Chapter 765: The Promotion Plan for the Self-Generated Mana Body Talent
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 765: The Promotion Plan for the Self-Generated Mana Body Talent
"Phew... wow... we really made it out." Ying Shiqian followed us as we left the Arena. Earlier, she felt like eyes were tracking her every move, no matter where she went. It was a sensation... she had never experienced before!
"What? Were you afraid the Arena would detain you?" I asked with a smile.
"Well... we didn't expect you to say something like that in a place like that. It felt like you were declaring war on everyone!"
"Relax. The Arena is just a free and open competitive platform," I said nonchalantly. "I was just announcing that Tan Han won't be accepting any more challenges, explaining why, and... threatening anyone who might still have ideas."
"So Xiao Tan won't be harassed by those guys anymore? Xiao Han, you're amazing!"
"Who said that? Doesn't Tan Han still have to come to my lab to be my assistant?" I shrugged, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Eh? Xiao Han, wasn't that just an excuse you made up on the spot?!" Ying Shiqian looked as if she had heard something incredible. "Wait... Xiao Han, are you serious? You actually have an experiment like that?"
"Yes, I've been conducting experiments all along."
In fact, I had quite a few laboratories. Back when I first became a teaching assistant, I converted the villa I was given into a semi-lab. I also turned the basement into a private laboratory. Later, the Dean granted me another lab specifically for the derivative development of the Great Spellbook.
After that, I went to the Expansion Realm and established the Omni-Link Main Network Tree Laboratory. My clones then set up transcendent laboratories in various shelters, guiding the people of the Expansion Realm to understand the transcendent domain in hopes that they would develop their own transcendent systems.
Later, I initiated research into Self-Generated Mana in the Expansion Realm, which stirred up a lot of trouble. Finally, in the experimental zone of the Witch Academy, the Dean granted me a formal, high-level laboratory.
So, I was actually very busy. There were many places I didn't even have time to visit, acting as a hands-off boss.
I left one clone at the Omni-Link Main Network Tree Laboratory, and I rarely visited the lab dedicated to researching the cultivation of the Knowledge Seeds and the Knowledge Seed anymore.
Currently, my main focus was on the Self-Generated Mana Project Laboratory.
"By the way, Tan Han, you're willing to be my assistant, right?" I turned my head and asked her with a smile. Because of the timing, I hadn't had the chance to explain the details to her yet.
"I have no problem with that." This time, Tan Han surprisingly didn't refuse. She nodded in acceptance. "I suppose you had this idea from the very beginning, didn't you? Can you tell me about the experiment? If I remember correctly, it's called... Self-Generated Mana?"
"Correct. The Self-Generated Mana Project."
"Eh? A project? Is there such a branch among the witch projects?" the Shopkeeper asked from the side.
As a seasoned veteran who had graduated years ago, she naturally knew how common experiments were for upperclassmen. After the fourth year, once you chose a mentor, you basically followed them to conduct various experiments.
The only other option was to be unmotivated—the teacher wouldn't care about you, and you'd just have your name registered.
However, if a student conducted their own experiments and project research, it was either for graduation or... to promote to a Transcendent Witch.
And Xia Li didn't think Xiao Han was the type to do something just for the sake of graduating.
"It's not a witch project for promoting to Transcendent, but a more specialized application technique project intended for widespread promotion and popularization."
"That sounds very high-end... it's on a completely different level from the Evocation Element branch project I used for my graduation," Senior Sister Ying Shiqian remarked with a sigh. "So, Xiao Han, could you introduce what this Self-Generated Mana actually is?"
"Self-Generated Mana is a special body talent. It's commonly seen in witches who have promoted to Transcendent. In other words, once you become a Transcendent Witch, you automatically possess this body talent."
"What? A body talent possessed by Transcendent Witches?!"
"Exactly. My current experiment is an attempt to possess this talent before promoting to Transcendent. After all, before one reaches that level, this talent can provide a preparatory witch with extremely convenient and powerful auxiliary abilities."
After saying this, I deliberately observed the expressions of the Shopkeeper and Ying Shiqian. They didn't look particularly confused; it seemed my explanation sounded normal enough to them.
I didn't offer further explanation, nor did I describe how difficult it actually was or the profound significance it held.
Explaining all that would take far too much time.
"You should know that the number of Mana Sources we preparatory witches can possess is limited to ten thousand, right?"
