After Jie Ming's presentation concluded, the storm stirred up in the outside world by the new achievement he had named Life Stabilization Field Technology was far fiercer than he had anticipated.
However, Jie Ming himself had instead returned to the original rhythm of the symposium.
He still shuttled between different sub-venues every day, pausing briefly in the exhibition area from time to time, or quietly discussing technical details with a few peers during tea breaks.
As if the near-boiling commotion of the past few days had never had anything to do with him.
But if one were to be honest, there were, after all, some lingering effects.
On the very day he finished his presentation, Jie Ming uploaded the technology directly to the Magic Net terminal.
Originally, due to market saturation, the growth rate of his share income from the Blood Sacrifice Method had slowed, and his accumulation of military merit had declined somewhat.
But after the presentation, Jie Ming's income suddenly skyrocketed once again.
Moreover, perhaps because this new technology had been observed by the three major powers from the very beginning, its promotion was more effective, and it also drove an increase in income from the Blood Sacrifice Method.
The string of numbers on the Magic Net terminal jumped at an absurd speed, so fast that Jie Ming could not be bothered to count it anymore.
In addition, at the banquets over the following days, people's enthusiasm toward Jie Ming had clearly risen another notch.
If before it was only those with a mind to cooperate who took the initiative to strike up conversations, now even some eighth-level wizards, when they had the chance, would raise their glasses and stroll over to exchange pleasantries with him.
Although the Academic Symposium had never been one to insist on rigid hierarchy, before this, the frequency of eighth-level wizards voluntarily approaching a sixth-level junior to chat was practically zero.
When the last banquet drew to a close, Jie Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief. He felt as though he had used up several years' worth of social quota in just the past few days.
Taking advantage of the crowd's distraction, Jie Ming quietly slipped around to a secluded corner at the side of the hall.
He casually found a single sofa hidden behind several huge ferns and plopped himself down onto it.
Staring at the cup of tea in his hand that had long gone cold, Jie Ming let out a long sigh.
"What? Are you tired?"
A familiar voice came from not far away.
Looking up, he saw Savien approaching slowly, with Basian and Morna walking side by side behind him.
Basian still held the drink that seemed as if it would never run dry, while the crystal beside Morna revolved quietly in the dim light, giving off a soft, faint glow.
"It's mainly that I hadn't expected them to be so enthusiastic." Jie Ming straightened up and nodded to the three of them, then added with a hint of self-deprecation, "To be honest, before coming to the symposium, I had already prepared myself for the possibility of someone stabbing me in the back. After all, whether it was my old technology or this new one, it was bound to tread on certain people's interests."
Savien, Basian, and Morna exchanged glances and almost simultaneously laughed.
After laughing, Savien waved a hand casually. "That thinking of yours wasn't wrong. There were indeed those who harbored such intentions, and quite a few at that."
Basian also said with a chuckle, "But... you really underestimate our standing. If we three old fogies want to protect a junior, those people would have long since tucked their claws back obediently. How would they dare to cause trouble openly at the conference?"
Hearing this, Jie Ming stood up and solemnly bowed to the three of them.
Because the facts were indeed just as they had said.
Had they not been behind him giving their support, this symposium would never have gone so smoothly.
Although they were only interested in his potential and technology, regardless, the guidance and protection these three big shots had given him were undeniably real.
Savien waved to signal that he need not stand on ceremony, and his tone was uncharacteristically mild.
"You are a rare good seedling. Young people like you should devote all your energy to learning and research, realizing your potential as much as possible, and adding more bricks to the progress of Wizard Civilization. As for all that messy stuff, naturally we old fellows will shield you from it."
"Indeed!"
After the encouragement, the three prepared to leave.
Jie Ming watched their retreating figures.
But after only a few steps, Savien suddenly fell slightly behind.
At the same time, an extremely faint wisp of mental energy silently reached out toward Jie Ming.
"A piece of news came from the public area a couple of days ago. It is said that a treasure recording the complete advancement of a ninth-level creature was snatched away by a group of Multiracial Alliance members in the Shattered Bone Corridor. A batch of nearly frantic old fellows are scouring the place."
Listening to the message conveyed through mental energy, Jie Ming's heart tightened abruptly.
Fortunately, his puppet body perfectly maintained a calm surface; even the fingertips holding the teacup didn't tremble in the slightest.
Savien, however, turned his head and smiled at him, while his mental energy continued transmitting the message.
"Don't worry. I've already arranged for people to focus on investigating that group from the Multiracial Alliance. Besides, you never went to the Shattered Bone Corridor in the first place, right? So there's no need to be concerned."
"However... things have gotten chaotic in the public area after all, and the roads aren't safe. You'd best be careful when you set out tomorrow." With that, Savien quickly caught up to Basian and Morna, and his figure soon merged into the lamplight at the end of the corridor.
Jie Ming stood in place, holding the cup of tea that had long gone cold, quietly watching the backs of the three until they disappeared.
The meaning of the message Savien had conveyed to him was actually quite simple: he had redirected the old fellows' search toward that group of Multiracial Alliance members, and at the same time helped solidify the claim that Jie Ming had "never been to the Shattered Bone Corridor."
In plain words, he was doing his best to remove Jie Ming from suspicion and clean up the aftermath for him.
Recalling Savien's meaningful smile, Jie Ming couldn't tell whether the man had confirmed that Jie Ming had been to the Shattered Bone Corridor, nor whether the reminder was merely a casual kindness or secretly contained a deeper warning.
After all, from Jie Ming's perspective, the other's final words carried an indescribable implication no matter how one looked at it.
Still, at least one thing was certain. The man bore him no ill will.
Thinking this, Jie Ming let out a slight sigh of relief.
The reason he dared to be so sure was that, given the other's position, if Savien truly intended to harm him, there would be no need to go to all this trouble.
"Thank you for the reminder. I'll be careful."
Jie Ming silently replied in his heart, feeling a bit grateful.
No matter what, Savien's goodwill was genuine.
He gently placed the cup of cold tea on the low table beside the sofa, stood up, and walked toward his own room.
He would be heading back tomorrow, so there were things he needed to prepare in advance.