Prime Originator

"How strange…" Darlene uttered.

Thinking back on her skillful execution of Dark Passage, it was as if she had practiced it for years, despite it being a higher-level ability than her current cultivation base could handle.

Evidently, the one who came up with Dark Passage, which mimics Teleportation while using the Second-level Spatial Law, Void Fracture, was someone else.

However, the technique and experience were engraved in her memory, such that she knew she could use it, yet at the same time, not realize why she knew it.

'Was this Empyrean Infinite Void's technique?' she thought to herself.

At the same time, Leon also suspected that the spatial technique Darlene demonstrated came from Empyrean Infinite Void.

"Did you accept the Empyrean Infinite Void Fragment, Darlene?" Leon asked with concern.

"Um, definitely not, Leon," Darlene denied while shaking her head.

"You have to believe to me; I'm very certain that I rejected the Empyrean Infinite Void Fragment, but I don't know why I know this technique like the back of my hand either."

"Calm down, Darlene; of course, I believe you," Leon held the frantic Darlene firmly while she was trying to explain.

Then, he gave her a calm and reassuring look and said, "I know you rejected the fragment; if you had accepted it, you would have memories of Empyrean Infinite Void. However, that isn't the case, is it?"

Darlene shook her head.

"It shouldn't be an issue then, though it seems startling at first. But, even so, if we can figure out the reason why you know the technique, it could become a good opportunity to learn more techniques."

"Why don't you recount your transcendence experience in detail to us? Maybe we can learn something from it."

"Mm, alright. I'll listen to you, Leon."

After Leon made the suggestion, Darlene nodded compliantly; having calmed down after Leon's presence gave her a strong sense of security.

Even so, she did have a slight panic when she thought that the Empyrean Infinite Void Fragment had found a way of fusing with her entirely without her knowledge.

After Leon and Aria listened to Darlene's experience inside her sea of consciousness, they gained a better understanding of Darlene's situation.

"So the Void Soul Constitution is a result of possessing Empyrean Infinite Void's soul fragment. No wonder there's a frightening level of spatial element and attraction force inside…" Leon muttered.

"Hmm…" Aria hummed while gazing deeply in thought.

"This might just be my guess without any basis to back it up, but what if the spatial law shrouding Sister Darlene's sea of consciousness contains Empyrean Infinite Void's law comprehension?"

"I'm not trying to discredit Sister Darlene's talents, but it could explain how Sister Darlene reached the Late-stage of Preliminary Accession so quickly," she added shortly after.

Leon and Darlene both gave Aria's speculation some thought; it did seem like a plausible explanation.

In fact, it might just be the only possible explanation.

"If there's a problem with the Empyrean Infinite Void Fragment that caused the law comprehension it contained to leak into the surrounding space of Darlene's Void Soul Space, then that might truly be the case," Leon said with a thoughtful look.

"It seems like I can go visit the Void Soul Space to cultivate whenever I feel like it, but should I not do it anymore?" Darlene asked for their opinions.

However, Leon immediately shook his head.

"No, there's no reason for us to stop you from becoming strong. Increasing your law comprehension is good; learning new techniques is also good, but remember to proceed with caution."

"We might be overly suspicious of the soul fragment, but it doesn't hurt to suspect hidden dangers and tread carefully," he added.

"Mm," Darlene agreed with Leon's words.

There was a bit of relief when Leon said she could keep cultivating in her Void Soul Space; the feeling of becoming stronger was hard to describe.

It was like increasing the qualification of her freedom.

'I don't need to listen to Chief Valencia anymore with my present level of cultivation, right? No, perhaps, I'm already free. It's been some time; Chief Valencia hasn't contacted me anymore…'

Darlene silently thought to herself.

After Darlene's matter was temporarily resolved, for the time being, everyone focused their attention on the building in the center of the floating landmass.

"This support-circuit building doesn't have a barrier set up?" Leon immediately noticed the detail at the entrance.

That being said, a sturdy door sealed off the building entrance, nonetheless.

'Open up the entrance, Tak-si.'

"Understood, Master."

The realm spirit quickly complied after Leon transmitted his will to it.

After only waiting for half a breath, the building entrance rumbled with slight vibrations as rock-grinding noises before the stone door rose, opening up the path.

However, Leon failed to find anything inside the support-circuit building after entering with everyone.

"There's nothing inside here, my Lord," Saresha reported.

Leon had long swept the entire interior and noticed such detail before she made her report, but even so, he calmly nodded and said, "I got it. Good job."

"Haiz, it looks like this place is a bust," he said with a sigh shortly after.

Of course, he wasn't expecting every supply-circuit building to have Celestial remains and treasures, but it disappointed him, nonetheless.

"Maybe we'll have better luck with the next one?" Aria spoke optimistically.

"Un, we can only hope," Leon nodded.

"Right now, we are at the north support-circuit building; should we head to the west support-circuit building or the central support-circuit building next? What do you two think?"

There was a hint of teasing in his tone, but it wasn't meant for Aria or Darlene's ears.

'Master, I strongly advise you from visiting the central island,' Tak-si asserted.

However, the realm spirit's strong resistance against such courses of action only made Leon more curious.

'What are you hiding on the central island, I wonder? Hm?' Leon asked.

'T-this…' Tak-si hesitated.

At the same time, Aria and Darlene thought about Leon's question before Aria spoke first.

"If we intend to visit all the floating islands before heading to the western region without wasting time on extra trips, the best course of action is to head to the central floating island, then the south floating island, before heading to the west floating island last."

"I agree with Sister Aria," Darlene added.

'Well, you heard them; looks like we'll be going to the central island,' Leon transmitted his thoughts to the realm spirit with a smile.