Chapter 655: The World Invests in You, It Has Nothing to Do with You
Expanding Realm.
Inside the Disaster Tavern.
“Fortune… Fortune Alchemist?” I looked at the beautiful witch sister in front of me, feeling a bit relieved, “Um… Hello, Sister Trix, I’m Yang Yuelan, you can just call me Xiao Han.”
“Mm-mm~ A name I’ve heard before.”
“I wonder why Sister Trix suddenly came to find me this time?” I cautiously probed, seeing her casual demeanor and not knowing what brought her to me.
“Many things don’t have too many reasons, just like I suddenly became free and heard about an interesting little one, so I came to take a look~”
“Uh… Sister Trix, won’t your presence here in the Expanding Realm be discovered by other academies?” After all, the current situation in the Expanding Realm is dominated by the students, with only Teacher Elena acting as a resurrected mentor in Ninglan New City, while the other mentors, including those from other academies, have no power clones descending here.
“Why is Xiao Han suddenly concerned about such trivial matters? As long as I’m not discovered, it’s as if I’ve never been here, it’s a simple principle.” While Trix said this nonchalantly, her fingertips were playing with a thread of fortune, “Let’s get back to the point, Xiao Han, what do you think this is in my hand?”
“Fortune… thread?”
“Smart, it’s a type of fortune thread different from regular fortune.”
Trix complimented me with a smile, as if she were coaxing a child, “Do you know why fortune condenses into threads?”
“Uh… I don’t know, I really haven’t thought about it…” I shook my head.
However, with Sister Trix’s reminder, my thoughts quickly became active. Why does fortune present itself as a thread?
After I gained a deeper understanding of Spirit Vision, I realized that deeper layers of fortune are not in thread form but are a kind of intangible “airflow.”
That’s how my fortune observation technique came about.
“Not knowing is fine; I like honest children. Since you don’t know, then let me tell you. Fortune can be transformed and condensed into fortune threads through a special technique, and the one most adept at this technique is… the World Consciousness.”
“World Consciousness…” Upon hearing this explanation, I subconsciously thought of another question and asked without hesitation, “Doesn’t the World Consciousness also master a technique for transforming the world’s essence?”
“Mm?” Hearing my question, even Trix was taken aback for a second, seeming not to follow my train of thought, “I really don’t know much about that; I can only give some vague answers. Maybe, because that’s beyond my research scope.”
“Okay… sorry for bringing that up suddenly.”
“It’s fine; I’ve heard of the great essence of the world. It’s a stubborn material that only the world itself can transform and utilize; perhaps it is indeed a kind of instinctive technique mastered by the World Consciousness? But you also understand, I’m a Fortune Alchemist, so I’m quite familiar with concepts and techniques related to fortune. I heard you’ve made achievements in fortune as well, like… your observation technique.”
“Well… the observation technique shouldn’t count as…”
“It’s a very unpretentious yet incredibly effective technique.” Trix interrupted me, “Such a modest child. Just relying on this technique, even if it’s a bit of a cheat with your innate Spirit Vision, it’s still something only you can accomplish. Xiao Han, are you interested in becoming a Fortune Alchemist?”
“Uh… not really…” I shook my head, as my initial impression of fortune wasn’t very good, so I stayed true to my feelings and expressed my indifference.
“What a pity… It seems that you have a fortune seed and even tried to destroy it yourself… You should be the child most suited to walk this path.” Seeing my attitude, Trix sighed slightly, “But I can guess you didn’t have a good impression the first time you came into contact with the concept of fortune, right? I have to admit, sometimes the World Consciousness does get it wrong; there are simply too many of her children.”
“Mm… maybe…” I nodded in agreement.
“So, Xiao Han, do you think you have already detached from the influence of fortune?”
“Uh… there should still be some, right…” I glanced at the fortune threads wrapped around me, not too many, as I had cleaned them up somewhat before leaving for training, but had picked up a few again.
“I’m not talking about the fortune threads~”
Trix smiled and said to me, “Do you remember what I told you earlier? There are still traces of the fortune seed left on you.”
“But… I’ve already destroyed the fortune seed, right? And I’ve also severed the Earth Vein Shackles…”
“Severing the Earth Vein Shackles… what does that have to do with fortune?” Trix responded with a question.
