Chapter 82: The Witch And The Ancient Spellcaster’s Trans-time Communication

Jiang Cha’s peculiar expression wasn’t because the question was difficult. On the contrary, it was because the question was essentially a non-question—the reasoning and answers were already well known among witches of the Creation Discipline. But precisely because it was so well known, it felt strange.

“I feel like I’ve seen this before?”
Daisy, about to minor in the Creation Discipline, also felt a sense of familiarity when she saw the question.

“In fact, it’s quite famous, senior,” Jiang Cha said.
“It’s a high-level application of Arcane magic: using knowledge to argue whether the Arcane God exists…”

It was a discussion-type question.

From the perspective of later Arcane practitioners, this question itself was flawed. Arcane magic is highly mathematical, its study more akin to theoretical mathematics—a discipline requiring precise calculations and logically rigorous reasoning, step by step. This is also why Arcane magic could independently develop countless times across multiverses yet reach similar conclusions. Its original purpose was to calculate the ultimate answer of the multiverse.

So when a math-like problem is asked in the form of a discussion question, it’s already off course. Using a different system to prove something within the Arcane system only leads to conclusions that completely overturn the original framework—a fundamentally absurd result.

It’s like trying to use “1 + 1 ≠ 2 in binary” to disprove base-10 math—a ridiculous question, because 1 + 1 = 2 is simply a human-defined rule. Whether in decimal, binary, or hexadecimal, the system is still “math,” but the frameworks are fundamentally different.

“Even 1 + 1 > 2 in Goldbach’s Conjecture is similar—the meaning it represents is inherently different, and reaching the same answer would be strange.”

“Wait, I’m a bit lost… Can you explain it more simply?”
Daisy could understand the discussion about math, but the arcane concepts Jiang Cha was mentioning were so advanced that her brain felt overloaded. She hadn’t studied this level yet, so it was normal she couldn’t grasp it.

“Okay, a simple metaphor: a normal Arcane problem’s starting point is like one apple plus one apple equals two apples.”
“But this problem’s starting point is like one witch plus one witch… in infinite time, how many witches would that equal?”

“One? No… three? Also wrong… maybe any of these?”
“Yes, exactly,” Jiang Cha shrugged. “It equals an unknown number greater than or equal to zero. Because either of these witches could die without descendants, or only one could survive.”

“This question starts off on the wrong foot and is completely opposed to the essence of Arcane magic,” she added.

“In the Arcane discipline, which pursues logical calculation, materialism, and treats mana as an energy source ignoring its subjective aspect, to try proving whether an Arcane God exists… it’s ridiculous.”

“One is materialist, the other idealist. We can’t say they are completely contradictory, but from a materialist starting point to an idealist conclusion, it’s clearly problematic—unprovable.”

Jiang Cha didn’t write a full proof on the answer sheet the tower’s owner had prepared. She only wrote her last two sentences.

“Alright, maybe you’re right.”
“But I still insist that an Arcane God may exist.”

The mage tower owner’s voice sounded at the right moment. Her exploration of Arcane magic had reached a height far beyond a small witch like Jiang Cha, who only casually studied some Arcane knowledge through the materialist school. The answer she gave had been personally verified by many Sages and even Great Sages.

It was like a high school student traveling back in time to explain genetics to Mendel—a true “dimensionality drop.”

The master of the tower had spent her entire life pursuing this answer, but it was basic knowledge that future witches could casually learn. Who was she debating with?

“Why persist? You’re not a stubborn spellcaster, are you?”

Rather than rushing forward for modest gains, Jiang Cha seemed more interested in conversing with a spellcaster from unknown millennia ago, understanding her thoughts and reasoning.

She herself was an explorer of the unknown. Her development of intellect-based magic had stalled after her first spell, “Overlapping Thoughts.” This spell wasn’t even fully intellect-based—it was largely derived from the Creation Discipline.

Communicating with such a master brought benefits far beyond a few spellbooks. And indeed, the ancient Arcane explorer gave her an answer that exceeded expectations.

“Because I never intended to seek an Arcane God existing in reality to take the impossible shortcut.”
“Believing in gods is laughable, isn’t it? They are seeking not truth, but power.”

The mature female voice carried a hint of disdainful laughter, then shifted into a wry smile.

“But I did stray from the path. Perhaps those in the School of Truth were right—to preserve Arcane purity, rather than to seek an Arcane God.”
“Still, my achievements are decent. At least they’re worth my effort.”

The mage tower owner paused slightly, seemingly teasing Jiang Cha, then realized she was already dead—such subtle humor was entirely unnecessary.

Before Jiang Cha could ask, the voice continued: “Have you heard of creating an artificial god?”

“!!!!”

This was insane! She really knew what she was doing? Creating a god?

Even a god with Arcane power, if it isn’t the omniscient and omnipotent god witches pursue, is equivalent to creating a Sage-level Arcane being! And the mage tower’s owner was, at most, Sage-class. Such arrogance!

“Yes. My goal is not to seek a vague god for help, but to create a god myself. In fact, I almost succeeded, but for some reason, my artificial god is stuck at the last step—the possibility of infinitely self-developing intelligent life.”

“That’s why I turned to proving the possibility of an Arcane God. I don’t need it to naturally appear in the universe at some infinitesimal probability.”

“What I seek is just that possibility—”

“What a pity,” Jiang Cha whispered.

“Yes… what a pity,” the mage tower owner sighed, then smiled, gently as if watching the black-haired, red-eyed girl in front of her.

“So, has my path been helpful to you?”
“Extremely helpful! Thank you! You’ve opened my mind. This is probably my greatest gain since birth!”
“It may not belong to the Arcane school, but it absolutely proves both your path and mine!”

Jiang Cha’s expression was wild with enthusiasm.