Chapter 55: Witch Meditation Method
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55: Witch Meditation Method
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, I’d already been working part-time at the bakery for several days. Whether I was loafing around or being called over to wash dishes, life felt quite fulfilling.
I had even started getting my hands on some actual pastry-making practice.
During these days, I also asked the Senior Sisters about Transcendent matters—specifically, the Witch Meditation Method I had been pining for.
Ultimately, under Senior Sister Ying Shiqian’s recommendation, I unlocked a new area within the academy: the library.
It wasn't actually surprising that the academy had a library. After all, this was a place of learning; the collected books, data, and documents naturally needed a place to be stored.
That was where all the information regarding meditation methods was kept. I even went out of my way to get a library card, which cost me a fair bit of money.
Furthermore, there were additional fees for borrowing meditation books to take outside. It was a pity I didn't have the time to read in the library itself; if I stayed there, many of the books wouldn't have cost a cent.
Instead, I brought them straight to the bakery to read. Since things were usually so dull, I figured I might as well make use of my spare time.
"Xiao Han, why are you so hardworking? I’ve already graduated, yet your behavior is still putting immense pressure on me," Senior Sister Ying Shiqian said as she walked over, unloading a burst of negative energy in a slightly distressed tone.
"Maybe I’m just really curious about the Transcendent? I want to see it for myself." I looked up to see Senior Sister Ying Shiqian slumped over the counter in front of me. She was another master of slacking off, just like me.
When the Shopkeeper wasn't around, she would slack off shamelessly. When the Shopkeeper was around, she would flirt and act coy with her, shielding both me and Senior Sister Tang Yihan from a lot of the Shopkeeper’s harassment.
"How can anyone be curious about the Transcendent? It’s such a torturous thing..."
"Maybe people are just different."
I gave a knowing smile, roughly understanding what she meant. It was like someone saying they loved studying; even if some people truly did, they were a small minority.
In this world, everyone had heard of Transcendent matters to some degree. Even if they hadn't entered a Transcendent Academy or touched Transcendent power, they grew up hearing about it and were used to its existence.
I could see that the academy’s policy of not leaking the channels to access Transcendent power was naturally a way to cultivate an ordinary person's curiosity. Only by generating curiosity and a thirst for knowledge would there be a positive impact on their future interests.
But even so, that couldn't compare to the longing for the Transcendent felt by someone like me, who had lived in a world without any such power from the very beginning.
"True. You must be one of those top-tier students, right? I’m so jealous~ Once you become a Transcendent Witch and graduate, you have to come back and tell me all about how exciting the world outside is."
"My grades aren't actually that good; don't think so highly of me." I spoke humbly, but it was the truth—my grades really weren't great. However, I did find myself becoming interested in the "outside world" the Senior Sister mentioned.
"No way, I don't believe a word of that. The new students these days are getting scarier by the year. This batch even has a Full Score Academic God. The competition is just too fierce. Xiao Han, don't you feel the pressure?"
"What pressure? I’ve never even met the person. Why would I go looking for trouble for no reason?"
"You have a great mindset."
"It’s not a matter of mindset, Senior Sister. Did you just mention the world outside? Is there something beyond this world? Other worlds?"
I spoke tentatively, trying to guide the conversation. Though the transition was a bit stiff, I was genuinely curious. I wondered if the world I lived in before my transmigration existed somewhere out there.
Probably... not. If it did, I really wouldn't know where I belonged anymore.
To be honest, I quite liked this world of Transcendent power. Although my childhood hadn't been great, the impact of a second childhood was merely adding another sad chapter to a low point in my life.
"I’m not too sure. Those things are only revealed after you become a Transcendent Witch. After all, what’s the use of telling you early? If you don't end up becoming Transcendent, wouldn't it just be adding to your worries?"
"Fair point." I flipped the page, continuing my study of the Witch Meditation Method.
Seeing me like this, Senior Sister Ying Shiqian stopped bothering me and ran off toward the back kitchen. I glanced over at the still-busy Senior Sister Tang Yihan, hoping nothing unexpected would happen.
A few days ago, I had seen Ying Shiqian pull a surprise attack that startled Tang Yihan, resulting in ingredients being scattered everywhere.
In the end, under Tang Yihan’s threat of physical force, Ying Shiqian had tearfully taken over all the dishwashing for the day, along with a deep clean of the entire kitchen.
I refocused my mind on the meditation book. As expected, the gap between the Witch Meditation Method and the Theoretical Meditation I had studied before was massive.
If the meditation I was learning now was the formal method, then the theoretical knowledge from before the College Entrance Exam was nothing more than weak verbal descriptions and empty, superficial concepts.
The Witch Meditation Method described a very abstract state. Its purpose was to condense mental power into a higher-quality "Mental Power Thread." Only then could it work in tandem with one's life level to interfere with mana—an energy of a very high level.
In this process, even increasing the quantity of mental power was merely a side effect.
After learning this, I had assumed the majority of the text would be dedicated to describing how to condense these Mental Power Threads.
However, as I began reading in earnest, I realized that even now, the book was still discussing how to enter the "meditative state."
It provided a deep analysis of the meditative state itself, as well as the concept of the Mental Space that one subjectively extends while in that state.
I felt like this wasn't meant for beginners. No matter how I looked at it, this didn't seem like something someone who had never touched the Transcendent should know.
Furthermore, I saw various items listed that were required to assist when attempting to meditate.
For instance, specific audio tracks, meditation diagrams to aid visualization, and even expensive meditation incense.
There were even higher-level hypnotic meditation techniques to help freshmen understand exactly what kind of state meditation was supposed to be.
Just the few pages describing the state one needed to be in were difficult enough for me. It required an extremely high level of control over one's own body and mental state through sheer will.
To put it bluntly, it was a form of self-mastery.
The Witch Meditation Method had many stages, and the very first was "Entering the Meditative State." The fact that the very first step was classified as an entire stage showed just how high the barrier to entry was.
But I wasn't afraid. If there were difficulties, I would simply try. How could I know if I didn't try?
Since I was going to try, I would naturally need to spend money. Without the items described in the book to assist me, who knew how long it would take to succeed on my own? I had a very clear understanding of my own talent.
Though I often forced myself to remain confident, I knew when it was time to face reality.