Chapter 123: Let's Start with an Analysis Report to See Your Skills
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 123: Let's Start with an Analysis Report to See Your Skills
"Y-yes..."
I rubbed my head awkwardly. My phrasing earlier had been a bit off; being asked to talk about such things so suddenly made me so nervous I could barely string a coherent sentence together.
"That's exactly the answer I expected, but it's still a bit overly ambitious for you." Ji Niang didn't look surprised by my affirmative answer, but her comment about being "overly ambitious" was quite a blow.
Had I tried to take too big a step?
"However, I approve of this topic." Ji Niang followed up with a sudden pivot, accepting my choice. Then, without any pretense, she explained her reasoning.
"After all, you should know why I chose you for my research group. You're a freshman who has never been exposed to the Transcendent. It will be a long cultivation process, but I can afford to wait. And the first step requires you to completely master your Spirit Vision."
"...Understood."
I nodded in agreement. I wasn't particularly surprised by Ji Niang's answer, just a bit taken aback by how direct she was being. Since she wasn't wasting words on me, I didn't want to be difficult either.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I simply accepted the reality of the situation.
"I like your directness. It seems being an Innate Spirit Vision user really does make you different from the others."
Ji Niang was satisfied with my attitude. Of course, the praise was likely just a courtesy; after all, I didn't seem to have any other abilities worth the attention of a Transcendent Witch.
Besides, just yesterday she was calling me hesitant, and now she was saying the opposite. It was easy to hear the perfunctory tone in her voice.
"Now, let's begin the initial test." As Ji Niang spoke, she reached toward her chest. Soon, a cluster of energy glowing with a crimson light appeared in her hand.
I didn't even need Spirit Vision to see this magical sight.
It looked familiar—I had seen something like it more than once.
It was a Spellbook.
And it was a "piping hot" Spellbook that had just been pulled out of Ji Niang's body!
"Xiao Han, you should be familiar with this by now, right?"
"Yes, a Spellbook," I nodded.
However, I wasn't sure what Ji Niang intended.
Was she giving this Spellbook to me?
Or was I supposed to start analyzing it right now?
But I remembered that if a Spellbook was removed and left on its own, it would slowly dissipate. Without a carrier, the spell would eventually self-destruct.
"Correct. This is a Spellbook, the culmination of spell application. Its creation simplified the tedious process of learning and casting spells... though, to an extent, it also limits their use and extension."
"But overall, it's a beneficial tool. It's also a much more efficient way to represent a spell than recording it in a book."
As Ji Niang spoke, she walked over to an experimental bench. She pressed her hand against the transparent surface, and soon, a surge of energy pulsed as bright spots of light rose from the tabletop.
I was familiar with this energy—it was the fluctuation of Ley Line energy!
Although I hadn't specifically studied Ley Line-related subjects, I had come into contact with Ley Line energy many times. I couldn't possibly forget it.
It seemed this experimental bench was an alchemy item capable of freely utilizing Ley Line energy.
With a wave of Ji Niang's hand, the Ley Line energy formed a semi-transparent panel.
It was clearly a conspicuous, artificially designed panel with border patterns and a UI design. This was a basic function of the experimental bench itself, not something Ji Niang had shaped through her own means.
Ji Niang, holding the Spellbook in one hand, placed the glowing orb right in the center of the panel.
The Spellbook was supported by the illusory panel. Through Spirit Vision, I could see Ley Line energy swirling around the Spellbook, buoying it so it wouldn't fall.
The Spellbook, which had been dissipating into the air, had its internal energy loss suppressed once it was surrounded by the Ley Line energy. It felt as though it had found a carrier.
"Curious about what I'm doing?" Ji Niang turned around and looked at me with a smile.
"Are we going to research this spell?"
"A good guess, but we aren't that far along yet. First, we need to confirm something." Ji Niang stared at me as she spoke, her gaze making her intention crystal clear. "And that is: to what extent can your Spirit Vision perform?"
"This... what do I need to do?" Ji Niang's stare made my skin crawl, but I still asked in a low voice.
"It's simple. Use your Spirit Vision to observe this Spellbook directly, then write an analysis report for me. There's no word count or format limit. Record whatever you see. If you can't describe something, draw it. A combination of text and diagrams is fine."
"Huh?"
My eyes widened in shock. She wanted me to write a report right off the bat? An analysis report, no less?
Even if there were no limits on length or format, was this really something I could do right now?
