Chapter 186: Even Tan Han Encounters Setbacks
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 186: Even Tan Han Encounters Setbacks
After leaving Teacher Ji Niang’s office, I had somehow gained a "junior."
Even now, I found it hard to believe. The whole thing had happened so inexplicably.
"Xiao Han, do you usually conduct your spellbook research here?"
Upon entering Room 8401, Tan Han looked a bit surprised. The place looked like a very ordinary classroom—and a rather messy one at that.
"Sorry about the mess. I didn't expect anyone else to come here, so I haven't tidied up. I'll get on it right away."
I spoke hurriedly. The mess was naturally a result of my spell testing, though some of it came from searching for inspiration. I’d learned that while "letting oneself go" often triggered wonderful sparks of creativity, it also tended to turn the room into a disaster zone.
"I'll help."
Seeing me start to gather things, Tan Han stepped forward to assist. After all, she had nominally—and effectively—joined this research group, so it was only right for her to do her part.
I didn't refuse. With her help, we’d be able to finish much faster.
As she tidied, Tan Han asked curious questions about various items. Many of the things here were objects she had never encountered before.
With Tan Han joining, I suddenly realized something. Previously, all my research had been for my own benefit. I researched spellbooks to understand what they were; I magic-modified them to gain enough power to handle the Freshman Competition; and I studied runes to better grasp the nature of spellbooks.
Ji Niang would then take my findings, organize them, and compile them into the group’s official output.
However, any proper research group should have a clear research subject, a detailed phase-by-phase plan, and a specific division of labor.
It hadn't been an issue before, but now that Tan Han was here, these problems were coming to light.
"By the way, Xiao Han, what is the group's current research subject? Which phase is the main project in? I hope my sudden arrival won't disrupt your schedule."
"Um... I might have to disappoint you. We don't really use those professional terms. Or rather, from the start, this was just a simple group for researching the Fireball spellbook. The first Fireball spellbook I got was provided for the very first experiments."
"Really?" Tan Han looked skeptical. This was a far cry from her expectations.
"It's true. I have no reason to lie to you. Currently, we don't have a very clear goal. Or rather, Teacher Ji Niang feels I haven't reached the level required to start a formal research project yet. At the end of the day, we're just freshmen who only recently came into contact with the Transcendent. Everything at this stage is just me fumbling around on my own."
"Fumbling on your own?" Tan Han’s brow furrowed. She couldn't help but ask, "What are you relying on to guide your exploration?"
"Spirit Vision, of course. As the minimum threshold for admission to a Transcendent Academy, Spirit Vision plays an absolute, decisive role in the Transcendent field."
Ji Niang happened to walk in from her office just then and answered Tan Han’s question in passing.
"Spirit Vision?"
Tan Han didn't react immediately. She knew about the ability, of course; awakening Spirit Vision was the prerequisite for applying to any Transcendent Academy. She had awakened hers when she was very young.
Back then, the newly awakened Spirit Vision had allowed her to see many things she had never seen before, but they had vanished in a flash, never to be seen again. That experience had left her with a significant psychological shadow.
She had told her parents, but they had reacted with joy, telling her she had awakened Spirit Vision.
They had carefully explained the different levels of Spirit Vision to her and, for the first time, taught her about Transcendent power.
From then on, she had been fascinated by power that transcended common sense. However, she had no way to obtain it—until she was told that once she grew up, she could attend a Transcendent Academy and gain that power there. Combined with the fact that her grandmother was an Ascetic who followed the Holy Light, Tan Han grew up in that environment and eventually applied to the Holy Angel Academy to fulfill her grandmother's expectations.
But things hadn't gone as planned. After many twists and turns, she had ended up at the Witch Academy.
And now, she was standing here.
"Yes. Spirit Vision is the window to the Transcendent, the shortcut to reaching it. You can use this ability to touch the truths of the Transcendent world."
"So... this so-called spellbook research is actually using the power of Spirit Vision to observe the Transcendent world?"
"I won't deny that description. Any idea or approach can become a possibility for exploring the Transcendent. From the look of it, you've probably been neglecting your Spirit Vision, haven't you?"
"Yes. It left a considerable... psychological shadow on me when I was young. Even now, it's the same. Is that kind of world really the true Transcendent world?"
