294: Chapter 294 Interview and Return Trip

Compared to the leisure among the Elf Race, within the Sea of Time, media organizations were exceptionally busy at this moment.

Universe No. 736, within the former Free Star Alliance, Dawn Star Sector, Lihua Star.

As the capital planet after Zhang Huaiyuan took office, at least two full fleets and three 3S-Class Transcendents were stationed here at all times.

It was no exaggeration to describe the land here as being worth its weight in gold.

At this time, outside a manor covering over ten million square meters next to the central Sovereign's Mansion, a team with diverse appearances and transcendent temperaments waited quietly.

A moment later.

A solemn voice rang out from the void:

"Mr. Vidi has agreed to accept your interview. However, please be aware that Mr. Vidi is the teacher of His Excellency Zhang Huaiyuan. Please maintain proper etiquette; otherwise, I will inform His Excellency and have you all deported."

"Mr. AI, please rest assured."

The leader of the group, wearing a warm smile, nodded and said:

"Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan is not only the pride of our Sea of Time but also the personal disciple of two Tower Masters from the Association. We will naturally maintain respect for his former teacher."

"That is for the best. Please follow the guidance; I will take you to see Mr. Vidi."

The gates opened automatically, and a faint blue point of light extended into the distance.

The group followed the light and soon arrived at the reception hall.

"Welcome, everyone. Forgive me for not greeting you sooner."

A middle-aged man dressed in custom black attire stood up with a smile to greet them.

His manner was natural, with none of his former cautiousness.

"You are too kind, Mr. Vidi. It is we who are intruding."

The leader bowed and introduced politely:

"We are the editorial team of the 'Time Annual' under the Time Traveler Association. We heard that you were Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan's first teacher and had a great influence on him. Therefore, we have taken the liberty of coming here. Thank you for agreeing to our interview."

Indeed.

This was a team from the Sea of Time.

Although the competition in the Origin Star Sea had only just ended, the news of Zhang Huaiyuan leading his team to first place had already been sent back through special channels.

As a direct media organization under the Association, they naturally had to report on their own genius as soon as possible.

"It's my pleasure."

The smile on Vidi's face grew even wider as he waved his hand and said:

"That boy Zhang Huaiyuan was personally trained by me. Feel free to ask any questions you have."

The members of the editorial team looked at each other, feeling relieved.

They had come to the right place.

"Make sure to record everything."

After whispering instructions to his colleagues, the leader put on a smile and said:

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Vidi. So, the first question is: for what reason did you initially take Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan as your apprentice?"

"Ah, you've come to the right person for that."

Vidi was clearly prepared, as he smiled with a hint of pride:

"When I first met that kid, he was in a sorry state—covered in grime, unable to even speak the Common Language, and nearly sold off as a mine slave."

"However, his eyes didn't look as numb as those of other slaves. I saw that he was quite sharp, so I felt a moment of compassion and bought him."

"I see."

The leader nodded and glanced at the recorder.

"Born in poverty, trapped in hardship, yet still harboring hope and refusing to yield to fate..."

He nodded with satisfaction and continued:

"Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan's talent is now among the very top in All Heavens and Myriad Realms. Mr. Vidi, how did you feel when you brought him back and discovered he was an unparalleled genius?"

"An unparalleled genius? No, not at all."

Vidi shook his head repeatedly, a look of slight disdain appearing on his face:

"His learning talent back then wasn't non-existent, but it was mediocre at best."

Vidi sighed:

"He spent half a year on a single 'Basic Advanced Modification' book and still hadn't mastered it. If I hadn't been patient enough, any other Star Mechanic would have probably gotten rid of such an apprentice long ago."

"Fortunately, under my patient guidance, he eventually achieved Enlightenment and produced some somewhat interesting designs."

As he spoke, he tapped his smart assistant, and reconstructed design blueprints were displayed:

"Multi-Laser Rifle... Hip-fire Large Drum Magazine Heavy Sniper... High-Magnification Scope Burst Revolver..."

"It seems Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan is a late bloomer, a genius who accumulated much before shining."

The leader echoed the sentiment while glossing over the negatives.

It was fine for the teacher to say such things, but he didn't dare agree with belittling the Association's own unparalleled genius.

The recorder took the hint and immediately wrote down:

"Had his own learning plan, showing creativity and ideas beyond ordinary people from a young age..."

"Third question: in your opinion, what kind of person is Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan?"

"Pedantic, stubborn, and not very flexible. If I hadn't intervened many times, he would have been killed by those wolf-like mercenaries long ago..."

"Understood... Firm of will, unmoved by external things, wholeheartedly pursuing the truth..."

"Fourth question..."

"..."

Through the questions and answers, the interview soon reached its end.

The leader of the Sea of Time team carefully checked the record book once more, then looked back at Vidi and smiled:

"Thank you for accepting our interview."

"One last question: Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan is now famous throughout All Heavens and Myriad Realms. As his first teacher, is there anything you would like to say to him at this moment?"

"Anything I'd like to say..."

Vidi, who had been talking incessantly, suddenly fell silent. After a long while, he looked up, his gaze calm as he peered in an unknown direction, and chuckled:

"If I must say something, I hope he remembers the final advice I gave him when we parted..."

...

Ten days later, inside a spherical special high-dimensional travel ship.

"Junior Classmate Zhang, how does it feel? How many contact details did you exchange, hehe?"

A student joked with a laugh:

"I saw at least twenty Elf Race girls taking the initiative to talk to you."

"Don't even mention it. It was more exhausting than taking another assessment..."

Having finally finished the Elf Race banquet, Zhang Huaiyuan and the others, who were preparing to return, were sitting in a luxuriously decorated lounge chatting.

Ding!

Just as they were about to tease him some more, the smart assistants on the wrists of several people let out a notification sound.

"Oh, the Time Annual has been updated."

One of them raised an eyebrow, glanced at everyone, and smiled. "Since we have nothing better to do, shall we take a look together?"

"Sure."

Zhang Huaiyuan also nodded with interest.

He knew a bit about the Time Annual; it was one of the largest media organizations in the Sea of Time, where major events were usually announced immediately.

Seeing the others nod, the person lightly pressed his wrist:

"Switch to projection mode."

Instantly, a cluster of light and shadow expanded, and lines of a table of contents were projected into the void:

"Victory! The Time Book House delegation wins the Academic Competition championship."

"Exclusive Follow-up! Revealing the growth history of the best contestant, Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan."

"The 1677th session of the Ascension Battlefield is about to settle. Who will claim the ten promotion slots?"

"..."

Dozens of news items were neatly arranged, with the first two being the most eye-catching.

"They're really fast. The competition just ended, and the reports are already out."

Talix and the others smiled and clicked to take a look; it was relatively official content.

Besides a simple report on the competition results, it was worth mentioning that the Association announced that most of its tourist areas would remain open for free for thirty years.

"Junior Classmate, you don't mind if we look at your report, right?"

A student laughed. "To go from a fringe world to first place in the competition in one step—I wouldn't even dare to dream of that."

"Of course I don't mind."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded. The people from the Time Annual had already informed him privately about the interview in his hometown, and there was nothing to hide.

...