Chapter 819: It’s the Attempt That Fails, Not the Inspiration!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 819: It’s the Attempt That Fails, Not the Inspiration!
The experiment continued for about a week, and so far, nothing unexpected had developed.
No accidents occurred that couldn't be handled, either.
Aside from the daily data collection, the most exhausting part was the organization and analysis of that data.
Fortunately, I wasn't responsible for that side of things. I was busy with something far more complex: constantly compressing the time required for the Perfecting Ritual.
My goal, naturally, was the theoretical ideal—completing the perfection of Self-Generated Mana within a few hours.
However, it was becoming increasingly clear that this was likely impossible.
This impossibility was gradually confirmed as I delved deeper into the layers of cognition.
I finally understood why ascending to the Transcendent level took so little time.
It was a matter of power levels.
Being Transcendent didn't just affect the energy levels one could channel; it represented a level of existence capable of guiding Real Time.
Using Transcendent methods to perfect Self-Generated Mana was like a strike from a higher dimension. At my current stage, I had to follow the process step-by-step.
When using abilities of different tiers, one naturally had to make up the difference with time.
So… once I realized this, I gradually stopped pushing.
Although I had previously said I wanted to shorten the Perfecting Ritual to a few hours, persisting in something known to be impossible is merely foolish.
Or rather, was it truly impossible?
Perhaps it could be done, but it would consume an amount of time and energy I didn't even want to contemplate.
Instead of doing something so thankless and difficult, I might as well focus on how to ascend to the Transcendent level!
"Xiao Han, do you plan to stop the perfecting process at this stage?" Tan Han asked.
At this moment, Tan Han’s Self-Generated Mana was nearing completion. Given another day or so, her progress would be very close to mine.
As for why it was "close" and not "identical"...
It was because mine was a naturally shaped Prototype Self-Generated Mana. Tan Han and the others were not; they were simply at the limit of the non-Transcendent stage. That would never be truly "complete."
"Yeah. For the non-Transcendent level, this is the limit of what can be achieved—at least, the limit as I see it. If I want to go any further... I’ll probably have to wait until I ascend to Transcendent," I said with a shrug, acting quite nonchalant.
With the successful conclusion of the Perfecting Ritual, I had effectively put a period on my involvement in the Self-Generated Mana project.
As for the Structuring Ritual… we were still in the middle of trial and error.
During this past week, two more people had completed the Structuring Ritual. Counting Tan Han and Yi Rui, there were now four successful cases.
However, these two new successes weren't from the 147 test subjects; they were two sisters from the laboratory.
They participated in the experiments in shifts.
After all, before this large-scale experiment with a hundred people, they were the very first batch of test subjects!
The success of these two confirmed that the Structuring Ritual could be refined through continuous experimentation and the summarization of patterns.
Even if they didn't fully understand the underlying principles, as long as it could be applied, it was a qualified technique.
I, on the other hand, understood the principles but couldn't guarantee success every time.
Once enough successful cases and data were collected, it would be easier for me to understand the link between theory and application.
Having settled these thoughts, I didn't plan to waste any more time here.
Millian had already delivered the Soul Crystals to me during the week.
Through her negotiations with the Jack-of-all-trades Club using the Heart of the Cold Wave, she had secured a massive amount of Soul Crystals for me—far more than I had anticipated.
I had a feeling that even if I converted all hundred-plus Fool's Dreams into soul lives, I would still have crystals to spare.
"So… is your next plan to figure out how to ascend to Transcendent?" Tan Han asked, half-joking, after hearing my words.
"I wish. But my life level isn't high enough yet. Fortunately, I have other things to do," I replied, shaking my head to dismiss her suggestion.
Once I attempted to use Soul Depiction to shape souls for the Fool's Dreams, I could try to see if I could use the Soul Depiction technique to create a derivative art that could rapidly raise my soul level.
If my life essence were also Soul Essence, I heard there were already some relatively mature methods for using Soul Essence to raise one's life level.
Unfortunately, I wasn't.
"Is it… something related to the Fool's Dream life project?"
"You know about that?"
"Yeah, I heard the others talking."
