Chapter 736: The Breakthrough for Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, Martial Runes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 736: The Breakthrough for Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, Martial Runes
After leaving, I still traded for the restricted knowledge regarding Luck Alchemy from Sister Teryx.
I had realized the true value of knowledge not long after enrolling in the Transcendent Academy.
As for the craft of Luck Alchemy, there wasn't a single record of it within the Witch Academy. Otherwise, even after the Tree of Great Knowledge had interfaced with the Academy Network and the library, I wouldn't have remained completely ignorant of the concept of a "Luck Alchemist."
In fact, if Dean Mei hadn't blackmailed that World Fragment out of the other party, I wouldn't have known that alchemy even had a branch like "Stellar Alchemy."
It seemed the saying "everything can be alchemy" wasn't just empty boasting.
There are always some types of knowledge that cannot be measured by value. Coincidentally, Luck Items also fall into the category of things that ordinary value cannot quantify. Teryx was very curious about this Luck Wizard Tool, so she quite happily accepted the trade.
She even gave me the introductory books on Luck Alchemy directly, including her own study notes and experimental journals.
According to Sister Teryx, if I could fully digest all of this, I would have a sufficient understanding of Luck, and my theoretical level would be roughly that of a primary Luck Alchemist.
However, being a Luck Alchemist has extremely high requirements for "talent." Fortunately, I clearly belonged to the highly talented category. Even when we first met, she had asked if I wanted to become a Luck Alchemist.
I had once possessed a Luck Seed and destroyed it with my own hands; I could see Luck Threads and the deeper Luck Torrent; I had even created the "Qi Observation Art" to monitor the movements of Luck. According to Sister Teryx's description, I had practically maxed out all the talent requirements for learning Luck Alchemy.
But I wasn't learning Luck Alchemy to conduct refinement experiments by collecting Luck like Sister Teryx did. Rather, I wanted to understand the concept of Luck itself.
Whether it was the Reverse Summoning Spell or the Terminal of Myriad Worlds in the game world, they were all closely related to Luck. If one lacks a basic understanding of something, then when facing the unknown, one is left with nothing but... fear and helplessness.
So, in the end, I was simply demystifying it. Only by completely shattering the fixed impressions Luck had previously given me could I view the concept of "Luck" with a calm mind.
But for now... I was currently obsessed with the experiments on self-generated mana. Dean Mei had also told me not to get involved with things in the game world for the time being. According to her description, the game world was likely going through a period of great chaos.
As for the Reverse Summoning Spell and the [Transcendent Knowledge] currently being researched by Teacher Ji Niang, I planned to take some time to package all the information I had regarding Luck. I would include my hypotheses and thought processes and send it over via the Great Knowledge Sharing Spell.
After all, it wasn't very convenient for me to go there right now. Teacher Ji Niang's experiments had entered their own rhythm, and she had already assembled her own research team. Lacking formal experience and insight in researching [Transcendent Knowledge], my barging in would only disrupt their flow.
Checking the time, I sent a message to everyone in the "Transcendent Research Group (Self-Generated Mana Project)" chat regarding my schedule. I decided not to return to the laboratory for the time being.
This group had originally been a mutual aid group started by Yi Rui and the others. It had gradually grown, and we relied on it to stay in touch. Later, they pulled me in as well.
They had even modified the group's suffix.
It could be said that for this self-generated mana experimental project, almost everyone in this group was involved.
Currently, one group was conducting experiments in the lab while another was recording data.
However, there were only five copies of the Incubation Rebirth spellbook, which was only enough for five people to attempt an experiment at once. Plus, the number of people needed for recording wasn't high. Therefore, including Yi Rui and the others, the rest were out on the road "abducting" new students.
Yes, they had all gone to recruit people.
To lighten my burden, they suggested that I shouldn't waste all my time on recruitment. Such trivial matters could be left to them.
After all... I alone was responsible for the analysis and summary of the principles behind the birth of self-generated mana, and I was still worrying about the progress of the Mana Source Body Cultivation Method.
After informing the group that I wouldn't be returning to the lab today, I had originally planned to find where Yi Rui and the others were recruiting to continue my observational experiments on First Witchification. However, they rejected this proposal.
