Chapter 419: Invading the Main Trunk of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 419: Invading the Main Trunk of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree
At this moment, the rune hovered above my palm. Drawing upon my reservoir of Runology, the knowledge within my Memory Bookshelf became the tools in my hands, with this composite rune serving as the spell's core.
I was refining it into a spell capable of manifesting a tangible effect.
In truth, I could have taken a simpler route; using rituals and transcendent structures, I could have directly refined this rune into a minor spell. However, I couldn't afford to be so short-sighted. If I was going to refine it, I had to construct it into a complete, formal spell. Only then could I truly discern what this thing actually was.
Time ticked by, and the rune in my hand was gradually perfected. Throughout the process, the spell continuously drew in the transcendent energy from the environment.
Based on my understanding of Elemental Theory, this energy belonged to the composite elemental type. After all, one couldn't expect elemental energy to be perfectly pure; much like the natural world, pure elements rarely exist in isolation—most are mixtures. There was a high probability that the elemental energy drawn in by the spell's fluctuations was the wood element.
Wood element is also a composite energy formed by the convergence of multiple elements.
It was hardly a surprise; Plant Technology and the Tears of the Mad Plant both hinted that this rune was inextricably linked to vegetation.
As the rune ritual in my hand began to circulate of its own accord, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed my eyes. It looked like a success. To be honest, I wasn't particularly skilled in the art of deriving a spell backward from a core rune.
All things considered, I hadn't practiced this technique many times. Most of the tricks I knew were learned from the Academy Dean while researching the Reverse Summoning Spell, but they were certainly proving their worth now.
Before long, the spell was successfully cast. Casting a spell without a spellbook to serve as a platform was indeed cumbersome; the lag was no better than that of a Chanting Mage. After once again lamenting how incredible spellbooks were, I hurriedly examined the spell's effect.
Under the spell's influence, the gathered elemental energy began to condense. I wondered to myself whether this was an attack spell or a purely utility-based one.
Soon, the wood elements coalesced into a series of veins and pathways, blooming outward from a single origin point.
In the pitch-black night, the spell's radiance reflected off my face. It was like a seed, simulating the process of taking root, using space itself as soil. It probed outward from the "seed," and then the central point of the spell—the seed itself—was pushed upward as if it were sprouting.
The entire process was an extension of these veins, pulsing like some strange, alien plant. The root system reaching out captured the free-floating elemental energy in the environment. As it absorbed this energy, the vascular plant grew bit by bit, beginning to bloom.
Upon closer inspection, the veins in their blooming posture resembled branches and leaves.
Without wasting words, I directly mobilized the mana within my Mana Source, then used a Mana Conversion Rune to transform that mana into elemental energy.
This type of Mana Conversion Rune—or rather, this specific ritual structure—could be found in almost every Evocation spellbook. After all, mana is not elemental energy; it is a far more terrifying, high-energy transcendent power. One could see how formidable mana was simply by the fact that an average person's mental power couldn't hope to harness it.
Back when I was dismantling spellbooks, I had long since committed this mana conversion ritual to memory.
Now, with the support of elemental energy converted from an entire Mana Source, this pulse-plant shot up like it had been fed fertilizer, instantly reaching over a person's height and quickly brushing against the ceiling. And it was still growing.
Seeing this anomaly, I abruptly dispelled the spell in my hand. I hadn't realized this thing could be so aggressive; it was better not to test it in the bedroom.
Even after I dispelled the spell, the small sapling formed of veins remained "sturdy," as if it could maintain its vitality even without the spell's support.
However, I soon discovered that without the supply of high-density elemental energy from the mana conversion, the ambient energy was insufficient to sustain its current growth. It began to "wither," its veins growing dim and lusterless... until it died off completely.
And so, a "plant lifeform" ended its short-lived existence.
Nevertheless, the process left me deeply shocked. If this tree were in an environment rich in elemental energy, wouldn't its effect last indefinitely, much like a Great Spellbook?
No, no... it was still a transient spell effect. The only thing special about it was that it was formed from revelations gained through [Transcendent Knowledge]!
Furthermore, I possessed a Great Spellbook myself and was under the constant buff of its Wisdom Enlightenment effect. I quickly realized that the essence of this spell's effect was fundamentally different from the permanent persistence of a Great Spellbook.
"Looks like I can't test this in the bedroom anymore. I need to go somewhere else," I muttered. The brief attempt just now had nearly filled my room. To be safe, I couldn't stay here.
With that thought, a spatial portal appeared before me. In the next instant, I vanished from my bedroom.
