**Chapter 26: Investigation (Part 1)**

The moment the incident occurred, the lab’s doors sealed to prevent hazardous materials from spreading.

Though the safety manual said instructors would rush over immediately, Jie Ming wasn’t about to bet his life on that.

If he didn’t want to be reduced to ash in an explosion, he’d better stop the machine’s collapse now.

While other apprentices panicked, dodged, or scrambled for emergency shutdown protocols, Jie Ming acted!

He darted from behind the pillar, a blur of speed, racing toward the blaring separator!

Corrosive dust still lingered, and the apprentices watching him “risk” rushing in gasped.

Yet, the gray dust that could sizzle flesh hit the refined gold film on Jie Ming’s skin and vanished like it met an invisible wall, unable to harm him!

Ignoring the stares, Jie Ming reached the separator, his eyes locked on the key rune nodes he’d sensed.

His right index finger extended, a wisp of elemental energy condensed from his mental force at its tip.

With swift, precise movements, he tapped the first node!

*Buzz…*

The node hummed, releasing a surge of runaway energy, which Jie Ming’s refined gold film redirected.

He didn’t pause, following his mentally rehearsed plan, tapping the other critical nodes in succession!

Each tap weakened the separator’s alarms and calmed the chaotic energy fluctuations.

In a fleeting moment, Jie Ming danced through the danger zone like a butterfly.

When he tapped the final node…

*Click!*

The separator’s alarms stopped, and the runaway energy was fully stabilized.

The corrosive dust, without its source, was quickly neutralized by the lab’s emergency system.

Crisis averted!

Jie Ming stood by the separator, catching his breath, a trace of lingering fear in his eyes.

The onlookers froze, then erupted in cheers. But pained groans from injured apprentices snapped them back, prompting them to check their corroded wounds.

Amy clung to the pillar, her face pale.

Looking at Jie Ming, her eyes held not just shock but incredulous amazement!

She’d always thought Jie Ming was talented, but in that crisis, he’d displayed qualities far beyond theirs.

“My judgment was spot-on. Building a good relationship early was such a win!” Amy thought gleefully.

As she reveled, the lab’s doors were kicked open, and a group of heavily armed wizards stormed in with silver-white golems.

The golems swiftly moved to the injured apprentices, pairing up to carry them out of the lab.

Even lightly injured apprentices were checked by wizards and escorted out by golems.

Seeing the dwindling crowd and the wizards closing in, Jie Ming sighed and raised his hands obediently.

“Don’t worry, I’ll fully cooperate!”

It seemed these wizards weren’t just handling the incident but also coming for him, the “anomaly.”

The wizards paused, exchanging surprised glances, then quietly took Jie Ming away amid the chaos.

On the way, Jie Ming felt oddly relieved.

The second shoe had finally dropped!

…

…

Deep within Noren Academy, in a secretive chamber.

The room was bare, with only cold metal walls and floor, and a large glowing screen floating at its center.

The screen replayed the recent incident in the alchemy workshop’s public lab— the elemental dust separator’s failure, the apprentices’ panic, and… a figure rushing into the danger zone, resolving the crisis with astonishing speed.

Several figures cloaked in wide wizard robes stood or sat quietly before the screen.

Their faces were shadowed, but their potent mental energy fluctuations marked them as at least Level Four Formal Wizards.

The screen paused on Jie Ming leaving with the enforcement wizards.

A sidebar displayed data: energy fluctuation levels, dust concentration, and each apprentice’s reaction scores.

“No. 3, slow reaction, retreated two seconds after warning, points deducted.”

“No. 5, overly panicked, hindered others’ retreat, points deducted.”

“No. 1, swift reaction, timely warning, decisive action, points added.”

Low, emotionless voices announced each apprentice’s performance scores.

Their evaluations were cold and objective, like analyzing a complex equation.

The screen shifted, freezing on the fleeting golden glow on Jie Ming’s body as he entered the corrosive dust zone.

Next to the data, a bold label flashed: [Anomalous Reaction].

“This apprentice,” a voice said, tinged with interest, “is the one who submitted that… ‘White Iron-Based Insulating Material’?”

A slightly balding figure nodded, asking in a deep voice, “What’s the status of his investigation?”

“Soul scan completed,” another voice replied calmly. “I compared his soul records from enrollment, before and after applying the special material. No anomalies detected. His soul essence is clear, with no signs of parasitic entities or soul replacement.”

“His social network was thoroughly investigated,” another voice added. “Before and after enrollment, his interactions are minimal. He was a quiet kid in his hometown. Since enrolling, aside from cohort peers and a few classmates, he’s had no deep contact with unknown or suspicious entities. All related contacts have clean records.”

“Subconscious and mental scans show no signs of tampering.”

“Cognitive tests just conducted show no distortions…”

…

A litany of test results poured from the surrounding wizards until, finally, they all turned their gazes to the balding wizard who’d spoken first.