Chapter 259: Modding the Memory Bookshelf; What I See is What I Learn
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 259: Modding the Memory Bookshelf; What I See is What I Learn
Before heading to sleep, I planned to use one of the Ley Line memories. Since using them puts a certain amount of strain on the mind, I decided to limit myself to just one tonight.
Two of the three Ley Line memories contained massive amounts of technical information. I didn't intend to use those yet; I would wait until tomorrow, after Teacher Ji Niang helped me complete the modded extension of my Memory Bookshelf spellbook.
After all, information from a Ley Line memory isn't perfectly retained by the brain; it’s easy to forget parts of it. My plan was to record the data directly into the Memory Bookshelf. Only a modded version of the bookshelf would be able to keep up with the speed of conscious recording.
So, tonight’s choice was the memory regarding combat techniques.
The moment I activated it, the memory rushed in like a tide. I felt like an outsider, watching and experiencing a battle in its entirety.
Though the perspective of a Ley Line memory was a bit awkward, what I saw was crystal clear.
The contents were far more complex than I had anticipated—more intricate than what a simple glance with Spirit Vision would reveal. It wasn't just a fight between casters; it was a clash of spellcasting techniques, a brawl between transformation spells, the suppression of summoning spells, and the tactical gambit between a caster and a martial artist.
I was amazed by the sheer richness of the content, but many images flashed by in an instant. Someone without proper learning techniques might only remember the cool movements and gain nothing else from the experience.
I was only slightly better off. I could remember more, or rather, I could understand the logic behind their actions. If you can't see why a certain move is made during a fight, blindly imitating it is pointless.
The massive, jumbled memory was slowly digested in my mind, leaving only the most vivid impressions behind.
This was why Ley Line memories were a common reward for freshmen in previous years. They seemed wonderful on the surface, but the actual benefits one could reap were limited.
And this was a memory I had specifically screened. I could only imagine how mottled and obscure the ones I’d rejected must have been.
That said, the collision of external memories did serve to temper my mental strength to a degree. However, it couldn't compare to a proper meditation method, which made it feel somewhat like "chicken ribs"—tasteless to eat, yet a waste to discard.
* * *
I spent the night plagued by nightmares, likely influenced by the foreign memory. In my dreams, I was being hunted. I had become the enemy of the entire Witch Academy, pursued by every senior sister in existence. Fortunately, Sister Bai was there to pull me along as we fled...
I woke up with a start in the early morning, heart pounding.
I took a moment to comfort myself. Once my mind settled, I felt relieved. Dreams and reality are opposites, right? Maybe in reality, I’d be the one chasing those senior sisters from the academy, all while holding Sister Bai in my arms?
Now that was an absurd thought.
I checked the time, performed a quick wash-up, and began my meditation as planned. Teacher Ji Niang had previously reminded me of the importance of meditation, so I started allocating more time to it than before.
Once I finished, I headed to the laboratory.
"Uh... Teacher Ji Niang?"
I was surprised to see her there so early. Or had she simply never left last night?
"You're here? Perfect. I've organized the materials. We can finish your spellbook today, and then you can get the hell out of here," Ji Niang said, setting down a stack of printed documents.
"Wait, Teacher Ji Niang, did you not sleep at all?"
"Is there a problem? Transcendent Witches have very little need for sleep. When we're deep in research, we can go months without it. You never know if your inspiration will vanish after a nap. You'll get used to it eventually."
"Uh... really?"
"Of course. You already have so many Mana Sources; your Witchification should be becoming quite apparent..." At this point, Ji Niang instinctively glanced at my chest, which was already starting to take shape, before quickly looking away. She was his teacher, after all, and she wasn't that depraved—plus, the kid wasn't even a Transcendent Witch yet. "You should have noticed by now that you need less sleep than you used to, right?"
"Uh... actually, it feels the same? My life is still very regular..." I muttered.
"Then it's just habit. Perhaps you're underestimating your ability to pull all-nighters. Regardless, let's focus on today. If you're quick enough, we can have this finished by noon."
As she spoke, she handed me the printed materials while keeping a much thicker stack for herself. She had spent the entire night compiling these; there was no fluff, only pure "dry goods."
Furthermore, the content had already moved into the realm of ritual runes.
There were two aspects to ritual runes within a spellbook. One was the ritual of the spell itself, which could be deconstructed into smaller units of ritual runes. The other was using Real Editing Technology to construct the runes of the spellbook itself.
Even though I was starting to touch upon runes, Teacher Ji Niang only allowed me to handle the former. The latter was off-limits.
