Chapter 976: Excavating a Secret Realm?
Instance Realm.
“Well, the situation is stable, no major issues, just that the content of plant essence is a bit beyond the suitable range for nurturing, Ling Yi~”
“Yes! Here!”
“Be careful! Don’t blindly stuff plant essence into your friends again,” I said.
“What? But… if that’s the case…”
“Ling Yi, you really like to eat fruits, right? But if I let you eat an entire one at once, can you finish it? So many things are not about how much, but rather how suitable they are, understand? You’re just choking your friends.”
“Is that so? I… I understand! I will definitely pay attention next time!” Ling Yi said seriously, looking completely as if she was heeding medical advice.
After sensing the condition of the wood elemental embryo, I handed the remaining time and space over to Ling Yi.
After all, Ling Yi also needs some private space.
“Still no signs of consciousness being born…”
After walking further away, I spoke up to Sister Bai, who looked curious.
“So that unborn wood elemental is similar to… a vegetative state existence?”
“A vegetative state at least has consciousness, whether it’s in deep sleep or awake, there is still awareness. That wood elemental is different; consciousness seems not as easily born as I imagined.”
“Then Xiaoran, what do you think a soul without consciousness is?”
“Considered… as material? Just like soul material, it’s an important part of life, but life is not just a pile of these materials.” This made me think of the differences between mimetic soul and soul drawing.
Mimetic soul is a pile-up of mimetic souls; at this moment, the ancient ice remains in the ice snow throne have not yet become true life because of this essence.
But I’m also curious… if the King of Ancient Ice Remains becomes true life, then what would the relationship between that life and me be?
A life clone?
This is a domain my current externalization technique cannot reach.
My clones are not life; those above the extraordinary easily perceive them when facing my clones.
Perhaps in the game world, the extraordinary cannot interfere; otherwise, they would instantly sense that I am actually the clone there.
While I was speaking with Sister Bai, we slowly arrived at the edge of Lake Heart Island.
In a spot with excellent scenery, a wooden framework for a house had been erected.
This was the second place Sister Bai and I chose to stay.
It was also a picturesque lakeside house.
“Sister Bai, let’s hurry up and finish building this house, then we can go somewhere, how about it?”
“What? And there’s something to do? Sister Bai immediately understood what I meant that the main body had to do personally.
“Yes, I’m planning to take a trip to the Ice Snow Throne Secret Realm; it’s time for my ancient ice clone to secretly come out and have a look,” I directly stated.
“Are we not leaving right now?”
“Our new house isn’t ready yet.” I pointed at the wooden house framework next to us.
After all, this matter just happened not long ago, and the members from the All-purpose Workshop who had retreated from the Gruelosen Wilderness had not spread the information; naturally, we needed to wait.
“Since you’re not in a hurry, then I’m not in a hurry either~ Let’s go! Together, let’s prepare some materials we will need,” Sister Bai said, pulling my hand enthusiastically.
……
As the club members stationed in the Gruelosen Wilderness, bewildered, began to pack their things and prepare to return to school.
They repeatedly confirmed that the core didn’t need to be taken back before they reluctantly left.
Though confused, this issue was clearly not something they needed to worry about; moreover, they really did not feel comfortable living in the Gruelosen Wilderness.
The academy dormitory bed is so much more comfortable!
Seeing that the people from the Witch Academy had really left, leaving nothing behind but an unmovable core, they still hardened their resolve to relay this back.
Not long after, the Wizard Academy, Elf Academy, Angel Academy, and other top-tier, large extraordinary academies sent students here one after another.
“Wait… did those witches really give this secret realm to them? Didn’t the gossip say this realm doesn’t belong to any club?”
“Not clear; maybe the rumors are false.”
“Contacted the witches… the secret realm is not for us, and no one outside the Witch Academy is allowed to enter without permission…”
“Hahaha! Isn’t this funny! They left, and they say we can’t go in, just like that? Do they have such a big face?”
“Be careful! This could very well be a trap! Are you foolish enough to think witches wouldn’t trick you?” The representatives from the Wizard side best calm down, while also venting about someone who spoke heedlessly earlier.
Upon seeing that the angry person was from the Wizard faction, everyone instantly fell silent.
The wizards’ tactics are extremely sinister; they don’t want to be killed by these heartless people, or they would have nowhere to voice their grievances.
Staying in an extraordinary academy for long, one comes to realize that life is truly cheap in the academy.
The only time you are valuable is when others use you as an excuse to threaten death compensation.
When someone dies, no one cares.
Not every extraordinary academy is as harmonious as the Witch Academy; the fear… is just surface-level harmony.
The main world merely covers up the truth of the world with surface civilization; the world of the extraordinary has always been one of survival of the fittest.
At this moment, facing such a secret core, many people had no idea what to do.
They dared not recklessly enter the secret realm, after all, there is a powerful ancient ice presence inside.
If those witches had set traps at the entrance before leaving, they would be dead!
Although… using a secret realm to exchange the lives of a few of them seems unworthy.
But they didn’t dare gamble with their lives.
Even if their lives are worthless in the eyes of the extraordinary, they still treasure them.
Not long after the information came back, each academy sent some people over to check the situation.
After all, for such an abnormal situation, it was only right to let trusted individuals personally assess the conditions.
Once confirmed, they were overjoyed!
Although there had been communication with the Witch Academy for a long time, and the secret realm was still not transferred, they had now regarded it as highly valued.
Soon, they quickly set up a temporary base on the vacant land from where the Witch Academy had moved.
Originally, they actually planned to move the secret realm core, but after attempting it, they found it was futile.
The Witch Academy’s witch secret realm core could not be moved by ordinary means; furthermore, it gathered representatives from various academies, making it inappropriate to move.
