Chapter 640: The Development Prospects of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree and the Two Worlds
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 640: The Development Prospects of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree and the Two Worlds
As Millian took over full cooperation regarding the Dream Overlap affairs as Teaching Assistant Xiao Han’s proxy, news of the arrangement spread quickly.
After all, Ninglan New City was only so large; such explosive news naturally traveled fast.
"Do you even know what you're doing, Millian?!"
"I know exactly what I'm doing." Facing the other party's interrogation, Millian’s hand instinctively brushed against the Book in the Box before she spoke.
"This is betrayal!"
"Don't make it sound so crude. I can't afford the label of 'traitor.' What have I done? I simply found Sister Xiao Han and signed a contract that the club sent me to seek out. Sister Xiao Han saw my talent and asked me to help her resolve matters she considers a nuisance. It’s as simple as that."
"Then do you have any idea how much of a cut you gave that girl?! You’re even helping her screw over other clubs! Do you think the Jack-of-all-trades Club is in such a great position right now?!"
"The other clubs aren't doing well either, are they? Besides, this is a price the club can afford. The sooner we resolve this, the sooner we can start turning a profit."
"Don't think that just because you're holding that girl's piece of junk book, it can protect you—"
"Anyone can make threats. But you have no right to punish me on behalf of the Jack-of-all-trades Club. Why don't you guess how you'd end up if I leaked what you just said? This book belongs to Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, and its creator is none other than the Academy’s Alchemy Master, Natalie. A 'piece of junk'... Heh, that is the most ignorant thing you've said yet."
Upon hearing Mentor Natalie’s name, the other girl’s body trembled instinctively. Although she was willing to bet that no one would care about such a small remark even if it were leaked, if the matter were escalated to a matter of principle... she would be finished. No, it might be a fate worse than death. She didn't dare take that gamble.
"Hmph... I will report this to the higher-ups."
"Then why don't you guess if anyone would be willing to protect me just to get on Teaching Assistant Xiao Han’s good side? You think this will kill me? If it doesn't, then I’ll be the one to finish you."
"You! You're threatening me!"
"Didn't you just threaten me? We're even." Millian spoke without a hint of politeness. "Alright, it looks like another client has found me. I can't neglect the work Sister Xiao Han entrusted to me just because of you."
Millian stood up, picking up the Book in the Box and using it to nudge the other girl aside. No matter how the other girl felt, she had to move. She could only mutter under her breath about how she was only moving for the sake of the book...
* * *
While things were going smoothly on Millian’s end, I was busy organizing some trivial matters of my own.
For instance, I went to check on the Second Shelter.
After all, a massive dream creature was being "raised" there. However, by the time I arrived, the fellow had already vanished.
It probably slipped back into the Primitive Dream Realm since I wasn't there to play with it.
So, I took the opportunity to resolve the Dream Overlap phenomenon inside the tree hollow, preventing it from spreading while I was away for an extended period.
At the same time, I checked on the construction progress. Just as Millian had said, they had only just broken ground.
However, a large number of people seeking refuge had gathered here all at once, and everything was starting to move in a more organized direction.
After finishing my "inspection," I took a stroll over to the Calamity Shelter. I mainly wanted to see Sister Agnes and her small team, who were still busy.
Sister Agnes and the others had completely finished the design related to health bars and were currently conducting interactive tests regarding skill damage values.
To this end, they had even churned out a multitude of skill modules. I felt like these modules could potentially create entirely new professions.
"Xiao Han, have you thought about promoting this to the Witch Academy for simulated testing? I feel like this is very suitable for lower-year students to use in combat tests."
"Eh? Is that okay? Doesn't the Academy already have dream pods for simulations?" I was a bit confused by Sister Agnes’s sudden suggestion.
"This is easier to control. Do you think this kind of game qualification could eventually replace spellbooks within the Academy?" Agnes looked at me with a meaningful smile.
"Replace... spellbooks? Huh?"
"Spellbooks were intended to be teaching tools from the very beginning, but those who use them have let the concept warp. The sole objective of the Witch Academy is to train Transcendent Witches, so only Mana Sources are a necessity," Agnes began to explain. "However, with the introduction of spellbooks, the existence of Mana Sources has been relegated from a teaching tool to a mere rigid requirement for casting spells via the book."
