The Witch Hunter System

Chapter 1143: Two Soul Masters Fighting for a Student

"I see. Thank you for the information, Sir Galevyr."

"No problem, Lord Vaan. If you need anything else, just let me know," True God Galevyr stated before vanishing before Vaan’s eyes, hiding from plain sight.

Shortly after, Vaan returned his attention to the Soul Master Hall before him.

Although the Soul Master Hall was many times smaller than every other hall in the Myriad Sea God Palace, it was still extremely spacious for its number of registered disciples.

With a single sweep of Vaan’s Omni-Sense, the number of lifeforms he detected inside the Soul Master Hall did not even reach twenty thousand.

Of these twenty thousand disciples, only two were actually Soul Masters. The others were still learning if they had the gift for Soul Master Cultivation. In other words, they weren’t even permanent disciples.

They were most likely new disciples coming to test their luck for Soul Master Cultivation.

Given the supreme status of Soul Masters, it was not surprising that everyone wanted to come and try their luck at least once.

After all, as long as they could prove their gift existed, the doors to greatness would be opened to them. If they didn’t have such a gift, then they could just give up.

However, if they don’t even try, they would never find out.

"Hello, have you come to the Soul Master Hall to register for studies?" a plain-looking fishwoman disciple inquired, seemingly unaware of Vaan’s special status.

Vaan noticed this but didn’t mind.

After all, no matter how many earth-shaking feats he had recently achieved, there would always be people who had never heard of him. As such, he didn’t expect everyone to know who he was, nor did he need them to.

"Yes," Vaan simply nodded.

"Great!"

The plain-looking fishwoman disciple smiled with excitement and started punching in several keys, staring into the computer screen in front of her. The page refreshed quickly, listing available enrollment options.

When she perused the information, her excitement quickly faded, and an awkward smile replaced her previous expression.

"I’m sorry, I’m actually still new here," the plain-looking fishwoman disciple apologized before explaining, "Due to the shortage of qualified teachers, we don’t have any regular classes. As such, there are only registrations for the self-study options."

"The most basic self-study option grants level-1 privileges, which allow you to freely enter our libraries and peruse any level-1 knowledge within the operating hours. If you desire access to higher-level knowledge, you will need to pay for more advanced self-study options."

"Apart from the self-study options, our two venerable Soul Masters occasionally offer free lectures. However, you will have to follow their personal Starsea pages for announcements regarding the place and time."

"Which self-study option would you like to register for?"

As the plain-looking fishwoman disciple asked this, she turned her monitor so Vaan could see the list of self-study registration options and their prices.

The most basic option was free, as the clerk explained.

On the other hand, the intermediate option started at a whopping 100,000 contribution points per 100 years of access. Additional amenities would increase this base price. 𝐫𝘼ƝȪᛒËȿ

If one wanted to recoup this loss, they would have to read and absorb as much information as they can within these 100 years.

As for the advanced option, it was too expensive for most disciples to afford. Only True Divinities or descendants of affluent backgrounds could afford to pay 1,000,000 contribution points per 100 years of access to level-3 knowledge.

However, it was questionable whether the Soul Master Hall’s libraries possessed sufficient level-3 Soul Master Cultivation to make this option worthwhile.

After perusing the options, Vaan mentioned, "As I recalled, the basic self-study option wasn’t originally free, was it?"

"That’s right," the plain-looking fishwoman disciple acknowledged with a smile, proudly adding, "Originally, it would have cost 10,000 contribution points. However, Soul Master Vastmind recently made it free, hoping to encourage more disciples to study Soul Master Cultivation and Soul Masters."

"Thanks to Soul Master Vastmind’s generous decision, we’ve recently received the most registered disciples we have seen in years."

’Is he really so generous? Or is the Soul Master Hall’s business just too poor?’ Vaan wondered amusingly.

Shortly after shaking the thought off, Vaan took out his ID card and asked, "How much discount on the advanced self-study option can I get with this?"

"T-True Sage...?"

The plain-looking fishwoman disciple received the ID card and was shocked after glancing at its information.

She did not know what a True Sage entailed.

However, the Empyrean-level divine power inscribed on it contained indescribable authority, commanding obedience and respect.

Based on this feeling, the female clerk knew Vaan’s status was anything but simple.

Shortly after she took a deep breath, a familiar event occurred: a higher authority was called over to handle Vaan’s case.

However, it wasn’t just one Soul Master who came to receive him.

Both Soul Master Vastmind and Soul Master Voidwhisper, the Soul Master Hall’s only two Soul Masters, simultaneously arrived.

"Hahaha, if it isn’t True Sage Vaan? Have you come to learn about Soul Master Cultivation? Would you like to take I, Soul Master Vastmind, as your Soul Master Cultivation Teacher?"

"Don’t listen to that Old Coot. In terms of teaching, I have richer experience. If you want to learn proper Soul Master Cultivation, I, Soul Master Voidwhisper, will be your teacher. That Old Coot will only lead you astray."

