Chapter 807: The Arrival of Dean Serena
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 807: The Arrival of Dean Serena
After a bit of a commotion, word quickly spread through the laboratory that there were Fool’s Dream spirits present.
Even Yi Rui made a point of coming over to see them for herself before leaving, looking thoroughly satisfied.
It seemed the popularity of the Fool’s Dream spirits far exceeded my imagination.
"By the way, Sister Xiao Han, why did you bring the Fool’s Dream spirits to the lab? I heard they’re your little assistants?"
"Well, I’ve said it many times already... the existence of the Fool’s Dream is a Life Project I need to face. However, having over a hundred of them was simply too many, so I had to settle them within the Witch Academy to let them integrate into the lives of the witches. These three you see before you are the representatives who volunteered to follow me."
"Do they have names?"
"The one you’re holding is Yu Yun. These two are Yulan and Yu Guo." I repeated their names for them once more. In truth, if they had just asked the spirits themselves, the little ones would have been happy to tell them.
After all, a Fool’s Dream spirit isn't some cat you can't communicate with.
"Wait... a 'Life Project'? What kind of project is that? Is that even one of the witch research topics? I only know about the Great Soul Subject..." At that moment, someone finally noticed the outlier in my words.
"Oh, you're right, I didn't catch that earlier. A Life Project? Sister Xiao Han, what exactly do you do all day? First, it was that unheard-of Self-Generated Mana project, and now it’s a Life Project. Do you feel like none of the standard academy projects are good enough for you?" someone teased.
"Actually, it’s a branch of Life Elucidation, which is closely related to the Great Soul Subject. The relationship is similar to how Self-Generated Mana relates to the Great Witch Subject; it’s just that the research threshold is quite high, so average students don't encounter it."
"I knew Sister Xiao Han didn't just have a slip of the tongue."
Although most of the people here had never heard of Life Elucidation in the context of the Great Soul Subject, it didn't stop them from marvelling at it.
But that was fine. If the Dean hadn't personally explained it to me, I wouldn't have known what Life Elucidation was either.
It had already transcended the scope of ordinary research topics. Even those pursuing sub-topics under the Great Soul Subject might not necessarily be aware of the concept.
"So, Sister Xiao Han, do you need our help with this project?"
"You all should focus on finishing your experiments for the Self-Generated Mana project. There's no need to trouble yourselves with this one, as this is a pact between me and the Fool’s Dream spirits." I shook my head, declining their kind offer.
"It’s already reached the level of a 'pact'? Alright, alright, I won't meddle then."
"True. Well, Sister Xiao Han, you get back to work. We won't disturb you anymore~"
"Oh, one more thing! Sister Xiao Han, when you aren't busy with them, can we look after the Fool’s Dream spirits? I really need their healing presence!"
"That depends on their own wishes," I said with a shrug. "Yulan, are you girls willing?"
"Of course!" Yulan was the first to agree.
"Mhm! There isn't much we can do, so if we can help everyone in the lab, it counts as doing our part," Yu Yun and Yu Guo added immediately.
"See? The spirits said it’s fine!" they exclaimed excitedly.
"Alright, but I can't lend them to you today," I conceded.
"Can't you just spare one?"
"If you keep this up, I’m going to start suspecting you have ulterior motives toward them."
"Ah... forget I said anything!"
"Go on, get back to your work for today. Tomorrow, when I conduct experiments with Tan Han, I’ll let the spirits keep you company... wait... that sounds a bit strange..."
"It’s 'entrusting the spirits to our care.' How about that?" someone corrected.
"Fine, I’m entrusting them to your care. Just don't do anything too outrageous to them, okay?"
And so, after the mentors left the lab, three new companions—the little Fool’s Dream trio—joined our ranks.
Once it was finally quiet again, I began to focus on the task at hand.
Since I had decided to facilitate a life metamorphosis for the Fool’s Dream spirits, I naturally had to take responsibility for it.
"How are the preliminary preparations coming along?" I asked Yulan.
The task I had assigned to the spirits was naturally related to what was most vital to them: "Memory."
Memory is truly a wondrous concept.
It is the experience of an entity with consciousness regarding the things it has gone through—an absolutely subjective feeling rather than an objective presentation, and certainly not a continuous film strip.
