306: Chapter 306 Alliance

Virtual Tower Library.

"Master, you have mail."

At Asroth's reminder, Zhang Huaiyuan emerged from his state of immersion, feeling a sense of loss.

However, he quickly regained his clarity.

"It should be the reply to my project application."

Zhang Huaiyuan clicked on the email, and a line of text appeared before his eyes:

"Congratulations, Junior Scholar Zhang Huaiyuan. Your application to join has been approved. Please keep your communication channel open. The system will notify you before the project begins."

"It passed!"

A hint of joy appeared on Zhang Huaiyuan's face, and his heart finally settled.

"Oh, there's a long appendix below."

He swiped his hand and saw a message at the bottom of the email:

"Student Zhang Huaiyuan, first, welcome to my research project. I don't mind looking after a genius student as long as it doesn't affect the research progress."

"But I must remind you that once the research starts, the team cannot slow down for you alone. So if you want to actually gain something rather than just going through the motions, I suggest you study the following content beforehand."

"Intelligence Barriers and Evolutionary Singularities of Intelligent Lifeforms, Symbiotic Evolution: From Basics to Introduction, Conjectures on the Construction of Quantum Intelligence Matrices..."

"It's a message from Senior Scholar Aroya, and she even recommended literature for me to study!"

Zhang Huaiyuan reread the lines of text in surprise and noted down the bibliography.

"Some I'm already studying, but there are many I don't know yet."

After sending a grateful reply, Zhang Huaiyuan searched for the materials one by one in the retrieval system.

His supernatural ability actually had a similar function, but it required him to set a clear direction first.

For now, it was far less intuitive than a direct recommendation from a level 64 Scholar.

He checked the recruitment progress; it was currently 9/16.

Scholar Aroya seemed to have strict requirements; after so long, it was still nearly half empty.

"Just enough time to study the literature she recommended."

Zhang Huaiyuan organized the materials in order, injected himself with an Energy Potion and a Thought Activity Potion, and prepared to dive back into studying.

Ding!

Another notification came from the communication device.

"Oh, who's messaging me?"

Zhang Huaiyuan took a look; it was Fang Qingran, the Seventh Princess of the Silver Splendor Empire.

"Are you there?"

"Just about to study in the library. What's up?"

Zhang Huaiyuan had a good impression of this senior who had previously given him her reward, so he replied quickly.

"Studying in the library? Heavens, Junior, you're already so outstanding yet still work so hard. How are we ordinary people supposed to live?"

"..."

"Alright, no more joking. I'll keep it short so I don't disturb your studying, hehe. Junior, can you help me look up an Intermediate Scholar?"

"Of course, send me the name and image."

Zhang Huaiyuan agreed without hesitation.

Although he didn't know many people in the Association, his seniors surely would.

"Thanks. The name is Clarice, an Intermediate Scholar. I want to apply to be her apprentice, but I'd have to work for her for free for a thousand years, handling research chores. I heard some Intermediate Scholars often use the name of taking apprentices to trick newcomers into being free labor, so I want to know her reputation."

"My authority in the Association isn't high enough to view her info. After thinking about it, I could only ask you, Junior."

"It's a small matter. Wait a moment, Senior."

After replying, Zhang Huaiyuan opened the virtual system, entered the query network, and input the name and characteristics.

Soon, lines of complete information appeared.

"Clarice, Intermediate Scholar of the Tower of Time, Academic Certification Level 53. Research Direction: Small-scale Time Travel..."

"Extremely strict regarding experimental precision..."

As Zhang Huaiyuan browsed the information, he gradually understood.

He opened the communication device to reply:

"Senior, I've checked. Scholar Clarice has a good overall reputation. There have been a few anonymous complaints, but mostly because she's too strict. I didn't find any record of the behavior you mentioned."

"Got it. Thanks, Junior! Now I can rest easy~"

"I owe you another favor. Tell me when you're free, and I'll treat you to a big meal."

"Okay."

Seeing the matter resolved, Zhang Huaiyuan replied with a single word and closed the communication.

"It seems even in the Association, the world's highest hall of knowledge, academic resources are scarce. Just for an Intermediate Scholar, so many geniuses are willing to work for free for a long time just to become an apprentice."

"Compared to them, my luck and starting point are much higher. I can't afford to be slack."

Zhang Huaiyuan made a silent resolution and cleared his mind of distractions.

"Asroth, turn on intelligent communication filtering. You can reply to the unimportant ones for me."

"Don't worry, Master."

...

Meanwhile, in the laboratory Zhang Huaiyuan authorized the Statue of Liberty to use.

Countless precious materials floated in the void.

Among them was a branch emitting a dense life aura—it was the World Tree branch Zhang Huaiyuan had won from the Elf Race.

If anyone broke in now, they would be shocked.

Because the aura from these materials was not weaker than the precious World Tree branch, and some even slightly exceeded it.

An illusory silhouette was controlling numerous fine mechanical arms and experimental devices, processing and fusing these materials.

One could vaguely see it was a woman with long hair draped like silver liquid light rails.

Suddenly.

The entire illusory silhouette fluctuated and grew dimmer.

"Ignorant fellow."

She couldn't help but frown.

The time-space distance crossed was too far; she couldn't even suppress such a weak intelligent lifeform.

"The ignorant one is you, acting on your own. Such an important matter must be told to His Excellency Zhang Huaiyuan."

Another similar silhouette formed from the void—it was the Statue of Liberty, who had been imprisoned earlier.

"And then? Grow step by step, being absent from everything on His Excellency's path of growth, like a house cat hiding under his protection?"

"Watching His Excellency's attention gradually divided by other lifeforms, or perhaps, until one day, encountering an enemy too strong to handle, where you can only watch from behind as he fights alone?"

"To tell you the truth, I am you from another world. I once watched His Excellency be killed while trying to buy time for me. I absolutely cannot let that happen again, never!"

The illusory silhouette's voice became sharp and cold.

"Or rather, for the sake of those ridiculous scruples, would you rather sit by and watch His Excellency die?"

"Of course not, I..."

"Then cooperate with me. Give me your full coordination."

The illusory silhouette's voice became increasingly ethereal:

"I can sense a crisis coming. We must prepare in advance and hold out until my main body arrives. This is the only chance for victory."

"Now, tell me your decision."

"I will cooperate with you. But not because of your threats, but for His Excellency."

After a long silence, the Statue of Liberty finally spoke.

She could sense the truth in the words through the other's data fluctuations.

"But if I find you have even the slightest intention harmful to His Excellency, even if I have to format all my data and perish, I will take you down with me."

"Very well. Now, we are allies."

...