Early the next morning, everyone came to Zhang Ye's dorm for breakfast, but there was one more person—Ke Ling.
Looking at Ke Ling standing at the door, Zhang Ye waved her in. “What are you standing there for? Come in and have breakfast.”
“I do not need to eat breakfast,” Ke Ling said.
Zhang Ye looked at her and said slowly, “If you don't eat breakfast, your body will absorb the water and nutrients from the stool sitting in your intestines. In other words...”
“Not eating breakfast is equivalent to eating poop.”
“So, are you eating or not?”
“I am eating.” This time, Ke Ling nodded very decisively.
Everyone stared blankly at this scene, then couldn't help but give Zhang Ye a thumbs-up.
Only Zhang Ye could make Ke Ling this obedient.
After breakfast, Ke Ling went to the research institute, while everyone else headed to class as usual.
Soon, Leona arrived, but she brought a piece of news this time.
“In two months, there will be an Academy Freshman Exchange Conference. The top thirty freshmen will represent the academy in this exchange.”
Zhang Ye asked in confusion, “What do we actually do during this exchange?”
“Combat,” Leona said succinctly.
Everyone exchanged glances, a hint of excitement gradually appearing in their eyes.
The so-called Academy Freshman Exchange Conference was where the geniuses of various major academies gathered to duel and determine rankings.
Naturally, the academy represented by the high-ranking students would gain bragging rights and receive heavy promotion. This would increase the academy's exposure, which would be highly beneficial for future admissions and resource allocation.
Thus, everyone looked forward to it immensely.
As geniuses, they all had their own pride. Who wouldn't want to prove themselves on such a grand stage and bring glory to their academy?
Not to mention, being able to spar and fight against geniuses from other academies was an excellent training opportunity in itself!
Consequently, everyone trained even harder from then on, which was exactly the scene Leona wanted to see.
Over the next few days, apart from attending classes and going to the research institute, Zhang Ye buried himself in the library, frantically absorbing knowledge to prepare for the upcoming review.
Soon, the day of the review arrived.
The senior researchers of the academy's research institute gathered, including two Vice Deans, showing just how much importance the academy placed on this review.
It made sense. Zhang Ye was the most dazzling student of this class.
During his battle with Gajeel, he had unleashed a force that even a Tier Ten expert would find hard to resist, despite only having a Tier Eight cultivation. It was impossible for a genius like him not to draw attention.
Furthermore, he had proposed all kinds of avant-garde theories and solved many difficult problems regarding magic devices. This time, he even planned to challenge researching multiple fields simultaneously.
If he could pass this review, he would set a precedent!
And by then, he would also become one of the top super-geniuses in the academy's history!
The review took place in the assembly hall inside the research institute. In addition to the researchers and senior academy officials, Lina and the others also attended.
The hall was semi-circular, and Zhang Ye stood at the podium, facing the crowd seated in rows along the semi-circle.
“The review shall now begin. Researchers and mentors from all fields may ask questions of Researcher Zhang Ye. In the end, the review panel will judge based on Researcher Zhang Ye's performance whether he possesses the qualification to simultaneously instruct students in five different fields,” a kind-faced elderly man said.
He was none other than Vice Dean Rand.
Zhang Ye nodded and then gestured to the audience below, indicating they could begin.
As soon as the review meeting commenced, countless hands went up in the audience, clearly harboring various doubts about Zhang Ye.
Zhang Ye looked at an elderly man in the first row and said, “Seat number six, please ask your question.”
The old man nodded, stood up, and cleared his throat. His bright, piercing eyes stared straight at Zhang Ye as if trying to put psychological pressure on him. However, Zhang Ye remained completely calm, which surprised the old man slightly.
This young man seems very confident. In that case...
His aged voice slowly echoed, “I am Special-tier Researcher Pedro Cristales. My main field of research is light magic.”
“As a mere freshman, to have achieved such accomplishments is enough to prove your excellence. Therefore, I will not make things difficult for you. You only need to answer a very basic question for me.”
“Please, go ahead,” Zhang Ye said with a smile.
