"These little things are under my jurisdiction, and my projection has always been patrolling this area."
His figure floated closer to the two, and the mountain-like pressure made Reynolds visibly tense.
But Ron noticed that when Uther’s gaze fell on him, that pressure miraculously lessened.
"Ron, I was just about to find you." Uther’s voice carried a hint of delight:
"Reynolds is a good boy, but his understanding of Memory Crystals is still stuck on the surface level."
Reynolds’ face reddened slightly, not out of anger, but from a kind of embarrassment like being criticized by an elder in person.
Uther, completely ignoring his reaction, continued:
"To truly understand the mysteries of Memory Crystals, one needs the eyes and skills of a professional Historian.
From my experience, you seem to have hit a bottleneck in your study of this ancient subject recently, haven’t you?"
"Indeed, Professor."
Ron nodded slightly, feeling a bit surprised at how well Uther understood his progress:
"Recently, although I have been repeatedly practicing the basic skills of Historical Research, the mental burden during the study process has slowed my progress considerably."
"Well, that’s perfect!" Uther clapped his hands, causing a surge of Energy Fluctuation:
"Memory Crystals are precisely one of the most interesting research objects for historians."
Uther floated over to the display platform, beckoning Ron:
"Come, let me show you some of the special samples we have recently collected."
Ron followed Uther to the other side of the display platform, where several Memory Crystals, distinct from the others, were placed.
These crystals were larger in size and had a deeper color, with internal Energy Flow forming complex spiral patterns.
"These are high-tier Memory Crystals recently brought back from the 5th Floor."
Uther’s voice carried a researcher’s unique focus and passion:
"From the energy characteristics, they might contain some extremely valuable information fragments."
Ron observed these crystals carefully.
Under the vision of "Extraordinary Recognition," he could see the subtle Energy Flow patterns within the crystals.
Each pattern represented a different type of memory or experience.
"The core value of Memory Crystals," Uther continued to explain:
"is that they not only preserve explorers’ experiences but can sometimes capture the ’memories’ of the Abyss itself.
Some of the most precious Memory Crystals even contain deep secrets of the Abyss never witnessed by humans."
"But analyzing these memories inevitably carries risks," Ron pointed out.
"Indeed!" Uther nodded in approval:
"This is why we categorize Memory Crystals into two groups: analyzed and unanalyzed.
Unanalyzed Memory Crystals are like sealed boxes, with unknown contents and unknown risks.
Analyzed Memory Crystals, however, have been processed by professional historians, removing dangerous components and retaining valuable information."
He pointed to another group of crystals on the display platform:
"The green-marked ones are safe samples that have been analyzed, while the red-marked ones have been confirmed to contain high-risk Spiritual Contamination, and even experienced historians advise against touching them."
Reynolds cautiously interrupted: "Professor, you mentioned the Memory Crystal from the 7th Floor before..."
Uther’s silver projection flickered, as if smiling:
"Ah, that’s a story with some years on it. Decades ago, Cassandra, who had just completed her Great Wizard promotion from the Abyss, brought back an unusual Memory Crystal."
His voice became heavier:
"That Memory Crystal astonishingly preserved part of a Supreme Apostle’s consciousness fragments.
The analysis process was extremely dangerous, with two of the three historians involved permanently losing their sanity. Only I retained enough clarity to complete the final extraction."
"The ’Supreme Apostle’ is the Abyss’s most mysterious and powerful entity, said to be confrontable only by top-tier Great Wizards.
Extracting memories from such an entity is akin to dancing on a volcano."
"Where is that Memory Crystal now?" he couldn’t resist asking.
Uther’s projection floated to the center of the room:
"It’s securely stored in the core archive of the Court of Truth. However, the information extracted from it has become a crucial breakthrough in our understanding of the Abyss."
He turned to Ron, with deep light flickering in the eyes of his projection:
"The reason I ’happened’ to be here today is that I wanted to share good news with you:
Considering your potential in Historical Research, combined with Eve’s strong recommendation, the School Alliance has approved your participation in the introductory Memory Crystal analysis project."
"This is a rare opportunity, young man," Uther continued:
"Memory Crystal analysis will not only substantially enhance your Historical Research Skills but could also help you gain invaluable knowledge unattainable through conventional means."
Ron pondered this unexpected development.
Participating in the Memory Crystal analysis project was indeed a rare opportunity.
Not only could it enhance his skills, but it might also reveal information valuable to his own research.
However, it also meant more time investment and potential risks.
"I am very grateful for this opportunity, Professor." he responded cautiously:
"Could you specify the project’s schedule and detailed content?"
"The project involves concentrated analysis sessions every two weeks, each lasting about half a day.