"..." The Heavenly War Spirit was initially doubtful as Wei Wuyin informed her of the details of his discovery, including his deficient Star Cores and the circumstances of their maximum potential limit escalation, but the more he spoke, the greater he could feel fluctuations of activity from her golden egg form.
"NO WONDER! NO WONDER!" Abruptly, she blurted out excitedly. Her reaction caused Wei Wuyin's Sea of Consciousness to tremble erratically, inducing a faint headache that stung quite peculiarly. This came as a shock to him, as his Sea of Consciousness and Mental Fortitude, the protective walls of his mind, were fortified by absurd cultivation resources and Eden's influence. This shook him.
The Heavenly War Spirit's response had produced such a painful experience?
"Settle down," Wei Wuyin's mental incarnation said with a slow breath. His words seemed to have made the Heavenly War Spirit realize what had happened, and the trembling ceased instantly.
"I'm…sorry," she guiltily apologized.
This event once again reminded Wei Wuyin that the Heavenly War Spirit was an item worth five million War Souls, enough to purchase five War Talismans. Her current golden egg form was solely because of his inability to hatch her on a fundamental level as a mortal, and he had little idea what abilities a Heavenly War Spirit possessed.
"It's fine," Wei Wuyin consoled as he lightly shook his head; at the same time, a cooling sensation spread from Eden as it eased his pain. "No wonder what?" He inquired after adjusting and inspecting the Heavenly War Spirit, which was deeply embedded into Eden's Star Core's tree shape.
"I thought it was strange that you didn't merge the totality of your cultivated strength in the Mortal Realms, especially since your Stellar-Paragon Physique had no disharmony or spiritual dissonance. This makes sense! Lucky, too; I even feared you'd struggle during the Mystic Ascendant Realm. This is good! This is really good!" The Heavenly War Spirit's tone started tame, but her excitement seemed to have caused her to grow energetic with jubilant relief.
"Trouble during the Mystic Ascendant Realm?" Wei Wuyin frowned. His alternative version had cultivated to the Earthly Saint Phase without issue, segregating his Astral Souls at the Soul of Mysticism Phase, the Second Stage of the Mystic Ascendant Realm, so he couldn't find the conflict that could lead to him struggling.
"The Mystic Ascendant Realm, no—the Mystic Dao, is not like the Mortal Dao or the Mortal Realms," the Heavenly War Spirit gradually grew solemn as she stated. Wei Wuyin knew they were different; if the two Daos could be described as possessing personalities, then the Mortal Dao was gentle, teaching, and forgiving, but mercilessly and spiteful if offended, while the Mystic Dao was forceful, strict, and ungiving.
The Mortal Dao taught and trained, while the Mystic Dao tested and judged. In the Mortal Realms, you're not meant to die, so you can be saved; in the Mystic Realms, failure means paying a cost, and cultivators must pay the price for any privilege.
"It's hard to explain, even in the language itself, but you should already feel the difference between the two by now. I can't begin calculating how having four Star Cores would go for you." The Heavenly War Spirit was actually extremely concerned about this point, which was why she felt it prudent that Wei Wuyin understood his situation and power, including his lifespan.
"I know; simply trying to ascend costs life. The Mystic Dao charges for its power, whether it's Temporal Reversion—a profound power of time, Internal World Creation—a profound power of space, or Incarnation Manifestation—a profound power of spirit, all these abilities of the Way of Mysticism costs lifespan to use." Wei Wuyin calmly said what he knew, a hint of somber tone in his voice.
"Yes, the Mystic Dao is different. And if you have four Star Cores, it would certainly charge you four times the amount. I think, considering its way of doing things. But if that did happen, even with that mark of yours that can create lifeforce, you'd instantly die. If the price is 3,600 years, that vastly exceeds your maximum lifespan." Her concern was not without merit. Wei Wuyin's alternative self had rationalized the fusion due to this situation. Due to the lifespan extraction occurring instantly, Wei Wuyin's life might be snuffed out in that instant without a chance to undo his mistake.
Unlike Mortal Tribulations, the first through fourth Ascensions were pass or fail with your degree of success established on completion, and the fifth to eighth was less of a trial and more of verifications of one's cultivation, attainments, knowledge, and foundation. There were lethal dangers throughout, but only in the case of failure.
The Heavenly War Spirit began joyfully: "But since your Star Core can be classified as a single Core, then you'll only experience a single Ascension; therefore, you should pay only once. This is a good thing."
"A good thing, huh?" Wei Wuyin smiled bitterly.
