Chapter 622: The Omni-Link Main Network Tree That No One Dares to Touch
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 622: The Omni-Link Main Network Tree That No One Dares to Touch
"This... what on earth is going on?"
After regaining their footing, the crowd looked at the scene outside and couldn't help but gasp.
"What kind of tree is this? Why did it suddenly mutate here... Could it be that the seeds in the Seed Vault underwent a sudden transformation?"
"No, that's not right. These leaves... this shape... I think I've seen it before!" someone from the Witch Academy spoke up hesitantly.
This single comment drew everyone's attention.
"You've seen it?"
"It's the Omni-Link Main Network Tree! The one Yang Yuehan has been researching all this time!"
Upon hearing this answer, everyone’s faces darkened.
This was the last answer they wanted to hear. Was all of this really that Yang Yuehan’s doing?
Some, refusing to give up, walked to the edge of the space and instinctively reached out. Their hands passed through the spatial barrier without resistance, causing only a ripple of spatial fractures.
One person leaned their head out, allowing their vision to finally bypass the spatial obstruction. What lay ahead was no longer a spatial walkway, but... the outside world!
The sky, white clouds, the sun... though the giant tree had not yet fully unfurled, it already began to shroud them one by one.
He turned his head, straining to look up at the massive Omni-Link Main Network Tree. It was surrounded by countless spatial pockets similar to the one he was in. The sheer scale of the scene left him stunned, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
It wasn't until he felt someone pull him back from behind that he regained his senses.
"You're sticking your head out without knowing the situation? There are better ways to seek a death wish."
"What did you see? What's it like out there?"
"I... there is no 'out there.' It's the outside. A massive tree... so many spaces... the maze has been destroyed..."
"What do you mean?"
"Forget it. Since he went out and is fine, it should be safe. Let's go out and see for ourselves."
With one person leading the way, the crowd followed. It wasn't until they reached the outside and saw the great tree with their own eyes that they truly lost their composure.
Because this tree was simply too colossal!
Its spreading roots, growing too fast, churned out of the ground before piercing through space to take root in the soil again. It was as if it had transcended the biological definition of a tree.
Terrifying energy flowed through the roots, constantly nourishing the tree as it shot upward, sprouted branches, and unfurled leaves at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"Look! There's a figure up there on the tree!"
By now, people were emerging from the spatial pockets along the roots. It wasn't just those from this specific area; everyone who had been trapped in the Space Maze was trying to see what had happened in the wake of this anomaly.
At that moment, on a branch near the canopy...
I stood there, looking down at the scenery below. Beside me, a large dream creature was frolicking and fluttering about incessantly.
Holding a Primal Rune in my hand, I looked at the rapidly growing Omni-Link Main Network Tree, feeling quite shocked myself.
Just a short while ago, I had finished inducing the Primal Rune from the dream creature. My goal was essentially complete.
I have to admit, the process was much faster this time, yet it still took me quite a while.
According to my plan—research, observation, summary, and induction—with a fixed workflow, a massive reservoir of knowledge, and flexible thinking, summarizing such a Primal Rune should have been quick. However, I still overestimated my abilities; it couldn't be finished in a truly short burst.
When the moment of completion finally came, I didn't even feel much of an achievement. It just felt like I had done something I had done before, something I was supposed to be able to do.
I hadn't even added more Rune Rituals to this Primal Rune to turn it into a complete spell. It would be recorded into the Tree of Great Knowledge, then dismantled by the Power of Knowledge to be integrated into the Order of my Heart State Domain...
As for this Omni-Link Main Network Tree, it was a snap decision I made by utilizing this Ley Line convergence point.
The reason that prompted this decision was my sudden realization: if I wanted the Omni-Link Main Network Tree to dominate the Expansion Realm, it was destined to revolve around one thing.
The Ley Lines.
The compatibility between the Omni-Link Main Network Tree and the Ley Lines was exceptionally high. It could even convert Ley Line energy into Ley Energy to be controlled by itself.
Originally, I had only intended to try it out with that thought in mind, but reality gave me an even bigger surprise. This Omni-Link Main Network Tree was like a fish in water at a Ley Line convergence point!
Furthermore, it made full use of that specific Ley Line.
I personally placed that seed into the Ley Line branch. From its rooting and sprouting to its current form, its most vital roots would follow the bearing capacity of the Ley Lines to reach the furthest corners of the Expansion Realm!
This was only the result of my brief observation so far; I hadn't yet tested the other benefits of its fusion with the Ley Lines.
Perhaps I had found a more convenient way to plant the Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
But it seemed I didn't have time to test it now.
"Yang Yuehan! What do you think you're doing!"