"That is but a corner of the Transcendent. It is not a good habit to stop moving forward just because you caught a glimpse of a part of it. Since you've just joined, let's start with the most basic exercises. Do you have a basic spellbook? Any one will do—Fireball Spell or something else."
As Ji Niang spoke, she opened the Ley Line Operating System, just as she had when she first taught me.
I silently went about my business, finishing the tidying. I even used a Cleaning Spell to give the place a thorough scrub, taking the opportunity to do some spring cleaning.
A short while passed.
"That was the third attempt. Are you sure you still can't see it?" Ji Niang asked from the side.
In the past, she had mostly taught elective courses and had very little experience with one-on-one tutoring—aside from the low-maintenance Xiao Han.
Now that she was teaching a genuine Academic God, she realized that "Scholar Gods" didn't just happen; they were the product of a teacher's grueling effort.
"I can't see it clearly. Even when I actively use Spirit Vision, I can only barely see that there seems to be something inside."
"To that extent... for someone who hasn't reached the Transcendent level, your Spirit Vision is likely at the second stage, Imaging? When did that happen?"
"Around the time of the College Entrance Exam, I think," Tan Han said after a moment of reflection. "I could clearly feel a slight change in my Spirit Vision back then. It must have been then."
"Reaching the second stage right at enrollment?" Ji Niang murmured. This progress was undoubtedly rapid, and there were even signs of artificial intervention. Many students at the Witch Academy only managed to touch the threshold of the second stage by the time they graduated.
After all, everyone's situation was different, making unified teaching impossible. The primary utility of Spirit Vision only truly manifested after one became a Transcendent.
It wasn't that the academy was unwilling to teach students about the inner workings of spellbooks; it was that they couldn't.
But even though Tan Han had progressed so quickly—likely accelerated by the College Entrance Exam Ceremony—she was still far from meeting the requirements.
However, remembering her previous conversation with Lina, Ji Niang relaxed.
Tan Han had her own path to walk, a path leading directly to the Transcendent. But that process was undoubtedly tedious. Lina had used this opportunity to give Tan Han a choice of her own.
While it seemed like freedom, Lina naturally understood the stakes. This was essentially cultivating a "hobby" for Tan Han—one that Tan Han had chosen herself.
It allowed Tan Han to preview the path she would take after becoming a Transcendent, which would benefit her future development.
Ji Niang was currently acting like a tutor to a noble lady; her job was to make sure the girl had fun, as long as it didn't interfere with her serious studies.
That was how the script was supposed to go—until more Luck Seeds appeared and the script changed.
Or perhaps everything developing this way was the interference of the script itself, calculating in this one variable of the Main World: the one with Innate Spirit Vision.
"If you can't see it, don't force it. This isn't something that happens overnight. Perhaps we should look at it from the perspective of the spellbook model." Ji Niang didn't dwell on the failure. She changed the subject and pulled a spellbook model from the nearby database.
"This model... is so different from the one Xiao Han made." Tan Han looked at the displayed model and reached out to examine it. Her mind was filled with the dense, complex models she had seen back at the Arena. As the saying goes, comparison breeds disappointment.
The model she was looking at now felt as simple as a primary school textbook. Yet, the reality was that she couldn't even understand what this simple model meant.
"Simplifying the complex to strike at the essence. The essence of a spellbook is to cast a spell. This model very clearly presents the various internal structures of a spell."
"Then, if we don't use a spellbook, can we cast the spell directly using this structure?" Tan Han asked.
"Good question. Yes, you can."
"Then why don't we learn this? Why use spellbooks as substitutes instead?"
"You want to know why?"
"Yes."
"Heh, because of suitability and choice. A spellbook is a higher form of expression than a spell. You might not understand the reason yet, but no one in this world is a fool. Some things can only be understood once you reach a certain level."
"So, there's no explanation?" Tan Han’s words cut to the heart of the matter, exposing the fact that Ji Niang simply didn't want to explain it yet.
"Correct. Later, go to your mentor and get a high-level library permit. A large portion of the materials you'll need to look up in the future won't be open to ordinary students. Or you could just piggyback off Xiao Han, but it's more convenient to have your own, isn't it?"
Ji Niang admitted it directly but quickly shifted the topic, telling Tan Han to go bother Lina. She had reason to suspect that Lina had dumped this "trouble" on her precisely because Tan Han asked too many questions and was too blunt.
"Okay, I'll go get one. Um, about this spellbook model..." Tan Han continued, pointing at the display.
