Chapter 47: Path Ahead
"This is condensed energy originating from a Spirit Dragon." Aurelius Zenith said as he slightly raised the orb.
He paused deliberately, allowing the weight of his words to settle.
"I have never heard of such a dragon, is it something like a Black Dragon?" Caelum asked, genuinely curious.
He was aware that dragons occasionally interfered in human affairs, yet the term Spirit Dragon was entirely unfamiliar to him.
"I assume you at least know about the Spirit Realm?" Aurelius asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"I do, and quite a bit more than most," Caelum replied without hesitation.
"I have even studied it to some extent."
After all, Asta originated from that realm, and Caelum had already spent considerable time studying related materials from his family’s library.
"For now, you can think of a Spirit Dragon as an entity that exists across both the material world and the Spirit Realm simultaneously," Aurelius explained, choosing not to complicate things further.
Then, noticing Caelum’s somewhat plain reaction, he added with a faint smirk, "You do not seem particularly impressed, should I change your reward?"
"No way, Headmaster! I absolutely love this gift!" Caelum said immediately, stepping forward and taking the orb into his hands.
The moment he touched it, a faint chill seeped into his palm, subtle yet profound.
Aurelius watched him closely.
’Part of this is also repayment for Sir Ben’s involvement... but even so, it still hurts to part with something I obtained with such effort,’ he thought with mild bitterness.
Then he saw it, Caelum tilted the orb, examining it with a strange look before lightly tapping it... and then, to Aurelius’ disbelief, he bit it.
"...Is it edible?" Caelum muttered.
For a brief moment, Aurelius seriously considered snatching it back.
"Do not eat it," he said flatly, forcing himself to remain calm.
"You are intelligent enough to figure out how to handle that energy properly, so I will leave it to you. Now go."
He turned away slightly, clearly unwilling to watch any further.
’I should dismiss him quickly before I change my mind about snatching that orb back,’ he thought.
Then another thought surfaced, this one related to their academics.
’The summoning ceremony was also moved forward... should I stop this for now?’
Meanwhile, Caelum had already stored the orb safely inside his school badge, his expression bright.
’Old people really are overly attached to their treasures,’
"Grror... I wonder if I will meet him again," Caelum muttered as he made his way toward the Foundation Division training facilities.
Most students in the division preferred practicing in open public grounds, only reserving private training rooms for more sensitive activities such as aura cultivation or experimental magic.
As a result, the rooms were relatively easy to obtain.
After a short wait, Caelum entered a modestly sized training chamber.
Since he had chosen a room designated for swordsmanship rather than magic testing, the space was smaller but more focused.
He exhaled deeply before sitting down cross-legged.
Soon, countless thoughts began to surface in his mind.
’I need to incorporate magic more effectively into my combat style and diversify both my offense and defense. Even after all this time, I still cannot properly utilize the [Heaven Dominating Divine Sword Art], and with the system shop currently locked, I cannot acquire new techniques. Should I ask Father for some local techniques instead?’
He paused.
Perhaps he was rushing or maybe not.
At only seven years old, he was already thinking about longevity, about extending his lifespan beyond natural limits.
In this world, advancement in power naturally extended one’s life, though the exact extent was unknown to him.
Still, as a former Earthling and now a cultivator, settling for anything less than immortality felt unacceptable.
Otherwise, he would be nothing more than a laughing stock among reincarnators.
The thought made him wonder if others like him even existed in this world.
’According to [Myriad Heavenly Ascension], the laws of this world do not normally support the traditional five-element cultivation path, and even Yin-Yang is overshadowed by Light and Darkness. But perhaps... it is simply a different interpretation of the same truth.’
It was a thought far too complex for someone his age.
Yet, as the ancients said, all paths ultimately led to the same destination.
No matter the universe... maybe?
The technique he cultivated was not merely a hybrid system that accommodated both magic and aura.
It had been designed specifically for him by that mysterious chibi figure, tailored to function within this world while retaining something far more profound and dangerous.
——————
Cultivation Technique: Myriad Heavenly Ascension
A new technique created by ??? specifically designed to accommodate cultivation within this world, with the Host in mind. Unlike conventional techniques, it accounts for both the Magic System and the Aura Cultivation Path simultaneously.
This technique harmonizes Magic and Aura cultivation paths, allowing simultaneous refinement of body, mind, and soul like that of a True Cultivator.
Master all three, and the path forward becomes something the world has no existing name for.
If cultivated to its peak, Heavenly Ascension becomes possible.
——————
The description itself seemed simple, but the knowledge he got from it was anything but.
It suggested something far more terrifying, that it could bend the very providence and laws of the world to support his growth.
’And as Grror said... I lack a true intention and goal. Until now, I have only treated this world as a fun place. Is that the problem... or am I still clinging to my past identity as Jamie?’
Some questions could not be answered easily.
No matter how similar two lives might seem, each person’s perspective remained uniquely their own.
Caelum had avoided confronting such thoughts until now, but he understood that if he wished to move forward, he could not continue running away from his past.
Even if he could not fully resolve everything, he had to begin somewhere.
So, after sitting in silence for nearly two hours with nothing but his thoughts, his breathing steadied, his mind gradually quieted, and he slipped into a trance.
Within an endless blue sky.
A lone figure wandered freely.
