Chapter 164: Real Editing and Spellbook
Is this victory?
I looked down at my hands, seemingly unable to believe it. Was this just about a few spells?
Did my opponent actually call it a loss because her clothes and hair were scorched by the high temperature?
As expected… I’m not a normal girl, am I?
“Um, are you okay? The senior in the medical room can use healing spells and hair growth spells, so you won’t be disfigured or anything. You’ll be fine,” I stepped forward to comfort her.
Although I wasn’t sure if such spells actually existed, I thought it was necessary to ensure the contestants’ safety, so I assumed these things were indispensable.
“I know… this… is this considered going easy on me?” The young girl was crying a bit pathetically at this point and accusing me, but combined with the burns, her tears couldn’t really be described as delicate.
“Well… I only used about three or four spells in total… it should count as going easy on you… okay…” I was about to explain, but as I did, she appeared to be even more upset.
With my limited knowledge of comforting others, I momentarily froze before coming to realize that defeating her with four spells must be considered a mockery, right?
“Er… I’m sorry.”
In the end, the girl named Chen Yu was taken away by the referee. Such injuries were still quite common for contestants, especially since this was merely a burn.
This competition didn’t last long at all; it was actually the easiest match I had so far.
And my greatest gain was naturally my understanding of the spellbook.
If the converted magic power can be of any element, then theoretically, having one spellbook would mean possessing all spellbooks of that type, right?
This is still classified by different elements, but what about spell types?
Similar to the Fireball Spell, it could also be a Fire Blade Spell, or something else.
This discovery is simply thrilling! It even made me a bit eager to try new spells!
Hehe! Once I master the runes in this aspect, the so-called limits of the spellbook would merely be a hurdle for me; my means would become even more abundant than before.
At that moment, in the teacher’s audience area.
Since these were just new students competing, many teachers, having gone through the first day of trials, had decided not to come anymore.
Of course, some teachers came to see for their students’ sake, such as Teacher Ji.
“Xi Lan, your student is impressive! You even gave her a dual-elemental shaping spell?”
“Why can’t it be that my student did it herself? It’s not something impossible.” Teacher Ji replied lazily, leaning back in her seat.
“That’s not the point! What situation is this? Did you give your student special treatment?” The teacher next to her spoke in a sarcastic tone, for she was genuinely caught off guard by Teacher Ji’s words.
“No, being a teacher is pretty easy for me. I just gave my student a runes book; I guess she figured it out herself,” Teacher Ji added.
“Ah? You let a new student self-learn runes? Wait! Where are you going?”
“Of course, I’m leaving. My student has finished her match. What else is there to look at? I need to go back and educate Xiao Han. I don’t want her to waste the spellbook, after all. I am the teacher, so I need to instruct my student.”
“Hehe, I wish your Xiao Han doesn’t get taken away by someone else!” Teacher Ji left, anticipating the malicious curse from the other teacher.
She had no idea that at this moment, Xiao Han had already begun to modify the runes through magic. Originally, she wanted Xiao Han to understand a bit first but didn’t expect her to use it so quickly.
She needed to rush over and explain some precautions and taboos; otherwise, no matter how many spellbooks there were, they wouldn’t suffice for Xiao Han’s wasteful habit.
Of course, she also had to pass on the resources obtained from the academy to Xiao Han.
She couldn’t understand what had gotten into the academy heads; they suddenly changed their tone and were quick to give in. The statements she had prepared didn’t even come into play, and the resources she obtained were even more than she had anticipated!
While this was a good thing, it also hinted that something must have happened to prompt this situation.
She believed news would come soon; the academy head wouldn’t hide things from other Extraordinary Witches for too long.
At this time.
I leisurely returned to my resting room to adjust my state and then checked the time. There was still quite a bit of time until the afternoon.
With that, I returned to the observation booth.
During this time, going back to the laboratory to continue my research would undoubtedly be a waste of time. It would be more beneficial to study the runes. I wanted to see what the specific function of that previous rune ritual was.
