The Demonic World I designed
Chapter 297 - 297 290 So

297: Chapter 290: So…

Is this what it means?

297: Chapter 290: So…

Is this what it means?

“How is it?”

Many dynastic families began studying the so-called basic Array knowledge distributed by Shen Yuan overnight, and the seasoned Array Masters were utterly engrossed.

“The Array theories from Jiangnan Academy are truly heretical!” some of the more radical old-timers bluntly commented.

“However, many things inside…

are indeed very interesting.” some of the family elders adept at research added, “The perspectives inside are quite novel, especially the use of complex calculations to interlink multiple Arrays.

At first glance, it seems outrageous, but upon closer examination, it appears feasible, and the more you look, the more profound it becomes.”

“Yes, that’s right, and there’s that so-called element table which discusses how the elements of the world convert and form.

It sounds unbelievable, but when you think about it carefully, many of the principles make sense, and if applied to Arrays…” the old Magician mused, “I suddenly understand why such a young Magician can draw Arrays in the void; perhaps we were wrong from the start.

Drawing Arrays in the void is not a difficult thing, we relied on complex materials to stabilize Art Energy because we did not understand elemental transformation.”

“Does that mean what Shen Yuan gave us isn’t just something superficial?” a few Family Heads asked, frowning.

“It can’t be superficial.” the old Magicians shook their heads, “Even if it’s fake, it’s something that took a lot of effort to create.

If it’s real, then it’s even more proof of the other party’s sincerity!”

“This…”

The group of Family Heads looked at each other and eventually decided to gather their descendants to try it out upon returning.

If this opportunity was real, it was naturally not to be missed.

But by the third day, after all the descendants had reviewed the teaching materials, to everyone’s surprise, most of the highly talented descendants complained bitterly, showing strong resistance, damning it as crooked practice upon encountering difficulties.

On the other hand…

those with lesser talents in normal days could calm their minds, grasping some methods just within one short day, which truly stunned the elders!

This scene was also unfolding within the Shen Family.

“Father, I think Shen Yuan is deliberately trying to trick and frustrate us!!”

But in just three days, Shen Yu, fuming, took a bunch of copied teaching materials and stormed into Shen Yan’s study, dumping all the materials onto the desk.

Shen Yan frowned deeply, carefully put away his own original copy, and looked sternly at the other person: “You’re becoming more and more unruly.

Is this how you barge into a study?”

“I’m just indignant!” Shen Yu exclaimed angrily, “That villain Shen Yuan, he resorted to tricks, deliberately distorting the intentions from Jiangnan and using this crooked doctrine to limit us!”

“Why do you say that?” Shen Yan was astonished as he looked at him.

He had also been intently reviewing these materials for the past few days and, frankly, many of the perspectives inside indeed broke convention, but upon a closer look, they seemed infinitely profound.

If it weren’t for his significant responsibility as Jingzhao Governor, he might have become obsessed with them himself.

How could this young man have such strong objections?

“What nonsense Array principles are these?

Requiring complex Arithmetic and elemental conversion; it’s utter rubbish, it would drive anyone mad not making any sense at all.”

Shen Yan glanced at him and suddenly understood…

This young man…

couldn’t understand it!!

How could this be?

Shen Yan initially felt astonished and curiously said, “I just passed by the courtyard of your Fourth Aunt, and Shen Xue seems to be learning quite well…”

Hearing this, Shen Yu grew even more irritated: “Father, can’t you see?

Aren’t these materials precisely the kind of thing that some miscellaneous family descendants excel at?”

“That Shen Xue, with modest talent, failed the Yin Yang Academy exam four times and could only help with Array maintenance in the family.

Typically, she’s also in charge of miscellaneous affairs, understands accounting, and can compute, so naturally, she would have some skill with these crooked doctrines.

Isn’t that what Shen Yuan initially did?

Now he’s purposely using these things to torment us upright descendants, he’s nothing but a thorough villain!!”

Shen Yan froze after hearing the complaints.

Almost instantly, he understood the root cause…

He could understand these materials…

because he had learned these miscellaneous pieces of knowledge since childhood.

His mother had watched him closely, so to hide, he had to adopt an appearance of focusing on miscellaneous knowledge.

Although he later followed the conventional path, because of his role as Academic Commissioner and his travels around the country, he often had to assist with repairing military Arrays and maintaining various artifacts, and the miscellaneous knowledge he once learned became the most useful.

On the contrary, individuals like Shen Yu hadn’t experienced harsh treatment since childhood and had always followed the conventional path of inheriting Techniques.

The exams at Yin Yang Academy focused on that, evaluating meditative efficiency, Technique application, and innate talent for inheriting various Techniques.

Inheriting Techniques was the most important lesson for top talents and was the standard for measuring a Magician’s aptitude.

After all, the most significant use of a Magician was combat capability.

Only those with a talent for inheriting complex Techniques could possess stronger combative powers and uphold the family’s reputation.

On the other hand, those with less conspicuous inheritance talent were relegated to backstage work, like…

studying Technique principles to devise the most suitable inheritance schemes for the family’s combative Techniques, researching Arrays, spending vast amounts of time figuring out how to arrange Arrays and the needed materials, or maintaining the family’s Spirit Fields using Art Calculation and various cultivation operations to minimize the family’s budget while ensuring provision for the family Magicians, and so on…

As the Family Head who rose from the bottom, he knew a little of everything, having a solid foundation in Magician principles, Art Calculation, and Arrays.

