After returning to the forest of magic pets, Lin Qi learned from his conversation with Mage Mo Feng that the forest of magic pets had the ability to block detection. It was actually one of the few safe and secretive places on Star World Island.
Mage Mo Feng and the others were stationed outside. On one hand, it was to prevent the mage apprentices from wreaking havoc, and on the other hand, it was convenient for them to rush into the forest to conduct a search and rescue after receiving urgent notifications from the guiding light.
After ensuring his secret, Lin Qi did not rush to re-establish the "magic pet alliance". Instead, he found a remote and quiet corner.
According to his agreement with the ghost, he scratched a spot in his armpit and woke it up.
Instantly, an illusionary, transparent soul body condensed like smoke. It was the necromancer garbed in a light green robe.
"You don't need my help to summon a magic pet. Although this place is safe enough, I suggest that you don't take the risk without first possessing a certain level of skill."
The ghost bowed elegantly and said, "Before you grasp a certain foundation, if I teach you something without permission, you will easily be exposed."
"After all, I have many enemies in this academy."
"What I want to ask is, can time reverse?" Lin Qi asked earnestly.
He did not directly ask the ghost if he had also witnessed the time reversal earlier.
If the other party was also a participant, he would definitely react.
The ghost's expression changed slightly as a wooden staff embedded with rubies appeared in his palm.
After pondering for a moment, he cautiously said, "In theory, it can happen, but only in theory. After all, I've never reached the legendary realm, and I've only heard of a legendary spell research project in this area."
"If we really go back in time, will the people around us know?" Lin Qi asked. Looking at the ghost's curious gaze, he added, "I just have a strange feeling, as if I'll find a magic pet related to time next."
Usually, when newbies made arrogant claims, it was easy to make veterans dismiss them and pay little attention to the details.
The ghost pondered. "They won't know. This is equivalent to the difficulty of time reversal."
"Why?" Lin Qi pressed on. He felt as if he were touching the edge of some truth.
"For example, if you look at the axis of time as an axis of numbers, what are the odds that the point you point at happens to be a rational number and not an irrational number?" (Irrational numbers: non-terminating and non-repeating decimals, square root of 2, π, e, etc.).
"Infinitesimally close to zero, but not zero?" Lin Qi described.
"No," The ghost asserted, "you are referring to irrational numbers."
"No matter how you refer to it, rational numbers are 0%, unreasonable numbers are 100%." The ghost explained.
"The density of rational numbers is 0. In other words, without rational numbers, the axis of numbers is still an axis of numbers. Without irrational numbers, the axis of numbers will disappear."
Lin Qi listened as the ghost used mathematics as an analogy to explain. He was a little confused about this somewhat counterintuitive concept.
Commercial mathematics was generally at the level of calculus.
On the other hand, engineering mathematics was "advanced mathematics" based on calculus, solid geometry, probability theory, linear algebra and complex functions.
For mathematical sciences, it would include the advanced calculus version of mathematical analysis, advanced algebra, analytic geometry and differential geometry.
He thought for a while and gave up on reading the mathematics textbook. He continued to ask, "Then what does time reversal have to do with these rational numbers?"
"The time node required to turn back time is the rational number points on the axis of time. From one rational point to another."
"You don't know if this point is a rational number, so you definitely won't be able to sense if the corresponding node has been reversed, much less use it."
Lin Qi suddenly realized something.
For example, the current timeline was equivalent to a number axis, so he could not determine which "time node" was a rational number.
If he picked at random, it would definitely 100% be an irrational number!
"Looks like you understand now." The ghost smiled. "Even if you can accurately calculate a rational number time node,within a range of 10 seconds, you must have another rational time node as your anchor point."
Lin Qi nodded his understanding.
Only a rational number (anchor point) plus rational number (time distance), would become a rational number (new time reversal anchor point).
Irrational number (random point in time) plus rational number (time distance) would only result in an irrational number (unable to reverse time).
"For now, only the initial 'zero' point in time at the moment of creation is a tried-and-test rational number that can be used as an anchor point. Unfortunately, neither you nor I were born at that moment."
With that, the ghost sighed. "This is actually a model that concerns time magic. You won't be coming into contact with it for the time being."
Lin Qi suddenly had a reaction.
He had participated in "time reversal". Apart from the initial 'zero' point in time at the moment of creation, he now had the anchor point on the axis of time provided by the mysterious dragon!
What could be more tyrannical than returning to the past and killing all his enemies when they were still young!
What else could be better than restarting after losing?
Holding back his excitement, Lin Qi asked, "Mr. Ghost, which faction does the time magic belong to?"
The ghost was surprised. "Transformation faction."
"On the surface, transformation spells can change the nature or state of things, such as first-level enlargement, second-level shapeshifting, third-level flight magic, fourth-level transfiguration. But in essence, it represents the most unique characteristic of magic that can change this world, just like how the ninth-level 'Time Stop' is a transformation spell."
"For example, starting from tomorrow, you will begin classes on the Sisma language, and other such general education classes. At the same time, it will also be time for the eight major schools of the academy, from Curses to Transformation to Necromancy, to choose their students."
"The general education classes will be as short as three months, or as long as a year. Generally, after the eight major schools find good students, they can gather them ahead of time. The relationship between the eight major schools has both cooperation and checks in place. Communication between the secret factions behind the schools is key."
Lin Qi parted his lips slightly.
Regarding the school of necromancy, he already had the support of this necromancer in front of him. In addition, those forbidden necromancy spells could not be seen in public, so he mostly wanted to use "necromancy spells" as his back-up.
In the future, when he used necromancy spells anonymously, nobody would suspect him.
The school of necromancy was ruled out by Lin Qi from the beginning.
Looking at Lin Qi's glittering eyes, the ghost also suggested, "Compared with the necromancy department, where things can easily go haywire, the transformation department is indeed a good place."
"For example, among the four transformations, the second-level shapeshifting, fourth-level transfiguration, the eighth-level alteration and ninth-level remodelling of all things can be said to be the ultimate transformation techniques! Among them, the eighth-level alteration can transform objects or creatures into other things, sometimes even permanently."
"This is a school that is limited only by imagination and knowledge."
As he spoke, he looked at the familiar starlight in the mist as he sank into his own memories.
"If you successfully capture a magic pet, it will be a bonus for you to enroll in the transformation department because a magic pet will become a powerful combat force in the hands of a transformation mage. But if you want to do this, I suggest you choose an ordinary magic pet, such as—"
Lin Qi sighed.
Damn it, he had not learned much simple, straightforward spell theories. But instead, he had heard a whole bunch of lofty ideologies of the different schools.
------
Mo Feng, who had been waiting outside the forest of magic pets watched as Lin Qi's figure slowly emerged from the thick fog. He looked at his shoulder and widened his eyes. "Raven?
"That is no ordinary raven." A female mage standing by the side corrected.