I Arrived At Wizard World While Cultivating Immortality Chapter 975: Submission, the Fourth

Over these past few months, the wizards of the Noren Workshop had clearly sensed that the atmosphere around them had changed.

At first it was only a change in a few high-level wizards.

These fellows, usually unsmiling and buried in their research, had lately taken to smiling frequently, even striking up conversations on their own.

In the beginning, the others paid it little mind.

But as more and more high-level wizards showed the same symptoms, the atmosphere in every academy of the Noren Workshop grew strange.

Some low-level wizards, unable to bear the strange atmosphere, asked their own Mentors, only to get much the same answer: they had signed confidentiality contracts and taken part in a certain special experiment, and the details could not be disclosed for the time being.

What experiment could possibly have so many high-level wizards this excited?

The question quickly became a hot topic throughout the Noren Workshop.

At that very moment, in the laboratory on the Infernal Sulfur Plane, two high-level wizards who had just finished testing walked out of the specially built simulation chamber.

Both had done their best to maintain their usual composure, but the excitement on their faces was still hard to hide.

One of them went straight up to Jie Ming and asked impatiently, “Wizard Jie Ming, when exactly will you… will this technology of yours be for sale?”

The other followed up: “We just tested its application under different environmental conditions, and it really does run stably. If you’re willing to open up usage rights, we can offer resources enough to satisfy you.”

Jie Ming shook his head. “My thanks for your praise, but not for now. The technology is still in the testing stage. I plan to submit it to the Star Ring Federation for formal review first, and only consider spreading it and trading it once the results are in.”

Disappointment showed on both faces at once, but they also knew this was perfectly reasonable.

“Then you absolutely must remember to notify us!”

“That’s right. As soon as it can be bought, or usage rights applied for, please contact us the moment it happens. We will never let you lose out.”

The two gave a few more reminders, and only then left the laboratory, looking back every few steps.

Jie Ming shook his head helplessly and filed their test data.

Just then, the door on the other side of the laboratory opened, and Mentor Clark and Teacher Kastilla walked in.

“The other group’s testing is finished,” Clark said. “All results normal. No irrecoverable cycle disorder appeared.”

“Thank you both for your trouble, Mentor and Teacher Kastilla.”

That Jie Ming had been able to find so many suitable test subjects in the Noren Workshop was owed in large part to the two of them.

His connections within the Workshop were limited. Had Clark not made the contacts himself, many high-level wizards would never have agreed to take part in an experiment involving unknown technology.

Of course, Jie Ming had originally planned to spend military merit hiring wizards over the magic network for the experiments.

But after Clark and Kastilla had run the test once themselves and recognized the value of Leap Power, they had promptly offered up their own connections.

Kastilla looked over the experiment records and said with feeling, “Little Jie Ming, you really have produced a remarkable technology this time.”

Clark nodded as well. “Judging by the current data, the test targets set at the outset have essentially all been met. Repeating the same tests any further would serve little purpose.”

At their words, Jie Ming finally made up his mind. “Good. Then it’s about time to formally submit…”

“Wait! For something this important, how could you not wait for me?”

The words had barely fallen when Viola came charging in through the door.

She moved so fast that before Jie Ming could even react, she had seized him in a crushing hug.

Her long hair plastered itself across his face, and right after that her signature laugh rang out beside his ear, carrying its usual note of arrogance and glee.

“Hahahaha! That’s my junior brother for you! You actually researched a technology like this! The Level-One Cultivation Protocol is in the bag this time!”

She clambered all over Jie Ming like an abnormal, growing more excited the more she talked.

“Starfall is my good friend, you’re my junior brother, and now you have a shot at the Level-One Cultivation Protocol! From now on, won’t I be able to strut wherever I like in the wizard civilization? Whoever dares refuse me resources, we’ll go and have a talk with them together!”

Held in her grip, Jie Ming was somewhat at a loss. “Senior Sister, let go first.”

“What’s the hurry! I’m not done yet…”

Viola was just about to go on laying out her grand plans when Clark grabbed her by the back of the collar.

“That’s enough.” Expressionless, Clark dragged her off to one side.

“Mentor! I’m not done yet!”

Clark ignored her shouting, and with the same blank face held Viola by the back of the collar, hauled her off Jie Ming, then turned and walked away.

Dragged along by her collar, Viola looked like a cat held by the scruff of its neck, all four limbs dangling limply, still muttering things like “Old man, put me down.”

