After Al had defeated the spirit of Immortal Avilius. Marcy drove Tamara away. The five of them returned alongside Marcy to her Island to allow Al to enter the Mental Domain without being disturbed.
The biennial 301st Mortal Rings tournament occurred, and everyone was only 6 years away!
In the meantime, Marcy took on the role of a teacher as she had before. She explained to Cesar, Jin, Ellie, and Agnethe how a different God leaf alternated to host the tournament. This time, it would be hosted by the Evergreen Leaf next to its 19th Mortal Ring in the Northwest Territories of Canada next to the Great Slave Lake.
As Al went off to his old cultivation cave, Marcy held classes daily. She taught the four of them about cultivation while trying to allow them to come to conclusions themselves. They all looked older than her but were much younger than her.
She did, however, make some things clear. “You can consider the Mortal Chasm as consisting of three steps: the Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Domains. These three then split into the lower and upper trigrams, making a total of six steps.” Marcy spoke as the four of them nodded their heads. They were very familiar with the structure of the Mortal Chasm.
"Well, what you might not be aware of, though I'm certain some of you have already sensed it, are the Laws associated with each of these domains. Some of you may have noticed your five organs beginning to siphon off your Will. These organs represent the first five Laws. Beyond them lie seven more, making a total of twelve. You only fully become aware of the first twelve Laws after crossing the Physical Domain," Marcy elucidated.
She continued, "Upon reaching the Mental Domain, an additional twenty-four Laws become accessible, while the Spiritual Domain reveals a final set of twelve. In total, there are forty-eight Laws within the Mortal Chasm. Yet, to call them 'laws' is an inadequate description." Marcy clarified that she seemed to be deciding how exactly to describe them.
"No word can wholly capture their essence. They can be seen as wheels or rings, each one a mountain and a valley, or perhaps as wells or cups, empty yet full. Alternatively, they can be understood as principles that demand comprehension. One cannot progress to the Immortal Chasm without understanding the forty-eight Laws that compose the Mortal Chasm."
Marcy refrained from explicitly listing the laws, emphasizing that understanding could not be imparted; sometimes, knowledge itself could hinder true comprehension. However, for Cesar and Jin, who had already sensed the influence of the first five laws, Marcy gladly shared her profound insights, eager to nurture their understanding.
One day, as they delved deeper into their classes, Cesar couldn't help but inquire about the number of Laws within the Immortal Chasm. Marcy, to everyone's surprise, opened up about her cultivation.
She shared how it was halved at the Immortal Chasm, and there were only twenty-four Laws, yet attaining enlightenment on them was far more challenging and intricate than at the Mortal Chasm.
Meanwhile, Al found himself in the same cave he had excavated nearly thirty years ago. He had confided in Marcy about the obstacle he had experienced after entering the upper trigram of the Physical Domain.
Upon hearing his concerns, she offered her guidance, emphasizing the need for him to focus exclusively on breaking into his brain with his Will, to the exclusion of all else.
Al took her advice to heart, and as he immersed himself in this singular pursuit, he felt fragments of his Will flowing out and gravitating toward his five organs. These organs seemed to act as magnets, drawing in his Will and intensifying its presence within him.
He continued his relentless pursuit, and three years passed in a blur. Al found himself at a critical juncture, focusing his breath and directing his A.R.C (Autonomous Revolution Converter) toward his brain.
However, he encountered what seemed like an insurmountable barrier. Beads of sweat poured from him as he resisted the urge to allow his Stubborn Will to seep into his five organs while pushing upward toward the temple of his body, his brain.
Al's determination was unwavering. He knew that giving up now would mean more years of work to fill his body to its current state. Then, a resounding pop echoed within Al's head for a moment. His Stubborn Will surged in, reminiscent of when he had inhaled the gases produced by the I.P.S. years ago. Information flooded his mind as if it had always been there.
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He gained knowledge of magical spells unique to a Stubborn Will cultivator, primarily focused on regenerating handheld weapons. Something was unnecessary as he used his twisted knife chained to his ring, which seemed indestructible.
This revelation confirmed Al's longstanding suspicion for years: his Stubborn Will's etheric shell was his ring.
