Don't disturb the sorcerer's scientific research

Chapter 129 The Vatican's Grand Project
Back at Gillianis's villa, Jashu retrieved his vampire research notes, intending to test the effects of the Inspiration Fruit.

However, I didn't feel anything special.

This made Jia Xiu doubt whether the item was fake.

That shouldn't be the case. It's a treasure from the ancient brass dragon, bestowed by the god of knowledge, and given the effects he discerned, there's no reason it shouldn't be genuine.

That can only mean that the notes are neither valuable nor difficult enough.

The threshold for obtaining the protection of the god of knowledge is not low.

Just then, voices came from downstairs; it must be Margaret and the others returning.

Jia Xiu went out of the house to greet them.

Upon seeing Jassi, Margaret suddenly frowned. "This is terrible! I had such high hopes for you, and you were eliminated in the second round. Do you know how much people are criticizing your Phantom?"

"Oh? How much did they insult you?"

Jia Xiu asked with great interest.

"Swear, uh, swear..."

"You didn't just make up a sentence without even thinking about how to insult people, did you? You won't even be able to make a living by spreading rumors."

Ram whispered to Mia, "Ram won, you lost."

“Okay.” Mia reluctantly pulled out a Her coin.

On the way back, Margaret thought about how to scare Jasmine.

So Mia and Ram made a bet on a Her.

Of course, the gamble wasn't on whether Margaret would succeed, but rather on which sentence she would slip up.

They both agreed that Margaret couldn't possibly be fooled.

trust!

Ram's bet slipped up with one sentence, and Mia's bet was more than one sentence. She figured that Margaret, as her mentor, could at least come up with a couple of plausible lines.

However, Margaret betrayed Mia's trust.

"Me!" Margaret pouted, stomped her feet twice to show her impotent rage, "How could your first reaction be to ask what insults were used? Shouldn't you be frustrated and annoyed to hear you're eliminated?"

"First of all, your acting is terrible. Secondly, you can see magic material shops advertising Elminster all over the street. How could we possibly be eliminated?"

The current interface of Serdarion not only features advertisements using Elminster as a brand, but also sells the same magic missile scrolls as the protagonist, as well as the same rings and wands as the protagonist. Both magic item versions and toy versions are available.

When there is profit to be made, businessmen always demonstrate amazing efficiency and execution.

Unfortunately, current copyright regulations are not perfect. Apart from the revenue from the work itself belonging to the author, the revenue from derivative products is not yet clearly defined.

Jia Xiu couldn't collect the copyright fees from these businessmen.

"boring."

Margaret crossed her arms, sat down on the sofa, and felt ashamed of her own stupidity.

"Also, several chambers of commerce want to buy the complete version of the Phantom. Are you interested in talking to them?"

“The full version,” Jia Xiu thought for a moment. The full version would be too long, and he didn’t have time to do that. “Let’s skip the full version. But if the price is right, I can provide an outline, and they can refine the plot and create the illusion themselves.”

"What are you looking at me for?"

Margaret saw Jassiu looking at her after he finished speaking.

"Do you expect me to help you negotiate business deals?"

Jia Xiu nodded.

Connecting with various chambers of commerce is a bit troublesome; he's not familiar with the business practices here, and all the negotiations would waste his time that would otherwise be spent on research.

Margaret was different. She was a noblewoman, so people were less likely to deceive her. Besides, it wouldn't take much time; her project wouldn't necessarily make any progress a few days earlier or later anyway.

Most importantly, you don't have to pay her to do things for you.

"Why? I'm a legitimate tutor." She spoke as if she were about to do something shady.

"Just because you're the mentor, the mentor is the boss, and the boss has to talk about horizontal projects."

"Is this considered a cross-border project?"

"The main problem is that none of us are as good as you. Dealing with those cunning businessmen requires someone as knowledgeable, shrewd, and capable as you."

“No way,” Margaret’s barely suppressed smile betrayed her feelings. “Since you’ve put it that way, I’ll reluctantly go and talk to them for you.”

"There's one more thing. I'm going to the Elf Library today..."

Jia Xiu gave a brief overview of his new findings.

"You mean there's an ancient brass dragon hidden inside this association branch!"

Margaret was so surprised that her voice cracked.

"Do you know how long I have to wait to meet with the dragons in the academy just to study dragon language magic? Why can you meet them so easily?"

