Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2545: Chapter 2540: Academic Integrity

Sure, it’s untouchable, isn’t it?

This result wasn’t overly surprising. At that moment, Fu Qian was once again pleased with his earlier decision.

Instead of checking the calculation results first, he focused on the calculation process.

If it were the other way around, the greatest discovery of this trip might have been missed.

This is the victory of academic spirit.

As for why there’s nothing at the fall point?

It’s indeed strange, but not entirely incomprehensible.

For instance, this is also an expression of the unknowable—even if you’ve calculated the answer, you’ll never be able to verify if it’s correct.

So why did the first place I entered have an effect of decreasing SAN Points?

Simply because, in that historical mistake, the answer was no longer unknowable.

There are more than one phenomenon to support this, such as a pile of bizarre objects directly marking the fall point in that pile of ruins, which is completely different in search difficulty here.

Also, for the researchers in there, it’s almost acknowledged that they’ve found the answer, and the one who initially commissioned me to find the notes was actually the exception.

You could say it’s no wonder it’s called a Mistaken Space-Time, with all sorts of incredible things happening, and incompatible opposites can also appear.

Speaking of this, so far, regarding this place, I have already experienced three different versions of Engraving Wisdom.

The connections between them seem to be becoming clearer.

The earliest one was where the researchers found the answer but also met their destruction, as all survivors were transformed into Brain Jellyfish.

The second one encountered was in the most normal operational state of this place, where I played the role of a shadow Scavenger.

And the current one, seemingly everything is normal, but extraordinary things have long been happening.

On one hand, someone found the answer.

On the other hand, the person who found the answer was actually locked away.

The survivors, such as the Doorkeeper who commissioned me to find the notes, their mindset and even their state, must be said to be very intriguing.

...

When Fu Qian returned to the top of the lecture hall, the jellyfish had just finished their last flickering.

This eerie yet sublime place then sank into a lake-like darkness.

Of course, for Fu Qian, it was still clear to see. The jellyfish not only let their brilliance vanish but even disappeared themselves.

The intersecting patterns and reflected knowledge all returned to their original states, leaving no trace at all.

Including Thinker.

At a glance, he also seemed to follow in his predecessors’ footsteps, as the part that belonged to the jellyfish left no traces.

So, the price of forcibly approaching the answer is to disappear from this world?

If this is merely a meaningless rule concluded in Mistaken Space-Time, then what does the fall point really mean in the real Bookstore World?

It can only be said that it makes one even more curious.

Moreover, so far, there seems to be no trace of the Judgment Chief discovered. What exactly is the relationship between this place and the Judgment Chief?

Click!

Fu Qian turned around and closed the door, retracing his steps along the way he came.

This trip had already been quite fruitful, and it was time to go back and demand payment for the notes.

What? The notes haven’t been found?

If you’re worried about that, it shows you’re still too young in your understanding of work.

Firstly, I didn’t not find it; I simply didn’t look for it.

Secondly, who said you can’t collect a reward if the work isn’t completed?

Knock, knock, knock!

The path to demanding payment is never too long. In a blink of an eye, Fu Qian was back in front of the familiar door, raising his hand and knocking unceremoniously.

...

"Did you find the notes?"

There was a period of silence inside, but ultimately, Fu Qian was more patient and successfully awaited a response.

"No."

Fu Qian replied with full confidence.

"... Did you really go in?"

As expected, the other party also doubted the work attitude.

"Didn’t you know whether I went in or not?"

The entrusted person’s attitude was arrogant.

Joking, you could almost instantly spot me when I came in, but can’t track my entire journey?

"I know you went in, but what you did inside is unclear..."

Sure enough, soon there was a response from inside, admitting that indeed there was a camera monitoring the workstation.

"There’s a special prohibition in that place, which cannot be observed from the outside."

It also emphasized the objective limitations.

So is the lecture hall positioned as a restroom? You can monitor who goes in and out, but it’s impolite to install cameras inside?

Fu Qian didn’t question it immediately, instead nodded slightly, making an analogy based on his own understanding.

Of course, rhetorical devices are one thing; it actually isn’t surprising for that place to have such a privilege.

On one hand, it’s a confidential place to prevent academic plagiarism.

On the other hand, in case of any accident, it can also reduce the risk of external contamination leakage.

"Actually, there’s nothing special. I wandered around inside, even specifically asked people about it, but unfortunately, it seemed no one knew where your notes were—did you really write them?"

While understanding, Fu Qian even reversed the situation, directly questioning whether what the other party said was true.

"Could it be that you really couldn’t figure anything out and falsely claimed the notes were lost?"

...

Indeed, no matter where, academic integrity is a big issue.

"Did you really talk to people inside? How did they look?"

Faced with Fu Qian’s reasonable accusation, the Doorkeeper was silent for even longer this time, taking quite an effort to squeeze out a sentence again, seemingly not quite believing what he said.

"Not bad, looking more likely to have found an answer than you."

Fu Qian honestly replied, with a brutally sharp comment.

"You’re talking nonsense! He wouldn’t bother with you about such issues."

And it did seem unbearable to be compared down, causing the Doorkeeper’s tone to be sharper that moment, directly concluding that Fu Qian was lying.

I have to say, the reasoning was logical, and additionally, it was apparent that he was very familiar with what was locked behind the door and even its current state.

From this point, the motivation for sending me there becomes even more sinister upon deeper consideration.

"Isn’t it simple? We primarily discussed academic calculations, that was just incidental—could it be that you refuse to open the door because you want to avoid my payment?"

Fu Qian smiled coldly, indicating the other party’s thoughts were too narrow.

"... Are you sure you want to come in?"

Seeing that he couldn’t withstand the conversation, the Doorkeeper’s tone changed, no longer evading the topic and instead sounding somewhat meaningful.

"That’s needless to say."

Such a natural thing, Fu Qian’s determination was unshakeable.

"Heh... heh heh..."

And this time, laughter began emanating from behind the door, growing louder, as if he couldn’t hold back his amusement.

"Did you hear that? He wants the door opened."

The following words were clearly not directed at Fu Qian, but rather sounded like casual chatter with others.

"Heh..."

"Haha..."

Then there really was a response, followed by more laughter emerging, one after another.