Chapter 445: Ley Energy, Which I Never Valued Before
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 445: Ley Energy, Which I Never Valued Before
"Sister Xiao Han, did something happen to make you so happy?"
"Hmm? Is it that obvious?" Upon returning to the dorm, I ran straight into Yu Yuetian. Hearing her question, I subconsciously reined in my overly exuberant mood.
"Yes, very obvious. It’s plain as day," Yu Yuetian remarked flatly.
"I see. Well, I'll try to be more careful next time."
"Mm. I have things to do, so I'm heading out. See you later." Yu Yuetian didn't press further. Since I hadn't volunteered any information, she didn't let her curiosity get the better of her.
"See you."
After a brief goodbye, I returned to my private space. Since I had decided to find something to do, I naturally couldn't let my time go to waste.
I turned my attention back to my spellbook, the Tree of Knowledge.
My previous research into Ley Lines had just started showing promise before being shelved for various reasons. Now that the monthly exams were over, I had plenty of time to tackle the challenges I faced.
However, thoughts of Sister Bai still lingered in my mind, which proved to be quite a distraction. I had to use the spell Spirit Spell · Unity of Knowledge and Action to temporarily force myself into a focused state.
Once I regained my flow, my thoughts returned to my earlier study of Ley Line energy.
With the help of the Tree of Knowledge, I wouldn't forget important details as time passed—unless I actively deleted them, turning that knowledge and memory into pure nourishment for the tree.
I was also planning ahead for the evolution of the Tree of Knowledge. Although I didn't have a clear lead yet, I was actively experimenting—for instance, by using redundant knowledge and memories as fuel to maintain the tree's vigorous growth.
I pulled up the contents of a book I had read in the library: a conversion method to break the "locality" of Ley Line energy. It involved using alchemy to perform energy synthesis on Ley Line energy, transforming it into another form.
Since this was my first attempt, the refining array required quite a few transcendent materials for support. However, most of these could be replaced with Red Copper and Mithril. Even Orichalcum could be used in alchemy; these materials would be consumed according to the Rule of Equivalent Exchange. In a way, learning alchemy was truly a money-sink.
As for the other materials that couldn't be substituted with Mithril, I had to buy them myself. Fortunately, they weren't particularly rare.
By the time I finished these preparations, a significant amount of time had passed.
This was even with the efficiency provided by teleportation spells. In the past, I imagine it would have taken much longer.
It seemed I really needed to establish my own collection of transcendent materials. But when I thought about the price of such materials...
Well, I figured it would be more cost-effective to simply set up teleportation marks at specialized material shops within the Witch Academy. I could just go and buy whatever I needed, whenever I needed it. Wouldn't that be more convenient?
As long as I built a large enough teleportation network, the shops would essentially be my warehouse.
Tossing aside these currently unfeasible ideas, I took my expensive materials to a relatively secluded green park within the academy.
That’s right—I didn't stay in the dorm. I went outside because the Ley Line energy required for the Ley Line energy synthesis array couldn't be generated out of thin air. While Ley Line energy theoretically permeated every corner of the world, I wasn't going to make things unnecessarily difficult for myself.
Wouldn't it save a lot of trouble to find a place where the Ley Line energy was more concentrated?
Actually, the places in the Witch Academy with the highest concentrations of Ley Line energy were mostly open public areas—like the registration site from the start of the semester. Back then, they had used a massive Ley Line projection just to give the freshmen a bit of "transcendent shock" and to facilitate the registration process.
But those places were too crowded. If I caused too much of a stir, I’d probably suffer a total social death on the spot.
So, I chose this green park instead. Judging by the small Ley Line devices scattered around, the Ley Line energy here wasn't weak; otherwise, they wouldn't be using it to power the equipment.
"Hmm... this spot is good. I'll stay here for now."
I selected a relatively open patch of green grass, laid out my materials, and began my first attempt.
Before starting, I had already simulated the synthesis ritual several times in my mind using the Tree of Knowledge to ensure nothing would go wrong. After all, a single failure would waste precious transcendent knowledge and Mithril!
