Unsealing Emptiness

Chapter 430: Do you believe in Destiny?

"But if that’s all the potential we have, how do we advance further than the Origin Realm?" Zier asked, attentively listening to Ember’s explanations. But she glared at him to keep quiet.

"Ahem!" she coughed, "As I was saying, after opening all the Origin Gates, you have basically exhausted all your potential. And here lies the dividing line of strength on this continent.

The Origin Cultivators may have been the strongest in this lower region of the continent but in this realm and those beyond, the measure of one’s talents begins from realm."

"So Origin cultivators are nothing in the central regions of this realm?" Ozul asked this question with a bit of irritation in his heart.

It seemed to be that way from the very start. Whenever they achieved a significant leap in their strength, something would happen and the ’horizons beyond their sights’ would open up for them.

But the answer from Ember reassured him, "Oh no. Not at all. That’s not what I was trying to get at. Even in the central regions of the continent, you won’t see Origin cultivators as some street cabbages. However, you will see no Origin cultivator holding any real power.

The scales of power in any place would be determined by the number of Transcendents."

However, Ozul wasn’t convinced. It still meant the same thing for him. If they were to go to the central regions, Raven and the other two wouldn’t be enough to get any real work done without risking their lives.

Ember continued,

"So what changes between the Origin and the Transcendent Realm? It’s the will, talent, and luck. All three needed to survive the tribulations!"

"Like the heavenly tribulations from the legends? The wrath of the heavens befalling the mortals who dare go against their destinies?" Zier muttered in excitement. His grandpa used to tell him such legends all the time.

"Uh... Yes, but it’s no wrath of the heavens. It’s the Realm Ego."

Ozul remembered the Realm Ego. Every Realm developed an Ego that decided how everything worked in its domain. The workings and the principles of the Spiritual Essence were all decided by the Realm Ego.

It would do whatever it took to sustain itself. For example, the Realm Ego of their previous ’Broken World’, fearing invasions from other Broken Worlds made it easier for Mages to manipulate Mana.

But the Realm Ego of this realm saw no such threats to its existence and hence had a very rigid but extensive system working for every living being.

All of this had previously been explained by Ember to them.

"So the Realm Ego shows its wrath upon the mortals who dare go against their destinies?" Zier questioned again, the stars in his eyes not diminishing one bit.

"Sigh... Young men sure can dream," muttered Ember in a tired tone before she continued, "No. There is no wrath whatsoever. And let me finish this time," which was followed by another glare from her.

Though Zier felt it was a bit unfair. Ozul had asked a question too, why wasn’t he glared at?

"Anyone who attempts a breakthrough to the Transcendent Realm is simply judged by the Realm Ego. Those who survive the tribulations are deemed worthy to transcend their mortal shells."

"Can’t someone else bear the brunt of the tribulation for you?" Ozul asked a question all four of them were thinking. What if a Sage such as herself helped people transcend from the Origin Realm?

"Yes, they can. And that’s why I said even your luck is taken into account to transcend. We believe that the only reason the tribulations exist is to limit the number of Transcendents in the realm as from that point onwards, if there are enough people, they could disrupt the whole ecosystem in their chaos."

"Anyone can reach the peak of the Origin Realm if they simply keep training their whole lives. But after that, you either need a strong will to survive the tribulations or be lucky enough to meet people who will help you. Yet, you will rarely see someone helping a person transcend."

"And why is that?"

"It’s because the Realm Ego lets you benefit from the tribulations as well. If you survive on your own, you receive a blessing from the Realm Ego. And that is why most people frown upon receiving help during the tribulations. Mostly, only those people who want to prolong their lives on the verge of death choose the easy way out."

"So there are no destinies involved?" Zier was unable to stop himself from asking in a deflated tone.

"I don’t believe in fate," Ember shook her head before eyeing Ozul, "Do you?"

"Yes," he replied almost instantly without even thinking, as if the answer to that question was always in the back of his mind, "All people die. That’s their destiny."

