Chapter 750: Race, Bloodline, and Witchification
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 750: Race, Bloodline, and Witchification
A few days passed, and the start of the school term drew near.
Through these days of practical application in the laboratory, Yi Rui had been assisting me in constantly testing and refining the Demonized Body Cultivation Method, as well as the prototype for the Self-Generated Mana Shaping Ritual.
Meanwhile, the others continued to push the upper limit of the number of resonant mana sources for the Demonized Remolding Metamorphic Rebirth Spell.
Though only a few days had gone by, they had already pushed the resonance limit into the high hundreds, nearly reaching four digits.
A quantity like this was sufficient for me to perfectly structure the ritual's prototype. Only by successfully completing a perfect architecture of the prototype could I discover exactly what it lacked and determine how to proceed with its further refinement.
The process was undoubtedly tedious, especially for Yi Rui, who was handling the actual operations.
Furthermore, we discovered that while the resonance method connecting the mana sources to the body made it easier for them to increase the upper limit of mana sources, it proved somewhat difficult when it came to arranging the ritual nodes. This was particularly true given the precision required; the Tenfold Base Resonance Method had certainly taught Yi Rui and the others a harsh lesson.
It made them realize the price one must pay for taking shortcuts.
However, it was a double-edged sword. The resonance method had extremely accelerated the progress of pushing the mana source limit for the Demonized Remolding Metamorphic Rebirth Spell.
In contrast, my original "unnamed connection method" was the steady approach. They were two extremes.
The steady approach allowed for more convenient control over the mana sources, but regarding the current issue of the upper limit, one would have to stack them one by one. If they wanted to reach a limit of ten thousand sources that way, they would have to keep adding them manually, which might take a year or two—and even that might not be enough.
Thus, Yi Rui and the others did not give up on the resonance method.
Not only was the resonance method fast and convenient, but the tenfold base also made statistics easier and was conducive to level classification.
As for control... since they had created the resonance method, they could continue to refine it to make the operation simpler.
Although they didn't have a concrete plan yet, they had already named this pending solution the "Micro-Operation Resonance Method."
Just from the name, one could tell they had some inkling of how to proceed; it wasn't just a baseless fantasy.
"How does it feel? Is there a strange sensation inside your body?" I asked, looking at Yi Rui and the data gathered by the instruments beside her.
But this observational data, in the end, could not compare to my Floating World Level Spirit Vision, which allowed me to see through her life essence with total clarity.
Because I possessed such an ability, I could constantly make adjustments to Yi Rui's ritual and clearly understand the issues with the self-generated mana in the ritual's architecture.
As expected, a problem arose.
They were not Self-Awakened Body Cultivators, so the basic framework for self-generated mana lacked a so-called "foundation."
However, for Transcendent Witches, even though they weren't Self-Awakened Body Cultivators, they still possessed the self-generated mana body talent.
So... what was it structured upon?
Was it simply built upon the life essence, similar to a Self-Awakened Body Cultivator, but skipping the Self-Awakened Body Cultivation framework entirely?
"There is indeed a strange feeling... but it's not distinct. It feels very illusory..." Yi Rui spoke up at that moment.
"I understand." I nodded.
This feeling was because the self-generated mana they were trying to structure lacked the most fundamental basis, which was reflected in Yi Rui's perception as a sense of illusion—because it had no roots.
I turned my head to look at Mentor Belica, who was nearby.
Since I had encountered a problem outside my current knowledge, it would be inefficient to try and figure it out on my own. Research is about constantly standing on the shoulders of giants to achieve what you want; there was no shame in seeking a ready-made answer.
"Sister Belica."
"Oh? Xiao Han, you're actually coming to me? Did you run into some kind of problem?" Belica looked up, appearing somewhat surprised to see me. She had grown accustomed to her student Yi Rui coming to find her; Xiao Han rarely troubled them.
Of course, if Xiao Han did come to trouble them, it was usually over a major issue.
"Yes, I've encountered a small problem."
"A small problem? Hmph~ well, ask away then." Belica gave a soft laugh, though it was unclear whether she was dismissive of the "small problem" or simply didn't believe that anything I called a "small problem" would actually be minor.
"Sister Belica, do you know what self-generated mana is structured upon?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
"Oh~ good question. But I don't know." Belica shook her head, stating her ignorance quite bluntly.
"Then... do you have any related theories? For example... is it structured upon the life essence, or something else?" I continued.