Standing on high, I looked down at the people emerging from the yet-to-dissipate material spaces.
To be honest, when I planted that seed, I hadn't expected this exact outcome. But even if I had known, I would have done it without hesitation.
Because they... were never part of my considerations.
"Are you blind? Or can't you see for yourself?" I retorted bluntly.
Hearing my sharp response, the person who had questioned me wanted to say more, but was immediately held back by several people around her.
"What are you doing? Why are you interrogating her? You can't even beat her anyway." The girls beside her hurriedly pulled her back, advising her in hushed, blunt tones.
"This girl is too arrogant! Does she think this place is her home? Killing each other isn't allowed here; can't I even go and reason with her?!"
"Quiet down. She destroyed the maze and effectively saved everyone. Don't you see that no one is standing up for you?" Someone nearby cast a Lucid Spell on her before continuing.
With this persuasion, she instinctively looked around. Many people were walking out of the spatial fragments along the roots. The joy of being rescued stood in stark contrast to the resentment of those who hadn't gained any benefits.
Before they could say anything else, several leaders among those who had been trapped for too long stepped forward to offer their thanks.
After all, she had rescued them. Especially for those who had been on the verge of despair in the circular spaces, helping them escape was a massive favor!
Now, seeing someone actually questioning her to her face, if they hadn't seen that the questioner was a Teaching Assistant they couldn't afford to offend, they probably would have started a shouting match on the spot.
Among the crowd, there were also those whose physical bodies were still missing, their consciousness forms frantically searching for their bodies in the dream. Once found, they called out for the Senior Sisters to help.
The scene was one of relief after a narrow escape.
Standing on high, I responded with a smile to those who came forward to thank me one by one.
At least most people knew how to be grateful. Even if it wasn't sincere, I didn't care; at least they were willing to keep up appearances.
Everything had already happened. The current situation wouldn't change because of a few individuals. The only ones unhappy were those who saw the benefits but couldn't get their hands on them.
Now that the trapped people were free from the maze, their first priority was naturally to head back. After all, no matter how big the trouble, returning to the city could usually solve most problems.
And now, a few "troubles" had arrived before me.
"We meet again, Teaching Assistant Winnie. Aren't you the Teaching Assistant representing the Jack-of-all-trades Club? Why have you come to me looking like you're here to demand an account?" I asked with a smile, greeting the few people in front of me.
"There's no one else here, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han. Why did you have to come here? You've completely ruined our plans!"
"Plans? What plans? Don't tell me your plan was to trap everyone in a Space Maze and then wait for you to rescue them?"
"You're joking. That's obviously not what we meant." At this point, another girl nearby hurriedly spoke up to avoid falling into a linguistic trap. "We had our own arrangements for the Space Maze. There was no need for things to end up like this. Since there's no one else here, let's be blunt. You know how much manpower and resources we've spent. Naturally, it wasn't for some 'maze' or those seeds."
"Oh? So you want a cut of the benefits from me?"
"Look at how you're putting it. Everything has an order of arrival. This impulsive move of yours, done without even a word to us, has caused us heavy losses. It makes things very difficult for us, doesn't it?"
"So, what do you want to do?" I crossed my arms, looking at them with an air of leisure.
"If I may ask, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, you reached the deepest part of this Space Maze, didn't you? Might I ask out of curiosity... what exactly was down there?"
"You're curious about that? You don't think there was something good inside, do you?"
"Is that not the case? Something capable of distorting space and shaping this entire Space Maze... how could it be something simple!"
"You know nothing, yet you harbor such greed. Don't you realize how ridiculous your self-righteousness looks to me? Teaching Assistant Winnie, I know you have to be responsible for the Jack-of-all-trades Club, but now that we're speaking openly, don't lose your basic common sense."
"I apologize. Because the Jack-of-all-trades Club invested so much in this operation, Teaching Assistant Winnie might be a bit agitated. I offer my apologies on her behalf." At this moment, the girl beside her hurriedly pulled Winnie back and spoke to me. "However, we truly do not know what was there. I wonder if Teaching Assistant Xiao Han could enlighten us?"
"It's fine." I gave Winnie a deep look before shifting my gaze away from her. "The deepest part of the Space Maze is an independent space that almost escapes the gravitational scope of the Expansion Realm. If you want to know what's inside, it's the most primitive World Three Source Elements and the Ley Lines."
"The World Three Source Elements and the Ley Lines?"
"Yes. Don't tell me you don't know what those are."
"Of course we know. But if it's only as you say, how could it form such a complex and constantly shifting Space Maze?"
"World Origin Soil turned into material space, Transcendent Origin Crystals turned into energy, and this is a Ley Line convergence point. You know about Ley Lines, right? They have a bearing capacity. These things were carried by the Ley Lines in a constant circular flow, forming an immense Ley Line Stagnation, which eventually resulted in this."
