The Witch Hunter System

Chapter 1157: The Plan to Capture Corrupted Ones

After Empyrean Wavebreaker handed over his personal research notes and records of the past Corrupted Ones, the other Empyreans also followed suit. Each one passed through Empyrean Oceanheart’s hands first without exception.

Due to the impending crisis, everyone knew that they had to be more united than ever.

Even so, it didn’t stop them from feeling somewhat resentful regarding Empyrean Oceanheart’s cautious actions.

After all, they were all Empyrean Gods on the same level as Empyrean Oceanheart.

What gave her the right to be the Soul Master Association Envoy’s representative and protector? Why couldn’t it be any of them?

Of course, the Empyreans only felt this in their hearts and didn’t let it cloud their judgment.

Still, Empyrean Oceanheart’s luck was just too good. If they were also part of a beautiful race, the Soul Master Association Envoy might not necessarily have visited the Mermen Domain after the Fishmen Domain.

Meanwhile, Empyrean Wavebreaker, Empyrean Tidefather, and Empyrean Voidcurrent all felt regretful. They allowed this golden opportunity to slip away, even though it was presented to them first.

Unfortunately, the Soul Master Association Envoy wasn’t of any importance at the time when he was still staying within their Fishmen Domain.

When Vaan studied the Memory Crystals of each Empyrean, he was somewhat disappointed.

Unless the cases involving Corrupted Ones were extremely rare, the amount of information they recorded over the long years was substantially limited. That said, any information was better than none.

Vaan still managed to gain something for the collective pool of information provided by the Empyrean Gods.

At the same time, he couldn’t really blame the Empyrean Gods for their lack of capability.

Even though they have reached a height most denizens of Chaos could only dream of achieving, becoming the highest heavens, it was still just limited to that. Beyond the heavens was still out of their reach and not something they could easily comprehend.

As such, it was no surprise that they would find themselves unable to develop a solution or cure for the Corrupted Ones, despite combating this problem for eons.

’Although the Corrupted Ones aren’t necessarily strong, they are infected by the Outerworlder’s power of corruption. This kind of power is derived from origin energy, something that transcends the third dimension.’

’Normally, only fourth-dimensional beings or Beyond True Divinity-level existences can refine and utilize origin energy. That’s why even Empyreans can’t understand it.’

’However, there are some exceptions. Soul Masters, for example.’

Since Soul Masters could see through the essence of the world and all things, it wouldn’t be impossible for them to understand such a high-level energy as origin energy. Even so, it would still take them a lengthy amount of time and effort to comprehend and control.

After all, this was a high-level energy belonging to the fourth dimension.

Of course, Vaan didn’t need to put in so much effort or time.

Besides being a self-awakened Soul Master, he wielded the Nihility Law and possessed vast memories of Varuna’s lifetime. As such, he already understood the essence of origin energy and wielded it.

In fact, he didn’t need so many qualifications.

Anyone who could comprehend the Nihility Law would imply that their perception had already transcended the third dimension, allowing them to glimpse a bit of the fourth dimension.

In truth, the sea of nothingness was filled with untamed origin energy.

As such, the authority over the Nihility Law was the ability to manipulate untamed origin energy, an unparalleled force in its destructive power. Unless it could be refined for other purposes, it was ultimately a tool of destruction. ṙÀＮỔＢƐš

It was for this reason that Vaan found himself quite interested in Abyssal Dusts.

Anything that could contain and not be obliterated into nothingness by untamed origin energy was bound to be extraordinary material, even if it only existed in the smallest form.

"This... What’s the meaning of this, Lord Envoy?"

Multiple Empyrean Gods were immediately puzzled after Vaan returned their Memory Crystals within seconds of receiving them.

"I have finished perusing all of the materials," Vaan simply stated.

"This..."

Empyrean Wavebreaker and the others were quickly struck speechless by Vaan’s nonchalant feat.

This kind of information-processing speed was truly out of this world.

"You really don’t need to peruse them a few more times to engrave them into your memory, Lord Envoy."

"Not at all. Once is enough."

"This..."

Empyrean Wavebreaker and the others were struck speechless again.

Did the heavenly luck and fortune of Chaos all gather on Vaan’s body at birth or something? Why did it seem like he was talented in everything?