“Uh… it’s what Sister Mei said…”
“Mei… really dares to teach without understanding anything. Earth Vein Shackles belong to the Earth Vein River, while fortune belongs to the tributaries of fortune; how can two unrelated things possibly influence each other?”
“Uh… fortune tributaries?”
“Xiao Han doesn’t know?”
“Should I know?”
“You seem to have never heard of it… Do you know the three major rivers of the Void?”
“Uh… I think I have some impression. The Earth Vein River should be one of them.” I recalled for a moment and finally found some records from the Great Knowledge Tree.
“Yes, the Earth Vein River is the most prominent river that runs through the Void, and the world is the fruit of its birth.”
“Then is the Fortune River one of them?”
“No, the other two are one is the Time River, which flows with time and light, closely related to Real Time, and the other is the Cause and Effect River, which is the river I’m most familiar with but also least familiar with.”
“Ah? Why?”
“Because the Void cannot observe any traces of the Cause and Effect River’s existence; we can only infer its possible existence in the Void through its tributaries, which are the Fortune Tributaries, also called the Fortune River. I’m familiar because I’ve continuously come into contact with this concept, but unfamiliar because we’ve never interacted with this existence.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard about this.”
“How about that? Chatting simply can broaden your knowledge, right? These pieces of information are not extensively recorded in the academy’s library.”
“Mm, thank you, Trix, for educating me with this knowledge…”
“Then Xiao Han, haven’t you realized? Maybe you haven’t fully detached from the influence of fortune.”
Trix said this, then looked at me expectantly to see what expression I would show.
“It does seem…”
“No hint of surprise, a bit calm. Or are you not good at expressing yourself?”
“I guess I’m not good at expressing myself…” I replied.
While I was unsure of my answer, I also couldn’t fathom why this witch suddenly sought me out, or if she, too, was the type who struggled with conversations and easily strayed from the topic.
That shouldn’t… be the case.
Just as I pondered this, Trix reached out her hand, and a power guided by a refined thread of mental power flowed through my body. That power was gentle and didn’t carry much aggression, the subtly emerging light dots under my Spirit Vision displayed a special runic form.
As I was shocked by this loose magical mist technique, where every point of gathered magical light was condensed into runic symbols, Trix seemed to extract something from within my body.
“It’s hidden a bit deeply, do you remember what this is?” Trix focused her gaze on my face.
At that moment, she finally saw the shock on my somewhat expressionless face.
“Fortune seed?”
“Correct, curious why it’s still here?”
“Mm, out of curiosity.” I nodded immediately in the midst of my shock.
“Because the world invests in you, it has nothing to do with you.”
“…“
Hearing Sister Trix casually reveal this truth instantly reminded me of Qiu Ruxin; wasn’t she in that small world in the same situation?
The world chose her, and it had nothing to do with her.
The key is what benefits the world can gain.
“I can help you get rid of it for free, no charge, how about that?” Seeing me dazed, Trix immediately changed her previous demeanor and turned into a negotiation stance.
“Okay…” I nodded, as if agreeing to a very ordinary transaction, “But… I just heard a witch sister say not long ago that fortune is also a kind of resource…”
“Alright… I’ll reluctantly take back the ‘free’ part; do you still wish to proceed?” Trix showed no signs of embarrassment, as if she had done this many times before.
“Of course…” I smiled and said, “But I think Sister Trix would be more suited to be a Fortune Merchant rather than a Fortune Alchemist; I know quite a few friends who might need your services, such as Tan Han…”
“Xiao Han, you’re quite interesting to talk to. As for Tan Han, that little sister… she’s also one of my customers~”
“…” At that moment, I admitted I was too naïve.
After experiencing that moment of shock, I looked at Sister Trix again.
As I rose in level, I increasingly felt that the script was merely a puppet to be played with.
Some witches take it very seriously, some witches disregard it, some witches set up for harvest, while some… like the one in front of me, use it to trade fortune as a resource.
What can I say? An Extraordinary Witch truly embodies freedom…
“It feels like Xiao Han is thinking about things you don’t need to worry about at all?” Trix changed her hand to support her chin and looked at me with great interest, “Are you worried that my manipulation of fortune might lead to bad consequences?”
“Perhaps…”
“Do you want to hear some of my philosophies and thoughts about fortune?” Seeing my acknowledgment, Trix no longer held back and prepared to explain to me, “Of course, this merely represents my personal viewpoint. Hearing different philosophies from others can help you think about the right and wrong of something from more angles.”