"No, supervisor, that's not the point. The point is that my research has been verified by the association, but it hasn't been published yet. We haven't decided which journal to submit it to. The final paper still needs your help to revise and confirm it."

"Let me see. If the results are good enough, this kind of cross-spell system research should ideally be submitted to the 'Annals of Applied Spells,' but it's too difficult to get accepted..."

Margaret said, turning to Jassiu's rather informal paper.

Then I was forcibly controlled.

That's understandable. If I'm not mistaken, the hard-control period will probably be quite long, considering that the Ancient Dragon was also controlled for more than half an hour.

"Could this thing also work with dragon language magic? Give me a few days, I need to study this. Sister Gillianis, I need to borrow your laboratory!"

After saying that, he rushed into the laboratory.

This is what makes Gillianice's house more upscale than other mansions.

Gardens, horse farms, and wine cellars are all too common; setting up a laboratory at home is what truly defines "style."

Jia Xiu thought about it and wondered if what he was doing could be considered a student helping his mentor find direction.

“By the way, boss,” Mia said, “the Bards’ Association has invited you to give a lecture on your creative process.”

"Lecture?"

This was the first time Jia Xiu had ever done this. He had attended lectures many times before, but never voluntarily; they were all part of school events.

"That's easy. Just prepare a script, and whatever you talk about, as long as it's not too outrageous, they can interpret it in a very reasonable way."

Mia is quite experienced in this area.

From formal college activities to corporate team building events and elementary school graduation ceremonies, I attended them all.

"Where's the time?"

"They said it depends on your arrangements, just give them a day's notice."

"Are you being so accommodating? Then I'll make time to go. We can talk about it after the next round of matches. By the way, has anything been announced about what the next round will be?"

Upon hearing this, Mia gasped, and Ram next to her also began to gesture anxiously.

"The next round is going to be amazing!"

"If it's really that serious, shouldn't you have come back and told me first?"

"Oh, it's not that amazing. The next round is Holy Light Academy. They've arranged for us to fight against the undead, but with the help of demigods, we'll use divine power to purify them."

"A demigod's help? What demigod..."

……

Outside the city of Serdarion, in a castle abandoned for many years, lies the venue for the third round of the competition.

This place was originally a nobleman's residence, serving both residential and military purposes, and was built very sturdily.

The fortress wasn't breached from the outside, but crumbled from within. An irreconcilable dispute arose over the succession of the last generation of the family, ultimately leading to armed conflict.

The result was the destruction of the family.

It is said that during the struggle for the inheritance, the eldest son cooperated with a necromancer and used many undead creatures, but ended up as a vengeful spirit himself.

In addition, the area's geographical and military value declined, and no one else took over, leaving it abandoned for many years.

Today, it has become a tourist attraction with a terrifying legend.

Jia Xiu had ample reason to suspect that the so-called horror legend was spread by the people in charge of tourism development.

This place is so close to the elven holy land.

If there are truly vengeful spirits, even if the Church of Holy Light doesn't come, the city's elves will be able to spread this far and wide.

They are just small in population, not weak in strength.

In short, given the legend surrounding it, this venue is a perfect match for the theme, serving as the location for the third round of the competition.

In the eerie castle haunted by legends, battle undead creatures.

Jia Xiu had some reason to suspect that this event, which served as the venue for the competition, was a second publicity stunt by the attraction's operators, using a battle against undead creatures to solidify the attraction's promotional image.

According to the Holy Light Theological Seminary, what they will be dealing with later are real undead creatures, like the hellhounds summoned in the first round, rather than something else playing the role.

The Vatican offers services for euthanasia for the unborn and for the removal of dangerous dead.

Their usual practice is to collect, seal off, and finally clean up the mess.

The castle is about to release a portion of the low-level undead that have not yet been dealt with.

The students participating in the competition completed the final step of clearing away the spirits of the dead.

At that time, the undead will be scattered throughout the castle, and all players who "kill" or assist in completing a "kill" will receive one point.

There is no distinction between who delivers the final blow and who assists, so as to avoid disputes over the final blow; in principle, everyone is encouraged to work together.

Meanwhile, to ensure safety, the demigods of the Holy See, the Radiant Knights, will descend.

Grant all contestants a blessing that allows them to temporarily wield divine power, and offer assistance when someone is in mortal danger.

