Chapter 625: Visitors from the All-purpose Association
After I clarified the process with these eighteen people, I began to focus on my own tasks.
In fact, these individuals did not need my guidance; after experiencing the harshness of reality, many would do everything possible to understand any form of power they could grasp.
At the Disaster Refuge, those seven individuals already proved that even without my teachings, they quickly adapted.
However, when it came to meditation, the fastest among those seven took several days to achieve results.
As for this batch of people, they were not doing anything but meditating, which would likely take them a day or two as well.
So I had plenty of time to focus on my own matters.
The first thing I did was clear a section of land for planting.
Then I began organizing various specialized knowledge related to cultivation.
The more I delved into this specialized knowledge, the more I felt that it could all be integrated into the secondary profession of “Planter” for interpretation.
With these thoughts in mind, I naturally went beyond simple planting and engaged in knowledge consolidation and spell organization.
Because all of this would eventually become part of the skill tree arrangement for the secondary profession.
Time flew by quickly.
Before I knew it, three days had passed.
Under the Wanlian Main Network Tree, a village had started to take shape, and the number of residents was gradually increasing.
The eighteen individuals I initially granted gaming qualifications had dwindled to less than ten, many having left after successfully changing careers and not yet returned.
The third day marked the completion of meditation for all these individuals.
Of course, it only resulted in a fleeting hint of mental power, not the kind of mental thread associated with the Witch Meditation Method.
Three days of meditation… the qualifications were indeed concerning; after all, these were three days without any slack, with meditation being the sole focus apart from sleep. This time would have sufficed for most new students at the Witch Academy to consolidate their mental power threads.
Among them, the individual with the best potential completed meditation in half a day, making them a model of talent within this group. Unfortunately, they did not grasp the orthodox extraordinary system, or else they would have been at least a small genius.
Putting aside these trifles.
During these days, I was also quite busy; for instance, I finished summarizing and developing the secondary professions of “Planter” and “Builder.”
Additionally, I completed a supporting platform for these secondary professions.
It is important to note that adding a secondary profession is not a simple matter; it requires a new skill tree. If it weren’t for the current limitations of my skills, I wouldn’t have needed to categorize the professions. Therefore, to introduce new upper limits, skill optimization must naturally occur.
Moreover, considering the environmental issues surrounding the current refuge, I was also developing a third secondary profession, “Miner.”
There were many exposed extraordinary ore regions nearby, and I certainly couldn’t let them go to waste.
Although I promised not to interfere with these extraordinary materials, it was a different story for the natives.
In addition to developing secondary professions, the Wanlian Main Network Tree finally completed its root network connection with the one at the Disaster Refuge.
I also once again obtained information about the situation there; the basic infrastructure in certain areas of the Disaster Refuge was nearing completion.
I must say, the efficiency of the infrastructure club at the Witch Academy is truly terrifying.
The refugees located outside Ninglan New City had also been partially relocated, greatly alleviating the relief pressure on Ninglan New City.
Sister Agnes was still working on perfecting the design for the health bar. I heard that she was tackling issues related to real-time data feedback and some compulsive tendencies, which is why it wasn’t completed yet.
However, the extraordinary witch group led by Sister Agnes provided me with another pleasant surprise: they used the Wanlian Main Network Tree to establish direct information exchange between player accounts during their leisure time!
This means players now have a chat channel! Private messages, area chat, world chat… all of these can be communicated through this channel.
At the Disaster Refuge, those seven individuals had already completed this information exchange and officially implemented it.
They had also long completed their job transitions and become professionals, beginning to practically take over the management of the Disaster Refuge.
Moreover, they secretly promoted those basic meditation methods at the Disaster Refuge, which was Sister Agnes’s suggestion, aiming to lay the groundwork for future widespread dissemination of gaming qualifications.
In the future, ordinary people with mental power can directly complete job transitions by consuming the fruits of their labor and form usable combat power.
I must say, this development is undoubtedly rapid.
As for the refuge here, I estimate it will also adopt these methods, especially regarding the promotion of meditation methods.
At that time, a fully player-populated society wouldn’t be impossible.
