Chapter 380: Fate

Holding the seemingly crude Substitute Death Doll, Jie Ming forcefully suppressed the urge to examine and toy with it immediately.

Wizard Noren stood right before him; he could not be discourteous.

Wizard Noren watched Jie Ming carefully stow the doll away, approval deepening in his eyes.

He spoke slowly: “Everyone’s chosen path differs. Sometimes a seemingly remote trail hides unexpected scenery. Since you’ve chosen this road, commit to it and walk unswervingly. Even ‘Fictional Laws,’ pursued to the extreme, hold unfathomable potential.”

These words carried encouragement and expectation. Warmth stirred in Jie Ming’s heart as he bowed respectfully: “I will remember Your Excellency’s teachings. This junior understands.”

Wizard Noren said no more, returning to the main seat.

His departure eased the hall’s previously stifled atmosphere; scattered murmurs resumed.

Yet the gazes directed at Jie Ming still lingered with persistent curiosity, glancing his way from time to time.

Jie Ming was about to find a corner to continue gnawing on spatial knowledge when a silver-gray figure zipped before him—Viola.

Her beautiful eyes gleamed as she eagerly asked: “Jie Ming! Quick, tell me—what special properties does your ‘Imaginary Element’ have? Energy conduction efficiency? Elemental inertness? Affinity for living beings? Or some unique phase attributes?”

Jie Ming was stunned by her barrage of professional questions, instinctively countering: “Senior Sister, why are you asking this?”

Viola looked as if it were obvious: “To see if it can be used for new potions, of course! Imaginary Elements have wildly varied properties—some greatly enhance potion stability, others trigger unknown beneficial mutations, and a few even imbue potions with temporary law characteristics! This is dream material for us potion masters!”

She glanced around meaningfully: “It’s not just me. Look at them.”

Following her gaze, Jie Ming saw the seemingly conversing wizards—regardless of generation—stealing glances his way.

Their eyes held less prior astonishment and inquiry, replaced by a mix of apprehension, anticipation, and even commercial calculation—no trace of the disdain or scorn he might have expected.

Jie Ming understood instantly.

To these wizards who turned knowledge into power, a brand-new Imaginary Element with unique properties first held value as a “rare material” for practical use.

They cared not whether the law was “fictional” or combat “average”—they cared what experiments, artifacts, or potions this new “thing” could enable!

A stable supplier of special Imaginary Elements might be worth more to these research maniacs than a pure combat genius.

Realizing this, Jie Ming felt both amused and relieved.

After brief thought, he told Viola: “Senior Sister, to be honest, my ‘Fictional Law’ set has only recently formed. The Imaginary Elements it produces… still lack stability, and their properties are rather… plain. Probably not as miraculous as you hope.”

This wasn’t entirely evasion.

Though spiritual qi was wondrous, presented directly, its foundational “nourishing all things” and “energy conversion” traits would seem “utterly ordinary” to these experienced wizards—far less impactful than some extreme Imaginary Elements.

Viola blinked, clearly unconvinced, but persisted: “No problem! Unstable or plain—samples are needed for research! I’ll reserve a portion; price negotiable!”

Her words seemed to flip a switch—the watching wizards immediately swarmed, voicing purchase intents:

“Wizard Jie Ming, I’d like some for rune substrate testing…”

“I’m interested in energy compatibility—please sell me some!”

“From earlier displays, it might have alchemical catalytic wonders—count me in!”

Their reasons were similar: even if uses unclear, a novel Imaginary Element from a rising star held immense research value.

For knowledge-hungry wizards, ignoring an unknown new material was worse than death.

Atop the high seat, Grand-Mentor Anton Buchanan watched the scene turn into a “material procurement conference,” stroking his nonexistent beard (his childlike form had none).

He chuckled to Wizard Noren: “Mentor, I never expected to see someone delve into ‘Fictional Laws’ in this era—and cause such a stir. I recall it peaked in your generation?”

