Chapter 89 - 78: The Generous Reward for the Research Paper
The note clearly read as follows:
"Roy, I have finished reviewing the paper you recommended, ’An Innovative Method for Solving Complex Systems of Divination Equations—A Breakthrough in Isolated-State Problems with the Highway Bridge Technique.’
"The Divination Theory it outlines provides an extremely constructive solution to the isolated-state problems in lower-circle and Central Circle Divination.
"I will discuss this paper with the other Wizards at tomorrow’s editor-in-chief meeting. I also intend to place it within the first three pages of the first section in the next issue of the *Shining Light of the Black Tower*."
Roy’s eyes were glued to the words "Central Circle Divination" on the note, and he sucked in a sharp breath.
Central Circle Divination was the domain of Wizards. For the Highway Bridge Technique to be useful even for problems at the Wizard level... and Lord Naraku had even explicitly called it "extremely constructive."
The result was truly staggering.
The River Flows Eastward’s first paper was already confirmed for the next issue of *Shine*. Lord Terry had said he would place it within the top ten pages of the first section.
But before the journal was even published, this person had already submitted a second paper to the society.
This time, it was even more astounding—Lord Naraku actually planned to bring the paper up for discussion at the editor-in-chief meeting.
He knew, of course, that the first three pages of the first section were reserved for "heavyweight" papers. The editors-in-chief had to meet and discuss which papers to select for that space every time.
Even for a paper by an Official Wizard, getting into the top three pages was no easy feat.
Roy couldn’t help but shake his head. ’Two papers in the first section of the same issue of *Shine*... It’s unbelievable. And this person is only a First Level Apprentice.’
The reviewer’s face was filled with envy. ’I wonder if I’ll ever be able to write a paper that makes it into the top three pages of the first section in my lifetime?’
He thought about it, then answered his own question—the chances were slim.
Roy’s gaze drifted down and fell upon Lord Naraku’s postscript:
"Furthermore, this is your official notification that I have already spoken with the Witch Spirit. From now on, any papers submitted by the Silver Pen Member ’The River Flows Eastward’ will be reviewed directly by me."
Roy froze for a moment. He felt like cursing.
Junior Reviewers received a reward from the society for every excellent paper they recommended.
The Female Wizard’s actions were tantamount to snatching a major source of income right out of his hands. How could he possibly be happy about it?
But there was nothing Roy could say.
Who was to blame? His own skill in Divination was so poor that he couldn’t even understand the paper.
If Lord Naraku were to state that reason, no one would think her actions were out of line.
Even Lord Terry, who had always been very friendly toward Apprentices, probably wouldn’t say a single word against it.
Roy sighed in frustration, suddenly feeling that he shouldn’t have walked into the Female Wizard’s office today at all.
* * *
While Roy was stewing in regret, back in apartment 804 of Black Tower Number One, Mo Ning, who was in the middle of a deep optimization of the [Wind Chasing Needle], suddenly felt a soothing, cool sensation from his Guiding Ring.
The next moment, a series of messages flowed into his mind like a stream:
[Reward Notification: Serial Number 7-118-256, Mo Ning.]
[Your submitted research paper, "An Innovative Improvement to the Sub-zero Level Witchcraft [Gale Needle]—A Qualitative Change Driven by Magic Power," has passed final review.]
[Reviewer Comments: The paper is well-structured with rigorous deductions. Its application of Divination tools is highly creative and inspiring, and it demonstrates a very high degree of innovation.]
[The experimental validation of the new Witchcraft, "Wind Chasing Needle," yielded results that significantly exceeded expectations, proving its high practical value.]
[Review Result: Your paper has been rated Star Badge Third Level.]
A smile immediately appeared on Mo Ning’s face.
The various evaluation criteria, as well as the "Star Badge Third Level" result, were exactly what he had expected.
Notably, the reviewer comments included an extra sentence: "Its application of Divination tools is highly creative and inspiring."
Evidently, the Highway Bridge Technique’s approach to solving isolated-state problems in complex systems of equations had left a deep impression on the Lord Wizard who conducted the final review.