"I remember that. I believe that's the carrying capacity limit of the Ley Line Shackles?" the Shopkeeper added. After all, as a famous "old hand" in the academy, she had once reached the ten-thousand Mana Source limit herself.
Mana Sources were a very special equivalent in the Witch Academy; their value never depreciated.
Therefore, many clubs hoarded Mana Sources. The reason the academy wasn't completely flooded with them was mainly due to this hoarding. The academy actually encouraged this behavior. As the academy developed, a certain tacit understanding formed between the institution and the clubs, which became a part of the students' self-development.
"Correct. Ten thousand is the carrying limit of the Ley Line Shackles. The reason we need the Ley Line Shackles to carry our Mana Sources and spellbooks is that our own bodies cannot bear them. However, with the Self-Generated Mana body talent, our own bodies can directly carry Mana Sources, bypassing the ten-thousand limit and allowing us to possess even more!"
"What! This!" Hearing my description, the Shopkeeper was the most visibly shaken.
Back then, she had also touched the ceiling of the ten-thousand limit. In her youthful arrogance, she had tried again and again to break through, but the final result was always the same: no one could surpass that limit!
If the upperclassmen knew about this ability, they would go insane. They were the ones stuck at the ten-thousand threshold, not even qualified to touch the "Myriad Methods Book."
Those seniors and club members who watched their Mana Sources pile up without being able to use them—who wouldn't be anxious?
Everyone wanted to take that next step!
In fact, this was likely what the mentors intended. If you wanted to go further... you could choose to promote to Transcendent!
Setting levels based purely on the number of Mana Sources was meaningless. On the path of power, "Transcendent" was the only true threshold.
Even the so-called "Saint Realm" was merely a human-defined rank. That was why the phrase was "Transcending into Sainthood"—Transcendent comes first. The reason the Saint Realm was so widely recognized by so many lifeforms was that it was a threshold built upon the Transcendent level, among other reasons.
"Alright, Shopkeeper—don't be so shocked. This might be vital to many people, but to me, it's just a research project. This constitution has many other benefits, such as increasing mana affinity, boosting mana recovery, and so on. So, Tan Han, do you want to give it a try?"
"If it's truly as you say, then this is an experiment I simply cannot refuse... But... am I really qualified to be your assistant?" Tan Han was deeply shaken. To say she wasn't tempted would be a lie.
However, she was acutely aware of the gap between herself and me. She also had zero experience with project experiments. It wasn't that she was afraid to try, but rather she feared she would drag down the progress.
"I say 'assistant,' but you're more like a guinea pig. Or rather, you're the subject of the experiment. Our research is nearing its final stages, and we're just missing one case of complete success," I explained bluntly.
"I see... then why choose me?"
"Hmm... I suppose when I saw you, I just felt you were a good fit. Plus, I wanted to give you a hand. You know I don't know many people in the academy, and even fewer I'd call friends. How about it?" I looked at Tan Han. My tone wasn't so much asking for permission as it was stating a fact.
"If you agree to be the guinea pig... I'll take you to my lab. There, I'll introduce you to some friends. They are upperclassmen and teaching assistants who were also 'tricked' by me into being guinea pigs at first. But in the end, they were a huge help, and now they're core members of the lab's Self-Generated Mana project."
"Xiao Tan... hurry up and agree." At this moment, the Shopkeeper's unique mental gears shifted the fastest. At the very least, she truly cared for Tan Han. If Tan Han could get to know a group of seniors and even teaching assistants, it would be a golden opportunity to expand her network and develop her connections!
This had far more potential than staying in her decaying club!
While they were whispering among themselves, a communication signal arrived through my Tree of Great Knowledge.
"I naturally agree..." Tan Han didn't think twice and gave her consent.
"I knew you wouldn't refuse. Then it's settled. I have a call to take, wait a moment." I was satisfied with Tan Han's answer. Or rather, from the beginning, I didn't think Tan Han was the type to give up.
With an opportunity to become stronger right in front of her, how could she remain indifferent?
I glanced at the light screen projected by the Tree of Great Knowledge. The caller was Millian.
I knew it would be her. She was likely calling to ask about what happened at the Arena. Since so many people saw my actions, it would surely be spreading like wildfire on the Academy Network.
Millian naturally needed to coordinate with me to see if I had any other plans. She didn't want to accidentally mess things up by trying to help.
Once connected, Millian's figure appeared before me. The communication was set to private, as the street outside the Arena was still very crowded.
"Sorry to disturb you, Sister Xiao Han."