"I'm not entirely sure, but... broadly speaking, it is indeed structured upon the life essence. However... simply saying 'life essence' isn't accurate," Mentor Belica said, shaking her head.
"Not accurate... meaning it's a more detailed classification within the life essence?" I prompted.
"That's where my knowledge hits a blind spot. I haven't researched to that depth." She could only wave her hand with a smile. "However... Xiao Han, if you really want to know the answer to this, perhaps I can give you some lines of thought. Let me state this in advance! These are just my speculative ideas; I can't guarantee they're correct. You must be prepared to abandon them and start from scratch at any time."
"That's fine. I'm quite confused right now, so any line of thought can provide some inspiration," I said, indicating it wasn't an issue.
As for falling into a cognitive trap?
My subconscious Knowledge Shadow wasn't just for show.
"Alright, then I'll speak boldly." Belica nodded. "My research into the self-generated mana body talent isn't deep. As I told you, our group disbanded just as we were starting; we couldn't figure this thing out. But since self-generated mana is such a vital ability, I suspect it is structured upon the Witch Race Concept."
"Huh? The Witch Race Concept? That's so abstract." I was a bit surprised.
"Are you not very clear on the concepts of race and bloodline yet, Xiao Han?" she asked.
"That... I know a bit." After all, I had used the reincarnation spell in the Expansion Realm to create many strange clones, so I had some understanding of the race and bloodline concepts of variant beasts.
Furthermore, within my Tree of Great Knowledge, a massive amount of information was being stored every moment, including data regarding race and bloodline.
Of course, more importantly, the Witch Grand Subject itself contained the concepts of the Witch race and bloodline.
With Sister Belica's reminder, I quickly began to search through that knowledge.
Within the Witch Grand Subject, race and bloodline were the entities that defined the concept of a Transcendent Witch; they were the basis for why a lifeform known as a Witch was called a Witch.
Thinking of this, I suddenly realized a mistake I had made: the concept of self-generated mana was not equivalent to the concept of a Witch. In other words, self-generated mana was not a necessary condition for the Witch race itself, but rather a necessary condition for the powerful Witch race.
The reason it couldn't be discarded was that it was one of the indispensable abilities for the operation of a Witch's transcendent power, but it wasn't a necessary factor for the survival of the racial concept.
"Since you know a bit, it'll be easier to understand. Since the self-generated mana body talent is so important and yet impossible to research, it is most likely structured upon the Witch Race Concept and then manifested through the Witch race bloodline."
"So that's how it is?"
"Xiao Han, don't forget this is just my guess, okay?" she reminded me again. She didn't want Xiao Han's research to fall into a trap because of her suggestion.
"Oh, of course I haven't forgotten. I just think this explanation is very logical," I said quickly.
In truth, my thoughts went even deeper than my mentor expected, even linking back to the Witch Grand Subject.
This seemed to be another angle that gave me a new understanding of the Grand Subject.
Previously, I only knew that Witchification transformed oneself into a Witch. But what was being transformed?
The race, obviously.
But now that I could see things more clearly...
Looking at the concept of Witchification again... it was a way to transform a lifeform's racial concept and bloodline manifestation in a more profound manner.
By using these two ways of defining a life category, it fundamentally transformed a lifeform into a Witch.
The thoroughness of this transformation was even more complete and ridiculous than changing the concept of gender at a genetic level!
No wonder the Witch race was so confident and trusting of transformed Witches, naturally calling each other sisters without much of a barrier.
Because this was equivalent to the re-gestation and birth of a lifeform. Thus, a transformed Witch was still a Witch through and through; though not in form initially, they were so in essence.
So, tracing it back to the source.
What was my question...
What is self-generated mana structured upon?
The racial concept and bloodline information.
And what can influence the racial concept and bloodline information?
Witchification.
Can the racial concept and bloodline information of a Prospective Witch carry self-generated mana?
I would have to test it to find out, but I was betting that it could.
Originally, I had simply viewed the Witchification process as a condition for promoting to a Transcendent Witch, but that thought was incomplete.
From my current perspective, the Witchification process roughly included two levels.
The first was the Witchification of the life essence. Within the life essence lay a lifeform's racial concept and bloodline information. The racial concept defined racial traits, and the bloodline information reflected the physical form. This all made sense; the Witchification process primarily referred to this.
