Chapter 1127: The Great Ordinary Spell Research Group
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 1127: The Great Ordinary Spell Research Group
"I want to create a special guidance technique that allows people to cultivate the talent of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation," I explained patiently to Dean Mei and Sheryl.
"...What is the approximate probability of success?"
Dean Mei had originally wanted to ask something like, "Is that even possible?" but in the end, she asked a different question entirely.
After all, she had seen too many "impossibilities" where Xiao Han was concerned; she was starting to become numb to it.
"Hmm... sixty percent," I answered after a few seconds of deliberation.
Fifty percent was a mark of respect for uncertainty. The remaining ten percent was for all the effort, inspiration, confidence... and humility I had put into it.
Sixty percent total.
"Sixty percent? That seems very much worth a try," Dean Mei nodded.
She remembered exactly how rare the Self-Awakened Body Cultivation talent was. Although the total number across the Void was astronomical, the average was one in ten thousand—and that "ten thousand" referred to ten thousand worlds where transcendent power was at its peak. Even then, finding such a talented individual wasn't guaranteed.
"Do you need any support from the Academy?"
"I'm just here to report the project. The specific operations will mainly rely on the spells, techniques, and Body Cultivation power I already possess. Theoretically, I don't need any extra support."
"Xiao Han, do you just love running zero-cost experiments? Any experiment involves the consumption of resources, the use of equipment, and the coordination of personnel. The Academy won't let you suffer."
"Uh... well..." I looked into Dean Mei’s sincere eyes, momentarily unsure of how to put it.
Having seen through the essence of life, I didn't actually need any resources. Body Cultivation resources were essentially used for self-repair, but did I need that?
"How about... Sister Mei, you give whatever you think is appropriate? Let's go with Body Cultivation resources. Even if I don't necessarily need them, the volunteers cooperating with our experiment might."
After all, not everyone possessed a Self-Awakened Body Cultivation ability like mine.
They would inevitably suffer a great deal before reaching that stage.
"If I didn't know your capabilities, I wouldn't even approve a request like this. Sigh..."
"Sister Mei~ so, are you approving it or not?"
"Of course I'm approving it. Shall we do it in the Experimental Zone again? Or do you want an independent laboratory?"
"Let's skip the Experimental Zone this time. Many people will be involved in this experiment, and besides... does this experiment of mine really need to be kept secret?"
"The confidentiality and privacy of any experiment are always the first considerations. You, on the other hand..." Dean Mei didn't even know what to say to me at this point.
After some discussion, the basic preparations for the Perfect Human Body Cultivation experimental project were complete.
"This experiment sounds very interesting~ Can I participate? As a volunteer?"
Just as the matter was settled and we were discussing how to recruit people for the experiment, Sheryl leaned in and asked quite bluntly.
"You?"
I looked up and met her gaze with a look of utter incomprehension.
"Is that a no? Bai Yu just suggested she’d help recruit a few Body Cultivation witches she knows in the Academy. That means Transcendent Witches can be volunteers too, right?" Sheryl analyzed simply.
"The logic holds, but you don't seem to be a Body Cultivator," I asked, puzzled.
I wasn't counting the passive cultivation of the "Witchified Body Cultivation Method" within the Witch Transcendent System as true Body Cultivation for now. If I did, then every Transcendent Witch would be a dual-cultivation genius of both Magic and Body Cultivation!
"Isn't it normal for a witch to want to master another cultivation technique or gain a special talent? If your technique for letting other witches gain the Self-Awakened Body Cultivation talent works, nearly ninety percent of witches will come looking for you... no, they'll come begging you!"
"Isn't that an exaggeration?"
"Not at all~ So, can I? Just for the sake of that little favor I did you?"
"I can't guarantee success," I replied.
"Sixty percent. I get it~"
"Fine then. Welcome to my 'Suicidal Little Experiment' as our first volunteer and test subject." I stood up from the sofa, offering a dangerous smile to congratulate this Rebel Witch who thought she was getting a bargain.
"Suddenly, I feel like I've jumped into a giant pit of my own volition?" Sheryl was still smiling, though her tone was now one of self-mockery.
"Only just realized? It's too late to back out now~"
After finishing that conversation, I turned back to Dean Mei.
"Xiao Han, is there something else?"
