Chapter 458: Small World, Qiu Ruxin’s Choice
In the time that followed, Sister Bai didn’t teach me any specific body techniques, but instead began to teach me how to cultivate.
The most direct and fundamental practice is the cultivation of the five senses, similar to the meditation for mental power, which is slow to yield results and requires long-term practice.
The practice of the five senses is essentially about transforming passive perception into active perception, along with a certain degree of external stimulation. At the beginning, it’s not suitable to practice with multiple senses but rather to focus on a single sense, ideally with appropriate potions to assist, comparable to using incense during meditation.
From this, it’s evident that body cultivation is slightly more troublesome and requires more resources.
For me, meditation only requires the cost of a piece of incense.
However, to practice the five senses and strengthen my body, I need specific potions and ointments, with each of the five senses corresponding to five different types.
Moreover, as Sister Bai revealed, the academy may not have enough stock to meet these demands.
“Eh? So few? Did Sister Bai not use any before…”
“Of course, I haven’t used them, or perhaps I used lower-grade substitutes. These items are all things I’ve seen in the Grand Library of the Witch World. Given the current under-the-radar status of body cultivation at the academy, there aren’t many introductions on this topic in the library, and even if there are, they probably don’t have much market, perhaps only circulating among a small group.” Saying this, Sister Bai looked at me again, “Don’t think too much about it. I’m here for you. I’ll give you the best.”
“The best…” I was suddenly moved by Sister Bai’s words. Since she hadn’t used the best before, it meant that as I ascended to a higher level, I would bring the best along. “Sister Bai is so nice… I don’t even know how to repay you…”
“Why talk about repayment with me? That feels distant.” At that moment, Sister Bai reached out her hand, gently stroking my head with a hint of fondness, finally reluctant to let go as her hand ran through my long hair until it fell back.
“Okay, I won’t be polite with you then~” I glanced at Sister Bai’s withdrawn hand, feeling a bit regretful. I really liked the intimate contact with Sister Bai. Even though I instinctively resisted actions like head pats, it didn’t matter if it was Sister Bai.
“By the way, Sister Bai, regarding the upcoming teaching assistant interviews, there hasn’t been any specific announcement yet. What do you think about this?”
“I’ll definitely accompany you on this matter. Most of the ones conducting interviews for this batch are the new witches from the Main World, with only a few being existing teachers from our school. You just need to go and show your face.”
“Just show my face? Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate…”
“What’s inappropriate? Don’t be coy after gaining an advantage. If others hear about it, they might just be jealous to d*ath.” Sister Bai pinched my cheek as she spoke.
“True~” I nodded easily.
After all… it wasn’t my first time using backdoor access. My admission to the Witch Academy was thanks to Teacher Ji’s backdoor, and since then, the wheels of fate have been turning for nearly a semester. I was about to become a teaching assistant…
But just as I was preparing to continue receiving Sister Bai’s one-on-one guidance in the Body Cultivation Room, I suddenly sensed a wave of energy.
“What’s wrong? Xiao Han?” Sister Bai quickly noticed my anomaly and asked.
“It’s the Reverse Summoning Spell; someone is summoning me.”
“If it’s urgent, then go.” Sister Bai quickly reacted and told me.
“It’s from the Small World…”
“Small World?!” Sister Bai immediately became alert.
I’ve mentioned quite a few things about that Small World to Sister Bai.
“Isn’t the situation there resolved yet?”
“I’m not sure. I was summoned back because of the Monthly Exam, and I can’t be of any help there…” I shook my head, quickly thinking of Qiu Ruxin, that little one.
“Then don’t worry about it. I remember you said that you only taught the summoning ceremony to Qiu Ruxin, right?”
“Uh… yeah. Is Sister Bai jealous? Then I won’t go~”
“Better not go. Come on, let’s continue discussing cultivation.”
“Mm.”
I nodded quickly and decided to pretend I hadn’t seen this summoning. After all, I had told Qiu Ruxin that if it were something urgent, she could summon me twice in a row.
And there were still the academy head and numerous instructors there. Qiu Ruxin wouldn’t encounter a situation where she couldn’t summon me twice in a row, right?
So, at this moment, my heart bore no burdens.
Until the feeling of the summoning ritual gradually faded away, the second summoning caught me completely off guard.
