Chapter 880: In the end, was she actually the one who fell slightly short?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 880: In the end, was she actually the one who fell slightly short?
"Something that attracts them? What is it?" I asked, puzzled.
"Can't you guess, Xiao Han? The answer is quite obvious~" Sheryl asked with a smile, withholding the answer for a moment.
"That... [Transcendent Knowledge] that was turned into the Terminal of Myriad Worlds?" I ventured a guess. After all, I couldn't think of anything else worth fighting over.
"Bingo~ That’s the one. Curious as to why?"
"Yes, why? It’s just a piece of [Transcendent Knowledge]. I know such things are precious, but surely not to the point of causing a literal war?"
"Just?" Sheryl repeated my word, her tone slightly exaggerated. "Aren't you acting a bit too cool? Have you forgotten the [Transcendent Knowledge] in the Main World? Before long, people will be tearing each other apart for it. You say you know its value... but that’s based on your perspective. To those who don't have it, its value is inflated to infinity."
"Is that... so?" I took a sip of my Fool's Dream drink to gather my thoughts, recalibrating my understanding of the value of [Transcendent Knowledge].
"Of course it is~ However... your intuition seems quite sharp. If it were ordinary [Transcendent Knowledge], it might not have such an effect. But the one in the game world... it’s different~"
"Different? Because it’s a fully developed piece of [Transcendent Knowledge]? But without a massive civilizational population base, that power wouldn't offer much of an advantage in the hands of a single individual, would it?" After all, I had already categorized the [Transcendent Knowledge] of the game world as a "Fourth Calamity." While its trait might be the pixel concept, its application and the concept itself shouldn't be conflated.
"No, no, no~ It’s not because of that, but because of the potential of this [Transcendent Knowledge]."
"Potential?"
"Exactly~ [Transcendent Knowledge] is also ranked by potential. Did you know, Xiao Han? Some [Transcendent Knowledge] simply cannot be utilized, while others are very easy to use and develop."
"I know that," I nodded repeatedly. Sister Bai had explained this to me before, so I naturally hadn't forgotten.
Some [Transcendent Knowledge] cannot be put to practical use. For example, among the witch teams researching [Transcendent Knowledge] at the Witch Academy, a significant portion are unable to produce a Great Spellbook. They study the knowledge merely to understand its traits and the secondary Great Spells derived during the research process.
As for what a secondary Great Spell was, it was a spell that possessed the traits of a Great Spellbook but lacked its level and completeness.
To give an example, it was similar to the "Reverse Summoning Spell" derived from Teacher Ji Niang's research.
It was a spell with an incredibly heaven-defying effect but a very abnormal method of use.
After all, no ordinary spell could cross the void at such a small cost, jumping back and forth between two worlds.
"As long as you have a general understanding. The traits displayed by the Terminal of Myriad Worlds in the game world are utterly absurd. First, there's the basic trait—similar to 3D pixels. It can achieve near-infinite subdivision, which represents a breakthrough in the fundamental level of the field of transcendent materials."
"Then, it involves the power of Luck. It can use Luck to perform extremely precise tasks. Do you realize what that means? It means this [Transcendent Knowledge] has achieved an effect similar to your 'Great Knowledge Sharing Spell'—the foundation for cross-void communication between worlds! Even if the medium for this communication is Luck, it's still preposterous."
"Then there's the Soul Essence utilization techniques and several other things, but those are just bonuses."
"Looking at it that way... it does seem incredibly precious." I nodded, acknowledging its value. I had to admit, its worth was enough to make even me feel a hint of greed.
"So... you want it too, don't you?" Sheryl suddenly added after my response.
"Yes. Its value has stirred my greed, but that doesn't stop me from recognizing the reality: I can't get it right now."
"Really? Wouldn't it be fine if you just took a trip to the game world?" Sheryl said with a smile.
"..." Hearing her words, I fell silent. "So, this is what you've been building up to... my stage?"