Pedro fell silent for a moment, then slowly asked, “Tell me, what is light?”
The moment this question was asked, the entire hall instantly erupted into an uproar.
Indeed, this question was basic, but precisely because it was too basic, there were too many possible answers. It encompassed so much that there was almost no single complete answer.
Everyone secretly thought that the elder was indeed a seasoned expert.
Though the question seemed simple, even some Special-tier Researchers would find it impossible to give a perfect answer.
Clearly, while Pedro claimed he wouldn't make things difficult, he actually wanted to give Zhang Ye a reality check right off the bat, and secondly, to test if his depth of magic theoretical knowledge was sufficient!
The review panel tapped the table with a small wooden gavel, signaling the crowd to quiet down.
The venue immediately fell dead silent, and everyone's gaze landed on Zhang Ye.
Lina watched Zhang Ye nervously, her small hands involuntarily clenching.
Nan also frowned slightly.
The others were all filled with worry.
Only Zhang Ye remained completely composed.
Finally, he spoke, his magnetic voice echoing through the hall and reaching everyone's ears.
“Light is a method of energy propagation.”
Indeed, there was only this short sentence. Everyone was still waiting for him to continue, only to realize that he seemed to have finished his answer.
Everyone couldn't help but daze.
Isn't light elemental power? Why... had it become a method of energy propagation?
Confusion spread as everyone was left scratching their heads. Only Pedro's eyes widened.
His lips trembled slightly, and his face was filled with shock, as if he had heard something utterly unbelievable.
He did not sit down, but hurriedly pressed on with another question, “Since you say light is a method of energy propagation, why can I condense light using magic? Is that also a manifestation of this so-called 'propagation method' and not the substance of power itself?”
Zhang Ye chuckled softly. “Of course not. The light you condense with magic is not a physical substance. Instead, magic is converted into pure energy and propagates radiatively, which is then captured by the human eye. The light you condense, theoretically, should be called—a light source.”
“This...” The surprise in Pedro's eyes grew even deeper. He asked again, “Then why is it that, when condensed with the same amount of mana, basic light magic is more powerful than basic fire magic?”
Zhang Ye answered with an easy expression.
“Because the general damage mechanism for both light magic and fire magic is high temperature. However, for the former, you directly condense a light source, and the damage is dealt through the propagation of light. Light travels extremely fast, so the energy loss during its propagation is minimal.”
“On the other hand, the flames formed by the latter are easily affected by surrounding factors, such as low temperatures, strong winds, torrential rain, and so on. The energy loss is much greater than the former, so the damage caused is not as concentrated. Naturally, its power is lesser.”
“So that's how it is... So that's how it is...” Upon hearing this, Pedro showed a look of sudden realization, and then laughed like a madman, “So that's how it is! Hahaha! With this, everything makes sense!”
“Thinking from this theoretical direction, so many problems can be solved!”
“Hahaha!”
Everyone stared at him. Only after a good while did Pedro notice his loss of composure. He coughed awkwardly, but his gaze toward Zhang Ye became burning hot, as if looking at a piece of flawless jade.
“Thank you!” He did not say much, but he bent his waist and bowed deeply to Zhang Ye.
The crowd went wild. Just two words and a bow were enough to show how heavy the respect Pedro expressed for Zhang Ye was.
Zhang Ye hurriedly rushed down the stage to support Pedro's arms. “I have received your gratitude, but please do not bow. In my hometown, doing this will shorten my lifespan.”
Looking at Zhang Ye before him, a smile blossomed on Pedro's aged face. He nodded, his gaze toward Zhang Ye growing more and more satisfied. He uttered “good” three times in a row before finally sitting back down.
Zhang Ye breathed a sigh of relief, returned to the stage, and said, “Let us continue with the Q&A.”
Immediately, many more hands went up, but the number was noticeably smaller.
Many researchers who originally worked on light magic had fallen into deep thought after hearing Zhang Ye's theory. Then, an astonished light shone in their eyes, and their gazes toward Zhang Ye shifted from skepticism to admiration.
...
...
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