"But the primary purpose of a Mana Source is to facilitate the process of Witchification. Having ten thousand Mana Sources doesn't mean your Witchification progress is ten thousand times faster than someone with one; the actual difference isn't even two digits. Therefore, from the Academy's perspective, more Mana Sources aren't necessarily better for a student, especially for those who have no intention of ascending to become a Transcendent Witch."
If I didn't catch on after hearing Sister Agnes say all that, I’d be a total dummy.
Is this... is the Witch Academy finally unable to stand the current state of affairs and preparing for a total overhaul?
"I've discussed this topic with many other Witches, and even with Dean Mei. Xiao Han, do you want to hear our thoughts?" Agnes turned her head and asked with a smile.
"I do!" I nodded vigorously.
I’ve had the feeling lately that whenever I do something, the Academy is right there to coordinate... I made the [Transcendent Knowledge] Fragments, and they were promoted to the mentors. I made the Knowledge Seeds, and they were promoted to the level of cooperation with other academies!
Now I’m in the Expansion Realm working on the Omni-Link Main Network Tree and playing games. I originally thought Sister Agnes just liked playing games, but it turns out she’s on a mission!
"Xiao Han, you should be aware of the current social unrest in the outside world of the Main World, right?"
"Yes, I know." I nodded. Those players seemed to have something to do with me as well.
"The Transcendent level has maintained a tacit agreement not to intervene. The Main World needs a period of upheaval to revitalize itself. In the midst of such a great change, we can adjust the organizational structure of the Transcendent academies and fully utilize the human resources of the Main World."
"Xiao Han, do you think it’s a good or bad thing for the Transcendent academies to step fully into the public eye?"
"Um... it should be a good thing."
"Actually, it’s hard to judge. But do you know how many students of age awaken Spirit Vision every year? Do you know how many students the Transcendent academies actually recruit? Do you know how much teaching resource is wasted within the Transcendent academies?"
"I don't know..." I continued to shake my head.
"These are very contradictory numbers. At the very least, the Witch Academy has put up with this status quo for a long time."
"That’s why the Witch Academy proposed the Academy City plan, aligning with the compulsory education process of the outside world to instill a standardized Transcendent education philosophy."
"Uh... Academy City? Is it... similar to how the Witch Academy is now? A city represented primarily by its students?" I asked curiously.
"Something like that... Although I don't know much about that field, I can tell you the core concept is to penetrate society through branch campuses and affiliated compulsory education schools for lower grades."
"Uh... I don't really get it either... Is this just to expand the Academy and recruit more students?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes, more or less. But it’s more about student classification to avoid wasting teaching resources," Agnes explained. "And speaking of solving the waste of teaching resources, that’s exactly what we’re doing now. How much resource does a single fruit from the Omni-Link Main Network Tree actually waste?"
"Yet, such a tiny fruit solves the problem of how students access Transcendent power and saves the unnecessary consumption of spellbooks. A student would only need a single, basic Mana Source to last them until graduation or completion."
"But our spells are just skills—mindless casting..." I reminded her.
"Aren't spellbooks the same?"
"I guess they are..."
"Most importantly, these game accounts are controllable. For example, if a student applies to leave the school, the account's skill tree module can be locked, preventing the overflow of Transcendent power into the outside world."
"Furthermore, various professions and sub-professions can serve as the Academy's major and elective courses, allowing students to more intuitively experience different Transcendent power systems. You’ve probably felt it too, right? A Witch doesn't necessarily have to use spells; Body Cultivation is also a path. Moreover, it’s not just that Body Cultivation has declined in the Witch Academy—many students haven't even heard of systems other than spellbooks."
"True!" I nodded.
Because of spellbooks, even those who actually research spells are few and far between. So far, the only people I’ve seen truly devoted to researching spell rituals are Yi Rui and her group. At least, those are the only ones I know, which shows how rare they are.
Hearing Sister Agnes put it that way, I suddenly realized how terrifying the things I had done unintentionally were. It was just like when I accidentally created the Qi Observation Art, which has now become the guiding spell for the fusion and repair of the Main World...
