Chapter 311: Academic Feast
The smoothness of the first step greatly encouraged the participating Federation scholars.
They realized that what this otherworldly Magos before them brought was not just some bizarre mathematical symbols, but a complete and powerful knowledge system built upon a different understanding of the universe and practical verification.
Its value was immeasurable!
Thus, these initially selected scholars began to utilize their academic networks, excitedly issuing summons to more of their top-tier colleagues.
Soon, authoritative experts in fields such as theoretical physics, quantum field theory, multi-dimensional geometry, and topology were "roped in." Even some old-school scholars who originally held reservations about "alien contact" couldn't contain their curiosity after hearing about the subversive mathematical concepts involved in the exchange, and joined in one after another.
The temporary exchange venue had to be changed to a larger lecture hall, and later, even the number of scholars joining online reached an astonishing scale.
A technical probing originally planned for a small scope unexpectedly evolved into an unprecedented, cross-dimensional top-tier academic exchange gala.
Inside the lecture hall, the holographic projection alternately displayed the Federation's elegant and rigorous formulas and the exotic yet logically self-consistent mathematical models brought by Ryo. Fierce questioning, in-depth discussions, and bursts of inspiration were taking place almost every moment.
Facing such a grand occasion, Ryo naturally accepted it gladly. A result of an efficiency assessment bordering on "pleasure" even rippled within his logic core.
So many top minds gathered here, selflessly sharing, debating, and verifying—this was an unimaginable scene within the Adeptus Mechanicus of the Warhammer universe he was familiar with.
"On Mars, or any Forge World," Ryo's internal thoughts flowed with a trace of icy comparison, "so-called 'academic exchanges' are often accompanied by factional infighting, knowledge blockades, and even physical 'persuasion.'
"A theoretical dispute ending in a torrential bombardment of steel from Automata Maniples, or even mobilizing Titan Legions for 'practical verification,' is not unheard of.
"If the dispute involves certain ancient relics or forbidden knowledge, using cyclonic torpedoes or even Exterminatus-level methods to ensure the uniqueness of 'truth' is also the norm.
"When has there ever been such... a grand occasion of freely contending in a peaceful environment, relying purely on logic and evidence?"
This pure feast of knowledge made him feel a long-lost "tranquility" that belonged to the original intention of a scholar.
Of course, this did not mean he had let down his guard and calculations.
He was equally utilizing this opportunity efficiently. Like the most precise harvester, he recorded all the fragmented knowledge regarding physics, engineering, materials, and other fields inadvertently revealed by the Federation scholars during discussions, as well as the associations his mathematical tools might trigger, converging them all into his massive database.
These would all become precious bargaining chips for him to negotiate and exchange for more specific technologies later.
This unexpected academic storm was quietly taking shape on Earth, and at the center of the storm—that dark red Mechanical Magos—was calmly observing, absorbing, calculating, and enjoying this rare sweet rain of knowledge without gunpowder smoke and Exterminatus orders.
With the success and enthusiasm of the exchange in the mathematical field, this cross-dimensional academic feast was like a stone thrown into a still lake, the ripples it stirred rapidly spreading to a vaster ocean of knowledge.
Top scholars from numerous applied disciplines—physics, chemistry, materials science, bio-genetic engineering, medicine, information science... acted upon hearing the news. Whether summoned enthusiastically by colleagues or unable to resist this unprecedented opportunity for exchange, they joined this gala one after another.
Inside the lecture hall, the shifting of topics became frequent and natural.
One moment they were discussing the subtle differences between warp theory and general relativity at extremely high energy scales, and the next moment they might switch to the molecular self-assembly principles of new polymers.
Just finishing a fierce debate on the problem of entropy increase during cross-dimensional information transmission, they might immediately begin analyzing the genetic sequence of an alien microorganism that the Federation had not yet fully deciphered.
These elite scholars of the Federation, filled with immense enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge, threw all sorts of questions at Ryo.
Some were concepts they had already mastered but hoped to corroborate or find answers from different perspectives through Ryo's vastly different knowledge system.
Most, however, were bottlenecks they currently faced, unresolved conundrums, or hypotheses proposed based on observed phenomena that lacked a perfect theoretical explanation. They eagerly hoped to gain even the slightest bit of inspiration from this otherworldly peer to break the shackles of their thinking.
Facing this surging tide of questions, Ryo's massive mechanical body remained steady as a rock, refusing almost no one. No matter which field the question involved, he always seemed able to provide a response.
This was not empty posturing.
As a Tech-Priest who had ascended to the rank of Magos, the deep mechanical modifications he had undergone had long since branded a massive amount of knowledge and data directly into his memory storage arrays.
From basic laws of physics to complex Immaterium engineering, from molecular chemistry to macroscopic materials mechanics, from human biology to xenos anatomy, and even some technological principles deemed taboo—all had detailed or brief records in his database.
More importantly, he had personally experienced the magnificent yet dark and cruel centuries of the Imperium of Man's Great Crusade.
That was not merely a military conquest, but a grand investigation and violent gathering of countless civilizations, countless bizarre phenomena, and countless lost technologies across the galaxy.
He had seen stars ignited as weapons with his own eyes, seen the laws of gravity twisted, seen the terrifying mutations of life forms under the influence of the Warp, and had participated in the excavation and "purification" of numerous xenos technological ruins.
This profound accumulation, almost like that of a "naturalist," built up over a long time and through countless extreme scenarios, was something these scholars living in the relatively peaceful and orderly Federation could not imagine.
Perhaps in some extremely specialized sub-field—such as specific types of quantum field theory calculations or the targeted therapy of a rare genetic disease—the depth of his knowledge might not equal that of the Federation scholars present who had specialized in these subjects for decades.
But this absolutely did not mean he was unable to engage in valuable discussions with them.
He could often cut in from a completely different angle, proposing viewpoints based on the nature of energy, the origin of matter, or considerations for large-scale practical application. He frequently managed to break the scholars' ingrained mindsets and bring unexpected inspiration.
His explanation of how "Void Shields" utilize dimensional barriers to deflect attacks plunged the Federation's shield experts into deep contemplation for a long time.
His mention of a concept for utilizing psychic powers for hyper-distance communication—although questioned by Federation scholars based on existing physical laws—also stimulated discussions regarding the deeper nature of quantum entanglement.
(End of Chapter)