However, just as I was rummaging through the contents of those combined runes, I was called by Teacher Ji, which made me realize she had arrived.
In the time spent with Teacher Ji, I sensed she wasn’t the type to simply wander around out of boredom. She likely called me because something was going on, so I quickly closed the book and hurried over.
“Teacher Ji, is there something you need?”
I asked curiously. I seemed to have seen Teacher Ji on the spectator’s side during the match, but she came right over after I finished my match. Could it be related to the competition?
“There are too many people here; let’s talk in your resting room.” Instead of rushing to speak, Teacher Ji led me directly to my resting room.
Each contestant had their resting room, serving as personal space where they could do private things. However, after entering my resting room, Teacher Ji closed the door and cast a seclusion spell that enveloped the entire room.
“Um, Teacher Ji, is there something important?” I asked cautiously; she was using a seclusion spell. The last time I had such treatment was when I signed a confidentiality contract.
“I watched your match just now. Have you started to delve into runes?” Teacher Ji casually found a spot to sit down and then got right to the point.
“Yes, Teacher Ji, you gave me that runes book, right? Is there a problem?” I replied naturally. Did Teacher Ji think I was progressing too quickly, perhaps pushing me too much?
“It’s nothing; I just feel very pleased with your free exploration. Sometimes I have to admire your talent; the things you figure out on your own can always bring a stunning impression.
“Eh, thank you for the compliment, Teacher.” With Teacher Ji’s praise, I felt slightly embarrassed, but I still politely responded.
“I’m not complimenting you. Do you think your aimless tinkering is a good description? With this approach, no amount of spellbooks would be enough for you. Do you know what ‘progress step-by-step’ means?”
“Huh? I… I understand.”
Teacher Ji’s tone suddenly flipped, leaving me a bit flabbergasted. Fine, I admit that modifying the spells in the spellbook is quite esoteric, but isn’t it normal to try if you have ideas and thoughts?
Or is it that even learning how to modify spellbooks has to follow a standardized teaching process?
“I could let you play around with modifying the internal structures of the spellbook, but once it involves runes, it’s different. Since you already have some understanding of runes, let me ask you: What are runes?”
“Um… Runes are rituals; they are the most basic unit of rituals. Because of this characteristic, runes possess combinability, forming more complex rituals. It seems all rituals in the world can be expressed using runes, and those that cannot be expressed are likely to involve undiscovered runes.” I recalled what was stated in the book’s preface and articulated it.
“Yes, that’s right. Runes are one of the most significant discoveries in the Extraordinary world; they are an essential component of Extraordinary power. Now, do you know what the essence of a spellbook is?” Teacher Ji nodded and continued to ask.
“Uh…”
Faced with Teacher Ji’s question, I was unsure how to start. Clearly, this question was beyond my scope, but she still posed it.
That alone signifies a lot, so I tentatively offered my idea, “A spellbook is… a collection of runes?”
“If you insist on understanding it that way, there’s nothing wrong with it. A spellbook indeed has traces of runes from the inside out; you should be able to see this.”
Teacher Ji didn’t deny my guess. It seemed she wasn’t surprised that I could guess this, especially since Spirit Vision isn’t a joke.
“Hmm.” I silently nodded in agreement.
“That’s not too much of a problem, but… I need to introduce a concept to you here: ‘Real Editing’ technology.”
At this point, Teacher Ji paused, seemingly wanting me to realize the importance of what she was saying.
“For example, have you used a computer? So, do you understand programming? You don’t need to understand it deeply; I just want to know if you are familiar with the concept.”
“Yes, I understand.” When Teacher Ji mentioned Real Editing, I should have realized that if the end of the world is writing code… the truth may be a bit… hair-pulling?
