Chapter 610: Phase One Complete, Returning to the City
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 610: Phase One Complete, Returning to the City
"This idea of yours is quite interesting. I can see shadows of the Spellbook and the... Myriad Methods Bookshelf in it."
After seeing that person off, Sister Agnes spoke up from the side.
"Well, I did have the Myriad Methods Bookshelf as a spellbook to begin with."
"No wonder." Agnes had a moment of realization; after all, that specific spellbook was a rare sight even at the Witch Academy.
Furthermore, she didn't see anything wrong with the transcendent framework and power system Xiao Han was currently researching, even if it was designed for downward compatibility.
For some witches, the value of research wasn't measured by how much the final product improved their own strength, but by what they gained during the process.
Even if the "game access" I created reached its final form, it would provide essentially no substantive boost to my own power.
However, in terms of benefits, there were two very obvious ones.
First, it allowed my Power of Knowledge—my Mindscape Order—to be artificially extended and propagated. By relying on the power of a massive user base, I could complete the foundational aspects of my system.
Second, it served as a "rehearsal" for the derivation of the Myriad Methods Bookshelf. It was an experiment to test the compatibility between the Power of Knowledge and the Spellbook framework, as well as an attempt to see how it could be integrated into the Tree of Great Knowledge system.
With the completion of the "Job Change Ritual" and the construction of the "Skill Tree," the first phase of the Player plan was essentially finished.
It had reached the level of being "basically playable."
Next, I just needed to integrate the Job Change Ritual into the Omni-Link Main Network Tree system.
As for the subsequent addition and refinement of the "Class System," that would simply involve deriving more distinct combat styles based on different specializations.
From here on out, until the Omni-Link Main Network Tree encountered a major technical breakthrough, all that was required was "additive expansion."
What is additive expansion?
It means following a set path without high thresholds—creating pre-set abilities that can be completed using existing techniques given enough time. It’s also known as micro-innovation.
For example, in the Class System, now that we have Swordsmen and Mages, we can eventually add classes like Berserkers, Magic Swordsmen, Archers, Healers, and so on.
Take the Skill Tree as another example: now that the Small Fireball Spell is unlocked, we can use that same technique to grant skills like the Small Ice Arrow Spell, Small Entanglement Spell, Small Blindness Spell, and more.
By utilizing the equipment traits tied to specific classes, we could even build an "Equipment System."
And what did this represent?
It meant that even if I wasn't here, the small team of witches led by Sister Agnes could take over and continue refining it!
Indeed, Agnes wasn't the only witch sister who had come; several others who shared a love for games were also involved.
Currently, they were obsessed with designing HP and MP bars.
Of course, there were still issues with weapon durability, spell casting bars, damage displays, and numerical balancing.
The reality was that real-world variables are difficult to represent with simple data. They needed a calculation method that bridged data and reality to correspond with these numerical changes.
"This Annotation Technique of yours is truly convenient. I should say it pairs perfectly with your Power of Knowledge. Have you thought about promoting it?" Agnes asked.
"Promoting it? I don't think there's much need for that."
"This trait, which is similar to temporary enchantment, is actually a very popular technique. And this Annotation Technique, using your Power of Knowledge as a medium, is the best of its kind I've encountered. Perhaps you should try promoting it; it would help you refine the technique by drawing on other people's ideas. I can tell it's not yet fully perfected, right?"
"Yes. Sister Agnes, you could tell even that?" I said, somewhat surprised.
"Of course. I do have the vision of a Transcendent Witch, after all. Many techniques only reach higher levels through exchange and communication; there's no need to keep it hidden. Naturally, it depends on your own choice, but if a useful technique is made public, those witches who recognize its true value won't let your sharing and exchange go to waste."
"Is that so?" Hearing Sister Agnes say this, I was indeed a bit tempted.
My current Annotation Technique was based on a framework I learned from Sister Natalie, which I then adapted into its current form based on my own understanding. Naturally, I hoped to perfect it as quickly as possible.
"Then, if I get the chance, I'll organize the data for this technique and share it within the Tree of Great Knowledge."