Without realizing it, Yi Rui and the others seemed to have developed their own persistence. She began to try and refuse my... "charity."
Yes, that was how she described it. To her, my desire to help, born from worrying about their progress, was a form of behavioral charity.
Though Yi Rui put it delicately, that was essentially what she meant.
Since tasks had already been assigned, I should firmly believe that the other party could complete them, rather than doubting their competence under the guise of "guidance."
Shouldn't the prerequisite for guiding others be that one's own portion is completed first before wholeheartedly diving into helping?
Only then could they accept such help with a clear conscience. Right now, such help was no different from a handout.
They had their own ideas and their own research capabilities. Even if they encountered something they didn't understand, there were so many of them, and they had so many Transcendent Mentors behind them. They had their own connections and backgrounds to figure out what they wanted to know.
They used this tactful way to refuse my "kindness."
They told me not to scatter my energy. Compared to the foundation that was the Mana Source Body Cultivation Method, they were clearly much more concerned about my progress in that area.
The Mana Source Body Cultivation Method was merely a path destined for success. As long as the logic was correct and a method was found, everything would follow step-by-step.
But the problem I had to face was something even Transcendent Witches couldn't solve!
At least in their understanding, Transcendent Witches were unable to solve this problem; after all, they had heard their mentors tell stories of their own past failures.
So, in the end, I had no choice but to return to the villa.
Sister Bai's villa.
After organizing the knowledge related to Luck Alchemy, I integrated all the knowledge regarding the perception and application of Luck and sent it to Teacher Ji Niang. Regardless of whether it would be useful, sending a copy couldn't hurt.
Along the way, I also gave a copy of Luck Alchemy to Sister Bai. However, Sister Bai didn't seem to have the talent for this particular craft. After looking through the knowledge, it merely added to her general understanding.
Later that evening, Sister Bai and I took stock of the spoils from this haul.
I had to admit, the good things Dean Mei had blackmailed were truly excellent. And the batch sent to me after being carefully selected were all top-tier items.
Although one shouldn't flaunt their wealth, being open about these things with Sister Bai naturally didn't count as being an outsider.
I even shared the news about the World Fragment I was about to own with her.
I even fantasized with Sister Bai about how to plan this World Fragment in the future—whether to build a private secret cottage for just the two of us inside.
However... even with Sister Bai helping me, we couldn't decide how to utilize the World Fragment.
After all, Sister Bai hadn't been a Transcendent for very long and didn't have the vast accumulation of insight and experience that other Transcendents possessed.
To put it bluntly, Sister Bai was a Transcendent born and raised in the Main World. She hadn't seen the worlds beyond the Void. Although she had left the Main World for a period of time, she had spent most of that time working hard just to return.
After spending a pleasant night with Sister Bai.
Early the next morning, I rose again, full of energy.
As they say, a little is pleasant, but too much is draining. Thus, Sister Bai and I were quite mindful of our frequency.
Furthermore, that kind of selfless dedication at night could also cast aside the troubles of life, making both parties cherish the beauty of living even more.
After Yi Rui's persuasion yesterday, I was quite conscious today and didn't interfere too much in their experiments.
Once I stopped interfering with their choices, I suddenly discovered that their experimental rhythm was fundamentally different from mine.
It was roughly the difference between a professional and a self-taught amateur.
It seemed that my staying out of it was probably for the best. If I forced everyone to adapt to my rhythm, it would only overshadow their own brilliance.
With that settled, I felt at ease. Without the extra burden, I focused on the experiments and recording for Self-Awakened Body Cultivation.
Whether it was Self-Awakened Body Cultivation or self-generated mana, no one could help me—at least no one in the Witch Academy could. I had to constantly experiment and understand it on my own.
The Totem couldn't provide any help; it would only add the finishing touch after I had achieved results, but it would never offer help when I was in dire need.
In the past, I had neglected Self-Awakened Body Cultivation too much. I lacked a basic understanding of it and simply used it as it was.
This amateurish approach was like a person with innate mental strength who had never practiced meditation, didn't know what a meditation method was, didn't know how to cultivate mental strength, and didn't understand how to condense mental strength into threads, yet immediately started casting spells.
Could such a thing succeed?
Of course. It was the person's innate advantage. But that power was nothing more than a castle in the air.
