Evolution's Profound Meaning

Shatuo put away the dishes and chopsticks, walked out of the kitchen, and sat down beside Reilo.

Putting away the books he had been reading that morning, Shatuo took out a goose quill and blank paper, and began sketching on it.

"Modern natural science, though there are countless minor categories of academic research, can be broadly divided into six major academic directions."

This was his first real exposure to modern natural science knowledge. Reilo listened attentively to Shatuo's explanation, took out the Ice Fire Bird notebook gifted by Senior Sister Lianyi, and carefully recorded everything.

"First is the study of foundational mathematics, using it to deduce the academic field of Natural Law. Next is the study of natural specimens, reasoning out the academic field of Evolutionary Esoteric. Then come the mysteries of Human Potential, the realm of spiritual psionics, Alchemy, and Practical Technology. The focus of research varies across the major duchies."

Listening to Shatuo's explanation, Reilo combined it with some information mentioned in Evolution's Profound Meaning and fell into thought.

Shatuo continued: "Among the six major academic fields, the most scholars study Natural Law and Evolutionary Esoteric. Whether it's the pioneer Gauss Adolf, who laid the foundation of mathematical logic, or the pioneer Antonio, who explored the mysteries of evolution, both provided later scholars with a highly profound theoretical basis, giving rise to a great number of advanced scholars."

Of the three great pioneers of human history, one was burned to death by the Church. The status of the remaining two pioneers in the hearts of many scholars goes without saying.

But he wondered why his family's inheritance contained this academic book, Evolution's Profound Meaning?

As far as Reilo knew, this book, authored by Antonio and published by the Grand Natural Academy, had a print run of tens of thousands of copies. The copy in his hand had nothing special about it.

Could it be that his ancestors had some connection with the pioneer Antonio?

After a pause, Shatuo added: "However, in recent years, the strength of the Balda Duchy Natural Academy has been rising steadily. They've been recruiting a large number of students, and many geniuses have emerged. I heard from the mentor that a fourth pioneer in human history is likely to be born there. So he suggests that you, Junior Brother, choose your research direction from among Natural Law, Evolutionary Esoteric, and Human Potential."

Under Shatuo's gaze, Reilo seriously considered his future development direction.

Natural Law was undoubtedly the concept of elemental mages as he traditionally understood it, with a learning and growth method rooted in the Mathematical Foundation. Evolutionary Esoteric was somewhat similar to transformation techniques, with a growth direction derived from specimen dissection.

As for Human Potential research—could it be a mage version of a warrior?

"Senior Brother, which academy did the pioneer who published the Heliocentric Theory come from, and what academic mystery did he study?"

"Shh!"

Hearing Reilo suddenly bring this up, Shatuo made a silencing gesture.

"Junior Brother, try not to mention this matter again in the future, to avoid provoking the Church! Back then, because of this, the once-powerful Utolan Natural Academy was suppressed by the Church, and even the Royal Family was placed under Church surveillance. It has now fallen to become the weakest of the six academies."

Even so, Shatuo lowered his voice and said: "The pioneer White Niven came from the Utolan Natural Academy and studied Cosmology. Unfortunately, since that incident, this great pioneer's research, along with his Heliocentric Theory, has been completely banned by the Church and is utterly lost..."

"Ah..."

Reilo nodded solemnly and took a deep breath. "In that case, I'll follow the mentor's footsteps and choose to study the direction of Evolutionary Esoteric!"

As if expecting this, Shatuo heard Reilo's chosen academic direction and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

"That's good. I was really worried you might choose the Human Potential direction!"

Reilo looked puzzled.

"Is there a problem with studying Human Potential?"

Shatuo's expression turned serious.

"I heard from the mentor that the scholars over at the Balda Duchy have been clashing more and more with the Church in recent years. According to their theory of Human Potential, as long as a person's potential is fully unlocked, they can break through their own limits and become a true god. This is almost identical to the claims of those ancient Evil Witchers, and it's already starting to draw the Church's attention. If it's not handled well, it could lead to the Church suppressing them as heretics, and even the royal family won't be able to wash their hands of it. This is no joke!"

