Translator: AnubisTL
The moment the accident occurred, the laboratory doors sealed shut to prevent the spread of hazardous materials.
Although the safety manual stated that the supervising wizards should be rushing to the scene, Jieming wasn't about to bet his life on it.
If he didn't want to be reduced to ashes in the machine's explosion, he needed to find a way to stop its deterioration immediately.
While the other apprentices panicked, scrambling for cover, and even some wizards fumbled for emergency shutdown procedures, Jieming acted!
He burst from behind a load-bearing pillar, moving with the speed of a phantom, and charged toward the Separator blaring its ear-splitting alarm!
Corrosive dust still filled the air. The surrounding apprentices gasped as they watched him "recklessly" plunge into the haze.
Yet the gray dust, capable of making flesh sizzle on contact, vanished instantly upon touching the adamantium film on Jieming's skin, as if striking an invisible wall. It posed no threat to him whatsoever!
Ignoring the stares, Jieming swiftly closed the distance to the Separator, his eyes locked onto the critical rune nodes he had sensed earlier.
Jieming extended his right index finger, the tip condensing a wisp of elemental energy formed from his outward-projected mental power.
With swift and precise movements, he tapped the first rune node.
Hum...
The rune node emitted a soft hum, and a surge of uncontrolled energy erupted from it, only to be blocked by the adamantium film on Jieming's hand.
Without pausing, Jieming followed the mental simulations he had practiced countless times, tapping several other critical nodes in succession.
With each node he activated, the Separator's alarm grew fainter, and the chaotic energy fluctuations subsided.
In a fleeting moment, Jieming darted through the hazardous zone like a butterfly flitting among flowers.
When he tapped the final critical node...
Snap!
The Separator's alarm abruptly ceased, and the uncontrolled energy flow was completely channeled and calmed.
The corrosive dust, now deprived of its source, was quickly neutralized by the public laboratory's emergency response system.
The crisis had been averted!
Jieming stood beside the Separator, breathing slightly heavily, a hint of lingering fear in his eyes.
The onlookers were momentarily stunned before erupting into cheers. It wasn't until several unfortunate apprentices cried out in pain that the others realized their own corroded wounds and began examining them.
Amy pressed herself tightly against a load-bearing pillar, her face still pale.
She stared at Jieming, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
Though she had long recognized his exceptional innate talent, the crisis had revealed qualities far surpassing their own.
My judgment was right after all! Getting on his good side so early was a real win!
As Amy secretly rejoiced, the laboratory door was kicked open violently, and a group of fully armed wizards stormed in, accompanied by a swarm of silver-white magic puppets.
The puppets swiftly converged on the injured wizard apprentices, working in pairs to carry them out of the laboratory.
Even apprentices with minor injuries were examined by the wizards and assigned to leave with a puppet.
Watching the rapidly dwindling number of apprentices and the wizards gradually closing in on him, Jieming sighed and obediently raised his hands.
"Don't worry, I'll cooperate fully!"
It seemed these wizards weren't just handling the accident; they were also dealing with him—the unexpected variable.
The wizards paused slightly, exchanging surprised glances before quietly escorting Jieming away amidst the chaos.
As he was being escorted, Jieming felt a strange sense of relief.
The other shoe has finally dropped!
Deep within Noren Academy, in a secret chamber hidden from prying eyes, lay a room devoid of ornamentation. Its walls and floor were cold, bare metal, and at its center floated a massive, faintly glowing screen.
The screen displayed the recent incident in the public laboratory area of the alchemy workshop: the elemental dust separator malfunction, the apprentices' panicked reactions, and... a figure rushing into the danger zone, swiftly and decisively resolving the crisis.
Several figures cloaked in voluminous Wizard's Robes stood or sat silently before the screen.
Their faces were obscured by the robes' shadows, making it impossible to discern their features. Yet the powerful mental energy radiating from them indicated they were at least Fourth-Tier Formal Wizards.
The screen paused on the image of Jieming leaving with the enforcement team's wizards.
A series of evaluation data popped up beside the paused frame, displaying energy fluctuations during the incident, dust concentration levels, and reaction scores for each apprentice.
"Number three, slow reaction time. Began retreating two seconds after the warning. Points deducted."
"Number five, excessive panic, hindering others' retreat. Points deducted."
"Number one, swift reaction, timely warning, decisive action. Points added."
Deep voices methodically announced the apprentices' performance scores during the crisis.
Their evaluations were cold and objective, devoid of emotion, as if analyzing a complex equation.
The screen shifted again, freezing on the moment Jieming charged into the corrosive dust zone, capturing the fleeting golden light that flashed across his body.
Next to the assessment data, a prominent label blinked: Abnormal Reaction.
"This is the apprentice," a voice remarked with a hint of interest. "The one who submitted that... 'white iron-based isolation material'?"
A balding figure nodded in agreement. He asked in a deep voice, "What are the results of his review?"
"Soul detection complete," a calm voice replied. "I compared his soul records from before enrollment, before the application of the special material, and after the application. No anomalies were detected. His soul essence is remarkably clear, showing no signs of parasitic possession or soul replacement."
"His interpersonal network has also been thoroughly investigated," another voice added. "Both before and after enrollment, his social interactions were remarkably simple. In his hometown territory, he was a quiet and reserved young man. Since enrolling, he has only maintained close contact with fellow apprentices from his faction and a few peers. There's no evidence of deep interaction with any unknown or suspicious entities. All individuals he's contacted have been vetted, and their historical records are clean."
"Subconscious and mental scans show no signs of manipulation."
"Cognitive testing reveals no distortions..."
A series of diagnostic results poured forth from the surrounding wizards until all eyes turned to the bald wizard who had initiated the inquiry.
(End of the Chapter)
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🔓 𝔴𝔴𝔴.𝔠𝔦𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔱𝔩.𝔠𝔬𝔪 — 13 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily | 6,100+ FREE