The Witch Hunter System

Chapter 1155: Soul Master Association Envoy

"No, there was no trace of the culprit. I didn’t even realize a spacetime region had been tampered with until my temporal reversal spell failed," Empyrean Oceanheart said with a heavy feeling.

"How do we know you aren’t making things up, Oceanheart?" Empyrean Tidefather coolly asked, doubting Empyrean Oceanheart’s honesty.

"No, Oceanheart speaks truthfully. Of this, I can assure you. I can understand at least this much from our earlier confrontation."

Empyrean Oceanheart almost erupted in anger again, but before she could, Empyrean Wavebreaker vouched for her.

"Is that so? I apologize for any offense, Oceanheart. I hope you can understand things from our perspective," Empyrean Tidefather admitted his mistake after seeing Empyrean Wavebreaker’s stance.

Empyrean Tidefather understood that it was no longer the time to be pressuring Empyrean Oceanheart for benefits; they had a bigger problem on their hands.

If they couldn’t figure out who could tamper with spacetime within Empyrean Oceanheart’s domain without her knowledge, then none of them would enjoy peace of mind.

Whether it was rest, meditation, or cultivation, no one could commit their full focus, knowing that an unknown being or entity could slip up behind them and aim for their life. As such, they would have to maintain a level of caution at all times.

"Among us True Divinities, even if one is a short-sighted fool, they would still understand the value of a Prospective Sage to the Myriad Sea God Palace. This is someone who can become a True Sage in the future and increase the number of True Divinities in our Holy Land."

"Thus, I think it’s reasonably to believe that whoever is targeting the Prospective Sage’s life is also our enemy. Although I am more inclined to believe it is the work of a rival major force or the Outerworlders, I can’t deny the possibility of a traitor being among us also exists."

"Vastheaven is right," Empyrean Oceanheart acknowledged, adding, "This matter concerns all of us. However, it seems most of you are still behind on the news."

"Sir Vaan here is no longer a Prospective Sage but a True Sage with the potential of an Empyrean Sage. Moreover, he is a full-fledged Soul Master. Now, I’m sure you all should have a clearer understanding of the severity of this matter."

Empyrean Oceanheart gave her Empyrean peers a sweeping glance, studying their expressions solemnly.

What?!

Empyrean Wavebreaker and the others were immediately shocked by Empyrean Oceanheart’s statement.

In an instant, Vaan’s importance was magnified by countless folds in their hearts.

The assassination attempt on a Prospective Sage and the assassination attempt on a Soul Master were two vastly different stories. The former was concerning, but not overly serious. At the very least, there was still breathing space.

However, the latter was a life-or-death matter, concerning the fate of the entire Myriad Sea God Palace.

If Vaan died, then perhaps everyone else wouldn’t be far from sharing the same fate.

Suddenly, no one dared to regard Vaan as a mere junior anymore. In their eyes, he had become a Heavenly Prince standing before a bunch of peasants.

"A True Sage at this age... A Soul Master... It all makes sense. There’s no way such a talented person could spring out of nowhere."

Empyrean Voidcurrent seemingly comprehended something and asked, "If I’m not wrong, Sir Vaan comes from the Soul Master Association. Could you be the Soul Master Association Envoy?"

The true bodies of Empyrean Wavebreaker and Empyrean Tidefather visibly trembled with dread.

An assassination attempt on the Soul Master Association Envoy!

That was deep shit-level matter!

’Oh?’

Vaan was silently surprised.

He figured he could borrow the good name of the Soul Master Association Envoy to raise his standing and protection. Unexpectedly, someone else helped him assume this good name. ⱤÂɴ𝐨𝐛Ę𐌔

Anyone with a bit of thinking would have arrived at this conclusion.

After all, it was common knowledge that only a Soul Master could awaken another Soul Master.

Since Vaan’s talents were too great for him to have been awakened by the Myriad Sea God Palace’s Soul Masters, he could only have been awakened by another Soul Master outside.

Moreover, this Soul Master should be very high-level in order to produce such a talent.

Other than the Soul Master Association, where else could they find such talents and high-level Soul Masters?

"I am not a Soul Master Association Envoy," Vaan calmly answered with a smile.

However, the more he acted like this, the easier it was for the Empyrean Gods to believe that he was really a Soul Master Association Envoy.

"I completely understand, Lord Envoy," Empyrean Wavebreaker acknowledged, yet did not recognize.

