Chapter 67: Equivalent Exchange

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Equivalent Exchange

Chen Shang stopped in his tracks. "Elemental Multiplication Witchcraft?"

Leia leaned back in her chair and tapped the armrest. "Ancient Wizards believed that Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind are the four Basic Elements of the Star Sea. They are also the four elemental symbols. Earth represents stability, Water represents fluidity, Fire represents Transformation, and Wind represents diffusion."

As she spoke, four clusters of gas—yellow, Blue, red, and cyan—appeared in the air.

"Then, these four Basic Elements derive and combine into countless Composite Elements."

The four gas clusters began to blend and entangle with each other. In just a short moment, over a dozen new, distinct clusters were born.

Leia then asked, "But do you know why Composite Elements aren’t just a simple case of one plus one equaling two?"

This was part of the First Level Apprentice curriculum, so Chen Shang answered without hesitation. "Because Elements influence each other. Take Water and Fire, for example. If the ratio is wrong, they will cancel each other out. But with the right ratio, they can release Energy instantaneously."

"Exactly." Leia waved her hand gently. The red and Blue gas clusters touched, rapidly consuming each other.

This was the natural, unhindered state—Water and Fire opposing each other.

"If you use a specific Witchcraft model to mobilize them, the situation becomes entirely different." Leia paused before adding, "You are quite smart. You found some suitable nodes in the Energy Ball, but your execution was too rough."

Chen Shang didn’t refute her. He had merely used the exhaustive method to figure out the trick behind it without delving into deeper research.

Leia dispersed all the gas clusters, leaving only the red and Blue ones. "Elemental Multiplication is a Witchcraft model I researched. It consists of three key elements.

"Step one: Mobilize the elemental input.

"Step two: Find the appropriate Phase Angle and calculation formula.

"Step three: Complete a suitable multiplication model."

Chen Shang listened quietly.

"You can’t just mix two Elements together and call it multiplication. It’s a lever model where they pry against each other," Leia explained.

"Step one is mobilizing the elemental input. You must ensure the input Elements are in a state where they can be pried. That means not giving them a release direction, while also ensuring they act like an unpressed lever, allowing you to choose which direction to pry them from."

Chen Shang nodded thoughtfully.

"Step two: Find the appropriate Phase Angle and calculation formula." Leia condensed two formulas in the air and explained.

"For an Ordinary Elements combination, the power output equals the input amount of the two Elements minus the depletion.

"However, the output of Elemental Multiplication equals the input amount of the two Elements multiplied by each other, then multiplied by the leverage coefficient."

Leia finally arrived at the main point. "The Phase Angle is crucial. It represents the angle at which the state of your input Element deviates from its inherent characteristics.

"For example, the functional direction of Water is to ’absorb heat,’ while Fire’s is to ’release heat.’ In their natural state, these two directions are exact opposites, so they cancel each other out.

"But by using this Rune model, I rotated the functional direction of Water by ninety degrees, changing it from ’absorb’ to ’excite.’ Therefore, the Energy will erupt instantly."

"Step three: Complete the multiplication model. This is simply solidifying the results of the first two steps. You use a Rune Array to lock the Phase Angle, establish the leverage relationship between the Elements, and then activate it."

Seeing Chen Shang lost in silent thought, Leia lightly flicked her finger. "Watch closely."

The two gas clusters in the air began to blend, spinning rapidly. With every revolution, their volume shrank slightly, and their color shifted from orange-red toward Blue-white.

"The two Elements are no longer enemies. They have become each other’s Pivot Point."

Chen Shang stared at the spinning Water-Fire structure, marveling inwardly.

The next moment, Leia threw this gas cluster at the target. Following a sharp explosion, the numerical display read fifty degrees.

"I only inputted ten degrees of Elemental Energy, but it erupted with a fifty-degree attack. This is Elemental Multiplication," Leia said.

"And this is just the most basic pairing in dual Elemental Multiplication—a steam explosion model formed by Water and Fire."

Chen Shang asked eagerly, "Then what if one fully masters all four Basic Elements?"

Leia replied, "Between the four Basic Elements, multiplying them in pairs gives a total of six pairings.

"In addition, you can do chain multiplication. For example, you can first combine Fire and Water to produce steam, then combine steam and Wind to produce a high-pressure impact. Every layer is a lever, stacking on top of each other.

"However, the higher you go, the harder it gets. I have currently only achieved a total leverage ratio of twenty-seven times."

"Leia, I want to learn this!" Chen Shang’s eyes lit up. This was practically tailor-made for him, as he possessed full-spectrum Elemental Affinity.

Because he constantly absorbed the traits of others, his innate talent was extremely comprehensive. All that remained was figuring out how to develop it.

Leia looked at him and finally laughed. "Chen Shang, guiding you to become a First Level Apprentice is my assigned task, and the laboratory compensates me for it.

"The Repulsive and Attractive Dual Force is a laboratory inheritance. As long as you meet the requirements, you can practice its Cultivation.

"But the Elemental Multiplication Technique is something I researched on my own. It’s not public knowledge belonging to the laboratory, so I can’t just give it to you for free. You have to trade something for it."

Chen Shang froze for a moment. Trade something? He began to ponder what he possessed.

Wizard Coins? He had less than twenty thousand in his account, and he still needed to buy Materials. The automatic-growth Mechanical Armor device? That was an unfinished product, too embarrassing to present.

He thought about the inventory inside his Space Book. The only items qualified for an exchange were Marcus’s body, the Staff of Natural Fury, that Exotic Bead... and the Throne Fragment.

But these were either experimental materials or things he hadn’t fully researched yet.

Seeing his hesitation, Leia seemed to know what he was thinking and spoke up again. "I should remind you, if you want to trade treasures for knowledge, the value will be heavily discounted. That’s because, in the Wizard evaluation system, knowledge holds a much higher priority. Trading treasures for knowledge... you’ll be getting the short end of the stick."

Chen Shang stayed silent for a moment before gritting his teeth. "Leia, in that case, I also have a Secret Technique I can use for the exchange."

Leia raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of Secret Technique?"

"The Secret Eye!"

Chen Shang briefly introduced its effects. "It allows you to see the flow direction, density distribution, and intersection points of Elemental Energy.

"It increases the analysis speed for elemental magic and enhances the ability to predict an Elemental Attack.

"Not only does it aid in spellcasting, but it also provides excellent support in research!"

Leia finally looked satisfied. "Good. I want that."

She stood up and walked over to him. "You just said you can see the flow direction of Elemental Energy? Activate it and let me see."

Thus, Chen Shang activated the Secret Eye.

Leia’s laboratory transformed before his eyes. The Rune Circuits on the walls became clearly visible, with pale Blue Energy flowing through the lines like blood.

Around the instrument in the corner, the Fire Element and Thunder Element intertwined, resembling a slowly rotating Nebula.