Chapter 36 — Silly Child, This Is a Reading List!

In the witch world, the master‑apprentice relationship is quite different from the primitive version on Earth.

It isn’t that “one day as master, forever as father.” Things like betraying one’s master or usurping one’s teacher are not uncommon. Some masters raise an apprentice like a child bride, only for someone else to steal them later.

At its essence, a witch’s master‑apprentice bond is a mutual investment by choice. The master tests theories and validates their path using the apprentice; the apprentice learns knowledge and receives guidance. It’s less like raising children and more like companions in the pursuit of truth — experimental assistants or even experimental subjects.

After drinking the sobering potion that the tsundere daughter had painstakingly brewed, Mortel was now explaining to Jiang Cha the theory she wished to validate.

“You know the path by which witches become gods?”

“Okay, judging from your expression, you don’t. That’s understandable — we only begin to consider this once we reach the ‘Grand Witch’ level.” Mortel sighed, then proceeded to explain her philosophical roots to the bewildered girl.

The so‑called “Path to Apotheosis” — witches all day dream of how to tame the Will of Worlds, how to bend it to themselves. These dragon‑scale‑roasting, angel‑wing‑grilling folks aren’t aiming to be gods over a single world or universe. Such gods are meaningless to them — they’ll just be rare materials.

Mortel leaned in:
“The Paradox of Deification: Can a god create a stone that it cannot lift?”

“Yes — because mana is omnipotent.”

“Then can it lift that stone?”

“Yes — because mana is omnipotent.”

“That is the witches’ standard answer: becoming a ‘limited’ god is meaningless. What we seek is true, unrestricted godhood — omniscience and omnipotence.”

So the goal was set — but how to walk that path was deeply disputed in witch society. Some sages believed that if you attain perfect knowledge, omnipotence follows. They would dive deeply into every craft needed to recreate, say, a nuclear bomb — from uranium refinement to metal forging. Given enough time, they could replicate entire industrial chains or technological trees themselves.

“But that is only omniscience, not true omnipotence — it requires time. It cannot get you ‘anything you want instantly.’”

When that limitation was realized, a great sage — now the third seat in the Witch Council — invented the “Creation Magic” discipline.

“You’ve studied Creation Magic. Its fundamental nature is constructing matter via mana. Thus it bridges the flaw of omniscience: if I know everything, I can directly fabricate what I want.”

“That doesn’t seem right. Creation magic can indeed form matter, but the more complex the creation, the more mana it requires… that still puts us on the path of omnipotence, doesn’t it?” The girl’s sharp mind sensed a contradiction.

Yes — the “path to omnipotence” is, bluntly, “force a miracle by sheer power.” Some witches think since mana is miracle power, and even rules can be bent, you just stack mana until you’re omnipotent. But alas, even the highest sage under all races still falls far short.

“So that is why, above sage, we have the level of Grand Sage — those who have achieved partial omniscience and partial omnipotence.” Mortel sighed and continued to enlighten the puzzled girl.

“In essence, there is no fundamental difference between sage and grand sage. There’s no sharp boundary between ordinary witch and Grand Witch, or between Grand Witch and Sage. That title is simply for those who pushed themselves hardest — pushing battle power far beyond ordinary sages — reaching a state of partial omnipotence in their domain.”

“Partial omnipotence” means a witch, in her domain of specialization, reaches the top: whatever is possible within that school, she can will it into being.

“What about Creation Magic?”

“Creation Magic only fabricates matter. Even in the multiverse, it doesn’t achieve full omnipotence.”

“Our six magic systems among witches are essentially six thresholds on the road to omniscience and omnipotence:
— Forming energy manipulates world energy
— Transfiguration / transformation handles randomness
— Mysticism handles the unknown
— Mind / Spirit governs soul and will
— Creation governs matter
— Necromancy governs death

Each is a path up to the divine. Six systems, six pillars of the universe, six gates toward omnipotence.”

“And guess which system I’m studying?” Mortel paused, eyes turning to Jiang Cha with expectation. She hoped the girl would understand her, be a companion on her lonely research journey — that someone would share in her wild ideas.

But Jiang Cha did not answer directly, instead asking:
“So far, has any Grand Sage perfected multiple systems?”