“What’s wrong again?”
“Uh, it’s the second summoning. I agreed with the other party that if there’s danger or urgency, they would summon me twice in a short time…” I hurriedly explained, fearing Sister Bai might misunderstand.
“Then go. Looking at you, it seems you won’t be able to focus on the following cultivation, right? Go quickly.” Sister Bai’s expression softened, and she finally said.
“Mm…” I looked at Sister Bai. She had just said to hurry twice, indicating that she still had some opinions about this, but she didn’t express them, which worried me.
“Then… remember to summon me every day? That way, I have a legitimate reason to return. And also… I estimate that the Small World has already established a stable teleportation passage with our Main World, so if you’re worried about me… you can ask about it…” I said, as the spell beneath my feet began to activate.
Feeling the familiar spell effects covering my entire body, I didn’t dare to delay any longer.
In the blink of an eye, my figure disappeared from the Body Cultivation Room.
Looking at the only remaining witch here, Bai Yu’s eyes visibly dimmed with desolation.
It seemed there was still much left unsaid.
Soon, she took out a hand-crafted figure made of Secret Silver, gently tracing its exquisite little face with her fingers, as if suddenly realizing something.
Retrieving the figure, she couldn’t let Xiao Han be summoned back immediately after teleporting.
Since she couldn’t summon her back so quickly, she decided to inquire about the methods of the past. Since Xiao Han speculated that the Small World had already established contact with the Main World, it certainly wasn’t baseless.
…
With the flashing of the summoning ritual, a figure appeared in a strange room.
“Look~ our Xiao Han is back?”
“Mm…” After a short adjustment, I recognized the voice as familiar. Upon opening my eyes, I perfectly met a well-known figure, “Uh… Principal Beif Alanna… ma’am? And all the esteemed instructors?”
I looked at Principal Beif, who was seated in the main position, a bit surprised. Three or four instructors were also present, so I politely greeted them all.
Then I noticed Qiu Ruxin beside me, who was slightly restrained but lit up with a hint of glimmer in her eyes upon seeing me, her complex emotions and thoughts seemingly laid bare.
“Alright, don’t scare Xiao Han. We have important matters to discuss this time.” At this moment, one of the instructors spoke up with a smile.
“Important matters?” I felt puzzled, as I couldn’t comprehend the current situation. Besides… this didn’t seem to be the same lodging I had previously stayed in.
It looked more like an elaborately decorated interior, with exquisite carvings and… plant ecosystems?
Wait… this building was actually a living plant?
Wealthy people sure know how to play.
“Yes, it’s about some matters related to Qiu Ruxin. I know Xiao Han, you’ve been away for a while and are a bit out of touch with the current situation, but you only need to know that this world has been temporarily taken over by us.”
“Temporarily taken over?!” I widened my eyes in shock, but amidst the astonishment, it seemed quite reasonable.
“Yes, we’re too lazy to argue with the people of this world, so we employed some violent methods. We are currently in a grand palace built by a small nation, which has been temporarily requisitioned.” An instructor explained to me.
“Oh, is that so?” It certainly matched the witch’s style.
“Of course, after all, we are their saviors now. They must listen to us; otherwise, their world might not survive. Although their disaster was…”
“Ahem, let’s get straight to the point.” At this moment, Principal Beif interrupted the instructor who was eager to continue, “Let me explain what we’re initially going to do, Xiao Han, don’t just stand there; this is the meeting hall, find a spot to sit down.”
“Alright.”
I nodded and soon saw Qiu Ruxin move the chair beside her slightly, indicating for me to sit there.
Not wanting to be polite, I directly sat down. After all, this was a meeting; it was normal for instructors to sit with instructors and students with students.
“Now that we have taken control of this Small World, we are also preparing to use this world as the foundation to take over those Abyss Demons’ remnants and accelerate the collision between this Small World and the Main World.”
“…” I listened attentively from the side, not intending to voice my opinions for the moment. After all, whether it’s controlling a Small World or accelerating its integration with the Main World, it’s not something I can intervene in. The academy head and the instructors must surely have their own intentions for doing this.
“According to our current plan, it may take less than a month’s time in the Main World for the Small World to reach the scope of the Main World. After that, we will enter a long phase of the Main World accepting the integration of the Small World.”
