225: Favor of the Tower Master of All Things

"One month, the 40th floor?"

At the top of the Tower of All Things, from within a giant, cracked, wind-dried bone spur, a mass of liquid fluid seeped out, emitting a slightly surprised voice.

"Yes, Tower Master."

The examiner seemed accustomed to such an eerie scene; his expression didn't change at all.

"Hmm... what is the name?"

The flowing liquid gradually transformed into a sphere.

These top-tier Scholars had long since ceased to care about their original bodies or races, modifying them into forms most suitable for their research.

For something like Material Science, a liquid form that could completely permeate the interior of materials was clearly the most effective.

"His name is Zhang Huaiyuan, Tower Master."

"Let me see."

An arm coalesced from the edge of the sphere and tapped twice in the air.

"Information query: Zhang Huaiyuan."

"Ding! Insufficient permissions. Query failed."

"Hmm? What?"

The sphere's swaying body paused involuntarily as it said in surprise:

"I, the Myriad Things Tower Master, have insufficient permissions?"

"Wait... Curse you, Kraft, you actually dare to pull a move like this."

As a top-tier Scholar with an incredibly sharp mind, he understood everything instantly.

The entire Association's system was managed by the Virtual Tower, and these Tower Masters were essentially the highest-ranking individuals.

To have his permissions restricted, it was undoubtedly the work of those damn old fellows from the Virtual Tower.

"Heh..."

The sphere suddenly became interested.

Originally, he thought it was just a talented student and would have sent a disciple to keep an eye on him at most, but now it seemed things weren't that simple.

"Go, check it out."

Countless drops of liquid fell from his body, each decomposing into myriad tiny organisms that merged into the space and vanished on the spot.

A moment later.

All the tiny organisms returned.

Countless images were transmitted back.

"A native from a lower world..."

"Age 161, maximum knowledge level 36..."

"Broke through forty-seven layers of virtual world suppression..."

"He actually surpassed the record of that being?!!"

Everything that had happened was replayed one by one.

An eye suddenly snapped open in the center of the sphere.

"Interesting. A maximum knowledge level of 36 can break through forty-seven layers of virtual world suppression and even pass the 40th floor of the Simulated Tower of All Things?"

A mass of liquid separated from his body, coalescing into a human form. He glanced at the examiner and said indifferently:

"For your merit in discovering a genius, you may go to the Myriad Things Pavilion for thirty days of advanced study."

As the words fell, the body quietly vanished, leaving behind the ecstatic examiner.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the 41st floor of the Simulated Tower of All Things.

From this point on, the materials for the assessment had become complex to an unimaginable degree.

Or rather, they were no longer just simple materials, but even incorporated certain laws such as space-time and immortality.

Even with the help of True Sight, he could only replicate the basic components; those things of higher laws could not be reproduced.

"Similarity 91.2%. Assessment passed. To leave, please enter the left teleportation array; for the next floor, please enter the right teleportation array."

"It seems the absolute limit will be around floor 44 or 45."

Zhang Huaiyuan calculated in his mind and walked toward the right again.

Soon, as expected, floors 42, 43, and 44 were passed in succession within three months.

And after submitting the replication of the basic structural parts for the 45th floor...

"Similarity 88.12%. Assessment failed. Please leave through the left teleportation array."

"As expected."

He glanced at the counter on his wrist:

"Current assessments passed: 89. Total credits: 89. Single highest credit: 45 (Virtual Tower)."

"That's about it, but the remaining credits won't be so easy to get..."

A thoughtful look appeared on Zhang Huaiyuan's face.

Despite how easily he passed the assessments for the Virtual Tower and the Tower of All Things, it was entirely due to the cheat that was True Sight.

In terms of actual knowledge reserves, it would likely take him ten years just to reach floor thirty.

"Besides these two, my Energy Science and Mechanical Dynamics have also reached levels just over 30; together they should bring in about 50 credits. There are also liberal arts knowledge towers like the 'Tower of Socializing' where I might be able to scrape some together."

Thinking this over, Zhang Huaiyuan walked toward the teleportation array, preparing to leave.

"Little lad."

Just then, an aged voice sounded, and a white-haired old man quietly appeared nearby.

"Senior, may I ask what your instructions are?"

Seeing this, Zhang Huaiyuan immediately bowed. As his gaze swept over, his pupils couldn't help but contract slightly.

[Myriad Things Tower Master]

Classification: Modified Lifeform.

Profession: Scholar.

Profession Level: Not yet analyzed... Affiliation: Time Traveler Association, Tower of All Things.

Luck Value: Not yet analyzed... The Myriad Things Tower Master! Another big shot that can't be analyzed!

Zhang Huaiyuan's expression became even more respectful.

"Not bad, not bad. A youthful aura... Born in a lower world yet able to break through world barriers, and with such a level of knowledge, you are qualified to enter my Tower of All Things."

The old man just looked him over for a few moments, yet it felt as if he had seen completely through his soul.

"How about this: you don't need to save up the remaining credits. Join my Tower of All Things directly, and I'll give you another 500 credits. What do you say?"

"This..."

Zhang Huaiyuan was slightly stunned; he hadn't expected such a big shot to directly attempt to recruit him.

But remembering he had already promised that senior from the Virtual Tower, he could only brace himself and say:

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but I previously promised Senior Kraft of the Virtual Tower that I would join them. If I were to break that agreement now, it wouldn't be right..."

"What of it?"

The Myriad Things Tower Master waved his hand to interrupt.

"As everyone knows, Material Science is the foundation of all science. Any technological advancement is accompanied by a prior breakthrough in materials."

"In other words, my Tower of All Things is the most important and powerful among all the knowledge towers. It is the father of all other knowledge towers. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I understand..."

Zhang Huaiyuan smiled bitterly in his heart; he really couldn't afford to offend either side.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself."

Seeing a hint of hesitation on Zhang Huaiyuan's face, the Myriad Things Tower Master added indifferently:

"I am the Myriad Things Tower Master, the number one person in the Time Traveler Association. If you join my Tower of All Things, I might consider taking you as an honorary disciple..."

"Bullshit!"

Before he could finish, an angry voice suddenly rang out from Zhang Huaiyuan's wrist.

A series of invisible symbols quickly reorganized into a Peculiar Being covered in tentacles.

"Since when did your Tower of All Things become number one in the Association? Without the simulation support provided by my Virtual Tower, your Tower of All Things would probably go bankrupt within ten thousand years."

Kraft said with an unfriendly expression, then turned back:

"Zhang Huaiyuan, your talent lies in virtual technology. Don't be lured onto this old fellow's pirate ship."

"Kraft, you actually dare to come to my Tower of All Things to snatch people away."

On the other side, the Myriad Things Tower Master narrowed his eyes, not yielding an inch.

Two dangerous auras began to spread simultaneously...