Chapter 782: Pulling Tan Han into the Pit of Body Transformation Spells
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 782: Pulling Tan Han into the Pit of Body Transformation Spells
"Sister Xiao Han, do you have any further instructions?" Millian looked up at me. I had clearly been spacing out just now, but in Millian's mind, I must have been receiving information transmitted from somewhere by the Tree of Great Knowledge.
In her eyes, no information within the Witch Academy could be hidden from me! Millian was absolutely convinced of this.
"Oh, everything is as usual. Also, we can begin the small-scale promotion of the Self-Generated Mana experiments. How is the screening of candidates on your end?" I didn't offer much explanation, instead pivoting to another matter.
I had just received a message from one of my clones and learned a rather interesting piece of intelligence.
This matter had triggered several other thoughts. Perhaps... I could give it a try before my Transcendent advancement.
"The further screening is currently underway. As of now, there are only twenty-three people. However, if we ask them to participate in an experiment with unknown risks, the likelihood of them agreeing is..."
"It’s fine, there’s no rush. In the current Self-Generated Mana experiments, the first case of a non-Transcendent possessing Self-Generated Mana—besides myself—has already appeared."
"Does that mean... it was a success?!" Millian’s pupils constricted instinctively upon hearing this. She understood perfectly what this implied. Even if Sister Xiao Han’s previous guarantees were solid, no amount of talk was as persuasive as an actual successful case!
"Is... is it her? Is it Teaching Assistant Yi Rui?"
"It’s Tan Han. The first person to succeed was Tan Han, and she is currently further adapting to and expanding her Self-Generated Mana talent."
However, that expansion requires my assistance to progress, I added silently to myself.
Strictly speaking, the Self-Generated Mana talent is exclusive to Transcendent Witches. Self-Generated Mana built upon an incomplete Transcendent Witch Race Concept lacks the foundation for "spontaneous perfection." Therefore, without external help, it is impossible to refine it to my level.
Because I have the foundation of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, I managed to refine my Self-Generated Mana to the limit of a non-Transcendent before my advancement, and it can now exist independently of my Self-Awakened Body Cultivation.
Once I advance to Transcendent, this Self-Generated Mana physical talent will undergo another metamorphosis, reaching the Transcendent level.
"Tan Han? It was actually her? Is that why you insisted on taking her away back then, Sister Xiao Han, even if it meant drawing so much attention?" Hearing Tan Han's name, Millian quickly recalled my actions from a while back.
"In a way..." I recalled how Tan Han had succeeded on the very first try during the experiment. I had to admit, I had slightly underestimated the driving force of Luck.
"In a little while, Tan Han’s strength will enter a burst period. At that stage, I recommend she re-enter the Arena to issue some challenges. Although the Arena is currently dominated by the Power Network, the Ladder rankings should stabilize in a while, and the timing will be about right."
"And how long will that take, approximately?" Millian asked curiously.
"Hmm... a month or two. Looking at it that way, the semester is almost half over... but that’s enough time for us to perfect the Self-Generated Mana Shaping Technique, as well as the techniques for further improvement after the shaping is complete."
Millian listened intently to the technical terms she didn't quite understand—Shaping Techniques, Perfecting Techniques. She didn't grasp the details, but she knew they were impressive, and that was enough.
During this time, Millian finally made up her mind and voiced the thought she had been holding back.
"Sister Xiao Han..."
"Yes? What is it? You look like you have something on your mind."
"It’s... like this. Sister Xiao Han, I... I was wondering if I could participate in this Self-Generated Mana experiment?"
"You?" After hearing Millian’s request, I instinctively looked up and studied her again.
I had to admit, Millian was the person I found most comfortable to work with in the Witch Academy. I had known she was ambitious, but I hadn't expected her to have thoughts in this direction.
I thought she was still the same Millian who only wanted to attach herself to me to gain power...
As for now... my Heart Sense told me that Millian was very anxious.
But beneath that anxiety was a suppressed ambition—a mindset of pursuing a higher level that the old Millian never possessed.
When she didn't receive an immediate answer, the pressure on Millian mounted... but she didn't regret it. Well, she was still a little worried...
After all, without experiencing a profound turning point, a person cannot completely transform in a short period.