Even when it manifests as imagery, it is merely one facet of a memory, a visual experience within perception. The sensations conveyed by the basic five senses—the foundation of a living being's perception—are also memories, as are internal reflections and feelings.
Even the Time Sense passing or the feeling of exploring external space can be part of a memory.
This corresponds almost perfectly to the five senses and the sensory channels beyond them.
From this, a simple conclusion could be drawn: memory has a powerful connection to Perception Body Cultivation, and sensory channels are structures built directly upon the essence of life.
Therefore, the relationship between the concept of memory and life is inseparable.
Similarly, "Memory" would be the only thing for a Fool’s Dream spirit that was as important as its "Consciousness."
Furthermore... shaping life requires more than just memory itself; it also requires the ability to "cognize" that memory. And what concept can cognize memory?
Naturally, it is the consciousness of the Fool’s Dream spirit.
Thus, the composition of a Fool’s Dream spirit is "Consciousness + Memory." Combined with Soul Depiction, this is shaped into a life essence, woven into a Seed of Wisdom to take root in the soil of soul-life.
It was a complex theoretical process, but I had the Tree of Great Knowledge to support my understanding. That was the source of my confidence.
However, theory is just theory. Only by practicing it on the Fool’s Dream spirits could I understand what was truly effective.
The only thing currently lacking was a sufficient amount of Soul Essence.
I wondered when Millian would deliver it to me.
But before that...
I looked at the simulated information displayed on the light screen projected by the Tree of Great Knowledge. The refinement of the Soul Depiction technique was nearing its end; at least theoretically, it was a success.
If the Soul Depiction technique matured, this method could even help lifeforms that were essentially Soul Essence skip the Great Soul Subject entirely and be molded directly into a soul essence!
"Come, let’s try a trial run now. Once the Soul Essence materials arrive, we’ll officially begin the experiment," I said to the spirits.
The experiment I wanted to conduct involved organizing and processing the memories of the Fool’s Dream spirits.
The spirits had no other means; they only had the Great Knowledge Seeds I had given them. Only I could use Soul Depiction and Wisdom Granting to perform the final preprocessing on these memories.
* * *
A few more days passed.
Tan Han had visited the lab several times. The progress of her Self-Generated Mana refinement was somewhat beyond my expectations.
According to my original estimates, it should have taken Tan Han about a month to complete the refinement of her self-generated mana and reach the Great Perfection of the Prototype Self-Generated Mana. However, only three or four recording nodes—about seven or eight days in total—had passed, and her mana's completeness was already at a level where she could easily condense a full Mana Source.
It seemed Tan Han had been spending all her spare time lately studying Mana Source condensation techniques. To go from zero foundation to such proficiency so quickly could only be described as the work of a genius.
I believed that, in the end, Tan Han might only need a little over half a month to fully refine her self-generated mana.
And if the final, iterated "Perfecting Ritual" were used again, the time required to refine a self-generated mana prototype might be shortened to around three days.
"You’ve broken the record from the day before yesterday again. This refinement efficiency is frighteningly fast." I looked at the surging mana within Tan Han. It was at a level where I didn't even need a Basic Identification Art to feel her metamorphosis.
"Indeed. Honestly, Xiao Han, just how far do you plan to refine this ritual?" Tan Han nodded, even she herself shocked by her own strength.
This mana, which didn't originate from a Mana Source but instead surged from within her own body, felt incredible!
Furthermore, the barrier between her mental power and her mana had vanished. It gave her an almost irrepressible urge to cast a few spells right then and there just to vent.
"Naturally, I hope for it to be as fast as possible. I once witnessed a witch ascend to the Transcendent realm; her self-generated mana went from birth to perfection in just a few hours. I really hope to achieve that kind of effect."
"A few hours for the whole process? Is there really a need to take the technique that far? It’s like learning a Body-Manifestation Spell; it usually takes several days of study just to get the basics down..."
"Just because it has always been this way, does it mean it should be this way? If someone said they wanted to create a learning technique that allowed one to master a Body-Manifestation Spell in a few hours, would you support them?"
"..." This time, Tan Han was stunned by my words. "As expected, your thinking is on a level I can't keep up with. So, I’ll support you. I can't say for sure if we can reach that level, but I’ll accompany you in your experiments until you’re satisfied."
