Chapter 528: The Fool's Dream Drink Meditation Method
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 528: The Fool's Dream Drink Meditation Method
Leaving the underground laboratory, I headed to the upper floor of my villa. After greeting the sisters who were leisurely enjoying their afternoon tea, I made my way to the meditation room specifically prepared for the Fool's Dreams.
"Oh? Xiao Han, you're here?"
Seeing me approach, the witches responsible for accompanying the Fool's Dreams during their meditation tests put down their work and stood up to greet me.
"Thank you for your hard work, sisters. How did it go? Any new findings?"
"Yes, we've already shared the data on the Tree of Knowledge. You can check it yourself, Xiao Han," one of them said quickly.
"Thanks~"
With that, I began accessing the data directly.
Naturally, the Tree of Great Knowledge's process of acquiring information from the Great Knowledge Seeds couldn't pass through my subjective cognition. As my Great Knowledge Seeds spread further and wider, I stood to receive a massive influx of information and knowledge at every waking moment.
If I had to subjectively process all of it, it would be a total disaster.
Instead, this information was filtered by the Knowledge Shadow, becoming part of the Tree of Great Knowledge's foundation and nourishment for its growth. Only when I subjectively wished to understand something would that information manifest before me as memory and cognition.
Furthermore, I had promised not to actively monitor the status of the Great Knowledge Seeds without reason. Everyone deserves their privacy, though the witch sisters didn't seem to mind if I overlooked that—after all, checking in on everyone constantly would just be making extra work for myself.
Now, after reviewing the test data, I confirmed that a controlled state like meditation was far more convenient than simple sleep.
I quickly identified the subjective interval required for the Fool's Dreams' meditation.
"Good work, Yulan, Yu Guo. Hmm? Is Yu Yun not awake yet?" I reached out and patted the small heads of the two Fool's Dreams. That hazy, half-awake look they had after "waking" from meditation really did make them extra adorable. It was enough to melt any girl's heart, honestly.
"Umm... it seems so. Did we... did we help you, Sister Xiao Han?"
"You helped a lot! But the experiment must continue, so don't be in such a rush. Adjust your state first, and I'll whip up a cup of Fool's Dream Drink for you."
"Thank you, Sister Xiao Han!" Yulan was the first to chirp her thanks.
"It's nothing~"
At that moment, the two witches beside me showed great interest in what I had just said.
"Xiao Han, you actually know how to mix a Fool's Dream Drink?"
"I've had it a few times at the cat cafe. The taste is quite wonderful. It's hard to imagine it's made from pure fruit juice."
"Hehe, of course. Would you two like to try my handiwork?" I asked with an inviting tone.
Since the three Fool's Dreams had moved in, I had arranged with Sofiri for a regular supply of the fruits used for the drink. The cold storage area of the villa was currently packed with them. Those fruits tasted great even on their own; the witches who held tea parties at the villa often picked a few to make fruit platters.
"Yes, please!" Hearing that they could taste a Fool's Dream Drink personally prepared by me, the two nodded immediately.
I was back in a flash.
After grabbing the fruit, I juiced them by hand—or rather, with magic. I didn't need tools; spells were more than enough. I watched as the juice danced through the air, perfectly blended before pouring into the cups one by one.
The Fool's Dreams watched the whole process, practically drooling. When they finally got their hands on the cups, they took huge gulps and let out long sighs of relief, looking as if they had been completely rejuvenated.
The two witch sisters also took sips, savoring the flavor. They were full of praise; it was slightly different from what they had tasted at the cat cafe, but it still possessed that same magical mouthfeel.
Anyone who had tried Fool's Dream Drinks made by different spirits at various witch cat cafes would know that every spirit's brew had subtle differences. Naturally, people had different preferences based on those nuances. My version was different from theirs as well, but it was far from bad—in fact, it was wonderfully unique and delicious.
"I'll leave this last cup for Yu Yun. The little one still hasn't woken up." I set the final cup aside.
I wondered how Yu Yun was doing. The first time I had observed this phenomenon, it seemed to have been triggered by her, so I held high expectations for the little girl.
While she was still asleep, I decided to try and see if I could catch a glimpse of her figure again.