"It was just a suggestion, no need to be in such a hurry," Agnes said quickly, seeing how decisively I made the choice.
"I'm not in a hurry. This is a well-considered decision."
"Alright... it seems you're truly naive in a cute way sometimes, Xiao Han..."
"What?"
"Nothing. Xiao Han, now that the first phase of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree is complete, what are your plans? Refining the first phase will take time, and during that interval..."
"I plan to go and plant trees throughout the entire Expansion Realm," I said.
I understood what Agnes meant. The major hurdles of the first phase had been overcome, and they could handle the remaining content. They were asking if I was going to start theoretical research on the second phase of the project.
"Oh... so the game is entering Open Beta for the whole Expansion Realm?" Agnes asked with a smile, using a very apt metaphor.
"Something like that. Once the trees are planted, the challenges of the second phase will emerge—namely, the issues of interconnection and synchronized updates between the Omni-Link Main Network Trees. Hmm... let me think... there's also the issue of players moving between regions, which means the docking and matching of game access with the local network trees," I explained.
"Put that way, it sounds like we're going to be quite busy."
"That's why I said there's no rush," I said with a smile. "Even if I say I'm going to plant trees across the Expansion Realm, it's not that urgent. I'm thinking of visiting Ninglan New City first to see how it's doing."
Even if I didn't go in person, I could keep track of the situation through the Great Knowledge Seeds.
For instance, I knew about the Dream Overlap Dilemma Ninglan New City was facing, the harassment from dream creatures, and Mentor Elena teaching Dream Magic.
But some things are best seen in person. The cold text descriptions and data displays within the Tree of Great Knowledge could never be as wonderful as witnessing it with one's own eyes.
And there was one more thing... I hadn't expected Dongli Yiren and Yu Yuetian to show up in Ninglan New City as well.
* * *
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Calamity Shelter.
"He's back! Wan Zhuang is back!"
As someone shouted, everyone's eyes turned toward the figure slowly approaching.
Seeing him return unscathed, they could faintly sense that Wan Zhuang himself was even more excited than they were.
"Brother! How was it? What did you get out of the trip? You're okay, right?" Several men couldn't wait and rushed forward to ask.
"He's definitely fine! Look at that grin; he can't even hide it!"
"Exactly~ Come on, tell us, how was it?"
At this moment, Wan Zhuang could no longer suppress his smile.
"Huge gains! I've mastered transcendent power!"
As Wan Zhuang made his situation public, it left everyone in awe.
"Really? You've already mastered transcendent power? So fast?"
"Quick! Let me see!"
"Wait... I'll give you a demonstration. Right... let's go find an open space!" Wan Zhuang recalled what had been said to him: transcendent power wasn't meant for showing off. His basic rationality kept him from being blinded by the surrounding flattery.
However, to meet his companions' expectations, he chose to try it out. After all, the power he had mastered needed testing too, didn't it?
"Let's go, let's go! I know a good spot."
* * *
Ninglan New City.
Outside the city.
As more and more Apprentice Witches arrived at Ninglan New City, the alchemy items for mining transcendent ore became increasingly sophisticated. With the growing number of these alchemical tools, many witches began to turn their attention toward the refugees outside the city.
After all, the City Guard and City Defense forces in Ninglan New City were few in number and were needed to maintain order and fend off occasional mutant beast raids. They weren't the first choice for miners.
On the other hand, the refugees who had their food and housing issues resolved were able-bodied. Such high-quality labor was naturally enticing.
Consequently, as their lives gradually improved, the relief food provided by Ninglan New City began to dwindle. It wasn't until they finished a single person's portion and still felt hungry that they realized, somewhat belatedly, that the relief supplies had indeed decreased.
But by now, they were somewhat afraid to clash or riot against Ninglan New City. They had tasted a "stable" life; though they were living under someone else's roof, they feared that resisting might cause them to lose everything they currently had.
The main reason, however, was that they simply couldn't win. If the other side lacked humanity and decided to wipe them out, it would be the end. While there were some who wanted to take the risk, they weren't very good at inciting collective emotion.
