"What do you mean?"
Han Tianyi's expression grew stern as he looked seriously at his disciple.
He was a master of illusions, yet his own disciple wasn't going to follow the path of illusions?
How could that do?
Under Han Tianyi's scrutinizing gaze, Jiang Xia took a deep breath and voiced his thoughts. "I feel there's another path my Martial Soul can take."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Han Tianyi didn't immediately object.
He wanted to hear what path Jiang Xia could suggest that would better suit his Martial Soul.
"Teacher, before that, I'd like to ask you how far virtual-world technology has advanced."
Jiang Xia didn't directly mention connecting to the Spirit Ascension Platform either.
Normally, a soul master at his level wasn't yet qualified to learn about the Spirit Ascension Platform.
"Virtual-world technology?"
Han Tianyi narrowed his eyes slightly.
He was already considering what connection virtual-world technology had to the path his disciple wanted to take.
Still, he answered Jiang Xia's question as he thought.
"Our Spirit Pagoda has the Spirit Ascension Platform. A soul master's consciousness is transported into a virtual world that is no different from the outside world. The soul master's Martial Soul, Soul Power, and spiritual power are fully simulated, and even the primordial Qi of heaven and earth within it is exactly the same as in the outside world."
Excitement flashed in Jiang Xia's eyes, but he restrained himself and continued asking, "Then is there technology that connects the virtual world to reality?"
Connected to reality?
"The Spirit Ascension Platform already counts. Otherwise, where would the spirit ascension come from?" Han Tianyi said. "Besides, to put it plainly, a virtual world interfaces with the outside heaven and earth. Data such as the summoning of elements in the virtual world all reflects the responses of the real heaven and earth."
Han Tianyi had personally worked on the Spirit Ascension Platform's technology, and he explained its principles in accessible terms.
The shock in Jiang Xia's eyes grew stronger, along with an intense burst of delighted surprise.
This was a genuine reaction.
From Han Tianyi's description, the Spirit Ascension Platform had a corresponding space in reality.
That space was sealed off through special means.
After a soul master's consciousness was connected to the Spirit Ascension Platform's virtual world, every effect they had within the platform was first simulated in that real space, then displayed within the Spirit Ascension Platform.
That was why summoning the elements of heaven and earth felt exactly the same as it did in the real outside world.
Jiang Xia hadn't known about this principle.
Now that he had learned it from Han Tianyi, he felt that the path he had previously set for himself was even more feasible.
"Teacher, if my Broken Dream can connect to the Spirit Ascension Platform's virtual world, and I simulate the fluctuations within that virtual world, then transmit those fluctuations back into the real world, wouldn't that mean I could interfere with the real world through my dreams?" Jiang Xia asked excitedly.
Han Tianyi's gaze abruptly sharpened.
He looked at Jiang Xia, seemingly having grasped his disciple's idea.
"You want to influence reality through dreams?"
"Yes. My dreams can connect to other people's minds and wills, so they should be able to connect to a virtual world too, right?"
"Even if they can't connect directly, technical adjustments should make it possible to connect me."
Han Tianyi fell silent, listening to his disciple.
Various lights intertwined in his eyes, as though he were contemplating and deducing something.
After a long while, a heartfelt smile appeared on his face.
"Little Jiang, I never expected that before I even began teaching you anything, I'd learn a path to turning illusion into reality from you instead."
Jiang Xia froze.
But then he recalled that the essence of Han Tianyi's illusions was similar to that of dreams.
Both were illusory.
They did indeed have something in common.
"Turning illusion into reality is actually something I can do, but it isn't as direct as what you've envisioned, or as... easy to understand."
Han Tianyi smiled.
Suddenly, he felt that the ultimate realm of illusions was actually this simple.
Simulate the data of reality, then connect it to reality.
That was turning illusion into reality.
Simple and unadorned.
Was the data of reality easy to obtain?
It wasn't.
It required comprehending heaven and earth, grasping the corresponding intents through the changes of heaven and earth.
But what if one had virtual-world technology?
Everything became different.
And what about connecting that data to reality?
Han Tianyi's previous method had been to simulate it with spiritual power.
That imposed far too many restrictions. He couldn't simulate most changes of heaven and earth.
Yet in the process Jiang Xia had described, this step seemed entirely replaceable with the Spirit Ascension Platform's technology!
Within the Spirit Ascension Platform, didn't the technology that used data from a soul master's interference with the outside world to stimulate that sealed-off real space do precisely that-connect to reality?
Jiang Xia stood to the side, letting Han Tianyi sink into his epiphany without disturbing him.
The epiphany didn't last very long.
Only a brief two and a half hours.
Han Tianyi had participated in building the Spirit Ascension Platform, so he had some knowledge in reserve.
But not much.
What he gained now was more an understanding of the direction to take.
"Little Jiang, this path of yours really does have greater prospects than illusions."
Jiang Xia breathed a sigh of relief.
Having Han Tianyi's approval was enough.
"In that case, there's no need to choose an illusion-oriented Soul Spirit. Do you have anything in mind?"
Jiang Xia said, "I actually want an Ice Silkworm Soul Spirit."
"An Ice Silkworm?"
Han Tianyi frowned.
"Both of the Ice Silkworm's Soul Skills are useful to me: Imitation and Spirit Detection."
"I don't need Imitation and Spirit Detection in reality. I want enhanced versions of Imitation and Spirit Detection within my dreams, so my dreams can simulate those changes of heaven and earth within the Spirit Ascension Platform. As for Spirit Detection, naturally, it's to let me experience those changes of heaven and earth with greater delighted surprise, making Imitation easier."
Listening to Jiang Xia's explanation, Han Tianyi slowly nodded.
He said, "Those are indeed core Soul Skills you should have. Since they're core skills, you need to obtain them as early as possible. But precisely because you'll obtain them early, they'll need spirit ascension so they can keep progressing alongside you."
"In that case, I'll have to help you choose an Ice Silkworm with high aptitude."
"Also, you can't neglect cultivating the spiritual power and physical fitness needed for spirit ascension..."
Han Tianyi took a deep breath.
Fortunately, he had only taken this one disciple.
"Teacher, how high could the aptitude of the best Ice Silkworm available within the Spirit Pagoda be?"
Jiang Xia was curious too.
This was his final concern about choosing an Ice Silkworm Soul Spirit.
The Ice Silkworm's Soul Skills suited him very well.
But the species was still far too weak.
Although it had produced a Tianmeng, that didn't change the overall frailty of the species.
Han Tianyi didn't answer Jiang Xia directly, instead asking, "Little Jiang, are you in a hurry to fuse with a Soul Spirit?"
Jiang Xia rolled his eyes.
"Of course, the sooner I fuse with a Soul Spirit, the better."
Han Tianyi rephrased his question. "What if I asked you to wait a while before fusing with a Soul Spirit?"
"How long?"
"Three to five months at the shortest, a year at the longest."
Jiang Xia frowned.
"Would the benefits be great?"
Hearing Jiang Xia finally ask the crucial question, Han Tianyi nodded in satisfaction.
"If things go smoothly, the benefits certainly won't be small. Besides, your cultivation during this time can begin with learning about mecha design, mecha manufacturing, and the construction of dreams. As for your Soul Power cultivation, with the resources I provide you, the impact of this delay will be reduced to a minimum."