After receiving the invitation, Jie Ming spent several days in the laboratory organizing his presentation materials.
After all, the Self-Stabilizing Field Regulation Protocol was a technology he had publicly submitted over three thousand years ago.
For him now, that counted as an early work.
Although all the original data was fully preserved in the database, turning scattered experimental records from thousands of years ago into a speech worthy of the academic conference stage of two major powers was still no easy task.
Inside the laboratory, numerous screens of light hung in midair, data streams cascading down like waterfalls.
Jie Ming stood at the center, continuously retrieving long-dusty experimental files.
The original design concepts, the deduction process of the rune arrays, cross-plane stability test reports, and the many derivative applications that later emerged—he gradually reorganized and categorized them all.
Even he couldn't help pausing to ponder some of the data when he saw it again.
Over three thousand years of research experience allowed him to revisit his earlier designs and discover new insights.
"At the very least, I need to come up with some advanced techniques. The original Self-Stabilizing Field Regulation Protocol alone won't be enough to hold the stage..." Jie Ming sighed helplessly.
Fortunately, this thing was originally an energy isolation and stabilization technology he had extracted from the Internal Circulation Method. With his current level of expertise, optimizing it further wasn't difficult—just time-consuming.
While he was immersed in organizing, the laboratory door slid open slowly, and a faint fragrance wafted in.
"I heard you received invitations to the academic exchange conference of the Void Architecture Academy and the Anti-Entropy Alliance?"
Viola leaned against the doorframe, holding a steaming drink in her hand, a familiar smile on her face.
That expression clearly said: I've picked up some interesting gossip again.
She strolled into the laboratory, her gaze sweeping over the numerous light screens.
"Tsk, judging by your setup, the rumor seems true."
Jie Ming rubbed his nose bridge helplessly. "How did you find out?"
"Both sides submitted the invitations to the Star Ring Federation's Technical Department first—it's not exactly classified information, so word naturally got out." Viola curled her lip, approached Jie Ming, glanced at the materials he was organizing, and couldn't help laughing.
"Not bad, junior. Now you've made it into the core academic circles of two major powers. From now on, people outside will know your name."
Jie Ming didn't look up, continuing to organize. "It's just an exchange conference."
"Just an exchange conference? Tsk! With that attitude, if I didn't have the Pain Anchor attached to you, I'd want to hit you."
Viola gave a soft snort, reached out, and touched the metal invitation, automatically expanding the conference invitation details.
Her gaze fell on the date. She merely glanced at it, but her eyebrows immediately rose.
"Hmm?"
She squinted and double-checked.
In the next moment, a meaningful snort escaped her nose.
"Ha! Interesting."
"What's wrong?" Jie Ming finally looked up.
Viola gently shook the cup in her hand, her tone carrying some displeasure.
"There are only three years left until the conference starts. Normally, for a cross-power academic conference of this scale, invitations are sent at least ten years in advance."
"Only then can all parties arrange experimental plans, apply for cross-border permits, and prepare exchange results."
She tapped the light screen lightly. "Notifying you now? Either they added someone at the last minute, or someone deliberately delayed the invitation until the last moment."
"Either way, the exchange conference you're attending won't be peaceful."
Jie Ming nodded with a look of anticipation. "No matter. That's enough time."
Viola was momentarily speechless, then rolled her eyes in exasperation. "The point isn't whether it's enough—it's the attitude! Attitude!" She crossed her arms and said grumpily, "Fine. You don't care about anything except experiments anyway."
Then, she suddenly showed a mischievous smile.
"But let me be clear: when you get on stage, don't embarrass Noren Workshop."
She pointed at herself with her index finger.
"Especially don't embarrass me. The whole academy knows you're my junior."
Jie Ming laughed. "Senior, I said it: this much time is enough."
"Oh?"
Hearing Jie Ming's emphasis, Viola's eyes lit up as she understood his meaning. She reached out and patted his shoulder firmly.
"Ha! I knew you wouldn't take a loss. Go for it—don't be afraid!"
As they were talking, the laboratory door opened again, and a tall, upright figure walked in slowly.
A deep blue robe fell to his ankles, without a single wrinkle, his expression still calm almost to the point of coldness.
It was none other than Instructor Clark.
His gaze swept across the laboratory, then he directly bypassed Viola as if he hadn't seen her, fixing his eyes on Jie Ming.
Viola's mouth twitched. "Old man, that's too biased!"
