Chapter 689: Confrontation Triggered by Totem and Void Rifts
“Totem?”
I murmured to myself, feeling somewhat uncertain.
After confirming once again, it indeed had no effect; this pattern’s existence, even if condensed through runes, yielded not a hint of feedback.
However… this pattern truly existed atop the abilities of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation and Self-Generated Magic, as if it served as the real link connecting these two abilities…
Originally, the ritual connecting the two still existed, but this pattern surpassed it.
I cautiously tried to reach it with my mental power, but it didn’t seem to have much effect.
But when I “touched” it through the perception channel of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, the pattern reacted.
However, this reaction startled me!
Because this pattern was like a hunter buried deep in the ocean, only exposed at its tip, and upon sensing my touch, it suddenly transformed!
It morphed into a form resembling a dark swimming snake, heading straight for my perception!
To be clear, the perception channel of Self-Awakened Body Cultivation was nothing but the five senses, combined with my current abilities of Heart Sense and Sense of Time, and this “touch” was simply a form of sensory contact.
At that moment, I was so frightened by this power that I staggered back repeatedly, even jumping away from the rooftop of this hotel.
Everyone else was startled by my unpredictable behavior; after all, this was the first time they had seen me so flustered.
The reason for my panic was that… the dark, snake-like trajectory brought forth by that pattern was a Void Rift!
I would definitely never mistake that aura!
I had encountered Void Rifts many times, having faced them a couple of times when the Great Spellbook was being perfected. After gaining domain powers, I also had means to deal with such things, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t afraid of them!
This was something that even Extraordinary Witches would avoid, and what was more crucial was that this thing generated from… the essence of my soul life.
If I wasn’t careful, I feared it would truly be over for me.
After all, I didn’t know whether the Void Rift would tear my soul apart, but there was a 99% chance it would, so just now I was only one step away from actual d*ath.
If it weren’t for the Sense of Time allowing me to react quickly and dodge, I would still be clueless about what to do.
I looked at the pattern that had detached from my body, but it continued to pursue me relentlessly, as if it could catch me the moment I hesitated. Thus, I had to expand my domain to encompass my body cultivation perception channel.
As my domain unfolded, all the Knowledge Power of my domain order transformed into the five senses, and the Knowledge Power unique to the five senses radiated a somewhat creepy aura.
However, this action of mine seemed to have upset things akin to knocking over a gasoline barrel, as that line dragging the wandering Void Rift appeared to have completely “ignited” my entire domain!
I looked on in shock, somewhat dazed and astonished at my actions resembling “adding fuel to the fire”; I had no time to worry that I had left the cover of the rooftop, as the terrifying pressure from the Void Rift radiated down from above the Sixth Refuge.
Countless people below the refuge looked up at the sky’s abnormalities, momentarily stopping in their tracks, their pupils reflecting fear of the unknown.
Yet amidst this upheaval, I felt something was off.
My inner fear came from the unknown, but the domain had bought me more reaction time, although… it also made the situation worse.
Because I discovered that the rift created by the Void Rift was not as straightforward as the direct openings in the Great Spellbook.
The rifts opened by these patterns were narrow, resembling cracks, and were quickly compressed by the Void, like a swimming snake, rapidly tearing and healing itself.
Moreover, the Void Rifts were not the direct product of this event, but rather a “byproduct” brought on by the spread of that pattern.
To understand what these things were, my Sense of Time maximized its response speed to buy me more time to react.
I hastened to comprehend why this was happening and how to resolve this trouble.
With my observation, I became increasingly certain that this seemed to be the so-called “totem”!
Because it had no value in replicable form; its existence itself was its value.
In fact, I did not oppose the totem wanting to connect with my Self-Awakened Body Cultivation powers; I even should have actively tried to see what would happen.
However, the Void Rifts it brought about were truly life-threatening…
And within the unfolding domain, I was frantically suppressing the emergence of these Void Rifts.
When the Great Spellbook accommodated the Void Rifts, I had guided them in this manner, and now it was merely an old skill being used again.
Furthermore, within my domain order, there now existed not just the power of body cultivation, but also the power of two Great Spellbooks. However, I discovered that these Void Rifts could not be utilized by these two Spellbooks, which was a pity…
But with the order of the Great Spellbooks introduced, the visible pressure on the Void Rifts in my domain increased. But it was essential to note that it was merely suppressed, not eliminated; I could only wait for it to “heal” naturally.