As Al examined his dark, twisted knife, a thought crossed his mind. "If I possess two Etheric Shells, does that mean I have two Wills?" However, his pondering was soon interrupted by the emergence of a single, distinct spell unlike any spell born from his Stubborn Will.
It was Midnight Abyss, a solitary spell accompanied by the image of a six-sided obsidian pillar resembling a demonic obelisk. "It's just a single spell, and it feels vastly different from the spells that belong to my Stubborn Will," Al mused, intrigued by the discovery.
After thoroughly acquainting himself with his newfound spells, Al emerged from his cave, his mind noticeably sharper and quicker. The others spotted him and called him over, relieved to see him back. They assumed he had successfully entered the Mental Domain, and Al joined them. They continued walking alongside Marcy.
Their collective gaze was fixed on Marcy, who, in turn, was captivated by the sunset. Pausing momentarily, she turned towards the group and began to speak. "Now that the five of you have entered the Mental Domain, it's crucial that you arrive early for the tournament. Familiarize yourselves with Evergreen's 19th Mortal Ring, as arriving early will give you insights into potential competitors. Phantom seeds will gather from all corners of the world, each aspiring to become a Recognized Disciple of one of the God Leaves. Even though Al and Ellie possess the capacity to engage in combat within the Immortal Chasm, do not underestimate your opponent."
The following day, the five of them bid their farewells. Notably, Cesar had a private conversation with Marcy, a rarity even among her daughter, Ellie. However, Ellie appeared unfazed; her ambitions and aspirations lay in her cultivation, and seeking her mother's attention was not among them.
Their journey took them through the swampy lands of Northern California, an area that had remained unclaimed by the encroaching Pacific Ocean. As they ventured further into Oregon, they encountered a string of three Acolytes, each accompanied by at least one Hybrid. Cesar and Jin, their skills honed by years of cultivation, dispatched these adversaries with relative ease. Only once did Agnethe unleash her Titan Will, expanding to a towering 50 feet to crush a Hybrid that dared to threaten her.
Al and Ellie found themselves on the sidelines, their assistance unnecessary. The group continued their path, but an unexpected encounter interrupted their progress. A dark-winged beast smashed into Cesar and made him tumble headfirst into the swampy grass.
With its six eerie eyes, this monstrous creature attempted to regain its bearings and fly away to the East. However, Jin acted swiftly, launching a bolt of lightning that struck the creature mid-air. The bat-like monstrosity struggled to regain its composure, but Jin, with his gauntlet-clad hand, created a small ball of lightning, sending it hurtling toward the airborne creature.
The giant bat desperately tried to evade the deadly attack, disappearing into the nearby forest with the ball of lightning in relentless pursuit. After a few heart-pounding seconds, an electrifying explosion resonated through the area, illuminating the night sky in a spectacular display of power.
Cesar was frustrated, "What the hell is going on with these Dark acolytes?" He cleaned his face with his Wind Will, visibly vexed by the relentless encounters. Al adopted a more serious expression, "This is strange. They all seem to be heading East. This one was weak and didn't have a Hybrid, but I'm sure if it ran into a regular human, it wouldn't hesitate to attempt to turn them into one."
A memory resurfaced in Al's mind, one that typically brought him pain. However, now he found himself questioning its significance. Cesar glanced at Al and the rest of the group, then ventured a guess, "It sounds like you're about to suggest that we divert our path and risk missing our opportunity to arrive early."
Jin, who had traveled alongside Al for an extended period, added, "Al, whatever it is, I'm sure we can investigate after the tournament concludes."
Al remained contemplative for a moment before shaking his head resolutely, "No, I have to go and see what these demons are up to. If I have the opportunity to save someone and let it slip away, what's the point of having this power? Besides, I can now wield Midnight Abyss. You saw me easily defeat Avilius in the Immortal Chasm. I already know our destination. Just go on without me. I'll catch up with you later. Maintain a slower pace."
Before Al could set off in the direction the bat had flown, Ellie intervened, "Wait! I'll go with you. We can't afford another prison accident. Besides, nothing can take us out with the two of us together."
Cesar and Jin exchanged glances and then turned to Agnethe, who seemed to have something to say. After a moment of hesitation, they shrugged and gave in to Al's decision.