Chapter 2648: Chapter 869: A Discussion on Metamorphosis
After the winter break, when Zheng Qing returned to dormitory 403 and first saw the small sprites on the sunflower dish, they were just sleeping soundly, as if they had narcolepsy.
However, the newly sprouted wings under their ribs, resembling flower buds, clearly told Zheng Qing that this was not narcolepsy, but metamorphosis.
Xiao Xiao consulted many resources for the three metamorphosing sprites and finally found an ancient formula in "Alchemical Life" that had auxiliary benefits for special mutations. Xin Fat Man concocted a hempy essential oil for the three sprites, applying it to create an artificial envelope around them.
Both roommates believed that the sprites were metamorphosing because they had once been close to death, and that ’after despair comes rebirth’, but only Zheng Qing understood in his heart that it was likely due to contact with his blood that they could break free from their original shackles.
Artificial life.
Artificial opportunity.
Artificial envelope.
With the catalyst of time and magic power, perhaps soon, an artificial miracle would be born.
When Zheng Qing’s mind was flashing with these chaotic thoughts, he finally saw the ’fetal movement’ mentioned in the letter from Fat Man—at that moment, the three translucent envelopes on the sunflower dish were gently wriggling, as if the sprites inside were stretching, and one could vaguely judge their movements from the tiny fists rising and falling on the envelope.
Xiao Xiao straightened up and opened his bamboo slip law book, deploying a layer of transparent barrier over those sprites dancing merrily, oblivious to their surroundings.
Zheng Qing leaned forward in front of the barrier, studying the sprites carefully, and after a while, he hesitantly asked, "Do you feel that..."
"Too fast."
Xiao Xiao, too, was earnestly observing the slowly wriggling figures inside the sunflower dish, and without waiting for Zheng Qing to finish, he chimed in, "The three elements for metamorphosis: magic power, time, and opportunity. Since they have already begun metamorphosing, opportunity is sufficient; at First University, magic power is also abundant. It’s only time... A metamorphosis lacking sufficient time accumulation is not an ascension but a suicide."
Zheng Qing suppressed the impulsive urge to cut several slits on his fingertips and cover the layer of the sprites’ envelope with his blood.
"Perhaps because they are very small, their metamorphosis might be faster."
The Fat Wizard interjected: "As they say, ’The morning fungus does not know evening or dawn, the cicada does not know spring and autumn, and in the south of Chu there is a spirit that takes five hundred years as spring and five hundred years as autumn; in ancient times, there was a great pure tree that took eight thousand years as spring and eight thousand years as autumn’... Different life spans bring different worldviews, and metamorphosis naturally varies as well."
Zheng Qing thought this made sense.
"How long have they been struggling inside?" he asked, looking at the slowly wriggling envelope, eager and restless, almost wishing he could rip it open with his own hands.
Fortunately, there was still a barrier in between.
"I don’t know."
The Fat Wizard struggled to bend over, taking a breath: "When I returned, these little sprites were already singing. I observed them for a few minutes... then immediately sent you paper cranes."
"Could it be that the envelope is too thick, so they can’t break free?"
Xiao Xiao pressed his face against the barrier surface, his nose almost piercing the thin magical membrane, and very uncharacteristically, he wasn’t clutching that black notebook, but was muttering to himself: "But they seem to have stable magic fluctuations, even breathing... The blessing sprites aren’t panicked... The situation is still within control."
"Ah, music always provides richer sensations."
The Fat Wizard ignored the doctor’s mutterings, standing up and taking a long breath, twisting his waist while keeping his eyes fixed on the three small sprites on the sunflower dish without glancing elsewhere.
Zheng Qing looked to the left, then the right.
"Should we find some professionals to take a look?" He was aware of his own limitations, and could roughly guess the depth of his companions’ expertise, so he offered an answer he considered the most prudent.
"Who? Professor Li for magic potion courses? Professor Yi from divination studies? Or Old Yao?"
Xiao Xiao offered three options in quick succession, finally shaking his head, pointing to the wriggling envelopes on the dish, reminding someone: "Do you think they’re sick sprites? Wake up, Mr. Assistant, they’re artificial life forms undergoing an unauthorized life transformation... In other words, we’re participating in an illegal experiment involving life magic!"
The words ’illegal experiment’ were somewhat frightening.
Also a perspective Zheng Qing had never considered.
But upon reflection, it made a lot of sense—any magic related to life is extremely dangerous; as the saying goes, water can carry a boat but also overturn it, a spell that can save a person can naturally also kill, so the dissemination of related spells and magic experiments is strictly regulated by the Alliance.
"Mr. Zha, you’re planning to graduate this semester, so it’s indeed not suitable to get involved in such matters." Xin Fat Man finally averted his gaze from the small sprites, comforting Zheng Qing with a pat on the shoulder, then looking out the window with a hint of unease in his voice: "But speaking of which, doing this in school... won’t we be found out?"
His demeanor suggested he might rush to the balcony in the next second to pull the heavy curtains shut.
"Worrying only now?"
Xiao Xiao looked at his two nervous companions disdainfully, snorting: "The reason the Alliance pays particular attention to First University is mainly for this reason—its uncontrollability—the school’s academic atmosphere is too relaxed, frequently violating the Alliance’s ’The Code’ without reporting. This greatly undermines the authority of the Alliance."
"You mean, the school is aware of this?" The Fat Wizard pointed to the sunflower, his tone changing.
"How surprising!"
The Diviner of Absolution adjusted his glasses, glancing at him: "The school’s protective legal formation sweeps the entire school twenty-four hours a day, even ant mating gets recorded; how could this special evolutionary phenomenon, without deliberate precautions, possibly go unnoticed? Not to mention, there are currently two legendary wizards visibly stationed at the school... The vision of the legendary is extremely broad and far-reaching, the unusual evolution of sprites, an event affecting a certain race, is probably as conspicuous to them as a flame in the darkness."
"But this metamorphosis is very valuable." Zheng Qing’s voice was very light, as if afraid of being overheard through the walls.
"That’s why they pretend not to see." The Fat Wizard also caught on.
"Just like those crows?"
"Just like those crows."
The atmosphere in the dormitory suddenly became much heavier due to the last two sentences. Zheng Qing unconsciously pinched the web between his thumb and forefinger, as if he could feel a hard bronze bead from underneath his skin.
For a while.
He barely managed a smile, pulling the topic back before discussing ’illegal experiments’: "... Actually, when I initially suggested it, the ’professionals’ I wanted to call upon were Doctor Duzem or the young lady from Greenhill Mansion."
