all ended in failure.

Although the light of the Scholar Star was gradually strengthening, it could never form a stable resonance with his spiritual power.

Whenever his consciousness touched the surface of the star, he would feel a gentle but firm resistance, as if blocked by a layer of invisible thin film.

"Cannot be impatient."

Luo En forced himself to remain calm, readjusting the way of performing astrology:

"The time scale of stars is completely different from humans; their reactions might need to be calculated in years or even decades; being eager for quick success will only be counterproductive."

He followed the usual way, adopting a gentle contact method.

Just like treating a strange but friendly existence, patiently releasing goodwill.

After repeated attempts for several hours, the Scholar Star had some response.

That was an extremely subtle fluctuation, like a breeze from a distant mountain, gentle and continuous.

Luo En could feel that his learning ability was quietly improving under the influence of this fluctuation. Those once obscure and difficult-to-understand enchantment theories now looked clearer;

complex rune structures could also be understood faster in their principles and connections.

This change was gradual, but it indeed existed.

It was as if the brain's processor had been quietly upgraded to a new version, and both computing speed and logical ability had been significantly improved.

【Astrology (Entry) Experience +1】

【Current Progress: Astrology (Entry 47/50)】

The prompt on the transparent panel made Luo En realize that his astrology was also about to break through to the proficient level.

Although this skill was full of danger, it indeed opened a door for him to higher-level power.

Through connection with the stars, he could not only make his meditation method improve faster, but also peek into the deep laws of the universe's operation.

After ending meditation, Luo En could still feel the lingering influence of the Scholar Star.

Although that kind of improvement in learning ability was subtle, it indeed made him full of confidence for the upcoming Enchanter job transfer.

"After several months of accumulation, it will probably take several more weeks to completely light up the Scholar Star."

He estimated the progress in his heart:

"And once the Scholar Star is lit, my learning efficiency will have a qualitative leap.

By then, whether it is theoretical research or skill practice, it can be pushed forward at a faster speed."

On the other hand, the lighting of the Scholar Star would take him one step closer to the complete Wisdom Constellation.

According to the records of "The Babble of the Star Eater,"

When the Hermit Star, Scholar Star, and Observer Star are connected, they will form a complete "Wisdom Triangle," echoing each other, using the Hermit Star as the core for ability amplification.

What he will obtain by then is not just the special ability of a single star, but wisdom amplification at the constellation level.

The next morning, Luo En was organizing those otherworldly technical materials given by Cassandra.

The three-element connection crystal placed at the corner of the table lit up autonomously.

The flashing blue light was particularly eye-catching in the morning glow; this meant someone was actively calling him.

"Supervisor Wei En?"

He was somewhat surprised.

According to past practice, it was always him actively contacting the mentor; there were very few times Supervisor Wei En actively initiated communication.

When the old woman's face appeared in the projection, Luo En immediately detected the abnormality in her expression.

There were subtle red and swollen traces at the corners of her eyes; clearly, she didn't sleep well the night before.

"Luo En, I think we need to have a frank conversation."

Supervisor Wei En's voice was much lower than usual, mixed with a rare trembling:

"About some of my choices back then... I feel you have the right to know the whole truth."

She took a deep breath, as if preparing psychologically for the words about to be spoken:

"Just like what I said last night, I have hidden it from you for too long."

Luo En maintained a quiet listening posture.

"When I chose to teach you 'The Babble of the Star Eater' back then, it wasn't entirely because I appreciated your talent and character."

Supervisor Wei En looked directly into Luo En's eyes, her voice carrying deep apology:

"Although these were indeed important factors, there was another more important reason: Cassandra needed a balancer."

"Cassandra and I were both Mentor Suo Lun's students; we were once as close as sisters."

Supervisor Wei En's voice became ethereal, as if recalling distant past events:

"But after she started practicing 'The Babble of the Star Eater,' I could clearly feel her changes.

That kind of desire for conquest and devouring was eroding her originally gentle personality bit by bit."