"Well, it's a good thing regarding the Mystic Ascendant Realm's path being cleared, but…" The Heavenly War Spirit fell quiet at the end, not continuing. They both were fully aware that while Wei Wuyin's situation had solved one of her concerns, the main problem was the four independent yet connected Star Cores.
The maximum potential of these cores had skyrocketed considerably, and each Star Core had the same difficulty representing the totality of his cultivation's Mortal Realm's former limit. Simply put, Wei Wuyin's cultivation path had become four times as difficult.
"Look on the bright side," the Heavenly War Spirit finally spoke after a long period of silence, saying consolingly: "Your cultivation at its peak will be heaven-defying." While she was speaking, Wei Wuyin felt as if the golden egg was forcing a smile. It felt really, really forced.
Wei Wuyin sighed softly and muttered in his heart, "If I can reach it." The Heavenly War Spirit was unaware of the Calamities of Hell's guillotine above him. Moreover, the 'peak' had layers upon layers. Not only did he have to reach the peak of each of his Star Core's Starforce, meaning maximizing the refinement of his physical, mental, essence, and spiritual energies, but he had to refine his Stellar-Paragon Physique to its limit and then cultivate his Astral Idol…Astral Idols? Given his unique situation, he wasn't even sure if he'd have four or one.
He couldn't begin to imagine if the difficulty increased again, with four Astral Idols that had to be elevated to the limit of what his single merged Astral Idol would've been. If that were the case, he should just cry here and wait for his life to flash before his eyes.
It must be said that while the Mystic Ascendant Realm had a different process than the Astral Core Realm, each stage was a foundation for the next, and the gains in each Ascension were not simple and equal. If he wanted to have the most complete, perfect breakthroughs, then he'd need to maximize his foundations as well.
"Will I reach the Realm of Sages in this lifetime?" Wei Wuyin mockingly asked himself.
"..." The Heavenly War Spirit could feel Wei Wuyin's acute feelings. She couldn't console him, unable to know where to begin. "It'll all be worth it," was all she could say.
"Huuuu!" Wei Wuyin took a deep breath as he closed his eyes.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Haaaa!" A long time passed before he exhaled. When his eyes finally opened, the radiance of his silver irises was particularly shocking. In that long moment, many things flashed across his mind, many decisions were made, and many possibilities were considered.
"I can no longer take it slow."
Seven words.
Only seven words and the fate of countless forces, lives, and the Sealed Regions had undergone a drastic shift from what it was meant to have.
"What do you mean?" The Heavenly War Spirit inquired, but her egg form couldn't help but shake vigorously. "You…are you sure?" Her tone was filled with disbelief but also a wisp of worry.
Wei Wuyin rose from his seated position and began to walk out of his cultivation chambers. "You said it yourself; I need to grow stronger." Grinning, Wei Wuyin pushed open the door and walked calmly toward the Void Gate. He had thoroughly investigated his Stellar-Paragon Physique and his Cultivation Base's current circumstance. He wouldn't foolishly spend his remaining time before the date of his expo in his chambers trying to reach a consolidated state; that required specially tailored Mystic-Earth grade products suitable for that. Moreover, he had long since figured out that his cultivation base might be 'depleted', but it was certainly not insufficient.
"Yeah, you need to grow stronger, but you have to remember that the more outstanding you are, and the more ambitious you reveal yourself to be, the more others will notice you. When this world falls…" The Heavenly War Spirit trailed off; her implied words were clear.
"I'm an Alchemist who can fight; I'll always be a threat as long as I refuse to submit. The King of Everlore took the path of an alchemist, traveling to greater pastures while elevating his craft at every opportunity, but that path is not mine to take." As Wei Wuyin spoke, the Void Gate activated, and the Imperial Aura etched into his bones began to surge strongly.
"Your path?" The Heavenly War Spirit was stunned, yet oddly excited.
"I lost my home, not once but twice," Wei Wuyin said as he softly touched the Myriad Yore Continent that hung beautifully around his neck. The familiar, unforgettable faces of his past flashed across his pupils.
"I won't lose my home again."
As Wei Wuyin stepped into the Void Gate, the Neo-Dawn Starfield's Baby Defiant brightened a tad bit, bringing forth a comforting warmth to all those who were basking in its warmth and radiance.
The inhabitants of the Neo-Dawn Starfield all found themselves feeling calmer and amazed. The solar essence had just spiked in quality, temporarily boosting the environments of each planet, each lunar satellite, and the entire Realm Region.
For a short while, a cultivation frenzy occurred throughout the starfield. This was a small prelude to the astonishing events that would shake the entire Sealed Regions!
