Chapter 383: Runes Derived from [Transcendent Knowledge]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 383: Runes Derived from [Transcendent Knowledge]
Only after Teacher Ji Niang finished speaking did I finally have the right to touch this piece of [Transcendent Knowledge].
On the surface, "collecting materials" yourself sounded simple, but it all depended on what you were collecting.
This was an object on the Transcendent level. Once Teacher Ji Niang realized I had instinctively developed a "pixelated" self-shielding response to the thing, she used the Ley Line System to actively blur it for me. This was to prevent any accidental leakage of massive amounts of information from causing unknowable harm to me.
I operated the Ley Line System and turned off the automatic blur-follow, but even then, when I looked at the [Transcendent Knowledge], I still couldn't see it clearly. Even though I was very close, it remained a blur, as if my eyes were subconsciously refusing to focus.
I slowly closed my eyes, utilizing a body cultivator’s total mastery over their own form and my control over my Five Senses Perception...
I opened my eyes again. I wasn't sure if physical visual control worked on Spirit Vision, but at this moment, I was certain that if I believed it worked, that thought would more effectively allow me to command a domain my subjective mind couldn't normally reach.
That domain was Spirit Vision.
In that instant, I felt the pixelation before my eyes becoming finer, the blurry image seemingly sharpening.
The change was like slowly peeling away the veil of reality, sending a surge of excitement through my spirit.
It was as if a voice was echoing in my ear: Almost there! You’re about to see it!
Everything in my sight began to reorganize. My vision was "filling in the blanks," constructing an image I had never witnessed before, until a corner of the truth was slowly revealed.
What I saw... was all truth. Truth that existed before my foresight, yet I had foreseen it before its revelation.
This wondrous state, impossible to describe in words, left an indelible joy in the depths of my heart. This was the first time I had so clearly experienced what the "Foresight" level of Spirit Vision truly was!
"Xiao Han! Xiao Han! What’s happening? Are you okay?!" A series of urgent shouts rang in my ears, accompanied by the vibration and sound of my cheeks being slapped...
"Mm... Uh... Huh?"
I felt as if I had just woken from a great dream. Seeing Teacher Ji Niang’s panicked expression, I quickly realized what I had done.
"Sorry, I got too absorbed..." I shook my head, indicating I was fine. But when I tried to recall what I had just seen... I wasn't sure. I should have seen something, but it wasn't the [Transcendent Knowledge] itself—it was myself.
"You scared me to death. I thought something happened to you. You’d better stop looking at this." As Ji Niang spoke, she pulled over the Ley Line System control panel, preparing to re-apply the blur.
"Wait! Stop!" I blocked her hand.
"What is it?"
"I didn't have an accident just now. I just... how should I put it? I seem to have gained a deeper mastery over Spirit Vision. Foresight... yes, it should be Foresight!"
I recalled the Spirit Vision level classifications I had read before; "Foresight" was the very first level.
Back then, I didn't know what Foresight-level Spirit Vision was. I had only heard others describe it as catching glimpses of the world's truth in passing—something that only happened when a person couldn't fully control their Spirit Vision, rather than an intermittent trait of the Foresight level itself.
Thoroughly mastering the Foresight level of Spirit Vision was the first step to stepping into the Transcendent. Using Foresight to see the true Transcendent world that was previously invisible—that was the true entry into the Transcendent world.
Only by seeing can one pursue.
So... just now, I must have completely mastered the first level of Spirit Vision.
The Floating World level was the current ceiling of my Spirit Vision, and now... "Foresight" was the baseline I could command.
If I kept thinking along these lines, could I gradually come into contact with the subsequent levels: "Imaging," "Unknowable," and that threshold known as the "Threshold of Madness"?
Previously, my Floating World Level Spirit Vision had no foundation to back it up, which led to all sorts of uncontrollable situations.
Now, it was as if I had Foresight-level abilities to drive the Floating World. Though it was still a drop in the bucket, it was a completely different concept from before.
"Foresight?"
Clearly, Ji Niang didn't quite understand what I was trying to express.
"Yes. Can I try again?"
"Fine. But if anything seems wrong, I will forcibly terminate your actions immediately," Ji Niang said sternly.
