Chapter 833: This is All Xiao Han's Doing!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 833: This is All Xiao Han's Doing!
"City Lord Ninglan, are there new instructions from the Academy?" Lan Ke, acting as Ninglan Qiuyue’s personal secretary, handled many of the City Lord's affairs.
Seeing the frown on Ninglan Qiuyue’s face after she received a priority transmission from the Academy, Lan Ke instinctively asked for clarification.
"It’s Teaching Assistant Xiao Han... She secretly came to the Expansion Realm a short while ago to conduct a classified experiment. The Dean informed me personally. Just now, that experiment caused a massive disturbance. They need us to coordinate management and enforce a lockdown."
As Ninglan Qiuyue spoke, she expanded a spell projection from her Great Knowledge Seed, displaying a map of the Expansion Realm.
"Coordinate positioning... this spot..." Following the coordinates sent by the Dean, Ninglan Qiuyue locked onto a general location on the map.
If there were any shelters in that area, she needed to grant permissions, issue notices, enforce a total lockdown, and ensure everyone followed all incoming orders.
"That place... I remember it. There’s a massive Void Rift in the sky there, and no shelters nearby," Lan Ke noted from the side.
"I know. It’s a stroke of luck, really. Xiao Han at least had the sense to stir up a hornet's nest in a sparsely populated area... This shouldn't be too much trouble for us."
"Not too much trouble? What do you mean?"
"The Academy is stepping in. We just need to wait for the results," Ninglan Qiuyue said with a shrug. "But still, send word to the nearby friendly shelters. Tell them to stay alert. If they have any projects or activities planned, make sure they don't go anywhere near that area."
"Understood. I’ll arrange it immediately."
* * *
While the Ninglan Territory was busy mobilizing, the Expansion Realm had suddenly become a hive of activity.
Mei Lind, being the first witch to react, arrived at the scene of the incident instantly and immediately enacted an emergency spatial seal.
Strictly speaking, the Expansion Realm belonged to the Witch Academy, but it wasn't difficult for other transcendents to reach it. Anyone with sufficient spatial mastery could find their way here.
A disturbance of this magnitude was bound to attract unwanted attention.
This wasn't just any tremor; it was a vibration originating from the Primitive Dream Realm that had crossed the boundary between the Expansion Realm and the Core World!
While this was partly due to the fragility of the barrier between the Core World and the Expansion Realm, any power capable of influencing things across spatial boundaries was operating on an entirely different level.
Once the spatial seal was stabilized, the space in this region was "reinforced," making it impossible for ordinary spatial techniques to penetrate.
Such spatial seals were a common method to prevent intruders from barging in or to stop others from escaping via spatial means.
While it wouldn't stop everyone's curiosity, it would buy her plenty of time.
She had two immediate tasks. The first was to call for backup, no matter what.
She had already started this, not just summoning reinforcements but also alerting Ninglan Qiuyue and the others to bolster the Expansion Realm's defenses.
The second task was to figure out exactly what had happened.
The moment she arrived and saw those two giant trees growing back-to-back, she knew. This was Xiao Han’s handiwork.
She should have seen it coming...
Looking back, Xiao Han had managed to cause disturbances like domain prototypes, void rifts, and totems even when she didn't report her activities.
Now that she had actually reported in advance, she was bound to pull off something truly insane!
As Mei Lind was sighing to herself, two other figures suddenly appeared. She instinctively looked over.
One was the Rebel Witch Sheryl, who always gave her a headache, and the other was Bai Yu, who she found equally troublesome.
What surprised her was how these two had ended up together. Their simultaneous appearance didn't look like a coincidence.
Furthermore, she had already enacted a spatial seal.
Yet Sheryl had just torn through space right in front of her... Talk about a lack of respect.
"So, what exactly is going on here? Why did the Primitive Dream Realm suddenly fluctuate?" Sheryl asked as soon as she arrived, spotting Mei Lind.
Bai Yu, meanwhile, was scanning the surroundings with an anxious gaze.
The moment she heard about the disturbance in the Expansion Realm, her first thought was Xiao Han. Even without evidence, her intuition told her that Xiao Han was at the center of it all!
"It really is Xiao Han!"