As I noted the totems wreaking havoc in my domain, I also discovered numerous patterns that were incredibly mysterious and differed from runes.
“Is this… a totem?”
I uncertainly conjured a Knowledge Power that concentrated body cultivation energy, and I found that my Knowledge Power had already been “tainted” by this totem, resembling the most primitive engravings, as if carved from stone.
These patterns seemed to have no meaning, neither conforming to rune frameworks nor ritual structures, yet these lines themselves held considerable power.
But I still did not know how to use it.
As for why I was aware of this power’s existence… because my Floating World-level Spirit Vision fully attempted to “understand” it, I felt like I had returned to a time when, like an infant, everything was incomprehensible!
I finally understood why the Academy Head said that even with Real Time, my Spirit Vision couldn’t aid in learning totems, as totems themselves were a form of incomprehensible power. My Floating World-level Spirit Vision could only gain more information I couldn’t understand.
It wasn’t systematic, so naturally, it couldn’t be recognized; thus… to utilize it, one must personally experience and perceive its tangible existence. All uses of it are based on a “new understanding” between my cognition and feedback process!
No wonder the learning threshold for totems was so high; without touching a totem, there was no qualification to learn, and this power could not be cultivated or replicated.
“You… you are Yang Yuelan?”
“What are you doing in our Sixth Refuge? Are you trying to disturb our order here?!”
Just as I was immersed in thoughts about totem powers, I was interrupted by an external voice.
At this moment, I noticed that outside my expanded domain, several figures were flying. They dared not enter my domain, as the fine Void Rifts within my domain exuded a pressure that really deterred them.
“Get away! My powers are out of control; if you don’t want to d*e, hurry and clear the crowds below!” I merely cast them a casual glance; seeing they were from the Beast Academy, I offered no explanations.
Need an explanation from me?
Why should I explain?
Under my guidance, a Void Rift suddenly tore at the edge of my domain. The horrific pressure and the uncontestable power of the Void instantly tore apart the few people who had yelled at me, and luckily they ran fast, but one person was left screaming as he fell from the sky, only half of his body remaining.
That senior student’s proud immortality, under the lingering power of the Void Rift, did not recover a shred of flesh.
Because this attack affected his life essence, no matter how his level of life manifested the body’s immortality, it couldn’t repair this type of deficiency wound.
After a brief moment of surprise, I had no further feelings; indeed, Void Rifts were an existence even part of the Extraordinary Witches would avoid.
Thus, I increasingly felt that my caution at that time was warranted. Otherwise… I feared I would have truly died, completely, without leaving a trace of my soul.
Of course, that might not be the case, since my soul essence still had the final soul dream’s return home. Could a Void Rift open a dream?
I didn’t know.
But escaping was quite simple—cutting off the arm for survival, abruptly severing the connection. The reason I was so flustered earlier was mainly due to being too “greedy,” not wanting to miss this opportunity.
This was the possibility of understanding totems!
If I missed this chance, during the holiday, Principal Mei’s promise might not even allow me to understand what a totem truly was.
Upon seeing the outcome of that injured person, those around who were preparing to confront me also instinctively distanced themselves.
They were all important figures comparable to those in various academies and teaching assistants, not wanting to take this risk.
This power was simply too bizarre!
Until another figure arrived.
Instructor Elena!
That reviver stationed in Ninglan New City!
With her arrival, many other figures quickly followed suit.
All these figures were currently the “Extraordinary Beings” left in the Expanding Realm.
Including numerous clones from the Wanlian Main Network Tree Laboratory, as well as… mentors from other Extraordinary Academies.
“The traces of the Void Rift are that massive?”
“It’s Xiao Han.”
“I don’t know why, but upon seeing Xiao Han, I felt no surprise at all.”
In that moment, above the Sixth Refuge, two factions centered around me suddenly became adversarial.
On one side was the Witch Academy, and on the other was… the mentors’ clones from all other Extraordinary Academies who had rushed over.
Although these clones had no power… they could serve as teleportation markers to bring the main body here!
You must know that there were no major weakening spells here in the Expanding Realm!
“Elena, as the reviver stationed in Ninglan New City, isn’t it against the rules for you to be here?” At this moment, the other side of the Extraordinary Academies took the initiative, “Is the Witch Contract just a piece of scrap paper for you?”
