Chapter 628: The Decryption Scholar’s Resources

Chapter 628 -387: The Decryption Scholar’s Resources

The crowd was in an uproar.

Lu Cang saw people holding high their Moon Phase Maps from the Harvest Moon, which corresponded perfectly with his theory.

He also saw children in a distant land, gathered around a scroll, looking up in awe.

‘This is the Moon Time Scroll I painted, the conclusion to the mystery.’

‘So, this is what it feels like.’

He could hear a myriad of clamoring voices—discussing, whispering, admiring, extrapolating…

Lu Cang could also feel the sparks of inspiration igniting within one Decipherer after another.

He felt their minds being enlightened.

He felt his name being etched into the world’s memory, his very existence now known and acknowledged by it.

‘If I hadn’t experienced this myself, I’d never have known what it felt like.’

‘To advance the world’s pursuit of the source… and all in my own way.’

There was one less mystery in the world.

He was one step closer to deciphering all the world’s Unsolved Mysteries.

This was the grand path of a Decryption Scholar: to unravel all the world’s unknowns.

‘I understand now…’

One step took Lu Cang out the door.

The next brought him to the Decryption Enthusiasts Association.

There, he saw Yuing Li again.

Seeing Lu Cang arrive, Yuing Li greeted him with a wide smile. “Yo! Kid!”

“I’ve already handled that matter for you. By now, the Decryption Scholar Association across the entire Moon Sea should know your solution.”

Lu Cang chuckled and nodded. “Yes, I’ve felt it.”

‘Ascending as a Decryption Scholar is surprisingly fast.’

‘On the other hand, leveling up as a Mage or Warrior is a bit slow.’

‘Perhaps it’s because I only submitted my Magic and Combat Skills to the Mage Association and the Battle Academy. Even after they’re submitted, it takes time for people to discover the new Magic Books.’

‘Some Magic Books also require a certain number of Contribution Points to be exchanged.’

‘It’s been less than a month since I reached Level 5, so it’s unlikely many Mages have learned my Magic yet, let alone developed their own unique understanding and recognition of it.’

‘Generally speaking…’

‘Mages at the Level 5 stage often take teaching positions, allowing them to research while they instruct.’

‘This is also a way to disseminate their knowledge more quickly.’

‘However, for most Mages, gaining that recognition usually happens before they even meet the requirements for ascension.’

‘A Level 5 Mage has to learn at least three Fusion Magics.’

‘They must also raise one Tier Five Magic to the No Chanting Skill Level.’

‘And create at least five different Self-created Magics.’

‘And create one Fusion Magic of their own.’

‘These are the bare minimum requirements for ascension. If you only meet the minimum, you have no hope of ever becoming a Level 7 Mage.’

‘The Root Source wouldn’t acknowledge it.’

‘For a perfect ascension, you have to comprehend a Tier Five Root Magic.’

‘Normally, the Tier Five Root Magic you comprehend has to be your own. But for someone like me, who can learn the Root Magic of others, the definition of ascension becomes blurry.’

‘I don’t know if someone else’s Root Magic would satisfy the condition.’

‘Besides, I already have my own Tier Five Root Magic; it was just ascended from Tier Four.’

“Planning to ascend to Level 6 Decryption Scholar right away?”

“If you are, we can hold the Ritual right here,” Yuing Li offered enthusiastically.

Lu Cang replied, “Yes.”

“Let’s do it now, then.”

Yuing Li came out from behind the front desk.

The Decryption Enthusiasts Association was quiet and empty. At least, he was the only one here.

After all, most people didn’t spend all day at their Profession’s association, and the Mage Association was no exception.

Most Mages were either at an academy or in an Adventurer’s Guild.

Yuing Li spoke, his tone casual. “You know, helping you with this… it actually cost a fair bit of money to sort out.”

“Do you have any idea how much work it is to spread news across the entire Moon Sea?”

Lu Cang asked, “You have a way to spread news across the entire Moon Sea?”

Since the other man had raised the topic, Lu Cang followed his lead.

“If it’s just transmitting a message, a Communication Ritual will do the trick.”

“Heh heh. The Decryption Enthusiasts Association might look small—and it is—but our association’s capabilities aren’t necessarily weaker than the other, larger associations.”

“Across the entire world, I don’t know, millions of Mages submit their new Magic to their association every day.”

“How could the Mage Association possibly transmit that much Magic throughout the entire Moon Sea?”

“The resources required would be staggering. And even if they were transmitted, there wouldn’t be enough space to house that many Magic Books.”

“So even if you submit a new Magic, it only gets circulated among a few neighboring islands. And it just becomes one more inconspicuous Magic Book in a library as vast as the boundless sea.”

“A small association like ours, on the other hand… I estimate there are only about a hundred thousand-some Decryption Scholars in the entire Moon Sea.”

“Compared to a continent that might have hundreds of millions, or even billions of Mages… the difference is just too vast.”

What he said was true.

‘Anyone can switch their Profession to the Mage Class, but many people also gravitate toward Battle Professions.’

‘Even when you include the non-combat professions, the chance of someone becoming a Mage is probably about one in twenty.’

‘Some of the continents here are several times larger than Earth.’

‘Tens of billions of people isn’t a small number at all. By that math, there really could be over a billion Mages.’

“Decryption Scholars… are there really that few?” Lu Cang couldn’t help but ask.

“At least, that’s what our association’s last count showed. We did a census two years ago, and the number of Decryption Scholars in the entire Moon Sea was only about one hundred and twenty thousand.”

“As for Level 5 Decryption Scholars like you, there are only about a hundred or so.”

“That’s why all the association’s resources are poured into us. In fact, because Decryption Scholars cooperate with the White Tower, we don’t lack for resources at all. We can even get more resources than the White Tower’s own scholars.”

“They can only rely on us to solve the Unsolved Mysteries within the association.”

“Oh, and by the way, I happen to be a Level 6 Decryption Scholar. There are only six of us in the entire association.”

“Of course, that doesn’t count any Decryption Scholars who might not have registered with the association.”

“Once you become a Level 6 Decryption Scholar, you’ll be the seventh.”

‘No wonder Yuing Li was so enthusiastic.’

‘It’s because I’m about to become a Level 6 Decryption Scholar.’

‘I’ve certainly seen my fair share of Level 6 Mages… After all, with hundreds of millions, even billions, of Mages on each continent, a few geniuses are bound to emerge from sheer numbers alone.’

‘But this is the first time I’ve ever met a Level 6 Decryption Scholar.’

As they spoke, the two of them arrived at the ritual hall for ascensions.

‘The ascension hall… It really has been a while since I was last here.’

‘If I’m going to ascend to a Level 6 Decryption Scholar, the Talent I want most is one that will let me unravel the mystery of the Original Forbidden Magic.’

‘That ruin probably isn’t a place that can be cleared with sheer combat power alone.’

“Come, my friend.”

“Since you were able to reach Level 5, you must have a way to resist the corruption, right?”