Furthermore, since communication was becoming possible through language, they were forced to choose negotiation to address the issue of relief food.
Even so, they had to be tactful. After all... they were essentially begging for food. They were no longer in the stage of being unclothed and starving due to the disaster. Those with healthy bodies were perfectly capable of supporting themselves with their own hands. The continued distribution of relief supplies was meant to care for those who couldn't care for themselves—the elderly, children, the disabled, and pregnant women.
However, they soon received a difficult answer: as Ninglan New City was supporting so many people, the city's own resources were running low, and they had no choice but to reduce the supply.
But Ninglan New City also offered a new solution: they could provide "work positions" so the refugees could earn their own rewards, leaving the relief supplies for those in greater need.
One could say Ninglan New City had done more than enough. Providing "unpaid" aid to so many people offered the city no benefit at all.
Now that they were out of the survival crisis, Ninglan New City was naturally unwilling to support a group of parasites who just wanted to be freeloaders.
To put it bluntly, it was just another form of mutual benefit, with Ninglan New City being the dominant party.
The person who came up with this idea... wasn't just Ninglan Qiuyue, but since the city had started implementing it, it meant she had given the nod.
Moreover, she couldn't stand by and watch Ninglan New City support a bunch of freeloaders using the city's own resources!
Naturally, this plan drew opposition from many, but the opposition was futile. they no longer had the right or the courage to raise a blade against Ninglan New City.
Furthermore, a large portion of the population consisted of the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled. They only wanted stability. Previously, they had no choice but to act out because they couldn't survive, but now that they weren't starving, there was no need. Among the able-bodied, there were also many simple laborers who preferred to earn their keep through their own work.
Additionally, once those capable of working left the relief pool, the remaining supplies would go further, allowing those unable to work to eat their fill.
Thus, with a little bit of public opinion guidance, those able-bodied but lazy parasites faced constant pressure and ostracization from those around them.
In this way, Ninglan New City used these methods to acquire a great deal of "cheap labor," and the efficiency of mining rare transcendent materials increased significantly.
As for the crystal mines with dangerous radiation, they required specialized protective alchemy equipment and mining tools. But as this equipment became more common, even ordinary people could handle the job.
Gradually, some of the students who had come to Ninglan New City found that they were... unemployed?
The places where they used to rent alchemical tools seemed to have dwindled.
Although as visitors to Ninglan New City, they weren't restricted in where they gathered resources, it felt terrible to arrive at a mine only to see a massive crowd of ordinary people competing with them for resources.
And all the transcendent materials those ordinary people mined went straight into the storage equipment of the people at the top.
In an instant, the gap between people widened.
But most didn't have the courage to confront the members of the large clubs or the teaching assistants directly.
This situation made them realize one thing: there was no future in being a lone "miner"!
Joining an organization or a group was the only way to better secure one's interests.
For example, the most in-demand groups now were the architecture clubs, as well as planters and alchemists.
After all, right now, one provided the infrastructure for refugees to rebuild civilization—which aligned with "Contract Correctness"—and the others provided food supplies.
Buying grain from the outside was far too expensive and would cause prices to rise in other regions.
The Expansion Realm was vast with plenty of land; it would be a waste not to use it. Self-sufficiency was the best way to create a sustainable cycle.
Essentially, the large clubs established the macro-environment, the small clubs joined them to fill specific needs, and those with specialized skills didn't have to worry about finding their place.
Only those who knew nothing but were greedy for a quick fortune were left wandering aimlessly and lost.
Even the lower-year students took this opportunity to follow senior sisters as apprentices to learn a craft. Whether it was planting or alchemy, everyone needed hands and apprentices to handle the chores.
And in the midst of all this bustle in Ninglan New City, a figure appeared within the city walls—and that figure was, of course, me.
As the news of my return spread, I expected many eyes would be on me again. I hadn't forgotten how they defined me: an unstable factor.
However, I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but the entry process had become so simple that they let me in just by me giving my name.
"It's quite lively... I didn't expect they'd actually set up a market inside the city. Interesting."