"It's a stage to showcase yourself."
"..."
"You... don't like showing off your martial prowess to others... do you?" Sheryl realized something the moment she saw my silence.
That silence, which I didn't even bother to hide, allowed Sheryl to instantly grasp the crux of the issue.
Sheryl had a realization.
The perspective she had been projecting ignored the ordinary students. She realized that the little witch before her was not a flamboyant or arrogant existence.
The "trump cards" she had witnessed weren't meant for display; they were more of a desperate plea for validation.
Validation for what?
To make those who could influence her recognize her perspective—to show them that what she was doing was within controllable limits.
But what about her peers?
Did they truly know this little witch well enough?
No, they didn't. All she had revealed were her battle records, and the ordinary students hadn't even heard of the high-end ones.
Because those records were meant to shut up the people who annoyed her, not to make her famous.
The current students' perception of her was still stuck on the things she had disclosed: self-generated mana, an unknown domain, and a Great Spellbook.
Many had even forgotten that what this little witch excelled at most were spells—and derived spells.
And right now, at this moment, many students naively thought that by obtaining the Great Glacial Throne Technique, they could possess power equal to this little witch.
Did she really like to show off?
"I don't. It feels like being a monkey performing for others."
"People only treat you like a monkey when you're weak. When you're strong... they're the ones who look like monkeys. If you can't accept this viewpoint... then it means you haven't yet detached yourself from the identity of the weak."
"Perhaps. After all... it's only been a year or two since I went from having nothing to where I am now. A transformation of mindset doesn't happen overnight."
"Then let's use a strong dose of medicine. Treat this as a trial. You've been suppressed too hard by that fellow Mei; you haven't realized just how much of a voice your power has granted you."
After Sheryl finished speaking, we both fell silent.
Sheryl could see that I understood many of these principles clearly, and I understood that for some things, the time had not yet come.
However, at this moment, Sheryl didn't know how to make me act on the principles I understood, and I wasn't sure when the things I needed to do would be considered "time."
"What are your plans next?"
Ultimately, it was Sheryl who broke the awkward atmosphere.
It seemed the previous silence made her realize she had been pushing in the wrong direction. She didn't continue the previous topic but instead tried to ask a basic question from my perspective.
"I'm going to help Fool's Dream become a true life form."
"Are you confident?"
"I'm close to obtaining extremely pure Dream State Soul Essence."
"...What do you mean?" Sheryl paused again, asking with a hint of embarrassment.
"I want to ask you a question. Have you ever personally created an entirely new living race?"
"Of course not. I don't have that kind of free time. I can't even manage to make a friend personally."
"That's a pity." After all, I had originally wanted to ask what kind of life is considered "recognized" life.
In my past understanding, life ranged from single-celled to multi-celled, further divided into countless subspecies—all were life. But now, those perceptions had become shackles trapping my understanding of species.
I had a feeling that I wasn't evolving Fool's Dream into a specific life form. Everything I was doing was bringing the non-existent Fool's Dream into reality.
And at that very moment...
I suddenly realized something. My main body in the experimental zone seemed to have made a new breakthrough in the purification method for Nightmares.
"Sorry, I might have to excuse myself. Something is happening with my main body; my main consciousness is about to leave."
"Main consciousness leaving? Then... what will you become? Do you need me to take this clone of yours somewhere?" Sheryl wanted to say more, but her rhythm was interrupted by my words.
However, she only felt a brief moment of regret before composed herself and asked about other things.
"There's no need, because I am no ordinary clone," Yue spoke.
"...I see. You're gone?" Sheryl looked at the figure before her, which appeared as normal as ever. She couldn't detect the slightest sense of dissonance.
"Yes. Right now, I am Yue."
"Then... do you consider yourself Yang Yuehan?" Sheryl asked after a moment's hesitation.