"That’s great~ But today’s data collection is almost done. Do you plan to stay in the lab for a while longer?" I asked, then added, "Yesterday, I learned that Yi Rui and the others made a new breakthrough with the Shaping Ritual. She’s preparing to use herself as the experimental subject to undergo a reconstruction of the Shaping Ritual. I plan to take this opportunity to give her a hand and see if I can help her complete her self-generated mana architecture in one go as well."
"Sister Yi Rui has reached that stage too?"
"Mhm. Her obsession with self-generated mana is far greater than yours. I take it you’d like to go watch?"
"Of course. If you don't think I’ll be in the way, I’d love to witness the birth of the second success story."
"Then let’s go."
I set down the things in my hands and, with a gentle wave, integrated all the information screens projected by the Tree of Great Knowledge, merging them with the previous data.
These were all precious pieces of information collected during the gradual perfection of the self-generated mana body talent!
They were the catalyst for my understanding of the deep concepts of self-generated mana and the foundation for deriving Infinite Mana.
When I brought Tan Han to the experimental area where Yi Rui and the others were, they were in the middle of intense preparations.
The information collection platform and data monitoring system they had built using Great Knowledge Seeds were running smoothly on the equipment. Various research materials were being constantly calculated, using the light screens woven from the Great Knowledge Seeds as carriers.
Every time I saw them utilize the Great Knowledge Seeds to this extent, I couldn't help but marvel.
This setup was completely different from how I conducted research. I still preferred using the Tree of Great Knowledge as a carrier for consciousness prompts, whereas they preferred this more direct form of presentation.
Perhaps this was just a difference in our philosophies.
They were better at collaboration, while I preferred to figure things out on my own. It wasn't a matter of which was better or worse.
However, there was no denying that there is strength in numbers. I admitted that my leadership talent was lacking, so I rarely interfered with Yi Rui’s team, preferring to communicate directly with Yi Rui herself and letting her handle the communication and arrangements.
"Sister Xiao Han, are you finished with your work?" Upon seeing me, someone immediately came forward to greet me, and many others stopped what they were doing to look our way.
"Pretty much. The progress is very encouraging. How about on your end?"
"We’re almost there too~"
"By the way, where is Yi Rui? I don't see her. Didn't she say she was going to use herself to refine the Shaping Ritual?" I looked around to make sure I hadn't missed her. Yi Rui was nowhere to be found.
"Sister Yi Rui is busy preparing. Earlier, she said she needed to adjust a new Micro-Operation Resonance Method based on her own condition. She said only then would it be a match for the new Shaping Ritual."
"Personalized customization? Interesting. It seems Yi Rui has put a lot of thought into this attempt." Hearing their explanation, even I had to be impressed.
But the higher the hopes, the harder the blow of failure. I didn't want Yi Rui to fail, but success and failure weren't things I could decide.
Especially the Structuring Ritual... that was the only ritual I hadn't gained much revelation from during that Transcendent advancement ceremony.
Because of the Structuring Ritual, the Self-Generated Mana project was ultimately stuck at its final stage rather than being completely perfected.
Otherwise, we could be conducting small-scale testing and overall optimization by now.
Just as I was discussing the finer details of the new Shaping Ritual with the sisters, there was suddenly a commotion at the laboratory entrance.
"Hmm? Did someone go out? Or is it Millian..." I looked up curiously, but I quickly dismissed the idea of it being Millian. If she had finished collecting the soul crystals, she would have told me in advance before meeting me at the lab.
"It’s Sister Yi Rui. She said she wanted to call Mentor Belica over to witness this moment."
"Yi Rui is in such high spirits?" I looked over with curiosity, only to find that the person walking at the very front wasn't Yi Rui, nor was it Mentor Belica.
It was... Dean Serena!
Following her was Mentor Belica, and finally, Yi Rui, trailing behind the mentor.
"Dean Serena, what brings you here?" I hurried forward to greet her.
Many of the sisters in the lab were seeing Dean Serena Politzer for the first time, so I naturally needed to give them a heads-up. It would be quite rude if they all started using Ley Line Identification Art to figure out who she was.
Transcendent beings are very sensitive to the use of Ley Line Identification Art, so doing that would be quite disrespectful.
"A series of coincidences brought me here. I also wanted to see how the progress of the self-generated mana promotion project you’re leading is coming along." Upon seeing me, Dean Serena’s usually impassive expression softened into a slight smile.