"Hiss... Humans becoming gods by unlocking their own potential? The scholars there are truly insane!"

Reilo had thoroughly read the Festival of Light, every word praising the uniqueness of God, majestic, sacred, and irresistible. He never imagined anyone would dare to openly challenge the authority of the Creator of Light like this, and couldn't help but marvel.

"Indeed, it's very insane!"

Shatuo extinguished the Crystal Lamp and shook his head, worried for the scholars there.

"Junior Brother, before you start learning the foundational knowledge of Evolutionary Esoteric, you first need to understand the ideological foundation upon which scholars exist in this world!"

Reilo sat up straight and listened attentively.

Shatuo recalled the first enlightenment lesson his mentor Gubo had given him many years ago, and a look of hazy reverence gradually filled his eyes.

"A scholar's academic study—what commoners call magic—is not a supernatural force. The ideological foundation of scholars' research holds that in this infinitely vast universe composed of space and time, there must exist an objective Law of Truth. Its existence cannot be altered by any independent will. Even the Creator of Light, the object of the Church's faith, absolutely cannot influence its operation. We call it the Law of Truth, and the discoveries made in the process of researching this world's Law of Truth are called modern natural science!"

Shatuo's expression was proud.

"So-called academic study, so-called magic, is merely the power of the Law of Truth that scholars grasp in the process of exploring natural science!"

"The power of the Law of Truth?"

Reilo recalled the Festival of Light's endless praise of the God of Light as the Creator, the beginning and source of all things, omnipotent! He had even once summoned that faint wisp of Divine Power and felt its vast, boundless, infinite might, like the eternal will of the world, utterly unattainable by mortal beings.

And yet scholars believed that there existed a Law of Truth that even the Creator of Light could not influence?

If that were the case...

Shatuo's words were not explicit, but Reilo clearly understood his meaning: this world was not ruled by the Creator of Light, but by the Law of Truth!

But because such words were far too disrespectful to the Church, they could never be spoken openly and could only be expressed in a more roundabout way.

Reilo grasped the deeper meaning, met Shatuo's warning gaze, nodded seriously, and said nothing more.

Shatuo continued: "And on this foundation, as scholars explored natural science, they finally discovered the eternal first truth: Conservation of Energy!"

Seeing the confusion in Reilo's eyes, Shatuo pursed his dark lips.

"The general meaning of Conservation of Energy is that there exists a concept of balance in the world. Force is a mutual interaction. There is absolutely no power that comes into being for no reason."

Reilo was still puzzled. "A concept of balance? What kind of balance?"

"Mm..."

Shatuo spoke each word with firm resolve: "To achieve any goal, you must inevitably pay some other price! Every expression of energy can be explained by this Law of Truth—including any scholar's academic work, the way other races exist, natural phenomena, and even the great gods themselves!"

"Gods?"

"Yes!"

Shatuo said resolutely: "A god's power does not come from nothing. Beneath their seemingly omnipotent exterior, there must be some Source of Power, and they must pay some price for their Divine Power! Even gods can fall!"

"Hiss..."

Reilo sucked in a sharp breath. Such blasphemous, arrogant words actually came from the mouth of this honest, dull-witted senior brother Shatuo. He quickly said in alarm, "Senior Brother, you'd better not say such disrespectful things in the future, or you'll bring trouble upon yourself."

"Uh, Junior Brother is right."

Shatuo stopped discussing the divine path. After thinking for a moment, he gave an example: "Every academic work born must abide by the balanced price of Conservation of Energy. Clerics are the same—when they summon Divine Power..."

"I know the price Clerics pay!"

Reilo suddenly cut off Shatuo's words, his voice solemn.

"The price a Cleric pays for summoning Divine Power is their own life!"