Although the cowhide paper looks crumpled, it’s actually due to the nature of the cowhide paper itself. The edges are not frayed, and they are delicately sewn with gold thread, indicating Kaier’s usual care in preserving it.
But can cowhide paper truly be a treasure?
Angel glanced over.
If the cowhide paper contained an emotionally rich letter, it would be understandable, but there were hardly any words on the paper.
The paper only recorded a theorem formula.
Just one look and Angel knew this formula should be a variation of a fundantal spatial formula, a type of variant stemming from basic formulas that is quite common in the Wizards’ Realm, sotis even leading to the creation of an entire "new world." At this point, such variants are no longer called variants but beco a new theorem.
This is essentially the concept of the knowledge tree.
Many new ideas, new domains, even new "structures," "dinsions," and "factions," all sprout from the initial seed of knowledge and gradually grow and branch out.
Correspondingly, researching from a basic formula and continuously branching out, ultimately transforming into a new formula, is the so-called branching effect.
"Is this the variant you researched?" Angel pondered for a mont: "The Bazel biphasic formula?"
Kaier was sowhat despondent, clutching the crumpled paper, eyes downcast, lost in thought. Until he heard Angel’s voice, he looked up.
Kaier forced a smile: "As expected of you, sir, recognizing at a glance that this is... a variant of the Bazel biphasic formula."
After speaking, Kaier felt a warm breeze behind him. He turned around doubtfully, only to see Vay’s face just before him, nearly colliding.
"Why are you here?" Kaier instinctively stepped back two steps, clutching the slightly crumpled paper tightly.
Vay also stopped, awkwardly scratching his head: "Did I scare you? Sorry. I’m just curious, is this piece of paper your treasure?"
Kaier did not answer but instead asked, "Where is your crystal ball?"
Vay pointed to the distant Cicia’s Box: "I tossed the crystal ball into the box, then a female voice inside said my crystal ball counts as a treasure and gave this."
Vay opened his palm, revealing a symbol surrounded by red light, slowly rising from his palm.
"Is this a ticket?" Kaier wondered.
Vay: "It should be... I think. I’m not too sure, but they gave this, and when I sensed it with my spiritual power, it seed like so kind of energy structure without physical form."
After explaining, Vay looked again at the paper in Kaier’s hand: "What were you discussing with Chaowei, sir? Is this paper your treasure?"
Kaier: "Nothing much, sir just pointed out the original formula for my variant."
After Kaier spoke, he was silent for a while before continuing: "Yes, this paper counts as my treasure, but whether it can be acknowledged, I don’t know either."
Vay curiously observed the line of the variant formula on the paper: "Ordinary cowhide paper, ordinary ink, and a string of... um, formulas I can’t understand. Is this formula very valuable?"
Kaier shook his head: "... Not valuable."
"If it’s not valuable, why do you call it a treasure?" Vay questioned.
Kaier opened his mouth but was silent for a long ti.
At this mont, Angel spoke up in support: "I ntioned before, Cicia’s definition of treasure is not solely based on value. More importantly, it’s about the significance to the person trading it. Just like your crystal ball, isn’t it the sa?"
Vay thought for a mont: "That’s true, I was presumptuous."
Kaier quickly waved his hand: "It’s not that, my piece of paper is really very ordinary, not comparable to your crystal ball."
Kaier: "This piece of paper is actually..."
Kaier’s words were interrupted by a lazy voice from not far away: "Isn’t this the paper you often hang on your so-called ’research wall’? I used to think it was so incredible research, but it’s just a useless formula."
There is no doubt that the voice ca from Dox. Only Dox, who frequents Kaier’s lab and is so familiar with Kaier, would say such words.
Hearing Dox’s words, Vay frowned: "You still speak as venomously as before."
Kaier: "Vay, you’ve misunderstood Lord Red Sword, the ’useless formula’ phrase is actually what I told him."
Vay: "Huh?"
Kaier lowered his head, slightly blushing and sowhat despondent, telling the story about this piece of paper.
To put it simply, it’s the tale of a foolish youth’s rise to fortune.
When Kaier was still a mortal, he loved exploring history and visited many places rumored to have relics. Kaier was quite lucky, finding a true relic among many false ones, and this relic happened to belong to a Transcendent.
