An Elemental Bubble instinctively secreted bubbles through Bubble Technique, even while dormant. As it breathed, its body continually expanded and contracted, and the bubbles drifted around it, protecting it.
The moment a foreign object came near, the bubbles would rush toward it and explode with a pop.
"Ow, that hurts!"
At Bailing's instruction, Reilo reached out to test one of the defensive bubbles. When it burst against his hand, he couldn't help crying out in pain.
His skin was a little bruised, as if he'd been struck with a willow switch.
"Hehehe, fun, right? Our goal for the next few days is to study how it secretes bubbles, then complete your first evolutionary profound meaning academic construct: Bubble Technique!"
After she'd had her fill of playing with the bubbles, Bailing cheerfully placed the creature on the laboratory table.
"Phew!"
Reilo blew on his swollen, aching index finger as he stood behind Bailing.
"Junior Brother, for scholars who study evolutionary profound meanings, the vast and complex array of living things that has evolved over billions of years is the greatest gift this world has given us! We dissect biological specimens, analyze their physiological mysteries by examining their mechanisms and tissues, then use our Energy Magnetic Field to simulate and replicate them. That's how we master a specimen's unique abilities, and that's the purpose of scholars who study evolutionary profound meanings!"
Reilo asked excitedly, "Does that mean we can also master the powers of Magical Beasts?"
Bailing shook her head and hastily explained, "As with any academic discipline, the higher a dissected organism's evolutionary level, the more complex its internal tissues and organs. Our Energy Magnetic Field must also be of a corresponding level before we can simulate them."
After a pause, Bailing gave an example. "Take this Elemental Bubble we're studying. As a level-zero elemental creature, its bodily functions are very simple. Its Bubble Technique is a basic level-zero academic."
Bailing used special glue to fasten the unconscious Elemental Bubble to the tray on the experimental table.
"But simply using an Energy Magnetic Field to simulate a specimen's innate ability is only what ordinary scholars strive for. As outstanding scholars, we don't just replicate a specimen's abilities. We use our acquired wisdom to improve upon them and surpass the original!"
Reilo's eyes lit up.
So that was how scholars who studied evolutionary profound meanings approached their work!
As she spoke, Bailing brought over a strange experimental observation instrument while Reilo watched.
There was no need to ask. This instrument was obviously one of the advanced experimental tools only Mentor Gubo possessed.
"What's this?"
Reilo examined the instrument curiously from every angle.
Bailing adjusted it with practiced ease as she explained, "This is a microscope, commonly used by advanced scholars to observe the complex structures of higher-level biological specimens. You can think of it as a magnifying glass with extra power. The greater the magnification, the more precious the microscope. It helps us observe a specimen's structure in greater detail. Once you understand how its structure produces its abilities, simulating them with an Energy Magnetic Field will come naturally!"
Reilo put down the magnifying glass and, under Bailing's guidance, looked into the microscope.
"Whoa!"
Reilo couldn't help exclaiming in amazement.
Unlike the cells and tissues of flesh-and-blood creatures, the body of an elemental creature was made up of strands of energy. Countless one-dimensional threads seemed to weave together into two-dimensional planes, which then bent, intersected, and overlapped to form a three-dimensional structure.
What Reilo had to observe was a part of this complex energy structure: the configuration that allowed the Elemental Bubble to secrete bubbles through Bubble Technique.
"So this is the microscopic world Senior Brother Shatuo was talking about!"
Reilo couldn't help marveling as he peered through the microscope.
Bailing smiled with satisfaction.
"This Elemental Bubble is only a level-zero creature, so its physiology is very simple. With this microscope to help you, Junior Brother, all you need to do is pay close attention, and you'll succeed in no time!"
A week later.
The process of mastering his first basic level-zero academic had gone unexpectedly smoothly.
He felt the faint changes in his Energy Magnetic Field. Reilo had already woven part of the Elemental Bubble's mechanism into it and fixed the configuration in place. As he opened his hand, the Energy Magnetic Field, now fixed in the form of the Elemental Bubble's mechanism, began to operate. In an instant, a bubble the size of a baby's fist appeared.