The second was the accompanying basic threshold: the life level.
Life level referred to the strength or weakness of the life essence. It was a unit of measurement. Only with a strong life essence would one have the qualification to touch Real Time. After all, the starting point for the Witch race was Transcendent.
Witchification of the life level alone was naturally not enough; the level of the life essence also had to be very high—high enough to support the promotion to Transcendent.
The reason I was betting that a Prospective Witch could use this incomplete racial concept and bloodline information to carry self-generated mana was mainly because of the Demonized Remolding Metamorphic Rebirth Spell.
This was itself a method based on the resurrection spell as a prototype, guided by the ideology of promoting the Witchification process to remodel the life essence. Once this metamorphosis was complete, the first level of the Witchification process would be greatly accelerated. Therefore, I was quite certain it was possible.
Moreover, wasn't there also the assistance of the Body Cultivation system's power?
Although this wasn't Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, the power of Body Cultivation could still carry it to a certain extent... even if the effect wasn't massive, it was still a psychological comfort.
Having worked out the sequence and logic, I quickly formed my own line of thought.
Of course, I didn't just rush into it. After all, Mentor Belica had said more than once that this was just her theory. So, I needed to go find Sister Bai for a favor. I needed to cram more detailed knowledge related to the Witch Grand Subject to fill in the missing pieces.
Previously, Sister Bai had only helped me find the mana subject and mana source subject under the Witch Grand Subject. I needed other subjects or related knowledge.
"By the way, I'm planning to head out for a bit."
"Eh? Is there something you need to do, Sister Xiao Han? Just leave it to us~" Hearing that I was going out, several of the girls nearby spoke up immediately. They were incredibly eager to do things for me.
"No, I'm going to ask Sister Bai to help me find some materials. I won't trouble you with this," I said.
"I see," Yi Rui added from the side. The road of experimentation was always full of difficulties; even Xiao Han needed a large amount of data to support her continued research.
"So, should I continue with this?" Yi Rui asked in passing.
"Hmm... for now, the self-generated mana shaping ritual has reached a limit. No matter how much more you try, it will be hard to progress without a new breakthrough. Yi Rui, you should join the others in pushing the mana source limit for now. This problem might trouble me for a while."
"Mhm... okay." Yi Rui nodded, her tone carrying a hint of undetectable disappointment. After all, she felt unable to help Xiao Han in such an experiment.
"It's fine~ it's not some insurmountable problem. I'm just going to verify my theory."
"What materials are you looking for, Xiao Han? Maybe I can help you find them," Mentor Belica asked from the side.
"Ah... that won't be necessary~ Sister Belica, you all just focus on your own work."
"...Alright, if you insist." Belica didn't try to persuade me further.
"Oh, it's almost dinner time. Since I'm heading out anyway, post what you want to eat in the group chat, and I'll pick it up for you." Since delivery couldn't get into the experimental zone, it was indeed a hassle for those of us who were still used to eating every day.
I usually kept some instant food and water on hand, but the taste... left much to be desired.
"Hooray! Today we get to eat delivery personally picked up by Sister Xiao Han!"
Immediately, a chorus of cheers erupted in the lab. It seemed that after eating those instant foods for days, their palates were truly starved for flavor.
Leaving the lab, I rarely chose not to use teleportation immediately. Every time one teleported into the experimental zone, it was a hassle; this was already a restricted area. Whether teleporting out or in, it would cause quite a stir.
Thus, on the roads of the experimental zone, one could still see the leisurely figures of many Witches.
Once I stepped out of the experimental zone, I opened the marker for Sister Bai's villa, and a teleportation portal instantly swallowed my figure.
The moment I vanished, another figure suddenly appeared.
"Wait, what? You spent so long strolling leisurely through the experimental zone, and the moment you step out, you just teleport away?" Clearly, this figure had intended to approach and strike up a conversation, but she hadn't expected the other party to leave so abruptly.
Seeing the disappearing teleportation space, she was so frustrated she punched the spatial barrier of the experimental zone.
The next moment, her figure vanished from the spot.
"What is with this experimental zone? With such a high level of spatial protection, if you won't let people in, then don't! But to set up a Space Maze just to spite me..." Sheryl looked at the Space Maze before her, feeling as though she were being toyed with. This was already her second time visiting this place, and the first time... was just moments ago.
Even when she was in front of Mei Lind, she hadn't suffered such a setback!