Chapter 462: The Tree of Great Knowledge and the Tree of Wisdom Enlightenment
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 462: The Tree of Great Knowledge and the Tree of Wisdom Enlightenment
"How is this possible? How can this be..."
At this moment, Bev Alanna’s mind was filled with nothing but that single question. Initially, she had assumed the void rift was a failsafe triggered by the World Will to destroy the [Transcendent Knowledge]. When that didn't seem right, she thought it was a void feedback mechanism triggered by the shattering of the [Transcendent Knowledge].
But when she stepped forward to smooth out the void rift, she found she couldn't...
There was only one situation where a void rift could not be closed by external force: when it was formed during the birth of a Great Spellbook. There was an inexplicable, profound connection between void rifts and Great Spellbooks, and for her, this was equally unwelcome news.
Because... she didn't know the first thing about Great Spellbooks.
Not every Transcendent Witch was an expert at creating spellbooks, nor did every witch make the creation of a Great Spellbook their ultimate goal. Bev only cared for combat and seeking amusement. She rarely spent time at the Witch Academy, preferring to explore the void beyond the Main World.
That was why she had been among the first of the void exploration teams to arrive at this small world—well, the first after Xiao Han.
She was also the witch who had personally proven the theory that there were no other naturally born worlds in the void surrounding the Main World, mostly because she was bored out of her mind.
And now, this witch, who was notoriously poor at academic research, had to stand by and watch as this... girl, who was barely even a Little Witch, created a Great Spellbook right in front of her!
Even if she had only just touched upon the domain of a Great Spellbook, the void rift didn't lie. It was the very proof of a Great Spellbook’s formation. Likewise, the transcendent energy surging within the rift was the "heart" of the book. Bev didn't fully understand the mechanics, but she knew a Great Spellbook couldn't function without it...
Suddenly, she began to understand that old hag, Dean Mei. That woman truly had an eye for talent. It was even possible that Mei didn't realize the little girl she favored had already touched a domain that only someone of her own level could reach.
But... how long had it been?
How long had it actually been!
This girl couldn't have started researching this [Transcendent Knowledge] the moment she set foot in this world, could she? How had Bev not noticed a thing, especially when the [Transcendent Knowledge] was still contained within the transcendent item?
Had she already planned exactly how to arrange the [Transcendent Knowledge] before she even touched it?
The absurdity of it left Bev incredulous and utterly baffled.
And just then...
As my body regained sensation and my consciousness took control of my senses once more, I snapped my eyes open.
The first thing I saw was Dean Bev Alanna waiting anxiously in front of me, and... a deep, shimmering purple void rift hovering between us. The surging void energy within it resonated with my own heart, bringing with it an unprecedented sense of crisis!
"Ha~ So you do know how to be afraid, Xiao Han? I thought you were so bold you feared nothing."
Seeing my pupils contract sharply at the sight of the void rift, Bev let out a satisfied smile. This was the expression a girl should have in her eyes. If Xiao Han hadn't shown instinctive fear toward something like a void rift, Bev would have genuinely worried that something was wrong with her.
"De... Dean, please don't joke around at a time like this..."
A void rift was no laughing matter!
As I looked for help, I quickly realized the truth. The formation of a Great Spellbook did indeed tear open a void rift. Did that mean my Tree of Knowledge had already become... a Tree of Knowledge?
No... there was still one step left. I had to pull the void rift into the spellbook!
But the Tree of Knowledge was one with me. Didn't that mean I had to shove this thing into my own body?
"I'm not joking. Looking at you, it seems you know exactly what you've done. How interesting. Well then, I'll be generous and lend you a hand~"
Despite her words, Bev Alanna had a different motive. If she helped Xiao Han complete the Great Spellbook, she would technically be... a Transcendent Witch who had indirectly assisted in the completion of a Great Spellbook!
Let's see who would dare call her a mindless brute after that!
"Lend me a hand? What?"
Before I could react or figure out what the Dean intended to do, I saw her smiling broadly as she pressed her hand against the void rift. No matter how much power the rift surged with, it couldn't budge her hand an inch.
The scene shocked me beyond words. I remembered how those void rifts had once instantly obliterated a terrifying existence from outside the world. Even Dean Mei hadn't treated a void rift with such violent disregard.