Sinking my mind into the Sea of Consciousness, I arrived at the site of the Tree of Great Knowledge. As I closed my eyes again, my reflection cast upon the Sea of Consciousness seemed to invert the entire sea. I stood up in another world.
When I opened my eyes, I was in the Dream Sea—the other side of the two opposing concepts unified by my state of mind.
I was already intimately familiar with the process of moving from the Sea of Consciousness to the Dream Sea; it had become second nature. I looked at the vast, somewhat ethereal Tree of Great Wisdom Enlightenment. At the very core of this phantom tree floated a ball of light: the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spellbook.
However, I still couldn't make it derive further. My main body could become the Tree of Great Knowledge, but this phantom was merely a spell effect.
If every corner I walked in the Sea of Consciousness brought the order of subjective conscious cognition, then everywhere I went in the Dream Sea felt absurd yet "logical," as if that were the very order of dreams.
I approached the illusory Tree of Great Wisdom Enlightenment and pressed my right hand against its phantom trunk, sensing everything observable within the Dream Sea.
Unlike the Tree of Great Knowledge, I couldn't observe the targets of its spells, but there was a faint, lingering connection.
Actually, I could have used the Tree of Great Knowledge to observe Yu Yun's current state, but that would be meaningless.
Now that I had resonated with the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art, perhaps... I should do something.
Follow instinct. Follow revelation. Follow the heart. When the subjective mind doesn't know what to do, one should ask their inner self, their subconscious. They often have the answer long before the subjective consciousness makes a choice.
It felt like I had ignored something for a long time, so much so that I hadn't even connected these dots...
"Yu Yun~ are you here? Sister Xiao Han made a Fool's Dream Drink just for you..."
I spoke softly, as if calling out. Unconsciously, memories of the Fool's Dream Drink surfaced in the Dream Sea: the fruit, the cups, the tools... and the laughter of the spirits.
I gently gathered them into my hands. Mixing a Fool's Dream Drink within the Dream Sea... I hadn't tried that before. I wondered if I could lure Yu Yun out with it.
As I skillfully replicated every step of the process to perfection, the juice swirled within the cup. In this moment, I achieved an artistic display that was impossible in reality.
Making a Fool's Dream Drink was supposed to be a quick and easy process, but here, I felt as if time had stretched. I was completely immersed, as if completing a masterpiece or constructing an exquisite ritual.
Once I realized this, I didn't feel a hint of panic. My heart was filled only with the thought: I'm doing it right. In this moment, no one could stop me. Even if I didn't fully understand what I was doing, it was undoubtedly a revelation from a higher level.
As the finished drink poured into the cup, I looked at its dreamlike color. Holding it in my hand, it felt like a flawless work of art.
But in the end, it was only a product of a dream...
The moment I realized this, the cup of Fool's Dream Drink began to lose its form. It withered away within the dream, revealing its essence.
It was... a rune.
The moment I saw it, it clicked. This was the revelation I had once received from the Fool's Dream Drink!
And the revelations and runes I had gathered afterward from drinking the brews of other spirits at the cat cafes...
In an instant, those previously collected runes surfaced from the depths of my memory, circling this new rune. Their patterns were similar, yet each had its own distinct variations.
It was just like the spirits themselves—they were all Fool's Dreams, yet each was an independent individual with a unique personality.
Suddenly, one rune flared with light. A memory flashed through my mind. That rune... the spirit it corresponded to... was Yu Yun!
Yu Yun was one of the spirits at the witch cat cafe I used to frequent, so I had tasted her brew. Out of the three spirits currently following me, she was the most special. She was the most likely breakthrough point.
Yu Yun's rune flickered like a set of coordinates reflected in the Dream Sea, acting as a lighthouse to guide the way.
Just as I was waiting to see what other miracles would occur, an incredibly faint figure suddenly stumbled into my vision.
I only had time to lock eyes with her for a split second. I saw the excitement beginning to well up in her eyes, but then she shattered like a bubble within my Dream Sea.
"Yu... Yu Yun?" I called out tentatively. It was unbelievable, yet it felt as if I had been too late. But then, a voice echoed through my Dream Sea—a lingering sound that had been resonating for a long time finally reached my ears, confirming it was indeed her.