"Why so nervous? It’s just a self-recommendation. However, I don't suggest you participate in this next batch of experiments. This is an exploratory experiment that will take a long time and require constant persistence."
"This multi-person experiment is primarily to explore the perfect path for the Self-Generated Mana Shaping Technique. This stage involves a lot of hardship and many unnecessary detours. While that does count as tempering oneself, you have a better option. If you wait until the perfected technique is born before trying, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble."
"Besides, you’re very useful to me. I don’t want you wasting your time on this. I have many things I need you to do; I certainly have no intention of managing my own fan clubs."
That last part was my primary reason, and I said it plainly. There was no need to be coy; Millian would have guessed it anyway. It’s better to be sincere with the people you trust to use.
"So you had already made arrangements, Sister Xiao Han... Thank you!"
"It’s nothing. But I feel like you’re a bit more confident than before. I assume that’s not an illusion?" I said casually. "Alright, just joking. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going."
"One last thing. Regarding the faction you wanted to build—do you want to establish it as an official club, or as a spontaneous group that bypasses the Academy’s club restrictions? And of course, there’s the matter of the group’s name..."
"Hmm... no rush on that. Ideally, I’d prefer the form of an Academy Club, but we don't have the numbers yet. At this stage, I don't want to play management games like developing a club. I think we should wait until we have a certain foundation and scale before announcing its formation. Otherwise, once the club is established, the core members will just become easy targets for trouble." Recalling the terrible academic atmosphere in the Academy right now, I decided against forming a club in the near future.
"Have you thought of a name for the group?" I asked in passing.
"Not yet. A name involves many things, including the club’s philosophy, its principles, and so on."
"Is it that complicated? I’d prefer to keep everything simple. Like the Baking House I know—a place that makes bread and pastries. Hmm... I think I’m still a member of that Baking House..."
"Sister Xiao Han, you haven't quit that club yet?" Millian was surprised.
She was curious what kind of charm such an ordinary club could have to keep someone like Sister Xiao Han. Not only her, but even Tan Han, the former genius of the same year, was a member.
The only real pillar of that club was the Shopkeeper, but that Shopkeeper... well, she was a complicated case as well.
"Yeah. It’s one of the few clubs I’m familiar with. I have friends there and senior sisters I know, so I just never left," I said with a casual shrug.
"Then... since you want to keep things simple, Sister Xiao Han, and you used the Baking House as an example, why don't we just use that club as our foundation for development... Sorry... was that a terrible idea?"
"That idea of yours..." I thought of the Shopkeeper’s personality, then of Senior Sister Ying Shiqian and Senior Sister Tang Yihan... It was basically a retirement club. Moreover, doing that would feel like usurping someone else's nest.
"It’s certainly... bold. But I still respect Shopkeeper Xia Li’s wishes. Don't go doing anything reckless."
"Does that mean you agree?"
"Forget it, let’s put that plan on hold for now. Is there anything else?"
"No. I won't disturb you further then."
* * *
After parting ways with Millian at the cafe, I headed to the laboratory.
Because of Tan Han’s "sudden breakthrough," the experimental progress had leaped forward. The appearance of the first successful case had greatly energized Yi Rui and the others.
I had handed over the task of perfecting the Self-Generated Mana Shaping experiment entirely to Yi Rui and her sisters. After all, I had already taught them how to structure Self-Generated Mana; the rest required them to summarize the patterns and practice until they found a method for stable success.
Perhaps because I had succeeded on the first try, they had vastly overestimated the success rate. They had tried it on themselves, and so far, not a single one had succeeded.
So, I had to offer them a bit of comfort.
My task was simple: once the Self-Generated Mana was shaped, I would help them continue to improve the talent.
After all, this kind of talent needs to be developed.
My own Self-Generated Mana currently flowed like a spring, but there was still a massive gap between me and the theoretical "Infinite Mana." When I thought about the massive energy consumption of my Domain... this bit of Self-Generated Mana was definitely not enough.
As for Tan Han... the mana currently produced by her talent was barely enough to shape a single complete Mana Thread.
This state belonged to the "From Nothing to Something" phase of the original plan. Now, we had reached the second stage: "From Something to Perfection."