Empyrean Wavebreaker and his peers figured that Vaan was just trying to keep his status secret so he could continue investigating something in their Holy Land.

’Sure enough, there’s a big problem in our Holy Land!’

In a short instant, multiple Empyrean Gods had arrived at the same conclusion, realizing that Outerworlders or Corrupted Ones may have infiltrated their Holy Land, secretly corrupting the hearts of their people.

This was the only possibility.

There was no other reason why a Soul Master Association Envoy would hide his status when he entered their Holy Land. Matters involving the Soul Masters of the Soul Master Association were generally related to Outerworlders and the Corrupted Ones.

Since a Soul Master Association Envoy with a high status had arrived at their Holy Land, the issue involving the Outerworlders or Corrupted Ones was likely serious.

"It seems our Holy Land has been secretly infested with Corrupted Ones," Empyrean Vastheaven also concluded.

"Indeed, it adds up with Oceanheart’s recount," Empyrean Voidcurrent agreed.

"Only Outerworlders and Corrupted Ones would wish the death of a Soul Master. Moreover, Corrupted Ones with the blessings of an Outerworlder can evade the notice of an Empyrean, even if they aren’t True Divinities."

"The abilities and powers of Outerworlders are just too bizarre, foreign, and unfathomable. It’s quite expected for Oceanheart to miss the covert actions of a Corrupted One," Empyrean Voidcurrent said with understanding.

After one Empyrean God spoke, another Empyrean God would add to their conjecture. In a short instant, a well-constructed story was formed in everyone’s minds.

Vaan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

These Empyrean Gods had such rich imaginations.

However, he also had to give them some credit. Even though they had completely misunderstood his identity, they still managed to hit the nail on the culprit.

If he wasn’t wrong, the assassin was a so-called Corrupted One.

"Sigh. It seems our Holy Land’s unprecedented crisis is related to the Outerworlds and Corrupted Ones. Do they intend to wipe out my Myriad Sea God Palace this time?"

Empyrean Vastheaven wondered.

"If anything happens to Lord Envoy, we won’t have to wait for the Outerworlds and Corrupted Ones to destroy us; the Soul Master Association will do it first," Empyrean Wavebreaker solemnly said.

"Oceanheart, Lord Envoy’s safety concerns all of us. I’m afraid that you can’t be willful this time. Since you failed to keep Lord Envoy safe, you need to share the burden with the rest of us."

"I failed to keep Sir Vaan? Such nonsense! When and where exactly is Sir Vaan harmed?! You need to stop thinking and talking with your ass, Wavebreaker!" Empyrean Oceanheart rebuked coldly.

"Keep this up, and I will be impolite!"

’This isn’t considered impolite yet?’

Although Empyrean Wavebreaker silently thought this, he refrained from speaking aloud and antagonizing Empyrean Oceanheart further.

Engaging this woman in a war of words was just asking to be scolded more.

"Lord Envoy, you were the very target of the assassination attempt. Did you notice anything particular or abnormal about the assassin?" Empyrean Vastheaven inquired.

Vaan shrugged, feigning helplessness with Empyrean Vastheaven’s form of address.

"Indeed, I did notice a few abnormal traits on the assassin. The assassin’s killing intent felt especially evil and twisted. There was no personal hatred, just a strong desire to kill with delight."

"If I had to add, the assassin’s gaze was also strange. Despite locking onto me with their killing intent, their gaze was directed in two different directions. They looked rather dumb or retarded."

"This particular trait seems to align with the description of a Corrupted One in the records."

"Alas, if Lord Envoy says that much, it must be true. The Corrupted Ones pose a much bigger problem than any of us had imagined."

Empyrean Wavebreaker wore a grave look.

Although Corrupted Ones occasionally appeared in the Myriad Sea God Palace, they had always been swiftly dealt with upon discovery. Little did they know that they had only been treating the symptoms, not the root.

It was hard to imagine how many Corrupted Ones were still hidden within the Holy Land.

"The first step to solving a problem is recognizing that it exists. As long as we understand the problem, finding the solution won’t be difficult."

"Nevertheless, what’s terrifying isn’t the Corrupted Ones in hiding; it’s the disciples who don’t even know that they are infected with corruption, in the process of becoming Corrupted Ones."

"Depending on the scale of the infected, this could be either a not-so-bad matter or an even bigger issue."