Chapter 685: Cooperation Reached, Preparing the Experiment
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 685: Cooperation Reached, Preparing the Experiment
"We're willing! Of course we are!"
Hearing what I had to say, even if there were parts they didn't quite grasp, they could certainly understand the benefits this would bring.
Setting aside whether it could actually be done, the fact that someone was willing to take the lead meant they had to seize the opportunity.
"That's right! I'm in too!"
"Do you even need to ask? Definitely!"
With Yi Rui leading the way, the others scrambled to agree. This wasn't just to give Yi Rui face; they truly wanted to participate in this experiment!
A Great Witch Subject, the Witch Physique, Mana Source condensation techniques, and that nearly unheard-of concept: Self-Generated Mana from a Witch Physique!
Any one of these concepts was enough for them to take this seriously. They weren't just obsessed researchers who only cared about spells and runes to the point of madness; they were naturally eager to explore these entirely new fields.
"By the way, if I may ask, Xiao Han... how exactly do you need us to cooperate? What specifically do we need to do?" Yi Rui had calmed down by now and began to inquire about the details.
"The specifics... well... to put it simply... you'll be my experimental subjects?" I spoke with a slight hesitation. I didn't want to hide the truth from them. "However, I will share all the knowledge and techniques I currently possess with you. Though, due to various objective factors, you might not necessarily be able to learn them."
"Experimental subjects, huh..."
"Yes... if you feel uncomfortable with that, I won't force you. But the Self-Generated Mana I currently possess is the result of an experiment I conducted using myself as the subject," I said in a low voice, using my own case as an example.
"You experimented on yourself? That's insane!" Yi Rui was somewhat shocked by how calmly I stated such a thing.
"Insane? I don't think so. Being calm and clearly knowing what you're doing and what you'll face is a form of responsibility toward oneself. Doing otherwise is just seeking death."
"Oh, Xiao Han... even if a risk is predictable, it doesn't mean it's controllable. Choosing to face it anyway—isn't that the definition of insanity? Besides, even though I haven't researched physiques much, tampering with one's own body..."
"I have a Resurrection Spell derivative that is far more advanced than the standard Resurrection Spell to serve as my guarantee," I said, cutting Yi Rui off.
"I agree."
"Huh?"
"I said, I agree."
"You're even more decisive than me. You change your mind faster than I flip a page!" I teased.
"With a Resurrection Spell as a guarantee, there's no reason to be afraid. There's no such thing as an absolutely safe experiment in this world, especially when the projected results are this enticing," Yi Rui said solemnly. "I won't ask where you got this spell, but... can I ask on behalf of everyone for the name and general effect of this derivative? You don't have to mention anything involving personal privacy, even if you don't mind."
"Well... the name is Reincarnation Rebirth. Back when we first met at the academy, your mentor asked me for the insights regarding this derivative. Its function is—"
"Stop! We just wanted a guarantee." Hearing that her own mentor had sought to exchange insights with me, Yi Rui immediately cut me off.
She didn't think I would lie about something like this.
And Yi Rui understood that those few short sentences represented something significant!
This spell derivative wasn't something Xiao Han had obtained for nothing. If it was something a Transcendent Witch was willing to lower herself to ask for, then even if it wasn't unique, it was extremely rare.
"Since it's a Resurrection derivative recognized by my mentor, we believe in you. My companions and I are willing to be your subjects. I'll provide the guarantee for everyone!" Yi Rui said firmly.
"Sister Yi Rui, there's no need for a guarantee. We trust Sister Xiao Han too! Mentioning guarantees just makes us feel distant!"
"Exactly! I don't think there's anything to hesitate about."
"If we have a Resurrection Spell to fall back on... even being sliced into specimens is fine... well, probably..."
"The transformation of a physique is much more thorough than being sliced up~" I looked at the last speaker, unable to resist the urge to tease her.
"Wh-what!?"
"Xiao Han is obviously just trying to scare you. It's fine."
"It's fine, it's fine~ It's best that you're willing. If possible, I hope you can spread the word among yourselves. There are still some people who haven't arrived yet, right?" I asked.
"Mhm~ They might be busy. I'll go to their rooms and find them, and I'll explain your plan, Sister Xiao Han."
They spontaneously began to spread the word within their small group.
However, it wasn't actually that urgent. Once everyone was busy with their tasks, Yi Rui came to my side.
