Chapter 381: Research and Pulsation

In the following days, the grand hall seemed to regain its usual atmosphere of research and exchange.

High-level wizards continued delving into profound laws, while lower-generation disciples pursued their studies or engaged in small-scale contests.

For Jie Ming, however, things were entirely different.

Ever since demonstrating his “Imaginary Element” ability in the contest, he had become a modest focal point in the hall.

Wizards approached endlessly to exchange witchcraft insights or discuss alchemy experiences—and among them, a group had clear intent: purchasing his produced “Imaginary Elements” for research.

Exchanges were acceptable—mutual inspiration.

But the purchases… gave Jie Ming quite a headache.

The issue lay mainly in some buyers’ excessive frequency.

Jie Ming looked at Rex standing before him again, rubbing his brow and sighing: “Rex, it’s not even been an hour, right? You already used up the last portion?”

Rex’s face showed the frustration of stalled experiments mixed with helplessness, pointing to an empty specialized crystal container in his hand:

“Your ‘Imaginary Element’ is too peculiar. Once removed from your sealed environment, under the plane laws’ continuous correction, its duration is frighteningly short! I had just guided it into the observation rune array and hadn’t recorded the basic fluctuation spectrum before it began dissipating and shifting properties!”

Jie Ming looked at him speechlessly: “Then take it back to your personal laboratory at the academy and study it with top-grade isolation fields!”

“Moreover, with your current level and law comprehension depth, effective analysis of this tier ‘Imaginary Element’ is fundamentally impossible, right?”

As he spoke, he skillfully drew a strand of refined, concentrated spiritual qi from his internal world into a specialized test tube and handed it over.

Rex, equally practiced, transferred a substantial sum of low-level military merits to Jie Ming’s account via maginet terminal.

Taking the tube and sensing its utterly alien energy aura, he sighed bitterly: “I know—the theory, I know it all! But… I just can’t help it!”

“This stuff is too strange. Clearly perceptible, yet mental force struggles to probe deeply—like viewing scenery on the world’s other side through frosted glass. The less clear, the more I want to see!”

Jie Ming could only shake his head helplessly.

In his eyes, Rex’s behavior was like tossing merits into water without a splash.

Imaginary Elements—or his disguised “Imaginary Elements”: spiritual qi—fundamentally stemmed from underlying logic differing from this wizard universe’s mainstream rule system.

To Jie Ming, spiritual qi was the genuine foundation of immortal cultivation.

But in wizard civilization’s framework, it perfectly fit all “Imaginary Element” definitions: from “Fictional Laws,” incompatible with existing systems, unstable under plane adaptive mechanisms.

Such “Imaginary Elements” impacted wizards at specific stages profoundly.

Especially those initially touching and understanding laws, yet lacking mastery to form complete law views—souls and cognition in critical reshaping: third to fourth level!

Higher-level wizards had solidified law systems and entrenched cognition.

External differing systems’ “noise” couldn’t shake them.

Lower-level wizards hadn’t touched laws’ door—souls and cognition blank slates.

Exposure to dense spiritual qi at most felt casting hindered, like punching in viscous fluid—no essential “rejection” or “discomfort.”

Only third/fourth-level wizards like Rex—their souls and cognition in sensitive transition from “using rules” to “understanding/defining rules”—had extremely poor resistance to spiritual qi representing another “rule” set!

Mere presence in dense spiritual qi caused “cognitive suffocation” like oxygen deprivation—mental force sluggish, hard to mobilize/parse.

This explained why contest mid/low-level wizards recognizing “Imaginary Elements” conceded decisively.

In that environment, their abilities dropped seventy percent—unfightable.

It was also Jie Ming’s confidence in prioritizing greater-threat fifth-levels over mid/low-level encirclement worries.

Thus, at Rex’s third-level, deeply researching spiritual qi was extraordinarily difficult.

Even with full top lab equipment, like a child learning addition comprehending calculus—twice the effort, half the result; near-impossible substantive gains.

“Rex,” Jie Ming couldn’t help advising, “With your talent, fifth level likely within a millennium. Then, soul stabilized, cognition self-formed—research will be far smoother. As long as I don’t perish midway, come buy then—I’ll still sell.”

Rex knew this well?

He smiled bitterly, nodding: “I know, but… the itch is unbearable.”

