Chapter 908: Experience the Local Customs of Another World on the Day of Departure
“Um… low-cost world crossing?”
“Yes, you’ve touched on a very key point.” Sheryl said with a smile.
“Wait, how do they know so much? They are already planning to use me?” I frowned and said.
“Look at what you’re saying! My friend, you don’t socialize or have much contact with the outside world, but don’t treat people like fools. What you can do, what you have shown in terms of methods and spells, have all been analyzed by professionals. Do you think others won’t know about the shamelessness of how you use the Reverse Summoning Spell?”
“Really…? Well, alright…” I responded quietly, as I truly hadn’t expected to be noticed to this extent, with dedicated think tanks analyzing me…
Sure enough, your enemies know you best.
But even as enemies, perhaps they still don’t understand everything about me by now.
After all… just the spells and their derivatives that I master… I even need the Great Spellbook to catalog them.
“So, can you guess what they originally wanted to transport you for?”
“The Great Ice Snow Engineering Technique?” I speculated.
“Bingo! They really want this. After learning about the world-crossing power of the Reverse Summoning Spell, they’ve been committed to this spell.”
“Is it that serious? I’m a bit frightened now. If this spell leaks out, wouldn’t that mean…”
“Don’t worry—I’ve talked to that Teacher Ji about this spell. It originates from a piece of Extraordinary Knowledge, and its power also comes from Extraordinary Knowledge. It is not something that can be replicated by ordinary means, somewhat similar to your Great Knowledge Seed. Although the principles are different, the concepts are similar. This is also the main reason why this Reverse Summoning Spellbook has not been widely circulated in the academy.”
“I see…”
I nodded, realizing that if the method for low-cost world crossing could be continuously replicated by conventional means, that would indeed be absurd.
“So they can’t steal it, even if they have the analysis of the spell’s structure, they cannot replicate this miracle. In fact, to some extent, it’s not even as good as the high-energy spatial teleportation techniques they possess. So they’ve set their sights on you; after all, you are currently the only non-extraordinary being who holds this spellbook.”
“But they clearly miscalculated.”
“Yeah! Who told you to just hang around the academy? Now you’ve even gone to the experiment zone where the students can’t go, which has really annoyed them.”
“I can relate a bit; I definitely resent this.”
“Right! And I want to point out that they actually have another purpose for wanting to send you to the game world.”
“To ambush me?” I continued.
“Exactly! After all, you’re being protected too well; they have no chance to act, so they plan to lure you out in another way.”
“Then why haven’t they acted yet?”
“Because the fragments aren’t all in your hands yet! Isn’t that a simple reason?”
“…”
I took the tea and stirred it, trying to mask my embarrassment.
“What did you mean when you sent those fragments to me earlier?” I awkwardly changed the subject, turning my attention to her.
“Because I wanted to help them a bit, so you could quickly step onto the stage that belongs to you.” Sheryl said with a smile, showing no hesitation.
“You’re quite honest…” I teased.
“I’ve said before that I’m very sincere towards you. At that time, I didn’t know enough about you. I need you to exhibit enough value quickly, to see if you… truly possess the qualities of a Truth Witch!”
“…”
“Xiao Han, you understand the situation with witches. If they have enough magic power along with a powerful spellbook, they will be a powerful witch. This advantage allows the witch clan to master strong combat power at the fastest speed. Even a witch who can only throw fireballs can become the strongest among the Holy Realm.”
So, judging a witch’s strength isn’t about so-called combat power or output. Guess why the highest honor of the witch clan is crowned with the name “Truth”?
What are you saying this for?
Aren’t you curious why I suddenly seem to be in no rush?
Not curious, and I see you’re pretty anxious about it?” I continued to tease.
“Am I? Alright~” Sheryl blushed slightly, then picked up her tea to take a sip, trying to cover her embarrassment.
In any case, I now have ample time to respect your wishes, because you’ve demonstrated talents and methods that have satisfied me to an extraordinary degree. Just these aspects are enough to mask any shortcomings you have, that’s my evaluation.
…”
Do you think I’m exaggerating too much?
Hmm.
Not at all~ I’m just telling you that it’s time for you to recognize yourself. You can actually do things that are more willful than you expect. So… when, where, and in what manner do you plan to do some “willful” things?
Your words sound as if you can just go anytime, anywhere?
Not exactly… but close enough~” Sheryl said confidently.
Just like the game world, as if it truly is a game.
After all, Sheryl understands very well that even though the extraordinary cannot intervene inside, it doesn’t mean her will isn’t there.
There are many conflicts and contradictions in the game world, such as the Real Protection Association, which has been labeled as anti-human and anti-social, and that’s just one of them.
Moreover… as a seasoned Betraying Witch, how would Sheryl’s view of the Little Witch differ from that of other Betraying Witches?
“That’s quite a confident statement…”
“How could I not be confident? So Xiao Han, you just need to give a clear answer, and I’ll handle everything else. Don’t you think it’s actually thrilling to sneakily do this sort of thing with Principal Mei?”
“Alright~ let’s consider it… a way to understand the local customs of another world.”
“Are you agreeing?”
“I agree.”
……
Ice Snow Throne Secret Realm.
“Mhm~ Ah… this wind and snow are truly life-threatening…” Shi Ruizhi got up from the snow, complaining.
She had just fallen in the snow, and her stamina was somewhat lacking after spending days with Tan Wei and the others searching for research sites beneath the snow.
Though they found some temporary experimental locations, these weren’t the real main laboratories.
Moreover, they couldn’t understand the data they found, and after sharing it with the Great Knowledge Seed, there was no response.
It was clear that Xiao Xun couldn’t provide any valuable information in a short time either.
The tough search process had lasted a whole day until Tan Wei and the others chose to take a break again.