“Real Editing is similar to this. If you consider the world as a computer, then runes are like the code, and spellbooks are products edited in this way, like… software. But this is just a metaphor; you can’t replace it directly. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll take this opportunity to tell you everything related to it. Even if you don’t understand it now, just remember; you will slowly comprehend it in the future.”
At this moment, Teacher Ji’s tone turned serious, indicating that what she was going to say next was of utmost importance.
“This concept can still be illustrated using computers. First, you need to grasp a concept: the Void.”
“The Void contains countless worlds, and the world you are in is one of them. If you compare the entire Void to a computer, it would be the very first computer.”
“Runes are analogous to code. Because the essence of runes is rituals, rituals are an essential part of the Void. The exploration of Extraordinary life initially relied on runes to utilize and control Extraordinary power. The first beings were unaware of the concept of runes; they only knew that exhibiting specific behaviors could trigger wondrous phenomena. Eventually, they abstracted and summarized the concept of rituals, which then evolved into the clear concept of runes.”
“Utilizing the abilities of runes, they were continuously summarized and summarized, becoming a common technology over time: Real Editing.”
“Real Editing consists of two concepts: Real and Editing. You should understand the concept of Editing quite well, right?” Teacher Ji looked at me and asked.
“Um, I understand it roughly.” I nodded in response.
“Then the concept of Real is somewhat more complex, but I will try to describe it simply. Xiao Han, I’ve heard that the society outside the academy seems to analyze Spirit Vision. There was a bold individual who proposed the concept of ‘inner and outer worlds.’ You should have seen it, right?”
“I have seen it…”
I nodded and said. This concept tends to become inexplicably popular from time to time. Ordinary people have a fascination with the Extraordinary, so they are quite interested in such speculations.
“Actually, that person wasn’t too incorrect; their only mistake was having limited knowledge. However, this concept is intriguing as it divides a world into two aspects.”
“So… is there really a distinction between the inner and outer worlds?” I tentatively asked.
“That’s not entirely accurate. It’s not just this world but the entire Void can be viewed in two aspects. The world we generally inhabit is considered the normal world; everything we see, hear, and feel in terms of sensation represents this normal world. So do you think there exists the other side of this world?”
“…It exists!”
I declared firmly. If the world perceived by our senses is the normal world, then what about Spirit Vision? The reality noticed by Spirit Vision must be the other side of this world!
“It seems you figured it out. Your Spirit Vision brings you into the other side of the world. That world also has a name; it is called Real Time.”
“Due to some arrogant individuals, our normal world now has another name: False Time. But don’t be deceived by the name; real and false? To divide the world into true and false in such an arrogant manner is foolish. It aims to highlight their nobility and their contempt for beings unable to comprehend Real Time.”
Teacher Ji quickly explained to prevent Xiao Han from falling into doubt regarding reality and the philosophical vortex, as life can easily become entrapped in false self-doubt. She didn’t want Xiao Han to suddenly declare that everything was meaningless.
“How is it? Can you accept it?” Teacher Ji looked at me skeptically.
“Yes, naturally.”
I nodded. It was merely a supplementary worldview, so how could I be afraid of this?
After all, I’m someone who has lived two lives; I’ve seen all sorts of absurd settings in novels and anime. Even in reality… who hasn’t fantasized about the Extraordinary descending into reality as a chuunibyou boy?
“Alright.”
Seeing my calm acceptance, Teacher Ji also breathed a sigh of relief. She was truly worried that Xiao Han’s worldview might shatter, which would be quite troublesome.
“Now, let’s continue explaining the Real World. You know your Spirit Vision, right? This ability is a blessing bestowed upon us by the world—note that it’s this world, not the Void. Therefore, life beyond this world may not necessarily possess the ability to see Real Time before stepping into it like we do.”
“I’ve digressed a bit; let’s get back to Real Editing. The ‘Real’ in Real Editing is derived from Real Time. Real Editing is a technique and a means, but it cannot appear out of thin air. The emergence of a technique must depend on an actual existence, just like code—a platform for code editing and running is necessary.”