"Xiao Han, have you mentioned this to any of the mentors? To be honest, your idea... is a bit too far ahead of its time."
"Well... I've spoken to one of them. If I produce some results, I can submit them to Dean Mei. I think she would be very interested." Of course, the "one mentor" I referred to was Sister Bai, "Teacher Bai."
I found a lounge chair nearby and sat down, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
Yi Rui lay down beside me as well.
"What? You can even get in touch with Dean Mei?"
"Yes. The Self-Generated Mana physique talent I currently have was completed with Dean Mei's participation, combined with my own efforts."
"Then... I mean, if Dean Mei was involved... then this technique should already be perfected, right?" Yi Rui asked curiously.
"Yes, for me personally, it is a perfected technique. But it cannot be promoted to every ordinary person," I said, shaking my head.
"Why?"
"Because I possess an ability that ordinary people don't: Self-Awakened Body Cultivation. Theoretically, this is something everyone could potentially achieve, but in reality... I might be the only one in the Main World who has done it. And having this talent is merely a prerequisite for achieving Self-Generated Mana within this technique."
"I see." Yi Rui nodded.
She wasn't ignorant. Although she didn't know exactly what "Self-Awakened Body Cultivation" meant, she understood "Awakening" and had heard of "Body Cultivation." Body cultivators were a very rare group in the Witch Academy, let alone one with such a prefix.
"So, what I want to do now is lower the threshold of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, or even... remove the threshold entirely," I explained.
"The condition of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation is just a threshold for wanting 'Self-Generated Mana' before reaching the Transcendent level, but it's not everything."
"It's like the saying that one must become a Transcendent Witch before having Self-Generated Mana. Becoming a Transcendent Witch isn't the requirement itself; rather, a certain technique that can be performed after becoming a Transcendent is the key."
"So, you want to deconstruct the ability of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation and replace its role in Self-Generated Mana with a more direct and easier technique, right?"
"Exactly. You really do understand." I nodded.
There's nothing more satisfying than having someone understand you. For someone like me who isn't great at expressing myself, such a thing is a true luxury.
"I wouldn't say I understand it perfectly. I just know what you're trying to do. I don't know the specifics of how you'll do it, but I assume you need a massive amount of experimental data to constantly refine your ideas and logic."
"Right." I nodded. "If I'm going to do this... then I must first experiment according to the original technique to collect initial data, and then make corrections."
"There really is no better way. So, for the early attempts... is the worst-case scenario death?" Yi Rui asked.
"It might be worse than you think. The best result is death. Back then, I actually did die, but I mastered Nightmare Spells, and my soul was carried by the dreamscape."
"Nightmare Spells were involved too... Wait, soul?!"
"Yes... I am a soul essence." But I didn't say I was a natural soul essence.
"You..." Yi Rui turned her head to look at me with a complex gaze, as if she were looking at a stranger she had never met. "You might be even more terrifying than we imagined... This involves the Great Soul Subject as well, doesn't it?"
"Mhm, I've dabbled in the Great Soul Subject, which is why I mastered the Reincarnation Rebirth derivative."
"No wonder... your reputation has spread so formidably among the Transcendent Witches. So, does it matter that I'm a soul quality?" Yi Rui continued to ask.
At this moment, Yi Rui had completely dropped her "senior" mindset toward Xiao Han. The girl before her might... no, definitely stood at a level far higher than her own!
"It doesn't matter. That won't stop the Reincarnation Rebirth spell from reviving you. Resurrection is essentially just reviving a life that is still 'living'; it's just that ordinary people have a different definition of death."
"True... So, when do we start?"
"If you want to taste death sooner, we can start now," I said with a smile, as if joking. "But before that, we need to set things up here. The most important thing is a space seal to prevent any unexpected visitors from disturbing us."
"Do we need other equipment? Are we just going to conduct the experiment like this?"
"Equipment? I'll just hand-craft it on the fly," I said, waving a hand with a smile.
The equipment was nothing more than the devices the Academy Network used to interface with the Ley Lines. Back then, the Dean had used those devices to collect data, but to put it bluntly, they were aids, not necessities.
And what was the one thing I lacked least?
Planting trees!
With the development of Plant Technology, I had information backups for basically every device that interfaced with the Plant Network. This was the fundamental reason why I had been so obsessed with planting trees all over the world and allowing—even guiding—them to develop Plant Technology.
To harvest the whole world!
