Unsealing Emptiness

Chapter 426: Essence Stones.

As Ozul was teleported outside the Realm, the entire space disintegrated into the void with the old man.

However, he wouldn’t have cared even if he knew about the consequences that befell the old man after he brought out the Mind’s Eye with him.

"Ozul!" Raven spoke, as she noticed him materializing at the place where earlier existed the spatial gate.

Both she and Blaze were a little worried when it came to the Mirror of Self-Reflection as both knew Ozul had only sudden bursts of improvements. Most of the time, his strength remained stagnant and so if he really fought his doppelganger, it would be hard for him.

They were right to worry, but what they could have never expected was the fact that even the Mirror of Self-Reflection couldn’t replicate him.

Ozul ignored the trio swarming around him and instead focused on Ember, who had a small smile on her face.

"I can feel it... The Mind’s Eye. You really did it!"

The joy beaming in her voice couldn’t be hidden. It was the first time they had seen her so happy.

Ozul nodded his head silently, not telling her about the other one he had retrieved as well. He kept that one wrapped inside the Purity and out of her sight so she couldn’t feel it.

As for the one he obtained from that old man that she originally wanted, he handed it over to her.

There was a feeling inside of him that wanted to devour both the Mind’s Eyes, but he had promised Ember and understood having a connection like hers would be more beneficial.

Ember held the red stone in her palm and laughed maniacally. "With this, I can repair my Mind’s Eye and regain my powers," she exclaimed. "Finally, even after all their schemes!"

Her eyes twisted into a crescent as she smiled amiably at them, her gaze landing on Ozul particularly, "You won’t regret helping me. Let’s go now, I have a lot to do."

Nodding his head, Ozul and the rest followed after Ember.

Although he felt they were being too reliant on her, this was the best plan for now. This Realm was a lot bigger than their original one and they had yet to explore even a chunk of it.

With such limitations, it was in their best interest to rely on her. It did help that she was an intelligent woman capable of causing great wars to achieve her means.

’I didn’t feel any negative emotions from her yet, but it could change anytime...’ he squinted his eyes, scrutinizing Ember once again.

He had seen firsthand how she abandoned all of her used pawns without even a hint of regret or shame.

It would be stupid of him to put his faith in her after all he had seen.

. . .

While Ozul and the trio rested comfortably in Ember’s estate of the Beastkin, the lower region of the continent reeled from all the chaos as things began to settle down.

The appearance of the spatial gates caused a temporary halt to everything, but once the participants returned and explained everything to the people in power, they calmed down.

Rumors spread that the gates to an ancestral legacy had opened and no one knew who received the complete legacy.

Initially, there was a search to find that person, but taking over the territories soon distracted everyone again.

The legacy grounds only ever concerned the lower region of the continent. Those in the above regions didn’t even bat an eye to this phenomenon.

As Ozul saw the rewards the trio had received after the trials, he understood why it wasn’t as special an event as he thought it was.

The so-called treasures they had gotten were worse than the items provided by Ember.

’It doesn’t matter... At least I got something useful...’ Ozul thought as he still held onto the Mind’s Eye.

After returning to the estate, Ember acted as if nothing special had happened and busied herself with the papers piled up in her office.

He knew she would seclude herself sooner or later and he was waiting for that moment to absorb the Mind’s Eye in his possession.

Though he kept wondering why she didn’t use the Mind’s Eye immediately, the answer came to him in the form of a man.

He entered the estate one day and from the reaction of the other Beastkins, Ozul guessed he wasn’t very welcome here.

A particular distinction of his from others was the red horns flowing to the back of his head and the blinding red coat he wore over his other accessories.

"Cass," spoke Ember without an ounce of emotion in her tone as she appeared in front of the man.

"Ember," the man named Cass replied, "Ah dear cousin, It’s always so nice to see you."

But Ember seemed to have no notion of entertaining him. She went on, "Don’t step into my territory and run your mouth. State your business or leave."

"Tch! Age has made you lose your temper."

