Chapter 629: Elective and Specialized Study in the Witch Project

Academy Head Mei Linde's office.

“A rare visitor, Xiaohan I don't usually see you running over here. Have you run into some problem again?”

Mei Linde looked up immediately after sensing a visitor in her office.

However, upon seeing the visitor, she also raised a kind smile.

After all, who would wear a stern face when meeting a good student?

But after seeing her, Mei Linde's attention was immediately drawn to the three Fool's Dream girls held in my arms and the three illusory figures following behind.

As the creator of the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell, her understanding of Fool's Dream was very clear.

It was precisely for this reason that her expression was so solemn.

Because, according to her conventional knowledge, some things should not exist in this manner.

“Big Sis Mei Please help save Fool's Dream.”

I immediately requested upon arriving.

Because I had to carry Fool's Dream, it was inconvenient to use the Teleportation Spell, so I had flown over on a Flying Broom the whole way.

“Don't be in such a hurry. Tell me exactly what happened first.”

Mei Linde also stood up and came to my side.

Her gaze turned to the Fool's Dream girls in their mimicked soul state, but she ultimately chose to understand the situation first.

The situation here also attracted several other Witches in the office.

The Academy Head's office, by rights, should only have Academy Head Mei's workstation.

However, due to various reasons, including but not limited to the precision instruments for the Destiny Gazing Technique, there were often many Witches gathering for meetings or tea parties in Academy Head Mei's office.

“It's like this: previously, due to some ideas, I experimented on Fool's Dream, and now Fool's Dream's consciousness cannot return to their bodies.”

I quickly organized my thoughts and explained the predicament I was facing in the most concise language.

“Fool's Dream's consciousness...”

Mei Linde reached out to touch Fool's Dream at this moment, not touching their bodies, but their mimicked soul conscious bodies.

Quickly, a look of understanding flashed in her eyes.

“Fool's Dream's current state is very strange. What exactly did you do to them? Tell me first. Fool's Dream's current state is very stable; there's no need to be so anxious.”

“This... alright.”

I nodded.

Previously, because I hadn't observed too carefully, my first instinct was to seek the Academy Head's help for a solution.

But on the way here, I also noticed that the Fool's Dream's state was quite stable; they just couldn't return to their original bodies.

Moreover, as Fool's Dream slowly adapted to this Soul Mimicry state, their condition was no longer as "listless" as before.

I instinctively reached out for the chair Academy Head Mei Linde had temporarily created for me, and also placed the bodies of the three Fool's Dream girls on a side bench.

At this moment, their bodies looked as if they were sleeping, completely still.

“Um... well, I used a technique called Soul Mimicry on Fool's Dream. This is a technique derived from the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell.”

“Soul Mimicry...”

Academy Head Mei repeated the term, then looked at me, signaling me to continue.

“Yes, Soul Mimicry. The predecessor of this technique was a hypothesis of mine. Since Fool's Dream wants to become a true life form, I must grant them the essence of life. And the soul is the bridge connecting reality and the Dream State, so I used the concept of the soul as a breakthrough point to bring their Dream State consciousness into reality.”

“...”

“Later, I found that I couldn't directly make them the essence of the soul, so I could only temporarily compromise and first let them detach from the Dream State essence to become an objective concept existing in reality. This is how the hypothesis of Soul Mimicry was derived; it is a technique that simulates the soul form.”

“Continue.”

Mei Linde prompted.

“Um... the experiment was very successful. I even experienced it myself once, which is why I used it on Fool's Dream. When I used it on them, I also used Soul Crystals as spell-casting material to complete the Soul Mimicry for them. In fact, I could change them back to their original state, but... they refused.”

“Soul Mimicry, this technique is a derivation from the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell, correct? It's not a Sequence Derivation?”

Mei Linde continued to ask.

The Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell was her own creation.

She meticulously analyzed that [Transcendent Knowledge] little by little, ultimately creating the Spell.

Therefore, she should be the Witch who understood this Grand Spellbook the most.

And this was the crux of the problem.

Precisely because she theoretically had a complete understanding of [Transcendent Knowledge], she understood the extent of what the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell could achieve.

