Chapter 628: Issues with Mimetic Soul
Witch Academy.
Laboratory.
“Hi~ everyone, Witch Sisters, I’m back temporarily~” Upon returning and seeing those familiar Witch Sisters, I couldn’t help but greet them.
“It’s Xiao Han! Why did you suddenly come back from the Expanding Realm?”
“Yeah, you got involved in a big deal a few days ago, why are you back so soon?”
In the laboratory, many Witch Sisters became lively upon my return.
After all, during my absence, they had been quite busy. Some witches left the team, and new witches joined.
Most importantly, the main experimental project, the technique for condensing Knowledge Seeds from the Knowledge Tree, has basically been perfected!
The Knowledge Tree, birthed from the Great Knowledge Seed, can now autonomously condense seeds!
“So, it has been successful? Then… have experiments started?” I asked curiously.
“Currently, we’ve successfully simulated experiments within the Consciousness Crystal. As long as we conduct instance simulations, collect data, and make some adjustments, we should be good to go.”
“Instance simulation?”
“Right, that’s when we release missions, and volunteers from the student body will come to cooperate with the experiments. If successful, we can start making adjustments and then begin mass production.”
“I see? You can even release tasks?” I inquired, somewhat surprised.
“Of course! Tasks are released based on danger levels and corresponding rewards. With instructors backing it up, even if the experiment fails, we can use the Resurrection Spell to bring people back. In case of unexpected accidents, mental compensations will also be provided.” One Witch Sister explained to me quite easily.
From her demeanor, it seems she had often done this before joining my lab…
I had no idea there was such a group in the Witch Academy, using themselves as test subjects for instructors to research?
To what extent is the lack of funds to resort to this?
“Alright, another one has signed up, totaling 23 now. That should be enough, right? I’ll remove the task.”
“How many? 23? So many people for the experiment?” I asked in surprise.
“Of course! We need to conduct multiple sets of control experiments~ We are very confident in our success, so we recruited a few more for the next step of control experiments.”
“We initially planned to find 100 to make a complete set, but with the Expanding Realm open recently, fewer people have signed up.”
“I see…”
I nodded and didn’t meddle. Since they had their ideas, I didn’t need to interfere.
Moreover, I had my own experiments to conduct upon returning.
Before I arrived at the laboratory, I had already informed the Fool Dream, so when I got to the agreed independent laboratory, I saw their figures.
“Sister Xiao Han! It’s Sister Xiao Han~”
“Sister Xiao Han, it’s been so long since that time, I hadn’t heard from you at all.”
“Well, didn’t I say? I found a new breakthrough in the Mimetic Soul technique and need to continue deeper research?” I bent down and patted Yu Lan’s little head while also giving a rub on their cat ears, which were fluffy and very cute.
Though I had lied when telling them that earlier, I managed to cover it up with my own skill and luck.
“So this time, did you succeed, Sister Xiao Han?”
“Sort of. The technique for Mimetic Souls is roughly perfected, but relying solely on this technique isn’t enough to make you into true life.” I sighed.
“That’s okay! Sister Xiao Han is amazing; you will definitely succeed in the future!”
I nodded. Amidst their calls of “Sister Xiao Han,” I began the experiment.
Of course, rather than calling it an experiment, it would be more accurate to say it was a simple spellcasting. I had only ever tried the Mimetic Soul on myself and had never let Fool Dreams attempt it before.
After trying with the Fool Dreams, I discovered the problem.
Using the Mimetic Soul on them required an important spellcasting material!
Soul Material.
When I applied it to myself, I was already the essence of a soul, so the Mimetic Soul included both the spellcasting target and the spellcasting “material.” But this wasn’t the case for the Fool Dreams; they were of the essence of dreams without a basis of life. How could they create a Mimetic Soul out of nothing?
“Wait a minute, I think I may have found the issue.” I quickly comforted the Fool Dreams and immediately used the Knowledge Tree to deduce a corresponding spellcasting ceremony after adding the spellcasting materials.
Before long, I had worked out that ceremony.
Next, I took out several Soul Crystals.
