Chapter 527: The Number One Existence Below the Transcendent Level
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 527: The Number One Existence Below the Transcendent Level
Bev Alanna fell into a brief silence after listening to my simple introduction.
I had originally intended to go into more detail, but Dean Bev had interrupted me and skipped over several points. Consequently, I wasn't entirely sure what her actual stance on the matter was.
"It is indeed a line of thinking I hadn't considered. You've integrated this observational ability into a systematic technique to assist in observing luck? Or are you borrowing the power of the Tree of Great Knowledge?" After a long silence, Bev Alanna suddenly spoke.
"Something like that. Technically, there wasn't much difficulty; the trouble lies more in the data collection and categorization."
"But how did you... Oh, Spirit Vision..."
Bev Alanna had instinctively started to ask another question before remembering that the girl before her possessed Innate Spirit Vision—and at the Floating World level, no less. If that level of vision was used as the guiding principle for observation, it wasn't impossible for a Great Spellbook to collect luck-related information of this caliber.
This... this was equivalent to using the power of a Great Spellbook to take information observed through Floating World level Spirit Vision and present it in a more accessible, shallow format!
Floating World level!
That was the key... Did the Witch Academy possess True Vision of that level?
No!
"Ahem... I think this matter is a bit difficult to judge." After all, while she wasn't particularly skilled in researching complex, convoluted theories, that didn't mean she was foolish.
She knew she couldn't master this ability herself, but she recognized that its value would be understood by certain witches—for instance, a certain individual who loved to toy with Scripts.
Just now, she had learned about some applications of the Qi Observation Art through Xiao Han and had even attempted some information deductions. If she had to say what the difference was between this and observing luck directly with True Vision, it was that this was more powerful and far more convenient!
There was no faking that, especially with this kind of logic. Should she expect anything less from Xiao Han?
Her thinking was truly unique!
"But this ability is indeed formidable. You said it hasn't been perfected yet, right?"
"Correct," I nodded.
"Then, what do you think about putting together another team to perfect this... Qi Observation Art? I believe it has significant value."
"This... really?" My eyes widened in disbelief. This was a suggestion proactively offered by Dean Bev, and she had affirmed its value!
This meant the worth of the Qi Observation Art was even more staggering than I had estimated. Originally, I had maintained a wait-and-see attitude toward this inspiration, thinking it didn't have much technical depth.
"It seems you had similar thoughts. Shall we settle on that for now? I suspect Mei Lind would be interested in this as well." Seeing my excited tone, Bev likely understood my perspective.
"But... I'm already stretched so thin that I can't keep up with everything. Maybe we shouldn't be in such a rush..." I said. Since the technical barrier wasn't that high, I had planned to be a hands-off manager.
And I wasn't lying. The research groups around me basically revolved around my schedule. Even though the consciousness sharing of the Knowledge Shadow could resolve many minor issues, many studies involving the Tree of Great Knowledge required my actual presence for testing and coordination.
I was essentially in a position where I couldn't step away.
"Is that so? Well, alright. There's no need to rush. Xiao Han, I heard you've been busy these past few days; you really should give yourself a vacation."
"Thank you for understanding, Sister Bev," I said quickly. "By the way, I heard something happened in the Magic City where the Witch Academy is located. Is this an arrangement of a Script Node?"
"Mm. Don't you have your Qi Observation Art? Can't you deduce it?" Dean Bev looked at the deduction data of my Qi Observation Art with interest, seemingly curious as to why I hadn't tried.
"Well... my Qi Observation Art isn't perfected yet~ I lack too much data to refine it, so looking at this information just leaves me confused. I can't make sense of it. Look... like this section here, it's clearly a manifestation of luck being violently interfered with, but I don't know how it's being interfered with, or in what form." I pointed at a section of the data.
I was doing this primarily to see if I could fish some intelligence out of Dean Bev.
"This part, oh..." Bev Alanna looked at the spot. She hadn't quite understood it at first, but once I pointed it out, she quickly realized what it meant based on her own knowledge.