"Mm-hmm, I'm not about to gamble with my life," I said casually, then stepped beside the [Transcendent Knowledge].
I instinctively wiped the air in front of me, as if casually brushing away the layer of pixelation. In that moment, the true form of the [Transcendent Knowledge] appeared in my eyes.
With just one look, a sharp, stinging pain shot through my head. It was the stimulus caused by Spirit Vision receiving too much information at once. It was just like the first time I saw a Mana Source; it required adaptation.
This was still within my limit, but... I didn't have much time in this state.
Estimating my remaining time, I looked at the core of the [Transcendent Knowledge]. It was an illusory "rune," a rune I couldn't describe.
As for the units that made up this composite rune... there wasn't enough time. Not nearly enough. I only had time to see a single composite rune within its deeper layers, engraving it deep into my mind...
"Alright, that’s your limit."
Ji Niang’s voice came through, and a force on my shoulder pulled me away.
"Thanks..."
In that final moment, I didn't resist. Just as Teacher Ji Niang said, I had reached my limit.
But I had also succeeded.
"You’re saying thanks? Did you completely ignore everything I just said?"
I plopped down onto a chair Ji Niang had pulled over.
Looking at her, I felt a slight pang of guilt. Just now, I really had been counting on her to back me up, which made me a bit reckless.
But I knew that no matter how reckless I was, the worst that would happen was a blackout; my consciousness wouldn't be scattered by the information flood. That was the source of my confidence.
"For the rest of this research, you are not allowed to touch the [Transcendent Knowledge] itself again," Teacher Ji Niang commanded in a firm tone.
"Eh? But... I did it..." I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to focus my consciousness and adapt to the side effects of overusing Spirit Vision.
Then, I reached out my hand. Mental power surged, and an illusory rune condensed and rose from my palm.
This was the rune structure I had mentally imprinted in that split second. I just wasn't sure which part of the [Transcendent Knowledge] this structure belonged to.
"You!"
A flash of shock crossed Ji Niang’s eyes when she saw the rune in my hand. It was fundamentally different from the basic rune rituals she had imprinted before.
Though she was shocked by the rune I had captured, she was still very angry about my impulsiveness!
"Xiao Han, I am telling you this with absolute seriousness! I don't need you to risk your life like this for the research of [Transcendent Knowledge]! I’m the one who brought you to the Witch Academy! Your life is far more precious than this thing! Do you understand?!" Ji Niang pointed at the [Transcendent Knowledge] she had previously treated like a treasure, practically shouting her reprimand.
"I... I understand..."
I pulled my neck in. This was the first time I had seen Teacher Ji Niang so angry. I was genuinely startled, and my voice lost all its confidence. "I was wrong. I won't do it again..."
"There is to be no next time."
"But... there's a first time for everything..."
"You..." Ji Niang seemed almost driven to a frustrated laugh by my retort. "When you try something, you should think about whether you can afford the price!"
"I can... I have a certain degree of mastery over Spirit Vision now. I know very well that an information surge of this level will at most knock me out for a while. It’s not a big deal... even my Resurrection Spell..."
"Enough! Xiao Han, you lack reverence for life right now. Do you understand what that means?! A lack of reverence for life will only lead to self-destruction in the end. Even a Resurrection Spell won't be able to save you!"
"Ugh... I'm sorry..."
"You should be sorry to yourself! Sigh..." Ji Niang was so frustrated she didn't know what else to say, but after that outburst, she calmed down.
"That’s enough for today. Go back."
"Eh? But, I just imprinted that rune... that rune is clearly..."
"Go. Back. And. Rest!" Teacher Ji Niang said each word with heavy emphasis.
"Yes, yes... I... I'm going." Seeing her like this, I didn't dare challenge her patience any further.
However... it seemed Teacher Ji Niang had also realized she was overreacting out of concern. I really wasn't in any major trouble; otherwise, she wouldn't have let me walk back to rest on my own.
Under Teacher Ji Niang’s combined assault of coaxing and shooing, I finally left.
Being kicked out so suddenly while it was still afternoon left me at a loss for what to do.
During the time Sister Bai was away, I had truly poured all my energy into cultivation and [Transcendent Knowledge].
I had to admit, I was doing it to distract myself.
Now that I was forced to relax, I didn't know what to do. Go play? Or go back and sleep?
