Chapter 871: Do you have the intention to advance to a Transcendent Witch?
Chapter 871: Do you have the intention to advance to a Transcendent Witch?
Watching this group of Disciplinary Squad members leave so unwillingly, I couldn't help but sigh at how widespread the family members were within the academy.
Actually, in the past, my impression of those seniors in the Disciplinary Squad was quite good, but that was limited only to before.
Once it involved matters like this, it had to be calculated differently.
It had to be said that for the people in the Disciplinary Squad, this incident was already considered a massive operation.
They never expected Ji An to pull such a stunt at the final moment.
Before that notification was even released, the Disciplinary Squad had likely already set out, but they simply hadn't found her.
After all, trying to find one person within such a vast academy was quite a hassle.
Then, after the announcement was released and Ji An was locked under a warrant, they were able to arrive so quickly.
It must be said that Ji An was someone who could mess things up.
After all, she might not quite understand that every single thing she did would be recorded by the earth vein.
However... even with evidence against her, this kind of matter could not topple a Transcendent Witch.
In fact, it would instead make that witch lose face; the things a witch might do when driven to shame-filled rage were unpredictable.
As for that witch Dainiel…… previously, I truly had not thought that a witch harboring “malice” toward me would interact with me at such close range.
Even my Heart Sense had not accurately distinguished it.
Perhaps it really was as guessed before… her target was the Self-generating Magic Power project, rather than me personally.
This was indeed a possible conjecture, but what I couldn't understand was… Big Sis Bai revealed to me that the witch Dainiel followed the Anti-Witch Project, though she wasn't yet an acknowledged Anti-Witch.
If Dainiel was a “prospective Anti-Witch,” then why did she do this kind of thing?
Or was it that… in her heart, the witch race was above all else, and the power belonging exclusively to Transcendent Witches could not be touched by other races… not even Reserve Witches?
Otherwise, I couldn't think of any other reason that would make her come to stop this experiment.
And following this line of thought, such a witch should not have appeared in a place like the Witch Academy, because the Witch Academy was a place that distributed the power of witches to humans and transformed humans into witches.
Did she come here specifically to seek suffering?
Regarding this matter, I couldn't figure it out.
But now, after Ji An was taken away, only the two of us, Shi Ruizhi and I, remained here.
The atmosphere gradually became awkward with the passage of time.
Shi Ruizhi seemed to see me return from my deep thought and spoke up first.
“Um... I'm really sorry. Regarding the matters of compensation, I will return everything……”
“Return? Return it for what?”
I turned around, looking at Shi Ruizhi and asking.
Shi Ruizhi's emotions were currently very low, all sorts of complex feelings entwining in her heart, to the point she didn't even know how to deal with the person before her.
“Didn't you hear everything… because I was also a cause for your experiment failing, recently causing the public opinion to lead against you entirely……”
“Does she have evidence to prove that what she said is true?”
I interrupted Shi Ruizhi's words and asked back.
“Uh…… no.”
Shi Ruizhi was momentarily at a loss for words.
She hadn't expected the other party to respond to her like this, to the point she almost couldn't believe things would develop so…… ideally?
“But what if…”
“What if? Actually, we found evidence long ago proving you and Ji An were accomplices, colluding to sabotage the experiment I favored…… fine, are you satisfied with this ending?”
“What? You found it long ago……”
“Just kidding. Do not underestimate a Transcendent's ability to erase earth vein information. Therefore, we have no evidence to prove all this. So, innocent until proven guilty; nothing will happen to you, and the compensation I gave out won't be taken back. After all, the fact that you had an accident cannot be denied.”
“……”
This time, it was Shi Ruizhi's turn to be silent.
Things had developed so smoothly that it gave her an unreal feeling.
“There is one thing I don't understand... exactly what do I possess that is worth you making such a friendly gesture……”
“Then... let me ask you a question.”
I did not respond to Shi Ruizhi's current question.
“Mhm, what do you want to ask?”
“Do you have the intention to advance to a Transcendent Witch in the future?”
“Why ask this?”
Shi Ruizhi asked in confusion.
“I just want to hear your most sincere answer. You only need to answer whether you want to or not.”
“I... this... I don't know either.”
“Is that so? Thank you for your answer.”
