Chapter 430: Battling My Past Self
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 430: Battling My Past Self
As my consciousness blurred for a moment, I opened my eyes again to find my surroundings turning ethereal. This was a dream.
To someone like me, who once mastered dream-rewriting spells, this sensation was incredibly familiar—even if that particular spell was currently useless.
It was just as Hong Chenyi had said: the threshold for using this dream pod was much lower. At the very least, I felt no discomfort upon entering the dreamscape.
At that moment, streams of dream ley line data flashed rapidly before my eyes. After a brief look, I realized this was the information generated after account registration.
It seemed the academy had set this up; it was truly convenient.
I looked over the basic student information displayed and checked my own condition. My spellbooks and mana sources seemed to have been perfectly preserved, and using them felt completely natural.
Operating the panels within the dream was also very intuitive. Rather than a mere dream experience, it felt more like being inside a social media account within a dream, complete with a friend list and even an inbox.
As soon as my new account was registered, several messages popped up in my inbox.
Scanning through them, the most prominent was a message that forced itself open. It was a tutorial for every new account, teaching how to use personal information and navigate the various functions within the dream.
After a quick glance, I confirmed most of it was standard procedure and didn't delve deeper.
There were many functions: one-tap mana recovery, resurrection, wound healing, pain adjustment, and even an "Ordinary Person" mode. In that state, one's mana sources and spellbooks would be blocked. This mode was generally used for specific challenges, such as limiting the number of mana sources or restricting the user to specific spellbooks.
The message in the inbox that surprised me most was an official notification from the Witch Academy.
It was a notice stating that the Primal Dream would use my personal dream data as a virtual target for challenges during the monthly exam's practical combat test.
Below it, rows of tiny text detailed the academy's commitments and legal disclaimers. I only skimmed them; even if I wanted to object, it was already too late, wasn't it?
I was just a bit surprised that Teacher Ji Niang hadn't mentioned this to me earlier. Or was this considered such a trivial matter in the eyes of the Transcendent Witches?
However, the document guaranteed that the Primal Dream was personally supervised by the Primal Witch and that no information leaks would occur, which put my mind at ease.
Based on my understanding of the Primal Witch, I doubted anyone could deceive her.
Even so, I saw an option to apply to withdraw my virtual image from the challenge.
And... I also saw that I could update the data for this virtual dream image.
"I can update it? Wouldn't that just turn it into a literal nightmare for the others? I wonder if the combat style of this virtual image in the dream will be the same as mine."
While I was lost in thought, I suddenly received several friend requests. Looking through them, aside from my roommates, the classmates I had just met also added me one after another.
After glancing at the friend list and seeing there was no limit on the number of slots, I accepted them all.
Immediately after, Hong Chenyi sent an invitation—a request to join a custom practical combat testing room.
Without thinking too much, I accepted.
Upon clicking confirm, my figure vanished from that empty dream space.
The next moment, I appeared in a vast, open area. It looked like an arena that had been magnified many times over; the space was incredibly wide.
When I instinctively turned my head, I realized I wasn't alone. My four roommates were already gathered, and the classmates I had met earlier were there too. It looked quite lively.
"Sister Xiao Han, how is it? Is it similar to the Dream Exchange Competition?" Seeing me appear, Hong Chenyi hurried over and asked curiously.
"Yeah, it's pretty much the same. How do you guys usually train? Do you do multiplayer battles here?" I nodded and asked, looking at her.
Since she was technically the one who had gathered everyone here, it was only natural to ask her what the plan was.
"It's nothing special, really. We just practice on our own. You can generate virtual opponents here. It's mostly just more fun with more people. Occasionally, we try team-based multiplayer battles. Sister Xiao Han, why don't you try challenging yourself?" Hong Chenyi explained straightforwardly, then shifted her tone to reveal her ultimate goal.
"Looking for a laugh at my expense already? Aren't you guys going to practice?" I didn't refuse her suggestion; instead, I teased her with a smile.
"This is a legendary scene in the making! If I can witness it, I can die happy!"
"Die happy over this? You're far too easy to please, aren't you?"
Despite my words, I had already opened the dream function panel and begun searching for the so-called virtual dream opponent.
The process was quick. Since I was in a dream combat room, the available functions were limited, and I could guess what most of the icons meant just by looking at them. I picked it up fast.