Since I hadn't mastered Real Editing Technology—or even reached an introductory level of understanding—messing with those runes could cause the spellbook to completely self-destruct.
* * *
The morning flew by. I even had my lunch delivered to the lab.
Finally, under my expectant gaze, the modding of the spellbook was complete. I didn't even notice my hands trembling slightly from excitement.
"Give it a try. See if it meets your requirements."
Ji Niang stood to the side, watching as I finished the final casing of the spellbook. I had performed the entire operation myself, but she had been there every step of the way, guiding me.
The process of solving a difficult problem with my own hands was truly wonderful.
However, if I were asked to do it again, I don't think I could. It was a sobering reality I had to face: I might not be as brilliant as I imagined. The fact that I could accomplish these things was likely due to other factors. Just as an Academic God like Tan Han was never afraid to ask questions, successful people always possessed traits that ordinary people lacked.
I placed the spellbook into the Witch Bookshelf and activated it.
A Memory Bookshelf, distinct from the standard spellbook shelf, manifested. It retained the ability to be written in by hand, but now it possessed a new power: What I see is what I learn.
I consumed mana to generate a new memory book and flipped through a few pages. It was empty, but the book wasn't a physical object; it floated before me, requiring no hands to hold it.
Then, I picked up the rune book I had borrowed from the library and began to read.
After reading for a short while, the corresponding content appeared within the memory book.
"How does it feel? Works pretty well, doesn't it?"
Ji Niang leaned in with a smile. She was also checking the results of her work. Although she hadn't done the physical labor, she had to constantly simulate the theoretical knowledge in her mind to guide her student through a successful mod.
Ji Niang didn't usually mod spellbooks like this. Doing it once in a while was a nice change of pace—at least she hadn't lost her touch.
"Yes, it's a success. However... even though it records quickly, this book is prone to errors. I'll need to double-check everything."
"True. Language is a mysterious thing. The more you try to take shortcuts, the more errors you'll find. It's within acceptable limits, though. Just look over it a few more times; consider it a way to deepen your impression of the material."
"You're right," I nodded in agreement.
More importantly, I understood what this completed spellbook meant for me. I could now accumulate knowledge at an incredible pace!
"It looks like you've realized something else."
"Yes. Plans really can't keep up with changes. I had my life all mapped out, but now I have to throw those plans away."
"Why throw them away? Plans are divided into short-term and long-term. If you want to change your plan, it must be because you've found something more meaningful than just following a routine. That's a good thing, isn't it?"
"Yes!"
I nodded emphatically. I had been limiting myself. Perhaps this was the confusion everyone faces when they haven't found the right learning method.
"I plan to spend the next week in the library, cramming theoretical knowledge. Do you support that, Teacher Ji Niang?" I asked, looking up.
"Of course I do. For most people, knowledge requires a long, steady accumulation, but clearly, that doesn't apply to you anymore. Though... I feel like a week might be a bit long for someone as impatient as you. You should try to restrain yourself, polish your character, and calm your mind."
Ji Niang sat down and offered this advice with a smile. Sometimes, it takes an outsider to see things clearly. My restless nature was barely hidden.
That kind of personality might provide a burst of passion, but in the long run, such impatience is easily crushed by the weight of prolonged monotony and failure.
"Thank you."
With Teacher Ji Niang's approval, I felt at ease. But being called impatient... I didn't want to admit it, but it seemed to be true.
I wanted to reach a state of calm and leisurely inner peace, but that wasn't something that happened overnight.
Furthermore, my seven-day plan was also a way to "evaporate" from the world, lowering my Sense of Existence and avoiding potential crises. I didn't know if there were other organizations like the Witch Coven lurking in the academy.
If I could avoid trouble, I would. I wasn't some protagonist who needed to face every difficulty head-on to avoid damaging my Dao Heart. My principle was simple: keep trouble away. If I can hide, I hide. If I can't, I fight. If I can't win, I hunker down and develop in secret.
A week was enough time for many things to fade. People are forgetful. When they see the former number one freshman disappear like this, most will feel a sense of secret joy rather than pity.
Many people love inspirational stories, but only if they don't cross paths with the subject. Once there's an intersection, most people just want to see you fail. That's just human nature.
"Why are you thanking me? You really do need to enrich your foundation. Otherwise, I won't even be able to start my research. To be honest, many people don't think much of this research group—including you. In their eyes, pinning hopes on a freshman is undoubtedly foolish."
"So, is the next step for me to prove that they're the foolish ones?"
"You certainly have a big mouth. It's fine to say that here, but remember, don't say that in front of other Transcendent Witches. They won't be polite to you."