Generally speaking, relics of Transcendents are fraught with danger. But Kaier was truly the epito of a "foolish youth blessed by heaven."
This Transcendent relic once belonged to a quiet room where a White Wizard secluded himself for contemplation.
Kaier not only avoided major dangers but also acquired so wizard remnants, and fortunate enough, without a Guide, he beca a Talented One.
Later, on his journey to pursue the path of the Transcendent, Kaier t his current ntor, Esos, formally embarking on the path of the wizard.
And the paper in Kaier’s hand was discovered in the quiet room of the White Wizard.
Esos looked it over and told Kaier it was a variant of the Bazel biphasic formula. Then, Esos explained what a variant ans and the possibility of a variant expanding into a "new world."
Esos’s words ignited Kaier’s passion.
He was convinced the variant on this paper could continue to be deduced and ultimately beco a new formula!
A new formula nad after Kaier!
Esos didn’t know where Kaier got his confidence, believing it could certainly form a "new world." Perhaps it was due to the glorified filter from obtaining it through his first fortuitous encounter?
Even though Esos felt Kaier would likely not research anything groundbreaking, he did not stop him, but instead offered considerable help.
Because the research process is essentially a process of broadening one’s knowledge.
Maybe this variant couldn’t branch out and beco the "new world" Kaier anticipated, but it could serve as a stepping stone for Kaier to beco an excellent researcher.
Indeed, this proved true. Through constant study of the variant, Kaier beca a student even Esos took pride in.
Only one point troubled Esos: Kaier had developed an obsession, a sort of obsession demon, with the variant on the paper.
Wherever Kaier went or did, he would carry this paper with him, studying it whenever he had spare ti. Esos had discreetly hinted that the variant on this paper might not deduce a new formula, advising Kaier to abandon it.
While Kaier would feign listening to Esos, once Esos was not around, he continued to explore it secretly.
Even when Kaier went to explore relics, he would take monts to ponder it.
Later, after Kaier settled in Sandworm Market, he set up his own laboratory, dedicating himself daily to its study. Consequently, even Dox had seen the paper many tis.
Yet Kaier never managed to research any groundbreaking results.
Is Kaier foolish and ignorant? To beco part of the Academy Faction with a background as a Wandering Wizard definitely ans he is not foolish.
He actually realized long ago that the transformation on this parchnt might be wrong, but he just couldn’t help thinking about it and looking at it.
Esos thought that Kaier was possessed by an Obsession Demon.
But Kaier felt that he had turned his obsession into a daily habit.
Kaier also knew that this parchnt, as a "stepping stone," had already been used to its fullest, and it was ti to discard it. However, to suddenly give up decades of habit is quite difficult, especially since this habit truly helped Kaier step into the ranks of researchers... He was reluctant to abandon it.
Moreover, this parchnt holds significant aning itself, as it is a witness to Kaier’s journey from being a mortal to becoming a transcendent.
With the dual significance it holds, even when Kaier wishes to let go, he finds it hard to make up his mind.
This ti, perhaps seeing Angel nonchalantly discard two coins that were significant to himself, Kaier felt touched.
Although Kaier didn’t suddenly beco a fanboy of Angel like Vay, there is no denying that Angel is absolutely a god-like presence among the young apprentices.
At a young age, his strength and skills have reached a level that is hard for them to attain. Kaier even knew things others didn’t—Angel’s prowess in spatial studies is quite high.
Such a presence, even if Kaier doesn’t say it outright, he truly admires Angel in his heart.
Kaier saw Angel’s every move.
If Angel can decisively abandon his significant gold coins, Kaier asks himself, why can’t he?
Just as Angel said: Farewell itself is a kind of growth.
For the sake of growth.
This ti, Kaier decided to take a step forward.
...
Everyone who heard Kaier’s story was quite moved.
No one expected that the shapeshifting technique on a parchnt could also beco Kaier’s obsession.
"But, is the obsession really tied to this parchnt?" Vay murmured under his breath, "Shouldn’t the obsession be Kaier’s Heart Demon, rather than sothing related to this parchnt?"
Kaier did not answer, instead, Angel replied to Vay on his behalf: "Whether it’s a treasure or not, let Cicia judge."