After a brief moment of self-doubt, I calmed down. It was just an analysis report. This was an opportunity to prove my worth to Ji Niang. Only by demonstrating sufficient value could I earn equal treatment!
How could I shrink back from something like this?
The only problem was... I didn't know how to put what I saw through Spirit Vision into words.
"What? Scared?" Ji Niang frowned slightly. She was clearly dissatisfied with my tone. Thinking about backing down before even starting was not a good sign.
"No, I'll do my best to complete it!"
I lowered my head, my voice firm. I knew that my simple "Huh?" had left a bad first impression. If I didn't show my determination now, my path forward would only become more difficult.
"That's more like it."
Ji Niang's expression softened into one of satisfaction. She didn't want subordinates who retreated at the first sign of trouble; no matter how brilliant their talent, she wouldn't give them a second look.
To Ji Niang, the current Xiao Han was like a piece of unshaped fine jade. She was confident she could polish her well, but she only hoped this promising raw jade wasn't actually rotten wood. Otherwise, she would only be dirtying her own hands.
"Spend today writing the analysis report here. Usually, no one will disturb you. In the meantime, I'll add some basic experimental tools to the room. I look forward to your report." After saying this, Ji Niang turned to leave.
"Wait! Teacher, there's no paper or pen here."
"That is a problem..." Ji Niang paused and walked back to the experimental bench.
"If possible, you should also try to learn how to use the various equipment here. This bench is equipped with a Ley Line-driven integrated system. The specific principles are complex, but you can think of it as a computer powered by Ley Line energy." As Ji Niang spoke, a semi-transparent light screen appeared on the bench.
I had to admit, it really did look like a computer. It was manually controlled, which felt even more advanced and cooler than a touch screen.
"Write it in this log. I'll check it here later and analyze your report for you." After setting it up, Ji Niang pointed to the blank screen. "Xiao Han, for someone of your curious age, figuring out how to use this shouldn't be hard, right?"
"It's not."
I stared at the light screen with burning eyes, barely able to hide my eagerness to try it out.
"Then I'm relieved. If you have questions, you can come ask me or just search for it on your phone. The academy system provides a database search function; you can even find the manual for the portable Ley Line operating system installed on this research bench. Well then... I'll be heading back."
"Yes, take care, Teacher," I said, bowing my head.
I hadn't expected the academy system to have a search function for questions.
Wasn't that just like a search engine in the outside world?
She should have told me sooner! If I had known, I could have searched for so many things. Just searching for whatever I didn't understand—wouldn't that be wonderful?
Setting that thought aside for now, my priority was completing the analysis report Ji Niang requested.
And I had to figure out how to use that Ley Line operating system within a limited time.
I stepped up to the light screen where the log was open. Through Spirit Vision, I could see that the screen was composed of Ley Line energy.
As I reached out, the Ley Line energy interacted with my hand, giving me a sense of being "linked."
As I moved my hand, the screen adjusted its position. After several attempts, I gradually became familiar with the techniques. I figured out how to manipulate the information on the screen and how to input text.
Although the operation was much more complex than using a phone, once I got used to it, I realized this control method was perfectly suited for a complex working environment.
This research bench was basically a multi-functional desktop! I really wanted one in my dorm; it was way more interesting than a computer. Though... it probably couldn't install games.
But who cared about games?
As long as the controls looked cool enough, that was plenty!
After setting aside the Ley Line operating system, I turned my attention to the Spellbook.
To be honest, while I was getting used to the system, I had been suppressing my curiosity about the Spellbook. Things had to be done one by one, and important tasks should only begin once all preparations were complete.
Now that I was familiar with the Ley Line system, I could start observing the Spellbook. Any discoveries could be recorded directly into the log.
I made a gesture toward the research bench's light screen, and it floated toward me. This was a function I had just discovered—the display screen could follow the user. I was just testing it out and hadn't expected it to follow me so far. This made things much more convenient.
I turned my gaze back to the Spellbook.
It wasn't that I hadn't observed a Spellbook closely before, but I had never delved deep. The cost of doing so was too high; it would cause me to unconsciously sink into the Spirit Vision perspective, seeing far more information than my brain could process.
The end result was usually a splitting headache that lasted all day—and that was a best-case scenario.
But things were different now. Before, I had been cautious, but now I could look with abandon.
This wasn't just because my control over Spirit Vision had mysteriously improved during that meditation session with Tan Han; it was also because if I ran into any danger while using Spirit Vision, Teacher Ji Niang was nearby. She would surely notice in time... well... probably...