"At worst, I'll just die once in the dream. Sister Xiao Han, don't you want to try? If you have the chance, you should always try to challenge yourself. I heard that among the ten of you, everyone except you has already challenged their own dream opponent. I even heard someone messed up and got killed by their own copy."
"Killed their main body? Now that's interesting." A slight smile played on my lips. This meant the dream-simulated opponents were definitely not weak.
"Alright, I'll give it a try."
Hearing my agreement, Hong Chenyi was the most excited. The others were also curious but didn't interrupt.
Instead, they all instinctively backed away to a safe distance to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"Go for it, Sister Xiao Han! Beat your past self!"
"I'll do my best." I gave them a confident smile and immediately prepared myself, entering a combat state.
Before long, the opponent I selected was generated within the dream.
When that figure appeared, everyone grew excited.
I looked at the figure not far away. It was the old me—my hair hadn't turned white yet, and there was still a hint of naivety and confusion on my face.
Then, a prompt from the dream appeared.
Your selected opponent: 'Yang Yuehan' has been generated. The Primal Dream reminds you: please engage with caution.
As the countdown ended, the figure in the distance moved. She didn't attack first; instead, she began frantically stacking shields on herself.
Seeing this, I quickly realized why. Back then, because I lacked confidence in my own strength, I prioritized safety above all else in every battle, only attacking afterward.
I couldn't help but smile knowingly, as if sharing a silent understanding with my past self.
I didn't stay idle either, immediately launching a Fireball Spell.
After releasing the spell, I felt that even in the dream, the spell's effects simulated the suppression of the Main World Great Weakening Spell. It seemed that even here, everything was based on the environment of the Main World.
I didn't dwell on it. My ordinary Fireball Spell was easily blocked by the dream version of me. An efficient energy shield met the explosive force of the fireball and the high temperatures of the dissipating fire elements.
The opponent didn't let this perfect opportunity go to waste and began unleashing a barrage of attacks on me.
Facing these probing basic evocation spells, I shifted my body, using minimal effort to evade the effects of the magic.
Without hesitation, I relied on the powerful physical constitution of a body cultivator to close the distance between us instantly.
Seeing the situation turn sour, the opponent immediately sent floating spells toward me to entangle me, trying to buy time to deal with her disadvantage in close combat. The next moment, she cast the Flame Fairy Transformation, turning into a flame-shrouded fairy. Out of caution, she even added the protection of a flame spirit.
Seeing this response, I had to admit it was impressive.
I finally understood just how desperate the enemies I faced in the past must have felt.
This kind of momentum could likely only be countered with even greater frontal force; there was no room for clever tricks.
But don't forget, I now possessed an over-consumption spellbook. Even though using it was essentially a final strike, which student would dare to charge head-on against even my current level of attack?
However, I was no longer who I used to be. My understanding of floating spells far surpassed my past self's. It didn't take long for me to break through the entanglement and arrive in front of the other me, moving with extreme speed.
Upon reaching her, I had already settled into a martial arts starting stance.
These were movements from the Ritual War Dance I practiced. Although the dance was meant for body tempering, its techniques were highly applicable to actual combat.
Coupled with my perfect mastery over my body, I threw a punch. The terrifying force of the strike, driven by transcendent energy, unleashed a horrific blow, followed immediately by a thunderous sonic boom.
The sheer power allowed me to ignore the protection of the elemental spirit and the Flame Fairy Transformation.
With a booming collision, the punch was ultimately blocked by the protection, but the terrifying force left the spell's effects teetering on the brink of collapse.
Perhaps the spell could withstand one or two hits, but what about after that? Mana doesn't recover as quickly as physical stamina.
Furthermore, the Elf Blessing spellbook wasn't purely defensive; it was a versatile blessing that allowed one to control fire, increase elemental affinity, provide some protection, and offer auxiliary attacks from the elemental spirit. But now, facing my high mobility, she could only be suppressed. Moreover, my physical constitution back then wasn't much stronger than an average person's.
Soon, this version of me had her blessings and transformation shattered by my subsequent attacks. She dissipated within the combat room in a rather pathetic state, not even having time to release the Fire Rain Domain. Or rather, even if she had, it wouldn't have mattered. Without deeper technical mastery of the fire rain, it was just a Fire Rain Spell approaching a domain level, better suited for large-scale suppression.
Immediately, cheers led by Hong Chenyi erupted.
"Sister Xiao Han is the GOAT!"
"The fight ended with hardly any spells used. That was amazing!"