“Yes — the First Sage. No one knows how she did it. She mastered both Creation and Spirit to their extremes; she can freely create life.”

Mortel’s face was infused with reverence. She envied the First Sage for she held the key to real omnipotence.

“What’s the barrier preventing other sages from perfecting a second system?”

“Time. Or more precisely — infiltration.” Mortel’s anticipation deepened.

“…You want to develop a new magic system?”

“Smart.” Mortel relaxed, relieved. Yes — this girl was as mad as she was.

Up to now, all research shows branches outside the six systems (fate, time, space, etc.) are meaningless in witch society. These were often pursued by genius witches in other civilizations, but ultimately abandoned. They are not necessary routes to omniscience and omnipotence.

Mortel never gave up. She was a little mad.

“Intelligence / Knowledge Magic? Senior, do you think that is a way to resist infiltration and lower the cost of the path to omniscience?” The girl even guessed which system Mortel aimed to build. She had seen this idea hinted in books, but Mortel’s prompts today steered her thought there.

“Your Information Gathering magic communicates with the so-called wisdom ‘god’. Senior, that…” Jiang Cha’s lips curled with a sly smile. Her mid-tier magic had found its source.

“Need to charge extra.” she joked.

“I’m very poor.” Mortel sighed, put her hands up, and gave up resisting. From the moment she first saw this girl, she knew she was no ordinary pupil. The silly niece thought Jiang Cha was a sweet obedient girl, but she misjudged.

See — true nature revealed, right?

“Each system’s mid-tier magic—at least ten useful spells.”

“Done deal.” Jiang Cha said. She really had no money, but as long as she got access to magic, Mortel could provide funds. Mortel herself was a full-system witch; she’d personally created over a hundred spells.

“You’re such a wicked child, extorting your master so nastily.” Mortel teased.

Though she agreed rapidly, Mortel still grumbled a bit. Seeing her displeasure, Jiang Cha shifted into playful mode, clinging softly to Mortel, casually pressing her soft chest against Mortel’s arm, flashing a sweet grin:

“Ehehe~ Master is the best~ Surely you won’t mind granting your disciple a few mid-tier spells, right? Besides, if I reach a level where I can truly help you, I’ll need these resources too~”

“Master, I bet in the red‑light district you could still do a 7-in-7 conquest even at your age, so you must be generous — you wouldn’t shortchange your disciple, right?”

“….”

Honestly, could Mortel not see Jiang Cha’s little moves? Of course she did — how could she not. But did she resist? That was the question. And the answer was: she enjoyed it.

The girl was not only a beauty among already high‑appearance witches, but she also had uncanny perceptiveness. She had gauged Mortel’s weak point — mortal resistance to cute little sister seduction.

“Holy crap! Mom, you’re getting played already?!” Moli, stepping out from the alchemy room behind, shouted.

“Eh?” The girl blinked, face free of embarrassment, even a bit innocent, pretending ignorance.

“What are you talking about? If I could seduce a student so easily, would I still have to spend money in the red‑light district?”

“Oh, you do have a point.” Moli and Mortel exchanged dry looks.

But the truth was: Mortel’s looks and aura — that domineering older-sister vibe — was exactly the kind little witches found irresistibly attractive. Even in witch society, perfect faces were rare and precious.

Yet Mortel didn’t like raising children … and mature witches often disliked her wildness, so she remained single. Even in taking Jiang Cha as a disciple, it was more of a “free-range” mentoring plan — it was only at a recommendation from an old friend that she warmed to the idea. Everything aligned. If she passed this one up, the next would take ten years to find.

After a bit of banter and growing familiar, Mortel began ushering Jiang Cha out.

Mana-powered document printers whirred. Mortel transferred information via spiritual channeling, A4 pages streamed out rapidly like a snowstorm, floating all over the room.

“Master, what is this?” The girl helpfully began gathering the scattered papers, not daring glance — afraid she’d read something she couldn’t understand.

“Oh, this is your syllabus for the year. I’ve marked page numbers. I’ll check your monthly progress.”

“Is this all?” The girl looked at the stack—some thirty centimeters thick—then exhaled gently. A lot, but with effort she could finish it in a month without interfering with her other plans.

Mortel gave her a strange look, then couldn’t help but laugh:
“Foolish child — this is your reading list!”

Jiang Cha: “….”