Regardless, I needed to master this ability. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, the world had changed.
Even the Spellbook before me was no longer as mysterious and unknown as it had been.
This was an active activation, a deep dive into the information provided by Spirit Vision. The sudden impact was even more terrifying than I had imagined, but I slowly managed to adapt.
I gripped the edge of the bench with both hands, my eyes fixed on the Spellbook. At this moment, my "vision" was somewhat blurred by the overwhelming surge of information feedback, but I worked hard to unravel the threads.
The outermost layer of the Spellbook was a coating of energy, while the interior was a terrifyingly complex, highly integrated structure.
I realized then that without the corresponding knowledge, I could only describe its most basic information. I couldn't describe the internal mechanics, even if I could clearly see the connections within the structure.
After pushing myself a bit longer, I pressed my right hand to my forehead and slowly moved it down to my eyes. Enduring such deep information feedback from Spirit Vision, even for such a short time, was more than I could take.
I slumped onto the floor. Fortunately, I had cleaned the floor earlier.
I leaned against the side of the bench, the Ley Line system's light screen still floating beside me. It really was convenient.
I needed to record what I had just seen immediately. I could feel that the information was too chaotic; if I didn't write it down quickly, my brain would force me to forget it as a self-defense mechanism.
As I rapidly jotted down fragmented information into the log, the screen was soon filled with text.
The writing was very disjointed, and the sentences barely made sense, but for me, this was just a quick recording method—a keyword-based approach.
I wanted to get as much information down as possible in the fastest way.
Then, in the second round, I would use my remaining memories combined with the keywords to reconstruct the full picture.
Luckily, the log had an information organization function. After sorting everything out, the initial observation records for the analysis report were mostly complete.
Once I fixed the word order and paragraphing, it would be a perfect start to the report.
However, having finished writing, I also felt the limitations of language. The feedback from that information far exceeded what words could express.
Ji Niang's suggestion to combine text and diagrams wasn't meant to make things harder for me; it was to provide a way to better express what I saw.
But even with diagrams, the limitations of language and images were still too great.
Fortunately, there was a simple way to create images: the system had solid modeling and 2D export capabilities. Building a model on this 3D modeling system was even easier—it was practically foolproof.
"Hmm? What's this? Starting to slack off already?"
While I was resting, a voice suddenly spoke, making me jump. It was Ji Niang!
Oh no, I'd been caught idling. But I was only doing it to adjust my state for the next deep Spirit Vision observation!
"No... no, it's just that using Spirit Vision is very exhausting..." I explained hurriedly.
"Oh? That exhausting? Let me see your results." A flash of surprise crossed Ji Niang's eyes. She walked over to me and reached out, pulling the light screen in front of her.
"Um... I haven't finished that yet..."
"I know. I just came to see your progress," Ji Niang said with a smile. Then, her full attention shifted to my records. "Hmm... I'm quite surprised. Aside from the poor phrasing, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong. Wait... you even completed the modeling for the Spellbook's energy shell? You even marked the internal energy?"
"Uh... I haven't finished that model yet..." I explained softly.
"You can see even more?" Ji Niang looked up at me again.
"Yes... it's just... I don't know how to put it into words. And drawing or modeling doesn't seem to perfectly reflect the information feedback I get under Spirit Vision..."
"Is that so? It's fine. That's normal," Ji Niang said after a moment of thought, her tone turning gentle.
It seemed she was quite satisfied with my performance.
"Then... what should I do? If that information can't be recorded with words or images, then it's meaningless."
"That is indeed a problem, but it's not something you can solve right now. Some information truly cannot be expressed through ordinary language. Language is a carrier for information, but it is not the only one."
Ji Niang swiped the light screen aside. "I imagine there's a lot of information from your Spirit Vision that you don't understand yet, right?"
"Yes," I nodded immediately.
"That is a cognitive limit. Information is information, and cognition is cognition. Life cannot imagine what it has never seen. Without an analogy, information cannot be transformed into something a living being can understand."
As Ji Niang spoke, she started walking toward the door again. "But don't worry about that for now. We'll talk more this afternoon. I said I'd treat you to lunch. Let's go."
"Eh? It's... noon already?" I instinctively checked the time on my phone. I hadn't realized time had passed so quickly!
"Yes. If you don't eat a good lunch, you won't have any energy for the afternoon. Let's go~"