Deer College, Wing A (Basement Level 1)
Grand Hall, Personal Thaumaturgy Firing Range No. 101.
"Pshhh-"
A dense barrage of indigo crystals pierced several moving targets ahead.
Standing outside the firing range was a silicon-based lifeform composed of indigo crystals, patterned with black markings, with six spikes on his back and two on his chest. This was Xia Xiu, transformed into a Petroshapian.
After testing his ability to fire crystal blades, Xia Xiu placed both hands on the ground. A huge indigo silicon crystal suddenly erupted from the surface like a mountain, skewering the last few targets on the range.
After hitting the remaining targets, Xia Xiu undid his transformation.
Hiss, hiss, hiss-
The silicon crystals covering Xia Xiu rapidly dissipated, giving off a hiss of steam as they vanished. They looked like melting ice and snow.
Siliconization could cover his clothes as well, so there was no need to worry about them bursting apart.
With my current supply of EVE particles, I can only maintain siliconization for five minutes at most. In an intense fight, three minutes would be my limit.
Xia Xiu rubbed his chin as he considered this.
Xia Xiu currently had a total of 600 spirit units of EVE particles. After his first Sacred Meal Clairvoyance, his Flesh Supremacy Lineage EVE particles had risen to 500 spirit units, plus the 100 spirit units from his Heaven Lineage.
Not enough mana. Looks like I need to find a Visualization Method or breathing method to practice as soon as possible.
For thaumaturgists within the Normal State, the simplest way to increase their EVE particle reserves was to observe the [ether sea], letting their spirit bodies roam through it and absorb the free-floating EVE particles within.
However, the [ether sea] was fraught with danger. One careless mistake could cause a spirit body to collapse.
Early thaumaturgists could only venture into the [ether sea] one after another, risking their lives to increase their EVE particles.
During Terra's Middle Ages, the Sanctum, led by the Heaven Lineage, invented the Knight Breathing Method.
The Knight Breathing Method was a special technique that imitated Thaumaturgical Weaving through a particular breathing frequency. This frequency established a subtle resonance with the [ether sea].
These frequencies were similar to the timbres used in Thaumaturgical Weaving.
Different timbres corresponded to an "affinity" for different elements and concepts, and breathing methods functioned much like those timbres.
Through the resonance produced by a breathing method, a thaumaturgist would also generate a field that attracted EVE particles.
Visualization Methods were similar to breathing methods, except they achieved resonance by controlling brainwave frequencies.
[Sir, you have an email from Professor Laugen.]
As Xia Xiu walked back from the Grand Hall to Anderson Dormitory, Jarvis brought up Deer College's email system. He casually opened the unread message.
------Deer College Mail------ Sender: Albert Lauengen Sent: 1589.2.17-23:35 Recipient: Xiu Abraham Subject: Coursework-"Basic Applied Thaumaturgical Weaving of the Four Systems" Message: Consider this part of your monthly assessment. Every one of you must master at least one applied thaumaturgy within a month. Attachment: {Common Seal Construction Method}
Ugh, there really is no escaping homework, no matter where I go.
Xia Xiu arrived at Anderson Dormitory and returned to his room.
"Jarvis, there aren't any classes tomorrow, right?"
[That is correct, sir.] [However, tomorrow is a day off intended for students to consider which majors they wish to choose.] [First-year students at Deer College select their subjects using a 3+1+2 system.] [Three compulsory subjects: ancient Terra history, thaumaturgy overview, and numbers and science.] [One course must be chosen from the Mundane Studies Group.] [The remaining two must be chosen from the Esoteric Studies Group.] [Additional subjects will gradually become available after you advance to your second year.]
Ah, this all feels so familiar.
Xia Xiu rubbed the spot between his brows, feeling a headache coming on.
[A friendly reminder: Deer College generally awards academic points through four avenues: exams, competitions, papers, and club activities.] [Even with perfect results, first-year exams can only earn you 40 academic points.] [Competitions and papers are still premature for first-year students.] [Therefore, sir, you must also consider joining a club. Otherwise, you may fail to complete your first-year credits. With insufficient academic points, you are highly likely to be asked to withdraw from Deer College.]
"Isn't this just encouraging students to socialize more? An extrovert's paradise and a socially anxious person's hell," Xia Xiu grumbled.
"Give me the course selection form. I'll choose now."
A blue screen appeared before Xia Xiu. He scrolled down with his index finger, reading through the majors.
The Unnatural Sciences Group, led by Albert Lauengen. Departments and majors: alchemy, cryptozoology, memetics, numerical science, parapsychology...
The Magical Knowledge Group, led by Professor Hieronymus. Departments and majors: anomalous arts, Neo-Druidic faith, ritual studies, thaumaturgy studies...
The Prayer and Summoning Group, led by Professor Mansur ibn Samiyaza. Departments and majors: demonology, spirit studies, necromancy, supernatural abilities...
The Metaphysics Group, led by Professor Dominic Hall. Departments and majors: divination, essence activation, philosophy, transmetaphysics, theology (applied), theology (theoretical)...
There were so many subjects that an ordinary student could easily get overwhelmed.
That was why Deer College provided a week of basic training, followed by a day off to let students clear their heads.
Even so, students would still struggle to choose.
After all, these majors sounded ridiculously impressive-and they actually were ridiculously impressive.
Xia Xiu did not give it much thought. He clicked straight into the Unnatural Sciences Group and the Magical Knowledge Group, selecting memetics and anomalous arts respectively.
The lead professors for these two majors happened to be the heads of their respective groups. It was essentially taking classes taught by department chairs.
Xia Xiu had decided on these two majors long ago. After all, he had already dabbled in the other subjects-demonology, spirit studies, divination, essence activation, ritual studies, and so on-back when he was a player.
For demonology and spirit studies, for instance, demons and nonhuman creatures had made up most of his kills in his previous life as a heretic hunter in the Sanctum's Heretic Inquisition.
As for divination and ritual studies, he had also joined the Burial Agency in cutting down plenty of charlatans and cultists in his previous life.
That was why he could confidently declare that he had experience with all the subjects listed above.
As for why he chose memetics and anomalous arts, it was naturally because people involved in those two fields were difficult to cut down.
Memes encompassed the information of all things, while anomalous arts amounted to a bunch of real-world cheats.
I remember Deer College having some powerful memes besides the [Sword of Judgment]. And if I remember correctly, Hieronymus once served as president of the Association of Anomalous Arts. She should have the Trait Module I want.
For his remaining selection from the Mundane Studies Group, Xia Xiu casually chose classics from the History and Social Sciences Group. He had explored plenty of ancient tombs as a player and knew a fair amount about Terra's ancient history. He could use that knowledge to churn out a few papers and scrape together some academic points.
(End of chapter)
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