Chapter 428: Dark Demon’s Light Guidance (4k)
Unaware that he had lost focus, Dark raised his head abruptly and saw Pandora Senior’s face right in front of him.
A faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils, jolting him back to reality. He instinctively took a step back and said, “Senior, has the experiment ended?”
But Pandora Senior shook her head and said with some regret, “Not yet. I’ll think about it over these two days… Come again this Friday, do you have time?”
Dark pondered for a moment and nodded, “Then let’s meet on Friday.”
The two of them then tidied up the remaining experiment materials and stuffed the bottles back into their backpacks before leaving the laboratory.
At this moment, the bright moon hung high in the sky, casting its light. The castle’s passage was shrouded in a faint glow.
The two walking side by side seemed like golden children from a fairy tale, evoking sighs from passersby.
When they reached the fork leading to the Magic Academy Tower and the Noble Academy Tower, both stopped simultaneously.
Dark spoke first, “Then, Senior, let’s part ways here.”
Pandora Senior smiled, “Won’t you see me off to the tower?”
Dark shrugged, “I wish someone would see me off to my tower too.”
Pandora laughed out loud, “Just kidding, good night.”
Dark raised his hand to wave, “Good night.”
…
After returning to his dormitory, Dark did not continue pondering the secret of the senior, but he was very interested in today’s fusion experiment.
He wanted to explore the differences between mana golems that could be used as fusion materials and those that couldn’t.
If he could truly extract this “difference” and use it to direct-formulate mana golems that could be used as fusion materials, would it work?
Dark had managed to formulate a Diuxys that could be used as a fusion material, but that was based on the special nature of Digimon and a bit of luck.
Like Pandora Senior’s fusable mana golem, it was mostly due to luck.
In such cases, it was highly likely to only produce one mana golem that could be used as a fusion material, and the other necessary fusion materials would never be complete.
In short, it was quite awkward.
If Pandora Senior wasn’t doing it for academic research, she might have encountered a similar awkward situation.
Therefore, she wanted to find a solution through research.
Dark mulled over this for a while, but finally shook his head.
Pandora Senior’s methods in the experiment were too advanced; he wanted to learn but didn’t know where to start.
“Perhaps I can suddenly understand it once the knowledge ladder is built?”
Dark chuckled and turned his attention back to his studies.
…
Time always passed quickly during peaceful moments.
Before he knew it, it was Friday afternoon.
Dark went to the library again to meet the senior, and then they went to the same laboratory to continue the unfinished experiment.
After summoning the Arcanetongue Lizard, Pandora Senior invited him to set up the Baross Southgale array together.
As soon as he started, Dark noticed that this Baross Southgale array was completely different from the previous one. He asked in confusion.
Pandora Senior smiled and explained that the Baross Southgale array was actually a variable array calculated according to specific rules, taking into account time, astrology, geography, and many other factors. Therefore, each use would be different.
Dark patted his head and continued asking questions.
Pandora Senior answered one by one.
However, this prolonged the construction of the array.
It took about forty minutes before they completed the setup.
Following Pandora Senior’s instructions, Dark summoned Bastemon again.
Pandora Senior gained more information and swiftly entered the cycle of “comparative analysis-configuring potion-recording text-comparative analysis.”
Dark had prepared himself. After making the Trash Slime and Ditto move, he took out a book and read it with relish.
But the experiment lasted longer than he expected.
Perhaps because it was Friday, Pandora Senior continued even late into the night.
The clock on the wall moved from nine to ten, then to eleven and twelve, and the curfew time had long passed, but Pandora Senior continued the experiment methodically.
Occasionally looking up at her busy silhouette, Dark finally understood why she was the top student of the fourth year.
But from the perspective of his peers, wasn’t Dark Demon’s outstanding performance in the first year also due to this?
No success is built in a vacuum.
Step by step, that’s the norm.
Dark didn’t remind her and just silently accompanied her in the laboratory.
