Chapter 426: Chapter 369: Appointment
According to the runes on the room sign, Jeming quickly found the accommodation assigned to him.
He pushed open the metal door engraved with soundproof and protective runes, and the sight that met his eyes made him raise his eyebrows slightly.
Based on the information on the room sign, each room is equipped with a laboratory, but upon actual observation, it’s more like a small area was reluctantly carved out in the laboratory to serve as a rest area, rather than a room equipped with a laboratory.
More than ninety percent of the space is occupied by various basic yet complete experimental equipment—energy sensing matrices, material analyzers, and rune engraving stations are all present.
The simple bed in the corner and a small washroom seem more like auxiliary features existing out of necessity to meet physiological needs.
"Very wizard-like, very practical." Jeming not only didn’t mind this but nodded in agreement.
This truly is the lifestyle most wizards, including himself, are accustomed to.
In his Golden Garden and in the core laboratory of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane, he also spends most of his time like this, with rest being just a necessary adjustment between research sessions.
If it weren’t for the fact that prolonged mental tension would reduce learning and research efficiency, many wizards might even choose to take potions to skip the resting process altogether.
He briefly inspected the standard set of equipment in the laboratory, finding the precision and functionality both above the standard line, sufficient for most non-cutting-edge advanced experiments.
Of course, for him, these are just the icing on the cake. The set of personal equipment he carries in his Inner Grotto Heaven, maintained and upgraded by Black Giant Priests, is the main force.
Knowing there was still some time before the formal summoning by Grandmaster or the advancement ceremony, Jeming gave up the idea of going out altogether.
Although the various researches of the Purgatory Sulfur Plane are managed by those efficient Black Giant Priests, Jeming feels more at ease using the Soul Contract to remotely overview the key data and progress daily.
Besides, during this break period, his core task is to consume and absorb the massive amount of knowledge he acquired, making it the same wherever he studies.
Thus, he began his "seclusion" directly in this "guest room."
And with that, three months quietly passed by.
Until a somewhat urgent knock on the door with a specific frequency, like a stone casting ripples upon a tranquil lake, broke the absolute silence in the laboratory and awakened Jeming from the vast realm of spatial theory.
He frowned, reluctantly putting down the complex rune structure he was deducing, and got up to open the door.
Outside was Viola.
She squeezed in unceremoniously and didn’t speak immediately, but instead used her eyes, flickering with an unusual light, to meticulously observe Jeming from head to toe, as if examining a rare specimen.
Jeming felt somewhat inexplicable under her gaze and took the initiative to speak: "What’s wrong, senior sister?"
Viola clicked her tongue in wonder: "You really are a monster! Three whole months! I inquired, and you actually never left the room once, just holed up in here studying?"
She pointed to the instruments around, which had clearly been used frequently: "Coming to the headquarters is such a rare opportunity, with so many new and interesting things outside, and so many wizards of the same rank to communicate with, and you aren’t tempted at all?"
Jeming shook his head, his tone calm: "There are quite a few subjects I want to learn during this break, and I’m not interested for the time being."
"Not interested?" Viola squinted doubtfully, leaned in closer, her nose twitching as if she were sniffing something.
Then her face showed a "just as expected" expression: "I don’t think you’re disinterested, but your biggest interest is in learning knowledge itself, isn’t it?!"
Jeming was taken aback by her words, then came to a realization.
He remembered Viola’s unique "Law of Pain."
After she came in, she must have inadvertently probed his emotional fluctuations.
The mental fatigue from long-term, intense study, and the frustration of difficulty in understanding usually accompany varying degrees of "pain."
However, from Jeming’s own experience, he shouldn’t feel much "pain": "Strictly speaking, my greatest interest isn’t just in learning knowledge, but in improving power."
Seeing that Jeming understood her probing, Viola didn’t hide it, rolling her eyes: "I’ve never seen someone like you! Is studying as natural as breathing to you, so much so that it doesn’t generate any ’pain’?"
Jeming smiled without explaining his peculiarity, shifting the topic instead: "Did you come specifically to confirm if I’m ’abnormal,’ senior sister?"
Being reminded of her mission, Viola suddenly slapped her forehead: "I nearly forgot the important matter! Professor Clark just sent a message—the grandmaster’s final preparations are complete, and he plans to formally meet us disciples tomorrow."
Jeming’s heart tightened, immediately seizing the key point: "The grandmaster is preparing to advance?"
Viola thought for a moment and shook her head: "It probably hasn’t reached the final moment. According to the professor, this meeting is more like the final adjustment and preparation before advancement. It’s also to let our lineage get acquainted with each other."
"After all, the opportunity to observe an Eighth Level advancement is extremely rare. The grandmaster also hopes that his descendants can be more prepared and gain as much insight as possible then."
Jeming nodded, signifying his understanding.
It’s just like a pre-battle mobilization, both to boost morale and to clarify rules.
After explaining the main matter, Viola watched Jeming, who had already returned to the experiment table and picked up a Knowledge Crystal to continue his research, and couldn’t help but twitch her mouth a few times.
She felt that Jeming’s composure, wholly immersed in the sea of knowledge and indifferent to the affairs around him, was becoming increasingly like Professor Clark, perhaps even surpassing him.
Unwilling to give up, she quietly used her Law to sense again.
It was still a "pure land," devoid of any negative emotional fluctuations stemming from learning profound knowledge, only an almost "peaceful" state.
"Truly a monster..." Viola muttered under her breath, this time with less mockery and more complex sentiment and a hint of admiration.
Only those who have genuinely climbed the peaks of knowledge understand the tremendous "pain" that the endless mental expenditure and frustration on the steep, treacherous theoretical paths can bring.
She—or rather, most wizards—can force themselves to endure hard study like Jeming through willpower but can’t enjoy it as "blissfully as he does."
"Maybe it won’t be long before this guy surpasses me." Viola thought as she watched Jeming’s focused silhouette.
Then she shook her head, no longer disturbing him, gently closed the door, and left.