She paused, saying with difficulty:

"More complexly, after I failed to impact the Dark Sun level, it was Cassandra who helped me get through the most difficult period.

She provided me with precious healing rituals, arranged a comfortable recuperation environment, and even covered most of my medical expenses."

"She even once said to me..."

Supervisor Wei En's voice became even weaker:

"'Sister Wei En, you will stand up again one day.

I saw your future; you will cultivate a student capable of changing the world. And this student will be the hope of our entire civilization.'"

Luo En's pupils contracted slightly.

This didn't sound like simple comforting words, but more like some kind of prophecy or carefully designed hint.

With Cassandra's wisdom and means, she had sufficient ability to influence others' choices through seemingly unintentional words.

"So, when I met you..."

Supervisor Wei En's voice almost became a whisper:

"I really thought this was fate's arrangement, thinking Cassandra's 'prophecy' was coming true.

I chose to teach you 'The Babble of the Star Eater' that Cassandra had long prepared; on one hand, I was influenced by her words, and on the other hand, I also hoped to return what I owed her."

"But as time passed, I began to realize that perhaps this was a trap she carefully designed from the very beginning."

Confusion flowed in the old woman's eyes:

"She might have foreseen our meeting long ago, knowing what choice I would make. And I, was just a pawn on her chessboard."

This possibility gave Luo En unprecedented chill.

"Even more terrifying is that I began to doubt whether my feelings for you were also influenced by her."

Supervisor Wei En's voice carried trembling:

"As a mentor, my care and guidance for you should be real.

But now I can no longer tell whether this kind of feeling comes from the heart, or is guided by some kind of hint."

The room fell into a long silence.

Luo En gazed at Supervisor Wei En's old and painful face in the projection, complex emotions surging in his heart.

Anger, disappointment, sympathy, and a deep sense of powerlessness.

In this wizard world, even the seemingly most sincere relationships could be manipulated by the will of high-level existences.

And they, these low-level pawns, couldn't even be sure whether their emotions and choices were real.

"Madam."

Luo En finally spoke, his voice extremely calm:

"You are telling me this now, what do you want?"

"I want relief."

Supervisor Wei En answered directly, despairing light flowing in her eyes:

"Not just for myself, but also for you.

If the master-disciple relationship between us is indeed a product of manipulation, then continuing it will only make us both sink deeper, unable to extricate ourselves."

She took a deep breath, making a difficult decision:

"Therefore, I am willing to actively cut off the grace link between us after you are promoted to the Dark Sun level.

Disconnecting the link after reaching the Dark Sun level will cause less damage to you.

This way, no matter what happened before, at least your future will no longer be influenced by me."

Hearing this proposal, the emotions in Luo En's heart became even more complex.

Supervisor Wei En's honesty indeed surprised him.

"I cannot say I completely empathize with you, Madam."

He finally said calmly, his tone carrying neither anger nor excessive tolerance:

"But at least you are willing to tell me the truth; this is much better than continuing to be kept in the dark."

But deep in his heart, Luo En had already begun to re-examine his entire life trajectory.

This kind of thinking gave him a deep fear; besides the fear of death itself, there was also the fear of free will being stripped away.

"Perhaps, this is the essence of this world."

He analyzed calmly in his heart:

"In the face of absolute power, so-called free choice is just an illusion.

True strong people can not only control the present, but also design the future, letting pawns think they are making choices, while actually just acting according to a predetermined script."

This realization made Luo En's desire for power even stronger.

Only when he is strong enough can he jump out of this manipulated fate and truly master his own life.

And before that, he must carefully survive in this dangerous chess game.

Accumulating power on one hand, and looking for opportunities for breakthrough on the other.

After the communication ended, Luo En sat alone in the study, gazing at the towering tower tips of the Central Land outside the window.

Those buildings representing power and knowledge looked magnificent in the morning light, but now they took on a sinister color in his eyes.

Each tower might hide countless secrets and conspiracies; every seemingly accidental encounter might be a carefully designed chess game.

In this world full of manipulation and calculation, he must learn to examine everything with a colder eye.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 321 =====