Even at their level, they couldn’t claim to have photographic memories. They would have to review the same knowledge twice to be safe, and thrice to be absolutely confident.

Sigh!

To compare oneself to the Soul Master Association Envoy was the same as inflicting self-harm; nothing about it would feel good.

"I’ve read through everyone’s materials and gained some understanding of the Corrupted Ones. There are a few methods we can use to filter them out."

"Oh?"

After hearing Vaan’s claim, the Empyreans’ depression over the difference in talent was quickly replaced with surprise. They didn’t expect Vaan to come up with solutions so quickly.

"What brilliant ideas do you have, Lord Envoy?" Empyrean Vastheaven inquired.

"As far as I know, the Corrupted Ones, if infected by the power of corruption, are practically crippled in their cultivation path, rendering them incapable of breakthroughs," Vaan first mentioned.

"One method I thought of is to conduct regular lectures. As long as we can monitor the progress of every disciple, we’ll be able to filter the capable from the incapable."

"Then, through repeated monitoring of the incapable, if they are further unable to make any breakthroughs in cultivation, techniques, laws, and such, even with specialized mentoring, then they are likely infected with the power of corruption."

"Of course, if they haven’t been infected by the power of corruption for long, then there’s still a chance of them slipping through this great filter and escaping our detection, buying themselves some time.

"However, if we don’t need to catch every infected."

"As long as the incapable disciples we’ve filtered out are brought before me, while I can’t confidently claim I can determine an infected yet, I dare say I can certainly identify a Corrupted One."

"We just need to make this a regular process, and we should be able to catch a few."

"This..."

Empyrean Wavebreaker and the others, once again, found themselves speechless due to sheer astonishment.

While Vaan’s plan sounded simple and viable, it was actually impractical in normal circumstances. After all, it was very normal for Divine Beings not to make any progress in anything for hundreds to thousands of years.

Even with the help of competent teachers, only a few talented individuals would see themselves making swifter progress than others.

Even if they could monitor everyone’s progress over hundreds or thousands of years, it would be too late, since the power of corruption might not even take ten years to completely transform someone into a Corrupted One.

Not everyone was capable of making countless disciples achieve a cultivation breakthrough like Vaan. As such, while it sounded like a good plan, it was only possible because Vaan was a capable teacher.

If the enlightener role were handed over to someone else, the plan would simply not work.

This was the charm of a True Sage.

The difference between an ordinary teacher with wisdom and a Sage with the equivalent wisdom was simply too great to compare.

Even if the same words were spoken, the effects would differ greatly.

An ordinary teacher’s lecture might not be easily recalled, but a True Sage’s would never be forgotten. A True Sage’s lecture didn’t just strike the heart with a deep impression, but also provoked the mind to think, improving the chance of enlightenment.

Between a Soul Master Association Envoy and a True Sage, the Empyreans viewed the former with more importance but valued the latter.

Suddenly, Empyrean Vastheaven recalled Vaan’s past actions.

Considering your past public lectures... Could it be that you already had this plan and were enacting it, Lord Envoy?"

"Hahaha, of course not."

Vaan naturally didn’t admit to it, since it wasn’t true. He didn’t even know about the problem with the Corrupted Ones until he was attacked by one. He only thought about earning merit and contribution points to splurge on cultivation resources later.

Nevertheless, Emprean Vastheaven and the other Empyreans gave Vaan a knowing look, taking his no for a yes. They understood that the Soul Master Association Envoy wouldn’t admit to anything since he denied being one.

As such, it didn’t matter if the Soul Master Association Envoy denied everything.

As long as they know, they know.

By now, even Vaan realized that even if he did his best to be honest with the Empyreans, they would not believe that he was not the Soul Master Association Envoy.

They already used all of their common sense, knowledge, and evidence to form their own truth. It wouldn’t be possible to convince them of a different truth with just words. They would need cold-hard proof.

But what proof could Vaan provide?

There was a chance that even if he claimed to be the reincarnation of the Lord of Boundless Seas and Skies, if the Empyreans didn’t get offended, they would believe that he, the Soul Master Association Envoy, was being humorous.

Of course, Vaan wouldn’t take this kind of risk no matter what.