It wasn’t until the time pointed to 2:23 AM that Pandora Senior sprinkled a potion she had prepared onto the Arcanetongue Lizard’s disk and obtained new textual information, which suddenly energized her.
Her face visibly lit up, and her potion-making technique quickened.
In a short time, she remade a potion identical to the previous one and poured it onto the disk again, gaining new textual information and repeatedly comparing and analyzing it.
After finishing the analysis, she repeated the process, her expression becoming increasingly excited.
By nearly three o’clock, she remade two identical potions and wrote down the recipe by hand before stopping abruptly.
“Luck was on our side! I didn’t expect to get results in just over a month!”
Pandora Senior turned around and did some chest expansion exercises, her heart racing.
Dark was equally excited and asked, “Did the experiment succeed?”
Pandora Senior shook her head, “It can’t be called a success, but we have achieved the first stage of results.”
She lifted a potion bottle and smiled, “I found a special fluctuation and made a potion with a similar vibration. If successful, I plan to name it ‘Fusion Factor.'”
Dark was curious, “Can this ‘Fusion Factor’ be used to direct-formulate mana golems that can be used as fusion materials?”
Pandora shrugged, “Probably not. But my goal is to increase the probability slightly. Here, take this bottle and the recipe.”
Dark looked at the potion bottle and didn’t hesitate, “Can I really make this kind of potion with my level?”
Pandora blinked, “The technical requirements aren’t high, but the materials might be expensive.”
“Alright.” Dark took the potion bottle, “Then consider this payment.”
Pandora said, “This is a prepayment. If there’s a chance to improve it further, I’ll give you your true reward.”
Dark said, “I feel like I’ve won big.”
Pandora laughed, “I’m the one who’s won big. While there are people with fusion golems, few are as stable as yours. Even mine isn’t as stable.”
Dark replied, “But without you, I’d never be able to create something like this. ‘Fusion Factor’… it might bring me good fortune.”
Pandora couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Have you already thought of how to use it?”
Dark smiled slightly, “I’ve thought about it, but I still lack one ingredient. If I don’t gather it by the end of the term, I’ll probably use it after I return home.”
Pandora thought for a moment and guessed his idea. She directly asked, “What ingredient are you missing?”
Dark replied, “A pure light attribute ingredient.”
Pandora thought for a moment and turned to rummage through her backpack, “Wait a moment.”
Dark narrowed his eyes.
Actually, when he answered, he realized he might have to rely on someone else for a while!
Is relying on others embarrassing?
…Yes, it is.
So, Dark put on a brave face and watched as Pandora Senior pulled out a white bead from her backpack.
This white bead looked ordinary at first glance, with no engravings on its surface and not transparent, but if one perceived closely, they could sense a faint light aura.
“What is this?” Dark asked.
Pandora Senior casually threw the bead to him.
Dark caught it and habitually injected a bit of mana.
In an instant, the dusty pearl instantly emitted blinding white light, illuminating the entire laboratory in snow-white.
Dark hurriedly closed his eyes, and when the light subsided, he opened them again just in time to see the senior’s sly smile.
His face darkened as he said, “So what is this bead?”
Pandora Senior explained, “A White Dragon Pearl. Although it’s the smallest in my inventory, if you want it, it will cost at least this much.”
She extended three fingers.
Dark raised an eyebrow, “Three hundred thousand?”
Pandora Senior was stunned for a moment, then said, “I think there might be something wrong with your value system.”
Dark was surprised and suspicious, “How so? Are you asking for three million credits?”
Pandora rolled her eyes, “Three thousand. Just three thousand. I know you have it, right?”
“I do have it,” Dark said, “but this is a White Dragon Pearl. Really, only three thousand?”
“Do you know what a White Dragon Pearl is?” Pandora countered.
“A White Dragon Pearl is…”
Here, Dark suddenly paused. For the first time, he realized he genuinely didn’t know what a White Dragon Pearl was!
