Chapter 557: Conflict and Probing
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 557: Conflict and Probing
When I finally understood, I felt no excessive joy; I only felt that everything was as it should be.
It was as if I had casually reached out and grabbed a handful of ethereal sand drifting before me. To others, the act might have seemed extraordinary, but when I opened my palm, it was just ordinary sand. It had simply been blown up by the wind, and I had simply caught it. That was all.
"Heh... you’ve grown. Now that you’ve acquired power, you don’t even have much emotional fluctuation anymore."
"Is this what you call growth? If I can't even express my own emotions, I don't consider that growth," I said, looking at the Knowledge Shadow.
"Oh? Well, that’s a fine perspective. But I was merely voicing your own internal assessment. This is what you consider growth, though it seems you don't like it? You once said you wanted to be the master of your emotions. Now you’ve succeeded; you’ve dominated your own joy..."
"Is that so?" I turned away from the window, a smile of genuine happiness spreading across my face. It wasn't until the last sliver of the sunset vanished that the sky outside finally turned dark.
At that moment, my gaze caught a figure in the distance—Jiao Xiaoshuang. It seemed she really hadn't left.
That was fine. Perhaps my behavior just now looked like someone who had studied themselves into a frenzy in her eyes.
But what did it matter? As long as she didn't dare say it to my face, it was enough. Besides, it wasn't as if I had done anything shameful.
"Let's go. I'm getting a bit hungry," I said, making no mention of my earlier comment about potentially sitting there all night.
Learning is an exhausting endeavor, especially when it involves Body Cultivation. Naturally, I couldn't neglect my own physical needs.
I suppose plans really can't keep up with changes.
I had originally intended only to improve my learning efficiency, yet I had directly gained an insight into the Seventh Sense: Time Sense. "As long as you perceive it earnestly, time will find you!" That was the catalyst for my realization of the Seventh Sense.
Power was coming to me so quickly that it felt surreal, yet when I examined each step, I felt I truly deserved it.
Perhaps power isn't gained through grueling, bitter cultivation, but by aligning with one's own thoughts. Perhaps this is the manifestation of the idea that "all of life is cultivation."
Jiao Xiaoshuang hurried forward. From the moment I left my seat, her attention had been fixed on me. Although she didn't understand the deeper meaning behind my actions, she likely chalked it up to the gap between herself and a genius.
We arrived at the dining area.
I had experienced the temporary food stalls set up downstairs at noon, but I hadn't been particularly satisfied. This time, I headed straight for the buffet area. After showing my bidding number plate, I entered without any hindrance.
Despite being a buffet, Jiao Xiaoshuang explained as we walked that the food here was anything but perfunctory.
In fact, because of the ongoing auction event, they were serving many rare delicacies that were usually difficult to find.
It was peak dining hours, and as soon as I stepped inside, I noticed a large crowd. Many seemed to be guests from other Transcendent Academies; even without using an appraisal spell, their distinct traits gave them away.
This wasn't surprising. The auction preview area was only so large and could be toured in about half a day. Those who had arrived early, like me, would naturally want to enjoy the various services provided by the hotel afterward. It was a sensible choice—at least, that’s what I thought, and I intended to put it into practice.
"Do you arrange my seating here as well? The view is quite nice, though."
My table was by the window. Sitting down, I could see the bustling, prosperous night lights of the Magic City.
"Yes. If you have any other needs, please don't hesitate to call me."
"That won't be necessary. Since it's a buffet, enjoying the fun of doing things myself is part of the meal." I politely declined her offer, then stood up to browse the buffet selection.
The variety of dishes was staggering, so much so that... I felt an urge to share it.
Thinking of this, I suddenly remembered that I had mentioned I might livestream before I left. Although the livestreaming platform built on the Tree of Great Knowledge wasn't perfect and hadn't been widely promoted, a few people—including Sister Bai—knew about this feature currently in testing.
I tried to activate the livestream function. In a way... I guess this counts as a "mukbang."
As the image gradually cleared and I adjusted the angle, I realized the feed was being captured through functions built into the Ley Line System of the Academy Network. Since I wasn't very familiar with it, the adjustments took some effort.
During this time, witches were already starting to post bullet comments.
"Xiao Han actually deigned to start a stream? Where is this?"
"First!"
"?"
"Looks like a restaurant. I see roasted meat. Is it dinner time already?"
Looking at the few comments drifting by, I responded softly.
