Chapter 436: Replicating the Fool's Dream Drink
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 436: Replicating the Fool's Dream Drink
After bidding farewell to Tan Han, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
My interaction with her this time felt quite good. There was none of the previous stiffness or the feeling of being on completely different wavelengths. I could just say whatever was on my mind.
Perhaps it was a shift in my mindset. After all, everyone changes; as long as I ensure that each of my transformations is for the better, then I consider it a success.
I had learned my lesson this time. Before heading off to find Sofiri, I decided to call her first. It would be unfortunate if she wasn't at the plantation when I arrived.
The call connected, and Sofiri’s voice soon came through.
"Xiao Han? Why are you calling me all of a sudden? Shouldn't you be in the middle of an exam right now?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm coming over because I've already finished."
"Finished? So soon?"
"Mm-hmm~ This monthly exam was unexpectedly easy. I'm sure everyone will be done soon. But let's not talk about that. Now that the exam is over... well, where are you?"
"Are you calling to ask about those plants? I happen to be at the plantation right now."
"What a coincidence. It feels like every time I look for you, you're at the plantation. Are you trying to become the world's most hardworking gardener?"
"Well, we did have an agreement. I thought you wouldn't come looking for me until at least a day after the monthly exam. I didn't expect you to be so impatient."
"Hehe~ It's mostly because I have nothing else to do. So, should I head over now?"
"Wait! Hold on," Sofiri’s voice came through the phone, stopping me.
"What's wrong?"
"There's no need to go through the trouble of traveling here. Didn't you give me something last time? How about I try summoning you directly? I happen to have it on me."
"Oh? That would be quite convenient. Thanks!"
My eyes lit up at Sofiri’s suggestion. Being summoned would save me the trip and a lot of time.
If everyone I knew had a means like this, I wouldn't even need to fly to get around anymore.
It seemed the Reverse Summoning Spell had immense potential for development. I felt like I could try crafting these alchemy items into a sort of "business card" to hand out.
The upper limits of this spell were very high. Even if I had to cross worlds in the future... if only I had this spellbook before Sister Bai left. Then, she could have seen me whenever she wanted.
Unlike now, where I could only wait alone in the Main World for her return.
A moment later, I felt a summoning resonance from a certain direction. This sensation of being summoned was much clearer than the feeling of crossing between worlds.
Without hesitation, I chose to accept the summons.
* * *
At the plantation, this was Sofiri’s first time tinkering with the device. Although Xiao Han had taught her how to use it when she first received it, Sofiri was still a bit uncertain.
That was until a summoning ritual bloomed with her as the center. The brilliance of transcendent power flashed, momentarily blinding. In the next instant, she saw a figure emerge from the light.
"Long time no see, Sofiri."
I shook my head and waved away the residual energy clinging to me. The summoning ritual, having fulfilled its purpose, flickered out. I picked up the item and placed it back in Sofiri’s hand.
"It actually worked! You're really here!"
Sofiri stared at me, her eyes wide with astonishment. This was her first time witnessing a method to summon another person. Even though she had known about it beforehand, seeing it with her own eyes was a completely different experience.
"Of course. I wouldn't play such a cheap trick on you, would I?"
"I wasn't doubting you; it's just that seeing this kind of method for the first time feels magical. But let's not dwell on that. Let me show you the plants," Sofiri said, waving her hand dismissively before steering the conversation toward the main topic.
"Great. I'm curious to see how those fast-ripening fruits turned out," I replied with interest. I followed Sofiri to a specially designated cultivation area.
The area was divided into many small plots to distinguish between different plant varieties. Even for the same species, the internal growth conditions varied.
"These are the seeds you gave me later; they're still in their growth phase. These over here are from the first batch of ripening experiments," Sofiri explained, pulling out a small notebook to check her records.
"These ones that look withered are being used for seed breeding after we confirmed there were no obvious degradation issues from the forced ripening. At this stage, the success rate looks quite high, and the maturation cycle is incredibly short. These are among the fastest-growing plants I've ever seen—and the key is that they're all fruits."
"Well, these fruits were once the staple diet for certain creatures," I noted.
After all, if the yield was low and the cycle long, how could a species sustain itself? Though, back then, the number of Fool's Dreams in Fool's Village wasn't that large either.