She could even complete the Sequence Derivation of the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell without any hindrance, relying on the analysis and understanding of [Transcendent Knowledge].

But... Soul Mimicry, such a derivation was unknown to her.

And there was no connection whatsoever between it and the "Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell."

Suddenly, Mei Linde recalled something else.

Shadow of Knowledge, Earth Vein Appraisal Spell, Destiny Gazing Technique... she similarly could not connect these derived techniques with the Grand Spellbook called the "Great Tree of Knowledge."

Could it be that the name of this Grand Spellbook was inaccurate?

No, it wasn't.

It was just that the person using it had accomplished unconventional things using conventional means.

“Yes... it's indeed not a Sequence Derivation, but it's an inspiration I gained from the revelation of Fool's Dream. Since Fool's Dream is strongly correlated with this [Transcendent Knowledge], I'm wondering if I took the wrong path.”

“No, wait, your idea is wrong. A technique exists because it has meaning. Perhaps you haven't taken the wrong path.”

Mei Linde quickly corrected me.

“Oh, so that's how it is.”

This seemed to align somewhat with my thoughts.

I also didn't think I took the wrong path.

If this technique was useless to me, it was only because it was unsuitable for my needs, not because it was inherently worthless.

Meanwhile, the Witches listening nearby were completely bewildered, though they were merely surprised and impressed, not utterly shocked.

“Xiaohan, do you know what you are doing now?”

At this moment, after briefly summarizing the content of what I said, Mei Linde had a general understanding of my actions.

“Um... I'm trying to create a brand new life form.”

This was my initial intention for doing this, so I answered truthfully.

And this was also an agreement of a trial, a bargaining chip exchanged for obtaining the Grand Spellbook of the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Spell.

“Xiaohan, you must have some understanding of the Witch Project, haven't you?”

“Um, yes, I've looked into some.”

I nodded.

However, my understanding of the Project was limited to the ones I had encountered, such as Big Sis Bai's Ordinary Project, and the Soul, Spell, Evocation, and Element Specialization Projects I had heard of.

But why was the Academy Head suddenly changing the subject?

“Your current action is an attempt to step into a Witch Project, and... you've stepped into the great project of the Soul Domain.”

Mei Linde said to me with a serious expression.

Even the few Witch Sisters nearby had lost their previous calm demeanor.

“Ah? What...”

“You have inadvertently stepped onto the path of the Great Project of the Soul, and you did so without any foundation of learning. To give you an analogy, if you had been born earlier, before the time when the Great Project of the Soul was proposed, your actions would be carving out a brand new Great Project.”

“Um... isn't that a bit exaggerated? I'm not completely ignorant of the soul, am I? I only started after having a basic understanding of the soul...”

“You are the only anomaly currently discovered in the Main World. You are a life form with the innate essence of a soul. This description is not exaggerated. But there are no 'ifs.' The Great Project of the Soul has already been established, and countless Witches continuously advance, opening up new areas. Your current actions only prove one thing: you are very suited to embark on the path of the Great Project of the Soul.”

“Alright...”

I couldn't argue with Academy Head Mei, so I temporarily accepted this compliment with a clear conscience.

“Um... let's not talk about the Project for now, shall we? Can we solve the problem of Fool's Dream first?”

“Are you sure you don't want to understand the most crucial Witch Project for advancing to Transcendent Witch?”

Mei Linde smiled and countered, not in a hurry.

“Um... Big Sis Xiaohan, we are fine as we are now.”

“That's right, Big Sis Xiaohan's important matters come first. We are actually quite alright in this state.”

“Mhm, mhm, I think this state is fine.”

After the Academy Head finished speaking, the Fool's Dream girls beside me spoke up.

“Project... I think a brief understanding of the concept should be enough, as an in-depth explanation would probably take forever.”

I inquired.

“Indeed, the Project is typically the field that upper-year students come into contact with, taught by senior mentors. Currently, I cannot fully elaborate on what the Project truly is, but I believe, Xiaohan, you likely don't need a mentor to guide you through every single detail. Perhaps merely knowing the concept will allow you to realize what you should do. After all, you don't strike us as someone who follows the well-trodden paths of others.”