That was all cold, hard cash!
Taking a deep breath, I began the synthesis ritual, feeding the Mithril and other materials into it. Under the weaving of my mana threads, a Ley Line energy conversion ritual began to take shape.
Then, I focused on the diagrams and records I had pulled from the Tree of Knowledge, cross-referencing them with the refining array to ensure there wasn't a single mistake.
They say failure is the mother of success, but failing despite perfect preparation would be unforgivable.
Fortunately, I succeeded on the very first try. The success didn't even bring much of a sense of achievement, as it was exactly what I had expected.
The miniature conversion array began to operate, slowly drawing in the sparse Ley Line energy. The rate was honestly pathetic.
However, I didn't dare make the array any larger. First, I was afraid of causing a scene, and second, the materials required for a larger ritual array increased exponentially. Even though I wasn't short on money lately, I still felt a twinge of pain in my wallet.
I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.
Every bit of experimental data was worth recording.
My Spirit Vision was the best tool for observation, and the Tree of Knowledge was the best tool for recording.
"Hmm... the Ley Line energy conversion output is currently stable, but there is an excessive loss of information..." I murmured the data to myself, wondering if this brief attempt had met my expectations.
From the current results, the loss of information after conversion was quite severe. If I used this ritual as-is, I knew it wouldn't pass muster without even trying.
With such heavy information loss, it would be difficult to even decode the data within the Ley Lines. Moreover, the information within the Ley Lines already possessed a certain "informational chaos" attribute. Even with the Tree of Knowledge's vast reserves as a database, it couldn't handle this level of waste.
Just as I tried to use my mental power to touch the converted Ley Line energy—to feel its properties and test its affinity with my mind—I froze.
A thought struck my brain like a bolt of lightning.
The energy produced by this conversion ritual felt so familiar...
Ley Energy!
The very same Ley Energy that was so widely used in that small world that I had completely ignored it!
At that thought, my heart began to race. This was a monumental discovery.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Ley Energy conversion technology in that small world had been created after gaining inspiration from a transcendent artifact. Once Ley Energy conversion became widespread, the Plant Network began to expand rapidly. This meant that Ley Energy, as a transcendent energy, was perfectly compatible with the Plant Network. Even if its energy level wasn't high, its properties were unique.
I was wrong. I had been wrong all along!
Ley Energy was the most impressive thing! It presented itself to everyone in the most ordinary way, spreading so easily and benefiting the entire world.
It was the very cornerstone upon which the Plant Network could be built!
Now, all that remained was to confirm whether Ley Energy produced through this conversion technology could break the locality of Ley Line energy, and to check if the information loss during the process was acceptable.
If everything met my expectations, then many of my problems would be solved in an instant!
Actually, I felt the latter concern wouldn't be an issue. Since that world was able to use Ley Energy to achieve global informatization, the information loss rate couldn't be that high.
In that moment, because I was too excited, I made a mistake, and the refining array in front of me began to overload.
"Tsk..."
Watching the array begin to self-destruct due to my error, I immediately wrapped it in a protection spell to prevent any explosions from hurting anyone.
Then, I cut off the energy supply. Deprived of power, the array finally fell silent.
Although I hadn't finished collecting all the data from this array, I now had a brand-new direction. There was no need to waste more energy on this old version.
I lightly brushed the dust off my clothes and glanced around. After confirming that no one had noticed me, I left immediately.
As for the ruined ritual?
Throwing it into the trash was my final act of mercy. Even though the ritual had cost me a fair amount of Mithril and other precious materials, its value had been exhausted.
I touched the four-leaf clover hairpin on the side of my head and searched through its storage for a moment before pulling something out.
This was a collection of most of the techniques and achievements I had gathered before leaving that small world. I had kept them to look over when I was bored, hoping for some cross-disciplinary inspiration.
Among them, there was definitely Ley Energy conversion technology. Although it was a technological creation to some extent—and I had seen those massive conversion devices that were practically giant buildings—I believed that with the power of spells and runology, I could "miniaturize" it to a degree.