With Self-Generated Mana, Tan Han could now serve as a preliminary carrier for a Mana Source. Her Mana Affinity had increased significantly, and her Mental Power was now sufficient to interfere with mana.
However, her Mana Sources were still at the flat 8,000 mark from the Demonification Body Cultivation Method, not yet exceeding the limit of the Ley Line Shackles, so that particular ability wasn't urgent.
What she desperately needed now was to further perfect her Self-Generated Mana.
And for that, she needed to rely on me.
Only by using myself as a template and continuing to optimize the Demonification Body Cultivation Method could she continue to grow stronger.
The current Demonification Body Cultivation Method included three important rituals: the Shaping Ritual and the Structuring Ritual, which were the foundation and threshold for birthing the Self-Generated Mana talent. The third was the Perfecting Ritual, which I was currently summarizing—literally, a ritual to continuously improve and perfect the Self-Generated Mana talent.
This required Tan Han’s constant cooperation in experiments. After all, besides me, Tan Han was the only person who had shaped non-Transcendent Self-Generated Mana.
So, I needed to re-summarize how I had achieved it back then.
I had to turn that process into a technique and condense that technique into a ritual for teaching and dissemination, integrating it into the system of the Demonification Body Cultivation Method.
"Sister Xiao Han! It’s rare to see you arrive at this hour."
As soon as I entered the lab, someone greeted me.
"Mm-hmm. I went to see a friend to discuss some things," I explained briefly, walking toward the inner area of the lab. Tan Han had already arrived.
"Sister Xiao Han, you’re here so soon? I wanted Little Tan to cooperate with us a bit more so we could see exactly how she succeeded..."
"I’m already late today, so I’m taking Tan Han with me. Instead of studying Tan Han here, you’d be better off experimenting on yourselves. Haven't the recordings of the previous experiments been made? If all else fails, just watch those repeatedly."
After leading Tan Han out, we entered a separate, isolated laboratory to avoid outside interference.
"How have you been finding the lab?" I asked casually.
"It’s fine. The senior sisters are all very kind to me." Tan Han spoke from the heart.
Away from the distractions of the outside world, she suddenly understood why Xiao Han didn't get along with those people. She didn't fit in either, but she had been forced to play a role every waking moment until it became her way of life.
"I should tell you about a somewhat problematic situation, which you probably already suspect. The shaping of your Self-Generated Mana was unexpectedly successful, but improving it won't be as easy for you as it was for me. You’ll need the 'Perfecting Ritual' I’m developing to continue improving before you can reach my current level. This will be a long wait for you, and I imagine you don't want to waste your time on meaningless waiting?"
"I... I can still cooperate with the senior sisters..."
"To be honest, their experiments don't really need you. Or rather, whether you’re there or not doesn't make much difference to them. You were the first successful case; your greatest significance was proving our ideas could work, but you aren't a typical representative case. You merely pointed out a general direction for success."
"Then I..."
"What are your thoughts on your own combat power?"
"Combat power? Why are we talking about that again?"
"I brought you here from the Arena. I don't believe you aren't obsessed with victory. Have you thought about how to utilize your Self-Generated Mana and the Demonification Body Cultivation Method?" I asked pointedly.
"No... the advantages of Self-Generated Mana haven't fully manifested yet. It hasn't improved my combat power much," Tan Han said, shaking her head with a hint of regret.
"Aside from the Staff of Absolute Cold, your most powerful tool should be those hundred-point consumption spellbooks, right? Have you thought about learning other means to utilize your greatest advantage—your massive number of Mana Sources?" My hint was already quite obvious.
"So... Xiao Han, you want me to learn new methods?"
"The Demonification Body Cultivation Method is closely linked to Self-Generated Mana, but that doesn't mean the method loses its meaning once the talent is shaped. Even the perfection of your Self-Generated Mana still requires the third ritual of the Demonification Body Cultivation Method. Furthermore, the method itself has its own combat system."
"Are you referring to Body Transformation Spell-type martial arts?" Tan Han quickly made the connection.
"Can you think of any other way to bypass the limitations of spellbooks and utilize your Mana Sources? Perhaps this path is very suitable for you. Or rather... I really need you to use this method—without the help of the Staff of Absolute Cold—to showcase the brilliance of the Demonification Body Cultivation Method and Body Transformation Spells in the Arena through your own strength."