Chapter 543: A Simple Application of [Transcendent Knowledge]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 543: A Simple Application of [Transcendent Knowledge]
"So this is [Transcendent Knowledge]..."
Once Tan Han dropped the idea of transferring the [Transcendent Knowledge] to me, I used the flow of Luck to give Xia Li a graceful out.
The atmosphere inside the infirmary was no longer as stiff as it had been at the start.
It was then that Xia Li brought out the [Transcendent Knowledge]—the culprit behind everything.
The moment the object appeared, the temperature in the room plummeted below freezing. Without any deliberate activation or guidance, its mere presence caused an indiscriminate drop in the surrounding temperature. Even the trace amounts of water vapor in the air condensed into frost.
Having prepared in advance, Xia Li deployed a protective barrier the instant she took it out.
She had studied this crown before. Previously, powerful restrictions had prevented this absolute zero energy from leaking, but those seals had been completely shattered by that earlier strike.
Fortunately, she had a decent grasp of sealing spells and even possessed several different types of sealing spellbooks. However, even with her temporary seals in place, the ambient temperature showed no sign of rising.
Along with the Ice Crown, she also brought out her right arm, which had been turned into an ice sculpture. It looked cold and ghastly, but Xia Li herself seemed indifferent, casting it aside to be utterly incinerated and destroyed.
In truth, Xia Li hadn't done this sort of thing many times and felt a degree of psychological discomfort; she was merely putting on a brave face in front of her two juniors. Besides, her right arm had already regenerated, so there was no need to dwell on it.
Suddenly, as I watched from the side, a few things clicked into place—like why healing spells weren't that popular at the Witch Academy, to the point where they had to establish dedicated infirmaries.
First, the threshold for using them was high and the operation was difficult, making them inaccessible for new students. Second... high-year senior sisters relied on their own Immortality to recover, which was usually enough. Thus, potions were the items truly in short supply.
It was foreseeable that if a wound between powerhouses actually required a "Healing Spell," it wouldn't be the kind of healing I was imagining. Instead, it would be about dispelling the lingering effects of an attack designed to suppress Immortality.
I also caught a faint glimpse of the terror of a Great Spellbook. The effect of a permanent attack spell was equivalent to a permanent wound—unless the opponent had a "Healing Spell" on the level of a Great Spellbook or paid an even higher price to neutralize the effect.
"Yes, this is the... carrier for that [Transcendent Knowledge]." Xia Li looked at the crown, her expression a bit apprehensive.
After all, not long ago, this very object had leveled a large urban district, causing widespread infrastructure failure and a chain of disasters in Tan Han's city. It had even cost Xia Li her right arm temporarily.
But... compared to the rest, losing a hand was a small price to pay.
"It's beautiful..." Tan Han murmured instinctively as she stared at the palm-sized crown, which looked more like a hair ornament.
Its design was indeed exquisite, possessing the flawless, translucent blue hue of natural ice crystals. The patterns resembled the intricate veins of a snowflake, and as light refracted through the crystals, it cast colorful spots of light, displaying a sense of pure optical beauty.
Even I found it stunning, like a work of art. The previous clash hadn't left a single scratch on it.
However, it was quite different from the [Transcendent Knowledge] I had seen before. The carrier seemed to be an "alchemical item" crafted by hand. This meant it lacked a "native environment" and offered no foundation or path to gain Revelation. Researching it would likely be a slow, step-by-step process.
"Shopkeeper, do you know how to use it?" I asked.
Since the shopkeeper had decided to give such a precious item away, it needed to have practical value. Otherwise, giving it to Tan Han would be like handing her a ticking bomb she couldn't handle.
"Use it..." Xia Li blinked, momentarily stunned by my question. She spoke slowly, "To be honest, I don't understand the use of [Transcendent Knowledge] either. I only know it's an indispensable component of a Great Spellbook."
"A Great Spellbook!" Tan Han was surprised. From her tone, she seemed familiar with the concept of Great Spellbooks but knew very little about [Transcendent Knowledge] or the specifics.
"Yes, a Great Spellbook. They are on a level far beyond standard high-consumption spellbooks or Myriad Methods Books. Their classification is distinct from small spellbooks or regular spellbooks..."
"I know a bit about the concept of Great Spellbooks. You don't need to explain it in such detail, Shopkeeper," Tan Han interrupted quickly.
