In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

As Wang Yan listened, he not only gained a concept of mechanical art, but also understood why Erossen, as a senior figure in the epistemological school, held such an awkward position within the school.

Because the art of mechanism has now been incorporated into the school of subtle theory.

Eros, however, continued to 'blow' the mechanism, even saying that it was more difficult than 'runes'.

In the academic world, 'more difficult' is not a derogatory term; on the contrary, it means that the topic is more challenging.

In this way, the epistemological school's "Habantu" and even "Sages" would naturally want to prevent Falushan from gaining too much control over the discourse.

What if we lead all the good students of the intellectual school astray and they end up learning mechanical arts?

You know what, these students who are proficient in runes and ancient languages ​​are actually quite well-suited to switch to mechanical arts.

Erosan was unaware of Wang Yan's thoughts. After explaining some background stories about mechanical arts, she began to explain mechanical arts to Wang Yan in detail.

"Mechanical arts are actually very similar to runes. A single rune is difficult to exert its power; multiple runes are needed to work together to drive elemental forces to form spells."

"The same applies to mechanical devices. A single part may be useless, but when different parts are combined, they can form amazing mechanisms."

"Among them, the three most important things are: first, the driving core, which provides energy to the mechanism; second, the logical circuit, which provides the mechanism with the operating shell, that is, the mechanism itself."

As she spoke, perhaps finding this too monotonous, she gave an example: "Have you seen the guardians of the ruins left behind by Kanria?"

Wang Yan nodded: "I haven't met him, but I know a little about him."

Eros smiled and said, "Become my student, and you'll be seeing me often from now on."

As she spoke, she explained, "The Guardians of the Ruins of Kanria are the most standard mechanical creations. They are powered by the Chaos Furnace and their behavioral logic is provided by the Chaos Circuits. There are also chaotic devices connecting the machines. It can be said that many of the Congregation's mechanical techniques are developed on the basis of Kanria's mechanical techniques."

Eros didn't say "death" because another subject of study for the Institute of Mechanical Arts was the Red King Civilization.

The Crimson King civilization also left behind a large number of mechanical creations, and those elemental constructs actually had a greater impact on the Council.

However, the Elemental Energy Agency has a major problem: without a Control Matrix, it needs Spirit Suppressor Fragments to have sufficient intelligent logic, and the Order Institute obviously does not have such Spirit Suppressor Fragments.

(Yuaneng Technology itself does not require the Spirit Suppressing Fragments; it is a derivative technology of Tian Ding (speculation). However, the Desert Dynasty is truly inhumane, forcibly developing the Spirit Suppressing Fragment construct.)

"Of course, this kind of self-regulating mechanism is only one part of the art of mechanisms. In many cases, we use our art of mechanisms more often in places like heritage traps."

Erosan smiled again, her tone full of love for mechanical arts.

She definitely loves mechanical magic more than runes.

Wang Yan nodded slightly: "Indeed, it is profound and extensive. Teacher Falushan, I will study hard."

Runes are the inner essence, while mechanical arts are the outer essence. Only by mastering both can one survive well in Teyvat.

Erosian beamed and continued lecturing Wang Yan.

Time passed slowly, and only after the outside world gradually darkened and the sounds of the academy dismissing students could be heard did Falushan reluctantly stop lecturing.

While Wang Yan was still processing what was happening, Falushan got up, went to the bookshelf next to her, took down two notebooks, and handed them to Wang Yan.

"These are my study notes from before. Take them back and look at them. Write down anything you don't understand. I will give you a lesson every three days thereafter."

Wang Yan quickly reached out and took it. The notebook cover had no design, only a delicate signature that read Erosan's name.

However, judging from its appearance, it should be a notebook written after Estée Lauder's return, not an antique from a hundred years ago.

As for giving a lecture every three days, it may seem like a small amount, but in reality, at the [Habantu] level, being willing to take the time to give a one-on-one lecture is practically VIP treatment.

Wang Yan had previously inquired and found that many of the [Heban Tu] were wholeheartedly devoted to research, and it was considered quite good if their scholars asked them academic questions once a month.

"Then I'll head back now, Instructor Erossan." Wang Yan stood up and said goodbye.

Eros nodded: "Wait for me at Shravasti Academy tomorrow morning. Once the teacher-student relationship is settled, we can apply for an educational grant."

Wang Yan smirked: "Okay, mentor."