"Um... it's like this." After much deliberation, I decided to follow Teacher Ji Niang's suggestion and be honest with Dean Mei: "Sister Mei, I plan to use your portion of [Transcendent Knowledge] to make a small attempt. I want to form a research group for the creation of a Great Spellbook... Naturally, the one leading this group will be my other Life Clone."
"...Are you finally going to try?" Dean Mei felt a wave of emotion as she heard me mention this.
Compared to the Self-Awakened Body Cultivation experiment that had already left her numb, Xiao Han wanting to create a Great Spellbook actually felt more "real" to her.
After all, a Great Spellbook was something she could understand. Self-Awakened Body Cultivation was not, and a technique to create such a talent for those who lacked it was something she had absolutely no concept of.
"Sister Mei~ this is just a small attempt of mine. If the results don't meet expectations, you mustn't blame me!"
"Of course I won't. It's good to try things out. No one succeeds every single time, and no one can be successful forever. Every witch has the right to fail an attempt."
"Phew... I'm relieved to hear you say that! Now, the group is just missing members. I wonder if you could recommend a few? My requirements aren't high—they just need to be proficient in Real Editing Technology. I have my own unique concept for the new Great Spellbook; I just need them to help me shape it according to my ideas."
"Are you sure?"
Dean Mei frowned at my request. The complexity of a Great Spellbook wasn't something anyone could just "hand-craft" alone. But if it was Xiao Han saying it... then she would do as Xiao Han wished.
"I'm sure! However, if you're recruiting witches, please make it clear that my approach to shaping a Great Spellbook might be a bit different from a typical [Transcendent Knowledge] research group. I don't need them to research anything; I just need their Real Editing Technology to strictly follow my requirements for editing and creating the book."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, that's about it," I nodded, making no further demands.
* * *
Once Dean Mei agreed to these requests, it didn't take long—barely a day—before a buzz of discussion began to spread through the Academy.
First, the "Self-Awakened Body Cultivation Experiment" project was made public. To avoid the concept of "Perfect Human Body Cultivation" causing too much trouble, this was framed as a phased experiment.
It was intended to test the foundational shaping of the Perfect Human Body Cultivation.
In other words, the "Self-Awakened Body Cultivation Experiment" currently circulating in the Academy.
Following the previous "Self-Generated Mana" experiment, where countless people regretted not getting on board, the public recruitment for this experiment met with unprecedented enthusiasm!
After all, everyone had witnessed the massive advantages brought by Self-Generated Mana: terrifying mana recovery efficiency, a limit of over ten thousand mana sources, and insanely high combat endurance.
Even though this wasn't Self-Generated Mana but Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, the hype remained sky-high.
Despite the notice stating that students on the Body Cultivation path were the best fit, many people didn't care.
Follow Xiao Han, and if you win the gamble, you'll ascend to the heavens in a single bound!
The news first spread within the No. 0 Combat Sequence. I knew these members inside and out; basically, I had thrashed all of them at some point.
Even though they weren't Body Cultivators, it wasn't a bad thing for students who used transformation spells for close-quarters combat to cultivate some Body Cultivation power on the side.
After all, physical fitness is the capital of combat!
As soon as the news broke, nearly every member of the No. 0 Combat Sequence voted unanimously to volunteer for the experiment.
Even though I advised some unsuitable members that they didn't need to follow the crowd, it couldn't stop their blind faith in me.
With the entire No. 0 Combat Sequence joining, it caused many wavering people to abandon reason and follow the trend mindlessly.
Such a feverish level of enthusiasm forced me to use firm measures to set entry thresholds.
This was an experiment, not a mass pyramid scheme!
What would I do with so many people?
I'd be overwhelmed!
The halo of the Tree of Great Knowledge used the Great Knowledge Seeds as carriers, and the effects were easy to present and collect data from. But what about that "affinity" feeling of Body Cultivation?
Therefore, the numbers had to be controlled. Even if some people reacted strongly, there was no room for negotiation!
As for the other matter—the Great Spellbook group—the reaction among the Transcendent Witch community was also quite intense.
Xiao Han's Great Spellbook research differed from all current mainstream procedures. Most witches who had followed Xiao Han's history knew what this represented.
