Chapter 606 Invitation and a Balrog’s Adventure (1/2)

”Not sure… I think I forgot about it…”

”Probably a harmonious state of mind, immune to external influences. As long as you are able to calmly and rationally face any situation, you would truly grasp the power of the mind and resist all external disturbances.”

”I ascended during the Great Mana Tide, my liege. If I have to describe a definitive experience, I really don't know what to say…”

”My lord. As your humble servant, I'm not fooling you, but there's really no words to describe that sensation.”

After bidding farewell to William and Barnil, Joshua's subsequent visits and inquiries were met with failure.

Across the North, every wielder of Soul Mastery—wandering or hired—were all visited by Joshua. Most of them ascended unwittingly under the Great Mana Tide, and though they certainly refined themselves they were not sure about the actual process. Some had seriously explained their experience, while there were also some who were reluctant to discuss it. Joshua took no exception, and merely told them that he was willing to exchange that knowledge with skills of equal value, and would never try to treat them shabbily.

It was until the warrior really had no other solution but to seek out certain old friends that he attained a little result.

”Soul Mastery? It had been decades ago for me. Although there would be some holes in the details, it should generally be correct.”

Nostradamus smiled in return to the warrior's question, explaining the details of his ascension to Joshua with such vividness, that it was completely unlike how it would be holed as the mage put it. Still, the contents were nothing to speak of—according to what Joshua understood, the mage had simply meditated, meditated and meditated until he simply made a breakthrough. While the archmage could even remember the amount of dust around him at the time, there was truly nothing of value. Toward Joshua's troubles with divinity, Nostradamus indicated that he was sympathetic but unable to help at the same time. ”Your mind is sturdy enough, friend,” he said. ”Even if it had not reached the limit it must be close, and there is no guarantee you could stop the erosion even if you truly attained Soul Mastery.”

Although there was a rapport in their personality, it was clear that Joshua could not aid Joshua much in that respect, although he did leave one valuable advice in terms of Soul Mastery. ”If I were to put my finger on the difference before and after my awakening, it would be that I find 'body and soul' a single body before awakening. After my awakening, the body became rather unimportant—an expendable part.”

Though the way the mage put it appeared not valuable, it gave Joshua a vague idea. He thought that he might have caught on to something even if it was not clear. After thanking and saying goodbye to Nostradamus, Joshua pondered for a while before looking for the next person, who was also the last one in his list.

”Soul Mastery, huh? I think of it as 'unity in action and thought'. To excel it was considered perfect, and impeccable in aspect of the mind.”

Pope Igor, pontiff of the Seven Gods Church muttered to himself for a while as they spoke through a communications spell. ”There is no direct link between Soul Mastery and the ability to resist divinity erosion,” he said slowly in return to the warrior's inquiry, ”especially for you, Joshua—you are a little too matching for divinity, and it is occasionally completely in harmony with your thoughts. I suspect that the imperfection of your mind was incidentally self-doubts and resistance.”

”In other words, it is precisely because you did not attain Soul Mastery that you could withstand the erosion of divinity.”

”How could man improve if they had no self-doubts? Furthermore, that way putting it is a little too far-fetched.” Joshua shook his head on the other end of the spell. It was clear that at that point, Igor's words were a little dubious and completely different from his idea. Joshua found that the soul was merely a second mental organ apart from his own brain, while divinity equated to a change like cancer, although it was unclear whether it was benign or malignant—it could bring massive vigor power, and yet would mold the independent soul into something just like it. Soul Mastery was hence cultivating that organ to its limits so that the soul itself had the resistance to withstand abnormalities and maintain autonomy.”

In other words, as Joshua saw it, the soul was the same as muscles. It could be trained and augmented, or to put it a little far-fetched, it was nothing other than having the soul do push-ups, sit-ups and run a marathon. And what he wanted was the way to train the soul.

”Everyone has different perspectives of the soul, but who would know the truth? You must have seen Divine Dungeon Shrouds—those were remains of the gods given form as souls of deities from the last era were destroyed. That should precisely be the form of certain souls arriving at its limit.”

Igor had no intent to convince Joshua since, just as he had said, it was a matter of different perspectives. Therefore, he gave another suggestion in respect to Joshua's troubles. ”The ancient gods command divine powers—take a look at the form of the souls of those pioneers, it would certainly aid you.

”You're right.” Joshua blinked a few times and nodded in agreement. He had certainly ignored overlooked that angle—the ancient gods could command divine powers and compel the skies, the land, the winds, and the seas. Now, the remnants of their souls had become Divine Dungeon Shrouds that were indeed the best reference. He had actually forgotten about the fact despite having observed it himself before, and it was quite clear that he had been in too much of a rush.

”By the way, Your Holiness, your tone does not conform to clergy norm.” Joshua teased after thanking Igor, although the pontiff did not mind.