However, when that time comes, new issues will likely arise, specifically with respect to unstable mindsets due to increased power. I must admit that amidst a large population, there will always be some individuals who are born troublemakers.
These troublemakers will also need some means of sanctions; many problems cannot wait until they happen to figure out solutions; some matters should be nipped in the bud from the start.
Perhaps… it might be necessary to categorize the strengths of these gaming player accounts.
After recording all these thoughts in my Great Knowledge Tree memo, I temporarily pushed them aside.
Because I still had a problem to solve.
Thinking this way, I cast my gaze toward a natural cave formed by the root systems under the Wanlian Main Network Tree, which is where I had been residing these days.
In the area close to the trunk of the Wanlian Main Network Tree, I strictly prohibited those individuals from coming nearby; this is my dwelling, and they could not casually approach. Their residences were all simple earthen houses shaped by edge-area spells, which looked a bit rudimentary, but at least it was better than where they used to live.
The reason I didn’t allow them near my residence was that the interior of this root cave belonged to a Dream Overlap Area.
Although I didn’t want to admit it, that enormous Dream Creature had once again opened a Dream Overlap Area in the reality I had already stabilized.
As the saying goes, “one cannot guard against thieves for a thousand days.” While I could chase it away once more, I couldn’t always remain vigilant, checking whether this creature was creating another Dream Overlap Area elsewhere.
So I tacitly accepted its presence in my area.
To this end, I had to frequently act to restrict this Dream Overlap Space, preventing this special dream area from continuing to spread to other parts of the refuge.
I had two reasons for keeping this Dream Creature. One was fate; this creature managed to find its way back from the Primordial Dream World, which I hadn’t expected. The other was that I wanted to learn more about its essence.
I realized my understanding of Dream Creatures was far too limited, which was insufficient for a deeper comprehension.
My curiosity about Dream Creatures mostly stemmed from my concern for Fool Dream.
After all, I had promised to turn Fool Dream into a true life form.
However, many things cannot be rushed; some matters should be approached step by step. Just like now, I need to continue perfecting the Wanlian Main Network Tree and constantly improve the players’ professional skill trees.
As for researching Dream Creatures… that will be set aside for now, while this large Dream Creature in my temporary dwelling resembles a pet I am raising.
It adds a touch of fun to my otherwise monotonous life.
Just as I finished updating the secondary professions of Planter and Builder, and assigned the tasks of planting food and constructing houses to these people, a group of “guests” arrived, unexpected yet understandable.
“Hello, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han. I have heard of your achievements for a long time; it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Millien Becker, one of the members of the All-purpose Association. You can just call me Millien,” the girl named Millien exclaimed excitedly upon seeing me.
“Millien… Becker, hello.” I nodded politely in response. This girl seemingly had white hair as well, and I had some recollection of her surname, Becker, as the previous assistant in the All-purpose Association also had the same surname.
I then turned my gaze to the group of people following her and spoke, “Since you are from the All-purpose Association, then what brings you here…”
“Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, have you forgotten? Just a few days ago, Teaching Assistant Wenni just made an agreement with you to co-build the second shelter. I am here as a direct communication representative,” Millien continued with a smile.
However, prior to this, she was still quite shocked inside.
The main reason for her visit was to negotiate some ambiguous issues, initially intending to discuss the construction of the shelter and how to resolve the issue of the Dream Overlap.
After all, she had previously studied very detailed intelligence about this area, knowing it was affected by the Dream Overlap, and she even deliberately learned that Dream Demon Spell as a precaution.
Yet upon stepping into the information regarding the Dream Overlap, even before meeting this legendary Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, she had not encountered any dream phenomena…
This undoubtedly corresponded with the unconfirmed details in the intelligence.
This Teaching Assistant Xiao Han said she came to solve the Dream Overlap issue… and she really had solved it!
And in such a short time!
If one were to analyze the crowd and construction traces around further, the timeline would need to be pushed back even more.
This… was indeed a significant matter!
It’s important to note that the Dream Overlap areas around Ninglan New City would soon touch the borders of Ninglan New City. When that happens, the calamity caused by Dream Creatures would sweep across the entire Ninglan New City once again, and such troublesome matters cannot be avoided.
But now, someone was using reality to tell her that this problem could be solved.