Xiao Han's methods weren't suitable for all witches. After all, they weren't Xiao Han, and they couldn't "casually" open up a Great Spellbook like she did.
The more profound a witch's attainment in Great Spellbooks, the less interest they tended to have. Moreover, Xiao Han only wanted witches proficient in Real Editing Technology, which meant they would likely just be "tool witches" for editing the book.
However, that didn't matter. There were still plenty of witches who wanted to participate just to accumulate experience but never had the chance~
Meanwhile, inside the World-Casting Courtyard.
My Life Clone, the one who mastered spellbooks, was reaching the final stages of her conversation with the Elders.
The topic of their discussion: The Great Ordinary Spell.
For the past few days, I had kept my spell clone in the World-Casting Courtyard to discuss related issues with the First Generation Elder and the others. On one hand, it had been a while since I'd seen them; on the other, I wanted to discuss the concept and framework of the Great Ordinary Spell.
No matter how firm I was in my belief that this spell had its own unique significance, getting some guidance and validation from the First Generation Elder would undoubtedly give me a... different feeling.
It must be said that when I explained the concept of the Great Ordinary Spell, the idea truly shocked the Elders.
And because of that, I realized something.
Even the Elders of the World-Casting Courtyard wouldn't all agree on a spellbook like this.
After all, every Transcendent Witch followed a different project and path, adhering to different philosophies.
At the very least, in terms of effect, the Great Ordinary Spell didn't seem as useful as the Great Weakening Spell. Elders who focused on practicality and results raised significant objections.
What comforted me, however, was that the First Generation Elder stood by my side—or rather, she leaned toward a neutral stance.
Every witch has their own understanding of [Transcendent Knowledge]. Since the Great Ordinary Spell hadn't been created yet, there was no need to disparage it so early.
Furthermore, the First Generation Elder was very interested in the concept of the "Prototype Power Effect."
While she didn't exactly promote the Ordinary subject, her scholarly attitude gave her a great deal of interest in the interpretation of the "Ordinary Domain."
She was particularly fond of the "Unit One" theory I proposed.
Cultivating power is extremely difficult; sometimes, you can't even find the path while groping in the dark.
Once a "Unit One" baseline for a power is confirmed, any increase in that power becomes crystal clear!
Although the price was the inability to accumulate power through this method, trading accumulation for the experience of progress was an absolute win.
Especially for witches with eternal lifespans. Witches didn't lack lifespan or time; they lacked the right direction for their efforts!
The Great Ordinary Spell was a Great Spellbook with a high threshold. To a witch who didn't know how to use it, it was worthless. But to one who did, it was a beacon on the path of cultivation.
With the First Generation Elder's encouragement, I left the World-Casting Courtyard. By the time I emerged, two days had passed, and Dean Mei had already screened several volunteers for my Great Spellbook creation group.
I had initially thought there wouldn't be many—maybe one or two—but when I saw the list of applicants, I was startled.
There were dozens of witches!
As expected... the Transcendent Witches of the Main World were far too idle. Once there was something to do, a whole swarm of them would rush in.
From the list, I selected the ten "witch sisters" with the most exquisite Real Editing Technology based on their past experiences.
Any more than that would be unnecessary.
Creating a Great Spellbook from scratch was certainly troublesome, but it didn't require a massive scale of dozens or hundreds of witches.
After all, with too many people, coordination becomes an issue.
Once the list was confirmed, it was time to start the Great Spellbook project. Everything was kept simple.
After gathering them in the laboratory approved by the Dean and performing a brief round of self-introductions, we got straight to the point.
"In that case, we'll be in your care, Xiao Han~"
After the brief introductions, the members of this temporary team implicitly looked to a Transcendent Witch named Enid as their representative. According to her introduction, she was the most capable among them.
"I wonder what we'll be doing next? If you don't have much experience in team research, Xiao Han, I can help manage things for you."
"I'll have to trouble you then, Sister Enid. I really am lacking when it comes to team research and project division. However, I've already established the overall framework for this experiment. Everyone, please take a look first, and then we can discuss it together."
As I spoke, a composite rune condensed from the Great Knowledge Sharing Spell appeared in my hand. This contained the theoretical data I had simulated using the Tree of Great Knowledge, recording the simplified construction of the Great Ordinary Spell's framework.