"I see. Well, I didn't exactly tell them to keep it a secret. Since you all know, my participation in this Self-Generated Mana experiment ends here. As for you, Tan Han… if you want to stay and help them collect further data, I won't stop you. If you want to leave, that’s up to you as well."
"I think I'll stay and contin—"
"Xiao Tan, there's actually no need. It won't be long before I've completely perfected my Self-Generated Mana as well. There's no reason to force you to stay just to cooperate with us," Yi Rui interrupted, speaking from the side. "Xiao Tan, at your current stage, you should walk your own path with determination and face your own challenges."
"Is that what you think, Sister Yi Rui?" Tan Han asked, looking a bit surprised.
"Yes. If you really want to stay for a few more days, that's fine too. We can help monitor your physical condition and see if perfecting your Self-Generated Mana leaves behind any hidden issues," Yi Rui added, giving her some leeway.
"Okay. Then I'll stay for a few more days."
"Staying a few days to check things over is a good choice," I commented.
Since Tan Han had made her choice, regardless of why she was hesitant to leave, she surely had her own reasons.
After saying my goodbyes to the sisters in the lab one by one, I planned to begin the Soul Depiction experiments on the Fool's Dreams tomorrow.
After all, I had been preparing for this experiment for a very long time.
As for today… I planned to rest a little.
While I was at it, I decided to check on the people I knew. I scanned the crowd on the experimental grounds and immediately spotted the most energetic one, Hong Chenyi. Seeing that they had adapted well here, I didn't worry too much.
I had originally thought that as lower-year students, they might be bullied by the more arrogant senior sisters, but it seemed the seniors they were interacting with actually liked them quite a bit.
"Sister Xiao Han! Are you done with your work?"
Seeing me personally enter the experimental area and head in their direction, Hong Chenyi was the first to notice.
"Pretty much. How is your progress?" I asked, meeting Hong Chenyi’s excited greeting.
The four roommates hadn't been split up according to the previous phase groupings. At their request, the four of them were listed as a separate group batch. To the outside world, they were explained as a "control group" for lower-year students.
"Uh… the progress… actually…"
"It looks like you're still stuck on learning the Resonance Method?" I lightly pulled up their information, and the data quickly flashed before me.
"Er… well… you see…"
"It seems your progress is a bit worrying. Many senior sisters have already started touching upon the Micro-Operation Resonance Method. But it's fine; you're still in the lower years. Current data suggests that the progress of Witchification for lower-year students does limit the expansion of progress to some extent."
"I knew it! It’s definitely not because my talent is too low!"
"But you still have to put your heart into it! Have you already let those ten thousand mana sources go to your head?" I reached out and poked Hong Chenyi’s forehead as a reprimand.
The stage affected by Witchification progress was the Structuring Ritual. Hong Chenyi’s slow progress here didn't have much to do with her Witchification level.
Though a significant factor was also learning ability—the higher the grade, the more things one was exposed to, and the broader one's experience and common sense became. These personal capabilities could, to an extent, compensate for gaps in talent.
"Ugh… I’m sorry! Sister Xiao Han, I won't do it again!"
"Stop acting pitiful. You work hard for your own sake. I mainly came over to tell you that I won't be participating in this experiment anymore."
"Eh? Why?" Hong Chenyi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Did something happen? Or is it…"
"It’s not as complicated as you think." Seeing their agitation, I didn't keep them in suspense. "It’s simply that the tasks I was responsible for are basically finished. I don't plan to participate in the remaining experiments because I have something else to do."
"Are you that busy, Sister Xiao Han?"
"Busy? I don't think so. Everything I do is of my own volition, so I don't feel tired or busy. So, for the rest of the experiment, you'll have to work hard on your own without my special care."
"Sister Xiao Han! I can't bear to let you go!" Hong Chenyi looked like she was about to drop to the floor and grab my shins while wailing.
As expected, Hong Chenyi was still the same flighty Hong Chenyi.