Chapter 49 Wang Yan: Why don't I compete for the title of Sage?

The next day.

The Shravasti Academy.

Wang Yan arrived here early to wait. This was his first time appearing at the Order of the Church with Falushan. Even if it was just for show, he should at least do it properly.

After waiting for about half an hour, around eight o'clock in the morning, a large number of scholars from the Academy hurriedly went to their respective classrooms, and no one paid attention to Wang Yan, this unfamiliar face.

Unlike the scholars who were rushing around, Estée Lauder walked with a light step, clearly in a good mood.

Upon seeing Wang Yan standing at the door, she smiled and said, "Have you been waiting long?"

Wang Yan shook his head: "I just arrived too."

“So you’ve been here for a while now.” Erosan smiled and waved. “Come on, let’s go find the school’s clerk to handle the teacher-student relationship.”

Wang Yan no longer stood on ceremony, nodded, and followed in Falushan's footsteps.

As one of the six major schools of the Church, the Shravada school, which controls the Shravada Academy, occupies a large area within the Church.

It is large enough to accommodate the activities of thousands of scholars.

If it's an academic gathering, tens of thousands of people are also possible.

Wang Yan followed Erosan and easily arrived at an office. Without knocking, Erosan simply pushed the door open and led him inside.

In the office, a middle-aged man wearing an intellectual badge was writing something. Hearing the noise, he looked up and, upon seeing it was Estelle, immediately gave her a standard smile.

"Senior Erossan, what brings you here?" The middle-aged man was very polite, but there seemed to be a hint of distance in his tone.

Watching from the side, Wang Yan understood that, apart from insightful individuals like Elhesen, Kavi, and Tina, many scholars held a rather unique attitude towards Erossen, their senior.

If Eros is just a name in everyone's textbooks, then she is undoubtedly a great and memorable person.

However, when this name suddenly reappeared from the ruins and seemed somewhat out of place in this era, scholars, even those who respected Estelle, would have some reservations.

This is similar to the principle that idols can be worshipped, but cannot be approached and understood.

In fact, the situation has improved a lot now; before the arrival of the travelers, Estelle was even more alienated from this era.

If Wang Yan could sense it, then Falushan naturally could too.

However, Eros didn't care. She just pointed to Wang Yan next to her and said, "Junior, help me with the mentor procedures. He will be my student from now on."

The middle-aged man followed the fingertip to Wang Yan and quickly revealed a hint of understanding: "Oh, you must be Wang Yan. Clerk Elhesen has already given instructions to register you under Senior Erossan's name. Please give me your student ID card."

As he spoke, he nodded to Erossen: "Senior Erossen, I'll take care of it for you right away."

Eroshen gave a soft hum and did not reply.

Wang Yan stepped forward and handed the student ID card to the middle-aged scholar.

The other person reached out and took it, then pulled out another document from the pile of files on the desk.

Wang Yan glanced at it, not quite understanding what it was, but it contained some information about Erossan, as well as the names of several people he didn't recognize.

Perhaps noticing Wang Yan's gaze, Erosan spoke up: "That's my mentor's information. It contains information about several of your 'senior brothers and sisters'."

"Senior brothers and sisters?" Wang Yan was taken aback. "How come I've never seen them before?"

If I have senior brothers and sisters, then... why didn't they show up when I visited Erosan's house?

You see, Estelle often goes out to explore historical sites, and now that she's finally back, it's the perfect time for students to visit!

Erosham smiled and said, "They still need to complete the basic education at the Academy of Education before they can officially obtain student status."

Wang Yan: "Huh?"

What does it mean that senior students still need to complete basic education?

As the middle-aged scholar recorded Wang Yan's information into Eros's mentor profile, he smiled and said, "Senior Eros has only taken on a few children before, so, Scholar Wang Yan, your senior brothers and sisters are still children."

Wang Yan then realized that his senior brothers and sisters were the children who accompanied Falushan on her mission, right?

"Master... will the senior brothers and sisters take care of me, their junior brother?" Wang Yan asked in a low voice.

At this, the middle-aged scholar's lips curled into a wide grin, and he almost couldn't contain himself.

Erosan laughed and said, "Alright, alright, they're still kids, they don't have formal scholar ranks yet. You're the senior brother."

Wang Yan feigned a sigh of relief: "That's such a pity."

Effusa and the middle-aged scholar laughed again.