As I spoke, I used the imaging from the Knowledge Shadow to demonstrate for them. From the Ley Lines at the convergence point to the World Three Source Elements and the resulting spaces, I presented a macro-spatial model that was very easy to understand.
"So... it was actually just a coincidence? Then... what about those Source Elements?"
"The World Origin Soil turned into these material spaces, but they've been scattered around this Omni-Link Main Network Tree. Since I planted this tree on the Ley Line, you can think of it as an extension of the Ley Line itself. As for the Transcendent Origin Crystals, aren't these crystal mines all over the place exactly that? As for the Soul Crystals... well, see that giant dream creature? It ate them." I explained to them in detail. Since they didn't know the truth anyway, what did it matter if I shifted the blame?
Besides, I wasn't lying. The Source Elements really had been consumed in those ways. The remainder was sealed by me within the Book in the Box. After all, the Source Elements were far too unstable; I was afraid they would be accidentally destroyed if kept in ordinary storage equipment.
"So... they're all gone?"
Hearing this answer, the group immediately wore expressions of intense pain. Those were Source Element crystals!
They were far more precious than these transcendent materials!
And the thought that such a large Soul Crystal had been wasted on that dream creature made their hearts ache.
"As it stands, yes," I responded casually. "However, I understand your difficulties. I won't lay a finger on the resources in this area. Aside from this Omni-Link Main Network Tree, which you must not touch, you can do whatever you want with the rest. You could even establish a second large shelter here to gather refugees, just like the Calamity Shelter."
"You're joking. A large shelter like that isn't something you can just build on a whim. As for this tree... it's your handiwork, isn't it?"
"Yes. Is it in your way? But I advise you best not to get any ideas about it." I warned them with a smile.
"Why? Just because you planted it, it belongs to you?"
"No, no, no. It's not up to me to say who it belongs to. My warning is for you not to destroy it. It is an extension of the Ley Line branches at the Expansion Realm's convergence point. Destroying it is equivalent to destroying the Expansion Realm itself." I continued to explain to them with a slight smile.
"The Expansion Realm is a domain whose restoration was presided over by Dean Mei. And the restoration of the Expansion Realm is, in essence, the repair of the World Ley Lines. If you dare to touch it, be my guest—just bear the consequences yourself. Don't think I'm trying to scare you. If you don't believe me, you can go back and ask, or ask Mentor Elena, who is still in Ninglan New City. She is also one of the Witch Mentors who presided over the Expansion Realm's restoration."
"Furthermore... this tree is called the Omni-Link Main Network Tree. It is a symbolic pillar of this civilization, the infrastructure of the Plant Network Architecture, and the foundation for reshaping their civilizational development. If you destroy it, you are violating the contract and sabotaging the process of civilizational reshaping. Well? Is that reason enough?"
I spoke a long string of words in one breath, each point precisely making their faces turn a shade uglier.
Though I was stating facts, every sentence was a threat.
The Omni-Link Main Network Tree was indeed a technical modification under my Tree of Great Knowledge system.
But whether it belonged to me was no longer important.
Now was not the time to reason with them, but to clarify the stakes.
I told them exactly what they were afraid of. They had a massive organization and reputation; weren't these the very things they feared losing?
I was a lone wolf; naturally, I had nothing to lose.
"Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, we were reckless this time. We didn't mean it that way. Since Teaching Assistant Xiao Han cares so much for the people of this world, as one of the clubs of the Witch Academy, we will naturally fulfill the contracts we signed with firm determination..."
After hearing what I said, they didn't dare say anything more.
Just listen to the names she mentioned in that long speech!
Dean Mei Lind!
Who could afford the accusation of sabotaging the Expansion Realm?
Moreover, someone at the Dean's level was not someone they could easily contact, yet she knew so much, which spoke volumes.
They had truly hit a brick wall this time; this was even a veiled threat from her.
She even knew that Mentor Elena had participated in the Expansion Realm's restoration, which showed she wasn't afraid of them checking.
Finally, she used their own "Contract Correct" rhetoric to counter-attack them... it truly left them stifled and uncomfortable.
It seemed they had still underestimated this Teaching Assistant Xiao Han. She was never a fool. How could someone who rose to prominence in such a short time be simple?
Once they decided she was a "shrewd fox," they became much more cautious in their speech.
If they said the wrong thing, she might... no, she definitely had recorded the audio and video. She might even be live streaming right now...
If they said something too extreme and it got out, even if they reacted quickly, it could ruin the image their club had worked so hard to build.
This move was truly ruthless!