Chapter 3: The Chronarch Precept
Ain observed the magnificent hall, noting that the azure marble radiated a faint glow, serving as the primary source of illumination. Curious, he crouched down and used Scan while touching the floor. A large amount of his aether was instantly consumed, catching him unprepared. He steadied himself in time and checked on what he’d just learned.
[Name: Crescent Azurlite]
[Aspect: ???]
[Rank: ???]
[Description: ???]
“Why is it only the name? Could the Crescent Azurlite be beyond my current abilities?” Ain pondered aloud all the while answering himself with a likely hypothesis. He was tempted to investigate further but a lack of suitable targets discouraged him. He soon returned to his previous endeavor – exploring the hall.
The myriad creatures carved into the Crescent Azurlite held a mystical charm, enchanting his mind as he gazed upon them. If not for their azure tinge, he’d have difficulty differentiating them as etchings. Ain’s gait was unhurried as he appreciated the art. Of course, this wasn’t his only goal as he also carefully explored the hall. After circling the hall once, his footsteps led him back to his original position as he summed up his findings.
The first discovery was the grand door at the opposing end. He’d already opened it to take a peek, discovering an azure hallway extending out from behind it. Moreover, this hallway seemed to be littered with corpses of… puppets?
That was Ain’s initial thought.
What he saw behind the door were scattered parts of damaged humanoid puppets, with their texture and tint resembling that of a darker wood. At the end of the hallway, there was a familiar gray vortex-like portal.
What perturbed him the most weren’t the destroyed puppets, but a broken dagger discarded on the floor. He had vivid memories of this dagger as it’d rested against his neck not long ago.
“They’re here too…” Ain mumbled with unease upon witnessing the scene.
The ones he referred to were naturally the two spirit masters that’d kidnapped him – Carl and Mason. He was no detective, but the aftermath of a battle was evident here. Whether it be the puppets or the two spirit masters, they both represented danger to him.
Ain was unaware of the spirit masters’ ranks, but he’d seen their spirit pets before. Their ranks could only be higher than his.
This led him back to the beginning of the hall, where he’d discovered the possibility of salvation.
Ain stared at the tall Crescent Azurlite wall intently, where no mystical creatures or landscapes were portrayed. Similar to the ancient stone monument from before, this wall only contained densely packed inscriptions.
The first passage of text was extremely familiar to Ain, “It’s indeed the meditation technique from earlier.” He’d already glanced at it briefly before and suspected its contents at the time. The inscriptions were much lengthier, so he couldn’t help but feel his expectations rising.
Ain stepped back a little to afford a full view of the wall. His eyes focused at the very top where the inscriptions exuded the aura of infinite mysteries and desolation.
“The Chronarch Precept.”
“Is that what this meditation technique is called?” Only now did Ain learn of the meditation technique’s name. The Chronarch Precept was an incredibly rare time-aspect meditation technique. The time aspect’s rarity was alluded to by Carl and Mason, of course.
He glanced along the portion he’d memorized already, finding it to be not even a fraction of the entirety of the text on the wall. The technique Ain had learned before was only akin to basic addition. The complexity in the ensuing passages was enough to render an ordinary spirit master dizzy. This was where he fully championed the abilities bestowed by Wisdom Root. Although his mind was abuzz momentarily, a serene tranquility soon enshrouded him, granting him a clear cognition.
Once he’d reached partway, he looked away and smiled.
“The Chronarch Precept can allow me to reach Rank-1!” Ain stated hopefully. He confirmed that a meditation technique was indeed intimately linked to a spirit master’s progression, and now, he could continue his advancement!
He had already seen traces of danger, so it was imperative for him to become stronger. And with a proper meditation technique in hand, there was no better time than now.
Glancing around to confirm his surroundings one last time, Ain sat down in a somewhat comfortable posture and devoted his wholehearted attention to the Chronarch Precept on the wall. After his first examination, he gained some comprehension of the advancement he sought after.
As he’d done before, Rank-0 was achieved upon condensing an aethercore. The subsequent process for achieving Rank-1 wasn’t all that different. Instead of an aethercore, Rank-1 required him to condense an aether ring around his aethercore. Aethercores faced the possibility of shattering during this process. It was necessary to polish and strengthen the aethercore using a meditation technique in preparation for a breakthrough.
“It’s only been a couple of hours since I’ve reached Rank-0. Can my aethercore withstand the advancement?” Ain pondered with furrowed brows. According to the Chronarch Precept, testing the aethercore’s durability was simple. One just had to attempt a breakthrough. If the aethercore was about to shatter, one could abandon the advancement and disperse the half-condensed aether ring. However, judging these minute details was oftentimes difficult. Ain could deduce this much himself.
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He contemplated his chances, and the eventual, and the obvious, choice was to be patient.
“But I can’t take too long. I can’t be sure that they won’t come back here.” There was only one path leading away from this hall. If his enemies returned, his sole escape route would be blocked.
Ain breathed out deeply to regain his focus before comprehending the Chronarch Precept again. Although he’d already memorized it with Wisdom Root, analysis and application still required time.
The Chronarch Precept emphasized the circulation of aether along specific pathways in the body and the visualization of the concepts described within. Fortunately, the ability to truly multitask had been derived from his enhanced cognition.
Ain closed his eyes as his head lowered in meditation. The aether within his body moved with his will, flowing along his envisioned paths. Of course, it was far from smooth sailing. The condensing of his aethercore required only some rudimentary control as the circulation pattern wasn’t complex. In contrast, the circulation pattern now was much more intricate, requiring finer control.