"So, if the Omni-Link Main Network Tree can be fully promoted, it could even replace the Knowledge Seed cultivation plan currently in progress."
"Eh? Wait! Why are my two plans fighting each other?"
"You need a comparison to choose the better one, don't you? The Omni-Link Main Network Tree also utilizes the Ley Lines, right? It’s just that it uses Ley Energy converted from the Ley Lines. This is very suitable for integration with the Academy Network technology. I think the Academy is currently more suited for the introduction of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree plan; it’s more convenient than the concept of Knowledge Seeds interconnecting with the Academy Network."
"But... for this plan to actually be implemented, it would take many years, wouldn't it?"
"Exactly. So we have plenty of time to perfect the architecture of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree. In the meantime, we can use the Knowledge Seed plan as a transition. Besides, the Knowledge Seed plan doesn't have to be scrapped; it can be used for different experiments in future student classifications."
"Uh..."
"Is it a bit much to take in, Xiao Han? Don't overthink it. These are just concepts. Who knows what the final result will look like by the time it’s actually implemented?" Seeing my expression, Agnes prepared to end the topic.
"Mhm." I just felt that, as a Teaching Assistant, was I getting too deeply involved in the transformation of the world?
I hope I haven't fallen too deep into a script again... After all, as long as I exist in the Main World, Luck will always find me.
After a long time, I turned my attention back to my own Luck. Looking at the threads of Luck entwined around me, I shook my head with a smile, finally preparing to disperse them.
"Xiao Han, looking at you... are you planning to disperse your Luck?"
"Sister Agnes, you can tell?" I paused, looking at her in surprise.
"Of course. I guessed it from your reaction and your expression just now."
"Is something wrong? I feel like my thoughts have been a bit influenced by Luck lately. I’m going to settle down in the Expansion Realm for a while and prepare to truly study seriously. I don't want to be dragged into scripts or strange developments." I asked curiously. After all, my reasoning was sound; surely nothing could go wrong?
"Well... I don't know how you viewed Luck before, Xiao Han, but have you ever heard of this concept? Luck is a resource."
"A resource?" I was slightly stunned by those words. Then it clicked—if Luck was categorized as a resource, then it possessed several characteristics: it had inherent value, it could be traded, it could be utilized, and it could be consumed...
Did Luck fit those characteristics?
"Yes. As a resource, it can be utilized rationally. The World Consciousness uses Script techniques to cultivate Children of Destiny. If one can grasp the patterns of such techniques, then a living being can also use similar techniques to refine special Luck items."
"..."
"You don't seem very surprised, Xiao Han?"
"Uh... I should say that once I realized Luck doesn't represent my fate, I stopped being surprised by it," I said calmly. "Is Sister Agnes telling me not to disperse this Luck because she wants me to use it as a resource to trade for benefits?"
"Perhaps you could try to ask around about the Luck Alchemist in the Witch Academy. Of course, it’s just a suggestion. I haven't even met that senior Witch known as the Luck Alchemist once. Perhaps... you could ask Dean Mei about it. But don't force it."
"A Luck Alchemist?! Alchemy can even involve Luck?"
"Of course. You must have heard that 'all things can be alchemy,' right? Unfortunately, my level isn't high enough to reach that stage." Agnes shook her head. "I just spoke from the heart after seeing the Luck on you. Given your influence in the Main World, you probably don't think much of this Luck anyway."
"Alright..." Seeing her like this, I didn't press further. Instead, I silently noted down the concept of a Luck Alchemist.
I’ll find an opportunity to ask Sister Mei about it later.
After bidding farewell to Sister Agnes, I returned to Ninglan New City. Since I had teleportation marks in all these places, traveling back and forth was very convenient.
My reason for returning to Ninglan New City was, naturally, to wait for the results in the evening. Before that, I planned to research something new.
Originally, I had planned to read, but since the Book in the Box had been lent to Millian, it was only natural to tinker with something else.
I had realized that as the things I needed to do increased, I was starting to feel spread too thin. So, I was wondering if there was a way to improve my efficiency.
For example... Clones.