“I certainly want; I will be a qualified listener.”
“Then I’ll begin.” Trix was pleased with my answer, “Mm… Let’s talk from a general perspective.”
“The concepts of World Will, Fortune, Script, and Child of Fortune constitute a self-consistent and independently operating world system, collectively maintaining the balance and harmony of this world. In this system, each component is very important; they depend on each other, working together to ensure the stability and development of order.”
“The script, as a mechanism for the universe’s self-redemption, elimination of potential threats, and achievement of world ascension, is realized through the resource of fortune.”
“And the Child of Fortune, as a key character in the script, bears the responsibility of driving the world’s development and transformation. Their actions and choices can often influence the direction of the entire world.”
“How does that sound? Everything seems beautiful, right? The logic is consistent.”
“Mm.” I nodded without expressing my views.
“But to me, this constitutes a preconceived mindset, a kind of solidified thought that allows things to develop and run inefficiently.” At that moment, Trix shifted from her previous tone to begin a critique.
“Fortune can do so many things, yet the world merely weaves fortune threads, operating like puppets, constantly repeating the script, producing Children of Fortune, and upon completing the script ceremony allowing them to ascend as Children of Destiny, thus nourishing the world.”
“The Main World operates under this model, but in my view… since the witches have come here, we clearly have more efficient means; why still choose this model?”
“The World Consciousness could use fortune as a resource to trade with us; we help it achieve self-rescue, just as we are doing—repairing the Expanding Realm.”
“We can also help the world eliminate unstable factors. This is something we have been doing, critiquing and strictly controlling the number of extraordinary beings entering the Main World.”
“Even when the Main World is fully restored to the Void Frontline Realm, we could help the Main World ascend to a higher level…”
“Xiao Han, do you think this is a win-win situation?”
“Yes…” I nodded in agreement, while also suppressing my desire to express my own views.
In fact, this resembles a matter of stance, a simple issue of who is stronger, who has reason. The witches viewed the Main World from a higher perspective of “I do it for your good.”
But the world might not require that…
Should I say that the witches are arrogant?
But they have the strength.
They could treat the world as a resource that could be claimed but still regard the other as an independent entity to reason with.
Perhaps the contradiction in the problem lies in “mercy.” If one initially viewed the other as a resource unqualified for conversation, such troublesome divergences and thoughts would not arise.
Of course, my thoughts were stimulated mainly by Trix’s earlier line, “Because the world invests in you, it has nothing to do with you.”
“I knew Xiao Han wasn’t that stubborn little witch.”
Seeing that I agreed with her viewpoint, Trix excitedly shared many things with me, many of which I had not previously understood.
For instance, the upcoming college entrance examination is merely a ritual for harvesting fortune, dispersing fortune shares so that the World Consciousness cannot generate fortune seeds, thereby preventing the script from frequently starting.
And among this year’s candidates, Tan Han is an exception because she achieved the honor of full marks; the fortune draining ritual of the entrance exam instead led to the unfolding of the script…
The things I learned from Sister Trix overturned much of the information I had previously obtained from Principal Mei, Director Lina, and Teacher Ji.
However, regarding the contents of what Sister Trix said, I maintained a skeptical attitude; in short, one cannot fully trust the words of witches; one must keep thinking for oneself.
“What a wonderfully exhilarating narration~ It’s just that Xiao Han, you speak a bit less, but you are indeed a qualified listener. Now, it’s time to resolve your fortune seed issue.”
“Do I need to cooperate in any way?”
“Of course~ Fortune is your anchor to this world, and if you want to completely give up the fortune seed and remove what I’m going to do with Fortune Alchemy, you’ll need to sever your attachment to this world completely.”
“Attachment?”
“Mm~ It may be deeply etched in your heart, filled with nostalgia, difficult to part with, hard to look back on, or… something you dare not face. Xiao Han, you should have the answer, right?”
“…”
“Until then, I cannot take away your fortune seed, but I can use Fortune Alchemy to give you a little help.” At that moment, Trix smiled and grasped the fortune seed. When she opened her hand again, the seed had been replaced by… a coin.
“A little alchemical trick; it’s called… Fate’s Choice. It can help make a choice of fate, hope it helps you~” Trix tossed the solid-feeling coin to me.