They were still reeling from my combat style until someone shouted, snapping everyone back to reality.
They were still profoundly shocked by the battle—especially those terrifying sonic booms from the punches and the dazzlingly fluid footwork used to dodge spells. This style of combat, full of power and technique, was far more captivating than just a flashy exchange of spells!
I looked at the spot where the other me had vanished and relaxed my clenched fist. The others immediately swarmed around me, peppering me with questions, mostly praising my strength and expressing curiosity about the power I had just used.
After all, they had never seen this kind of power before. Didn't the Witch Academy only teach transcendent power and spellcasting?
Facing their questions like a group of curious kittens, I quickly explained.
"The power I used just now was actually martial arts. I've been practicing body cultivation techniques on the side. After all, it helps strengthen the body. You guys should know, right? It's very disadvantageous if someone gets close to you during a fight."
"Martial arts? Can martial arts have such terrifying power? I want to learn it too!" Hong Chenyi spoke up without hesitation. It was hard to tell if she was just caught up in the moment or if she truly wanted to learn.
"Body cultivation is very difficult, and it's quite a niche field in the Witch Academy. I don't recommend it as a major. Maybe you can take it as a minor to improve your physical fitness and close-combat skills; it provides a significant boost to transformation spells and the like."
"Sister Xiao Han, you haven't been around lately... you weren't off in seclusion practicing martial arts, were you? This is a completely different fighting style from before, and you took down your past self so easily."
"I didn't go out of my way to practice it, really. I just discovered I had a talent for it and didn't want to let it go to waste. I was away for other reasons. By the way, aren't you guys going to practice? The monthly exam is coming up soon, right?" I explained briefly and then quickly changed the subject.
"Being this strong without even trying... Sister Xiao Han, stop showing off, we can't take it."
"Just practice more and you'll be fine. I went through the same thing. In the Witch Academy, anything can be fake, but your hard work won't be," I comforted them before speaking again. "Alright, I have some things to do. Why don't you guys keep practicing?"
"Eh? Sister Xiao Han, why are you so busy every day? What is it this time?"
"Oh, my dream account was just registered. The academy sent a notice about using my dream image for the monthly exam tests. I'm going to synchronize my current strength. I wonder if you'll run into me during the exam."
"What?"
Upon hearing my words, the girls were instantly petrified. What on earth did they just hear?
She's already this strong, and she's still not going to give anyone a chance to live?!
"Don't! Please don't!"
"Sister Xiao Han! Have mercy!"
"Didn't one of you just say you were lucky you got eliminated before you had to face me? This shouldn't really affect you, right?" I said with a smile. After all, those who could participate in the exchange competition weren't weak; they just hadn't shown their full strength yet.
"Is that so? I guess that makes sense... I remember Sister Xiao Han is the final boss. That's a level I can't even reach anyway."
"Sister Xiao Han, then I support you!" At this point, Hong Chenyi immediately changed her tune, becoming gleeful. Since it didn't affect her, she was happy to watch the chaos!
However, I wasn't in a hurry to update my combat data just yet. Since I hadn't seen my roommates in a while, I naturally had a lot to talk about.
The others were the same. They were also very confused about why I had resigned as class monitor. Although Tu Xingyue had taken over and nothing had really changed for Class 14, they still felt a bit... awkward.
The position of class monitor represented the combat power of a class. Tu Xingyue didn't have the same absolute dominance over the class that I did. With a point of comparison, an imbalance was inevitable, so the current class atmosphere wasn't as good as before.
In fact, a large portion of Class 14 admired my strength to varying degrees. After all, my strength was built up bit by bit, from being unknown in the initial confrontation matches to fighting the famous Tan Han, then to the Exchange Competition, and finally to the rumored Battle of Ninglan New City. The fact that Ninglan Qiuyue joined Class 14 was the most authentic proof of this. All of this proved the strength of Class 14's original monitor. Even if I didn't manage the class or even attend lectures, they still wouldn't have any objections.
Hearing their stories, even I hadn't expected this. Is it true that you only realize someone's value once they're gone?
I didn't really care about that, though.
"By the way, Sister Xiao Han... I heard... that you personally destroyed the Luck Seed... is that true?"
"Hmm? Why the sudden question?" I looked at the classmate. Although I couldn't quite remember her name, why had she suddenly brought up this topic?
Had the matter of Ninglan New City still not settled down?