Chapter 880: In the end, was she slightly at a disadvantage?
“What is it that attracts them?” I asked, confused.
“Can’t Little Guesses figure it out? The answer is quite reasonable,” Sheryl smiled and didn’t immediately provide an answer.
“Is it that [Extraordinary Knowledge] that was made into the All Worlds Terminal?” I guessed, since I couldn’t think of anything else they would fight over.
“That’s right! But why?”
“Well, why? It’s just [Extraordinary Knowledge]. I know this kind of thing is precious, but isn’t it a bit over the top to be fighting over it?”
“Just?” Sheryl repeated my words with some exaggeration. “Isn’t what you’re saying too pretentious? Have you forgotten about that piece of [Extraordinary Knowledge] in the Main World? Before long, it will also be fought over by many people, bloody and bruised. Your understanding of its value… that’s your perspective, but for those who don’t have it, its value will be infinitely heightened.”
“Really…?” I took a sip of fruit juice, organized my thoughts, and restructured my perception of [Extraordinary Knowledge].
“Of course it’s true! But… your intuition seems very sharp. If it were an ordinary [Extraordinary Knowledge], it might not have such an effect, but that one from the Game World… it’s different.”
“Different? Just because it is a fully developed piece of [Extraordinary Knowledge]? But if there’s no substantial population base in civilization, this ability doesn’t really give any advantage in individual hands, does it?” After all, I had already defined that [Extraordinary Knowledge] from the Game World as the “Fourth Calamity.” Although its nature might relate to pixel concepts, the usage and concepts cannot be generalized.
“No, no, no! It’s not because of that, but rather because of the potential of this [Extraordinary Knowledge].”
“Potential?”
“Yes! [Extraordinary Knowledge] is also divided by potential, you know? Some pieces of [Extraordinary Knowledge] are unusable, but some are very useful and easy to develop.”
“I know this,” I nodded repeatedly. After all, this is something Sister Bai and I had debated, so I would naturally not forget.
Some [Extraordinary Knowledge] simply can’t be utilized. For example, among the witch teams studying [Extraordinary Knowledge] in the Witch Academy, a considerable portion cannot produce the Great Spellbook. They study this [Extraordinary Knowledge] just to better understand its properties, along with the secondary great spells that result from the research process.
As for what secondary great spells are, they are similar to spells with the characteristics of a Great Spellbook but lack its level and integrity.
If I had to give an example, it would be like the “Reverse Summoning Spell” derived from Teacher Ji’s research.
It’s an exceedingly potent spell, but its usage is very unconventional.
After all, no spell can cross the void so easily at such a low cost, repeatedly hopping between two worlds.
“You probably understand. The characteristics displayed by the All Worlds Terminal in the Game World are extremely ridiculous. First, its basic characteristics are akin to three-dimensional pixels; it can achieve almost infinite subdivision, which involved breakthroughs in the foundational aspects of the realm of Extraordinary Materials.”
“Moreover, it also involves the power of fortune, allowing for very precise tasks using luck. You need to understand what this represents; this means that this [Extraordinary Knowledge] achieves effects similar to that of your Great Knowledge Tree’s derivative Great Knowledge Sharing Technique, crossing the void to achieve communication between worlds! Even if the medium of this communication is luck, it’s still exceedingly ridiculous.”
“Then there are the techniques for utilizing soul material and other aspects; these are just additional details.”
“Looking at it this way… it does seem quite precious.” I nodded in acknowledgment of its value. I couldn’t deny that its worth even made me a bit envious.
“Then… you want it too, right?” After I answered like this, Sheryl suddenly came out with a question.
“Yes, its value has stirred my greed, but that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t get it right now.”
“Really? A trip to the Game World could help, right?” Sheryl said with a smile.
“…Hearing her words, I fell silent. So, this is the stage you’ve been setting up for so long… to showcase yourself.
“……”
“You… don’t like showing your strength to others… do you?” Sheryl suddenly realized something when she saw my silence.
That silence, which didn’t even want to hide anything, made Sheryl realize the crux of the problem.
Sheryl grasped the situation.
She had been viewing it from her perspective, overlooking those ordinary students. She realized that the little witch before her didn’t seem so flamboyant.
What she thought of as hidden cards weren’t for showing off but instead represented a desperate need for recognition.
Recognition of what?
Recognition from those who could influence her, acknowledgment that what she was doing was within controllable bounds.
But what about her peers?
Did they truly understand this little witch enough?
No, they didn’t. All they saw were her achievements, and even the backstory of her accomplishments was unknown to many of the ordinary students.
Because those achievements were meant to silence those who bothered her, not for fame.
Currently, their understanding of her remained at what she had revealed: self-generated magic power, unknown realms, and the Great Spellbook.
Many even forgot that the little witch in front of them excelled at magic, as well as… derivative spells.
And now, during this time, many students genuinely thought that obtaining that Great Ice Snow Throne would give them strength equal to that of this witch.
Did she really like showing off?
“No, I don’t like it. It feels like being made a monkey of.”
“You’re weak, so others can treat you like a monkey. Once you’re strong… you’ll see them as the monkeys. If you can’t accept this viewpoint… then it means you haven’t distanced yourself from the identity of a weak person.”
“Perhaps, after all… I’ve only gone from having nothing to now in just a year or two; the transformation of mindset isn’t something that happens overnight.”
“Then let’s consider this a trial; treat it as a test. You’ve been suppressed for too long by that Mei guy, and you haven’t realized how much authority your strength truly grants you.”
After Sheryl finished speaking, we both fell silent.
Sheryl could see that I understood many truths, and I also knew that some things were not yet the right time.
However, at that moment, Sheryl didn’t know how to implement what she understood.
