Chapter 638: "Friendly Cooperation" Achieved Through "Friendly Communication"
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 638: "Friendly Cooperation" Achieved Through "Friendly Communication"
To say the meeting was going poorly would be an understatement.
By the time the mid-session break arrived, neither side had reached an agreement. At most, they were at the stage where "both parties had fully exchanged their opinions."
At Ninglan Qiuyue’s request, I refrained from turning this mid-session break into a final adjournment.
After all... I hate trouble, and I hate haggling.
However, I also sent them a clear message: I was willing to give Ninglan Qiuyue face, but no one else there had earned that privilege.
During the break, the officials temporarily excused themselves to prepare for the next round. I stayed behind, holding my Book in the Box and reading the rune texts I had obtained from Sister Belica.
Learning makes me happy.
Once I began to delve into the runic fields Sister Belica researched, I understood why no one could master every single branch of runology.
To use Sister Belica’s analogy... if you compare runes to a phonetic writing system, take certain alphabets as an example: only twenty-six letters (runes) can form a vast multitude of words (composite runes). These words, through grammar (rune rituals, ritual frameworks), can then form an endless variety of sentence structures (spells or transcendent techniques).
And what about actual runes?
There are hundreds of common basic runes alone, and the number of rare runes is even greater. Furthermore, new basic rune rituals are being discovered constantly.
The boundaries of runology present completely counter-intuitive effects depending on how the domains are divided, and the total number of possible combinations is... terrifyingly vast.
That was my first impression after reading Belica’s research. It showed me the true meaning of "the pursuit of knowledge is endless" and helped me understand the necessity of specializing in specific domains.
However... I have the Tree of Great Knowledge.
Why was I learning runes?
To help me better understand the transcendent. Sister Belica was right; runes are a writing system provided by the Void for life to comprehend existence. They help me understand many things.
To me, runology is more like a... "tool." I will use the tool well, but I won't obsess over polishing it to perfection unless I truly reach the limits of my exploration—the point where I cannot understand the transcendent without further refining the tool.
But that is still far off for me. Walking a path blazed by others is a smooth journey. I must learn to accept my identity: a student walking the road opened by my predecessors. Learning is my task for now; surpassing them is a task for the future.
For now, I will appreciate the scenery on behalf of those who cleared this path, recording the breathtaking views they didn't have time to stop and admire, and then... share them.
There is no regret in this, for I know the scenery ahead will only get better.
Perhaps that is the charm of constant learning.
While the officials continued their discussions, I received a private message from Ninglan Qiuyue—mostly words of gratitude.
I glanced at it but didn't reply. At a time like this, she should be doing something more meaningful than sending me thank-you notes. Though, if she just sent it in a spare moment, I didn't mind.
But during this break, a figure appeared that no one expected.
"Mentor Elena? I didn't expect you to come," I said, immediately standing up to greet her.
"Of course. Please, sit," Mentor Elena said without any air of pretension. She pulled out a chair next to me and sat down. "Do you know why I'm here?"
"Hmm... because of the dream overlap? I can't think of anything else," I replied.
"It is indeed because of that. Xiao Han, I personally visited the site of your planned Second Shelter. The dream overlap area there has indeed settled down. Although I didn't witness how you did it, I know you found a way."
"So... does Mentor Elena want me not to help Ninglan New City?" I asked curiously. Since she knew I could do it, there weren't many reasons for her to seek me out.
"This is your own skill. Whether you help or not is your choice." Elena gave a light chuckle, her gaze shifting to the people still lingering nearby.
Elena’s sudden arrival was a massive event!
Every word she spoke to Teaching Assistant Xiao Han could potentially influence the progress of Ninglan New City's negotiations.
"However, my research into reality and dreams is quite deep; otherwise, I wouldn't have stayed in Ninglan New City for monitoring," Elena explained with a smile. Her staying here to resurrect students was secondary; her primary goal was monitoring the dreams.
As a complete, repaired world, dreams were an indispensable part of its existence. Even for the sake of fully restoring the Ley Lines, they needed the dream Ley Lines to complete the final piece of the puzzle.