Upon learning her answer, I was slightly surprised, but it was merely surprise.
I thought that since I possessed Heart Sense, whether she answered yes or no, I could learn her true thoughts.
However, I truly hadn't expected that her true thought was... that she didn't know herself.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
She didn't have the ordinary kind of amnesia.
Ordinary amnesia isn't true amnesia; those “lost” memories will continue to influence every aspect of her and every choice she makes in another way.
But Shi Ruizhi had completely lost her memories, the kind on the soul level.
So if she said she was very bewildered, there was no problem with that at all.
“Then do you want to try to advance to a Transcendent Witch? You have an advantage that many people do not possess.”
“But I've lost my memory. Everything I learned in the past eight or nine years has been forgotten... is that really okay?”
“But your life tier cannot be forgotten. Advancing to Transcendent is essentially not difficult. So-called knowledge and mastered techniques are all icing on the cake after advancing to Transcendent. I'm glad you didn't trick me just now and give me a very casual answer.”
“I said I don't know... isn't that casual enough…”
Shi Ruizhi complained in a low voice.
“Of course it's not casual. If your heart is bewildered yet you say yes or no, then you completely lose the right to choose again.”
I responded to her complaint.
“So... is this something very important?”
“It is indeed very important. People of the families do not choose to advance to Transcendent. They yearn for the power and status of this world, as well as that inexhaustible wealth, choosing to stay in place. That is their choice. If you choose to advance to Transcendent, then that shows you and we will be on the same path.”
“The same path…”
“Yes. Previously Ji An wanted to bring you into the family. If you truly agreed… then afterward, they would not allow you to advance to Transcendent. They would think of every possible way to make you retain this power even after you graduate, and use this power for the family.”
“Then better not... but in that case... wouldn't I have only one path left to choose?”
Shi Ruizhi gave a sigh, as if she didn't want to become a puppet of a family, nor did she want to be forced into making a choice.
“Perhaps you can also choose to continue maintaining the status quo, lying flat or being a salted fish. I won't force you into making any choice. But... When you eventually make a choice, you can come find me. Oh wait, find Millian. After all, I am usually busy and cannot respond to you at the first moment.”
“You are busy?”
Shi Ruizhi looked at me in some confusion, as if unable to see how I looked busy.
“My true body is busy, so my avatar is merely a substitute for me to occasionally enjoy life.”
“An avatar can even be used like this?”
“Ordinary avatar spells naturally cannot, but this avatar of mine can.”
I explained briefly and didn't say much more.
“Since matters have already developed to this point, then we should also part ways.”
“You're leaving? Then what about my dorm over there…”
“Naturally I'm not going back. What? Do you still want this avatar of mine to accompany you? Actually, I feel that roommate of yours named Fang Zhi is more worth your effort in cultivating a friendship than I am.”
“Is that so…”
Shi Ruizhi fell into deep thought, but it had to be said, she could not refute this point.
“I'm off. You should head back too.”
I waved my hand, preparing to leave the place.
As for some matters regarding Shi Ruizhi, I didn't disclose them either—for example... the fact that she was already a soul essence right now.
If she didn't choose to take the path of advancing to Transcendent, then telling her these things would have no meaning.
It would be better to let her live out her life with this secret that she herself didn't know.
***
Consciousness returned to the laboratory.
Shi Ruizhi was like a brief interlude in a boring life to me.
And I hadn't really done anything, just let an avatar follow Shi Ruizhi to witness the entire process of a scapegoat going from worry to collapse.
It must be said that Academy Head Mei's efficiency was faster than I predicted.
I didn't know how the Academy Head handled those Transcendent Witches.
Even if they were fellow Transcendent Witches, Mei Linde was still the Academy Head of this Witch Academy.
Since their philosophies differed, they could leave, but please do not interfere.
The Academy Head could do nothing about that Anti-Witch, but as for the other witches... that might not necessarily be the case.
As for what that Ji An said about the Self-generating Magic Power technique being impossible to promote, it was even more of a joke.
I didn't know where she heard that claim.
But as long as Academy Head Mei Linde wanted it, it was absolutely impossible for this matter to fall through.
While I was thinking this, my Great Tree of Knowledge received a communication from Academy Head Mei.