Suddenly, she found herself developing a strong interest in the Qi Observation Art, because she realized she could actually make use of this spell herself.
As they say, interest stems from being able to play the game.
If one were to speak of "violently interfering with luck," wasn't that exactly what those Players descending from the game world were doing?
What method could be more violent than using [Transcendent Knowledge] to forcibly interfere with luck?
She had used luck as bait to lure those fellows to the Main World, and they had come charging straight in. It was the first time she had seen fish take the bait so quickly, but it also served as a side-proof of that world's greed—or perhaps, a hasty decision made to recoup losses after losing a small world.
Regardless, the outcome was set, and the Witch Academy would determine the final conclusion!
"Xiao Han, do you want to know what these represent?" Bev Alanna suddenly asked.
At this point, she remembered that she hadn't explained the situation to Xiao Han. Previously, she had thought about giving Xiao Han a surprise... but since Xiao Han was no longer participating in this particular game, it wouldn't be much of a surprise. It was better to just explain it now; Xiao Han would find out sooner or later anyway.
"I do!" I nodded immediately.
I hadn't expected the Dean to be so direct. I hadn't even figured out how to bait the information yet. As expected, every Dean knows something.
"Then I'll take this chance to tell you. Remember those guys you encountered in that small world?"
"Those guys? Oh, the Secret Diggers?" I was about to ask for clarification, but I reacted quickly.
"Secret Diggers... yes, the Players. They ran fast, but greed led them back to us," Bev Alanna said with a smile.
"Huh?" Hearing this, I felt... surprised? Shocked?
Perhaps both, but mostly I felt a sense of helplessness at their death-seeking behavior.
"How do they have the nerve?"
"Ignorance breeds courage, as they say. They have no idea what they are facing. They only know they lost a small world, and then by chance, they discovered a world delivered right to their doorstep. Their choice was... to bite down without hesitation."
"Then what is the stance of the Witch Academy... no, all the Transcendent Academies in the Main World regarding this?" I asked curiously.
"Stance? Does there need to be a stance? This is a choice piece of meat delivered to our door; why wouldn't we eat it? Xiao Han, you should be familiar with the Main World Repair Technique plans, right?"
"The Main World Repair Technique..." I thought for a moment and found the relevant information within the Tree of Great Knowledge. "I have a general understanding."
"As long as you understand. That game world is essentially the consumable material for the Main World's repair."
"And what about that small world that's about to collide with the Main World?" I asked.
"That is the initial trial, of course. After all, repairing the Main World is something no one has done before. Everyone is in the theoretical stage, so no one can afford to be overconfident."
"So that's how it is? I heard this small world is about to collide with the Main World soon, so why hasn't there been any commotion? Or do we have to wait longer?" I continued to ask, taking the opportunity of chatting with Dean Bev to resolve my doubts.
"Probably in a few days. Don't worry, if handled correctly, it generally won't affect the normal social order of the Main World."
"Eh? It won't?"
"Of course. Do you want to see the Main World fall into chaos? Though that is a possibility, it would mean an uncontrollable accident occurred during the fusion of the small world and the Main World—but even that is within the plan," Bev Alanna said nonchalantly. At worst, they would just reset the order of the Main World. Besides, the external public opinion had already been prepared; doomsday theories were rampant, and combined with recent Transcendent terrorist incidents, the Main World was indeed quite chaotic.
However, such a social atmosphere was more suitable for trapping the Players of that game world. They had long coveted the resources that the game world harvested from various worlds' soul essences. The expansion of the Main World's territory required many soul essence cycles to support a growing population.
"So that's it..." I have to admit, hearing this news made me feel a strange, slight disappointment. I had thought the world would fall into total chaos. It seemed the things Dean Mei told me back then were probably only half-true.
Clearly, my sense of belonging to this world was still too low, to the point where I could watch the world bleed like a mere spectator looking for entertainment, even feeling regretful if I missed the show.