"Sister Xiao Han..."
"Yes, it's me. Where are you? You reached my Dream Sea, didn't you?" I hoped for another response, but everything turned terrifyingly silent. Yu Yun's figure had completely vanished. That split-second image was frozen in a corner of my memory, drifting before me.
"Yu Yun definitely succeeded just now. She actually broke through her subjective dreamscape to reach mine... This has definitely surpassed the limits of my one-sided observation. How did she do it?"
I forced myself to calm down and replay everything that had just happened, summarizing every detail to find a possible answer. But it felt as if there were no answers to be found.
When I hit a dead end, the Knowledge Shadow appeared behind me, resting a hand on my shoulder. I suddenly snapped out of it.
After realizing the truth, I let out a long sigh... because if I wanted answers, there was a much easier way.
I sprawled out like a starfish in the Dream Sea, letting the water swallow me as my consciousness returned to reality.
Why wonder when I could just ask Yu Yun in person?
I bolted awake on the bed, seeing the tucked-in blankets, the familiar mattress... and the witch sisters surrounding me.
"Eh? Why am I here?"
I asked instinctively. Didn't I just enter the Dream Sea with my consciousness? Why was I lying in bed?
"Xiao Han's awake!"
"Xiao Han! You're finally awake! What would we do without you!"
"Xiao Han, next time you're going to sleep, tell us in advance! Just collapsing like that without a word is really scary for a witch!"
The sisters' frantic comments quickly made me realize what had happened.
In other words, I had passed out without a word again. Fine, fine... that was definitely my fault.
I apologized profusely.
"Xiao Han, you really gave us a fright. We thought you were about to tear open a void rift again. If you have an idea, talk to us more. It's not good to always be brooding by yourself~"
"Tear a void rift? How is that even possible..." I said quickly, trying to stop their imaginations from running wild.
I stood up and stretched, confirming I was fine before speaking slowly. "By the way, where are the Fool's Dreams?"
"Sister Xiao Han! We're here~"
Two figures scurried out from behind the witches' feet.
"You guys followed me here too. Where's Yu Yun?" I asked, picking up the two spirits.
"Yu Yun... she might not be awake yet..." Just as Yulan was about to speak, a figure quietly approached.
"Sister Xiao Han... I'm here..."
"Yu Yun? You're awake?" My eyes widened in shock. Thank goodness... it seemed she was alright.
"Mhm..." Yu Yun nodded. "I think I had a dream just now. I dreamed of Sister Xiao Han..."
"That wasn't... well, yes, it was a dream! But I saw you in the dream too, so it really happened!" I set the two spirits down and walked over to Yu Yun.
Yulan and Yu Guo quickly realized what this meant.
"Yu Yun! You did it!"
"I'm so jealous!"
"Umm... I think so..." Yu Yun wasn't entirely sure herself, looking at me as if asking for confirmation.
"Yes, Yu Yun succeeded. We've completed the first step! Or rather, it's a massive success!" I affirmed her contribution. This success far exceeded my expectations!
Everything seemed to be moving in the direction I had planned. With this success, there would be a next time.
The key to this success was the Fool's Dream Drink. Originally, I hadn't even connected the two.
But now that it worked, I could reverse-engineer the logic.
It seemed many revelations had been hinting at this connection. The ritual runes of the Fool's Dream Drink were inherently tied to the spirits. When a Fool's Dream went too long without the drink—meaning they hadn't touched that rune for a long time—they became maladapted to the real world.
Therefore, the runes obtained through these revelations likely had a profound connection to the dream realm.
With that, the test for the meditation method was essentially over. I had originally planned to mobilize more spirits for testing, but now it seemed unnecessary.
An accident had provided a clear direction, saving me the trouble of slow trial and error. I could now announce that the meditation experiment had entered a brand-new phase!
After I shared the news, the witches all began to celebrate. Although they hadn't felt much of a sense of participation in the process, the success was undeniable.
After some discussion and consulting with the spirits, we tentatively named it the "Fool's Dream Drink Meditation Method." All that was left was to continuously refine it.