Ozul observed their interaction from a distance and knew Ember couldn’t just kick him out. He didn’t know how much authority this man had, but the dense Spiritual Essence radiating from him spoke volumes of his superiority.

He hadn’t even felt such a feeling from the Imperial Prince of the Blue Lion Kingdom, who was at the peak of the Origin Realm!

While Ember didn’t take any physical actions, she didn’t sit quietly either, "You are right. Age has caught up to me.

There was a time when you weren’t even worth my passing look, and here I am now."

It irked Cass a little that she still had the ego of a Sage, but he had quick comebacks, "Don’t worry, I will hold your funeral at my expense. Since you won’t find a Mind’s Eye anytime soon, you might as well start planning your death."

Ember’s palms visibly constricted as she glared at him with no reply.

Cass smirked at the sight before his eyes moved to the unfamiliar group of people standing at a distance.

Ozul felt something probing his body, but that something left as soon as it came. It was a bizarre feeling, and he didn’t like it one bit. Even the rest of the trio felt their bodies being scanned as they cringed at the uncomfortable feeling.

It was especially disgusting for Raven as she felt naked under his gaze. Unfortunately, all they could do was let it happen as even Ozul was powerless against him.

"So, they are your little hoppers, huh?" He mused, "I have to admit, even for Dragon Hatchlings who were recently summoned, they are impressive."

"Leave them out of this," Ember suddenly released her aura, making it clear that she wouldn’t let it slide if it continued.

Waving his hands dramatically in the air, Cass defended himself, "You misunderstand me, cousin! I am just glad your luck hasn’t run out completely.

If you were to convince them of our cause, the Elders would surely be impressed. Seeing as you were one of them before, they wouldn’t be stingy with their rewards to an old friend."

All of his words were meant to strike at her ego and wear it down as much as possible. He did this whenever he visited her, all so he could gloat on her misfortune.

"Anyway, since I’ve already laughed at you, I ought to be going. Don’t miss the Elder’s summoning, dear cousin!"

With those words, Cass walked out of the estate. Whenever he came, Ember would confront him before he could even step into any building.

But just as he left, Ember turned around and a familiar smirk stretched over her face as she motioned toward Ozul to follow her.

Inside her office, she sat on her seat with a pleasant smile as she explained, "That bastard was here to check if I had made any progress in finding a Mind’s Eye. He won’t be coming back anytime soon, and so I will be going into seclusion as I have to imprint it to myself."

"As for you," she eyed Raven and threw a parchment towards her, "That’s for the Scarlet Eyes."

After that, she took out a few fist-sized rocks from her spatial ring and placed them on the table.

"They are called Essence Stones and contain the Spiritual Essence in a purer form. Even those in the Origin Realm can use these to speed up their cultivation. Use them while I’m in seclusion.

It might take me just a week or even a month, so you can leave the estate and wander outside whenever you want. Be warned, however, the lower region of the continent remains chaotic."

Ozul nodded his head, satisfied with the arrangements. Since the trio had resources to cultivate, he didn’t have to do anything.

Once he absorbed the Mind’s Eye in his possession, he could sleep all he wanted until Ember returned.

Before they left the room, Ember warned in passing, "Just in case you haven’t noticed, but don’t talk about the Mind’s Eye before I get back."

It was obvious that there were only a few people privy to this information. Even Cass was here only to observe from her reactions whether she was any closer to her target. If he knew that she already had the Mind’s Eye, he would’ve forced her to hand it over.

"Even with all my resources, those Transcendents and above can easily overpower me in my current state."

Ozul and the trio understood the assignment as they walked out of her office.

Getting back to her room, Zier was the first to speak, "So, what now?"

Ozul looked at him with a deadpan face, "Cultivate. All of you are still weak. Weak and useless."

This was enough motivation for all of them as they all held the Essence Stones and sat down in a meditative position to cultivate.

Meanwhile, Ozul still held onto the Mind’s Eye, waiting for Ember’s presence to disappear from the estate.