Therefore, this round of competition will test not only the ability to fight the undead, but also the ability to use temporary power effectively.

Now, all the contestants are waiting at the main gate of the castle.

Suddenly, a golden light flashed across the sky, and something cleaved the air, creating a crack.

Immediately afterwards, a warhorse neighed from the crack.

A knight clad in full golden plate armor gallops through the air, running around the castle before slowly landing.

Protected by plate armor, only her long golden braid and jewel-like sparkling eyes were visible.

Standing in front of the student line, I felt a strong sense of pressure.

The Radiant Knights do not hold a high position among the deities worshipped by the Holy Light Church.

He is a subordinate god of one of the several righteous gods under the Holy Light God.

He's probably "a lackey of the Holy Light".

So he's just a demigod.

However, His status is low compared to other gods.

For these students still studying at the spellcaster's academy, it was truly like a god descending to earth.

The seminary students in the group had already begun to kneel and pray.

The fact that Holy Light Theological Seminary could mobilize a demigod for a competition shows the extraordinary level of importance they place on it.

It was Jia Xiu's first time seeing the gods of this world, and he remained relatively calm.

I'm a little envious of the way the Radiant Knight made his entrance. He cleaved a crack in the sky and then rode his warhorse down from the heavens—that was so cool!

Isn't this the ultimate form that Bubu has always dreamed of?

He is skilled in both physical and magical arts, and is also a knight.

Out of curiosity, he also tried to understand the Radiant Knight.

Unsurprisingly, nothing was discovered. The exact level is unknown, but it's definitely much higher than Bubu's level 19.

I wonder who is more powerful, Him or the God of Deception worshipped by those cultists in Riverwood.

The Radiant Knight carries a banner bearing the emblem of Holy Light.

He said nothing, but struck the ground twice with the flagpole, the clear sound like the tolling of church bells.

A pale gold, semi-transparent protective shield rose from the ground and gradually enveloped the entire castle.

Subsequently, hundreds of undead creatures were released into the castle, which was sealed off by the shield.

These undead creatures showed little intelligence and were unable to comprehend the current situation. Attracted by the presence of living beings outside the city gates, they attacked the protective barrier, trying to break through.

The shield erected by the Radiant Knight was highly reliable; the undead's impact had no effect whatsoever, not even a ripple appeared, and not a single one could escape into the elven holy land.

He once again raised the banner high, and the banner's emblem shone with a warm, holy light upon all the students.

Bathed in holy light, Jia Xiu had a familiar feeling.

Several complex spell circuits flooded my mind: runes, casting methods, effects...

Isn't this similar to enlightenment techniques?

It just has a longer effective period and more "initiation" content.

So, does that mean that the profession of pastor involves giving enough and then receiving enlightenment from the God of faith?
As the holy light shone, the seminary's spokesperson began to provide specific information.

"Holy Radiant Knights, you are endowed with a variety of incomplete spell circuits that can be combined to achieve different effects such as protection, positioning, control, damage, and amplification. You need to perfect a divinely bestowed spell, and then enter the castle to begin clearing away the undead. The time it takes to enter depends on the time it takes to complete the spell. Now, the competition officially begins."

As soon as the starting command was given, all the contestants sprang into action, racing against time.

The rules are very clear: whoever perfects the divine spell first gets to enter the castle first, and the first to enter the castle starts the battle and scores points.

The circuits granted by the Radiant Knight were already close to complete, with few parts that could be adjusted or supplemented. So, within minutes, someone completed the spell.

It is the Holy Son, James.

As a Holy Son of the Papacy, he was indeed very familiar with Holy Light magic. After completing the spell, he even gave a slight bow to the other contestants before entering the castle.

Starting with Jacob, one contestant after another entered the castle and began their hunt.

The number of people remaining in the open space by the entrance is dwindling, including Jia Xiu.

"Boss, aren't we going in yet?"

Mia and Ram have completed their spell, but the team is still very much a team.

If the boss doesn't go in, they won't go in either.

"If we go any later, I'm afraid the undead will all be wiped out."

"I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush."

Jia Xiu carefully examined each spell circuit.

If it's just about perfecting spells, then it's no different from what everyone else is doing.

Using this method to exorcise the dead is definitely not as effective as having a professional team from a seminary.

We need to find a different approach...

"Hey? I have a great idea!"

(End of this chapter)