You're Far Inferior to Asheff

Facing the eager gazes of countless Lightning Magic users, Yu Sheng'an smiled lightly and said:

"My purpose in joining the Research Council is exactly as its mission states: to discuss and solve magical problems together, not to trade for benefits and profit. As for why this Metal Wire can convert lightning into light energy, I can tell everyone right now. The principle is very simple..."

Amid everyone's astonished stares, Yu Sheng'an casually explained the theory that electrical resistance caused objects to heat up and thus emit light.

"I have already tested more than a hundred materials, and fortunately, I found one with excellent light-emitting properties. However, I am certain that nature contains even better luminescent materials waiting to be discovered. I only hope that if you find any good materials in the future, you will remember to inform me."

Everyone was stunned.

No one had expected Asheff to reveal such precious knowledge so readily.

They were not ignorant children.

They knew full well that although this knowledge sounded simple, without knowing it beforehand, researching it from scratch would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

How many experiments, how many eliminated variables, how many sleepless days and nights would it take to arrive at the concept of "resistance"?

"It is truly magic's good fortune to have a man such as you!"

Stanford rose to his feet, solemnly placed a hand over his chest, and bowed his head in respect.

Rustle!

Every mage in the Research Council rose as one, turned toward Yu Sheng'an, placed a hand over their chests, and bowed their heads in respect.

At that moment, regardless of any conflicts of interest, everyone was won over by Asheff's generosity of spirit!

Including Dendall.

A faint smile appeared on Yu Sheng'an's face at the sight.

If one did not seek petty gains, one surely had greater ambitions.

Whether it was a place in the Hall of Fame or magical artifact rewards, Yu Sheng'an lacked neither. He controlled public opinion, so fame was his for the taking; and having inherited Thorne's estate, he was not short on magical artifacts for the time being.

Since that was the case, he might as well win goodwill through generosity.

Yu Sheng'an then stood and said, "You are all too kind. Actually, I came here this time because I have a difficult problem of my own, and I hope to seek everyone's help."

"You are too polite, sir. Please, tell us."

The crowd grew somewhat excited at his words.

A problem that could stump Asheff certainly would not be simple. They had to give it serious thought. If they managed to solve it, perhaps they could create a miracle and make history.

"My question is this: how can a magical effect be transmitted remotely through some medium and released in another location? Or, to put it another way, without inscribing Magic Runes, is there any other method to cast magic?"

Yu Sheng'an's question left everyone dumbfounded.

As expected of a magical genius proficient in three elements, even the questions he considered were so mysterious and profound!

For a time, everyone furrowed their brows and racked their brains, beginning a vigorous brainstorming session.

Ideas were proposed from time to time, only to be refuted shortly afterward.

The atmosphere at the Research Council grew increasingly heated, and they even began arguing.

"Mr. Asheff, if you ask me, this idea of yours is far too un-magical. Only unreasonable gods could accomplish something like that!" someone could not help complaining.

"As I see it, Asheff's idea resembles Summoning Magic. Isn't the essence of Summoning Magic to transmit a magical effect from here to be released somewhere else?"

Someone else casually made the comparison.

Yet he did not know that this offhand comparison, combined with the previous person's complaint, struck Yu Sheng'an like lightning. In an instant, everything clicked!

—He knew what to do.

In the end, Yu Sheng'an's topic came to nothing, as no one came up with a practical and effective solution.

Stanford looked ashamed as he said, "Mr. Asheff, after I return, I will certainly look through the relevant materials and see whether I can solve your problem."

Already having an idea in mind, Yu Sheng'an replied politely, "No rush. It is not an important problem, so there is no need to keep it in mind."

Yet the more Yu Sheng'an said that, the more embarrassed Stanford felt.

In the end, however, he said nothing. He merely swore inwardly that he would thoroughly study the matter when he had the chance.

If he could solve it, the improvement to his own strength would be far from insignificant.

This session of the Research Council finally ended at dusk.

It had to be said that mages really possessed boundless energy. If this meeting intensity were on Blue Star, it would have flattened a whole crowd of people.

Even so, after the Research Council ended, a group of Lightning Magic users still gathered around Yu Sheng'an, smiling eagerly as they sought guidance on "converting lightning into light energy."

Yu Sheng'an did not hold anything back and answered every question. For a while, a lively crowd actually gathered before the hall of the Magic River.

Of course, not everyone was interested in this.

For mages who had already chosen to study other elements of magic, it was enough to know a little about the subject. There was little point in researching it deeply.

