Hands shot up swiftly.
Soon, an apprentice sitting in the front row was chosen by his assistant, stood up excitedly, and began speaking in a sharp voice.
"Professor, regarding the principle of 'observation before assumption' you ntioned earlier, it reminds ... Prince Colin once said that before we explore why, we must first study whether it is. Is it the sa principle?"
Clearly, he had thought seriously, trying to integrate the newly acquired knowledge.
As for why he didn't ask about the core issues related to Source Power, but rather on a trivial matter, it was obviously because it was the only thing he understood.
This is actually quite normal; the more notes one takes, the less they understand.
Generally speaking, the professor would not take the apprentice seriously, after all, everyone knows that these novices have empty heads; not understanding is normal.
However, the words "Prince Colin once said" were like an invisible poisonous thorn, piercing precisely into Arist's heart.
On the podium, his gentle smile suddenly froze, and his eyes, once filled with wisdom, turned icy and ruthless.
A formidable Spirit pressure, like an invisible Storm, flashed by, causing even the professor sitting in the back row to hold his breath involuntarily.
The classroom was silent as a grave.
The air that had been boiling with academic fervor a mont ago now deadened to the point of being able to hear a pin drop.
The apprentice who asked the question turned pale, slowly sat down amidst his companions' fearful gazes, trembling uncontrollably.
He probably wouldn't recover for the rest of the day; he'd likely be alright by tomorrow.
Realizing he had overreacted, Arist quickly reined in his emotions.
His face gradually returned to calm, but the gentleness and patience belonging to a "scholar of the people" had already vanished.
"I don't deny his words may have rit, but you don't have to parrot them to everyone you et, and I think the Prince would not want you to be foolish like this."
"Especially since we are not talking about the sa thing at all."
He answered simply in an unperturbed tone and then announced that the questioning session would continue.
However, after his words, no one raised their hands for a long while, and everyone was filled with apprehension.
A trace of annoyance flashed in Arist's eyes, although he carefully hid it in the depths.
"Since you have no questions, let's dismiss class."
Leaving the classroom, he couldn't help but reflect.
Was he too lenient with these guys?
Such that they gradually forgot about humility.
At this point, Arist suddenly rembered Colin again, and his gentle expression almost twisted once more.
The seed of jealousy had silently sprouted in his heart. Although he was aware of it, perhaps this was the price of Becoming a God.
At least, Little Wa didn't try to persuade him to calm down this ti; evidently, a bit of temper isn't harmful for a Divine.
In any case, those who respect him will continue to respect him, and those who dislike him won't change their minds regardless of his actions.
...
A few days later, an invitation from the tower's summit arrived at Arist's desk, stamped with Great Sage Duosuke's seal.
Seeing that familiar emblem, Arist's expression stiffened, fear flashed in his eyes, face pale, hands cold.
That panicked look resembled a child caught cheating on an exam.
He instinctively glanced at the mirror beside him, the distorted gray mist seemingly on cue, slowly seeping from his fingertip.
It soothed him with a voice like coaxing a child.
"Calm down, brother, no one but you can see , not even a Demigod... this paranoia will cause slip-ups."
Arist lowered his hoarse voice, cursing.
"You underestimate that old man; he has seen everything! Known everything! No detail escapes his eyes!"
Little Wa suddenly laughed.
Arist felt a hint of anger at its indifferent attitude but found himself helpless, only able to speak deeply.
"What are you laughing at?"
Little Wa sighed and said.
"I laugh... because you and your apprentices are quite similar, and you are not even two sides of a coin, but engraved on the sa side. Can I ntion his na? If it's him, even Saint Sis would chat amiably if standing before him. When talking about Holy Light, Saint Sis might even consider him one of his own—"
"Enough, shut up!" Arist snapped angrily.
In a mont, he couldn't discern if he was angry at being compared to apprentices, or at his Divine right mocking him for being inferior to that man.
But now is not the ti for hesitation.
He grabbed the letter, hurriedly left the study, headed towards the direction of the lift…
Great Sage Duosuke's private garden, located at the summit of Source Magic Tower.
Underneath the huge glass do, strange flowers and exotic herbs remained evergreen throughout the seasons nourished by Magic, decorating this small piece of heaven like a corner of the Divine Kingdom.
Beyond the do lies an endless blue sky.
Stars are within reach here.
Here is the pinnacle of the Tower of Great Sage, the pinnacle of the entire Academic State, and the pinnacle of prestige and power in the Magic World!
In his youth, Arist had imagined countless tis standing here, overlooking this frozen world as its master.
Yet middle age has worn away these grand ambitions with reality.
His ntor, this living legend of the Academic State, shows no signs of wilting, and would likely live longer than him.
Facing his profound ntor, Arist reined in all outward emotions and carefully contained his unease.
He hoped that his busy ntor wouldn't notice his recent oddities…
However, as he was feeling uneasy, Great Sage Duosuke acted utterly normal.
Contrary to his authoritative deanor in the Great Sage etings, he was leisurely trimming the branches of a luminous orchid.
Seeing Arist's arrival, the white-bearded old man nodded kindly, gesturing his beloved disciple to sit on a nearby stone bench.
"You seem very active lately," Duosuke's voice was steady and slow, with a gentle smile on his face, yet his deep eyes revealed no depth, "I heard you have resud teaching the apprentices again?"
"Just sharing so shallow insights, hoping to contribute a little to the Future of the Academic State," Arist responded humbly.
"Haha, that's good."
Duosuke's voice carried a note of nostalgia, seemingly recalling lost tis. He wasn't ageless, but he aged slower than ordinary people.
"Ti flies... how many years has it been, do you still rember those fundantal theories?"
Arist answered respectfully.
"Of course I rember, those are what you taught ."
Duosuke smiled warmly.
He didn't pursue the topic further, but just continued casually chatting about cultivation and Void Realm research, as if this summon was just an ordinary teacher-student conversation.
As Arist gradually relaxed his guard, the Great Sage casually put down his gardening shears, suddenly speaking.
"By the way, Arist, regarding the newly established 'Special Committee'... the council has made a decision."
He paused, continued in a very quiet voice.
"I intend to appoint Prince Colin as the Executive Chief, fully responsible for selecting and restoring those weakened Void Realms."
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