Chapter 655 – A Witch’s Benefits

After Mo Lan sat down, Lan Qiqi perched on the tabletop, the tip of her tail sweeping left and right across its surface. In the blink of an eye, two large stacks of books appeared on the table.

She tapped the stack on the left with her tail. “These books contain information about the various shops and factions in the Central Camp.”

Then she tapped the stack on the right. “These are about the Explorers of each race.”

“Your Grimoire still has space, right? None of these books are available in the Otherworld Archive—you can only transcribe and take them from here.”

Mo Lan nodded.

She had long since finished reading all the books in her Grimoire and had moved them all out.

After all, not only did she remember every one of those books perfectly, she had also made corresponding Knowledge Cards to preserve them.

The books on the table looked numerous, but they were all inscribed with Transcription Spell runes, making the transcription process quite fast.

Once the books were transcribed, Lan Qiqi put them all away, and the tabletop was empty once more.

“Take a look at those books when you get a chance. They should give you a fairly thorough understanding of the Explorer’s Camp.”

As Lan Qiqi spoke, she produced two more books—one thick, one thin—and pressed her paw pad against the thinner one.

“This one is Lady Traci’s compiled 《Essential Reading List for Exploring the Well of the Sky》. If you’re still unsure about what preparations you need for the Well of the Sky, you can use this reading list as a guide and look up the books in the Otherworld Archive. All the books on this list are free.”

Mo Lan was already well acquainted with this four-eared cat’s introduction routine. Without waiting for her to say it, she pressed her Grimoire against the booklet and transcribed its contents.

“This last one is the witch-exclusive edition of 《Otherworld Archive Collection Catalog》. It contains not only an internal map of the Otherworld Archive, but also the titles, descriptions, prices, and locations of every book in the collection, making it easy for you to find the materials you want.

However, it’s a magical item in itself and can’t be transcribed or taken away. Every newly arrived Witch Explorer can claim one copy for free.

Place it in the recessed slot on the collection catalog inquiry desk on the first floor of the Otherworld Archive’s Great Hall, and it will update the contents of this book.”

Lan Qiqi pushed the book toward Mo Lan. “You shouldn’t have any more questions now, right?”

Mo Lan tucked the book into her spatial ring while asking about something she had been curious about for a long time. “Tell me about the Otherworld Archive! It’s not exclusively open to witches, is it?”

Seeing that she had actually asked a question, Lan Qiqi felt a momentary flash of anxiety, afraid she wouldn’t be able to answer and would embarrass her master. But since it was about the Otherworld Archive, she relaxed.

“You’ve come to exactly the right person for this. I personally witnessed Lady Traci and the first generation of Witch Explorers establish the Otherworld Archive.

In the beginning, everyone’s intention was simply to create a place—like the Witch Council Library—dedicated to collecting and organizing otherworld information, where Witch Explorers could exchange knowledge.

They adopted the same model as the Witch Council Library, dividing the materials inside into free and paid categories.

When Witch Explorers collected otherworld information or magical knowledge, they could share it for free or set a price for sale.

Generally, everyone would share otherworld information in the archive for free. Only magical knowledge would be priced for sale.

If a Witch Explorer perished, all the materials she left behind—whether otherworld information or magical knowledge—would be converted to free materials, accessible to all witches at no cost. Back then, the archive was open only to witches.

But as things progressed and Witch Explorers visited more and more otherworlds, the compiled materials grew ever more extensive, and the Otherworld Archive gradually expanded.

Meanwhile, the other information trading platforms in the Central Camp suffered because their participants, unlike witches, weren’t as open and trusting with one another. Their rate of accumulating materials couldn’t compare to the Otherworld Archive’s.

As the Otherworld Archive’s collection grew larger and larger, its internal space expanded accordingly, and the rent became more and more expensive.

Witches had a far higher survival rate in otherworlds than other races, but even if every Witch Explorer was willing to donate her entire estate to support the archive’s operations, it still fell far short of covering the Otherworld Archive’s running costs.

That was when everyone decided to open the Otherworld Archive to other races—earning money from outsiders to strengthen the witches’ archive.

From that point on, materials that were free for witches required payment from other races. Materials that witches had to pay for cost other races even more.

Only the most precious magical knowledge was stored separately in a witch-exclusive section of the archive, accessible only to witches.

They also created a ‘Membership Pact.’ Any non-witch Explorer who consigned enough materials to the Otherworld Archive could earn the right to sign the Membership Pact.

Once a member, they could read all materials in the archive at a discounted price. However, all materials consigned by a member would become the property of the Otherworld Archive upon the member’s death, with all future proceeds inherited by the archive.

The Otherworld Archive’s income skyrocketed. Witches no longer had to pay consignment fees to cover the shortfall in rent. The rate of material accumulation surged even faster than before, and the Otherworld Archive rapidly grew in power.

Other information exchange platforms couldn’t copy this model even if they wanted to. After all, no other race besides witches had such a sterling reputation—one that could guarantee they wouldn’t go after material providers just to inherit their collections.

Unless it was particularly precious magical knowledge, Explorers generally preferred to consign their materials to the Otherworld Archive, accumulating credit toward membership.

By now, the Otherworld Archive has become a colossus that dwarfs every other information trading platform in the camp.

Its income not only covers venue rent and operating expenses, but there’s enough left over to provide newcomer benefits to Witch Explorers who have just arrived at the Well of the Sky, helping everyone get through the difficult beginner period.

In the entire Explorer’s Camp, only the Witch race’s newcomers get this benefit!”

Lan Qiqi looked immensely proud of the Otherworld Archive’s growth and success.

After her thorough explanation, Mo Lan understood that the line in the Otherworld Archive’s description—”the Explorer’s Camp’s largest information trading platform”—was no mere advertising slogan, but a well-earned badge of honor.

“Here! These are your newcomer benefits!” Two piles of irregularly shaped crystals appeared on the table, their interiors shimmering with iridescent light.

“That’s a total of one hundred units of origin mana crystals and ten thousand units of ordinary mana crystals.

Many newcomers don’t even earn this many mana crystals from an entire world expedition!

Don’t worry if you don’t know what mana crystals are—Lady Traci’s reading list has recommended books on the subject. Just go find them and you’ll understand.”