Thus, some joined the discussion, while others hurried away.

Among them, a female Archmage named Jennifer left with particular haste.

She traveled all the way out of Felix, and with a flash, vanished from sight.

When she reappeared, she was already within the inner residence of Marchie's Mansion.

The inner residence had bluestone walls, with intricate Magic Runes carved into them, making it resemble a miniature Magic Tower.

In the spacious courtyard, a middle-aged man lay on a reclining chair, staring blankly at the sky.

He was none other than Marchie, one of the Archmages of the Willis Magic Plantation Federation, whose legs Yu Sheng'an had severed and whose body Yu Sheng'an had beaten into a mass of fractures.

His legs had now been reattached, and he looked no different from an ordinary person. Only the unmistakable air of despondency about him was abnormal.

"You missed the Research Council today. What a pity," Jennifer said as she looked at Marchie, sorrow in her eyes.

"A pity? Do you think I have not embarrassed myself enough?" Marchie turned to look at her, his expression mocking.

Jennifer remained unmoved by his mockery. "Today, the Research Council confirmed the hypothesis that the Thunder Element can be converted into the Light Element, and... it has tremendous practical value."

"What did you say?" Marchie's pupils dilated as he shot upright.

He specialized in Lightning Magic. If the Thunder Element could be converted into the Light Element, that meant he would gain the power of Light Magic out of thin air!

Even if he could not cast fifth- or sixth-tier magic, the boost to his strength would still be enormous.

"Do you know who discovered this?"

"Who? Stanford?" Marchie asked.

Although Stanford was only an Archmage, he was widely recognized in Felix as the Lightning Magic genius most likely to break through to the realm of Grand Archmage.

Some believed that if he possessed a Magic Tower tailored to him, he would very likely use its power to step into the realm of Grand Archmage.

"Asheff!"

"Who?" Marchie's pupils trembled. His hands gripped the armrests of the reclining chair tightly, his expression twisted and filled with disbelief.

"It was Asheff."

"Him? Th-this... How is that possible?"

At that moment, Marchie seemed like a deflated water bladder. His face turned ashen, and his lips trembled.

"There is nothing impossible about it. He has already announced this knowledge at the Research Council. Before long, the Empire Official Website will likely announce it as well."

Jennifer sighed. "Marchie, there is no shame in losing to him. Stop wallowing in despair, all right?"

"I am not wallowing in despair. I refuse to accept it! He beat me into this state and burned down my plantation. Why does he get away with everything? It is not fair!"

No one knew which of Jennifer's words had struck a nerve, but Marchie sprang to his feet and roared in fury.

Jennifer, who had been speaking gently all along, also became angry. Her voice turned shrill:

"You want fairness? If you seek fairness, why did you take out your anger on Erin? She is only a Magic Apprentice. If she were Dorothy, would you dare? Huh? Would you dare? You would not even dare to say a harsh word to her!"

"Marchie, you have disappointed me too deeply. You are nothing but a coward! You are far inferior to Asheff!"

Jennifer pointed beyond the courtyard walls and shouted:

"Look outside! The world has changed! The God of the Internet has changed the Kevil Empire. Magic is no longer a power belonging only to a select few. Even children in the countryside who piss and play in mud may have the chance to learn magic."

"Do you know that Asheff has developed cold-resistant, high-yield Black Grain? This winter, the Empire will welcome a historic bumper harvest! Felix has even decided to expand enrollment by two thousand Magic Apprentices next spring! Not just Felix—every Magic Academy is planning to expand enrollment."

"Do you know Stanford has been sent to Twit Town? The Empire has promised to help him build a Magic Tower. Do you know what that means? It means he is very likely to enter the realm of Grand Archmage. Once he does, all of Twit Forest will become his territory! He will become the mage most likely to step into the realm of the Magic God!"

"And you? You are still so short-sighted that you are grieving over a single plantation!"

"You cling to Willis's prosperity, enjoying the magical atmosphere here and treating the borderlands as bitterly cold wastelands. But do you know that in five years—no, at most three—vast numbers of commoner mages will rise? There will be plenty of mages fighting and competing for the places you refuse to go!"

Jennifer shouted until her face was flushed red. She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with final resolve.

"This is the last time I will come to see you. Within a week at most, I will leave Willis as well. If I leave now, I can still fight for a Magic Tower. Later, perhaps there will be nothing left."

With that, magical energy rippled from Jennifer's body, and her figure vanished.

Marchie stood blankly in the courtyard, all color drained from his face.