Watching the scene, Jie Ming could only sigh helplessly.

Kastilla, for her part, shook her head with a smile.

After a spell of horseplay, all four of them turned serious as one.

“The test data collected so far is sufficient,” Clark began. “We have samples from wizards of different levels, different law specializations and different schools, and the consistency of the results is very high. It can essentially be confirmed that Leap Power is a success.”

Jie Ming nodded. “Then I’ll submit it.”

Clark, Teacher Kastilla and Viola all showed the same look of anticipation.

Jie Ming opened his magic network terminal and, under the technology review column, submitted the complete technical materials for Leap Power directly.

A string of confirmation prompts popped up on the light screen, and he pressed confirm on each one in turn.

When the last piece of data finished uploading, the whole magic network terminal seemed to freeze for an instant.

The image on the screen hung for half a second, then abruptly turned into a sheet of soft silver-white light.

Right after that, a projection rose from the center of the interface.

“Wizard Jie Ming, it has been a long time.”

The visitor was none other than Felix, the Star Ring Federation’s magic network artificial intelligence.

“Felix, it’s been a long time.” Jie Ming greeted it.

Jie Ming was no stranger to the artificial intelligence Felix.

Earlier, after submitting the Blood Sacrifice Method, he had bought a large quantity of resources.

Because the quantity of resources he bought was so large, he had signed a resource supply agreement with the Star Ring Federation, which Felix represented, and the two sides had dealt with each other many times since.

“Wizard Jie Ming, you truly are the most dazzling new star of this generation. Every technology you bring out leaves me amazed. To review a technology like this is a genuine honor for me.”

Felix first praised Jie Ming’s research results politely, then changed tack.

“However, Leap Power touches on multiple fields of research, and its potential impact may exceed any single technical system, so the routine automated review cannot adequately assess its value. The Star Ring Federation therefore wishes to invite you to attend a special review conference.”

Jie Ming was somewhat curious. “A special review conference?”

“Yes. Several senior researchers will take part together, to discuss the technology’s principles, scope of application, conditions for widespread use and value for further research. As its creator, you will need to attend in person and answer the relevant questions.”

Jie Ming was just about to ask about the specific arrangements for the conference when he felt a force begin to pull at his mind.

Realizing at once that this must be the so-called conference, Jie Ming did not resist, and let the force draw his mental energy away.

Jie Ming felt only a flicker before his eyes, and his consciousness entered a special space built of data.

Felix’s projection appeared ahead of him, and beside it, three familiar figures were already waiting.

“Savien? Bastian? Morna?”

Jie Ming was somewhat surprised.

All three were masters of the spatial discipline. They had worked with him before at an academic exchange, and they were no strangers to one another.

“What are you doing here?” Jie Ming could not help asking.

“Aren’t I supposed to be attending the review conference for the Level-One Cultivation Protocol? Aren’t you three from the other three great powers?” That part, though, he kept to himself and did not say.

Old Savien spoke with a smile, his tone carrying his usual bluntness. “To be honest, we don’t know the exact reason either. But that personage is highly skilled in the laws of the fate discipline. Most likely he learned in advance of some special node of fate, and so he called us over.”

That personage?

Jie Ming was puzzled.

Only then did he discover that there was actually another person in this world of data!

That person’s mental form was extremely blurred, as if covered by a thick layer of mosaic.

Stranger still, until Savien pointed it out, he had been completely unaware that anyone else was here, conspicuous as such a presence was.

The other seemed to sense his surprise, and said gently, “My apologies, young one. My present state is rather special, and I cannot fully rein in my own power. If you were to perceive my mental form directly, I fear you would suffer no small harm, so I can only meet you like this.”

At the words, Jie Ming’s eyelid twitched.

The mere existence of a mental form could cause him harm?

“Hello…” Jie Ming hesitated as he said it, not knowing how he ought to address the other.

But the other introduced himself unprompted. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is John.”

Jie Ming froze for a moment.

John.

The name was quite ordinary, so ordinary one could call it overly common.

But if a wizard so powerful that he had to veil his own mental form introduced himself this way…

Then there was one and only one person the other could be!

Looking at that blurred figure, Jie Ming felt his hands begin to shake beyond his control.

This was one of the nine ninth-level wizards, the only nine the wizard civilization possessed.

One of the supreme arbiters of the Star Orbit Tribunal.

The Fourth Seat!