As a result, he found the materials enjoyable, but for people like Shen Yu, it was the opposite.

They…

were pure combat Magicians, solely focused on application.

Since only this was assessed by Yin Yang Academy, to enter the Academy more quickly, these talented sprouts like Shen Yu spent most of their time on application…

Realizing this, Shen Yan suddenly felt his scalp tingle!

“Father?” Shen Yu frowned.

He was speaking about serious matters, why was his father spacing out?

“Ah…

um…” Shen Yan stood up and said, “I remember when I was a child, the family used to assess things like Art Calculation, the principle of things, and the principles of magical arts, didn’t they?”

“Those things?” Shen Yu’s frown deepened: “They’re not important.

Disciples with good aptitude like us just handed our assignments over to those with mediocre talents to do.

We barely have enough time to practice inheriting techniques, how could we have time to study those?”

“So…

your entire life, those basic exercises, you had others do them for you?” Shen Yan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Why does Father care so much about this?” Shen Yu said impatiently, “Isn’t it the same with everyone?

Which of the scions of major families does their own assignments?

Who needs to bother with such things when they have talent?”

Shen Yan: “…..”

No wonder…

Shen Yuan would say such things.

He recalled that three days prior, when Shen Yuan left Jiangnan with his mother, the old Family Head had tried to keep him back.

“Old man, I’m not trying to stop you from returning to Jiangnan, but could you possibly stay a little longer?

After all, you have more experience, and you could guide your cousins on some of the difficult points in their texts,” the old Family Head had said.

“There’s no need for the old gentleman to worry too much; the material in the texts is only difficult to accept initially, but with sufficient talent, one will learn it quickly,” Shen Yuan had replied with no consideration for face: “Of course, if the talent is not sufficient, no amount of teaching will be useful.”

Then he suddenly turned his gaze to Shen Yan, who hadn’t been much involved in the conversation: “Father seems to still be placing hope in Shen Yu, right?”

On hearing this, Shen Yan frowned: “You know the natural talent of your brother.

Even though his character has some shortcomings, we must admit that if he went to Jiangnan, he’d be the seed most likely to bring advantages to the Shen Family.”

“Is that so?” Shen Yuan had responded with a half-smile: “Our academy’s understanding of talent might be different from that of traditional technique houses.

It would be better for Father to observe carefully, lest you compromise the Shen Family’s future!”

———————-

Coming back to his senses, Shen Yan looked at Shen Yu again, a hint of unease rising in his heart: “You…

don’t understand any of it?”

“What use do I have for these crooked and deviant ways?” Shen Yu grew increasingly angry!

“How much of the Jiugong Arithmetic from the family’s foundational technique class have you learned?”

“Such a waste of time and brainpower that was, even the teacher discouraged me from learning it at that time…” Shen Yu grew more irritated.

Has Father lost his mind?

Why does he keep asking me about this?

“Brainpower?” Shen Yan suppressed the unease in his heart: “Did you find it that way at the time?”

“Is there a problem?” Shen Yu replied impatiently: “That Art Calculation, it’s all heresy.

Some members of the family, lacking in proper talent, just show off their skills in these heretical practices.

Like the eldest brother, who didn’t inherit any talent, always focused on these practices, thinking he could be proud just by getting a single compliment from the Art Calculation master.

Father, don’t worry about this issue.

The pressing matter now is to figure out what’s really going on with the examination at Jiangnan Academy.

That Shen Yuan must be deceiving everyone; the audacity of that boy!!”

Shen Yan was taken aback and looked at his son strangely: “Shen Yuan is representing Jiangnan on such an important mission, would he dare to deceive his elders and betters?”

“Father, some people are beyond reason!”

Shen Yan: “….”

Without another word, Shen Yan left the study directly, followed by a stunned Shen Yu: “Father, where are you going?”

“Just wait here for your father to return.”

Shen Yu’s steps faltered as he started to follow, but after hesitating, he obediently went back to the study.

————————-

Shen Yan walked briskly to the courtyard of one of the concubines and saw a girl just over twelve years old studying her copied texts intently.

The girl was engrossed in her reading, completely oblivious to Shen Yan’s arrival.

As Shen Yan stepped closer, he immediately noticed countless sheets of paper on the floor, filled with various array diagrams and arithmetic formulas.

At a glance, he saw that the little one’s progress had already surpassed his own.

Moreover, the Art Calculation formulas on the drawing paper were precise.

Although he hadn’t dealt with Art Calculation in many years, he could understand that these calculations, combined with the principles of the arrays, made perfect sense—especially the Jiugong Arithmetic structure related to the San Yuan Formation he had just been worrying about in the study.

On closer examination, the issue that troubled him…

had already been solved by the younger generation!

“Father…”

Shen Yuan’s words echoed again in Shen Yan’s mind: “Our academy’s understanding of talent might be different from that of traditional technique houses.

It would be better for Father to observe carefully, lest you compromise the Shen Family’s future!”

So…

was this what he meant?