"Heh!’their destiny’. You speak as if it’s not yours," Ember chuckled softly.

Ozul, on the other hand, looked at his unblemished hands and wondered, ’Is it? Can I die as well?’

Having a physical body completely different from other humans which even healed fist-sized holes in his chest in a few days made him wonder what could kill him.

’Maybe if my head was cut off? Or crushed? Or my brain is minced? Or...’ He began to think of ways he could be killed and suddenly numerous methods came to his mind. Only he wouldn’t ever know which would work.

"It is curious though, that you have surpassed the Origin Realm, and yet no one reported to me of the tribulations. But I guess it’s only plausible since you don’t use the Spiritual Essence at all..."

The four heard her mutterings but they were more for herself than them. Once again, she was forced to think just what kind of cultivation method even evaded the Realm Ego’s judgment.

Ember then looked up only to see three worried faces and one without a care in the world.

"You act as if it wasn’t obvious? Relax, I don’t care either way," she shrugged her shoulders.

She didn’t know that most of the people who saw him fight without oozing out waves of Spiritual Essence or Mana in his previous world only thought that he was somehow concealing it using artifacts.

No one ever thought that he wasn’t following the system designed by the world itself to be used.

"So, what have you decided? This estate of mine needs to rest after all this traveling. I will be putting it back to its place in Phoenix City located in the central region of the continent. If you want to stay in this lower region, you should leave the estate.

Otherwise, you are welcome to join me in the central region."

Though she offered them a choice, it was obvious from her tone that she wanted them to join her in this Phoenix City.

"What do you gain from taking us with you? You have already regained your strength," Ozul answered with a question.

"What do I get? Haha... you are funny even with your stony cold face. I’d argue, it’s funny because you express no emotions," Ember laughed slightly before replying seriously,

"I get not just trustworthy people but also a talent who could turn even those elders green with envy who look at all beneath them with nothing but scorn."

"Practically, I won’t benefit from you, I can tell you aren’t the type to eternally remain in my gratitude after I help you a few times. On the contrary, you guys want my help and I’m indebted to you in particular, Ozul.

Let me help you and maybe one day you can tell me who you are."

Her words stretched a few strings in the hearts of Raven and Blaze. Only they knew how the real struggle behind Ozul’s life was this one thing. They were impressed with her wisdom and understanding even though it hadn’t been long since they had met.

Ozul stayed quiet for a few seconds, contemplating what to do.

If they stayed here in the lower regions of the continent, they could live carefree since he could defeat Origin cultivators with ease now.

So, there would be a comfortable environment for the trio to cultivate and grow stronger. In short, it would be the life he has always wanted to live.

Yet, there were no new opportunities in this region. The forces they had come into contact with were all this region had to offer. And it was obvious that if he wanted to find anything about himself, it wouldn’t be here at least.

But it stood for a fact that if they moved to this new region, he would have to do all the hard work again until either Blaze, Raven, or Zier became Transcendent or at least reached the peak of the Origin Realm.

"Hey, If you’re worried I’ll work you to death, you can just sleep all day in the estate. But you wouldn’t want that would yo-"

"Okay."

"Huh?"

"Take us with you to the central region. I am ready."

"Just like that?" Ember muttered in confusion, but Zier looked at her with a deadpan face.

"You just told him he can sleep all day. Of course, he would agree."

"Huh?!"

"Can I get something else as well?" Ozul neatly raised his hand before asking.

"Uhm? Ask away?" Ember was still a little confused. How hadn’t she realized this weakness before? She could’ve exploited it all along!

"Teach Raven. Actually, teach them all. Not in a formal setting of master and disciple relationship, but simply teach them."

Ember understood why he worded it like that. After all, she had even previously offered to take Raven under her wing as a disciple, but they had vehemently refused back then.

Because a master-disciple relationship implied more than just teaching cultivation, they didn’t want to bear the responsibility for it.

She thought for a moment before nodding her head, "Alright, but my teachings will also be limited."

Ozul didn’t see any reason to complain. She was, after all, a Sage now.