"Are you sure you can fulfill this promise?" I asked, reminding him of my existence.
"Yes, absolutely, I believe that I have chosen the right path to achieve my goal, and if I put in maximum effort, sooner or later, I will definitely achieve it," Xu Zhaoting replied in a serious voice, watching the candles burn out. "Shall we go? We need to make it to the hunting auction in Guangzhou," he said again in a cheerful voice after a couple of minutes of silence.
"Well, it's not that soon, only the day after tomorrow, but it's worth hurrying," I replied, nodding my head.
It was about four o'clock, so after reaching the city of Bo, we hired a military vehicle that served as a taxi from city to city and went to Xiamen, where we stayed for the night. The next day, we took a train to Guangzhou. Xu Zhaoting, as always, went to find a place for us to stay for a couple of nights, as the auction lasts for two days.
In general, auctions are more intended for mages from clans who have large funds and connections, while ordinary hunters and mages trade in magic markets, which exist in every city, but as a rule, there are exceptions. These exceptions are hunting auctions, which are open to everyone who has a hunter's card, regardless of rank.
The time I had, which was almost half a day, I decided to spend on two things. Consulting my notebook, I went to the building of the magical court of Guangzhou. You might ask why I would go there? Did I decide to confess to the murder of four hunter mages? No, of course not! It's just that, according to the original, a great scientist who created the possibility of merging magic of different elements into one should work there or will work there in the near future. The name of this luminary of magical science, who was struck by retribution for his great discovery, is Ping Zhoulong.
Naturally, I understand that my meeting with him will change the canon, but firstly, I might not meet him. Secondly, the changes might be insignificant. Thirdly, the changes might make me, and possibly Mo Fan, stronger. And that's exactly what I need. So, without wasting much time, I hurried there.
The building of the magical association, and concurrently the court, was a tall tower soaring into the sky. Upon entering, I found myself in a spacious, beautifully decorated hall, where many people were rushing about their business. Approaching a huge board displaying the work schedules and reception hours of department heads, I saw that Ping Zhoulong was listed as the head of the scientific laboratory! This was incredible luck! But even greater luck was that he was currently in his reception hours, and I could get to him and talk to him! Of course, Mo Fan would meet him, if everything went according to canon, only in about five years, but he was already a high-level mage and the head of the research laboratory of the Guangzhou Mage Association! Going up to the thirtieth floor, I headed towards his office. There was no queue, as expected, but still, I was hindered...
"Are you here to see Mr. Ping Zhoulong? Are you scheduled?" asked the secretary, sitting at a computer desk next to the office entrance. The secretary was a woman of about fifty or sixty, thin, with a hooked nose and half-moon glasses, her hair tied in buns on her head; her whole appearance indicated that she was unpleasant to deal with.
"No, but I have an urgent matter for Mr. Ping Zhoulong, I am sure it will advance his research several steps forward!" I stated confidently, stopping in front of the office door.
"I'm sorry, you're not the first to say that. Please, make an appointment, and then express all your ideas to Mr. Ping, if he finds them worthwhile, we will call you," the secretary replied calmly, typing something on the computer.
"Okay, when can I see Mr. Ping?" I asked, exhaling. Arguing with people like her is useless; my past life taught me that. After all, in Russia of my world, such people are found almost everywhere; the only difference is in the details.
"Next Friday, not earlier," she replied dryly, it's worth mentioning that it was Tuesday.
"But I'm only in town for a couple of days, and my research could revolutionize all magic in the world if Mr. Ping sees it," I pleaded. Honestly, do people like her enjoy tormenting others so much? It's obvious that there's no one waiting for Ping Zhoulong!
"No, it's impossible, Mr. Ping has many important negotiations," she replied to my pleas.
"Yes, but with..." I didn't have time to finish when a man in his forties, carrying a box of donuts, came out of the elevator doors. He was exactly like Ping Zhoulong in the photo on the electronic board downstairs.
"Hello, young man, are you here to see me?" the man asked, approaching me.
"Yes, Mr. Ping Zhoulong, he wants to see you without an appointment, says his research will revolutionize the entire magical world," the secretary replied dryly, tearing herself away from the monitor, while I continued to realize and inwardly chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.
"Alright, follow me, young man, and I'll listen to you," said Ping Zhoulong, opening the office door. "So, what kind of research do you have that you say will revolutionize the magical world?" Ping Zhoulong said as he entered a small office, which became even smaller due to the huge bookshelves. In the center was a small desk, in front of which was a visitor's chair, and behind it was a large window offering a panorama of Guangzhou.
"It's top secret, this information should not leave our conversation," I said confidently, looking directly at Ping Zhoulong, who was sitting down at the desk. I sat opposite him.
"Really? And what could be so secret?" he asked with curiosity.
"Before I tell you, will you promise me not to mention my name or anything about me in official reports?" I asked him, staring into his eyes.
"But why don't you want this, young man? If your research truly allows you to revolutionize the magical world, then your name could go down in history," Ping Zhoulong asked in bewilderment, taking a donut from the box.
"I don't like attention much, and my research is not finished; it's just at the beginning of its journey. It's more like an idea and a method, but not a full-fledged research. So all the credit for the research of my idea will be yours; I don't think it's right to take even a tiny bit of this glory from you," I calmly explained my wish.
"Really? Well, alright, if your idea is truly worthwhile, I will owe you, and I hope that at least in the final stage of research you will take direct part, so that I can put your name in history," Ping Zhoulong agreed calmly. I had no doubts about him; I was sure that he would fulfill my request and not write my name in official documents. Where does this confidence come from? It's simple: Ping Zhoulong is a person who cares only about research, not about any documentation related to it. Some small allowances can be made in it, within reason, but not in the research itself.