Only then did Clark finally look at her. "First, gather enough spiritual power. With the Blood Sacrifice Method, your spiritual power hasn't even increased a hundredfold over the years—looks like you need special training."
Viola shrank back at the mention of "special training."
Beside her, Jie Ming had already stood up.
Instructor Clark rarely came to the lab himself. Usually, he either communicated directly or had Viola relay messages. For him to make a personal trip meant the matter was worth a face-to-face reminder.
Clark got straight to the point. "You received the invitation."
"I did."
Clark nodded lightly. "On the way, be careful of Black Wizards."
Jie Ming's expression turned serious. "...Black Wizards?"
Clark continued, "In the public transit zones nearby, there are many Black Wizards who specialize in hunting wizards. They are indistinguishable from ordinary wizards in daily life and have exceptional hiding abilities. They only act when they confirm a target has enough value."
"Most Black Wizards are stuck at Level Five due to insufficient wisdom. They lack the resources to break through to Level Six and have long been under pressure from compulsory wartime conscription. To gather promotion resources quickly, they are capable of anything."
"And..." Clark paused, "to ensure a successful kill, they rarely act alone. Cooperative hunting is their specialty."
"The wizarding techniques they master are almost all targeted at individuals, with extremely high lethal efficiency."
Jie Ming listened attentively.
He had read many records about Black Wizards in the Federation databases but had never encountered them in person.
The Star Ring Federation's well-established merit system allowed any capable wizard to realize their potential and obtain sufficient resources. But in the entire Wizard Civilization, not everyone had "capability."
For someone whose resources were exhausted, who had long been unable to break through, and who might be conscripted and sent to the front lines at any time,
under desperation, taking another path was not surprising.
"In which areas do they mainly operate?" Jie Ming asked.
"Inside the Star Ring Federation, there's no need to worry—unless you go to those remote minor faction regions. The area to watch most is the public transit zone between the two major powers."
Clark had apparently investigated in advance.
"Places like that have no single power with complete jurisdiction, patrol fleet coverage is insufficient, and danger increases significantly."
"During the conference, the organizers will ensure safety. So your real danger is during the trip to and fro."
Jie Ming nodded, committing this information to memory.
Having said what needed to be said, Clark did not stay longer; he turned and left the laboratory.
Throughout the process, he didn't glance at Viola, who kept making faces at Jie Ming.
After the laboratory door closed again, Viola finally couldn't help sighing.
"I suspect the instructor is just using special training as an excuse to oppress me."
Jie Ming said solemnly, "Is there a possibility that it's because you're too lazy, senior?"
Viola was stunned, then grabbed a cushion from the table and threw it directly at Jie Ming.
The laboratory was filled with unusual laughter for a moment.
Meanwhile.
At the other end of the Endless Chaotic Void.
Void Architecture Academy, core area.
In a massive conference materials room, countless light screens hung in midair.
Dozens of wizards were quickly organizing the information of attendees.
Technical files, research directions, affiliated factions...
One dossier after another was being archived.
A female wizard scrolled through the list. Just as she was about to finish, she suddenly paused.
"Jie Ming?" She softly read the name.
As a wizard who had arranged countless exchange conferences, this name was too unfamiliar.
But a technology associated with the name seemed very familiar.
[Self-Stabilizing Field Regulation Protocol].
She frowned slightly.
"This person... is the author of that stability protocol published several thousand years ago?"
A colleague next to her leaned in to look.
"That's right, it's him."
"Back then, at Level Two, he produced such an astonishing result. He must be Level Six now."
The young female wizard became interested. "Looks like another genius, then."
The colleague shrugged.
"If he weren't a genius, they wouldn't have invited him. I heard the Nano Architecture Academy is overjoyed—they've broken through a technical bottleneck that plagued them for centuries using derivative technology from this protocol."
With that, he gave a meaningful smile.
"But... during the open discussion session, I expect many people will give him trouble. After all, this protocol has taken a lot of people's rice bowls."
At the same time.
Anti-Entropy Alliance.
Deep inside a vast database.
An intelligence officer responsible for compiling attendee backgrounds paused his work.
His gaze landed on the same name.
Jie Ming.
After searching for relevant intelligence on Jie Ming, he suddenly smiled.
"Interesting. At Level Two, he could develop such impactful technology."
"And not long ago, he came up with something as outrageous as the Blood Sacrifice Method..."
He gently closed the file, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
"I wonder what else is in that lad's head."
"Truly... Looking forward to it..."