"But Xiao Han, your method of restoration is truly difficult for me to replicate. Even though you explained your plans and ideas back then... it still exceeded our expectations. We thought no one could solve this problem, yet you did it using the power you've mastered. It's just as incredible as when you created the dream rewriting spell."
"Uh... is there something you're trying to say, Mentor Elena?" I asked instinctively.
She couldn't have come all this way just to praise me, right?
Though, this did prove that I had once again shattered their expectations.
"The process of dreams reclaiming the expansion realm is irreversible and unstoppable. I only came because I wanted to understand the extent of this 'dream dispersal' you mentioned."
"Oh..." Hearing this, I realized what she meant. "Are you afraid I'll destroy the interface between the dream and reality?"
"Something like that," Elena nodded. Although she had seen the peaceful relationship between dream and reality at the Second Shelter, she had to come and ask in person just to be safe.
"It's fine. the method I use is very simple." As I spoke, a composite primitive rune I had obtained from a dream creature manifested in my hand. "With this, Mentor Elena, you can think of me as a giant dream creature. I stir the dream overlap first, and then I smooth it out."
"Smooth it out... Oh, I see. You've mastered the ability to create the environment required for the dream rewriting spell, and by using it in reverse, you can stabilize the relationship between dream and reality!" Elena quickly understood. After all, in my previous live stream, I had mentioned wanting to use a special method to artificially create an environment suitable for the dream rewriting spell.
They naturally knew what was required for such a feat.
It involved changing the relationship between dream and reality, combined with the research I mentioned earlier regarding domain resonance, the boundary between reality and dreams, and spatial resonance...
It all became very easy to understand.
"I see... then I suppose I've intruded..." Just as Elena stood up, the side door suddenly opened. A group of officials, having heard of her sudden visit mid-meeting, rushed in.
Upon receiving the news, they had immediately wiped the argumentative looks from their faces to pay their respects.
"I only came to confirm one thing; I have no other business. The dream reclamation of the entire expansion realm is irreversible; it's only a matter of time. Xiao Han's methods are part of the natural process. I will not stop her from doing what she wishes, and the Witch Academy will not interfere in the personal actions of a teaching assistant who has not violated her contract."
Seeing them, Elena directly stated her purpose and the conclusion.
With Mentor Elena officially settling the matter, it was certain they would have no chance to take advantage of the situation. Not that they had any to begin with, but everyone clings to a bit of fantasy and psychological comfort.
After seeing Mentor Elena off, I turned my gaze back to the crowd.
"Since you're all here, does this mean the break is over?" I knew they hadn't finished their private discussions, but I was more than happy to break their rhythm.
"I've thought of a brand-new proposal. Ninglan New City should abandon those pointless modern network constructions and adopt the Plant Network system as a replacement," I said.
I knew exactly what those other teaching assistants were up to, and they knew I knew.
Bringing the internet architecture of the outside world into Ninglan New City was, on the surface, helping them modernize. In reality, it was a way to seize control of the city's network.
Building a new platform and then dominating it was a form of invasion. After all, network security is a vital part of maintaining sovereignty.
While the Academy Network existed within Ninglan New City, it was a temporary measure, primarily intended for the students here.
However, the Academy Network was a system that neither students nor teaching assistants could control or dominate. Ninglan New City was not part of the Witch Academy, so the Academy Network wasn't "rightfully" there and would be withdrawn sooner or later.
I had actually mentioned this concept to Ninglan Qiuyue during our last meeting, but it seemed progress had been stalled.
"That... that's unlikely... to suddenly ask us to give up what we've researched for so long..." One of the men immediately spoke up to protest.
"Shut your mouth. A creature who sells out others for his own gain has no right to argue in front of me." I used a heavy hand to silence the first guy who stood up—a literal silencing spell.
