At Hua Yi’s insistence, a group of experts and scholars escorted him to the laboratory, clustered around him like stars cupping the moon.
Previously, the attention of the senior staff from all major departments had been captivated by the future placement of this super-rookie, temporarily setting aside the matter of the High-rank Mystery involving the Path of Erudition.
Now that they knew Station Master Asta had reported the situation to Lady Herta, they no longer dared to take any unnecessary actions.
With their minds set on the future of their departments, they returned to their roles as scholars, and a different kind of excitement began to bubble up.
Including the Department of Lumina Archives, which had been the first to learn of the Mystery’s product, the [Key of Inspiration], no researcher had been able to carefully analyze the object’s composition and properties, fearing that any unauthorized operation might damage this incredibly precious research specimen.
These high-level scholars, accomplished enough to hold their own interstellar academic exchange conferences that would draw renown from numerous civilizations, now brought in chairs and sat down neatly in the laboratory.
At this moment, they were no longer the heads of a department, nor were they titans in a certain field.
They were simply pure seekers of knowledge.
A strange light sparked within pairs of cloudy, old eyes as they stared at the Key of Inspiration in its transparent case.
Even the case itself, which incorporated the Herta Space Station’s top-tier technology—capable of maintaining the internal environmental conditions within an extremely small fluctuation range, almost constant, ensuring that even molecular motion adhered as much as possible to the content’s initial state—was far less valuable than the key itself, which shimmered with an esoteric, faint glow.
Erudition.
This was a crystallization of the power of the Path of Erudition!
Throughout the endless cosmos, any intelligent life form that knew of the great name of Nous, the Revered, those seekers of knowledge who toiled to knock on the door of truth—which among them did not yearn for [The Erudition]?
If not for the fact that the senior staff present were either weathered by experience and extraordinarily worldly, or possessed uncommon talent and self-control far beyond ordinary people, they would have long since swarmed forward, pressing their faces against the case to stare wide-eyed at the Key of Inspiration.
“—Using the aforementioned materials, and primarily referencing low-rank Mysteries related to the Path of Erudition, as well as mid-rank Mysteries that can influence space and, in theory, connect to the power of that elusive Path with the aid of a beacon, I successfully completed the [Calyx (Simulated): Bud of Erudition] and condensed this [Key of Inspiration].” Behind Hua Yi, a holographic projection replayed the entire process of him completing the Mystery.
Beside it, an interface displayed various energy parameters.
Paired with the experimenter’s detailed explanation, the experts and scholars felt as if they had personally walked through Hua Yi’s thought process, and their understanding of the Bud of Erudition deepened rapidly.
“A Simulated Calyx is not an unprecedented new term.
It has long been defined in academia as a special entity born from a spatial distortion phenomenon.
If this spatial distortion involves a Path, one can indeed attempt to channel its great power.” “What absolutely brilliant creative thinking!” “Could we use equipment or Curios that have spatial effects to try and find a more stable method of connecting to the Path of Erudition?” “If it were really that simple, would there be so few Pathstriders in the universe?
Forget the Paths, the very principle behind the formation of a Simulated Calyx is a mystery in itself.
The reason the Mysteries of the Lumina Archives are called ‘Mysteries’ is precisely because they contain many secrets we have yet to uncover, isn’t it?” “Don’t just discuss amongst yourselves!
Hua Yi has been talking for so long, he must be thirsty.
Tsk, how does this laboratory not even have a water dispenser!” “E-excuse me.” A young female researcher nervously knocked on the laboratory door, holding a glass of purified water she had just gotten from the office.
The head of the Department of Star-Field Species recognized her and nodded with considerable approval.
“Lamina, you’ve come at the perfect time.
Quickly, bring the water to Hua Yi so he can soothe his throat.” On a small scale, this was just a researcher with a quick mind, considerate of the details during a meeting, which was endearing.
On a larger scale, it was a reflection of the overall quality of the personnel in the Department of Star-Field Species.
How come no one from the other departments thought Hua Yi might be thirsty?
Even if they were worried about displeasing Lady Herta and no longer had the guts to openly compete for Hua Yi, being able to one-up the others in subtle ways was all benefit and no harm.
“Don’t leave.
Sit here and listen with us.
After the meeting, help collect the documents so that the already exhausted Hua Yi doesn’t have to tax himself further.” “Yes!” A flash of delighted surprise appeared in Level III Researcher Lamina’s eyes.
She quickly and quietly sat down, afraid of making the slightest noise that might disrupt the presentation.
Hua Yi smiled and nodded at the female researcher, with whom he had interacted before while optimizing the Star-Field Species’ database, and then continued.
“Next, I will explain the effects of the Key of Inspiration.
As you can all see, it is a product of a Mystery, a droplet splashed from the Path of [The Erudition].
Not only can it serve as material for a rudimentary study of the power of Erudition, but it can also stimulate the inspiration deep within the holder’s consciousness.
To grasp the key is to grasp the sparks flashing within one’s mind.” “W-wait!
Are you saying the Key of Inspiration can genuinely open the door to truth, that it’s not just a metaphor?” “It only stimulates inspiration.
The specific effect depends on the beneficiary’s own abilities.
As for opening the door to truth—that is likely a description that would barely apply to a higher-tier product of the Key of Inspiration, or perhaps something even a level above that.” “You…
no, Your Excellency…
do you mean to say the Bud of Erudition has room for further improvement?!” “That’s right.” “!!” The atmosphere in the laboratory, now serving as a conference hall, instantly became charged.
Accompanied by heavy breaths, even the old scholars, who had experienced much and possessed extraordinary minds, now stared at the Key of Inspiration with eyes that burned like fire.
Using the Key of Inspiration might allow me to break through the academic bottleneck that has hindered me for years.
No, no, no, how could I have such a thought?
As the product of a brand-new Mystery, it is currently one of a kind.
It absolutely cannot be used as a consumable!
If I could just get the chance to study it further, to write a high-quality thesis that starts from the Key of Inspiration and extends to the Path of [The Erudition], I would already have taken another step forward!
If…
if I were fortunate enough to participate in the follow-up research, to help Hua Yi further improve the Bud of Erudition and condense a product of a higher tier than the Key of Inspiration…
Setting aside the different focuses of the five research departments, everyone present was a scientific worker.
All they sought was to explore the truth and analyze mysteries.
Their nimble minds had already sketched out the scene of their dreams.
How could the experts and scholars possibly maintain their composure?
The pores on their bodies opened wide, their blood began to race, and every single cell within them trembled.
—o— .