After all, my actions earlier had been a bit too willful, and the side effects of the Spirit Vision were only now starting to catch up with me.
My head was throbbing.
"Ugh... which landmark did I teleport to?" Walking down the street, I felt my brain was a bit sluggish; I hadn't even realized where I was.
After a few more steps, I saw a familiar place.
The Witch Cat Cafe.
"Well... since I'm already here..." Standing there, my hands suddenly felt itchy. I wanted to pet some cats and check on those Fool's Dreams while I was at it.
Entering the Witch Cat Cafe, I reflexively chose a seat by the window.
"Guest... please... Eh? It’s Sister Xiao Han!"
Just as I sat down, a nimble figure darted over to me.
"Hmm?" I looked at the little cutie in front of me. Her whole body barely reached the tabletop even when she reached up. She was wearing a custom-made Witch Cat Cafe uniform and holding a small order notepad.
"Mmm~ Get me a hand-ground coffee," I said.
As I spoke, I reached out and rubbed the little Fool's Dream's head, playfully flicking her cat ears.
"Okay~ Sister Xiao Han, I'll bring it right over!"
She finished and left briskly. Judging by her high spirits, they were living quite well here.
As expected, now that the initial hype of the Fool's Dreams at the Witch Cat Cafe had passed, there weren't as many people here as when I first came. However, there were still quite a few who had come specifically for the Fool's Dreams.
After the Fool's Dream left, I scanned the room. There were cat trees and toys everywhere. I scooped up a little white cat that was walking elegantly past me. Amidst its "Meow~", I pulled it into my arms.
As expected of a veteran staff member of the Witch Cat Cafe, it didn't resist much once I held it. It just looked at me curiously, as if asking if I had any cat treats.
"What a little glutton~" I stroked its white fur. Soon, it let out a comfortable "purr-purr" sound.
As I petted the cat, the sense of comfort made all my stress and worries vanish. Cats truly possessed the power to heal the human heart.
I looked down and reached out to touch the collar around the little white cat's neck. There was a name tag hanging from it with characters engraved on it.
"Hmm... Baiyun? Is that your name?" I asked gently.
Even though I knew perfectly well the kitten couldn't talk, I still talked to myself like this.
But since this one was named Baiyun (White Cloud), I remembered there was an all-black kitten named Little Dark Cloud here too. "By the way, are you and that cat named Little Dark Cloud a couple?"
"Meow~ Purr-purr~ Meow~"
Baiyun meowed at me, seemingly a bit displeased by my comment, but after a few purrs, it stopped resisting. It seemed this was another cat that had chosen to just "lie flat" and relax at the Witch Cat Cafe.
Soon, my coffee was served. However, it wasn't the Fool's Dream who brought it, but the Part-time Senior Sister. She was very enthusiastic and intentionally tried to flirt with me, but I politely declined.
After all, when I had pulled out my Gold Cat Card before, it had really surprised them. They probably thought of me as the wealthy type.
But... I wasn't in the mood to flirt with her. Even though flirting with these cute cat-girls was part of the service at the Witch Cat Cafe, you had to give an extra tip for that.
Taking a sip of the coffee, the bitterness and richness unique to the drink spread through my mouth.
My slightly heavy head and thoughts were instantly refreshed.
"The afternoon hours are really hard to kill... nothing to do..."
But I knew I just didn't have anyone to do things with. Should I... go ask the people in the dorm what they were up to?
I always felt that the things I did were too detached from people my age, to the point where I felt our lifestyles and topics of conversation were no longer compatible.
"Our cognitions aren't on the same level anymore. I suppose there's no need to go out of my way to cater to them. I should just let nature take its course," I took another sip of coffee and shook my head with a smile, talking to myself.
I seemed to have pondered this question many times, but I never found a good solution.
But thinking about it now... letting nature take its course was fine. Why force myself to fit in?
Even if I didn't know how to interact with them, when I went back and saw them, I would still greet them with a normal heart and chat casually.
As time passed, I finished half the cup. Once the bitter coffee went cold, it turned slightly sour, as if urging me to leave.
"Time to go back. Since I have nothing to do, I might as well study that rune. After all, it’s the result I got only after being scolded by Teacher Ji Niang."