These are high-concentration crystals of soul material that I collected from the Expanding Realm, very precious, and now they became spellcasting materials I could freely use.
Then I took out several Aoqin as auxiliary spellcasting materials to refine, and with these materials, I outlined the ritual array.
The golden sheen of the Aoqin traced glowing runes on the ground.
The reason this spellcasting ritual array is traditionally drawn on the ground is that drawing on the ground allows for better contact with the earth veins, relying on the carrying capacity of earth vein energy to ensure that the drawn ritual does not “leak.”
This is actually a custom formed due to the earlier developmental insufficiencies in spellcasting techniques.
In present-day spell rituals, if the personal technical ability is lacking, special extraordinary materials are used as spellcasting disks, and borrowing earth vein energy has become a very primitive method.
As for those with very high technical ability, they can draw it randomly wherever they like, as doing it on the ground is merely for convenience.
Since I severed the Earth Vein Shackles, I completely cut off my affinity with the earth veins, making it impossible to communicate with earth vein energy. Coupled with my significant research in rune rituals, I belong to the latter group.
After completing the outline of the ritual, I placed several Soul Crystals on the ritual array as nodes for the ceremony, then activated the ritual and unleashed the Mimetic Soul technique.
The three Fool Dreams simultaneously sensed a change, as though their consciousness had separated from their bodies. It was impossible for their dream essence to manifest in reality initially.
However, here, there was no phenomenon of dream overlapping, yet their consciousness had separated and reached me!
“Success!”
I watched as their consciousness appeared in reality, trembling with excitement… this was the joy of success!
I completely crossed over from the void of dreams, taking the meaningless dream essence and bridging the boundary of reality, bringing it into the real world!
Looking at the three Fool Dreams, at this moment, they exhibited an essence similar to soul material but slightly above it, approaching soul yet not quite soul.
They seemed unfamiliar with this state, a bit lost, but after a while, they began to adapt.
At this moment, they left their bodies and manifested in reality as Mimetic Souls.
They wanted to speak but found themselves unable to make a sound.
After all, their state resembled death; the soul ditched the body, and the deceased can emit no sound.
Unless one masters special soul voice techniques, can the people in reality hear their voices.
However, I have Spirit Vision. With the continuous acquisition and refinement of the Earth Vein Identification Technique, along with the interpretation and presentation of earth vein information, my mastery over Spirit Vision has become increasingly terrifying.
Initially, Spirit Vision gave me two “conundrums.”
One allowed me to see information from “real time” that transcended my own understanding, which I couldn’t comprehend.
The other showed me vast amounts of information from “real time,” which overwhelmed my consciousness.
As I integrated Spirit Vision into all aspects of my life, my ability to accept vast information continually increased, while the subconscious ability to filter these pieces of information also improved.
The refinement of the Earth Vein Identification Technique gave me the understanding to comprehend the information obtained through Spirit Vision.
Thus, for me, the Earth Vein Identification Technique provides another method of information acquisition, that being real time.
So now, Spirit Vision is no longer a burden for me but a benefit; it offers me an “avenue” to obtain additional information and enhances my “understanding” of more information.
So even if the Fool Dreams want to speak but cannot, I can “see” what they want to say. Their thoughts have been expressed, merely presented as information, which I can understand.
If I mastered the languages of other worlds, I could also discern what someone from that world wished to convey when in such a state.
“Take it easy, adapt to this state; this is the Mimetic Soul. You all did it! You’re wonderful!” I said, soothing them.
“Sister Xiao Han…”
“It’s strange… I feel dizzy… I want to go back…”
I “saw” the Fool Dreams speaking. Though they seemed happy, their current state was not good.
“Then hurry back to your bodies; it’s indeed strange to be in a Mimetic Soul for too long without a vessel.” I quickly nodded, having experienced it myself.
However, just as I thought things were resolved, an accident occurred.
“Sister Xiao Han, it’s so strange, I can’t go back…”
“Can’t go back, this body can’t establish a connection…”
“What’s wrong?” I quickly checked the situation. “Can’t go back? How can that be… Have you not mastered the method? Then feel your body and return, slowly find that feeling of controlling your body again.”
