Rumble!
The ends of the Holy Light Realm were once represented by an illusion barrier that made the realm seem ever-expansive when it, in reality, was anything but.
However, this illusion shattered as a true scenery appeared in its place. The plane expanded exponentially until it was almost ten times its original size!
New structures appeared with new treasures hidden within, and new dangers populated the lands.
Every genius outside the two tombs felt the change directly as the earth under their feet stretched and cracked.
Their interest was piqued.
The Holy Light Realm was already explored to its maximum potential. It wasn't that there weren't treasures or new environments to find, but rather the fact that a select few geniuses established such a dominance that the rest had no motivation to compete with them.
The expanding realm represented a new frontier. Those who were already in the realm and those who were newly entering all had their eyes lit with a newborn fervor as they shot into the vast expanse to meet their destined chances.
Unlike the rest, however, Ruyue's eyes didn't explore on the new territories.
They were directed at the Holy Light Tomb, a contemplative expression on her face.
She and Rose anticipated the Grand Assembly not only for their own ambitions, but to meet the man who disappeared from their lives over two years ago.
And unlike Rose, Ruyue could feel him in her heart.
Literally.
She felt his calm and reassuring heartbeat, and she felt his presence in that magnificent sandstone tomb, but…
'Should I go?'
She didn't know whether or not to follow her instinct and find him immediately.
Among Damien's wives, Ruyue was always the coldest outwardly. Those she didn't care for wouldn't even be graced with a word from her.
And for someone with such an exterior, one wouldn't expect the warm and emotional internal struggle she was facing.
During her Baptism, she saw a vision.
A vision where she was forced to choose between her love and her power.
She almost failed due to her inability to make this choice, and in the end, she…
'Not yet.'
…didn't choose at all.
She could never abandon her love, the love that saved her from desolation, and she could never abandon her power that did the same.
Both were crucial aspects of her being, and only after realizing the dual importance they held could she move on to the next stage of Baptism.
Currently, she had to make the same choice, but with far less dire consequences.
And thus, she chose to pursue power.
'Because without power, I can't pursue my love.'
Her cold exterior could only be melted by the warmth in her heart, and in order to preserve that warmth, she would do anything necessary.
'Never again will I lose him so powerlessly.'
Rose never talked about that day, but Ruyue knew well that she felt the same.
They were devastated, and suddenly understood why Damien chose to follow the lonely path of a paragon genius.
Whoosh!
Ruyue pressed off her heels and glided through the air, heading deeper into the unknown that spawned in the south.
"Hmm…" she hummed, watching the geniuses on the ground below clear out as they discovered her presence.
'It's not worth spending time on them.'
As Rose said, there was no longer a point in continuing their killing spree. They originally expected the geniuses they were competing against to be stronger, which is why they planned for a month of fighting, but that plan fell through.
'No, it's only been delayed. Once more Holy Lands arrive, we'll meet the true peak of the universe.'
The Human Domain geniuses received a quick course on the structure and major influences of Grand Heavens Boundary on the way to Luxurion, and Parsiel made sure they overestimated their opponents as much as possible.
'If that Angel's words weren't propaganda, I need to reach level 399 rapidly.'
Ruyue moved several thousand kilometers within an hour, passing by several strange structures and monuments that made the expanded realm seem like an ancient ruined society.
Suddenly, her ears perked up.
"This sound…water…?"
Ruyue's eyes went to the horizon. The sound she heard was like water, but there was something strange about it, something that separated it from every other stream and river in the vicinity.
Flash!
Her body arrived at her target in an instant, and as she looked out into the mountain below, she found a mundanely beautiful scenery.
It was a house, roughly large enough for a family of four to live comfortably. It had two stories, but its design was quite unique even amongst the things Ruyue had seen.
It sat atop a lazy river that calmly twisted through the densely packed trees. Its floors almost hovered above the river, making it seem like the river was being produced by the house itself.
This structure could best be described as a fusion of water and land in a fashion that almost seemed ethereal and separate from reality.
Ruyue gracefully landed on the ground and walked up to the house, scanning it with her awareness.
'Nothing?'
She raised her brow as she carefully made her way up the stairs and into the structure itself.
Ding~! Ding~! Ding~!
Windchimes danced, sending beautiful melodies through the peaceful air.
Ruyue closed her eyes and appreciated this sense of calm as she stepped through the house's sliding glass entrance.
Swoosh!
Her eyes widened.
She felt like she entered an entirely new world.
Her mind was filled with a strange connection, as if she could feel the earth connecting to the seas, and the seas connecting to the sky.
Looking out the translucent walls of the house that gave a crystal clear view of the outside scenery, Ruyue felt like she was a part of the water and a part of the earth, a true staple of the environment.
Water and earth were both elements of yin, and though Ruyue never truly utilized either, she could still intrinsically connect to them at any moment.
With the house's mysterious effects, this connection was enhanced exponentially, and Ruyue's mind entered a plane she'd never seen before.
Yin, the Law she followed.
She always classified yin as dark and cold, but she failed to see its other face.
Yin was the picture of serenity. It was the most flexible law, able to bend anything towards nothingness.
Ruyue always chased strength above control because she had always felt the need for immediate power.
Neglecting control was never the answer.
Rather, as someone who followed the path of Yin, control should've been her utmost priority.
'Ah…'
Why didn't she realize it sooner?
No, she was just too focused on a decision she never needed to make in the first place and got distracted from the path forward.
Her strength didn't rise, nor did her comprehension suddenly expand.
However, her mind cleared.
She received what she needed most, assurance in and realization of herself.
Ruyue's eyes flashed with countless imageries as they rapidly cleared, the haze that clouded them disappearing entirely,
She once again looked out into the environment, and a small smile decorated her face, immortalizing her beauty in the painting-like scenery.
'Good. This is exciting.'
If this was the reward from the first interesting thing she found, she couldn't wait to see what came next.