This… was simply too important!
“Oh, so what you said was true! When your All-purpose Association members hurried away, I thought you were just joking,” I said with a light laugh.
“How could that be? Our All-purpose Association’s credibility is still reliable. Perhaps it was because Teaching Assistant Wenni had an urgent matter, as I heard she returned to the Witch Academy immediately after arriving at Ninglan New City,” Millien quickly explained to defuse the awkwardness.
“Oh? She actually returned to the Witch Academy? May I ask why?”
“I heard it was due to an issue in the outside world. I’m not too clear about the details; I sincerely apologize.” Millien promptly responded with genuine sincerity.
“I see.” Upon hearing her reply, I could roughly guess what it was; it was probably that outside players had caused some significant incident, which was a pity I wasn’t there.
However, the events taking place in the outside world had become urgent enough to require the teaching assistants assigned to the Expanding Realm to be called back… and the implications of that are quite intriguing.
“Let’s go; this place is not suitable for conversation. Let’s find another location.” I gestured to guide them from the meeting spot to my dwelling.
Millien and her group followed me under the giant tree. They saw the shadow of the tree from a distance, and now standing at its base, it appeared truly magnificent.
However, just as their attention was fully on the Wanlian Main Network Tree, a swift figure suddenly darted out!
“What is that?!”
“Be careful!”
Before they could react, their consciousness was instantaneously pulled into the dream world.
Such astonishing speed made these Dream Creatures the number one enemies of those students for a reason.
“Stop!”
With a sharp command, the figure came to a halt.
At that moment, everyone beheld the illusory figure, which was a Dream Creature far larger than any they had seen before!
“Apologies, there’s a Dream Creature attached to me in the place I’m temporarily residing. I had it guard this area, but I forgot to mention it.”
“It’s… it’s fine…”
Returning from the dream, Millien was still somewhat shaken.
Looking at this gigantic Dream Creature, her eyes were filled with astonishment, as this was her first experience being returned to her body by a Dream Creature.
“This visit was quite unexpected for us, but I didn’t expect Teaching Assistant Xiao Han to have such elegance and even manage to raise a… Dream Creature?”
Millien stammered a bit because she realized what she was witnessing challenged her perceptions! Wasn’t the Dream Overlap problem resolved? Where did this Dream Creature come from?
Moreover… Dream Creatures could actually be raised like pets?
“Oh, it’s just attached to me. The place I reside in is a small special Dream Overlap Area; they can only move within this area, so there’s no need to worry about being attacked by Dream Creatures elsewhere.”
I explained to them, as they were here to help after all; it wouldn’t be good if they misunderstood and thought I was trying to intimidate them.
“I see… may I ask, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, do you have a method for dispelling dreams?” Millien inquired while examining the surrounding environment, confirming that it indeed appeared to be a special Dream Overlap Area. Such a miraculous approach further convinced her that Teaching Assistant Xiao Han possessed a developed unknown method to disperse dreams in reality.
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Really? Then… may I ask if we can learn this method?” Millien instinctively asked, as she knew the method for dealing with Dream Creature attacks, the Dream Demon Spell, originated from me.
“This is a skill, and since it’s a skill, it can naturally be learned.” I smiled.
“Really? Then… I mean, what kind of price do we have to pay to learn this skill…”
“No price. I can teach you for free as long as you have the necessary prerequisites to learn this skill.” I continued smiling.
At that moment, Millien looked at my smile with unease, especially when I stated that there would be no cost for free learning… it felt very wrong to her!
“Is it… similar to the conditions for the Dream Demon Spell?” Millien cautiously asked.
Even learning the Dream Demon Spell comes with conditions, namely the unconditional assistance of victims dragged into dreams by Dream Creatures.
“It could be like that, but I think you should focus more on the prerequisites for learning this skill.”
Upon hearing my reminder, Millien quickly grasped the issue at hand, but with a glimmer of hope, she still inquired, “Then… could you please elaborate on the prerequisites for learning, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han?”
“Master a particular field, and the order of that field should allow you to deduce a primitive rune. As long as those conditions are met, I can teach you the associated theories for free, step by step.” I replied with a smile, stating conditions that would leave them utterly disheartened.
