Although the cowhide paper looks crumpled, it’s actually due to the nature of the cowhide paper itself. The edges are not frayed, and they are delicately sewn with gold thread, indicating Kaier’s usual care in preserving it.
But can cowhide paper truly be a treasure?
Angel glanced over.
If the cowhide paper contained an emotionally rich letter, it would be understandable, but there were hardly any words on the paper.
The paper only recorded a theorem formula.
Just one look and Angel knew this formula should be a variation of a fundamental spatial formula, a type of variant stemming from basic formulas that is quite common in the Wizards’ Realm, sometimes even leading to the creation of an entire "new world." At this point, such variants are no longer called variants but become a new theorem.
This is essentially the concept of the knowledge tree.
Many new ideas, new domains, even new "structures," "dimensions," and "factions," all sprout from the initial seed of knowledge and gradually grow and branch out.
Correspondingly, researching from a basic formula and continuously branching out, ultimately transforming into a new formula, is the so-called branching effect.
"Is this the variant you researched?" Angel pondered for a moment: "The Bazel biphasic formula?"
Kaier was somewhat despondent, clutching the crumpled paper, eyes downcast, lost in thought. Until he heard Angel’s voice, he looked up.
Kaier forced a smile: "As expected of you, sir, recognizing at a glance that this is... a variant of the Bazel biphasic formula."
After speaking, Kaier felt a warm breeze behind him. He turned around doubtfully, only to see Vay’s face just before him, nearly colliding.
"Why are you here?" Kaier instinctively stepped back two steps, clutching the slightly crumpled paper tightly.
Vay also stopped, awkwardly scratching his head: "Did I scare you? Sorry. I’m just curious, is this piece of paper your treasure?"
Kaier did not answer but instead asked, "Where is your crystal ball?"
Vay pointed to the distant Cicia’s Box: "I tossed the crystal ball into the box, then a female voice inside said my crystal ball counts as a treasure and gave me this."
Vay opened his palm, revealing a symbol surrounded by red light, slowly rising from his palm.
"Is this a ticket?" Kaier wondered.
Vay: "It should be... I think. I’m not too sure, but they gave me this, and when I sensed it with my spiritual power, it seemed like some kind of energy structure without physical form."
After explaining, Vay looked again at the paper in Kaier’s hand: "What were you discussing with Chaowei, sir? Is this paper your treasure?"
Kaier: "Nothing much, sir just pointed out the original formula for my variant."
After Kaier spoke, he was silent for a while before continuing: "Yes, this paper counts as my treasure, but whether it can be acknowledged, I don’t know either."
Vay curiously observed the line of the variant formula on the paper: "Ordinary cowhide paper, ordinary ink, and a string of... um, formulas I can’t understand. Is this formula very valuable?"
Kaier shook his head: "... Not valuable."
"If it’s not valuable, why do you call it a treasure?" Vay questioned.
Kaier opened his mouth but was silent for a long time.
At this moment, Angel spoke up in support: "I mentioned before, Cicia’s definition of treasure is not solely based on value. More importantly, it’s about the significance to the person trading it. Just like your crystal ball, isn’t it the same?"
Vay thought for a moment: "That’s true, I was presumptuous."
Kaier quickly waved his hand: "It’s not that, my piece of paper is really very ordinary, not comparable to your crystal ball."
Kaier: "This piece of paper is actually..."
Kaier’s words were interrupted by a lazy voice from not far away: "Isn’t this the paper you often hang on your so-called ’research wall’? I used to think it was some incredible research, but it’s just a useless formula."
There is no doubt that the voice came from Dox. Only Dox, who frequents Kaier’s lab and is so familiar with Kaier, would say such words.
Hearing Dox’s words, Vay frowned: "You still speak as venomously as before."
Kaier: "Vay, you’ve misunderstood Lord Red Sword, the ’useless formula’ phrase is actually what I told him."
Vay: "Huh?"
Kaier lowered his head, slightly blushing and somewhat despondent, telling the story about this piece of paper.
To put it simply, it’s the tale of a foolish youth’s rise to fortune.
When Kaier was still a mortal, he loved exploring history and visited many places rumored to have relics. Kaier was quite lucky, finding a true relic among many false ones, and this relic happened to belong to a Transcendent.
Generally speaking, relics of Transcendents are fraught with danger. But Kaier was truly the epitome of a "foolish youth blessed by heaven."
This Transcendent relic once belonged to a quiet room where a White Wizard secluded himself for contemplation.
Kaier not only avoided major dangers but also acquired some wizard remnants, and fortunate enough, without a Guide, he became a Talented One.
Later, on his journey to pursue the path of the Transcendent, Kaier met his current mentor, Esos, formally embarking on the path of the wizard.
And the paper in Kaier’s hand was discovered in the quiet room of the White Wizard.
Esos looked it over and told Kaier it was a variant of the Bazel biphasic formula. Then, Esos explained what a variant means and the possibility of a variant expanding into a "new world."
Esos’s words ignited Kaier’s passion.
He was convinced the variant on this paper could continue to be deduced and ultimately become a new formula!
A new formula named after Kaier!
Esos didn’t know where Kaier got his confidence, believing it could certainly form a "new world." Perhaps it was due to the glorified filter from obtaining it through his first fortuitous encounter?
Even though Esos felt Kaier would likely not research anything groundbreaking, he did not stop him, but instead offered considerable help.