"True... Oh! Right, I have some specially processed fruits here. Didn't you want to try concocting that Fool's Dream Drink? Why don't you give it a go?"
"I definitely want to try." That was, after all, my primary reason for coming—to see if I could replicate the Fool's Dream Drink.
However, once she led me to that specific area, I found that the fruits, preserved by magic, were still hanging perfectly on the vines. Ripples of spell energy surrounded them; the fruits looked as if they had just ripened, boasting a vibrant luster that made one want to take a bite immediately.
In truth, even if these fruits weren't made into the Fool's Dream Drink, they would be delicious just served as a fruit platter. I had tasted them before, and both the texture and flavor were beyond reproach.
"How is it? Does it meet your requirements?" Sofiri asked, a hint of confidence on her face. She was quite skilled at cultivating transcendent plants, and these fruits weren't particularly difficult to grow.
"Absolutely! Can I try?"
"Go ahead. This entire small plot is designated for preservation. If you manage it, just save a glass for me."
"Of course!"
I didn't stand on ceremony.
The memory, once stored in my Memory Bookshelf, had already been organized and moved into the Tree of Knowledge. In an instant, I recalled the entire process of mixing the Fool's Dream Drink—the proportions, the techniques, everything.
I pulled several containers from my storage equipment. They were actually bottles used for refining potions in alchemy, categorized as non-hazardous. There was no need to worry; if one were concerned about using these, then most potions in the academy wouldn't be drinkable.
I made sure to mention this to Sofiri to avoid any misunderstanding, but she clearly wasn't the type to worry about such things. Besides being a planter, she was also half a pharmacist; many of the potions she mastered were meant for oral consumption.
Following my memory, I crushed the fruits in the most efficient way to extract their juice. I could feel the transcendent energy mixed within the liquid—a power similar to plant essence unique to flora, which offered certain benefits to the physical body.
In reality, transcendent energy isn't necessarily a good thing for living organisms. The idea often found in novels—injecting raw transcendent power into the body—wouldn't strengthen it; it would likely cause significant harm. Raw transcendent energy doesn't naturally "upgrade" a body; it acts like a headless fly, wreaking havoc within.
Unless... that energy is naturally gentle, like the energy found in most transcendent plants. That energy can coexist harmoniously with the plant, which is a form of natural selection. Another way is "energy domestication," similar to energy synthesis in alchemy. The simplest example is an alchemical potion; through synthesis, transcendent energy is refined into a form that a living body can utilize.
Then there are Mana Sources. Mana Sources don't occur naturally; they are likely created by witches using specific techniques to transform mana. Given my understanding of the energy level of mana, if the power within a single Mana Source were to explode all at once, my current body probably wouldn't be able to withstand it. This wasn't an exaggeration; I had witnessed its extraordinary nature the first time I saw a Mana Source through Spirit Vision.
As someone who hadn't yet become a Transcendent Witch and couldn't yet perfectly wield mana, my understanding of it was undoubtedly insufficient. Perhaps a deeper exploration of mana would have to wait until after I achieved that rank.
As I continued my work, the Fool's Dream Drink—this unique blended fruit beverage—began to take shape. Unlike the configuration of an alchemical potion, it was more akin to the blending of a magic potion. The crucial part wasn't the ratio of the juices, but the ritual of the blend.
In the past, I might not have seen the deeper meaning behind this harmony. But now, with the Tree of Knowledge, I realized I had underestimated the Fool's Dream Drink.
Perhaps my previous assessment was wrong. Concocting the Fool's Dream Drink might not strictly require these specific fruits; what it requires is the transcendent energy. The drink is merely the external manifestation; the important part is the ritual achieved by the drink.
When consumed, I initially thought it merely provided a slight boost to elemental affinity or granted special vision. But those were just side effects of the ritual.
When I bypassed the surface and analyzed it from the perspective of the ritual itself, the ritual carried by the Fool's Dream Drink seemed intimately connected to the Fool's Dream race!
Before long, a glass of Fool's Dream Drink was complete. Its slightly dreamlike colors, combined with the fragrance of pure, additive-free fruit juice, immediately triggered a desire to drink it.
