Chapter 1143: Fool's Dream Workshop
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 1143: Fool's Dream Workshop
Silence was the keynote of the Wizard Academy; wordlessness was their most vehement protest.
The wizard apprentices could not resist the high-and-mighty Great Wizards, but to survive, they had to stand in opposition to them.
The "Faith Profanation" plan had bought them time to save the world, and the "observation" handled by the Wizard Academy—specifically the "Spiral Geocentric Observation Tower" within the academy—had become the key to salvation.
But destroying it was easier said than done.
There were too many forbidden zones within the Wizard Academy that students could not reach. Even when the Witch Academy officially declared war and turned the wizard towers of the outer ring upside down, they failed to find such a place.
Ultimately, the Wizard Academy was forced to a point where the Transcendent Wizards had to step forward.
The once-invincible principle of Transcendent non-interference became a mockery in those final moments.
Yet everyone knew the wizards had been driven to their final stand.
No one wanted to push the wizards to the point of desperate, back-to-the-wall resistance, for a wizard with nothing left to lose was just as terrifying as a witch gone mad.
"How infuriating... if we don't make progress soon, the heretical faith of the Holy Angel Academy will be erased by the Holy Light!"
They knew all too well what would happen then.
If things truly reached that stage, the Witch Academy wouldn't just sit idly by. As the ones being saved, they would only be able to passively wait for fate's arrangement—an outcome they were unwilling to accept.
Ultimately, they could have simply waited for the Witch Academy to step in and end this tragedy of the Main World's destruction, but they wanted to do better.
They hoped to demonstrate their value, yearning to be among those who would have a seat at the table once the Main World's order was reshaped.
"The families on the wizards' side are rearing their heads again."
"Ignore them. We don't have the energy to deal with that now. Besides, all the major families have already moved into the Sanctuary in secret. The ones acting up now are just a few disgruntled fools venting their impotent rage."
"Continue to release more information. Tell them that destroying the Holy Light Church can further obstruct the Main World Restart Plan. Let the influence of this news spread. Give them hope to keep them steady, and let them take over the industries of those major families. Don't let the family members stay idle. Only when they are busy can we stabilize the ordinary people in society. A beast of burden at its station is a good beast of burden; if they all start picking up weapons, that’s when we’ll have a real headache."
"Understood. I'll go meet with the heads and representatives of those families immediately to convey your message."
"But... by doing this, aren't we just playing into the hands of the Calamity Group?"
"Ahem... do not ask questions that are detrimental to our current unity, and do not bring up topics that harm our cooperation."
"Besides... no matter how large the Calamity Group is, it is still managed by people. They don't have family bloodlines as a bond; they cannot maintain a permanent, singular will from top to bottom."
"Then what should we do next?"
"On the basis of accelerating the demise of the Holy Light Church... we wait."
"Wait? For whom?"
"Who else... you didn't think that just because we've fought our way here so smoothly, we actually get to decide the survival of this world, did you?"
"Can we... not?"
"Idiot. I can't believe I've worked with you for so long. In this world, only the Witch Academy can dictate the rules and order of the new world. And that Little Witch is the representative of the Transcendent Witches' will. We have been led by the nose by her all along, and we can only continue to be led by the nose."
"Perhaps in places we cannot see, the game between the Transcendents has already been decided. We are merely moving toward the conclusion they desire, according to their thoughts."
"Ah? Has it already reached that point?"
"Such are the rules of the world. The weak have no say. The moment Teaching Assistant Xiao Han said she was giving us an opportunity, we should have understood that this so-called 'opportunity' was simply a dignified way to become a chess piece."
"Did you really think I enjoyed being scolded like a child by Teaching Assistant Xiao Han during that meeting? You're still too young."
* * *
Expansion Realm.
As time passed, the "Fool's Dream Workshop" was finally completed with the help of the Witch sisters and the Fool's Dream spirits!
The brand-new Fool's Dream Workshop replaced the original "Nightmare Workshop." The cooperation and assistance of dozens of witches had played a massive role, allowing it to be finished in such a short time.
However, the internal techniques and technological complexity of this Fool's Dream Workshop were simplified to an almost outrageous degree!