* * *
In the night sky, I looked down at the lights on the roads below. These were all products of Plant Technology, though I couldn't discern the botanical traits of these artificial creations.
Clearly, the people of this world had used their ingenuity to push these plants to their absolute limits.
And I was certain these plants were still alive; they simply no longer relied on photosynthesis to survive. Instead, they were sustained by the massive underground ley energy root network.
I was currently on the rooftop of my apartment building, but I still felt it wasn't secure enough.
With a snap of my fingers, a mirror-like barrier shrouded the entire rooftop. They reflected the sky at a tilted angle; in the dark of night, no one would notice anything amiss.
This was actually just a minor Mirror Spell I used frequently, but at this moment, it served as the perfect nocturnal camouflage.
Then, I repeated what I had done in the bedroom.
This time, I used mana conversion from the start to bolster it with elemental energy.
The seed condensed by the spell shimmered with a faint emerald luster, and from within it, those golden-leaning veins once again surged from the ground.
This time, I simply watched dispassionately. If this spell only grew a tree, what use was it?
Or did it contain some deeper revelation?
Or was it just a simple tree-planting spell—and a disposable one at that?
I watched the tree as it continued to expand. Only now did I notice that the tree actually had a phantom outer bark. I had thought it only manifested the extension of internal veins, but as the veins grew, a layer of elemental matter adhered to them, forming a rough bark.
As it grew taller, it began to graze the height of my mirror barrier.
"No, I can't let this continue." I observed it constantly—with my naked eyes, with Spirit Vision, using every method available to glean any revelation it might be expressing, but to no avail.
I couldn't just let it keep going. If someone discovered a glowing tree suddenly growing here, I'd probably have to move immediately. Otherwise, the first people to arrive would be the Secret Diggers, and once they showed up, I could forget about having any peace.
So, I decisively chose to destroy the spell effect. The massive trunk collapsed, but it didn't make a sound. The elemental energy circulating within it dissipated in an instant.
Immediately following that, the energy surge shattered the fragile Mirror Spell. Cracks like broken glass appeared in the night sky, though unfortunately, no one was there to witness such a striking scene.
I didn't stop it, letting it all happen. Feeling the night wind high atop the roof, I gazed into the distance and then released a spell.
"Staring into the distance won't necessarily give you any new ideas, you know?" my own voice echoed in my ear.
I didn't turn around, because I knew it was my Illusion Clone speaking to me.
"Do you have any ideas, then?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
My other self stood beside me, then raised a hand and pointed in a specific direction.
It was Lanas University, located near where I lived. The identity of the girl I had borrowed earlier was a student of that institution.
But I knew the Illusion Clone wasn't pointing at the school itself, but at the most prominent tree within it—the Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
This was the very foundation of this world's Plant Network.
"You're right. The Omni-Link Main Network Tree is the pinnacle of this world's Plant Technology. Perhaps I really should make a move on that thing," I said, nodding.
Since they were both trees, perhaps the Omni-Link Main Network Tree would have a unique reaction to the tree generated by my spell.
However, there was one problem: the security around the Omni-Link Main Network Tree was incredibly tight. Even though it was inside the university, the students weren't even allowed to view it up close; they could only see it from a distance.
Furthermore, the tree was encased in a massive, transparent spherical protective facility. It utilized specialized Plant Technology for defense and was rumored to have been "grafted" onto the Omni-Link Main Network Tree itself. It was said to be able to easily withstand the world's most powerful weapons. I had my doubts about that, though; I wasn't sure it could hold up against a Fire Rain Domain without the suppression of a Great Weakening Spell.
I had to admit, I was a bit envious of that protective facility. If I could derive a corresponding protection spell from it, its strength would likely be quite high.
Pushing these idle thoughts aside, my mind returned to the Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
Infiltrating it wouldn't actually be that difficult; a teleportation spell would suffice. However, the internal monitoring methods were quite sophisticated. And it wasn't as if the place was empty; it was crawling with people—maintenance personnel who had dedicated their entire lives to the Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
Every one of them was a top-tier talent of Lanas Island. They lived inside the protective facility, only allowed to leave for personnel rotations at specific times of the year.
If I teleported in, I’d likely trigger the alarms immediately. At that point, it wouldn't be an investigation of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree; it would turn into a frontal assault. If possible, I naturally didn't want to choose such a blunt method—unless I truly had no other choice.
Despite my thoughts, my body instinctively began moving toward the location.
I leaped across the rooftops. I didn't even use a flying broom; my physical strength alone was enough to clear the gaps between buildings.
