Chapter 17: There’s No Turning Back (1/2)

The process of learning was tedious and boring, but fortunately, with someone to keep her company, time passed quite quickly.

Checking the time, it was already 8:00 PM.

They had unknowingly been studying for 4 hours.

“Phew, that’s about enough.”

Su Ling stretched her body.

Mo Ran’s bedroom was very tidy, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air.

Mo Ran had just finished explaining lessons regarding Witch biology and history, and Su Ling had truly benefited a lot.

For instance, she was most interested in the history of Witches.

Although it was currently the year 6067 of the Witch Era, the history of Witches spanned far longer than six millennia.

Six thousand years ago, when the Sequence Witch [Creation] descended and opened the path to the Second Universe, the history of Witches unifying the other main universes began.

Therefore, that moment was regarded by Witches as the new Year One, known as the Witch Era, or the Creation Era.

In Witch theory, parallel universes existed in reliance on the main universes, and there were eleven main universes in total.

Six thousand years ago, the Witches unified the Second Universe.

Nearly 3,000 years later, they discovered the Third Universe, and within just 500 years, they unified it as well.

Two thousand years ago, the three great universes were unified by the Witches, and the Witches’ Samsara Project began its trial phase.

Witches were a long-lived species, but their lifespans were still finite.

However, their souls were practically immortal.

The Samsara Project was born from this reality.

Using the Third Universe as the foundation for the Samsara Project, whenever a Witch died, relevant personnel would be dispatched from the Third Universe to recover the Witch’s soul.

Then, with the help of the Path of Reincarnation, their memories would be wiped, and they would be reincarnated.

It felt a lot like the legends of the underworld back on Earth.

The history of Witches was magnificent and vast, and Su Ling soon found herself immersed in it.

However, what interested her the most were the Sequence Witches.

Witches possessed supernatural advancement paths known as Sequences.

There were thousands of these supernatural Sequences, but only sixteen were considered the main Sequences.

Sequence 0: The Original;
Sequence 1: Nothingness;
Sequence 2: Pleasure;
Sequence 3: Illusion;
Sequence 4: Memory;
Sequence 5: Charm;
Sequence 6: Destiny;
Sequence 7: Flame;
Sequence 8: Ice;
Sequence 9: Life;
Sequence 10: Erosion;
Sequence 11: Justice;
Sequence 12: Truth;
Sequence 13: Sword;
Sequence 14: Hope;
Sequence 15: Despair.

And the Sequence Witches were the existences at the very end of these sixteen main Sequences.

The phrase “The Original above,” which every Witch loved to say, referred to the Original Witch (#0), the omniscient and omnipotent supreme being among Witches.

‘Wait, is there one missing?’

Just as Su Ling was reflecting on the information, she suddenly noticed a discrepancy.

“Are you talking about [Creation]?”

Mo Ran shrugged her shoulders.

“It’s not just you; many Witches are curious about where Creation went. But unfortunately, no one knows. It’s considered one of the few unsolved mysteries in Witch history.”

“Of course, this is also a very important test point. Sometimes, examiners will set traps by including Creation in the options. Don’t fall for it when the time comes.”

The Witch Era had been started by [Creation], yet Creation was not among the sixteen main Sequences.

It couldn’t help but spark infinite curiosity.

Su Ling was originally pondering whether there was some unknown, world-shaking secret behind this, but when Mo Ran suddenly mentioned it was a “test point,” she couldn’t keep a straight face.

‘Hey, you just ruined the atmosphere!’

“Got it, got it.”

Su Ling waved her hand.

Thanks to Mo Ran’s reminder, the memory actually became more ingrained in her mind.

“So, how do we actually start on these Sequences?”

Today’s tutoring session was essentially over.

While packing her things, Su Ling couldn’t help but ask.

“There are many ways. There’s the Acting Method, which involves acting out the role of the Sequence. For example, Sequence 5: Charm is a Sequence many Witches portray. They charm other Witches to advance through the Sequence.”

