John didn't even know if he could feel additional shock and surprise at the moment, as his mind had already gone numb. He stood there in a daze once more, thinking back to all his interactions with the mysterious man within his spatial realm.
The man had never once given any hint that he was John's father, and had even used terms such as "chess piece" to describe John, further separating himself from any sort of father figure.
John's shock and surprise turned to slight agitation as he thought back to this.
"He literally referred to me as a chess piece? What type of father does that?" John couldn't help but ask his mother.
John's mother gave a wry smile as she heard this, as well as a slight chuckle.
"Your father is very...serious," she replied. "As for calling you a chess piece, with the plans he has set in motion...he would consider that an honor. But do not think that an insult. Your father has put all his hopes on you. He is a very calculating man, and yet he has put all his faith in you and your future potential. In his eyes, that is the greatest compliment he could give you."
John fell back into silence upon hearing that, while his mother floated before him patiently.
"Since he has not yet appeared before us, I'm assuming that he is unable to do so?" his mother asked him gently.
John gazed back up as his mother and nodded his head.
"He...my father...appeared several times to help me get out of dangerous situations. But on the last time, it appeared as if he noticed something, and said he would no longer be able to appear out in the open."
A soft sigh escaped his mothers lips. "As I assumed.
John's thoughts shifted to his father, the holy gate, the spatial realm, and the sphere. He had so many questions regarding all of it.
"Mother," John called out, causing a large smile to appear on his mother's face, as it was his first time calling her mother.
"What can you tell me about all these secrets I have on me? What is the sphere? What is the palace within my spatial realm? What is behind the sinister gate? What is the strange energy I occasionally feel well up inside me at critical moments? Why couldn't I cultivate at the start of my life? Why am I my father's chess piece?I have so many questions, but no answers," John asked.
John's mother reached out once more and stroked his cheek, although her hand passed right through it. Her loving gaze stared at him closely, as if she wanted to savor this moment forever.
"There are some truths I can reveal, and some that you are not yet ready to hear," his mother replied.
John took a deep breath upon hearing this, as he was about to learn at least some of the truth behind the incredible secrets he held.
"The reason you were unable to cultivate at first was because of the restriction I placed on you. If you were able to cultivate too early on, you would have noticed the Artifact sooner than intended, before your body and mind were ready to accept such an incredible power. As such, I locked your cultivation away until the day you stumbled upon the Artifact," his mother began to explain.
"But what if I never found the Artifact?" John couldn't help but interrupt with this question.
His mother shook her head slightly upon hearing this. "You and the Artifact are linked, and so you would eventually find it. That was a certainty."
John fell back into silence as he allowed his mother to continue revealing what truths she could.
"As for the Artifact...the Artifact is something your father personally created just for you. I'm sure you already know it acts as a second dantian, which will help you climb to the peak of the martial world. Your father intended this to be his greatest gift to you, as well as his greatest assurance of your safety," his mother explained.
John could tell she left out some information, but knew if she had done so, that she was not going to elaborate further on it.
"As for the palace and the spatial realm...the spatial realm exists within the Artifact," his mother revealed. "The palace houses great secrets, of which I cannot reveal. However, you will discover those secrets when you reach the required strength you father intended you to be to find out the truth."
John frowned slightly upon hearing this, but was not surprised, as he had expected such an answer for many of his questions.
"The only other question of yours I can answer is related to the strange energy you feel well up inside you upon critical moments," his mother continued.
John's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this, as this mysterious surge of energy had saved his life several times, but he still had absolutely no idea what it was, or how to control it.
"That energy, that surge of power, is an innate ability of anyone from your father's bloodline," his mother explained. "It is an incredibly unique and powerful ability, and was one of the reasons your fathers clan was able to rise to the top of the martial world."
"An innate ability?" John repeated. "Then how do I control it?" John asked his mother.
"Normally someone of your father's bloodline goes through an ancestral ritual, which allows them to control this unique ability. However, that ancestral ritual can only be done within the grounds of your father's clan," his mother explained.
This explanation made John's mood go slightly sour, as he had been hoping to learn to control this ability. His mood quickly changed to one of elation as he heard his mothers next words.
"However," his mother spoke up once more. "With my power, I can at least give you limited control over this ability."
Her hand suddenly reached out and tapped John on his forehead. John felt a strange energy invade his body and soul, changing it in ways he couldn't even comprehend. The process continued for quite some time, until suddenly John felt something in his body snap.
It was as if a chain locking a gate had snapped, and he was now able to freely open the gate at will.