In a flash, I arrived within the university grounds.
The campus was silent in the dead of night, with few people on the paths.
Before long, I saw the colossal, landmark-like protective facility.
The base still retained a rugged, wooden structure, but further up, it transitioned into a resin-like, crystal-clear dome. It had no internal supports, yet it wasn't crushed by its own weight; the strength of the material was likely far beyond my imagination.
Beneath this massive facility, I felt a staggering supply of ley energy. The Omni-Link Main Network Tree was constantly receiving and transmitting a sea of information and data. Even beneath my feet, a torrential flow of information surged.
I stopped my advance. Strictly speaking, the area I was in was already a restricted zone. Even at night, there were patrols, and the people here didn't dare slack off. They gave me no openings.
However, as I scouted the perimeter, I saw traces of combat. There were clear marks of explosions and fire—the calling cards of the Secret Diggers.
It seemed the Secret Diggers were also very interested in this thing. These marks weren't old; they were recent.
"Perhaps... I can pin this on the Secret Diggers." After thinking for a long time, I really couldn't come up with a good way to get in undetected.
And unfortunately, there were no personnel rotations scheduled for the near future. The only entrance was locked down tight; there was no way in from above or below.
After weighing my options... perhaps I should just find an opportunity for a frontal assault...
And then cut their "monitoring" as quickly as possible. Regardless of the trouble I caused, someone else would inevitably be responsible for the cleanup.
When you get down to it, the only reason I felt stuck was that I didn't want people to know I was the one causing such a massive disturbance. I had plenty of methods—like spatial teleportation that could ignore these protective facilities. The only things I needed to worry about were the detectors, cameras, and so on.
So... cut the ley energy supply to these facilities, and all problems would be solved. As for the potential collapse of the Plant Network... to put it bluntly, I didn't care.
And if I let my thoughts wander to a darker place, I was also curious: what would this world become without the Plant Network?
Furthermore, such a large-scale anomaly would lead to martial law, but I would be operating within that window of chaos. Finding a deliberately hidden me in such a vast place wouldn't be easy.
Once I reached the Omni-Link Main Network Tree, the worst-case scenario would be them hesitating to act for fear of damaging the tree. By that point, what would I have to fear?
They should be the ones fearing me.
My goal from the beginning was simply to have close contact with the Omni-Link Main Network Tree. I wanted to see the relationship between this pinnacle of technology—developed under the influence of that [Transcendent Knowledge]—and the revelations I had received. I'd leave a teleportation mark while I was at it to make it easier to return.
When one's own strength and methods are enough to launch a dimensional strike against the opponent, there's no need to care about their attitude, nor is there any need to overthink things.
Having reached this conclusion, I no longer hesitated and acted immediately.
...
Early morning.
Qiu Ruxin had been tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep. Only now did her exhausted body finally force her mind toward a poor-quality slumber.
But at that moment, a piercing alarm blared from the distance. In an instant, Lanas University was bathed in light, and all surrounding areas entered a state of high alert. Alarms placed everywhere screamed at maximum volume, notifying everyone that the main trunk of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree was being invaded.
"Huh?" Qiu Ruxin's eyes had been half-closed, nearly asleep, when she was jolted awake by the alarm. Instantly, her mood soured.
Her tired, dazed eyes were full of confusion. What was happening?
She forced her weak body to turn on the light, then leaned against the wall for support as she made her way to the window.
"That's... Lanas University?" Qiu Ruxin gasped, her sleepiness vanishing by half.
An alarm of that magnitude, a city-wide alert... was the main trunk of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree being attacked?
Qiu Ruxin realized with disbelief—who would be suicidal enough to touch that thing?
Could it be the Secret Diggers?
Based on what she knew of them, they were certainly capable of it.
Even if the state allowed the Secret Diggers to run rampant within its borders, they wouldn't dare touch the Omni-Link Main Network Tree. Once that was touched, the entire world would truly fight the Secret Diggers to the death!
Because they truly couldn't imagine how far society would regress without the Plant Network.
"Sister Xiao Han... Sister Xiao Han? Something happened outside... Huh? Where is she?" Qiu Ruxin walked out of her bedroom. She didn't believe Sister Xiao Han wouldn't have noticed such a massive commotion, but no matter how she knocked, there was no response.
"Sorry..." she whispered, then pushed open the door to my bedroom. But the room was empty. "Sister Xiao Han... she's not here? Wait... it couldn't be that the intruder... is Sister Xiao Han?"