After all, even such a secret realm, even just as an empty shell, has enormous value.
So in the end, they could only leave it in place.
Although the secret realm core is still within the radiation zone of the Witch Academy, there is a lot of contention around the Gruelosen Wilderness; if the witches really come looking for it, they also have confidence to engage in a back-and-forth.
If possible, they even wanted to completely drive away the witches; they didn’t like a group of witches bossing them around.
After a brief discussion, they unilaterally eliminated the Witch Academy’s group and quickly established a joint secret development team.
With the three top academies leading, they proposed to completely seal away the ancient ice presence within the secret realm.
After all, the previous attempt and the loss of personnel made them realize that their combat strength could not kill it on its home turf.
So changing tactics, they planned to use the complex sealing techniques of the wizards to trap it instead.
They found that the ancient ice in the secret realm seemed capable of leaving at any moment, but for unknown reasons, it had not left.
Since they couldn’t use ordinary means to take the core, they had to use other extraordinary means for assistance.
The sealing techniques mastered by wizards are very versatile; for example, the spatial folding sealing technique is very suitable for enclosing this secret realm. Later, they could use spatial transfer magic to “move” the sealed core between the folded space.
As for where to move it, that wasn’t important; as long as it wasn’t within the witch’s territory, it was fine.
Now, their primary goal is to use special means to enter the secret realm and test it out.
Whether it’s spells, alchemical items, or even puppets or clones, they need to explore the secret realm to confirm that those witches haven’t left any “surprises” for them.
Only then can they return safely to the secret realm.
After a tense exploration, confirming no dangers awaited them, the confusion among the crowd deepened.
Why did the witches urgently evacuate those people?
But after thinking for a long time, no one could provide a correct answer; ultimately, it could only be concluded that those from the Witch Academy suddenly had a lapse in judgment.
If at this moment the members from the Witch Secret Realm and the All-purpose Workshop were here, they would definitely say they didn’t wish for this either.
However, with the information returned by Fu Xinglan and Tracy, along with the continuous updates on new information, they had to completely extinguish their hopes for this secret realm.
The Ice Snow Throne secret realm is a “one-time” secret realm. When the Ancient Ice gathers all its fragments and reshapes into the Great Spellbook, that is when the secret realm collapses.
This news was something they were unaware of before, but now they knew.
Furthermore, they also learned of one thing; the last fragment of the Great Ice and Snow Throne Technique, the missing Heart of Cold Wave, is in the hands of a little assistant witch!
This means that as long as a certain little witch assistant wishes for it, this secret realm can be blown up like fireworks at any moment!
This immediately reminded many within the club of the threat brought back by Ming Xueming earlier.
If the club continues to cling to rumors against them, they could treat the secret realm as fireworks and blow it up.
This statement was not empty talk!
Thus, this led the club to realize that it was time to let go.
Shortly after, they also received a notice from the academy stating that the Ice Snow Throne secret realm had officially entered the process of decommissioning, with the specific demolition time still pending.
Before the decommissioning, the club could conduct unlimited destructive development and utilization of the secret realm.
However, knowing what was truly going on, the club members could hardly take this as a serious matter.
Development?
What to develop?
This secret realm has been a trap dug out by the academy from start to finish!
The academy made no commitments to this.
If asked why the academy treated them this way, the academy would simply respond:
“Assess the impending decommissioned secret realm and allow students to repurpose it.”
All those flashy tricks were merely their own self-indulgent fantasies.
Moreover, the academy did not deceive them; this was indeed a research secret realm for the Great Ice and Snow Throne Technique, which had been abandoned for so long. It was now being brought out surely due to its impending decommissioning, and it indeed contained research materials related to the Great Spellbook.
However, the club had lost any desire to bargain over these trivial matters with the academy.
The entire situation was just a clear signal from the academy: they were extremely biased toward that little witch assistant Yang Yuelan.
Anyone who tried to plot against her would not meet a good end!
However, the insiders from the Witch Academy would absolutely not share these convoluted details with the others!
Let those who thought they gained a secret realm for free enjoy it for a while longer; it wouldn’t be long before they stopped smiling.
Moreover, the members within the Witch Academy also vaguely felt that this secret realm seemed to be a pit dug by the Witch Academy for the other academies.
Although they had thrown away everything, this didn’t stop them from coldly observing these people falling into the trap set by the witches.
And all of this, the parties involved remained completely unaware.
These individuals in the Gruelosen Wilderness, after probing the secret realm and confirming no traps, did not have a good progress.
To improve efficiency and not alert the members from the Witch Academy, they had to speed up.
So after preparing the spellcasting materials for sealing, they tentatively re-entered the secret realm again.
But not long after, accompanied by a distortion of the space around the secret realm core, several figures were hurled from the torn-open space.
Several-meter-long ice crystals pierced through these individuals’ bodies, embedding them into the wilderness!
“Wow!”
Those stationed outside the secret realm gasped at such a scene!
“Hurry! Save them! Damn, their bodies are pierced… their undying nature has already been exhausted; what kind of cruel creature is inside?”
“Where are those who master space techniques? Help out! Quickly return to the academy and notify the instructor to arrange a revival ceremony!”
After a chaotic emergency response, the grim first battle added a sense of absurdity to the atmosphere.
Ultimately, the few who remained there, watching the ice crystal spikes scattered around the secret realm core, appeared somewhat dazed, with bloodstains still frozen on them from those who were sent away.
One person stepped forward, picked up a fragmented object resembling ice crystal, and carefully examined it in hand.
“What are you doing with those broken ice things? Throw them away, so unlucky!” At this moment, someone passing by spoke up.
“Wait! These ice crystals… seem to be materials that can conduct extraordinary power?”