Pandora yawned slightly, “I knew you’d react like this. The term ‘dragon pearl’ is indeed quite misleading. Generally, people would subconsciously assume it’s a certain kind of pearl generated within a dragon, but they can’t specify what kind.
Of course, they wouldn’t know, because a dragon pearl is not actually a crystal formed inside a dragon. It’s merely a companion mineral of dragons. Those with good quality, smooth and round parts, are called dragon pearls.”
“A dragon pearl carries the aura of dragons. High-grade dragon pearls are even imbued with the essence of dragon blood over time.”
“The White Dragon Pearl I gave you is just of ordinary quality, neither possessing spirit nor special effects, but it’s absolutely sufficient as auxiliary material for light attributes. Moreover…”
Pandora paused here and looked into Dark’s eyes.
“What else?” Dark asked.
Pandora’s gaze was peculiar, “Moreover, it has good compatibility with the scale I gave you.”
Dark’s eyes widened, realizing that his intentions had been fully seen through.
Reluctantly, he removed the mask he had worn and said, “I want to formulate a dragon!”
Pandora didn’t seem annoyed. She said, “My ‘Sky White Dragon’ was successfully formulated using the highest grade dragon pearls and a large amount of dragon scales and blood. If you want to imitate it… although I’m happy, it’s impossible.”
Dark smiled, “Of course not. My goal is another type of dragon. If successful, I’ll definitely let you be the first to witness it.”
Pandora frowned, “I’m looking forward to it.”
Dark drew out the academy card from his deck and waved it, “Then let’s settle the transaction.”
…
Once the credits were paid, Dark began helping Pandora Senior clean up the laboratory.
According to the school regulations, students could freely trade among themselves, but it had to be an equal exchange.
Of course, this “equal” had a fuzzy range.
If unequal, one could choose to lend, but the restrictions were clearly stated in the school regulations.
In short, every transaction conducted through the academy card was clearly recorded, aiming to prevent unequal trades.
Under normal circumstances, the school wouldn’t clear accounts, but at the end of each academic year, to evaluate the Academy Cup, the school would tally all students’ credits. Some obviously unfair trades would be exposed.
Based on the principle of balancing excesses and deficits, some students might suddenly be burdened with huge debts, while others might unexpectedly gain wealth.
Around 3:30 PM, the two finally left the laboratory.
But the dormitory tower gate wouldn’t be unlocked until 5 AM the next morning, so entering was impossible.
“Since it’s this late, why not find a place to stargaze?” Pandora suddenly suggested.
Dark glanced at the starless sky and whispered, “Shall we go to the rooftop?”
“Not a bad idea,” Pandora’s gaze shifted slightly, with a hint of nostalgia.
She certainly hadn’t forgotten the time she and Dark had enjoyed barbecues on the castle roof.
Even though there were no barbecues now, lying on the castle roof for a while was still pleasant.
“Speaking of which, you already have the ‘Flight Spell,’ right? Let’s go straight up.”
After saying this, Pandora lifted her backpack and leaped out of the window, stepping onto the air as if it were solid ground.
Dark took out the “Flight Spell” and flew out of the castle as well.
The two slowly floated up to the castle roof and landed at their usual spot.
Pandora took out a mana card, summoned it, and a wind with a sense of life blew up, instantly sweeping away all the dust and debris on the rooftop.
Dark looked at the suddenly clean rooftop and took out the “Trash Slime” and “Gluttony III,” smiling, “Senior, I have something that can lead to bliss!”
Pandora asked with interest, “Let’s see.”
Dark smiled mysteriously, summoning the “Trash Slime” on the spot and evolving it into “Greed Slime II.”
Then he leaned backward, and his whole body fell into the “Greed Slime II.”
Pandora was slightly puzzled, but seeing his refreshed expression, she followed suit, lying down beside him, and her entire body was enveloped by the “Greed Slime II.”
