Compared to Harof, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the Society of Mystical Arts, Aurora appeared somewhat skeptical in the realm of magical practices.
"If you think we're wrong, what do you believe is the real path to advancement?" Aurora countered with a cold tone. "Do you think we should become like the sun?"
Harof found himself momentarily speechless, as this was the very point that baffled him the most.
In the pursuit of ascending the ranks of official wizards and grand wizards, there were typically only three ways to gain more formidable power.
The first method involved controlling new elements, and the second was exploring the microcosmic realm of elements...
However, their dilemma lay in the fact that they couldn't find any new elements, and even if they did, it would be impossible to elevate their power to an entirely new level.
Furthermore, their exploration of the microcosmic realm of elements had come to a near standstill due to an accident over a decade ago.
According to the accounts of elemental wizards, they encountered what they referred to as "elemental ghosts."
This term was initially coined by the legendary wizard Altok, who developed the Great Dissolution Technique. However, after delving deep into the phenomenon of elemental ghosts, the most powerful elemental wizard went insane, leaving behind a research manuscript filled with incomprehensible ramblings.
Harof had reviewed some of the remaining pages of that manuscript, and the legendary wizard believed that the microcosmic elemental world was chaotic and disorderly, where all magical laws lost their effectiveness. The state of elements became extremely peculiar, moving at incredible speeds, rendering magic manipulation practically impossible.
Furthermore, Altok couldn't even confirm the existence or state of these elements. The manuscript ended with a chilling statement: "It's evading me, it knows I'm observing it... they are ghosts, elemental ghosts."
Since then, the microcosmic realm had been inhabited by creatures known as elemental ghosts, capable of attacking souls, and rumors circulated that they could breach the mental defenses of even legendary wizards. Research on the microcosmic elements had to be halted.
The "Altok Elemental Precision" was praised as the limit for wizards.
Moving beyond this point would expose them to elemental ghost attacks, and not even legendary wizards could escape their clutches.
With both routes sealed, their only option was to find a way to enhance their computational power. The legendary wizards of the Society of Mystical Arts were now revealing a different possibility to Harof.
Aurora grew impatient with Harof's indecisiveness. "If you think their method of advancement is different from ours, why not just ask them?"
Harof gave Aurora an exasperated look. These were just his speculations, and he couldn't be absolutely sure. Besides, such a straightforward inquiry might expose his vulnerabilities.
Although he acknowledged that the others' research on celestial bodies far surpassed his own, Harof still hoped for an equal exchange of academic ideas within the world of wizards, rather than one side listening to the other's guidance.
More importantly, obtaining this valuable knowledge would not come without a cost. Harof was well aware that if he appeared too powerless during academic discussions, and unable to demonstrate enough value, he might be excluded from future gatherings.
After all, no academic organization would appreciate a member who constantly freeloaded without providing any value.
As the next gathering of legendary wizards was still far off, probably not until the next supernova explosion, Harof contemplated and thought that he might start by investigating information from Lynn, hoping to uncover the secrets of those legendary wizards.
***
Meanwhile, within the Magic Web
Seeing Harof depart left Lynn relieved. It was no easy feat to deceive a legendary wizard, and the consequences of being exposed would be disastrous.
Despite a minor hiccup along the way, the overall situation had unfolded according to his plan. By enrolling the legendary wizard Harof into the Society of Mystical Arts, he had secured his position within the world of wizards.
With his endorsement, no one would doubt the authenticity of his background any longer.
"By the way, 071, why did you create a small nuclear fusion reactor in the projections of each individual?" Lynn asked with a puzzled expression, now that he had a moment to focus on this matter.
He had noticed it earlier, but the encounter with Harof had taken priority, and he hadn't had a chance to address it.
[According to the agreed-upon objectives, adding high-energy reactions to each unit creates four nuclear reactors, which can effectively conserve computational power,] the intelligent AI replied.
Lynn couldn't help but chuckle. It appeared that the AI had inserted these reactors into the projections of Einstein and others. He had intended to give them a touch of his own power, perhaps to mimic the substantial pressure that legendary wizards exuded.
However, it seemed that the AI had decided to add nuclear reactors to the projections, which was undoubtedly quite high-energy.
Lynn shook his head in resignation, hoping that no one had noticed anything unusual.
Turning his attention to a shivering Dove on the ground, Lynn could see that the spirit projection of the legendary wizard had exuded a terrifying aura, especially during the supernova eruption, making him feel as if his spiritual body might disintegrate.
However, Lynn couldn't help but find it awkward to see a middle-aged lady crouching in fear, so he promptly asked the AI to cancel these projections.
"You did well this time, Dove. If you could be a bit braver and speak more confidently, it would be even better..." Lynn approached the girl and patted her on the head, offering words of comfort.
Dove looked up, silent, and simply gazed at Lynn with an expression of deep resentment. Lynn extended his hand, conjuring a thick book of stories that appeared in his palm. He swayed it in front of Dove's eyes.
"This is the first volume of 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' that I promised you. Take it." Lynn handed over the book without any teasing, fully aware that this book was Dove's source of joy in a world filled with nothing but stars.
The prince turning into a frog, the kind-hearted Snow White mistreated by her stepmother, and Cinderella attending the prince's ball but losing her glass slipper—all these stories filled Dove's world with happiness in a dark universe where nothing existed but stars.
However, Lynn, being a bit mischievous, had deleted the second half of all these stories. The only way to access the second part was to agree to help him perform a play.