“I’m just a clone here to observe,” Elena responded nonchalantly, even seeming a bit relaxed.
At that moment, the grand scene above the Sixth Refuge directly frightened all the students present!
Because they had no idea why their mentors suddenly came here just to expel that teaching assistant Yang Yuelan?
Wasn’t this a bit over the top…
These students didn’t understand how deeply the fluctuations of the Void Rift could touch the hearts of these extraordinary individuals!
Because the power capable of triggering a Void Rift was certainly not simple, and most directly, it was… the Great Spellbook!
So at this moment, their arrival required clarity on what exactly had transpired; what means did those witches hold that were being concealed, which now had been exposed? They had to figure out the situation since knowing the hidden trump card would allow them to devise specific countermeasures, as truly unfathomable powers could not exist.
Otherwise, the Primordial Witch would not be guarding the Grand Library in the Witch World but rather wandering throughout the Void!
No one wanted to see that outcome.
Thus, after intense probing between both sides, they turned their focus on me, as they discovered I was the one who had caused the Void. Upon closer inspection, I was not just any extraordinary girl!
But on closer look… it was that assistant witch named Yang Yuelan whom they remembered!
“Today, regardless of the circumstances, she has disrupted the order of the Sixth Refuge, and she must be held accountable!”
“Accountable? I have a roll of tape here; what right do you have to demand accountability from someone in our Witch Academy!” At that moment, the witches standing in front directly shot back!
Even one of the witches nearby provocatively threw a roll of tape over.
“You witches are so arrogant; with so many of us joining forces, you might not be able to wipe us all out.”
“Don’t forget, there are no major weakening spells here,” seemingly trying to seem more imposing, another person chimed in.
At this moment, they aimed to make the witches lose their composure; after all, everyone was limited by the Witch Contract, and who wouldn’t boast?
“Come at me~ I will just stand here; try hitting me.”
But clearly, nobody present was a fool.
“Witches, our demands are simple; this is just a misunderstanding. If we clarify the matter, we can wrap things up. After all, things like Void Rifts are far too dangerous, and we are also curious whether this student, even lacking any extraordinary powers, is researching some taboo powers that threaten the safety of the Main World.”
At this moment, the Holy Angel emerged again as a mediator. There was no need to waste time between the strong; delaying only allowed some individuals to create trouble for the others.
They needed to understand what exactly had occurred, as they clearly were not blind.
It’s just that many didn’t understand.
They could only see that the involved party had expanded a domain with visible Void Rifts spreading within it!
Many of them also had the domain of the Holy Realm but did not remember there being a Void Rift domain like this.
Of course, they also overlooked one thing: apart from not understanding the “Void Rift domain,” there was also the miracle of the non-extraordinary shaped domain.
But it was clear they had categorized this concept as “an anomaly,” or else expending energy on concepts beyond their comprehension would just be self-destructive infighting.
“It’s fine, Xiao Han; don’t mind them. With us here, they can’t deal with you.” At that moment, several witch sisters, the quietly unrecognized mentors from the laboratory, arrived beside me.
And with no powers themselves, they too stepped into my domain, showing their confidence.
“It’s okay; if I explain this situation clearly, the commotion can cease; I don’t mind speaking out.” After all, I was well aware that totems… truly couldn’t be seized or coveted unless… they killed me, allowing me to perish alongside the totem.
“No need; they can’t see it because they lack insight,” the witch closest to me remarked, her eyes urging me to stay silent, as if she had already realized what this was.
“Alright…” I turned to see a familiar figure among the crowd behind me; it was Sister Bai, and at that moment, I promptly altered my view towards compromise.
Although they were merely powerless clones, their arrival gave me a considerable sense of security.
Totems… were not something that needed to be hidden, and any other experiments I was preparing, such as the planned rebirth incubation or the craft of self-generated magic, could very well expose one aspect in response to the others looking for trouble; I would only disclose two words: “totem.”
However, it was clear that at such a unique moment, these witch sisters seemed to want to teach me another lesson: that witches do not need to compromise at critical moments.
Just like how I had previously scolded the teaching assistant from the Beast Academy who came looking for trouble, oh, the assistant there should rather be called the “Little Beast King.”
But I also did not need to provide them with a single word of explanation!