"Wow! I did it!"
Bailing seemed even happier than Reilo. The moment a bubble appeared in his palm, she cheered, leaped about, and danced for joy.
"Junior Brother, go to the Academic Affairs Office tomorrow with the Elemental Bubble specimen and your Bubble Technique paper. Have them assess it for Elite Rank points. First, get your name on the first season's Elite Rank!"
At the mention of Elite Rank points, Reilo couldn't help looking forward to it.
"Senior Sister, how many Elite Rank points will I get for contributing this Elemental Bubble and my Bubble Technique paper?"
Bailing tilted her head and thought for a moment.
"If you were a second- or third-year student, Bubble Technique would probably be rated as a trash paper. The Elemental Bubble might earn you two or three points. But in your case, Junior Brother, you've only just enrolled. Even for an ordinary basic academic paper like this, the academy will give you a few points as encouragement. Don't worry!"
"That little?"
Reilo couldn't help thinking of Hell and Megana. Both their scores were over a hundred, which was truly hard to believe.
As if she knew what Reilo was thinking, Bailing said matter-of-factly, "The academy's rules allow people to trade specimens for academic points. It's basically like using gold coins to buy the academy's services. Look at it this way: it also gives the academy another source of specimens for its experiments."
Even so, Reilo hoped that Hell and Megana had earned their points by trading specimens for gold coins. That would make him feel a little better. But when he remembered how their mentor had personally praised them in front of him, it was as good as denying that they'd gotten ahead through such a shortcut.
Feeling a little disappointed, Reilo released another Bubble Technique.
Jiahei, who'd been napping on the windowsill, was roused. He glanced over and muttered, "Your Energy Magnetic Field is weak right now. Be careful of a backlash."
"Ah!"
Bailing came back to herself and hurriedly said, "That's right, Junior Brother. From now on, you must always pay attention to the state of your Energy Magnetic Field! According to the law of conservation, accomplishing any goal must come at some other cost. As scholars, we don't gain academic power through constant effort and training like Fighters do. A flash of inspiration might let a scholar complete an academic and instantly multiply their strength, but it can also come at a price. An Energy Magnetic Field backlash is one such price. The more talented a scholar is, the stronger they become, but the more likely they are to suffer a backlash!"
Reilo already understood how terrifying an Energy Magnetic Field backlash could be. Merlin's first husband had died naturally because of one...
For unknown reasons, the Energy Magnetic Field of the human body was naturally rejected by this world. Once a backlash occurred, the consequences ranged from losing the ability to sense energy for a time to being rejected and crushed by the entire world, leaving one reduced to dust!
As for why the human body's Energy Magnetic Field was rejected by this world...
If the images in the Star Core Necklace were real, Reilo guessed it might be due to certain special rules of this world. Humans were "invaders from another world," so the world rejected them, and they needed a Medium Companion to neutralize that rejection.
It was easy to understand why the more talented scholars were more prone to suffering an Energy Magnetic Field backlash.
Talented scholars often created powerful academics that consumed large amounts of their Energy Magnetic Field. As a result, they were more likely to suffer a backlash than mediocre scholars.
"Then how can I avoid it?"
Seeing Reilo's cautious expression, Bailing smiled. "The old man said the best way to avoid it is not to fight. We're scholars, so we should rely on our wits in battle as much as possible, instead of trying to achieve some kind of breakthrough in the limits like those Fighters. And if we're forced to fight, we should always keep a little in reserve. Wearing a few extra Energy Storage Rings never hurts."
Reilo hurriedly committed her words to memory.
Beside him, Bailing's eyes gradually filled with yearning.
"Speaking of which, the most fascinating part of scholars' pursuit of the laws of truth is the flash of inspiration."
Bailing murmured, "When inspiration strikes, scholars often grow stronger at an astonishing rate in a very short time. They easily surpass others at the same level, and can even crush them outright. This explosive way of increasing one's strength is the eternal pursuit of all scholars."