"Don't be shy, Xiao Han. This is the final step. Just one more to go. Don't worry, I won't let this rift hurt you." As Bev Alanna spoke, even she couldn't hide a trace of urgency and excitement, as if she couldn't wait a second longer.
"Wait... I'm not ready..." I watched the Dean, and I couldn't tell if it was just my imagination, but she seemed even more eager than I was.
But things had already reached this point; I had no way to resist. I realized Dean Bev must have seen through the situation. With a void rift this large sitting right there, a Transcendent Witch like her wouldn't lack the insight to know what it meant.
Since it was happening, I had to give it my all to ensure the best outcome!
"So, what should I do next?" Bev Alanna had completely suppressed the void rift and was ready to move, but she was clueless about the specifics. She only knew the thing needed to be integrated into the Great Spellbook.
"This—" I finally understood the Dean's intent.
I pointed slightly toward my chest. The Tree of Knowledge had become a part of me. It was no longer an external object that could be traded at will. Removing it would require a massive price—it might even dissipate entirely upon my permanent death.
What was permanent death?
It was a state where no resurrection spell could bring one back.
As the Dean shoved the void rift into my body, I closed off my five senses just as I had before, letting my consciousness plunge into the void.
Let's see what changes the void rift brings to the Great Spellbook...
That was my final thought. When I regained awareness in the Sea of Consciousness, the giant tree still stood before me.
However, it was currently battered and broken. The impact brought by the [Transcendent Knowledge] wasn't something that could be repaired in an instant.
At that moment, I felt a hole being forcibly torn open in the nothingness. Endless void energy poured out, the ripples of energy silent and invisible. The rift slammed into the Tree of Knowledge with brutal force. My heart ached at the sight, and I couldn't help but sigh inwardly—the Dean had been a bit too heavy-handed...
Nevertheless, I took control of the process. Looking at the void rift, I found myself at a loss, unsure of where to place it.
The rift gushed void energy like a spring. The energy transformed into invisible ripples on the surface of the water beneath my feet, spreading out in concentric circles.
"A supply of void energy... If that's the case, then you shall be the spring beneath the Tree of Knowledge. Contribute your energy to its growth. The tree needs it to repair its damage."
I didn't know if this was the "correct" way to do it, but it felt logical. There was no objective proof that a Revelation was right, but following one's intuition usually didn't lead to a bad result.
And my intuition seemed correct.
The void rift was placed among the roots beneath the Tree of Knowledge. Like parched earth receiving rain, the roots dove into the rift, greedily drinking the void energy. The tree began to rejuvenate at a visible rate, with countless branches and new leaves sprouting. Yet, even so, the roots' consumption of the void energy was limited. For the first time, I felt the void rift was "weak," like a tiny spring unable to sustain a world-spanning tree.
But the flowing void energy continued to ripple outward, nourishing the other roots and soaking into the soil formed by the [Transcendent Knowledge]...
The process was incredibly slow, but I stayed and watched to prevent any accidents.
Eventually, the void energy overflowed, forming a thin, mirror-like surface that stretched into the distance, guiding the roots of the Tree of Knowledge to grow further and deeper.
"This... it really has formed a Sea of Consciousness, hasn't it?" I looked at the small "sea of energy" created by the overflowing void energy.
I had a feeling that one day, it would spread infinitely far, guiding the roots of the tree to anchor themselves in even more distant places.
I looked down at the "water" surface formed by the energy. It reflected the shadow of the Tree of Knowledge, shimmering faintly beneath the surface.
I stepped across the soil of [Transcendent Knowledge] and lightly touched the water with my toe. The energy mirror rippled, and I stood upon it.
I looked down at my reflection. It was a figure identical to me, but her movements didn't match mine...
No... that wasn't a reflection!
"You finally realized?" My own voice came from the other side of the water. "This isn't reality. It doesn't follow the laws of the physical world. A water surface doesn't necessarily have to show a reflection."
"Clone? Why are you on the other side?"
"Does it matter? Hmm... I suppose it does... but I think this is quite nice. Aren't you curious? If your reflection is me, then what is the reflection of the Tree of Knowledge?"
"It's..." Awakened by the clone's hint, I instantly accepted the idea. The alignment of subconscious thought and subjective thought only required a direct nudge.
Then, I suddenly realized how extraordinary this was!
"Yes! What is it! We know the answer!" Seeing my realization, the clone encouraged me to speak.