"I've looked into it as well, and likely more deeply than you two," I added as Xia Li turned her gaze toward me. "I also know that Great Spellbooks aren't easily made. Even creating a standard spellbook requires reaching the Transcendent level, let alone a Great Spellbook. Almost all Academic Witches in the academy dedicate their lives to them. The difficulty is unimaginable."
Thinking back on the daily routines of those witches... they were actually quite leisurely. But in their own way, they truly did dedicate their lives to their Great Spellbooks.
I wasn't going to criticize them, though. I wasn't some capitalist who couldn't stand to see people resting. Achieving one's goals at one's own preferred pace—perhaps that was a habit unique to long-lived species.
"Is that so..." Xia Li didn't seem surprised by my words. Had she not tried to find this basic information before? She had, but her knowledge was limited to the surface level, and in the end, she had gained nothing.
"Maybe I should have listened to my mentor sooner. Perhaps... using it as a weapon would be a good idea. It's better than letting it go to waste for so long."
"Using this as a weapon... wouldn't it be hard to control?" Tan Han asked. She had seen with her own eyes how the shopkeeper's arm had frozen and died in an instant. If just touching it was that terrifying, how could it be used?
Not to mention, it was a crown. If someone wore it on their head, they'd have to be tired of living.
"You misunderstand me," Xia Li explained. "I mean using this carrier as a core to create a new container for the crown. You've seen its power; it's not to be underestimated. Even if it's a bit indiscriminate, you can't deny its strength. If we use sealing techniques to turn it into a weapon with a controllable trigger, it could become a powerful asset for you."
"I see..." I chimed in. I had to admit, it was a viable method—primitive, but effective.
After losing her Ancient Remnant Ice transformation, Tan Han truly lacked a powerful trump card to round out her combat system.
Due to her slight preference for ice-type spells, Tan Han found the suggestion easy to accept. Although it felt a bit like a waste of fine material, she had to be practical. She was self-aware enough to know that if she didn't have the ability to master it properly, she shouldn't chase unrealistic dreams.
"When the time comes, I'll use my connections to find an alchemy mentor to see if they can help refine it. Even a basic, functional version would do," Xia Li said as she placed the crown back into her storage equipment.
Despite the seals and the spatial isolation, the chill on Xia Li's storage device didn't dissipate. It seemed the terror of absolute zero had truly begun to affect the spatial level.
"If you're looking for an alchemy master skilled in sealing arts, I actually know one. I can introduce you, though I can't guarantee she'll be willing to help. Do you need it?" Hearing their conversation, specifically the keyword "sealing arts," sparked a thought, and I couldn't help but ask.
"Xiao Han, you actually know a mentor like that? Are you sure they're an alchemy master?!" Xia Li exclaimed in shock.
"I think so..." I didn't know much about the rankings or certifications in alchemy. While I knew some alchemy myself, it was mostly a collection of miscellaneous skills—I learned whatever was useful at the time. However, with the Tree of Great Knowledge, my theoretical level was terrifyingly high.
That Mentor Natalie had been introduced to me by the Academy Dean, so she couldn't be bad. At most, she just had a very... unique personality.
"Is it convenient to tell us the name of this alchemy master?" Xia Li asked cautiously.
"Um... her name is Natalie. Her full name is Natalie Bloomfield."
"Who... who did you say?" Xia Li's eyes widened. "Alchemy Master Natalie?! She's one of the top alchemy witches in the academy... at least the most powerful among those whose names are publicly known!"
"Is Mentor Natalie that famous?" I was genuinely surprised by the shopkeeper's reaction. I hadn't realized Natalie was such a celebrity among the students.
"Yes. Xiao Han, how did you get in touch with a mentor like her? Sorry... I didn't mean to pry..." Xia Li quickly realized she might have overstepped.
I didn't mind, though. "It's nothing. I just happened to ask her to customize a weapon for me. If it's just a sealing container, I don't think it would take up much of her time."
Of course, that was assuming she was willing. I didn't say that out loud to dampen their spirits. Although I hadn't spent much time with her, I had a general sense of her personality. I doubted she would refuse a material that carried [Transcendent Knowledge].
"This! You can actually get her to customize a weapon for you..." Xia Li sucked in a breath of cold air. This was a level of existence she had never touched, and she couldn't help but be overwhelmed.
