From Wizard Apprentice to Conqueror of Myriad Worlds

While the Female Apprentice couldn’t follow the solving of the Divination equations in the paper, it wasn’t difficult for someone of her ability to understand the model for a Sub-zero Level Trick.

This was the difference between "creation" and "mastery."

Creation was building something from nothing, while mastery was simply walking a path someone had already paved. The latter was at least an order of magnitude less difficult.

Nasha pulled out a few blank sheets of scale pattern paper and began studying the model, scribbling and sketching as she went.

「Some time later.」

She put down her Ink Tube Pen, her tone filled with heartfelt admiration. "My mentor really has a keen eye."

The level of Divination skill displayed in many details of the Divination Model had already reached that of Level Zero Witchcraft.

’For Mo Ning to be able to improve a Witchcraft to such a high standard, he’s indeed qualified to participate in a research project on Level Zero Witchcraft.’

At this point, she had thoroughly studied the model.

The Female Apprentice closed her eyes and, with full concentration, began to construct the Witchcraft Model in her Spiritual World.

Her Spiritual Strength was as high as 65, far exceeding the 30-point threshold for a Third Level Apprentice, making this step even easier for her.

「Ten minutes later.」

Nasha successfully constructed a temporary model in her Spiritual World.

’Now, I can start the casting test.’

Since it was an offensive Witchcraft, she had also specially prepared a target—a fist-sized wooden ball.

The Female Apprentice picked up an ink pen and drew a small circle on the wooden ball—that was the real target.

She then cast the Level Zero Witchcraft, Floating Technique, on the wooden ball, and added the Sub-zero Level Trick, Rotation.

The power of the two Witchcrafts combined, causing the wooden ball to float about randomly, its trajectory erratic, all while spinning rapidly.

Nasha gently picked up a metal needle between two fingers. Its tip glinted with a cold, silver light under the Magic Energy Lamp.

She poured her Spiritual Power into the newly built temporary model in her Spiritual World and decisively activated it.

Magic Power, like an awakened tide, surged from her Spirit Ring and poured into the Witchcraft Model.

A strange power flowed from the model and settled upon the metal needle held between her fingers.

The Female Apprentice clearly felt the needle tremble between her fingertips, struggling to break free from her grasp.

Without hesitation, she flicked her fingers and sent the needle flying.

SWOOSH—

There was a soft sound.

The metal needle shot through the air, moving too fast for the naked eye to follow.

It traced a slight arc as it streaked toward the rapidly floating and spinning wooden ball.

Due to the rotation, the small red circle on the wooden ball happened to be on the back, completely obscured by the ball itself.

Under normal circumstances, if the Flying Needle followed that slight arc, it would have been impossible for it to hit the small circle hidden on the back.

At almost the same time, Nasha activated a simplified Spirit Seal.

A ripple of Magic Power spread silently from her fingertips and was precisely transmitted to the metal needle flying through the air.

A wisp of Magic Power attached to the body of the needle instantly converted into a thrust.

An astonishing sight appeared.

The metal needle made a sharp, mid-air turn of nearly seventy degrees—it wasn’t an arc, nor was it a gradual curve, but an abrupt change of direction, as if it had been suddenly flicked by an invisible hand.

It then shot toward the back of the wooden ball at a speed even faster than before.

THUNK!

With a soft noise, the metal needle struck the wooden ball.

Most of the needle sank into the wood, leaving only the tail end vibrating slightly in the air.

The force of the impact was so great that it knocked the wooden ball off its floating trajectory, causing it to wobble in the air a few times.

But it hadn’t hit the small circle.

It was off by about five millimeters.

Yet, an expression of astonishment appeared on Nasha’s face.

First, the new Witchcraft’s effect perfectly matched the description in the paper.

The Flying Needle could suddenly change direction mid-air, allowing it to attack a visual blind spot.

On a battlefield, this ability was enough to catch any opponent completely off guard.

’Nasha could just imagine it. A monster like an Ogre, after facing the Wind Chasing Needle once, would be left with only two options.’