Many witches had persisted until the end only out of a sense of skepticism.
Compared to the previous model of the Nightmare Workshop, this was practically a massive industrial assembly line factory. They hadn't even seen many of the key core facilities that usually required special technique solidification.
Furthermore, there were many steps in the process that left several witches feeling bewildered.
"Alright, let's begin the test run!"
Under the curious gazes of the witches, I announced the start of the trial operation.
Upon receiving my signal, Yulan and the other three little ones immediately sprang into action.
This time, the "raw materials" for the Fool's Dream Workshop were no longer the difficult-to-capture Nightmares, but genuine Soul Crystals!
Soul Crystals were a precious resource for students, but for Transcendent Witches, they were quite commonplace.
The World Three Source Elements were hard currency in the Void. As one of the three, Soul Essence was a staple material for many Transcendent Witches.
Upon hearing that I was going to iterate on the Dream State Soul Essence preparation technique, so many witches lined up to provide materials that when we said we needed Soul Crystals, the supply was absolutely overwhelming.
Within the Fool's Dream Workshop, having this area in a state of Shallow Dream overlap was merely the most basic requirement.
Many witches poked their heads out curiously, wanting to see how such "crude" facilities were supposed to carry out the preparation of Dream State Soul Essence.
That was until they saw the four little Fool's Dream spirits getting busy at their assembly-line-like stations.
"Wait! This... this is?"
"A brand-new Dream State Soul Essence preparation technique. It relies heavily on the power of [Transcendent Knowledge], which means the previous model of the Nightmare Workshop can no longer be applied," I spoke up at the right moment to explain to the Witch sisters.
"And I can't stay here forever to prepare Dream State Soul Essence. However... just because I can't do it doesn't mean the Fool's Dream spirits can't."
As I finished speaking, Yulan and the other three had already begun their operations. They manipulated a special power in a way that wasn't quite practiced yet, causing the Soul Crystals to transform into a unique state of Soul Essence.
Then, through a series of operations with a clear division of labor, that Soul Essence gradually took on the properties of Dream State Soul Essence.
Though the process looked quite cumbersome—a far cry from the fluid grace I had demonstrated before—it was the limit of what Yulan and the others could achieve.
Most of the time recently had essentially been spent on me teaching the Fool's Dream spirits how to borrow the power of the Land of Fool's Dream to perform this special preparation technique.
While it seemed like I had been teaching for a long time, it was because I had simultaneously turned the entire instructional process into a teaching template. Theoretically, any Fool's Dream spirit could learn to prepare Dream State Soul Essence through this template.
"Xiao Han, do you mean you've taught the Fool's Dream spirits this special preparation technique? You're letting them produce the Dream State Soul Essence in your stead?"
"That's the gist of it," I nodded.
"So... the essence of the Fool's Dream Workshop is actually turning the Fool's Dream spirits into workers for preparing Dream State Soul Essence?"
"More or less. I will communicate with the Fool's Dream spirits and select those willing to take on this responsibility. Of course, the prerequisite is that they cannot be exploited. Any Fool's Dream spirit working for the workshop must enjoy generous treatment and benefits. They are not tools; they are independent, autonomous lives with the right to enjoy freedom!"
After I spoke, many witches realized the truth: as long as Dream State Soul Essence could be produced, any method was a good method!
Besides, this was a very small request. If Xiao Han cared about the Fool's Dream spirits, they could care too. After all, who would have the heart to exploit such adorable little creatures?
"Of course! We respect your choices and thoughts, Xiao Han."
"Exactly! The Fool's Dream spirits are so cute, how could we possibly exploit them?"
After a few seconds of silence, several witches were quick to voice their support.
However, one witch raised a concern.
"But in such a large Fool's Dream Workshop, having only four spirits... won't it be a bit too empty?"
"You're right. That's why I plan to gestate more Fool's Dream spirits."
I walked over to the four little ones and guided them through the final steps of the Dream State Soul Essence they were preparing.
In just that short moment, one portion of Dream State Soul Essence had been completed. Compared to the efficiency of the old Nightmare Workshop, this was unimaginably fast!
