Chapter 146 : Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Pre-competition Mobilization Meeting for All Class Presidents

“Hmm? You’re here so early?”

When I arrived at the research lab, I couldn't find Teacher Ji Niang, so I went to the office next door and saw Ji Niang, who was still eating breakfast.

She was also a bit surprised to see me arrive so early.

“Yeah, I read those papers yesterday and felt quite inspired. I wanted to take advantage of this momentum and try a few things out directly,” I said with a nod.

“Is that so? Well, this is your decision, so I won't stop you, but you might not have much time for this research today. It's still morning, so you can still manage this bit of time,” Ji Niang raised an eyebrow, then glanced at the time and said.

“Hmm? Is there something happening today?”

“Let me tell you, Little Han, tomorrow is the Newcomer Competition. Do you really think nothing will happen today?”

“Hmm… what could happen?”

I pondered for a moment, and finally asked.

My understanding of the Newcomer Competition was only from a brief search on the academy network.

I knew it would last for many days, but shouldn't the official competition start tomorrow?

“You’re not in a hurry at all, are you? But that’s understandable, the notification for these things will only be sent out today. It’s my fault too, I forgot to tell you in advance. You're going to be busy today, with things like registering participant information, rehearsals, announcements, cautionary notes, and most importantly, the announcement of the competition format and other procedures.”

Ji Niang suddenly listed many things, and the content stunned me for a moment.

I never expected that just a normal competition would involve so many troublesome matters.

I never had such worries before, nor the opportunity to experience such worries.

“So much trouble? All in one day?”

“Of course. You still have some time now. Around nine o'clock, the academy will issue a notice for all the class presidents of the newcomers to gather. You just need to follow the arrangements then.”

“Alright.”

I checked the time.

There was indeed still some time left, and I couldn't just waste it.

“In that case, teacher, I'll first go and try to analyze my new spell.”

“Mhm, go ahead. But seeing you work so hard, I’m also very pleased. But don't push yourself too hard, especially for this competition. Oh, I almost forgot again, I’ve prepared something for you too. I think you'll really need this.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

I paused the motion of turning around and looked back at Teacher Ji Niang.

Could she have prepared another spellbook or alchemical item for me?

But hadn't Teacher Ji Niang already given me a Spirit Cat Summoning Spell?

Or did she also feel that this spell was useless and prepared another powerful spell for me?

“It’s information related to runes. While studying spellbooks, you must have become familiar with them, right? Those irregular symbols are densely stacked in the spellbook, yet you can't understand what they are. I only mentioned to you that they are called runes, but I never explained them to you in detail. Take this (Analysis of 300 Common Runes) and have a look. If you can fully grasp it, then you'll be able to understand ordinary spellbooks on a much deeper level.”

“This!”

My eyes widened in disbelief.

I only came back to my senses after Ji Niang proactively placed the book in my hands!

“I borrowed this from the library. If you feel you've mastered it, help me return it. Also, let me tell you, the books and knowledge in the library are also divided by access permissions. This book is the kind that students do not have the permission to borrow. But I'll find a way to get you some permissions, after all, you can't always come to me for materials.”

After handing me the book, Ji Niang began to explain.

In fact, generally speaking, library permissions were not something a teacher could obtain for a newcomer just by saying a word.

But who gave her the confidence to say so?

Besides, the materials and experiment recordings she had recently organized had all been archived in the library.

She didn't believe her application would be denied.

“Okay, thank you, teacher.”

I bowed sincerely with gratitude.

Although I had been to the library many times, I really didn't know that the library had this thing about permissions.

But since there were permissions, the books inside must be full of valuable content, right?

Although I wasn't particularly good at reading those profound theories and knowledge, I would force myself to understand them.

The item Teacher Ji Niang gave me this time was much more valuable than just Magic Power Sources or spellbooks!

I returned to research lab 8401.

The first thing I studied was the Spirit Cat Summoning Spell, because its consumption was simply too high, ten times that of Fireball.

Although there might be a difference in the spell's energy level due to the magic power conversion rate, the consumption was real.

If it was just to summon a simple spirit cat, then I'd rather forget it.

Yesterday, I had looked at the test evaluation of the spirit cat in the Spirit Cat Summoning Spell.

The spirit cat's strength was still greatly underestimated by me.

To be named with “Spirit” naturally meant that it possessed transcendent abilities, and was not as weak as an ordinary house cat.

The spirit cat itself also inherited various characteristics of cats, such as flexibility, agility, and swiftness.

According to the information, the summoned spirit cat could also be controlled to use abilities like claw enhancement.

Many were transcendent abilities that strengthened itself; it couldn't cast fireballs or anything like that.

I also tested it in practice, and it was indeed so.

But the power of the enhanced claws was also very terrifying, enough to leave deep scratch marks on a steel plate.

Wouldn't it be even more terrifying on a person?

I wonder if the injured person would need a rabies vaccine then.

Probably not, right?