Seeing the iconic Tree of Great Knowledge in the distance, Bai Yu recognized it instantly.
"Oh? You guessed right?" Sheryl leaned in with a grin.
"What happened to Xiao Han?" Bai Yu asked urgently, preparing to rush forward.
"Wait!" Dean Mei grabbed Bai Yu, stopping her. "That is the epicenter of the Primitive Dream Realm's eruption. Xiao Han is clearly the one guiding this incident. Don't go over there recklessly. The Primitive Dream Realm is no joke!"
"But Xiao Han is still there!" Bai Yu was trying her best to restrain her emotions, but when it concerned the person most important to her, her composure began to slip.
"The Primitive Dream Realm operates on rules completely different from reality. Even as a Transcendent Witch, you won't necessarily fare better than Xiao Han unless you have profound mastery over the Soul!" Mei Lind spoke earnestly, trying to explain the dangers.
The danger of the Primitive Dream Realm wasn't just the terrifying dream creatures; those were secondary. The real danger was the Primitive Dream Realm itself!
No matter who you were—even a Truth Witch—once you entered, you had to follow the rules and framework of the dream. Even if you possessed the power to destroy a world, such strength meant nothing within the dream.
"Isn't the Ordinary subject a branch of the Soul subject?"
"Ordinary? Ask yourself: since you began walking the path of the Ordinary, does your understanding of the soul lean toward dreams? You know it's just a branch. Without a fundamental understanding of dreams, everything is moot... The Primitive Dream Realm is not like the Primitive Dream Realm. Don't try to use your experiences there as a reference."
It was rare for Dean Mei to lecture a fellow Transcendent Witch like Bai Yu. Despite their change in status and increase in power, every witch still needed experience to truly mature.
"If you don't believe me, ask that girl next to you. Ask her if she dares to wander into the Primitive Dream Realm for no reason."
"I dare~ I've broken in several times~" Sheryl chirped with a smile, seeing herself being used as a cautionary tale. "I remember it clearly—three times in total. Each one was unforgettable. The first time, due to an accident, my consciousness fell into a slumber for 162 years."
"The second time, my soul entered the Primitive Dream Realm and got lost. I was only summoned out by a senior witch during a lucky experiment. I lost my original body and had to pay a massive price in materials for her dream summoning experiment. It cost me an arm and a leg, but I managed to keep my life."
"The third time... I don't want to talk about the process. All I can say is that a Truth Witch seemingly kicked me out of the Primitive Dream Realm. To this day, I have no desire to touch it a fourth time. After all... three strikes and you're out~"
Hearing the description, Dean Mei initially felt the urge to strangle the Rebel Witch, but she suppressed the impulse as the story continued.
The girl's experiences were actually quite shocking. Three trips, three disasters, and saved twice... Why couldn't this Rebel Witch just stay in the Primitive Dream Realm?
Why did she have to come back and plague the Main World?
As a Transcendent Witch, May had naturally visited the Primitive Dream Realm herself. Her research was also a branch of the Soul subject, so she had been there, but she never dared to go deep.
Her only gain from those trips was that group of Fool's Dreams.
"See? Do you understand now? Don't blindly enter the Primitive Dream Realm. Do it for Xiao Han's sake, understood?"
"I... I understand..."
Bai Yu looked at the distant figure and nodded heavily.
She truly couldn't imagine if Xiao Han finally managed to return to reality only to find that Bai Yu had fallen into the Primitive Dream Realm herself. Xiao Han would be forced to re-enter that dangerous place just to save her.
"Good. Don't be impulsive! The only danger Xiao Han faces right now is the Primitive Dream Realm itself. Even if those guys from the other transcendent academies show up, they won't dare to act rashly. Our primary goal now is to handle the trouble that's about to arrive."
"Speaking of which, you should probably keep a close eye on the Abyss Nightmare Academy," Sheryl interjected.
"Hmm? Why?" Bai Yu asked, puzzled.
"Because the Abyssal Demons, as a transcendent power in the Life Market, have also conducted research into dreams—specifically the exploration of dream life. They've already had some preliminary success: the Abyssal Succubi. Though the Succubi aren't considered true life forms yet, and they aren't pure dream life either," Dean Mei explained.