Seeing this efficiency, the eyes of many witches practically lit up. The thought of "I want to have a Fool's Dream spirit of my own" instantly reached a fever pitch in their minds!
"Normally, reaching this step in the Fool's Dream Workshop's process would mean the product is finished. But for me, it's not over. What follows belongs to the level of deep processing."
"Dreamstate Souls. This is a sublimation I achieve through special techniques—a unique state evolved from Dream State Soul Essence. And these Dreamstate Souls will become the foundation for shaping Fool's Dream consciousness into life."
"So... the Fool's Dream Workshop can also be understood as a place where Fool's Dream spirits are created?" a witch quickly realized.
"Then can I adopt a Fool's Dream spirit?"
With the first witch leading the way, a chorus of agreement and following immediately broke out among the crowd.
"Eh? You can do that? I want to adopt one too! I'll be very good to it!"
"I want to raise one as well!"
"I'll treat the Fool's Dream spirit like a master and serve it! Please, Xiao Han, let me adopt one! I'm willing to sign a Witch Contract!"
"Sister... there's no need, really no need!"
"Stop!"
I spoke loudly to cut through the witches' clamor.
"I will not make decisions for the Fool's Dream spirits. In this matter, I only look at their own will. I will not force a choice upon them."
"So... we actually still have a chance, right? Then Xiao Han~ when are you going to release the Fool's Dream spirits? I had such a great time playing with them in the Witch Cat Café!"
"Yeah, yeah! I even ordered a Fool's Dream Drink personally mixed by a Fool's Dream spirit at the café."
"I know you all seem anxious, but please, don't be. Things must be done slowly. You can't eat hot tofu if you're too impatient," I advised.
"Let's focus on setting up the basic framework of the Fool's Dream Workshop first."
"Right, right! That's what's important!"
After calming the witches down, I turned back to get to the real work.
Allowing a Fool's Dream spirit to be born into reality was no easy task, nor was it something they could do themselves. I had to be the one to do it. The powers and techniques the spirits possessed were barely enough to prepare Dream State Soul Essence, but they were definitely not enough to shape a Fool's Dream Egg.
As for the Great Ordinary Spell?
During this period, I had gradually mastered this Great Spellbook.
In truth, once you crossed the threshold of dominating it, this Great Spellbook was no different from any other; it followed the normal casting process.
After gaining a preliminary mastery of it, I only needed a few Sequence Derivations to apply the spell's effects to others.
Was magic ever meant to be so inconvenient?
Originally, I thought I would need to reach the Domain level before I could forcibly impose its effects on others in the form of Order.
But after experimenting, I found that I could transfer the effect with just a standard derivation.
This effect was even more terrifying than Dean Mei's Great Weakening Spell!
After all, the original prototype effect of the Great Weakening Spell only weakened specific transcendent energies; to weaken other effects, one had to rely on derived effects.
But the Great Ordinary Spell... it started by turning the opponent into an ordinary person!
Of course, turning someone into an ordinary person was the theoretical maximum effect. The more a spell relied on such a prototype effect, the more it could be worn down by pure transcendent power.
Just as Dean Mei's Great Weakening Spell could be gradually eroded, so too could the Great Ordinary Spell.
After all, it was merely an applied spell effect, not an unreasonable Concept God.
However, eroding the Great Ordinary Spell was itself a high hurdle. It was like the most common weakening spell—unless there was a massive disparity in power levels, it was impossible to dispel without specific "Dispel" methods.
The same applied to curse-type methods.
Those methods had mature ways to counter them, but the "Great Ordinary Spell" did not.
Because the Great Ordinary Spell was not a negative effect, nor was it a weakening; it was an "Ordinary" effect. It was not targeted by means like Dispel or Purification.
That was the true horror of the Great Ordinary Spell!
As long as one could not comprehend the "Ordinary" effect, one could not counter it!
Because the Great Ordinary Spell was a Great Spell effect targeted at the self. Only by understanding "Ordinary" could one transcend it and not be bound by its effects.
To an enemy, the Ordinary Spell was the ultimate shackle of power.
But to oneself, "Ordinary" was the finest path of cultivation.