"Do you want the introduction? If you say yes, I can give you her contact info. Just say I referred you... If that doesn't work, I can introduce you to other mentors," I said.
I planned to contact Natalie anyway to check on the progress of my weapon. I'd ask if she was interested in a material carrying [Transcendent Knowledge]. If she wasn't, there was nothing to be done, but I knew other alchemy mentors.
Besides, I was curious to see what kind of power a weapon carrying [Transcendent Knowledge] would possess. I had only heard of the concept; I had never actually seen anyone in the Witch Academy be extravagant enough to forge one into a weapon.
"Yes, please! On behalf of Tan Han and myself, thank you, Xiao Han..."
"No need for thanks, it's just a small favor," I said, waving it off. I took out my phone and sent a greeting to Natalie.
Unsurprisingly, she was extremely interested in the material. As an alchemy master, she naturally hoped to refine an alchemical weapon that could rival the rank of a Great Spellbook. Unfortunately, Tan Han and the others didn't need that level of refinement yet, nor were they qualified for it.
More importantly, Natalie herself wasn't confident she could use alchemy to create a weapon that fully unleashed the power of [Transcendent Knowledge]. Given time, perhaps she could, but Tan Han and the others couldn't wait that long.
While we waited for a reply, Xia Li continued telling Tan Han about other matters regarding [Transcendent Knowledge].
I took the opportunity to share the good news that the mentor had agreed, letting them share in the joy. I didn't care if it slightly delayed the crafting of my own weapon; I wasn't in a hurry, and neither were they, really.
However, Xia Li's next words caught me by surprise.
"Tan Han, there's one more thing I haven't told you."
"Something else? What is it?"
"I mentioned earlier that the Jack-of-all-trades Club is actively instigating a struggle for Luck. This [Transcendent Knowledge] I'm about to give you is your bargaining chip. It's an incredibly precious resource. Once it's in your hands, you must have the strength to protect it."
"They could have taken it directly from me, but they're still somewhat wary of me. They used the struggle for Luck as a pretext to force me to pick a side. They want this item, and they want to acquire it legitimately through a clash of Luck. The reason they're eyeing my [Transcendent Knowledge] so hungrily... is because the Jack-of-all-trades Club already possesses a Heart of the Cold Wave. That object was once a part of this [Transcendent Knowledge]."
"What? I... I understand..." Tan Han felt her mind racing as she processed Xia Li's explanation. After a moment, she grasped the shopkeeper's point.
They were pushing a Child of Destiny forward as their representative. They had the strength and the confidence, but they feared the unknown and irrational power of Luck. So, they chose another way to achieve their goal.
They treated Luck and Scripts as tools they could manipulate for their own profit. And now, because of her relationship with the shopkeeper, Tan Han had been dragged into this unavoidable "game."
To be honest, Tan Han hated the feeling. She felt that those who tried to control the fates of others would eventually be consumed by fate themselves.
But that was just a useless curse. In the end, everything came down to strength.
At that moment, I watched Tan Han and Xia Li talking animatedly. I didn't care much about their grudge with the Jack-of-all-trades Club; after all, I wasn't the one experiencing the trouble. I was content to just watch the final result from the sidelines.
However, I still had one thing left to do: give Tan Han a Great Knowledge Seed. As the most prominent among the Children of Destiny, I naturally had to "harvest" her a bit.
"By the way, let me interrupt for a second. I have something for you. I think I mentioned this to you back at that party at sea, I don't know if you remember." As I spoke, I pulled out a seed.
Just as I was preparing to go through the tedious explanation of how to use it, a figure suddenly appeared at the infirmary.
"Eh? Teacher Lina? I didn't expect you to come," I said, surprised.
"Something this big happened to my student, how could I not come?" Lina looked a bit surprised to see me there, but she explained her presence nonetheless.
However, her gaze was fixed entirely on the Great Knowledge Seed in my hand. Recently, rumors of a miraculous item called the Great Knowledge Seed had been spreading among the witches, especially its connection to Great Spellbooks. Naturally, she had looked into it and even managed to get one from the Academy Dean to try for herself. She had found it to be quite impressive.
"I see. In that case, it looks like I'm redundant here. I was going to give this Great Knowledge Seed to Tan Han. Since Teacher Lina is here to look after her student, I'll leave this matter in your hands~"