Z action, and I was also unsure of when what I needed to do would reach the right time.
“Do you have any arrangements for what comes next?”
In the end, it was Sheryl who broke the awkward atmosphere.
It seemed the previous silence had made her realize she had focused her efforts in the wrong place; she didn’t continue the previous topic but tried to ask the most basic question from my perspective.
“To help Fool Dream become a true life.”
“Are you confident?”
“I am close to obtaining extremely pure Dream State Soul Material.”
“…What do you think?” Sheryl frowned slightly, awkwardly asking.
“I want to ask you a question: have you ever created an entirely new life form yourself?”
“Of course not. I don’t have that much spare time; I probably can’t even make a friend myself.”
“What a pity. After all, I wanted to inquire what kind of life is considered a recognized life?”
After all, in my previous understanding, life ranged from single-cell organisms to multi-cell organisms, dividing into countless subclasses—all of which were a form of life. But now, that understanding had become a shackle trapping my perception of species.
I felt that I wasn’t creating Fool Dream into a specific life. Everything I did was merely bringing the nonexistent Fool Dream into reality.
And at that moment.
I suddenly became aware of something; it seemed my main body had achieved a new breakthrough in the purification technique of nightmares.
“Sorry, I may have to excuse myself for a moment. Something is happening with my main body; my primary consciousness will leave soon.”
“Primary consciousness leaving? Then… what will you become? Do you need me to take this clone somewhere?” Sheryl wanted to say something but was interrupted by my words.
However, she only briefly felt a twinge of regret before composing herself and inquiring about something else.
“Not necessary, as I’m not an ordinary clone,” Yue replied.
“…Hmm, you’re leaving?” Sheryl looked at the usual figure before her, not feeling any sense of incongruity.
“Yes, I am now Yue.”
“Then… do you think you are Yang Yuelan?” Sheryl hesitated before asking.
She had never understood this kind of clone of Yang Yuelan because it exceeded the definition of spells. This was not a spell effect, but a living, breathing, flesh-and-blood “person.”
“Boring question. I am a clone, no need for doubt. If you’re worried about me having rebellious thoughts against the main body, then that would definitely be the main body’s doing,” Yue seemed to understand Sheryl’s concerns and clarified.
“What if… your main body wants you to self-destruct?” Sheryl continued to ask, seeing this technique of cloning as a challenge to the limits of individual identity between a person and their clone.
If this were a real hidden danger, she wouldn’t hesitate to expose this threat and help Xiao Han a little.
“Open your eyes! This feeling is quite magical, and I’m not a real life form. I wouldn’t fear death. Would you argue with yourself over who you are while playing a pre-set role in a script? That’s split personality.”
“Then… would your thoughts be changed, be… hypnotized or rewritten?”
“Your probing question is dull! I haven’t thought about that yet. If my clone were granted true life in the way of creating life, then who would the real Xiao Han be?”
Sheryl looked at Yue’s description, her pupils constricting for a moment, but she quickly calmed down and asked, “In that case… who would be the real Xiao Han?”
“Of course, it’s her! If I truly become a life form, then I should be an independent individual. I will acknowledge that I have inherited everything from her, but I will not be her.”
“Then who… are you?”
“Me? I am Yue! The purpose of Xiao Han giving life to Fool Dream is to give them freedom, and I am the same. I don’t need to become her; I only need to be myself.”
“Then will this hope… transform into your obsession, turning into hate at the moment you are destroyed?”
“You are quite skilled at manipulating concepts! Freedom is the freedom granted to life. I am not life; I cannot understand freedom, just as a normal person cannot grant freedom to a persona conceived in their mind. Are you sure you’re not creating a split personality?”
At this moment, Yue was somewhat speechless about Sheryl, but she could understand, as she was also a clone.
“What if Xiao Han developed a split personality…”
“Then that’s an illness that needs treatment. Besides… Xiao Han, facing someone as serious as you, wouldn’t explain much to you. Even in the worst case, Xiao Han would not fear a wholly hateful other self, for she firmly believes she can overcome this fool consumed by obsession.”
Listening to this clone’s uninhibited words, Sheryl fell silent. After this last exchange, she realized there was no need for further probing.
Fearless of oneself… even she couldn’t fully achieve that.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have developed this state of mind worrying about Xiao Han.
So… in the end, was she slightly at a disadvantage?
……
Laboratory.
In the primordial dreams, I saw two dream demons made into experimental specimens; one of them still had some turbidity, which was a purification method summarized using the information accumulation method.
And the other…
At this moment, the “dream demon” was pure and clear like a dreamy material, and this was a dream demon “cultivated” by the nurturing purification method.
The nurturing purification method is one of the most special methods among the many purification techniques I had previously abandoned.
Different from the conventional methods under the rules of dreams, the nurturing purification method uses a very special soul simulation technique.
To perform soul simulation on a dream demon without “consciousness,” and the purpose of doing this is to simulate the process of life’s birth in order to “purify” everything negative in the dream demon except for the “Dream State Soul Material.”
To be honest, this idea drew on the “hatching rebirth” spell and Principal Mei’s concept of metamorphic hatching.
This is not a conventional purification method, but rather an order based on the birth of life, combined with soul simulation techniques to filter out the things I do not need.
And now, I had obtained a piece of… pure and flawless “soul material.”
A piece so pure that it was on the verge of giving birth to life…’Dream State Soul Material’.
This was the first time I wanted to use “vivid” to describe material that wasn’t yet life. However, unfortunately, it could never become a true life form.
Because… even now, I still cannot understand how consciousness is born, so I cannot bring life into existence out of thin air.
But my intuition told me that this would be the best carrier for Fool Dream’s consciousness, the soul carrier!