"Abyssal Succubi?" The name immediately brought back memories for Bai Yu of her time with Xiao Han in Ninglan New City.
"Yes, the same Succubi that appeared in Ninglan New City during the assassination attempt on Xiao Han," Dean Mei confirmed.
Mei Lind remembered it vividly. As a part of the Abyss Great World's exploration of the Primitive Dream Realm, the Succubi had played a significant role and even had other uses.
However, no one expected Xiao Han to see through the essence of the Succubi. By combining their traits with Nightmares, she had perfected the Dream Demon Spell. She had essentially taken the research of the Abyss Great World and turned it into a gift for the witches.
As the three witches conversed, many more figures began to gather in the Expansion Realm. Some were witches, while others were transcendents from different academies.
They flew in from the distance since Mei Lind had sealed the local space.
"May~ why did you suddenly call us all here?"
"Yeah, I was in the middle of an experiment. I hope my crucible doesn't explode before I get back~"
"Wait, has none of you noticed that tree in the distance?"
"We see it~ It's just Xiao Han again. Honestly... she's better at causing a stir than we Transcendent Witches are."
"How can you be so calm?"
"Why wouldn't I be? Has Xiao Han ever done anything that wasn't ridiculous?"
While the witches bickered, transcendents from other academies continued to arrive.
This sudden incident in the Expansion Realm was highly stimulating to their nerves.
After all, heaven only knew what incredible thing the witches were up to now. If it was directed at them, they needed to respond immediately.
When they sensed the spatial seal, they were so anxious they rushed over using the most primitive flight methods.
Upon arrival, they saw the gathered witches and that exceptionally conspicuous... giant golden tree.
"Is this more of your witches' mischief?"
A Holy Angel who arrived early looked at the distant phenomenon and then at the group of witches, demanding an answer.
"What do you mean 'mischief'? Why use such ugly words... We're conducting a routine experiment that caused a little noise. Is there any need for you to make such a big deal out of it?"
As the Dean, Mei Lind was the first to step forward, retorting sharply against the "birdman."
"Then why did you guiltily seal off the space?"
"Isn't it obvious? To prevent you hotheaded fools from accidentally teleporting straight into the Primitive Dream Realm, of course." Mei Lind crossed her arms, pointing a finger toward the phenomenon.
It was an almost airtight excuse.
This time, Mei Lind wasn't afraid of them picking a fight. Not only did they lack the courage to enter the Primitive Dream Realm, but she also had a Rebel Witch by her side.
More importantly, the current situation in the Main World was extremely tense.
The opposition held the World Navel, but that was their only card left.
It seemed like a "mutually assured destruction" scenario, but none of them could afford the price of the Main World being destroyed.
The witches were constantly testing their limits, waiting for the moment they grew weary and showed a weakness!
"What exactly are you witches experimenting on? Why has the Primitive Dream Realm breached the boundaries of reality?"
At this moment, the Wizards who had hurried over also stepped forward to question them.
They weren't blind, nor did they have face blindness. Seeing that the culprit was that familiar little witch, they could barely suppress the urge to kill her right then and there!
She was still just a Little Witch!
Who could predict what she would be capable of once she became a Transcendent?
Even if she stopped progressing after reaching Transcendent status, what did she already have?
She had a domain prototype!
She was guaranteed to become a Saint Realm witch in the future—and a Body Cultivation Saint Realm witch at that.
She also had two Great Spellbooks! Remembering how much of a headache Mei Lind was with just one, this was enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
Not to mention she possessed a totem with unknown properties and now the ability to delve deep into the Primitive Dream Realm...
Who would dare say such a witch would be insignificant after reaching the Transcendent level?
Right now, they were praying that this little witch would stay trapped in the Primitive Dream Realm for hundreds or thousands of years, until her lifespan ran out!
"The Expansion Realm is our territory. What we experiment on here is none of your business!"
The witches' response remained incredibly firm, causing the faces of the other transcendents to darken.
"The Primitive Dream Realm breaching reality and descending upon the Expansion Realm is a major matter concerning the entire Main World. Naturally, we cannot ignore it. Who can guarantee it won't threaten the stability of the Core World?"
"Oh? Are you saying that you lot meddling will actually solve the problem? Well then, I'd certainly like to see you try."