That frenzy facing unknowable knowledge yet powerless to delve—for a knowledge-thirsty genius wizard, undeniable torment.

He sighed, taking the fresh spiritual qi sample, turning to resume his doomed low-yield observation experiments.

Seeing Rex off, Jie Ming was about to pull out spatial knowledge for quiet when Viola fluttered over like a butterfly scenting flowers.

“Junior Brother~” her voice joyful, “Another portion—no, three! High concentration!”

Jie Ming glanced: “Senior Sister, increasing research investment? Discovered new properties?”

Viola’s eyes shone excitedly: “Exactly! Preliminary experiments show your ‘Imaginary Element’ has exceptionally mild yet profound nourishing effects on biological tissue! Not crude energy infusion, but… hmm… essence-level immersion and guidance! I plan to buy more for cultivating high-tier magical plants—see if it induces beneficial mutations or quality elevation!”

As she spoke, the ever-steady Mentor Clark approached.

Without greeting, he operated his maginet terminal.

[Ding! Received high-level military merit transfer from Clark: 10,000 points.]

Jie Ming stared at the skyrocketing account, nearly dropping his knowledge crystal: “M-Mentor?! So much?! This volume could fill a small sixth-level elemental pool!”

Mentor Clark remained calm, explaining: “Not all my need. The lords on high, including Ancestor Noren, are interested in your ‘Imaginary Element’—entrusted me to procure portions.”

He paused, gaze on Jie Ming rare openly appreciative: “Jie Ming, your ‘Imaginary Element’ is truly extraordinary.”

“Ancestor Noren preliminarily believes its potential immense—internal structure complex yet ordered, energy tier vast, even… faintly touching the four fundamental elements’ level.”

Jie Ming’s heart tightened.

Clark continued: “Moreover, Ancestor Noren theorizes you’re not simulating a single element—your ‘Fictional Law’ framework attempts using one or two ‘Imaginary Element’ variants to encompass, even replace the four fundamentals’ functions? Based on ‘Grand Unified Theory’ for your Fictional Law? Bold and creative.”

His tone encouraging: “We all anticipate. If your path succeeds, perhaps a new top-tier Fictional Law rivaling ‘fate’ could emerge.”

Jie Ming broke into cold sweat.

As expected of knowledge-pursuers—wizards’ research terrifying!

With mere samples, lacking systematic immortal cultivation background or high-end equipment, Wizard Noren nearly grasped spiritual qi’s core in days.

Even guessing eight or nine out of ten on yin-yang spiritual qi forming all things!

In this moment, he immensely thanked choosing “Fictional Laws” to package spiritual qi—and wizard civilization’s abundance of geniuses with wild ideas.

Otherwise, later when stronger, such fundamental system differences exposed might spark not curiosity/research but unpredictable storms.

Seeing his tension, Clark softened: “No need for excessive pressure. ‘Grand Unified Theory’ itself has controversies and unsolved gaps in academia—exploration destined arduous.”

“Even if ultimately incomplete, your current ‘Imaginary Element’s’ excellent properties—timely direction adjustment, application focus—suffice for far progress. Worst case, at sixth level—soul/cognition qualitative change—switch to deeper other law research; not too late.”

Jie Ming smiled relievedly, nodding: “Thank you, Mentor. I understand—I’ll proceed within my means.”

Then eyeing the fortune, somewhat embarrassedly added: “But Mentor, extracting such volume ‘Imaginary Element’ at once needs time. Insufficient stock on hand—Infernal Sulfur plane reserves enough, but transport/purification…”

Clark waved dismissively: “No matter—supplement later. No rush.”

Before more words, suddenly…

A strange, vast pulsation—like a slumbering behemoth’s awakening heartbeat, or the universe’s first string note—abruptly expanded from the diminutive figure at the hall’s center, instantly sweeping every corner!

Not sound nor energy shock, yet clearly shaking every wizard’s mental origin, rippling their law perceptions momentarily.

All conversation, experiments, thoughts halted.

Regardless of level, all gazes involuntarily turned to the source—the seated figure beside the main seat, eyes closed sometime, body rippling with indescribable law waves: Grand-Mentor Anton Buchanan.

No words needed—an understanding dawned on all:

Anton Buchanan’s advancement moment had arrived!