Pausing for a mont, Angel then turned to Kaier and said, "Whether this parchnt can be deed a treasure by Cicia or not, it actually doesn’t have much to do with your ability to sever your obsession. What’s most important is your own thoughts."
Kaier nodded: "Thank you for your guidance, my lord, I understand. I always clearly knew that it was the beginning of everything, and to end the current fixed habit and start anew, at least it has to begin by discarding it. It was just reluctance before, but now I’ve... co to terms with it."
Angel: "Seems I spoke unnecessarily."
Kaier certainly understands himself better than outsiders do. Whether it was Vay or Angel’s words, they were actually worries without cause.
Kaier shook his hand: "No, it’s because of you, my lord, that I could co to terms."
Kaier lowered his head, whispering inaudibly: "In the end, it’s about saying goodbye."
After speaking, Kaier respectfully made a gesture to Angel, then in silence, he slowly walked towards Cicia’s Box step by step.
Within a few seconds, Kaier returned.
While he went slowly, upon return, he strode briskly.
By this ti, the parchnt was gone, and in Kaier’s palm floated a red symbol similar to Vay’s. This signifies that the parchnt, which they saw as worthless, was indeed a treasure in the eyes of Cicia.
Notably, there was no trace of reluctance in Kaier’s eyes, as one might have imagined, but rather with so contemplation and... relief.
This ease and liberation cannot be feigned. When thinking this way, Kaier indeed knows himself well, understanding that the Obsession Demon isn’t in the heart, but tied to that parchnt. With the abandonnt of the parchnt, those obsessions or so-called Heart Demons will gradually fade over ti.
It can be said that Kaier has truly liberated himself from the past obsession demons this ti.
"Did Cicia say anything to you after receiving the parchnt?" Vay asked curiously.
Kaier rubbed the bridge of his nose with his index finger, sowhat embarrassed: "I just heard the word ’fool’, and then nothing more."
Vay: "So, were you scolded by a Box?"
Kaier smiled awkwardly.
Dox: "Vay, don’t forget, you were directly kicked out once. What right do you have to mock others?"
Vay: "The first ti I got kicked was to test for everyone. Didn’t I pass the next ti? Also, you don’t have the right to talk about , given your possessions, what kind of treasure can you produce?"
Speaking of Dox’s treasure, Angel also looked over.
Dox was the only one present, aside from the Black Earl, who hadn’t produced a "treasure." The Black Earl had a reason; his goal wasn’t to pass but to communicate with Cicia; but if Dox didn’t co up with a treasure to exchange for a ticket, he’d have to hide in Angel’s Exile Space.
Under everyone’s scrutiny, Dox snorted: "Of course, I have a treasure. Look, this is it."
With that, Dox pulled out a vine staff emitting a faint glow from his pocket.
At first glance at the vine staff, Angel frowned slightly: "The Holy Light Vine Staff of Ashiliya Academy?"
The biggest difference between an Alchemy Apprentice and an Alchemist is that apprentices mostly follow rules, while official alchemists can create on their own.
The so-called following rules an drawing on the wisdom of predecessors, refining using Alchemy Blueprints that have been well-designed by predecessors.
From imitation to creation. This is a process that most alchemists will go through.
The Ashliya Comprehensive College actually has many Alchemy Blueprints open for use by apprentices newly encountering alchemy as models.
The vine staff in Dox’s hand, from its design pattern, was one of the basic staff blueprints from Ashiliya Academy.
Known as the "Holy Light Vine Staff," its designer is the renowned "Holy Light Walker" Gandolf, who is also a backbone mber of the current Research and Developnt Institute.
Dox nodded: "That’s right, it’s the Holy Light Vine Staff. Is this considered a treasure?"
Dox’s first response was to Angel’s question, and the latter part was directed at Vay.
Vay looked rather strange: "According to Cicia’s standard, it should be considered a treasure, it’s just that... do you really want to give this away?"
Dox: "Of course!"
Vay: "Aren’t you afraid..."
Dox quickly interrupted: "Afraid of what, when it’s in my hands, it’s mine. That’s the rule of Free Wizards!"
With that, Dox turned around, holding the vine staff, and walked towards Cicia’s Box.
User Comments
0 comments from readers