"Understood," I nodded, but then another thought occurred to me.
"By the way, Teacher Ji Niang, is the academy planning something big? Something related to secret realms? And Teacher, when you mentioned the Witch Secret Realm before, did you want me to go?"
"I did have that thought. It seems you've found out?"
"Yes... I was approached yesterday by a senior sister who claimed to be the former president of the Witch Secret Realm Club."
"No wonder. You must have learned quite a bit. Do you have any intention of participating?" Ji Niang asked.
"No," I said, shaking my head.
"No? Why? Logically, I didn't think you'd pass up an opportunity like that."
"It's a decision made after weighing the pros and cons. I want to lay low for a while."
"Lay low? Is that a word you should be using? The number one freshman needs to lay low? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
"When I know what I need to do, the laughter of others will eventually only make them look like the joke."
"A very steady answer. You clearly understand a lot, yet sometimes you act in ways that contradict your own knowledge," Ji Niang said with a laugh.
"Maybe I've had too much 'poisonous chicken soup' for the soul. Knowing, understanding, and doing are completely different things. If people want to laugh, I'll just treat it as training for my character."
Teacher Ji Niang gave my ideas her full support, while also cautioning me not to be too hasty.
Even as I prepared to leave, I reflected on myself. Was I really that impatient?
Ji Niang had also told me to set aside more time to experience life, rather than treating time solely as a commodity to be traded for profit. Living like that would be exhausting.
She was right; it was exhausting. But I had become somewhat numb—or rather, accustomed to it.
Logically, I should have enjoyed being a "salted fish" and just lazing around, yet I was constantly being pushed forward. If that push was solely due to my fascination with transcendent power, I wouldn't even believe it myself.
Before leaving, I used a Disguise Spell to change my appearance. It wasn't a major overhaul, just a change in hair and eye color.
"Is this the alternate persona you've set for yourself?"
"Yes. I don't want to cause too much trouble," I said, playing with my long, silver-white hair. White hair really was the best.
"Hmm... looking at you like this, it feels like something is missing... You plan to spend the whole week in the library looking like that, right?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?" I looked at Ji Niang, curious. She seemed like she had something else to say.
"Here, have something good." Ji Niang walked back into her office, and I followed.
"Put these on..." Ji Niang pulled out a pair of black-framed glasses and placed them on my face. "Now you look like a proper scholar."
"Huh?" I frowned deeply. I hadn't expected Teacher Ji Niang to be the type of witch to play jokes like this.
"It's an alchemy item—Anti-fatigue Glasses. They have self-adjusting lenses and can even slightly correct vision problems. Their main function is to relieve eye strain. If you don't want them, give them back. They're just a toy I won in a bet with another witch."
"No, thank you, Teacher Ji Niang. A gift given cannot be taken back." I instinctively touched the glasses and saw unknown characters etched into the inside of the frame.
"That's a name etched in the Language of Witches. It's the name of the witch who made them. She's quite skilled in alchemy, but she has a habit of marking her work with her name. You don't need to worry about that."
"The Language of Witches?" I tilted my head, hearing the term for the first time.
"The common language and script of the Witch race. Don't worry too much; that's something you'll only need to care about after you leave this world. Besides, the Language of Witches is a mature system that has undergone special integration. You can master it with a single contract."
"Wait... a contract can grant knowledge?" I immediately caught the keyword.
"It can, but it's much more troublesome than your Memory Bookshelf. A contract is like a printing press—it's hard to start, but once you have a template, you can mass-produce copies. That's the advantage of a contract. But there's no need for you to put the cart before the horse. Just keep filling your Memory Bookshelf yourself."
"Understood." I nodded silently, filing away this new information.
I adjusted the glasses, a motion that felt like an old habit resurfacing. In my past life, I had been an ordinary person, and nearsightedness was inevitable, so I was used to wearing glasses.
In this life, I had been careful, and perhaps due to the influence of Spirit Vision, I wasn't nearsighted. I thought I had lost the habit, but it returned quite naturally.
The alchemical glasses quickly adjusted, becoming plain glass.
"Also, take these printed materials with you. Look over them from time to time. This is one of your few practical applications of runes. It's no good just reading dead books; you need to practice your hand at it occasionally."
"I understand." I nodded and gathered the mountain of printed paper. These were the instructional materials Ji Niang had compiled; they were well worth re-reading many times.
This was the content involved in modding a non-restricted consumption spellbook. Feeling the weight of the papers in my arms, I couldn't help but sigh at how long the road ahead of me truly was.