“Maybe...”

I did not commit to anything.

After all, compared to Witches, a race where submitted papers are accepted if they are not 100% duplicates, forging a completely new path is extremely difficult.

I didn't want to impose a constraint on myself, such as having to carve out a new path or having to achieve something no one else could.

This was purely a form of self-consumption.

While it could put pressure on myself and spur my growth... did I need this pressure?

No.

“Since you don't want to understand it now... perhaps you can find some time to listen to related courses. I, well I won't waste any more words with you.”

Mei Linde saw that I was not in the mood to learn about it temporarily, sighed, and did not continue.

She quite enjoyed talking about these things with Xiaohan.

“The reason I didn't mention Project-related information to you before was mainly because I was afraid you would touch concepts unsuitable for you at an inappropriate stage. After all, you were curious about everything back then...”

“I know all the mentors and the Academy Head were doing it for my own good, so I don't mind.”

“It's best that you understand. Let's talk about Fool's Dream's problem. Seeing you like this, you really care about them deeply.”

Mei Linde said with a smile, then reached out to playfully poke the Fool's Dream girls in their mimicked soul state.

“Not really... but... before that, I have one question I want to ask. Is that alright?”

“A question? Sure, go ahead and ask.”

Mei Linde agreed with great interest.

“Big Sis Mei, have the Transcendent Witch collective already mastered the Soul Mimicry technique?”

I asked curiously.

Since the Academy Head said my actions were stepping onto the Great Project of the Soul, and considering the prerequisite that every Witch must transform their Soul-substance into a soul to advance to Transcendent Witch, advancing Witches should basically have all touched upon the Great Project of the Soul.

“What? Are you very curious about this? Why do you ask?”

“I learned that every Witch Sister who advanced to Transcendent Witch had to transform their Soul-substance into a soul, right? So wouldn't that mean that Witches who advanced also needed to delve into the Great Project of the Soul?”

“So that's what you were thinking. Indeed... Transcendent Witches who transformed their souls mostly completed the transformation by engaging with the Great Project of the Soul. But there are also electives and specialized studies in the Project, you understand? Many Witches do not pursue the Great Project of the Soul. Electing certain projects is for specific purposes, for example... advancing to Transcendent and advancing to Transcendent Witch are two different concepts.”

At this point, Academy Head Mei Linde gave me a brief educational overview.

“One of the prerequisites for becoming a Transcendent Witch is... to complete the racial metamorphosis by undertaking the 'Witch' Project.”

“The Witch and the Great Project of the Soul are unavoidable hurdles for becoming a Transcendent Witch, but they are just a threshold. Once you cross this hurdle, the Primal Witch Lord won't care what you do.”

“I am not a Witch specializing in the Soul Domain Project, so I do not possess techniques like Soul Mimicry, nor anything similar. The knowledge and techniques I learned in the Soul Project were all about the conversion of one's own life level from Transcendent to the essence of a soul.”

“You must be thrilled, Xiaohan. You achieved something that even I, the Academy Head, could not.” 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“Not really... I suppose a Witch specializing in the Soul Domain Project would know it?”

“I don't know. Maybe yes, maybe no. The Great Project of the Soul is a newly emerging Great Project for the Witch race, unparalleled.”

Having said this, Mei Linde paused, then looked at me.

“Are you satisfied with my answer to your question? I don't understand what Soul Mimicry is, but... I think I can help you answer why Fool's Dream cannot return to their bodies.”

“Satisfied, I am very satisfied. Um... please tell me why.”

I quickly requested, realizing that I had almost strayed from the main point again.

“Because Fool's Dream fundamentally doesn't have the concept of a real-life body. The body I created for them was customized using the Metamorphic Incubation Spellbook. It was an anchor to tether their Dream State consciousness, and also a cage, a chain that confines them.”

Mei Linde explained.

“Now, because of Soul Mimicry, Fool's Dream has a real-life foundation. This cage is naturally no longer suitable for them. Do you understand this analogy? This body was never a body of life in the true sense; it was merely a reality construct, similar in appearance, that could be controlled by Dream State consciousness.”