Then, an image projected by the Tree of Great Knowledge appeared. It was a recording of this man discussing with a student how to use the network construction to seize control of public opinion in Ninglan New City. Unfortunately, no teaching assistant appeared in the footage; it seemed such trivial matters weren't worth their personal involvement when they had plenty of people to do it for them.
The footage was a massive shock to everyone, demonstrating my capabilities as a teaching assistant. But my next words turned this "smoking gun" evidence into a mere footnote.
"You didn't think I came here to haggle with you, did you? What I've said is my bottom line. I will not retreat a single step. This isn't a negotiation; it's a notification. You lack the standing to negotiate with me from a position of strength. Don't think that just because some of you have latched onto the coattails of a few teaching assistants, you can rest easy. I'll put it plainly: even if those assistants stood together, they wouldn't be enough!"
"If there's no deal, that's fine too. Dream creatures can't kill people anyway. You can just endure it. Without special intervention, it'll only last for a few decades."
* * *
Night.
A city-wide announcement issued directly from Ninglan Township Castle shocked everyone.
Not only was there an announcement, but the City Guard had also declared a city-wide curfew. Their presence was especially dense in the main urban areas.
However, such a large-scale operation brought the residents a piece of wonderful news.
The dark cloud hanging over their heads was about to dissipate!
The dream overlap couldn't be hidden in Ninglan New City. The flying dream creatures were practically in people's faces; they weren't blind.
Given that these areas were expanding, who knew if they'd wake up to find themselves swallowed by one?
But now, they learned that their City Lord had successfully reached "friendly communication" with a teaching assistant from the Witch Academy. After "fully exchanging opinions" and "intense negotiations," they had finally reached a successful "friendly cooperation."
The threat to Ninglan New City would finally recede.
Tonight, that teaching assistant would act to disperse the dream creatures and restore safety to the city.
To ensure this event didn't cause too much disruption, the dispersal was scheduled for the night. The announcement wished all residents a good night's sleep.
Despite that, many residents probably wouldn't be able to sleep. The more you tell people not to do something, the more they want to do it; such is the rebellious nature of the masses. They wanted to witness the scene of the dreams being dispersed.
Meanwhile, I was making preparations.
Actually, I didn't need to prepare at all. It was just an excuse to keep those people from bothering me.
There was still a long time until late at night, so I continued reading.
Looking back, I used to dislike reading, or rather, I couldn't stick with it. But now... it had become a hobby to pass the time. Is this the power of "habit"?
I no longer felt the pressure of forcing myself to read.
In fact, reading provided a sort of... spiritual comfort. Combined with the boost from my time sense, I could read for a very long time and contemplate many things.
For instance, I was thinking about the Five Senses of Body Cultivation. They are the basic perceptions of a species. The Sixth Sense didn't seem to be pure perception, and by the Seventh Sense, that feeling grew stronger. Perceptions beyond the ordinary five senses didn't seem to be "perception" in the simple sense at all.
I wondered if I had been wrong from the start, biased by my initial assumptions.
Perhaps the Sixth Sense, the Seventh Sense, and even the Eighth Sense I had yet to touch represented something entirely new, rather than just perception.
But obviously, idle speculation was meaningless, and I wouldn't get answers out of thin air.
So, I thought while I read.
However... I wasn't reading new knowledge. I was reviewing the old. My current state wasn't suited for the full immersion required to break into a new field, so I chose to gain new insights by reviewing the old.
As time trickled by, the nightlife of Ninglan New City gradually wound down, and the night returned to peace and tranquility.
I knew it was time.
I pushed open the door and walked out. It was now the middle of the night, yet Ninglan Qiuyue and several officials were still waiting there.
"Sister Xiao Han, how is it?"
"Assistant Yang Yuehan, are you ready?"
My appearance triggered a flurry of questions, everyone terrified of a last-minute mishap.
"It's about ready. Let's begin," I said. Then, without hesitation, I expanded my Heart State Domain...
Immediately, a phantom Tree of Great Knowledge towered over Ninglan New City, with boundless power of knowledge flowing through the area covered by its canopy.
And those who had stayed awake until now witnessed the most unforgettable sight of their lives.