“Hence, the platform for Real Editing is Real Time. Real Time is the other aspect of the concept of the Void. Therefore, the technology of Real Editing is actually a means employed within the Void, utilizing Extraordinary power!”
“This is akin to the various software programs within a computer, capable of serving various functions and effects. This is the most direct outcome of Real Editing—spellbooks.”
“You can modify spellbooks because you possess Spirit Vision, allowing you to see Real Time. You can modify existing spellbooks, but you can’t master the means of Real Editing to create spellbooks. This is like playing a game where you cheat and install mods, but you wouldn’t develop the software or the game.”
“This corresponds to what you initially explored regarding spellbooks in computer terms. Therefore, I won’t restrict your attempts.”
“However, if you aim to modify the runes within the spellbook, that equates to altering the operational code of running game software! I’m relieved that your modification of the Wind Blade Spell’s runes went smoothly; that was truly a miracle. But miracles don’t always happen, do you understand?”
“You haven’t conducted any research or study on Real Editing or runes at all, merely realized their existence. That isn’t enough! To proceed recklessly as you’ve been testing is wasteful! While I don’t deny that active attempts are a commendable quality, you need to think about the consequences; you can’t afford it! Not just you; using your logic, I wouldn’t be able to afford it either.”
“So… I should stop now?” At this moment, I felt somewhat bewildered by Teacher Ji’s reprimands but still quietly asked.
“You certainly should stop. I won’t limit your modifications of spellbooks that don’t involve runes, but you need to learn the theoretical knowledge surrounding runes and Real Editing as quickly as possible. Even if you can’t utilize this technology before becoming Extraordinary, it can help you understand the structure of spellbooks better.” As Teacher Ji spoke, she handed me a card.
“What is this?” I took the card, puzzled.
“This is a high-level access card for the library. I managed to get it while advocating for your resources and treatment. With this, you can find good things in the academy library that you couldn’t access before. You won’t need to ask me for information on everything anymore; you can rely on this access card to find things on your own.”
Teacher Ji explained with a smile. This was something she had wanted to arrange for quite some time, and she happened to take care of it while discussing Xiao Han’s treatment issue.
“Wow? Thank you, Teacher.” I looked at this access card. Having this truly made things much more convenient. With my less-than-thrilled disposition for bothering others, spending extra time finding things is far better than being a constant nuisance to Teacher Ji.
While asking Teacher Ji for help is indeed simple, I should cultivate my own independence; at most, I could just ask Teacher Ji for keywords when I couldn’t find a book.
“It’s nothing; it’s the least I could do. As I just mentioned, I’ve been advocating for your resources and treatment, right? What we need to discuss next is this. The efficiency on the academy head’s side seems quite fast, especially rapid—resources are coming together swiftly. I can only say there are plenty of resources, yet they still won’t be enough for your wasteful habits, especially if you start meddling with runes. In any case, take your time to digest it all.”
While Teacher Ji spoke, she pulled out a pendant with a metallic clasp.
“This pendant is storage equipment, and the internal space isn’t small, so I’ll give it to you too. Don’t use that leg ring anymore; that thing… tsk, it’s hard to say anything about it. Anyway, as long as you like it, just don’t overdo it.”
“Huh?”
I took the fluffy pendant, momentarily dazed. What does ‘don’t overdo it’ mean?
This is perfectly normal XP!
Sister Bai would love it.
Did I really have an XP generational gap with Teacher Ji? However, this fluffy pendant resembling a rabbit is quite cute; it’s small enough to fit in my hand, and more importantly, it’s storage equipment!
Hanging it on me would be quite convenient. Hehe, I’ll show it to Sister Bai later. I remember storage equipment is quite expensive, and I just got one for free! It truly was right not to let Sister Bai spend money before.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Don’t forget about the afternoon competition, though I probably won’t come to watch.”
“Okay, goodbye, Teacher~”