Just like my current body cultivation strength—it was also a castle in the air. It looked formidable, but without a foundation and systematic study, my progress would likely end here.
As for my Sixth and Seventh Senses, they were like the invisible mental strength in magic cultivation transforming into psychokinesis—evolving from only being able to interfere with the mental and energy planes to being able to interfere with the material plane.
This was a metamorphosis of the sensory channels.
But this wasn't a foundational element; it was a talent-based ability.
Having good talent is a gift from the heavens, but one's own effort is the beginning of true strength.
Therefore, I needed to start learning—or rather, understanding—from the most basic body cultivation strength.
Possessing Self-Awakened Body Cultivation meant I had a higher platform, but it also meant I had lost the experience of the arduous cultivation process of building something from nothing.
This wasn't about looking for hardship for the sake of it. It was about the experience. Experience is truly a vital thing.
The earliest form of body cultivation relied on Body Arts. By training the physical body, one would use the body to inversely influence the essence of life.
I, however, was the opposite. From the very beginning, I had Self-Awakened Body Cultivation—a power originating from the essence of life, which in turn granted absolute control over the physical body.
So, after coming into contact with body cultivation, I corrected another of my mistakes.
That is, the physical body and the essence of life do not seem to have a "subordinate" relationship. Instead, they fulfill each other, influence each other, and are two parts of a single whole.
Now that I had the innate advantage and already mastered the ability of the life essence to influence the body, I should follow the most primitive method and learn how the body influences the life essence.
And that path was... Body Arts.
Back then, I had learned the "Ritual War Dance." This barely counted as a Body Arts technique, but its essence was a method to improve physical fitness.
Did these Body Arts have anything to do with body cultivation?
I pondered for a long time... and the final answer was: Yes!
I still remembered one or two senior sisters I met at the Body Training Hall. From them, I learned that two things are born from practicing Body Arts.
One is Body Cultivation Internal Energy. I already roughly understood this concept; it was a transcendent power born from the combination of body cultivation and special power techniques. However, the threshold for learning it was very low—at least from my perspective.
Yet those senior sisters there actually took pride in being able to produce Body Cultivation Internal Energy!
This was enough to show the gap between individuals.
But what I wanted to talk about wasn't Body Cultivation Internal Energy.
It was what was born after I reached a high level of proficiency in the Ritual War Dance—Martial Runes!
What I had once called the "Resonance Effect" was called a "Martial Rune" by that senior sister.
This was the breakthrough point.
I had encountered many types of runes. Some were like spell runes, where the effect of a single rune could evolve into various elemental powers. When combined, they could form various effects, and when arranged with rituals, they could create even more complex and ever-changing forms. Finally, by forming a spell framework, they could compose the most basic spell effects.
Martial Runes were likely similar. Back when my Heart State Domain integrated my Five Senses Perception, and the imagery of that perception merged into my Power of Knowledge system, they transformed into Five Senses Runes.
Thus, Runology was also a field that was nearly endless.
Since I had found the breakthrough point, I naturally had to take action. Experiments weren't just about paperwork; practical application was the only path.
Since Martial Runes might be the breakthrough to help me understand Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, then I would simply master a few more!
If other body cultivation students heard this thought, they would probably break down in tears. It was incredibly difficult for them to master even one, yet I was talking about mastering several...
One must realize that reaching the Great Perfection of a single Body Art and gaining insight into a body cultivation rune only resulted in a single composite rune. This meant that if I wanted to form a significant scale of runes, I would need to practice more Body Arts that were part of a system.
But would I be afraid of that?
Not at all. Not to mention that back when I practiced the Ritual War Dance, I had already mastered a learning technique that others couldn't replicate—integrating the rune system into Body Arts practice. Combined with my foundation in Self-Awakened Body Cultivation and the assistance of the Tree of Great Knowledge, I didn't believe I lacked the talent!
So, the first thing I did was find Sister Bai.
Sister Bai had also come to the lab with me. When there was work to do, she would teach Yi Rui and the others the basics of body cultivation. When she was free, she would discuss ideas for Real Editing with Mentor Belica and the others.
If I wanted to practice Body Arts, Sister Bai was naturally the best person to go to.