“Um… still not working…”
“How could this happen?” I frowned and asked.
I had long mastered this method of separating from the soul from experiencing the boundary between dreams and reality using many techniques, such as Dream Demon Spells, Resurrection Spells, and Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, etc. Naturally, the primary counterpart was the Resurrection Spell, as it reshapes an intact body to guide soul material or souls to return.
I thought perhaps the Fool Dreams lacked experience in this regard, so I directly used the Resurrection Spell to derive soul guidance, forcefully attempting to insert their Mimetic Souls back into their bodies.
But… I failed.
“How is this possible?!”
That was my first reaction; how could a body not accommodate a Mimetic Soul?
Even a body can hold soul material or souls. Why wouldn’t a Mimetic Soul during this period?
I subconsciously swallowed, a tension I hadn’t felt in a long time began to spread within me.
I suppressed this emotion, knowing I couldn’t be anxious now.
So I needed to stay calm and analyze the reason.
Could it be… the body cannot adapt to the Mimetic Soul?
It’s like a preparatory witch undergoing a transformation after ascending to become an extraordinary witch, obtaining the body talent of self-generated magic…
But thinking too much yielded no results; this body was created for them by Principal Mei, so… now running into problems, I could ask her.
Yes!
This seemed like the best plan.
After all, I couldn’t afford to delay the current issue, and there wasn’t enough time for me to research it slowly.
I should ask Principal Mei!
Having made up my mind, I lifted the bodies of the three Fool Dreams from the ritual array and stood up.
“Yu Lan, Yu Yun, Yu Guo, come with me; we are going to find the Principal.” I turned to their Mimetic Soul forms and spoke.
I then opened the door and left the independent laboratory.
The three Fool Dreams followed me in their semi-transparent Mimetic Soul forms.
Upon exiting the laboratory, I encountered the Witch Sisters outside, and several young girls resembling students stood outside as well; I didn’t have time to explain everything.
“Everyone, Witch Sisters, I have to step out for a bit.”
My figure flashed and disappeared from the laboratory, followed by the three Fool Dreams floating in the air behind me.
“Hey? Where is Xiao Han in such a rush?”
“Those three following Xiao Han are Fool Dreams, right? Did I see that wrong?”
“Wait, Fool Dreams are dream creatures, how did I see their dream consciousness forms in reality… huh? What did Xiao Han do?”
Simply greeting them, the busy witches only had a fleeting glance but quickly noticed something was off.
Realizing something was wrong, the witches looked up, staring at the now vanished figure, lost in thought for a while.
“Umm… was that just now actually Sister Xiao Han?” The students waiting here curiously asked, looking at the overwhelmed teachers.
“Yes, that was Xiao Han. You all stay here and wait; once everyone arrives, we will start the experiment.”
“Right, this time it’s your chance; you get to experience the experiment’s content early. First, sign this Witch Contract.” At this moment, one witch approached, handing a stack of Witch Contracts over.
…
Expanding Realm.
Second Large Refuge in Seed Vault.
Not long after I left, many students gathered here.
These individuals came to visit teaching assistant Xiao Han and brought many generous gifts.
However, they quickly realized their efforts were in vain.
The teaching assistant Xiao Han was nowhere to be found, and inquiries with the locals, including the eighteen managers overseeing the construction of the refuge, left them clueless.
Originally intending to seek help to eliminate the dream overlapping phenomenon, these individuals now sensed a “malicious intent” from the other side.
Some returned to relay this information back, explaining the current situation, while others, presumably under strict orders, waited indefinitely for the return of the professor.
After learning the news, everyone sighed; indeed, that teaching assistant Xiao Han was so free… No one knew what that person was thinking.
Labeling her a destabilizing factor seemed entirely justified.
Yet, despite the uncertainty, searching for her was a must; their current location in Ninglan New City was bound to be affected soon by the latest dream overlapping area. Following the conditions of the Dream Demon Spell they learned, they had to be responsible for all residents of Ninglan New City.
Thus, for the residents of Ninglan New City and for themselves, they had to find her and resolve the issues.