"I'm currently at the hotel where the auction I mentioned earlier is being held. Since it's dinner time, I figured I'd test the livestream performance while I eat."
"It's a mukbang! Yay!"
"Xiao Han, is there a donation function?"
"Same question."
"Let's skip the donations. If any of you sisters want to play around, I could try to set up a free version for you to mess with." I couldn't help but find the question amusing. This wasn't like those commercial livestream platforms; this was more of a communication platform built with Great Knowledge Seeds as nodes. Moreover, it was still immature and relied heavily on the academy's Ley Line technology. Donations would be meaningless.
"Just watch for the fun of it, sisters. I'm going to start eating now; just treat it like a food stream." As I spoke, I cast a soundproofing spell on myself to prevent my voice from carrying to the other diners, while still allowing it to be broadcast to the stream. This soundproofing spell was one of my own derivations; for me now, deriving such spells was as natural as breathing.
Soon, the two plates I held were piled high with various delicacies.
I made a point to try every type of food—observing the color, critiquing the aroma, tasting the flavor, feeling the texture, and listening to the sound of the crunch... One could say that tasting food allows for a complete cultivation of the Five Senses. Setting aside the immediate effects, the true meaning of cultivation lies in integrating it into every detail of life.
"The texture of this meat is quite good, though it's a bit on the salty side. I still prefer this seafood; the aftertaste is fresh and spicy. Let's see how it tastes with a bit of sea urchin... Hmm... a hint of sweetness. A decent combination, I suppose."
"That's enough seafood for now. Let's try this hot dish; I heard it's a signature..."
At that moment, the witches watching the stream suddenly felt the food in their own hands lose its appeal. Although they had the means to eat such delicacies, they obviously didn't eat like this every day. This display immediately prompted those who were about to order takeout or head to the cafeteria to decide to treat themselves to something better instead.
Before long, I felt my stomach getting quite full. I had eaten a bit too much, but my digestion was fast—after all, Body Cultivation isn't just for show.
Time to walk it off, I thought, and asked Jiao Xiaoshuang if she had any recommended services.
* * *
Meanwhile, downstairs in the hotel.
In the magnificent lobby on the first floor, a young girl stood at the front desk, her brow furrowed deeply.
She was clutching a bidding number plate with the number "002" printed on it. The anger and impatience in her eyes made it clear how dissatisfied she was with that number.
"Do you people not know who I am? I am Liliana Elvira, one of the top Teaching Assistants at the Witch Academy! I'm doing you a favor by accepting your invitation to this auction!" The girl waved the card between two fingers in front of the receptionist. "Number 2? Who do you think you're insulting? Do you really think I haven't checked? Which of the others you invited actually showed up? Who has the right to be ranked ahead of me?"
Seeing the girl's outburst, even the onlookers didn't dare approach.
Even though she was disrupting the hotel's rules and order, the receptionists being scolded didn't dare utter a single word of rebuttal.
Nor did anyone dare suggest she lacked upbringing.
Because of her status, no one dared to lecture her, no matter how arrogant or overbearing she became.
At this point, several upperclassmen from the Witch Academy recognized the girl and chose to steer clear.
It was said that every year at the Transcendent Academy had its legends, and this girl, Liliana, was a standout among them, having already become a Teaching Assistant.
The change in status naturally drew a line between her and the regular students. Her position as a Teaching Assistant supported her current standing, and she worked tirelessly to ensure her strength matched her title.
One could say Liliana was looking for trouble, but she wasn't part of the Jack-of-all-trades Club, nor did she have any connection to it.
In her mind, she was simply using her own methods to obtain what was appropriate for her status. Nothing more.
Because of this, even though every word she spoke challenged the staff's patience, no one dared to talk back. Only the young girl who had stepped forward to apologize repeatedly bore the brunt of her verbal assault.
"I don't care what your reasons are or how you do it. Either get that card back yourselves, or bring the person who took Number 1 here to see me!"
Her voice carried an unquestionable tone of command, showing utter disregard for the people there. She had been causing a scene for several minutes, and not a single person in charge had appeared. She hated that attitude!
Consequently, the pressure from her life level and aura made it difficult for those around her to breathe.
"Miss Liliana... we understand your preference for the 001 bidding number, but we are truly sorry. That number has already been taken by a very important guest. Even according to the 'first come, first served' rule..."
"You're talking to me about 'first come, first served'? What right do you have to say that to me? Even now, no one who can actually speak for this place has shown up. It seems you don't value me at all..."