Other high-level wizards showed reminiscence or curiosity, looking to Wizard Noren.

Wizard Noren shook his head slowly, correcting mildly: “Strictly speaking, it peaked in my mentor’s era. By my generation, the ‘Fictional Laws’ craze had begun declining, nearly eliminated.”

Grand-Mentor Anton Buchanan gazed at the surrounded Jie Ming below, regret in his eyes, sighing:

“Alas, such a fine seedling wasted. With his talent and disposition, focusing on an existing powerful law would yield far higher limits. The ‘Fictional Laws’ path is… twice the effort for half the result.”

Other high-level wizards nodded slightly, clearly agreeing.

After all, history’s brilliant Fictional Law masters seemed never to reach their talent’s full potential.

Yet Wizard Noren merely smiled ambiguously.

This drew curiosity. Wizard Augusta couldn’t resist: “Lord Noren, do you perhaps believe… ‘Fictional Laws’ hold hidden profundity?”

Wizard Noren glanced at Jie Ming below—surrounded yet calm, unflustered by adulation.

Then at the juniors pausing “purchases” to eavesdrop, chuckling:

“Though no wizard has purely via ‘Fictional Laws’ reached ninth level to date—and ninth-levels are rare anyway, not fully negating a path. In truth, ‘Fictional Laws” ceiling may not be as low as you think.”

He paused under focused gazes: “With sufficient ability and luck, pursuing this path might yield even greater rewards.”

“Oh?” Grand-Mentor Anton Buchanan grew interested. “Mentor, what makes you say that? Beyond aiding discovery of unknown real laws or producing special materials, do ‘Fictional Laws’ have other potential?”

“Naturally.” Wizard Noren nodded affirmatively. “Aside from those proven ‘real discoveries,’ history does have truly successful ‘fictional’ laws—highly useful, irreplaceable even widely adopted.”

His gaze swept the hall at astonished faces: “In fact, because of successful, high-value ‘Fictional Laws,’ the path was once so popular.”

“Such laws truly exist?” Dionysius Spencer couldn’t help asking—he, a fate specialist, was especially sensitive.

Wizard Noren nodded, tone meaningful: “Not only exist, but many current wizard system branches use—even depend on them.”

Without suspense, he revealed:

“For example—fate.”

“What?!”

“Hiss!!!”

The revelation drew gasps not just from lower wizards but the seventh-levels!

Fate! It was fate!

Fate wizards’ eerie power and unpredictability were known to all.

Their methods often involved causality, probability, prophecy—unguardable, insidious, among the most troublesome factions.

Who imagined the potent, mysterious “fate law” originated as possibly “fictional” by some genius or group?!

In retrospect, fate knowledge did fit Fictional Law traits—not intuitive like fire/water/earth/wind elements, more a conceptual law “defined” via complex computation, logical deduction, and high abstraction of world operations!

Viola’s eyes lit up; she whipped toward Jie Ming, gaze scorching: “Could your Imaginary Element relate to fate?!”

Jie Ming’s scalp tingled; he shook his head vigorously: “Senior Sister! Calm down! You’re overestimating me! My Imaginary Element has nothing to do with fate! It’s just… more ‘versatile’!”

Though spiritual qi had fate extensions, Jie Ming couldn’t expose that yet.

By “setting,” he had only recently begun researching and designing Fictional Laws.

Seeing his firm denial, Viola’s excitement deflated; she “oh”ed disappointedly, sulkily retreating from the circle.

Yet after Wizard Noren’s bombshell, gazes at Jie Ming burned hotter.

Desire to buy his “Imaginary Element” for research skyrocketed!

After all!

Jie Ming was a genius displaying astonishing potential at third level!

What if… his concocted Imaginary Element proved the embryo of a fate-like infinite-potential law?

Investing in research now was a thousandfold profit!

Even if not, a novel Imaginary Element’s research value sufficed for returns!

In moments, the “procurement” fervor around Jie Ming intensified!