The next piece of information that appeared made a flash of surprise cross Mo Ning’s eyes.
[Reviewer Postscript: Your tireless spirit in exploring the truth is commendable. To encourage you to go further on your path of seeking knowledge, the Rose Council has decided to raise the value of this reward by half a level.]
Mo Ning couldn’t help but laugh.
Back when he was in the Royal Library, he had pored over so many notes and read countless journals, memoirs, and pieces of academic gossip left by his predecessors.
But he had never seen a reviewer’s comments include a "postscript," let alone heard of something as strange as a "reward being raised by half a level."
It wasn’t hard to guess that, for a newcomer to have written such a brilliant paper, even the Rose Council must have felt that a "Star Badge Third Level" rating was a little too low.
[Review Reward 1: An outstanding achievement in Witchcraft research deserves a fitting commendation. The Rose Council hereby grants you a reward of 900 Black Tower Points. (This reward includes the project application grant.)]
[The relevant funds have been transferred to your Guiding Ring account. Current Balance: 2304 Black Tower Points.]
The smile on Mo Ning’s lips was impossible to suppress.
He keenly noted the difference in wording—last time, for improving the Sub-zero Level Trick [Flash], the evaluation was "excellent research results," whereas now it was "outstanding research results."
Even though he hadn’t applied for a project, the Rose Council was very generous, sending him the application grant money as well.
Black Tower Points. It was a veritable fortune, enough to make his head spin a little.
The surprises kept coming.
[Review Reward 2: You will receive the following Magic Potion rewards.]
[Calming Ointment, two bottles. This Magic Potion has the effect of rapidly restoring Spiritual Power.]
[Quality Evaluation: Excellent. Experimental comparisons show this Magic Potion is 28.3% more effective than ordinary Calming Ointment.]
[This Magic Potion has the special effect of temporarily raising the upper limit of your Spiritual Strength. The increase ranges from 1.3% to 1.9% and lasts for 3 to 4 hours.]
Mo Ning was greatly surprised.
Another high-quality Magic Potion!
And another one not publicly sold on [Dawa’s Grocery List]!
The special effect of "temporarily raising the Spiritual Strength limit" astonished him.
A thought instantly surfaced in Mo Ning’s mind:
’The [High Mountain Breathing Technique] can temporarily raise Spiritual Strength, and this high-quality [Calming Ointment] can do the same. If I use them both together, I wonder if there will be some kind of wondrous reaction?’
His Spiritual Intuition told him that doing so would very likely lead to an unexpected windfall.
He immediately decided to try it tomorrow.
[Life Potion, two bottles. This Magic Potion has the effect of rapidly restoring Life Energy.]
[Quality Evaluation: Excellent. Experimental comparisons show this Magic Potion is 32.6% more effective than ordinary Life Potion, heals injuries faster, and possesses a certain limb regeneration effect.]
[Note: Limb regeneration is limited to limbs with a low degree of damage, such as a severed hand.]
[Magic Potion, two bottles. This Magic Potion has the effect of rapidly restoring Magic Power.]
[Quality Evaluation: Excellent. Experimental comparisons show this Magic Potion is 29.4% more effective than ordinary Magic Potion.]
[This Magic Potion has the special effect of temporarily raising the upper limit of your Magic Pool. The increase ranges from 3.8% to 4.5% and lasts for 5 to 6 hours. The increase will gradually diminish over time.]
[All Magic Potion rewards will be delivered directly to the secure locker in your apartment shortly. Please be sure to collect them.]
[We look forward to your perseverance on the path of truth, contributing your strength to the construction of the great Witchcraft Tower.]
Mo Ning almost laughed out loud.
A total of six bottles of high-quality Magic Potions. He was blown away by the Rose Council’s generosity.
It was easy to see that the academy held a large stock of high-quality Magic Potions, specifically for rewarding truly outstanding talents.
Ordinary Apprentices with mediocre aptitude would never even get a chance to look at them.