I have a Tantric panel

Xia En hesitated for a moment.

The painting he saw was actually very similar to Clara's description.

This is probably due to [Art (1)].

This also means that he and Clara both possess some kind of special potential.

Answering truthfully is of course fine.

It could be interpreted by students as "plagiarism" of Clara's answer.

But actually, Shane has another option.

He looked at Yu Guangzhong's [Soul Point: 1].

If things had gone according to plan, he would have definitely added those points to either Health or Latin.

But now, is it not a bad idea to invest in art?

It's not about trying to attract attention, but a bold investment!

A known:

Professor Aurora is a true superhuman.

Furthermore, there is a chance to gain points by contacting such extraordinary individuals.

Therefore, winning Aurora's favor will undoubtedly be beneficial for acquiring points later.

At the very least, Alara could help Shane gain a better understanding of "the other side" of the world.

To achieve this, you must give her a satisfactory answer.

—Clara's level is not enough!

Opportunities are fleeting.

I'm taking the gamble!

Xia En's thoughts raced, and he quickly made a decision.

The words representing "art" lit up.

[Art (1→2)!]

There doesn't seem to be any obvious change.

Until his gaze fell on the oil painting.

The richer colors and more impactful visuals, like a derailed train, burst into Xia En's eyes with a bang.

Night? Wilderness? Starry sky?

neither!

It was a huge stage.

The stage backdrop was a colorful black, with curtains slowly drawn back on both sides.

That's right, it's "slowly pulled open", not a static picture!

At that moment, the painting came to life in Xia En's eyes.

As the curtain rose, the figure on the stage gradually came into focus and turned around to face him.

Lake-blue eyes, a slender and graceful figure, and a young and beautiful face.

Those eyes, without a doubt.

She's a younger version of Aurora!

Bathed in the stage lights, this woman possessed an indescribable and strange charm, as if she were the embodiment of "beauty".

She looked at Xia En and smiled with satisfaction.

He then extended his left hand, as if extending an invitation.

[Occult artwork detected]

[Analysis Progress: 17%!]

"Teaching Assistant Shane?"

Before Shane could ponder the meaning of the text, Alara's urging voice rang out.

He snapped out of his daze and realized that all the students in the classroom were staring at him, most of them with impatient expressions on their faces.

They've wasted far too much of their time on just one teaching assistant.

If Professor Aurora hadn't asked the question herself, they wouldn't have cared what Shane had seen.

Some people even thought...

This guy has been standing there for so long, is he trying to make up an answer?

But the next moment.

"Professor Aurora, I see...you."

Xia En's calm yet slightly hoarse voice echoed through the classroom.

"A much younger version of you is standing on the stage, under the drawn curtain, watching me."

"If I'm not mistaken, this painting should be a self-portrait of you."

The students were stunned again upon hearing this.

Is this Aurora's self-portrait?

How is that possible?!

There's a limit to nonsense!

However, Aurora laughed when she heard this.

Her very cheerful and loud laughter was quite different from her usual serious and unsmiling image.

"Hahaha...Good, very good!"

Aurora's admiration was undisguised.

"Since I started teaching this class, you are the second person to recognize it as a self-portrait."

At this moment, the students could easily tell that what Shane said was the correct answer!

Clara's gaze towards Shane changed.

She had assumed that the other person would give a similar answer to her.

But now it seems that Shane can "see" more than he can?

The class quickly returned to normal.

It was as if the question and answer had never happened.

However, the students' views on this teaching assistant have undergone some subtle changes.

……

……

After class.

Shane, carrying the canvas, followed Professor Aurora back to her office.

He put the canvas back in its place and asked curiously.

"Professor Aurora, what is the name of this painting?"

"The Person in the Painting"

Alara didn't hide anything; her tone was meaningful.

"If you like, you can come and sit here often; you might discover something new."

Xia En stiffened for a moment, then quickly said.

"I will."

Before leaving the office, Aurora's voice came from behind her.

"Teaching Assistant Shane, your talent may be even greater than you think."

"But that's precisely why you'd better be more careful and cautious."

Shane bowed slightly to the professor behind the desk.

"Thank you for reminding me."

As Xia En walked into the corridor, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

In retrospect, his investment was quite successful.

Although they didn't recoup their costs immediately, they at least gained Aurora's favor.

The notification that "[Decoding progress: 17%]" was an unexpected bonus.

Xia En had reason to believe it.

When the decoding progress reaches 100%, he will most likely receive a reward similar to [Soul Points].

More importantly, this opened up a new path.

You may receive a reward for deciphering this type of occult artwork!

"Shane, what are you standing there for?"

A large, hairy arm draped over his shoulder.

Ronan had just finished his work and ran into Shane as he walked out of the next office.

Are you alright?

Only after pulling him into a corner did Ronan dare to ask in a low voice.

"Don't end up like Winnie, who became Professor Aurora's teaching assistant and then disappeared."

Hearing this, Xia En felt a warmth in her heart.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

"But could you please put your hand down? It's heavy!"

Ronan laughed heartily, "That's all muscle! Envious, aren't you?"

He wanted to pat Xia En's back hard, but he was afraid of breaking his bone, so he silently withdrew his hand.

"You really need to take better care of your health. I'll treat you to a big meal another day."

When it came to food, Xia En's stomach rumbled.

The empty stomach churned and made low gurgling sounds.

After his health rating changed from -1 to 0, his body seemed to require more nutrients than before.

This means that the body is using these nutrients to try to repair and heal itself.

The process of observing that oil painting just now also consumed a lot of physical energy.

After a while, I got really hungry.

"What a coincidence, it's just lunchtime."

Ronan seemed not to hear the cooing sound and dragged Shane towards the cafeteria.

"Let's go eat!"

Akarin University has a dedicated dining hall, or more accurately, a "restaurant".

Tall stone pillars stand on all four sides, each carved with a different pattern.

Generally speaking, those patterns symbolize the nine pillars of this world.

They looked down indifferently at the people in the restaurant.

It is as if silently demonstrating that only under their authority can mortals be fed all day long.

Xia En usually paid little attention to the patterns on the stone pillars.

But today, a bold idea popped into his head—

Can I decipher these stone pillars carved with deities without being discovered by others?