"Xiao Han, you don't seem to like that world very much. Any thoughts on this Script?"
"I really don't like those guys, but... as for thoughts, I have none. I won't go over there and cause trouble." I waved my hand.
With such a major event, it was definitely something all the major Transcendent Academies were planning together. It would be bad if I meddled and ruined the grand plan.
Although I didn't have a good impression of the Players from that game world... in some ways, the Witch race seemed to do things even more extreme than those guys.
But with different positions, one naturally has their own biases and stances. They hindered me and disgusted me, so they were the enemy.
"Are you sure? Xiao Han, are you sure you don't want to get involved?"
"Uh... Sister Bev, if there's something you want, you can just say it. If it's convenient, I don't mind lending a hand." Hearing Dean Bev's tone, I almost had a reflexive response. The intent to test and coax me was written all over her face.
"Fine~ Since Xiao Han isn't falling for it, I'll be direct. Xiao Han, are you interested in helping with the final harvest of this game world? I know you have the Reverse Summoning Spell. I think you would be an excellent harvester." Bev's tone shifted, now carrying a hint of negotiation.
"Me? Harvesting a world?" I craned my neck and instinctively pointed at myself, asking in disbelief.
"Yes. Don't you think it would be very interesting?" Bev Alanna affirmed.
"But... I don't look like the best candidate no matter how you see it, right? And even if I have the Reverse Summoning Spell, Teacher Ji Niang has already published that spell, hasn't she? Couldn't anyone do it?" Or is this a back door the Dean is opening for me? I didn't ask the last part out loud.
"Xiao Han, don't look down on yourself so much. Where's your confidence? Right now, you are fully qualified to say you are the number one existence in the Witch Academy below the Transcendent Witches, and no one would argue."
"Is... is that so?" Being praised so suddenly made me feel a bit out of place. While I wasn't clear on combat power rankings, in terms of achievements... they were indeed impeccable. I could agree with that much.
"Of course~" Bev Alanna patted my shoulder with an encouraging smile, much like a boss dangling a carrot in front of an employee, though I could sense that Dean Bev's intentions were genuinely good.
"It's been agreed that for this incident, the Transcendent level cannot take action, and the Transcendent Academies cannot interfere too much. And... don't forget, you are the one who severed the Ley Line Shackles. With you coordinating the harvest via the Reverse Summoning Spell, I think it would be excellent. What do you think?"
"That... does make sense..." I nodded, but then felt something was off. "Wait, since Transcendents can't interfere, under normal circumstances, those who haven't reached the Transcendent level can't leave the Ley Line Shackles to reach that world... what's the point?"
"The point is, in the final moment before the Transcendents step in, you are the only trump card who can harvest that world. It's about the timing, Xiao Han. Have you forgotten that there is at least one portion of [Transcendent Knowledge] in that world? Don't you want it?"
"I... I can take it?!" I stared at Dean Bev, wide-eyed and incredulous.
"Of course. If you have the ability, why not give you another portion of [Transcendent Knowledge]? Sisters who work hard for the Witch Academy cannot be mistreated~"
At that moment, I instinctively swallowed. I was intimidated by the Dean's grand generosity!
Although I wasn't confident that I could luckily turn that [Transcendent Knowledge] into another Great Spellbook, if possible, I wanted to try researching [Transcendent Knowledge] step-by-step and experience what it felt like to create a Great Spellbook from scratch.
I could even wait until I became a Transcendent Witch and mastered Real Editing Technology before doing so.
"Alright, stop daydreaming. Instead of empty fantasies, you'd better focus on the tasks at hand. I've spent enough time here. See you next time."
"Mm, take care, Sister Bev~"
I smiled and bid her farewell. After watching Dean Bev leave, I instinctively stretched to psych myself up.
I really should take a break. Maybe I'll go check on the status of those Fool's Dream spirits; I can't let them keep trying various meditations indefinitely.
Since they aren't coming to find me right now, it's the perfect time to wander around and... see what Sister Bai is up to.