"Get up! If you aren't embarrassed, I am! You didn't cherish the time before, and now you realize how good Sister Xiao Han is?" Dongli Yiren stepped forward, grabbed Hong Chenyi by the back of her collar, and hauled her up, her face full of disdain. "Sister Xiao Han doesn't have time to play house with you."
"I know, I know…" Hong Chenyi stood up, but her head remained bowed. "Um… Sister Xiao Han, actually… there’s a reason my progress is a bit slow."
"Oh? A reason?" I looked at her.
Honestly, if Hong Chenyi had just admitted her mistake and straightened out her attitude, I would have let it go. I wasn't in the mood to be strict with her. But if she was going to make up an excuse to dodge responsibility, I wouldn't let it slide so easily.
"Let's hear it."
"Actually… I feel like this Resonance Method… might not be quite right for me? And the Micro-Operation Resonance later is clearly just a patch for this method…"
"Honestly, Hong Chenyi, do you think you're smarter than Sister Xiao Han and the others? 'Not right for you'?" Dongli Yiren scoffed from the side.
"Wait, don't be so quick to judge. The Micro-Operation Resonance Method is indeed a patch for the Tenfold Base Resonance Method," I said, raising a hand to signal Dongli Yiren to stop. "Its primary purpose is to better compensate for the fine control over mana sources required in the next step of this resonance method."
"Right! See! I told you!" Hong Chenyi said excitedly.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. An idea is just an idea. In the beginning, we didn't have a technique like the Tenfold Base Resonance Method. We started with a much more cumbersome, unnamed 'Interference-Connection Method.' Because it might have taken years to complete the unification of ten thousand mana sources, the Resonance Method was born as a shortcut." I looked at Hong Chenyi. This girl usually seemed so unreliable—could she actually be bringing a spark of miraculous inspiration?
"So… Hong Chenyi."
"Yes… Yes!" Hong Chenyi responded immediately when I called her name.
"To be frank, we knew from the start that the Resonance Method isn't absolutely applicable to everyone. That’s one of the reasons we need large-scale experiments… Since you’ve independently come to the conclusion that this technique doesn't suit you, you must have an idea of your own, right?"
"I… I do…" Hong Chenyi said hesitantly. "But because I accidentally tried it once and interfered with the resonance relationship of the mana sources… I got scared and didn't dare try again…"
"You actually dared to try it?" I looked at her with genuine interest.
Perhaps Hong Chenyi did have her own strengths? For instance… unconventional thinking?
She was clearly different from the others in her dorm. Guan Qiuling and Dongli Yiren were both relatively introverted. Dongli Yiren, due to her gender transformation, still carried a sense of inferiority and self-doubt. Guan Qiuling had accepted it well but remained quiet. As for Yu Yuetian… she was the career-driven type, a classic "good student" when it came to learning.
"Uh… can I take that as a compliment, Sister Xiao Han?"
"Take it however you like." I opened the Tree of Great Knowledge and sent a message to the laboratory group chat, saving me the trouble of calling them over individually.
"I’m giving you a special privilege now. You don't have to worry about the resonance connections of the standard method. Use your own way to try the solution you think is feasible. I’ll handle any other concerns, and I won't ask about any lost time or progress. How about it?"
As I spoke, several sisters from the lab quickly gathered around me.
"Sister Xiao Han, did you need us for something?"
"Oh, something happened here. She…" I pointed at Hong Chenyi. "She seems to have discovered a special method, a type of connection different from our current interference and resonance methods. I want her to demonstrate it. It might turn out to be a unique discovery."
"Th-That… Sister Xiao Han! It was just a thought! There’s really no need for such a big scene!" Hong Chenyi was clearly shocked by my actions.
The commotion also drew the attention of many other test subjects, who looked over curiously, wondering what had happened to bring so many senior researchers running.
"Having an idea is a good thing. When you have inspiration, you should boldly put it into practice. Even if the attempt fails in the end, it’s only the attempt that fails, not the inspiration." I looked at the nervous Hong Chenyi and spoke to reassure her.
"Eh?"
Hong Chenyi’s eyes widened. It wasn't that she didn't understand; she understood perfectly… and she resonated deeply with what I had said!
It’s the attempt that fails, not the inspiration!