"Our sincerest apologies, Miss Liliana. Please, do not be impulsive. Let's speak calmly; there's no need for such anger." Just as Liliana was about to explode, a figure suddenly appeared, her voice carrying a hint of conciliation. The newcomer was Xing Anlei.
"Hmph. I recognize you, Xing Anlei. I recall you were the one who personally sent me the invitation. This is how your Jack-of-all-trades Club welcomes me on your own home turf?"
"I am truly sorry. I didn't expect Miss Liliana to be so upset over such a small matter. However, you've participated in our auctions many times; surely you know these numbers are just for ease of identification..."
"You think I'll believe that?" Liliana interrupted Xing Anlei's explanation without hesitation. "I am your important guest. You should prioritize my needs. Or do you think I can't compare to that 'important guest'?" Liliana asked with a cold snort.
"We certainly didn't mean that," Xing Anlei said, putting on a troubled expression.
After all, she was only one of the Vice Presidents of the Jack-of-all-trades Club and not a Teaching Assistant. However, the club had its own Teaching Assistants, so they weren't afraid of her. They took this auction very seriously.
And of course... there was a more important point...
"If you didn't mean that, then what did you mean? Just tell me who the person who took it is. Say it; I want to see if she's actually qualified!"
"Miss Liliana, the person who took the 001 bidding number is also a Teaching Assistant. Please try to understand. For the sake of our Jack-of-all-trades Club, I hope you won't make things too difficult for her over this."
"Also a Teaching Assistant? Who? There are only a few Teaching Assistants in the Witch Academy. Tell me, and I'll see who else refuses to give me face." Liliana continued her threats without hesitation.
"I'm truly sorry. As the auction organizers, it's inconvenient for us to disclose a guest's personal information. However, I believe that guest hasn't left the hotel. If fate allows, you should be able to run into her. You can communicate with her then; I'm sure she would understand your predicament." Xing Anlei still didn't reveal the information, as it was a matter of principle, but she could certainly redirect the trouble.
Ultimately, after some persuasion, the farce seemed to be resolved, though the girl named Liliana remained visibly displeased.
Watching her walk away, the girl beside Xing Anlei couldn't help but speak up in worry.
"Senior Sister Xing Anlei... is it really okay to just let two Teaching Assistants come into conflict like this?"
From their perspective, this could have been entirely avoided. They knew Liliana had been invited and were well aware of her temperament. When they received Mentor Xiao Han, they could have used information asymmetry to avoid this trouble. Besides, Mentor Xiao Han didn't seem like the type to care about such trivialities.
"Shh, don't discuss such things behind people's backs," Xing Anlei said with a light laugh to the girl. "Go back to your duties. This is the only trouble spot; just follow the plan from here on out."
With that, Xing Anlei left the area.
But internally, she was thinking about other things. This new Teaching Assistant, Yang Yuehan... the Jack-of-all-trades Club knew far too little about her.
The intelligence the club had on her was already outdated. Or rather, the information they had obtained from the Witch Mentors was vastly different from the information they had gathered themselves.
They were incredibly curious about this Teaching Assistant. The circle of Teaching Assistants at the Witch Academy was small, and the sudden arrival of such an outlier had piqued the curiosity of every club and group in the academy. Did anyone really think inviting the hot-tempered Liliana was a random choice?
The Witch Secret Realm Club behind Liliana was equally curious about Yang Yuehan. After all... they had been in contact with her back when she was still a student, and she was clearly an anomaly.
The Jack-of-all-trades Club was naturally willing to cooperate in testing this Teaching Assistant's depth. If things went south and trouble arose, it would be the Witch Secret Realm Club that took the heat.
Besides, did anyone really think Liliana didn't know what was going on?
She was one of the people most dissatisfied with this new Teaching Assistant, so she was more than willing to be the one to pick the fight.
Speaking of Liliana, she was a veteran scapegoat. With her personality, she had offended countless people in the academy. If it weren't for her terrifying strength and the backing of the Witch Secret Realm Club—which had guided her into becoming a Teaching Assistant—this eccentric girl would probably be targeted every single day. One should never underestimate the creative ways students at the Witch Academy could find to annoy someone.
If a conflict really did break out, the Jack-of-all-trades Club would simply step in as the mediator. After all, this was all just a side objective. Moreover, Liliana was no saint; even without this incident, she likely would have found a reason to cause them trouble. It was much easier to provide her with a specific point of conflict and act as the peacemaker than to be the target of her whims themselves.