"It's... the other Great Spellbook we possess... the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art!" The clone and I spoke in unison.
"Exactly! But that's not quite accurate yet. That Great Spellbook hasn't actually linked with the Tree of Knowledge in any practical way. This reflection is the permanent spell effect of the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art! Now... influenced by the Tree of Knowledge, this spell effect should be called... the Tree of Wisdom? Or the Tree of Wisdom Enlightenment?" the clone added.
"The Tree of Wisdom... a fitting metaphor. From nothingness, the Tree of Knowledge is born, and its reflection is the Tree of Wisdom. The accumulation of knowledge promotes the sprouting of wisdom..."
"Yes, yes, yes~ Whatever you think is right, because it's already happened, hasn't it? No need to waste time marveling at coincidences or searching for logical justifications."
"And what about you? Now that you and I both have a tree, how should I address you? Calling you 'Clone' all the time feels clunky and weird."
"What are you doing now? I am merely your subconscious. When you stop paying attention to me, I won't even have subjective emotions or thoughts. I am just your cold subconscious."
"Is that so? But I still want a name for you whenever we meet."
"Then... Wisdom Clone? Or Wisdom Shadow? I'm just a phantom formed by the effects of the Illusion Clone technique. I am your cold, emotionless subconscious. Your subjective consciousness is clouded by emotions and distractions, always making strange decisions. In short, trust me in critical moments. I am the incarnation of your wisdom."
"Fine, fine~ Incarnation of Wisdom. I'll call you the Wisdom Shadow then."
Even after I said that, she didn't respond. Perhaps even I subconsciously felt it was meaningless.
"Let's go with that then~"
Well, it seemed it wasn't entirely meaningless after that.
But looking at my subconscious like this... surely I don't have a hidden tsundere streak in my nature?
* * *
Meanwhile, in the outside world.
"Bai Yu, isn't it? Didn't I tell you all to stay back? Do you think your foundation as a newly promoted Transcendent Witch can withstand a void rift?" The Dean looked at the figure before her and scolded her sternly.
"If I can't withstand it, then Xiao Han certainly can't." Even facing the Dean, Bai Yu was blunt. Despite the immense pressure, she held her ground.
"Is that so? Xiao Han's situation was my doing, so I will ensure her safety. If you get injured by the void rift, how am I supposed to explain that to her?" The Dean shifted her tone, taking responsibility while throwing the problem back at Bai Yu.
This line of reasoning left Bai Yu speechless.
"I..."
"But since you're here, I'll leave Xiao Han to you. Catch. If you drop her and she gets a bruise, you're the one who'll be heartbroken." Dean Bev picked up Xiao Han and handed her over, tucking the unconscious girl into Bai Yu's arms as if returning property to its rightful owner.
Bai Yu reacted instantly, catching Xiao Han in a steady bridal carry.
"If there's nothing else, take her and go... wait."
"Uh... is there something else?" Bai Yu had been ready to bolt, but the Dean's sudden pivot stopped her.
She looked at Xiao Han in her arms and then at the Dean. Right now, she just wanted to get back to the Main World to make sure Xiao Han was truly alright.
"I heard Xiao Han say... she's going to be your Teaching Assistant?"
Hearing the Dean's words, Bai Yu instinctively thought she was going to interfere. After all, a first-year becoming a Teaching Assistant was unheard of. She immediately began to defend the choice.
"Yes. Even as the Dean, I don't believe you have the right to interfere with a Mentor's choice of assistant. Besides, Xiao Han—"
"I have no intention of interfering. You should be laughing in your sleep that you managed to get Xiao Han as your assistant..." Bev Alanna shook her head and didn't press further, but her expression clearly said, 'You've hit the jackpot.'
And Bev Alanna wasn't wrong, was she?
Regarding the upcoming Teaching Assistant interviews—though she didn't know which witches would be the interviewers—which of those newcomers had the ability to create a Great Spellbook? Forget the ability; did they even have the experience of standing by while one was made?
If she weren't so busy, she really wanted to go to the interviews just to point at those witches and ask: 'What right do you have to interview Xiao Han?'
That would have been a real riot.
But unfortunately, she wouldn't actually do it. She would just enjoy the thought. She wouldn't even spread the word about Xiao Han creating a Great Spellbook. After all... she wasn't a big-mouth like a certain Old Mei Po, blabbing everything to the world.