“So, before that, we inquired about Qiu Ruxin’s opinion, asking her if she wanted to enter the Main World in advance.” At this point, Principal Beif shifted her tone, clearly indicating that the matters involving Qiu Ruxin were just a branch of this grand plan.
“Qiu Ruxin didn’t hesitate. After all, she is now a preparatory witch. Although she has some troubles, becoming an enrolled student in the Main World Witch Academy is still necessary.”
“So what does this have to do with me? Are you asking me to take her back?” I asked at the right moment, “Um… hasn’t the Small World established a stable teleportation passage with the Main World? There shouldn’t be a need for me to come over specifically, right?”
“Oh? You know about this matter?” The academy head appeared surprised.
“Mm… I encountered Teacher Afra in the academy. If there wasn’t a teleportation passage, I shouldn’t have come back so quickly, right?”
“Oh, she went back, huh? I was wondering why I hadn’t seen her, but that’s a minor issue. The main problem lies with Qiu Ruxin herself.”
“Mm… what’s wrong with Qiu Ruxin?”
“Did you forget that she is the Child of Fortune? Although she severed the Earth Vein Shackles due to an Extraordinary Item, she still has many problems if she wants to enter the Main World now.”
“To that, I gave Qiu Ruxin two choices: one is to return now, and the other is to wait until this Small World merges with the Main World. When the Main World takes over the Earth Vein of this world, Fortunes, etc., we can help her integrate her script into the script of the Main World. She can still inherit the identity of the Child of Fortune, but she refused.”
“Is that so…” I looked at Qiu Ruxin, but internally understood why; perhaps it was due to what I previously told her that led her to have a preconceived aversion to the identity of the Child of Fortune.
“So she chose to go back now, but doing so will completely sever her connection with Fortune.”
“Mm… is that a problem?” I curiously asked. If she didn’t want it, then so be it. I wasn’t unfamiliar with refusal; it wasn’t a big deal.
Moreover… I focused on Qiu Ruxin and ultimately noticed a bracelet on her wrist that clashed with her attire. It was clearly not a product of this world, and I also felt that this alchemical item possessed a power similar to the one suppressing the curse of misfortune around my neck.
From this perspective, Qiu Ruxin shouldn’t have any issues.
“Did you forget the Tear of the Mad Plant around her neck? The Fortune connects to the script, integrating with Extraordinary Knowledge to become an Extraordinary Item, ultimately closely related to her Fortune Seed. If she abandons the identity of the Child of Fortune, it will trigger a series of unpredictable risks.”
“Huh? Can’t you stop it, Principal? Wouldn’t that put Qiu Ruxin in danger?”
“No, the one in danger isn’t Qiu Ruxin, but that piece of Extraordinary Knowledge on her. It’s wrapped up nicely in the Extraordinary Item, and we cannot study its properties in the short term, which means we can’t prepare the corresponding carrier in advance.”
“No carrier? But… what about the Earth Vein?”
“This Small World’s Earth Vein? Do you think we would use that? If we used this Small World’s Earth Vein as the carrier, we might be thrown out by the will of this world, and we wouldn’t even know where we’d be tossed into the Void! We are outsiders, invaders, promoters pushing this world’s will towards assimilation with the Main World. Xiao Han, do you understand?”
“I… understand, but… why is it me?” I asked the crucial question.
“Well, this is Qiu Ruxin’s choice. This is also her personal will, but we can see this as her most suitable choice as an indirect possessor of Extraordinary Knowledge. And you still have that guy Mei’s Extraordinary Knowledge; you might be a very special carrier yourself.”
“Uh… you know this, Principal?”
“Of course I know. This information was probably discerned the moment her talent awakened. That Mei guy putting this Extraordinary Witch Knowledge on you without taking it back is likely a form of protection; no one dares to move her things.”
“Eh?” I remembered the academy head telling me not to speak carelessly, or the Extraordinary Witches in the academy would go after me… so it was all just a scare?
“It seems you still don’t understand. It doesn’t matter; it’s just a test, whether you succeed or fail doesn’t matter. After all, it’s just an Extraordinary Knowledge. The Main World has more than enough of this.”
“Uh…” I instinctively swallowed. Are Principal Beif and Principal Mei really talking about the same Main World?
Calling Extraordinary Knowledge so cheap from Principal Beif was quite unexpected!