“However, the requirements for the Acting Method are too high, and some Sequences aren’t easy to portray.

Alternatively, you can drink a specialized Magic Potion.

But the price of a single bottle of those potions is something we can’t even dream of.

That method is practically useless to us.”

“For people like us, the simplest and easiest way is to get into a Witch Academy. There are complete supernatural Sequences available within the Witch Academy.”

Mo Ran looked at Su Ling as she spoke.

Given how quickly she responded, she had clearly researched this a great deal.

Or rather, her ultimate ambition was likely the Witch Academy.

Su Ling clicked her tongue.

The Witch Academy… she had looked into it before, but the score requirements were too high.

The Witch College Entrance Examination consisted of six subjects: Mathematics, Physics, History, Biology, Magic Control, and Physical Education.

Each subject was worth 100 points, totaling 600 points.

The admission score for the Witch Academy was at least 550.

Currently, she was struggling just to hit the 300-point mark for a junior college. How could she dare to dream of the Witch Academy?

Seeing Su Ling’s longing yet fearful gaze, Mo Ran felt a stir in her heart.

Her total score on last month’s monthly exam was 400 points.

A junior college was a sure thing, but she was still a bit short for a regular university.

The admission score for an ordinary university was around 450.

By that logic, the Witch Academy was also practically out of her reach.

If she wanted to push for a regular university now, she had some confidence.

She just needed to improve by fifty points within a month.

But the Witch Academy…

“Student Su Ling, the Witch Academy… sigh, let’s just forget about it.”

Mo Ran shook her head.

In the Lower City, being able to get into a junior college already made one a “dragon among men.”

If someone’s ancestral grave practically smoked from good luck and they got into a university, it would be as if the Truth Witch (#12) had descended.

As for the Witch Academy, it was better to just go to sleep and dream about it.

“Heh, I’m just thinking about it.”

‘A person has to have dreams, after all.’

Su Ling and Mo Ran finished packing and walked out of the bedroom.

Mo Tong was sitting on the sofa in the living room, dozing off.

On the table was a sumptuous dinner, still steaming hot.

Mo Tong must have reheated the food over and over again.

And in the very center of the table sat an exquisite birthday cake.

“Are you two finished? Just in time…”

“Um, sorry, my little sister is waiting for me at home, I’m afraid I have to…”

Su Ling hurriedly waved her hands.

The sisters, Mo Ran and Mo Tong, were clearly in the middle of a conflict.

As an outsider, she really didn’t dare to get involved.

With that, Su Ling bowed quickly in apology, then opened the door and made a swift exit.

Mo Tong was visibly disappointed.

She had wanted to get to know this beautiful girl.

However, she quickly composed herself.

“Um… Xiao Ran…”

“I’m not hungry.”

Mo Ran replied coldly.

“Today is your birthday. Just take it as a favor for your sister…”

Mo Tong said, her voice bordering on a plea.

Mo Ran turned her head away, her teeth biting down hard on her lower lip.

“Your things are too filthy. I can’t eat them.”

Having said that, she grabbed a cucumber she had bought herself from the refrigerator and walked into her bedroom, completely ignoring Mo Tong.

Mo Tong stared at the closed bedroom door, the look in her eyes so broken it was heartbreaking.

She sat back down at the table dejectedly, staring blankly at the feast before her.

Exactly when did it all start?

Their parents had died young, and she had raised Mo Ran all by herself.

A year ago, in order to give Mo Ran a better life and support her dreams, she had signed a contract with Shao Nian You.

At first, Mo Ran didn’t know.

She just felt that their living conditions had improved and was very happy.

Mo Tong had always used the excuse that she had found a good part-time job to gloss over it.

Unfortunately, the truth eventually came out.

Her work at Shao Nian You was witnessed by a classmate with a wealthy family, and Mo Ran discovered what kind of person she was.

Since that day, everything had changed.

Mo Ran began to loathe her and resist everything about her.

Mo Ran showed blatant contempt for everything that had been bought with the money she earned by selling herself.