The atmosphere gradually improved, and the middle-aged scholar finished the formalities: "Senior Erosham, from now on, Scholar Wang Yan is your student. I hope you can teach him well and cultivate an outstanding scholar for the Academy of Teachings."

Ella nodded earnestly, "I will."

The next second, Erosanne's expression changed, and she smiled: "I have a formal student now, so the education funding can be approved, right?"

The middle-aged man's face stiffened, and he forced a smile: "Of course, of course, I'll give you a certificate. You can pick it up from the college's finance department."

As he spoke, he lowered his head, wrote a note, stamped it, and handed it to Falushan.

Erosan nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, well done, junior."

As she spoke, she gave Wang Yan a look and said, "Let's go."

The two turned and left the office.

...

In the corridor of the college.

Erosanne suddenly spoke up: "You should have noticed by now that my position within the school is quite awkward."

Wang Yan was taken aback, unsure how to respond.

After a moment, he nodded: "The clerk just now didn't seem to like you, mentor."

“It’s not that I don’t like it, but that I don’t want to touch it.” Erosan’s tone was calm, as if she had gotten used to it. “I am good at mechanical arts, but I am in the Epistemology school. To some people in the school, I am using the resources of the Epistemology school to do research for the Theory school. It is normal for them to have resistance.”

Wang Yan frowned slightly and retorted, "But I've heard that in your time, scholars of the epistemological school were also very skilled in mechanical arts."

"...You said it yourself, it's from my time." Erosanne's face darkened slightly, her tone tinged with a sigh.

Estée Lushan is not only a self-proclaimed senior, but legally, she is indeed a senior.

Therefore, it was not easy for Erossen to watch her descendants hand over the disciplines that her school of thought had once excelled at to other schools of thought.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore." Erosan shook her head, then cheered herself up again. "I don't care about others, we should just focus on passing on our traditions. You should take in more students and spread our influence. One day we'll be able to restore our school's glory!"

"Huh? Teacher, why should I take on more students?" Wang Yan asked, puzzled.

Falushan looked up at Wang Yan. She was a typical petite girl, only reaching Wang Yan's chin compared to his 1.8-meter height.

However, as the mentor, Estelle still maintained a commanding presence, staring at Wang Yan and saying in a serious tone:

“There’s an old saying in Liyue: ‘When there’s trouble, the younger generation should take the lead.’ Your junior brothers and sisters are still young, so the task of revitalizing our lineage naturally falls to you!”

"..." Wang Yanzhen didn't expect that Erossan could even utter a few words of Liyue ancient Chinese. "Then you might as well hope that I can compete for the title of Sage of the Knowledge School and revitalize our lineage more quickly."

Kavaja, the former sage of the Epistemology, has been dismissed for supporting the blasphemous acts of the former great sage Azhar, and is now imprisoned with Azhar in the Forest of the Doth.

After Cavaja's downfall, Elhesen served as the acting sage for a period of time, and naturally, Elhesen also handled the affairs of the Epistemological School.

Later, the selection of sages was delayed again due to the Siraj incident (a scholar with a herd mentality).

Therefore, the position of the wise man of the epistemological school is currently vacant.

In fact, apart from the schools of generative theory and the school of cause theory, the sages of the other four schools have all been dismissed, and no new people have taken their place to this day.

“That works too. Once you become a [Habantu], I will nominate you as a sage.”

Elushan's tone was equally ambiguous, making it impossible to discern whether she was telling the truth or not.

Chapter 50 School Budget

The master and disciple discussed some taboo topics within the academy as they arrived at the school's finance department.

There were three people in the office: a middle-aged woman and two young girls, who were probably the person in charge and her secretary.

Like the middle-aged scholar before her, the middle-aged woman's face darkened when she saw Eros enter the office, but she quickly put on a standard respectful smile.

"Senior Erossan, what brings you here?"

Wang Yan felt like he had just heard this sentence not long ago. Oh, the middle-aged scholar in the student records office also started with this sentence.

Estelle didn't give him a friendly look and handed him the note the middle-aged scholar had given her: "I'm here to collect my education grant."

"Educational funding? You've received a qualified student's application..." The middle-aged woman started to speak subconsciously, but her gaze quickly fell on Wang Yan, and she swallowed her words back, forcing out a smile, "Congratulations, I'll process it for you right away. The funding will be released to your tutor's account within three days."