Chapter 119: Join and Enjoy Course Exemptions
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 119: Join and Enjoy Course Exemptions
"What a coincidence~ I was just wondering where to find you, and here you are."
While I was still deep into researching information on Ley Line Stagnation, I spotted a figure walking toward me.
It was Ji Niang, my counselor.
I didn't believe for a second that the world held this many coincidences. It was a "coincidence" last time, and it's a "coincidence" now? I wasn't some gullible child. If I didn't realize something was off by now, then I was the one with the problem.
"Hello, Teacher."
I greeted her politely nonetheless. I had no idea what she wanted with me this time, especially since Sister Bai wasn't by my side.
Still, this was the library. I assumed she wouldn't do anything too outrageous here... probably.
"Xiao Han, the more I look at you, the more I like you. What are you doing in the library? Sneaking in some early studying?" Ji Niang ignored my guarded posture and walked over. Although she was a teacher, she didn't carry herself with any of the usual professional stiffness.
Her gaze fell upon the materials in my hand, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
"Ley Line Stagnation... Oh? You managed to get your hands on this data? Let me guess—Tan Han gave it to you? After all, I don't think anyone else would have the clearance to access this so early."
"That's true," I nodded quickly. I hadn't realized this information was so valuable.
But since it was an annual occurrence, shouldn't it be easy enough to find out about if one just asked around?
Then again, information is information. If you don't even know the information exists, you won't get your hands on data this precise and targeted, no matter how much you ask.
"No wonder. I saw Tan Han walking out of the library alone just now. So she was meeting you here. But she didn't seem to be in a very good mood when she left. Did you make her angry?"
"I suppose so..."
"Then you might be in trouble. Well, let's move past that. I came here today for some actual business. Want to hear it?" Ji Niang stopped being coy and stated plainly that she had been looking for me.
"Uh... can I choose not to hear it?" I asked tentatively.
"No, you can't. Xiao Han, how can you be like that? I'm your counselor, and you're the only Class Monitor under my wing. If you don't listen, who am I supposed to talk to?" Ji Niang pulled out a chair and sat down right next to me. Her tone suggested she already had me right where she wanted me.
"If that's the case, Teacher, why did you even ask for my opinion..." I muttered under my breath.
"Of course I had to ask. Your level of acceptance after I tell you will help me make a basic judgment. Anyway, here I go."
"Fine. Please go ahead, Teacher." I leaned my head on my hand. I hadn't expected Teacher Ji Niang to have this kind of personality. Fine, I'll just consider it my bad luck.
"I want to invite you to join my research group."
"Huh?"
I snapped my head up and looked at Ji Niang's half-smiling expression. For a moment, I couldn't figure out what she was getting at.
My confused expression was practically screaming: Are you sure you're talking to the right person? I was a brand-new student who hadn't even attended a single class, and here was a teacher inviting me to join her research group.
Research what?
Research me?
"You're surprised? No, no, don't be so self-deprecating. You have the ability. And no, we're not researching you. Well, to be honest, at least not the kind of research where you're treated as experimental material." Ji Niang explained herself quite frankly, but her explanation only made me more nervous.
So, at the end of the day, it was about researching me?
"Don't look at me like that. Think about your own traits. If I'm inviting you, it's because you naturally have the value to be invited. If you're willing, I can give you the same treatment as Tan Han—exemptions for certain courses. How about it?"
"Eh? Course exemptions?"
I was shocked. Shocked, of course, at how terrifyingly capable Tan Han was! To have course exemptions... I wasn't jealous of her. With her ability, self-study was far more efficient than sitting in a classroom.
I wouldn't have minded the exemptions themselves, but if I skipped those classes, I'd be missing out on that knowledge! I wasn't a monstrous academic genius like Tan Han who could learn anything instantly.
"I can see your concerns. I thought you'd find the classes boring. After all, the first-semester curriculum at the Transcendent Academy consists of very basic content. You've already mastered the most important part, the Witch Meditation Method, on your own. Personally, I think you're qualified for exemptions."
"Besides... once you join my group, it's not like you can't learn from me. At that point, the things you'll learn will be far more numerous and profound than anything taught in a classroom."
"This..." After hearing Ji Niang's explanation, I truly hesitated. My instinct was to agree, as this was a rare opportunity. However, I knew my foundation was shallow; I even lacked basic common knowledge about the Transcendent world. Jumping too high too fast might not be a good thing for me.
"In the Transcendent world, talent outweighs effort. What are you worried about? You have the corresponding talent, which gives you the foundation to stand at the top. Don't you... want to surpass Tan Han?"
Ji Niang crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, speaking leisurely.
"Eh? Surpass... Tan Han?"
The goal intimidated me. Tan Han had already moved beyond the level of a freshman; she was already a mountain that no other new student could hope to scale.
"You yearn for it in your heart, don't you? What are you afraid of? Afraid she has more Mana Sources than you? Or more spells? Aren't those things you can just get if they're given to you? Essentially, you're both on the same starting line. While everyone else is betting on Tan Han, I'm the only one betting on you, Xiao Han. What do you think?"
As she spoke, Ji Niang's tone grew increasingly excited. She might not have even noticed it herself.
"I... think..."
"Hesitation is not a quality a powerful person should possess. If I were asking Tan Han, she would agree without a second thought. Even if she knew nothing, even if she didn't have your talent, she would find a way to crawl in front of me and shamelessly beg for the chance. Of course, I'm not saying this to compare you to her; I'm just telling you not to hesitate when taking action."
"Fine... I agree."
I nodded. I took her words to heart, but I thought even deeper. She urged me not to hesitate, and immediately after that, I agreed. Was it really wise to blindly follow someone's provocation when facing the unknown?
I didn't think it was "right." I simply couldn't find a reason to refuse her, and agreeing was just an excuse to compromise.
Or rather, I had figured it out.
I wanted to establish a deep connection with Ji Niang. Fumbling through the Transcendent world on my own would be a complete waste of my life.
"A clear choice!" Ji Niang stood up and clapped her hands. It was obvious she was very excited.
I just didn't know what she was so excited about. Ji Niang wouldn't seek me out for no reason. Either she was after my unknown [Transcendent Knowledge] fragment...
Or she was after my Floating World Level Spirit Vision.
I now knew what Floating World Level Spirit Vision represented. According to the descriptions in the introductory books, even among Transcendent Witches who possessed Spirit Vision, most were only at the third stage, the "Unknowable" level.
Therefore, my fifth-stage Spirit Vision definitely had extraordinary uses that even I didn't know about yet.