Until two days ago, aether was an unfamiliar sensation to him, thus Ain still lacked proper control. He likened his current predicament to pulling a cart with square wheels. Sudden bumps and jolts were unavoidable. However, this was already much better than before. It’s likely due to the aethercore, Ain concluded.
The Chronarch Precept continued its circulation as he slowly comprehended the meditation technique. His aether circulation grew smoother with each attempt, a direct manifestation of his increasing familiarity with the control of aether and deepening comprehension of the Chronarch Precept. What Ain considered deep was still just scratching the surface in reality, but it was still sufficient for visible results.
The aether slithered within his body, originating and eventually terminating at his aethercore. With each cycle, some of the aether seeped into his flesh and blood, augmenting his physique while the rest strengthened his aethercore.
“So, this is how spirit masters train,” Ain mused while controlling his aether and studying the Chronarch Precept simultaneously, with room for further activities. Unknowingly, his understanding of a spirit master’s training was already skewed from the beginning.
After some contemplation, he moved to meditate behind one of the thick pillars in case the spirit masters returned unexpectedly.
Just like that, time continued to trickle by unbeknownst to him. In fact, he’d already lost track of time ever since he was first knocked out in the slums.
Ain’s aethercore strengthened with each passing cycle, as was evident by the proliferating aether within his body. His control grew meticulous as well, granting him greater training efficiency. With periodic breaks in-between, he steadily made progress towards Rank-1.
An unknown period of time elapsed before Ain opened his eyes while letting out a sigh. He glanced down at his rumbling stomach, “I’m starting to feel hungry…” It’d been a while since he’d last eaten, much less had a sip of water. The hunger and thirst he’d forgotten about were finally announcing their presence. It wasn’t to the point of alarm, but something had to be done sooner or later.
“The quicker I reach Rank-1, the quicker I can leave here.” Ain encouraged himself to persevere before stretching his limbs. He glanced at the grand door while feeling the soreness whisking away. Observing no unexpected scenes, he dove back into meditation.
Ain had already polished his aethercore for some time. Curious about the results, he was prepared to attempt condensing an aether ring. His aether circulated in harmony with the Chronarch Precept. With each perfected cycle, the returning aether revolved around the aethercore, forming a scattered band of energy.
This band exerted a constrictive force onto the aethercore, scrutinizing its foundation rigorously. “It’s looking good so far; the pressure isn’t great.” Ain rejoiced internally, prompting himself to continue. The faint band revolving his bright aethercore grew substantive with the lapse of time, forming the prototype of an aether ring.
The crushing momentum rose exponentially as well, pressurizing the aethercore. Beads of perspiration flowed past his eyebrows, onto the bridge of his nose. Periodically, a drop would accumulate at the tip before embarking on its final journey.
The cloudy band was beginning to resemble a fragile ring, emitting wisps of energy that kept it from actualizing. “A little more!” Veins bulged at Ain’s temples as he subconsciously gritted his teeth. His fists were similarly clenched tightly, inconsistent with his meditative posture.
As he continued to circulate his aether, a repulsive force also manifested from his aethercore, thwarting his efforts. There were records of this phenomenon in the meditation technique, alluding to the final stretch of the process!
Just as Rank-1 was within sight, however, Ain abruptly dissipated the aether ring prototype with a rumble. A nauseating sensation overtook his body and soul, a direct manifestation of the failed breakthrough. He panted heavily while leaning his back onto the pillar for support.
“I almost shattered my aethercore.” Ain squeezed out fearfully while using his dirty sleeve to wipe his forehead. Just as the repulsive force from the aethercore had appeared, he sensed an impact to the aethercore’s integrity. If he’d continued his breakthrough, he would’ve likely shattered his aethercore. Although he’d already lost one aethercore, Ain wasn’t willing to gamble the second one.
“But the result is still satisfactory. After a bit more polishing, I’ll be able to succeed.” He’d already reached the final stages of the process on his first attempt. Not only had he confirmed his aethercore’s progress, but also gained precious experience. These will be of monumental assistance for his next attempt.
Ain chased away the fear and rested until his condition recovered before resuming his meditation. His sole focus was to polish his aethercore and polish he did.
Time was like a gentle stream down a mountain, perpetual and unceasing. Ain’s aethercore was baptized repeatedly throughout, strengthening it further. After completing the final preparations, he commenced his breakthrough without pause. Aether zoomed along predetermined pathways with practiced ease as a faint band formed around the aethercore.
The pressure descended upon the aethercore once again; however, Ain remained calm. He continuously fed the cloudy band of energy until it became a substantive brilliant ring. At this point, the familiar repulsive force erupted from the aethercore, resisting Ain’s efforts. The aether ring’s prototype was already formed and the aethercore remained steadfast amidst the pressure.
Ain’s lips curled up as he mobilized aether with all his will, resisting the repulsive pressure. The aether ring obtained the decisive nourishment it required and finally condensed in full. A silent explosion resounded within his body, celebrating Ain’s successful breakthrough. Ain’s body, with the aethercore as the center, formed a swirling vortex of aether, swallowing large gulps from his surroundings. The tranquility in the hall was disturbed due to the phenomenon as large amounts of aether congregated towards him.
Ain enjoyed the empowering sensation with an excited smile, “I’ve become a Rank-1 Spirit Master!” His perception seemed much clearer than before, even improving his control over aether. However, the greatest change he realized was his physique. The powerful strength coursing through his limbs dwarfed what he’d achieved at Rank-0.
Ain was eager to investigate the transformation thoroughly, but he restrained his enthusiasm. Another important matter had to be addressed before that. He reached into his pocket and carefully retrieved the Prismatic Void Stone.