"Alright, thank you for your understanding," I said, bowing slightly. "I know a way to get new spells, but I don't know exactly how to do it." I blurted out in one breath, waving my hand and leaning back in my chair.
"What do you mean?" he asked with great surprise, stopping another donut near his mouth and looking at me intently.
"Exactly, how high-level mages can create new spells based on their character, and then at the highest level develop conditional power, so my method can help mages of intermediate and possibly beginner levels do the same," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
"And how can this be done? Can you confirm your words?" Ping Zhoulong asked with burning interest in his eyes; after all, I was not mistaken about the personality of this scientific genius.
"Yes, I can show you the results of my research, but there's nothing concrete yet, only a possibility," I replied calmly, watching the mage's growing interest.
"What do you need for this? Can you show me everything right now?" he asked, standing up.
"Why not? I just need a room where no one will disturb us," I said, also standing up.
"Let's go! My laboratory is perfect for this!" he said, heading towards the office exit. I followed him. Ping Zhoulong quickly headed for the elevator, not even bothering to close his office. We went down to the minus fifth floor, where there was a large white room with walls made of a durable material, which, by my estimation, could withstand high-level magic! "No one will disturb us here, and we won't disturb anyone. Please, show me what you've managed to achieve!"
"Alright," I said and began to construct the star path of the wind, but not the usual step of the wind, but a different one, thanks to which I obtained the most precise spell. A whirlwind rose around my feet, visible to the naked eye. After that, I started running towards the wall, about five meters before it, I jumped up, flying up about ten meters. Immediately after, I pushed off the wall and rose another ten meters. This continued until I reached the top of the wall, which was about fifty meters high. After that, I smoothly descended to the ground, landing gently on my feet. This spell was the closest to what I used in the battle with the seven wolves, but it lacked most of its combat functions. It should also be said that I moved at a speed comparable to the speed of an average servant, using first-level magic.
"Incredible, what level did you use and how did you achieve this?" Ping Zhoulong asked with burning eyes, approaching me.
"First level; it was achieved through a special arrangement of the star path. I can draw the approximate arrangement of the stars relative to each other, but you might not be able to build them correctly the first time," I explained calmly. "The standard method of constructing spells is comparable to muscle memory; mine is different in that I understand how my stars move and where to direct them to achieve a certain effect," I warned the research mage.
"I see, can you depict the star path here?" Ping Zhoulong asked, handing me a notepad. I quickly drew everything necessary with the required explanations, after which he tried to repeat the spell himself, but he only flew up due to a powerful gust of wind. "Amazing! Even I, a high-level wind mage, couldn't build this correctly the first time! But this should definitely work! Have you tried it with other elements?" he asked me, straightening himself after the fall.
"Yes, with lightning, my second element, but I haven't achieved correct results there yet," I said, shrugging my shoulders. The most I managed was to create lightning a meter away from me and direct it at the target with a deviation of five meters.
"I see, your discovery will truly change the world! I will personally study all possible combinations using my own example!" he said, his eyes burning with anticipation.
"Only, I ask, don't tell the magical association about this until you are one hundred percent sure of the research results and have completed the search for all possible combinations," I said, trying to protect him from unnecessary actions, lest he die even earlier than he was supposed to.
"Alright, I will definitely inform the world about your discovery someday, naturally with your consent," he nodded actively, after which he asked. "Can I help you with anything? Enroll in the imperial university? Or directly under my supervision in the magical association?"
"Actually, I would like to enroll in Minzhu, but I'll do that myself. I would like to ask you in exchange for this knowledge to help me with a secret matter," I said, approaching him. "I have an innate spiritual seed of wind; I would like to develop it to a spiritual level, but I don't know how."
"Incredible! You are simply an unlimited diamond! If you agree to come under my supervision, I will provide you with all the resources for development!" Ping Zhoulong tried to persuade me.
"I'm sorry, but I love freedom; perhaps after graduating from university, I will come to you," I said, shrugging my shoulders. "In a couple of years, the next student world games should begin, and I would like to defend China's honor at them. The best way to get there is from Minzhu University."
"Yes, it's difficult for me to implement, but I will try to help you; it seems I have the right to give one or two recommendations," he mused, considering my words.
"But now, it's more important for me to gain knowledge on how to develop my spiritual seed," I repeated my request.
"Ah, with this, I can only help you with advice, so please forgive me," Ping Zhoulong apologized, then continued. "Firstly, wind crystals can help you, but they are very rare. Secondly, other spiritual seeds, but they are expensive. Thirdly, various rare wind element resources, such as wind hearts, which are found in places of high concentration of elemental wind energy. In China, there is only one such place: the Qing-Ling Mountains. Fourthly, you can try to direct energy towards developing seeds, not just the element, during cultivation; it should help. However, I am not sure about the latter; it's just my hypothesis. And unique wind element artifacts can also help you."
"I understand, thank you. Do you happen to have a prototype or such an artifact?" I asked Ping Zhoulong.
"I'm sorry, but no, our laboratory does not deal with artifacts," Ping Zhoulong sighed, then added. "I have a few books on arithmetic; I can give them to you as a sign of recognition and for the development of your talents. And also, continue your research in this direction; I will be interested to compare our results. And don't forget about the offer to become my student."
"Thank you, I will be very grateful. Yes, of course, we will conduct parallel research; as for apprenticeship, I will think about it," I thanked him profusely. After that, we returned to the office, and he gave me a solid stack of heavy books; fortunately, they all fit into my half-empty briefcase.