"It's fine. Are you contacting me because of the Arena incident?" I looked at the image of Millian and got straight to the point.
"Yes, Sister Xiao Han. I just found out. I didn't expect you to do that at the Arena. Is there anything the Fan Club needs to do to coordinate? This is definitely going to spread on the Academy Network, especially since you mentioned the concept of the Self-Generated Mana experiment..."
As the liaison for the Self-Generated Mana Laboratory, Millian had naturally learned some details about the experiment from the other seniors. She had also gone out of her way to research the concepts involved, so she understood exactly how significant this experiment was.
"It is a bit of a hassle. Hmm... just make sure the stuff on the Academy Network doesn't interfere with my real life. As for the concept of Self-Generated Mana, I actually needed to promote it anyway."
"Promote... Self-Generated Mana?! Does... it really need to be that way?"
"Why? Do you think this ability shouldn't be promoted? Or do you think I should hide it and keep it from spreading?"
"No, that's not what I meant!" Millian waved her hands frantically. She didn't think she had the right to tell Sister Xiao Han how to do things. Even if she had her own opinions, she knew she wasn't acting on her own behalf right now.
"The Self-Generated Mana body talent project was created from the very beginning with the goal of popularization and large-scale promotion. Before this project even existed, I had already obtained this constitution through special means. Therefore, the only value this technique has for me now is the significance of allowing others to possess the same constitution."
"I understand..." Millian tactfully kept her mouth shut and didn't ask what that "significance" actually was.
However, she had her own guesses.
Perhaps Sister Xiao Han had long since transcended their level of vision, standing on a much higher plane, using her status as a Transcendent Witch (Little Witch) to interfere with the very progress of the Witch Academy.
From the very beginning, Sister Xiao Han had created the game mode for the Omni-Link Main Network Tree, which iterated into the "Power Network." Now, this model was beginning to spread throughout the Witch Academy.
Millian had chosen to follow Sister Xiao Han back then, so she knew very well that the current Power Network was inextricably linked to her, rather than being something the general students thought was just created by the academy's mentors.
And now, with Self-Generated Mana... she was going to change the very graduation process of the Witch Academy!
Millian had heard Yi Rui mention in the lab that the Self-Generated Mana body talent could allow one to touch the abilities of the Transcendent level much earlier. It was highly likely a prerequisite that would make promoting to Transcendent much easier!
"It's good that you understand. Oh, right—while Self-Generated Mana will eventually be promoted, it's still not fully completed. Even when it reaches full promotion, there will still be an order of priority. Once I master the technique for modifying the Self-Generated Mana body talent, I'll be the one who decides who gets it first."
"So... So!" Hearing this, Millian's mind immediately raced with possibilities!
Everyone would want Self-Generated Mana, but promotion would naturally have a sequence, perhaps starting with small-scale testing phases. If Sister Xiao Han held the source of this technique, then that meant...!
"Help me purify my Fan Club. Or rather... let's not call it a Fan Club anymore; that sounds too mindless. What I need is a group of pure people who harbor a longing and passion for the Transcendent, people who aren't tainted by the interests of families or clubs."
"People similar to Yi Rui and the others. They don't necessarily have to be the scholar type, but they must have the goal of becoming a Transcendent Witch and refuse to let themselves fall into stagnation. I won't force them to follow me."
"Sister Xiao Han, are you looking for a group of like-minded people? The kind who will constantly climb upward as long as they are given the chance?" Millian asked.
"I suppose so. That phrasing is a bit sentimental, but I believe you understand what I mean, right, Millian?"
"I understand!"
At this moment, Millian's body trembled instinctively. She understood exactly what Sister Xiao Han meant. Although such people were somewhat idealistic, the person she followed... had the strength, the influence, and the confidence to make it happen!
Of course... this also served as a reminder to her. If she wanted to continue following Sister Xiao Han, then... she had to become that kind of person too!
Otherwise, she would eventually be left behind. Once upon a time, she simply wanted to achieve something to prove herself and rebel against her fate.
But in the face of such a grand trend, she suddenly realized that her previous goals and dreams, which she used to motivate herself, weren't even worthy of the things she was doing now. She... needed to work harder, be more ambitious, and truly transform herself!
As she realized this, she suddenly found that "promoting to Transcendent Witch"—which hadn't even been among her options before—now seemed like a hurdle she simply had to pass. And she wasn't as afraid as she used to be.
It was as if an invisible shackle in her heart had silently unlocked...