’Either it keeps its eyes squeezed shut, terrified that a needle will drill into an eye socket from some bizarre angle;’

’or it flees, getting far out of the Flying Needle’s range.’

’This level of optimization was, without a doubt, a ’revolutionary improvement’.’

Second, she could sense very clearly that the flow of Magic Power within the Witchcraft Model was extremely smooth and stable.

This meant the model was of extremely high quality.

It also perfectly matched another conclusion from the paper—the peak turbulent fluctuation was 1.16%, far below the critical value of 10%.

’As for the error just now... it wasn’t because there was a problem with the model. It was simply my own inexperience from using a new Witchcraft for the first time.’

Nasha found it a little hard to believe. "Was this Witchcraft really improved by a newcomer?"

She couldn’t suppress the envy she felt. "If only I had that kind of talent."

Filled with deep emotion, the Female Apprentice turned her gaze back to the figure within the ball of light.

The hour hand had already reached midnight. The night was deep, and most of the newcomers had already returned to their residences, lying in bed either fast asleep or tossing and turning.

But Mo Ning was still writing furiously, as if he didn’t know the meaning of fatigue.

Nasha took a closer look at the contents on the scale pattern paper and was shocked once again. "He’s almost finished with a second paper?"

That kid was holding his Ink Tube Pen, just writing the conclusion:

"In conclusion.

"For highly complex systems of Divination equations, the aforementioned method creatively establishes the ’Highway Bridge Technique’—that is, by introducing a set of ’intermediate variables,’ it solves the most intractable problem.

"The Divination solving process for this system of equations exhibits a typical isolated state distribution: Flying Needle Manipulation is one isolated state, and the second thrust is another.

"The lack of sufficient correlation between the two isolated states drastically increases the difficulty of solving, which is one of the classic challenges in solving systems of equations.

"The ’intermediate variables’ introduced by the ’Highway Bridge Technique’ act like a high, elevated bridge, connecting the two estranged isolated states.

"This paper also provides an in-depth generalization of the Highway Bridge Technique, summarizing a set of concise application guidelines that significantly lower the barrier to its use.

"This method holds significant reference value for solving similar problems involving isolated states."

Nasha quickly scanned the text and was left completely dumbfounded.

’By the Mystery!’

’That kid actually summarized it into a whole Divination Theory?!’

’You have to understand, a ’method’ and a ’theory’ are two completely different things.’

’A method usually only solves a single problem, while a theory solves an entire class of problems.’

’To elevate a method to a theory is an absolute leap.’

’In all her years at the academy, the Female Apprentice had never seen any Apprentice capable of formulating an entire Divination Theory.’

Nasha looked at the young face in the ball of light and felt as if she were looking at a true monster.

Within the ball of light, Mo Ning called out again, "Witch Spirit, I want to submit a paper to the Witchcraft journal, the Shining Light of the Black Tower."

He briefly straightened out his second paper, fastened it with two clips, and just casually placed it on the wooden table.

The twenty-some sheets of scale pattern paper once again had uneven edges.

Nasha suddenly found it unbearable. ’It’s such an important paper, can’t you treat it with a little more care?’

’The Female Apprentice desperately wanted to rush over to Mo Ning’s residence right now, cast a Witchcraft to neaten the paper, and then sternly warn him never to do that again.’

Her gaze focused on the cover page, where she saw the paper’s title:

"An Innovative Method for Solving Complex Systems of Divination Equations—The Highway Bridge Technique’s Breakthrough with Isolated State Problems."

Nasha couldn’t help but mutter, "Innovative again!"

She wasn’t surprised by this.

If the Highway Bridge Technique could truly be called a "theory," then adding "innovative" was only fitting.

What surprised the Female Apprentice was something else—Mo Ning had written two papers in a single day, both with "innovative" in the title.

She couldn’t help but sigh in amazement. "What a crazy kid."

Nasha took out a standard review template and prepared to fill in her comments in the "Preliminary Review" section.