Furthermore, the research team at the Omni-Link Main Network Tree laboratory had already completed the interface between the Academy Network and the Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
Therefore, Plant Technology could now serve as the carrier for Academy Network equipment. It's worth noting that the Academy Network's method of controlling Ley Lines wasn't a spell, but a creation derived from a technique. The only spells that could directly manipulate Ley Line energy were Ley Line Spells.
Even though Plant Technology was a product under the framework of my Tree of Great Knowledge, it had essentially moved beyond the scope of spells due to the transformation of the technique.
The only reason for explaining all this was to prove that I now had the ability to hand-craft equipment from scratch!
I remembered when Teacher Ji Niang took me into the professional lab; she had taught me how to hand-craft high-precision equipment components. Now, I had achieved something similar through a different method.
However... I felt like I hadn't seen Teacher Ji Niang in a long time. She was probably busy with her [Transcendent Knowledge]. After all, creating a complete Great Spellbook was her lifelong dream.
Perhaps only after she achieved that goal would she have new ideas.
"Hand-craft equipment? Are you sure? How do you even do that?" Yi Rui sat up from her lounge chair and looked at me in shock.
She truly couldn't imagine how such equipment could be hand-crafted, especially starting from zero!
She only knew how to manually manufacture some easily damaged components, and even that required alchemy rituals and other methods.
"That shouldn't be the focus, right? If you're planning to try it now, I don't mind giving you a demonstration," I said nonchalantly.
"Fine, let's try it now. The research I have on hand consists of projects that can be stopped at any time."
"You're serious?" I looked at Yi Rui with some surprise. "Right here?"
"Of course. This floor we've rented is the most suitable place. Those suites don't really have areas fit for an experiment of this magnitude." Yi Rui stood up. "Mainly, I want to take the lead for everyone, so they know exactly what kind of experiment we're doing. I hope... if someone chooses not to try it later, you'll agree."
"Of course. I won't force anyone. Even if someone wants to stop halfway through the experiment, I'll stop immediately. After all... the Witch Contract we signed says we can't maliciously harm each other."
"I suppose that's true. Then, Xiao Han, please set things up. I'll handle the protection for the top floor."
"Then I'll leave it to you~"
Having simply assigned the tasks, I got up from the lounge chair. It seemed I was destined for a life of "hard labor"; I hadn't even been lying down for long.
But as a body cultivator, my physical recovery speed and energy levels meant I didn't actually need rest. I only did it occasionally to satisfy a mental fatigue, enjoying the feeling of mental emptiness and leisure.
But now, it was time for serious work.
After all, when I said "hand-crafting"... I wasn't joking.
After sensing the surroundings for a moment, I knew I was good to go.
Although this Sixth Shelter was the last city to be built, it still had a complete Plant Technology infrastructure. A regular "Root Network" ran through the building to transport Ley Energy.
And these Root Networks were products under the Omni-Link Main Network Tree's Root Network.
Since this was a hotel, the internal Root Network wasn't a direct branch of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree, but rather a derivative, grafted, or interconnected Root Network.
But that didn't matter. As long as it was connected to Ley Energy and the Omni-Link Main Network Tree's Root Network, I could control it.
Soon, a plant sprout emerged from beneath my feet, breaking through the solid floor.
I took out a few more seeds. What kind of plants these seeds were didn't matter; they were merely carriers for growth.
What mattered was what I wanted them to grow into.
Moreover, since I possessed the data and information for all Plant Technology products, I had plenty of ways to modify the essence of the plants.
But the fastest and most convenient method... plant life was still life. Although using the Reincarnation Rebirth spell on a plant seed was definitely overkill, it worked for me.
The seeds falling from my hand quickly interfaced with the Root Network emerging from the ground under everyone's watchful eyes.
Then, "creations" that exceeded the boundaries of known plant forms began to grow at a visible rate.
The dense roots wove together to form a carpet-like area that covered the original floor of the top level.
Though it looked a bit "creepy," it was a "platform" I could shape at will.
Then, these plants constructed other creations upon this platform—the equipment that interfaced the Academy Network with Ley Line energy.
Combined with the information integration from my Tree of Great Knowledge, this "temporary" testing ground was actually more formidable in function than most professional laboratories!
"Theoretically, this is feasible, but it's my first time trying it. I might need to debug it a bit. But that's not a problem, because the equipment is only an aid for this experiment. I am the one leading it."