"Nonsense! How dare you slander me, Voidwhisper! Do you really think you are more qualified than me?! Do you think I don’t know what you are really after?!"

"Heh, the pot is calling the kettle black. Aren’t you also after the same thing, you Old Coot?"

Soul Master Vastmind and Soul Master Voidwhisper immediately competed to take Vaan in as their student.

Even though Vaan had yet to prove if he had the gift for Soul Master Cultivation, neither Soul Master Vastmind nor Soul Master Voidwhisper cared.

Who would believe that such a young True Sage lacked the gift for Soul Master Cultivation?

Even if he truly lacked the gift, so what?

To be the teacher of a young, wealthy True Sage would only bring in endless benefits and no disadvantages.

Countless beings believed Soul Masters were wealthy beyond belief due to their profound ability to create anything from ’nothing.’ Unfortunately, few beings realized they were actually very poor because of their extravagant spending.

Even if they could make a lot of resources, they would spend just as much. As such, they would always feel like there was never enough.

Nevertheless, the eagerness of the two Soul Masters only chilled Vaan’s heart.

’As I thought, I’ve been too high-profile recently, with many parties interested in me. If I didn’t comprehend the power of thought on my own, I would have been at a great disadvantage by coming here,’ Vaan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the two Soul Masters.

Unfortunately, he failed to read their thoughts despite having his suspicions. The invisible power of thought guarded their minds, hiding their deeper intentions from being seen.

"Two esteemed Soul Masters, there’s no need to compete. I am not here to look for a teacher," Vaan coolly stated, his eyes flickering with a trace of thought power.

Hm?!

Soul Master Vastmind and Soul Master Voidwhisper were both startled after sensing Vaan’s power of thought. Upon closer inspection, they even realized that Vaan’s grasp of his power of thought was especially firm, nothing like an amateur’s.

The two Soul Masters’ expressions drastically changed.

’Heavens!’

’How old is this lad?! How could his power of thought be so firm and skillfully controlled?! No, how could he already control his power of thought?! Who is his teacher!?’

’Could his teacher be someone from the Soul Master Association?!’

No matter how talented Vaan was, Soul Master Vastmind and Soul Master Voidwhisper instantly denied the possibility of Vaan being a self-awakened Soul Master.

To their knowledge, there had only been one self-awakened Soul Master in history, the very first Soul Master. Everyone else was a second-generation Soul Master, achieved through a forced awakening.

"So Lord Vaan has already become a Soul Master with the help of a teacher. I have been too impudent. I hope you will forgive me," Soul Master Voidwhisper said apologetically with a wry smile.

"I have overstepped my boundaries. Forgive my ignorance, Lord Vaan," Soul Master Vastmind also apologized before saying, "Since you are a True Sage and a fellow Soul Master, there’s no need for any payment."

"I will raise your ID card’s privilege to the highest level, allowing you access to all of the Soul Master Hall’s facilities and knowledge, free of charge," Soul Master stated.

It was taboo to steal another Soul Master’s student.

Committing the taboo would not only offend the teacher, but one would also lose the Soul Master Association’s protection, which was no different from cutting off one’s future progress in the Soul Master Path.

"Is that so? Then, I will thank you, Sir Vastmind," Vaan smiled before casually replying, "There’s no need to apologize, Sir Vastmind and Sir Voidwhisper. They say the ignorant are not guilty."

"Thank you for your benevolence, Lord Vaan." Soul Master Vastmind and Soul Master Voidwhisper both heaved a sigh of relief.

Originally, they thought they could leverage their expertise and seniority to become Vaan’s teacher before he could surpass them, thereby reaping endless benefits from his rising fame and wealth.

Unfortunately, they now realized how foolish and naive their thoughts had been.

Not only was Vaan already a Soul Master, but he was also a True Sage. When compared to their single Divine Emperor-level Soul Master statuses, they were actually inferior!

They thought he could be their junior, but they weren’t even qualified to be his peers!

After all, being both a Soul Master and a True Sage implied Vaan would have the backing of both the Soul Master Association and the Myriad Sea God Palace.

Unless they could ascend to True Divinity, Vaan’s status naturally carried more weight.

"Here is your ID card back, Lord Vaan. I have finished updating its information." Soul Master Vastmind respectfully returned Vaan’s ID card with both hands, appearing subservient.

"Is there anything else we can help you with, Lord Vaan?" Soul Master Voidwhisper asked, clasping his hands together with a smiling expression.

"Help with anything else? When did you do any help? It was all me!" Soul Master Vastmind glared at the shameless Soul Master Voidwhisper speechlessly.

Soul Master Voidwhisper glanced back at him and righteously said, "Naturally, you, Old Coot, did all the physical work, but I oversaw its smooth operation. Dare you say again that I didn’t contribute to anything?"

"You are... truly shameless!" Soul Master Vastmind almost exploded with anger.