"Here, Sofiri, want to try?" I swirled the bottle in my hand and offered it to her.
"Eh? All for me? Aren't you going to try it first?"
"I'll pass. Weren't you always curious about the taste? Don't you want to try the juice made from the fruits you grew yourself?"
"Alright! I'll give it a try then. Thanks!" She didn't hesitate and took the bottle.
"No problem," I said with a smile as I handed it over.
Sofiri brought it to her lips, tilted her head back slightly, and took a shallow sip. Immediately, a complex, intensely fragrant juice, mixed with a perfectly balanced sweetness, stimulated her taste buds and nasal cavity. The gentle transcendent power acted like the ultimate seasoning, elevating the very concept of "delicious."
I watched her expression calmly, not at all surprised.
What I cared about more right now was the revelation I had gained from the ritual within the drink.
While Sofiri had her eyes closed in enjoyment, a rune appeared in my hand. As I expanded it, a complex ritual structure began to flow quietly, but it collapsed before it could sustain itself for long.
It seemed a shallow taste wasn't enough. However, the direction was correct. I would wait until I was better prepared to see exactly what this revelation was.
After all, even I was a bit confused... it couldn't be... a revelation related to the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art, could it?
I held a level of seriousness toward the Great Spellbook that differed from ordinary spellbooks. Precisely because I understood how terrifying it was, I had avoided messing with it. The main reason was my experience when the Academy Dean pulled me into the interior of that spellbook; the way the Great Spellbook operated—like a world constructed of rune rituals—was far beyond my current understanding.
Combined with my reverence for the unknown, the reference of the Academy Dean's countless years of research, and the difficulty I faced studying Teacher Ji Niang's [Transcendent Knowledge], I had ended up... ignoring the Great Spellbook.
"Perhaps I've made another mistake."
This time, it was a mistake of prejudice against the Great Spellbook. The Illusion Clone within the Tree of Knowledge—perhaps I should call it the Knowledge Clone—gave me that answer.
"Maybe... I really can try to approach the Great Spellbook. After all, no matter what, it still follows the framework of a spellbook," I murmured to myself.
If a spellbook utilizes transcendent rules, then a Great Spellbook utilizes the "rules" of [Transcendent Knowledge]. Both are forms of utilization at their core. This meant I was qualified to touch it.
While everyone should have a basic sense of reverence for all things, I also knew that if exploration of the unknown stops at reverence for too long, it becomes cowardice.
"Xiao Han? Xiao Han? What's wrong?" Sofiri’s voice suddenly broke my train of thought.
I snapped back to reality. "Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking about some things. So, how is it? How does it taste?"
"Incredible! The flavor is really different from any blended juice I've ever had. If I were to go to the Witch Cat Cafe... I think if I tried this once, I'd keep coming back for more!"
"Really?" I recalled the ordinary drinks at the Witch Cat Cafe—coffee, tea, and the like. They were mediocre but sold for quite a high price because the cafe provided a service and a social venue; people were always willing to pay for the "prestige."
It reminded me that the Witch Cat Cafe also seemed to have special cocktails that were obscenely expensive, but coincidentally, I wasn't much of a drinker.
The only concern now was whether this could withstand the test of the market. It wasn't enough for me to think it was good; the customers had to think so too.
"Anyway, thanks for helping me with all this. After you're done with the seed breeding, can you help me grow a large batch? I'll find a way to promote these at the Witch Cat Cafe. Don't worry about the profit sharing... we'll just go by the contract we signed last time. I won't let you lose out."
"It's fine, it's fine. It's just a small favor. If you succeed, I'll be the one thanking you. After all, you brought these seeds. Letting me earn money with you is a huge help... maintaining a plantation this big is seriously expensive..."
"No worries. It's a win-win," I said with a wave of my hand.
If Sister Bai were by my side right now, she would surely be fighting for a bigger cut for me, wouldn't she?
But I wasn't going to chase after those things. After all... the money earned from this was just ordinary currency, not even necessarily Red Copper coins. It was a relatively low-end currency, the bottom tier in the transcendent circle.
Still, I had to admit that this kind of money was necessary sometimes. Otherwise, using Red Copper or Mithril to buy things that could be bought with common currency would just make me look like a fool with more money than sense.