She had never understood Yang Yuehan's clones, because they exceeded the definition of spells. This wasn't a spell effect, but a living, breathing "person" of flesh and blood.
"A boring question. I am a clone, make no mistake. Even if I were to have thoughts of rebelling against the main body, that would definitely be the main body's doing." Yue spoke as if she knew exactly what Sheryl was worried about, addressing it all at once.
"Then... how do you face your main body? What if she asks you to self-destruct?" Sheryl continued. In her view, this clone technique had broken the limits of individuality between people, challenging the definition between main body and clone.
If this was a hidden danger, she wouldn't mind detonating it early to help Xiao Han.
"With my eyes open~ It's a magical feeling. Besides, I'm not a true life form; I don't fear death. Would you argue with yourself over who is the real 'you' just because you're playing a pre-set script character? That's called a split personality."
"Then... can your thoughts be changed? By... hypnosis or rewriting?"
"This probing is getting dull~ My main body even wondered: if she gave me true life by creating life from this clone, who would be the real Xiao Han?~"
Listening to Yue's description, Sheryl's pupils instinctively contracted before quickly returning to normal. She then asked, "In that case... who would be the real Xiao Han?"
"She would be, of course. If I truly became a life form, I should be an independent individual. I would acknowledge that I inherited everything from her, but I would not be her."
"Then... who are you?"
"Me? I'm Yue~ Xiao Han's main goal in giving Fool's Dream life is to give them freedom. The same applies to me. I don't need to be her; I only need to be myself."
"Then will this hope... turn into an obsession? At the moment you are destroyed, will it transform into hatred?"
"You're quite skilled at twisting concepts~ Freedom is a freedom granted to life. I am not life; I cannot understand freedom. It's like a normal person being unable to grant freedom to a persona they've pre-set in their own mind. Are you sure you're not just trying to create a split personality?"
Yue was becoming a bit speechless at Sheryl's persistence, though she understood it. After all, she was a clone.
"And if Xiao Han develops a split personality..."
"Then that's an illness that needs treating. Also... when facing a stubborn person like you, Xiao Han won't bother explaining much. Even in the worst-case scenario, Xiao Han doesn't fear another version of herself that completely hates her, because she firmly believes she can best a fool whose head is filled with nothing but obsessions."
Listening to the clone's unreserved words, Sheryl fell silent. After those final words, she knew there was no further need for probing.
To be unafraid of oneself... even she couldn't fully achieve that.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have developed this mindset of worrying for Xiao Han.
So... in the end, was she actually the one who fell slightly short?
* * *
Laboratory.
I looked at the two Nightmare specimens prepared in the Primitive Dream Realm. One was still somewhat turbid; this one had been purified using the Information Deposition Method as its core concept.
But the other one...
At this moment, the "Nightmare" was as pure as a dreamlike dream-state substance. This was the Nightmare "cultivated" using the Incubation Purification Method.
The Incubation Purification Method was the most unique among all the methods I had previously abandoned.
Unlike methods under conventional dream rules, the Incubation Purification Method utilized the very special Soul Depiction technique.
Performing Soul Depiction on a "mindless" Nightmare served to simulate the process of birth, "purifying" away all negative concepts within the Nightmare except for the "Dream State Soul Essence."
To be honest, this idea drew inspiration from the "Incubation Rebirth" spell and Dean Mei's concept of molting incubation.
This wasn't a conventional purification method; it used the order of birthing life, combined with Soul Depiction techniques, to filter out the things I didn't need.
And now, I had obtained a piece of... pure, flawless "Soul Essence."
A piece of "Dream State Soul Essence" so pure it was on the verge of birthing life.
This was the first time I wanted to use the word "vibrant" to describe a material that had never been alive. Unfortunately, it could never become a true life form on its own.
Because... even now, I didn't understand how consciousness was born. Therefore, I couldn't create life out of thin air like this.
But my intuition told me that this would be the perfect vessel for the Fool's Dream consciousness—a soul vessel!