"Just focus on understanding the structure of this spellbook today. Honestly, you might not even get the hang of it by the end of the day. If there's something you don't understand, look it up. You can use Xiao Han's permissions for now. If you're still stuck, ask Xiao Han. If neither of you knows, come ask me. My office is right next door."
"Understood." Tan Han watched Ji Niang leave. Though her eyes still held confusion, she accepted the situation.
From the side, I marveled at how formidable Tan Han was. Even Teacher Ji Niang seemed to be keeping her distance.
As Ji Niang was about to leave, she glanced at me again—specifically at the wisp of Luck on me. It had increased slightly. Having confirmed this, she didn't interfere further.
Meanwhile, I was at another Ley Line Operating System terminal, attempting to research other spells. I had "Practical Learning Spell" active and was reading Basic Theory of Illusions.
That’s right—the spellbook I wanted to research this time was Illusion Clone. It was a very useful spell, one that Sister Bai had specifically given to me.
I needed to make the most of it and ensure I didn't mess up the spellbook.
I was currently reviewing the theoretical knowledge related to illusions, which would help me understand the essence of the spellbook's internal structure.
"Xiao Han." Tan Han suddenly called out to me.
"What is it? Hit a snag?" I looked up and studied her curiously. While I expected her to face difficulties—the path of research was, after all, full of obstacles—I hadn't expected her to call for me the moment Teacher Ji Niang left.
"No, I'm just curious about something." Tan Han wasn't looking at me anymore. Her hands were cupped around the unfolded spellbook on the Ley Line Operating System.
She seemed to be observing it with great intensity, yet the bewilderment in her eyes wouldn't fade.
"What is it?"
"I can't see clearly... what it actually is." Tan Han raised her confused eyes to look at me, looking like a beginner desperate for knowledge.
"I really want to know how you do it. To analyze a spellbook so deeply, with such ease... but I feel like there's nothing in front of me. I zoom in on the spellbook, and no matter how much I magnify it—even when I can see the microscopic particles the spellbook is made of—I still don't know where the internal structure is or what it looks like. It's as if I'm separated from it by two different worlds."
"Um..." I made a noncommittal sound, unsure of what to say. The atmosphere felt incredibly awkward.
"It's the same with mental power. My mental perception only tells me that this is a sphere, a spellbook. Inside, it's just a mass of chaos. Xiao Han, do you see it through Spirit Vision too?"
"Yes." I nodded, then turned my back to her.
"Then, may I ask what your current Spirit Vision level is?"
"My Spirit Vision..." I sighed. Tan Han had finally asked the question. It wasn't that I couldn't say; being an Innate Spirit Visionary wasn't exactly a secret, and I wasn't the first case, just a special one.
I was just afraid that telling her would hurt her feelings. Besides, I didn't think it was something worth bragging about. It was the kind of thing you enjoy privately; what was the point of showing off?
Even if someone asked unintentionally, what would it change?
"Is it something inconvenient to—"
Just as Tan Han saw my lack of response and was about to give up, my phone rang.
"Oh, sorry. Someone's contacting me. I need to step out for a moment."
I grabbed my phone like it was a lifeline. After a quick apology, I hurried out.
Once outside, I saw that the caller was actually Sister Bai!
"Hello~ Sister Bai! Why are you calling so early? Is something up?" I asked expectantly. Sister Bai didn't usually call me unless there was something to discuss. I hoped it wasn't bad news.
"Yes. Xiao Han, where are you? I'm knocking on your villa door, but your roommates said you weren't there. You weren't at the Baking House either."
"Oh, I'm at the Lab Building. Is something wrong?" I asked curiously, but then it clicked. "Wait! Sister Bai, you went to my villa!"
"Yes. I thought you'd be there, since it's a rare bit of free time. Your roommates are quite nice, by the way."
"Is... is that so? Haha. Anyway, Sister Bai, why were you looking for me? If it's important, you can come to 8401."
"It is important. But since you've given me your location, I'll save the surprise for when we meet~"
"Eh? Tell me now~"
"Wait for me. I'm coming over right now. Just stay put."
"Wait! Sister Bai! Don't hang up!"
I looked at the ended call, feeling a bit deflated. However, I was also starting to look forward to whatever "surprise" Sister Bai mentioned.
As long as it wasn't bad news, I was happy.