Chapter 71: Aspect

I failed in escaping the library again. Every door, every window, every escape route only led me back to its endless bookshelves. I’m turning crazy here.

I’m starting to think he’s serious. I’m going to be trapped here until I memorize every single book in this library. Does he think I’m a computer or something?

It doesn’t help that I’m still nursing a massive headache after my run-in with the Bookwyrm.

"Why are you hiding?"

I got jump-scared. This old guy’s like a ghost! How does he not make any noise walking?

"I’m not here to study. I want my Dantian fixed. I heard you’re the guy who could do that," I said to him. I’m fuming now.

Athan’s eyes hid behind his fan. Creepy. No wonder that woman Amarantha always rejects him.

"You don’t insult someone you need something from," he replied to me. Is that mind-reading thing a Martial Manual or something?

"What should I do? Memorize every single book in this library? That’s impossible!"

"No, what’s impossible is getting those cheap hell-brutes to give me a single Quintessence Fruit...’

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Eren felt a sense of warmth in his body, waking him from his slumber. He opened his eyes. The darkness of the Subterranean Burrows welcomed him back.

He looked around and observed his surroundings. It took him a second to remember he wasn’t back in the Immortal Library of Ræzoň.

Memories of what happened previously washed over him.

Right... I gained the aspect of the [Primordial Fire]...

He looked down at his own hands. His Dantian answered his call and sent Ræzoň flowing from his pathways over to his Primary Meridian in his wrist. A haze of red particulate matter began to coalesce around his fists.

It was the same as before with one minute difference.

Embers. Small flickering sparks of yellow fire randomly manifested in his Reinforcement.

This was the Aspect he gained from consuming the Quintessence Fruit of the Realm of Perdition.

It empowered his Ræzoň with the essence of flame energy. Meaning, every single Reinforcement he used from here on out would be imbued with fire. And not just any fire, but the [Primordial Fire].

In modern terms, he could only liken it to a passive ability from online games. Though, an Aspect was far more complicated than that.

Martial Manuals, fundamentally, were techniques made to harvest the natural energy of the universe and use it to create a physical manifestation of reality.

Cultivators could summon fire in their hands. They could control gravity with a thought. They could manipulate light through their own sight.

Techniques like the [Wrath of Damnation’s Torment] and the [Immolating Irons] transformed Ræzoň into flames. Both of which were from the Realm of Perdition, who specialized in Martial Manuals with fire energy.

In truth, other Realms could create Martial Manuals that used fire. But it would be inferior.

That was because the Realm of Perdition had the Aspect of the [Primordial Fire] in their Quintessence Fruits. It’s what allowed their cultivators to imbue their Ræzoň with overwhelming inferno that could burn any and everything in its path.

Due to its power, they hoarded their Quintessence Fruits. Refused to share it with anyone. Not even Athan could convince them to spare him a few fruits.

They reserved it only for the premier talents of their Realm. Only those who were worthy could continuously consume the fruit and gain the aspect of the [Primordial Fire].

Once enough Quintessence Fruits had been eaten, a cultivator would truly gain full control of the [Primordial Fire].

Eren ate only one fruit. He’d gained only a sliver of its power.

But already, he felt the power of his Primal Strike increase by a good margin.

It elevated every single aspect of his cultivation. From his meditation, his gathering, Reinforcement, everything. Hence, why it was called an Aspect.

He got up from the ground and stretched his body.

How long was I out?

His internal body clock told him it had been hours since he passed out. Absorbing the nutrients of the Quintessence Fruit exhausted a cultivator greatly. Most required a day to recover before they woke up from their slumber.

Eren was lucky. He didn’t have any time to waste.

He looked around the Stalagmite Island. The stone pillar that had brought down the lootbox was already gone.

On the opposite side was another narrow walkway that led to an alcove depressed on the limestone walls of the chamber.

Eren walked towards it, his steps steady and balanced on the precarious catwalk.

He reached the alcove. A dead end, it would seem.

Then, he noticed something. He touched the wall and found it to be rough to the touch. Different from the smooth and slick limestone of the entire chamber.

A concrete block...

Eren looked at his hands. Reinforcement covered his skin with red smoke. Wisps of yellow snaked at the tips.

His Primal Strike looked denser. The Ræzoň, more compact.

He squatted his knees and delivered a fully empowered Primal Strike at the wall.

It shattered completely, sending concrete powder and debris flying outwards.

Once the dust settled, Eren looked at the destruction his Primal Strike had caused.

The entire wall had crumbled. Only crusts of concrete at the edges remained.

First test completed.

After taking down a 12-inch thick Concrete Wall, Eren found another dark tunnel beyond it.

He broke open a sunspore and walked through its winding Burrows. It wasn’t long before he saw light at the end.

The sounds of chattering soon entered his ears. Beyond, the heat of the campfire had warmed the air into a comfortable temperature.

He exited the tunnel, finding himself back into the campfire.

Immediately, he noticed that a lot had changed. The atmosphere had a stark contrast to the one he saw before.

Some of the examinees chatted around the campfire with smiles on their faces. Some looked depressed and down in their dumps.

It seemed that in the hours he’d been out, more people had found the Concrete Blocks to pass the First Test.