Besides, I didn't need to replicate a massive Ley Energy conversion plant. The Witch Academy didn't have that kind of empty space to give me just for an experiment.
I only needed to extract the principles and guiding rules from the technology. I could then achieve a similar result in my own way.
With that in mind, I used the Tree of Knowledge to open the information storage device. It was originally a device that required the Plant Network to access, but my Tree of Knowledge was a spell built upon the framework of the Plant Network. In a way, it was at a higher level than the Omni-Link Main Network Tree or those computers. Thus, using the Tree of Knowledge to read the data was entirely possible.
After all, my ambition was to use the Tree of Knowledge to read the information carried within the River of Ley Lines!
How could I possibly fail to read information inscribed in a mere technological creation?
Especially since they shared the same origin.
I walked back while trying to comprehend the recorded information. Understanding something entirely new and unknown naturally took time, especially since this was a technological product filled with technical jargon from that world. It was a bit of a struggle.
Extracting principles from the surface-level appearance of these technological creations would also take time.
But that was fine. What I needed was something to pass the time.
Studying this Ley Energy conversion technology was perfect for the next few days.
Time slipped away unnoticed, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.
During this time, I had completely mastered the so-called Ley Energy conversion technology. Using the Ley Line energy synthesis array technique from alchemy as a framework, I had constructed a brand-new Ley Energy conversion synthesis array and completed the initial trial.
The first-generation Ley Energy conversion synthesis array completely crushed the previous Ley Line energy synthesis array in its very first experiment.
Although the information loss rate of Ley Energy was still a bit high, it was much better than the initial ritual. Moreover, this was only the first version. I had already planned multiple iterations and intended to convert this alchemical synthesis array into a runic form within a spell domain.
Since I needed to "mount" this technique onto the Tree of Knowledge spellbook, this process was essential.
But right now, I was in no mood to update the Ley Energy conversion synthesis array. That could be done anytime; it wasn't difficult and would improve steadily as long as I followed my plan. But if I missed the chance to welcome Sister Bai today, it would be gone forever!
Today was the day the Academy Dean had told me the Witch Academy teachers would rotate. The location was at the official main gate of the academy.
They would arrive in the Main World first, confirm the location, and then head to the Witch Academy. Although I really wanted to leave the academy to meet Sister Bai, I couldn't go out yet. It wasn't that I couldn't do it—the curtain wall covering the entire academy couldn't stop me—but if I damaged it, I’d have to pay for it. Combined with the violation of leaving school without permission, I had no idea how the academy would punish me.
Today, I had deliberately dressed in more formal clothes. These were bought when Sister Bai took me shopping. They were quite airy and cool. On my fair, smooth thighs were the leg rings Sister Bai liked most, adjusted to a tightness that just barely pressed into the flesh.
Looking at myself in the mirror, the exquisite clothes paired with a perfect figure—every curve of my body radiated feminine charm.
"Eh? Sister Xiao Han, what’s going on today? You’re all dressed up? What are you doing?"
Hong Chenyi, who had just walked out of her bedroom, was stunned. This was the first time she had seen me suddenly care about my appearance. Usually, I went out with a bare face and wore my most comfortable sets of clothes. While today's outfit wasn't exactly "grand" as she put it, compared to my usual attire, it was very formal.
"Hong Chenyi? Do you have class today? Why are you up so early? I'm going to meet someone—no, a Transcendent Witch. Wish me luck, I'm off."
"Eh? Lu... Good luck..." Hong Chenyi watched blankly as I left the dorm. She suddenly snapped out of it and ran back inside.
"Wake up! Everyone wake up! Sister Xiao Han is acting weird; something big must be happening! Stop sleeping! Dongli Yiren! Guan Qiuling!"
"Mmm... Hong Chenyi? Don't you have class today? Don't bother me, I don't have class..."
"Stop sleeping! There's a high chance Sister Xiao Han is going to see her partner! Sister Xiao Han's girlfriend... do you understand what that means?!"