“We’ve been stuck in this ice snow mage den for several days, haven’t we?” Shi Ruizhi gently pounded her fists on the ice wall, producing only a dull sound without any other reaction.
Tan Wei and her group were searching for buildings buried beneath the snow, and since they’d made no progress above, they chose to search beneath the ice snow with the help of ancient ice water. This way, they could avoid the wind and snow disasters from above and be a bit safer.
It just made it difficult for those ancient ice remains who were creating the underground ice snow passages.
“Well, it’s okay; at least it’s better than eating snow up top. The detection spells have been efficient using underground ice and snow as a medium. We’ve detected a large-scale detection barrier area ahead, consistent with the observation stations we found before.”
“That’s the feedback from building detection.”
“So shall we rest here? Isn’t it better to just push through without stopping?” Shi Ruizhi asked, confused.
“We need to rest well so we can deal with various changes ahead…”
Just as Tan Lan was speaking, they suddenly felt the tremors of the ice and snow layer!
Even the entire underground ice structure emitted a sound of fracture.
“Whoa… no, what’s going on? Did the ancient ice above start moving?”
Shi Ruizhi spoke with a touch of fear, realizing that she wouldn’t be buried alive after all, which made her braver; then she approached a nearby ancient ice remain that had curled up into a ball.
This particular ancient ice was not very large compared to those minions they had encountered before, but it revealed a kind of “delicacy” that was different.
Because this one was among the royal family of the ancient ice and was also the witness and contractor of the pact made with Tan Lan and the others.
Lie.
That was the name of this ancient ice.
Only royal ancient ice has its own name.
“Lie, do you know what’s happening up there?”
“The aura of my kind… hmm…”
Lie’s voice was very clear, resembling a kind of icy crystal collision, and the language they spoke was indeed that of the main world.
“Could it be? Someone really managed to find this? We were the first to come here! Should we just skip the rest and head up?” Shi Ruizhi said anxiously.
She felt that someone finding this wasn’t a coincidence, and those guys must have discovered the laboratory here too.
“Don’t rush; the place of fighting is quite far from us; it seems it’s not over yet. Besides, even if we haven’t confirmed that’s the laboratory, how can others lock onto it?” Tan Jun spoke to calm her down.
“What if…?”
“What if that’s a collaborative development? Or do you think the three of us, plus a royal ancient ice, can’t take them on? Don’t forget, there’s a battle going on above. We wouldn’t be able to handle them even after the fight; we should head back directly.”
“Seems… that’s actually a point.” Shi Ruizhi nodded, appearing less anxious.
“Let’s wait quietly.” Tan Jun said.
“Okay…” Shi Ruizhi also had no better options, just nodding.
As for Xiao You, when she didn’t speak, she became like a transparent person, and now she lost even the ancient ice transformation technique, making her a hindrance in battle.
But… in that transaction process, she also voluntarily surrendered the transformation technique; for her, it felt more like a kind of mental release.
The long wait was a silent torment, as they witnessed that battle moving from a distance closer to them, then gradually moving in another direction, losing its sound.
Finally, it was Shi Ruizhi who broke the silence.
“Do you think… should we go up and check the situation?”
“Maybe it’s best not to complicate matters?” At this moment, Xiao You spoke up.
After all, they were about to reach their destination; naturally, she didn’t want any more surprises.
“That….” Tan Jun was also somewhat hesitant. According to her initial plan, she was actually in the same mindset as Xiao You. No matter what happened in the end, the ancient ice would handle everything, and they wouldn’t need to worry.
Yet she felt a stirring desire to go take a look.
She was no longer the newcomer who didn’t know anything. Typically, such situations were often reminders from fate.
Now that she was asking questions, she learned to analyze motivations from a higher perspective.
Fate always drives the most significant developments and turning points at critical moments, but that doesn’t mean that every event is beneficial for her.
This was a pure gamble.
“What do you think is the worst-case scenario we might face?” Tan Jun hesitated for a moment, then asked.
“Why the sudden question? Are you afraid of any surprises?”
“Um, I just wanted to know if you’re afraid of surprises.”
“Of course, I’m not afraid of surprises. After all, I’ve volunteered to accompany you here; what could be worse than this itself?” Shi Ruizhi said.
“I… I’m sorry; I’m a bit selfish. I really don’t want any surprises, but I also don’t wish for my thoughts to sway our group’s opinions. Sister Tan, go ahead based on your thinking. If something really does happen, at least I won’t be a burden.”
“Let’s take a look. We’ve bet everything on this gamble, placing our chips on a higher-level gamble. Any surprises at our level ultimately cannot affect Xiao Han… cough… higher levels.”
With Tan Jun’s statement, no one contradicted her.
Then Tan Jun’s gaze turned to Lie beside them.
“Thank you for your help.”
“Not a problem.”
With that polite phrase, the next moment, Lie shot straight up; the solid ice formed from the accumulated snow was as fragile as sand to it.
Those controlling the snow and ice were the favored ones of this world, and the places beneath the solid ice were where they could play freely.
Tan Jing quickly dodged and moved, but aside from the initial ice shards falling, the imagined scene of ice crystals crashing down hadn’t occurred.
And at this moment, above the snow.
Accompanied by a wave of tremors, the wind and snow surged from the ground, but soon, these shattered ice crystals merged into the snowstorm, scattering across the ground.
Then, a colossal figure sparkling with icy crystal luster leapt forth alongside the shattered crystals, finally landing on the upper layer of loosely piled snow.
The wind and snow surged through the long ice pathways, mixing with the storm as it entered the underground area.
“Let’s go; it’s time to check it out~” Tan Jing extended her hand to catch a falling snowflake, then spoke to the two beside her.