After all, this was a spell effect.

Its greater strength lay in the powerful individual it summoned.

Just as Big Sis Bai said, newcomers generally had weak constitutions.

If they were entangled by such a swift and agile spirit cat, one swipe of its claws could mean life or death.

“Mhmm Little kitty Listen to me -Pat pat So cute”

At this moment, a figure was leisurely leaning against the experimental table, teasing the spirit cat with her hand.

No need to be curious, this figure was my Illusory Clone.

Yesterday, I once thought this was an illusory clone with its own consciousness.

After all, its degree of flexibility and way of speaking were no different from a normal person's.

It even teased me!

But whether it was the introduction inside the spellbook or the clone itself, they were all telling me that this clone had no self-awareness, and that these behaviors and actions were all projected from my subjective consciousness.

It was a wondrous collision between my own cognition and the spell.

So in essence, the other party was indeed another me.

Another part of my own thoughts was projected out, just like in a dream.

I looked at this clone.

So, was I also the type who likes to pet cats and can't refuse cute things?

It's a pity I've never owned a cat.

Once I admitted this, I really did want to give it a try.

But unfortunately, for this spell, I didn't have enough time to make any modifications.

I had only managed to barely construct its internal spellbook model and didn't have a feasible modification plan yet.

After all, modification wasn't about changing things randomly.

If I broke this spellbook, it would be gone for good.

If I wanted it again, I could only shamelessly go and beg Teacher Ji Niang.

I didn't know if Teacher Ji Niang had a second copy of this spellbook.

I found that summoning spells were indeed very interesting, especially this kind of spell that summoned a spell effect rather than a life form from somewhere else.

Its malleability was much higher than that of summoning spells that form contracts with living beings.

But time waited for no one.

Soon, it was nine o'clock, and my phone promptly sent a notification.

It was a specific notice issued by the Academy System.

Just as I was checking the specific content, Teacher Ji Niang also came here to remind me that it was time.

According to the notice, all class presidents were to gather in a specific conference room for a meeting.

Unified information registration and notification of cautionary notes would be conducted there.

Naturally, I wouldn't be slow about this.

I rode my broom out of the laboratory, not even taking the elevator downstairs, and took off directly from the window.

This kind of thing was actually quite common and wasn't considered a flight violation, but it wasn't encouraged.

By the time I arrived at the notified location, quite a few people were already here.

Judging from their aura and the magic power sources within their bodies, they were most likely newcomers, and perhaps all of them were class presidents of some class.

And from here, one could see the disparity among the class presidents.

Some people had as many as dozens of Magic Power Sources and several spellbooks, while some only had single-digit Magic Power Sources and only one spellbook.

For now, I hadn't seen any unlucky ones without a spellbook.

It seemed that basically all had received special care.

And I also saw a familiar figure in the crowd, Tan Han.

I stopped looking in her direction to avoid unnecessary trouble from our gazes meeting, so I chose to temporarily retreat and avert my gaze.

And just as I was avoiding her figure and gaze, Tan Han looked over here.

It wasn't until she saw a familiar figure that she suppressed the urge to go forward and ask.

“Hello, excuse me, may I ask if this is the conference room for the newcomer class presidents' meeting?”

Just as I was standing in the corner of the hallway, I was greeted by a girl with a slightly soft and sweet voice.

“Hmm? Yes, it should be here,” I replied reflexively.

It wasn't until I turned around that I saw this timid girl, who gave off a shy feeling.

But after looking her over, I also became puzzled.

Generally, most people here were class presidents, right?

She was also a class president?

Which class's president?

How did such a timid person become a class president?

As a class president, one enjoyed a terrifying tilt in resources, obtaining far more Magic Power Sources and even spellbooks than others not long after school started.

Did no one in her class compete for it?

“Thank you, I thought I had found the wrong place. Um, my name is Anni Stephens, just call me Anni. Can we be friends?”

“Anni?”

I raised my eyebrows.

This name didn't seem to follow the naming convention of my region; it should be from another state.

But that didn't matter.

I was also happy to be friends with such a cute girl.

Besides, it was uncertain if we would meet again in the future.

It was good to leave a good impression.

“What a beautiful name. My name is Yang Yuehan, you can just call me Little Han. I'm the class president of Class 14. I suppose since you're here, you must be a class president too, right?”

“Eh? That's right, I'm from Class 66. Please take care of me in the future.”

Anni even gave me a polite bow as she spoke.

“I wouldn't dare to ask you to take care of me. Let's work hard together,” I quickly waved my hands.

“Mhm, let's work hard together. But, um Little Han, why are so many people waiting outside and not going in?”

“Hmm… good question, I don't know either. Maybe they are waiting for someone to open the door?”

I glanced at the time.

It was already past nine, although the notice said the meeting was at nine-thirty.

No class president would be late, right?

The counselor would definitely notify them in advance for such an important matter, unlike Teacher Ji Niang.