Upon opening it, I heard the Academy Head's voice.
“Little Han, you received that announcement released by the academy, right?”
“Mhm, I saw it. Thank you for the trouble you took in this matter, Academy Head.”
I also nodded in response.
However... what the Academy Head sent over this time seemed to be a simple voice communication, without a video exchange.
“Then are you satisfied with the handling of this matter, Little Han?”
“Hmm? Big Sis Mei, there's more to your words than it seems? But I don't really care much about this anyway.”
“It's good that you can understand, Little Han. Then... I won't mention this further. I've already approved the applications of several witches here; they should have all arrived at your laboratory, right? Do they have a big impact on you?”
“Um... it's okay. We are getting along very harmoniously.”
My gaze swept over the witches gathered in the laboratory right now.
Including Aina, there were a total of 13 witches.
For a laboratory with full supporting facilities, this number was absolutely easy.
“It's good that you're getting along harmoniously... Right, just now, I let Bai Yu go over as well. Has she not arrived yet?”
“No... Wait, Big Sis Mei, what did you let Big Sis Bai come here for? Big Sis Bai has no experimental needs regarding the Primal Dream State.”
I responded instinctively, but quickly reacted.
“But she has needs beyond experiments, haha... just kidding. Bai Yu proposed it herself; she wants to have some understanding regarding the Primal Dream State. No matter what is said, she also walks on a branch project of the Great Project of the Soul. Perhaps... she is making up for the feeling of powerlessness she felt when she saw you within the Primal Dream State back then. Actually, I don't suggest she learn so many miscellaneous things like this.”
“Perhaps that is what the Ordinary Project is? If the heart has a clear goal and is determined to specialize in one area, would such a soul truly still be willing to be ordinary?”
“That... seems true. You seem to have a lot of research on the Ordinary Project too, Little Han. But I won't disturb you further.”
After listening to what I said, the Academy Head seemed to daze for a moment, then gave a very casual evaluation before hurriedly hanging up the call.
“Tsk the Academy Head truly is busy.”
I looked at the disconnected communication and didn't care much.
After all, I had something I cared about even more, which was... Big Sis Bai was actually coming over too!
No matter why Big Sis Bai was coming, since Big Sis Bai made this choice, I would support her all the same.
No matter what she tried, I wouldn't question it.
A witch's lifespan was very long—long enough that no matter at which point in her life she suddenly awakened, it could be counted as a new birth!
If Big Sis Bai wanted to try the power of the Primal Dream State, then I would naturally become Big Sis Bai's guide.
Moreover, there were other witches here with deep accomplishments on this path of the Primal Dream State.
They weren't like me, here for dream life.
The things they researched were more practical.
For example... the field researched by one of the witch sisters was "Primal Dream State and Spiritual Cultivation."
This would involve the Witch Meditation Method.
The Witch Meditation Method involved the Primal Dream State of the Primal Witch, but the Primal Dream State was essentially also a part of the Primal Dream State.
Therefore, the Primal Dream State and the meditation and cultivation of the spirit were an absolutely hot project.
Then there was "Consciousness Bridge and Dream Travel," connecting human consciousness, linking the dreams born from consciousness, and experiencing the absurdity and treachery created by humans between their unconscious states.
Of course, research projects in this area could be applied in even more directions; this was even a frontline project for "Primal Dream State construction."
Another example was "Dream Control and Lucid Dreaming," "Interactive Influence Between Dream and Reality," "Necessary Conditions for Soul Consciousness and Dream Exploration," and even "Information Ecology and Sustainable Concept of the Primal Dream State."
It had to be said that the witches' thinking was still very broad.
These research projects were things that even I hadn't thought about or cared about for a time.
For example, the ecological protection of the Primal Dream State at the very end... should one say this was having too much free time, or... planning ahead?
After all, human development had verified a similar matter.
For example... humans had never completely conquered the ocean, yet they could completely destroy the ocean.
Perhaps the Primal Dream State was the same.
It was likely out of such a philosophy that even though development was extremely difficult until now, the Primal Dream State still had this kind of environmental protection philosophy.
But this kind of philosophy wouldn't become an obstacle to witches exploring the Primal Dream State; that was why I supported this project.