The sky stretched endlessly around Kai, its vastness only punctuated by the powerful beats of the great white heron's wings. Soaring with regal grace, the mighty creature dominated the heavens, its vast wings eclipsing clouds and casting expansive, transient shadows on the world below.

Secured to its back was a palanquin, an opulent haven amid the raw expanse of the sky. Its structure, masterfully crafted with a blend of sturdy woods and adorned with gold inlays, bore the weight of both itself and its occupant. The palanquin was more than just a seat; it was a testament to human ingenuity and luxury.

Within this airborne carriage, Ahja Kai found himself wrapped against the elements. The palanquin's design was efficient, its thick walls and curtains shielding him from the relentless, biting cold of high altitudes. Drapes of rich, heavy fabric lined the interior, catching the wind's whistle and turning it into a muted, lullaby-like hum.

But despite the protective enclosure, Kai couldn't entirely escape the chill. Cold tendrils occasionally snuck in, especially when the heron adjusted its altitude or banked sharply, causing the palanquin to sway gently. These shifts in movement sent flurries of wind rustling through the curtains, blowing his black hair around, letting Kai feel the coolness on his face, a reminder of the wildness outside.

There was also the sensation of motion. Even with the heron's graceful flight, its movements had a palpable rhythm—a subtle rise and fall with each wingbeat, a slight tilt to the left or right to catch a thermal. Kai could feel it all through the dais beneath him, a rhythm that became almost meditative over time.

Yet, despite the encroaching cold and the sporadic gusts of wind, the palanquin offered an unparalleled view. Kai could peer out from between the drapes to gaze upon a world transformed from this elevation—the landscapes a mosaic of colors and patterns, the rivers shimmering ribbons, and forests mere patches of green.

The palanquin was more than just a mode of transportation; it was an experience—a delicate balance between the rawness of nature and the luxury of civilization, a journey where one could touch the heavens while being cradled in luxury.

He shifted his gaze and saw Relay’s prototype core on a small table beside him. The cobalt blue orb lay inert, its brilliance subdued, embraced by an intricate silver half-shell. It looked so ordinary, yet Kai knew its significance. He’d retrieved it in his soul space, and attached to it was a note: "I’ve created this non-organic form capable of housing a spiritual system. Please take it to Long Yuan, where I can find it from my soul space. Wish me luck!”

Kai sighed, thinking of Meilin, only working for a day and already progressing in her cultivation. The Lou family women had started anew, their early days filled with the challenges and excitement of building a coastal village. Everywhere he looked, progress was evident except within himself.

Reaching out, he picked up a leather scroll from the pile he had laid out on the dais. Each one of them was a relic from the Lou family archive. Holding the scroll, he felt its dry texture, almost imagining the countless hands it must have passed through. Unrolling it with care, the title read: Devil Singing Slice. Kai studied it briefly, absorbing its teachings, before letting out a huff of frustration and placing it back with the rest. "Another combat technique," he grumbled, rubbing his temples.

Flashes of the previous techniques he’d perused, Sun Razing Shout and Wind Cutter, passed through his mind. He grew annoyed as he thought, "This is what I get for not being specific with my demands." Kai had little inclination towards martial techniques, especially those reliant on physical prowess or elemental affinity. His strength lay elsewhere, and he wished for a method that resonated more with his abilities.

Curling his fingers, he felt the faint pulse of his primordial origin Qi. It was there, waiting to be harnessed, he could use it to form any elemental combination given time, but the pressure and pace of combat made such manipulation impractical.

Leaning back, Kai closed his eyes once again, letting the gentle motions of the heron soothe his restless spirit; it was too much to hope it would get a helpful skill other than the Soul Transfer method.

Picking up a slim, pamphlet-sized manual, Kai read the title: Veiled Verities: A Dissection of Divine Dissent. Its initial pages contained a blistering critique of Long Yuan, likening it to a prison for the weak and ignorant. He meticulously scanned each page for later perusal. The content resembled a manifesto more than a manual, preaching resistance against this realm's oppressive heavens and the gods.

Setting it aside, Kai's eyes were drawn to a more substantial tome—The Nature of Cultivation: A Meta-Analysis of Cultivation on Molecular Bonds. Interest piqued, he eagerly delved into its pages. The introduction started simply, outlining basic taxonomies. However, it swiftly progressed into a distinction between energy and matter, diving deep into molecules, bonds, and atomic substructures. The terminology, such as "strong attraction" and "weak attraction," resonated with Kai's understanding. Despite the text bearing a classical bent and lacking insights from quantum physics, its depth was commendable.

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The nuanced discussions on how Qi affected molecular bonds engrossed Kai. So engrossed, in fact, he was oblivious to the blue orb's subtle metamorphosis. Its previously dormant state transformed into a gentle luminescence, pulsing rhythmically.

His attention flitted between the tome and odd technical terms foreign to Long Yuan. A reference to "positive and negative charges" intrigued him; in this world, those concepts would typically be termed yin and yang energies.

It was only when the orb began levitating, its surface dancing with arcs of energy, that Kai's focus snapped to it, his reading momentarily forgotten.

From the orb came a voice, yet it was not as Kai remembered; it was unfamiliar, lost, and tinged with an undertone of curiosity. "How does this construct function?"

Cold apprehension washed over Kai. The room felt colder, the distant memories of his tumultuous journey into soul space creation returning like old wounds. He had fervently hoped Relay, a pure Eternal, would have a smoother genesis. This voice, however, stirred a sense of foreboding.

Still, Kai tried to reassure him, "It might be disorienting at first. After the inception of my soul space, I felt...adrift. Lost memories. Fragmented moments."

The orb's light intensified, casting deeper shades on the walls. "Primitive...electromagnetic repulsion, perhaps. The core of this planet intrigues me."

Kai's heart raced. Every second felt like an eternity. When the orb's pulsating light scanned the surroundings, its shimmering brilliance halted upon landing on Kai as if recognizing a kindred spirit. "Kai," the voice deepened, resonating, "I'm attempting to sync. Bear with me."

A chilling silence filled the room, save for the hum of the orb.

"We had run simulations and made preparations," the orb murmured after what felt like ages, its tone hinting at a collective. "We did consider such outcomes."

"We?" Kai repeated, voice quivering. He could feel a sense of looming dread.

The air grew thick with tension as blue particles, like luminescent fireflies, started to envelop the orb. The space around them became a tableau of brilliance and shadow, the azure swarm growing denser with every passing moment. Kai's eyes widened, trying to discern the evolving forms. It was breathtaking and terrifying in equal measure.

As the intensity peaked, a silhouette began to emerge. When the brilliance subsided, standing before Kai was not just any man but Nova Ahja, an eerie reflection of his past self.

"Where’s Relay? What have you done?" Kai's voice, once commanding, now trembled with disbelief.

Ahja, with an unsettling familiarity, smiled, his expression an enigma. "Ah, Kai. Your role in this cosmic play was beyond invaluable. To transition, to be reborn in the flesh...you made it possible." His voice held an edge of genuine gratitude but also something else – a hint of triumph.

Kai felt as if the ground was slipping beneath him. "This...deception. Where is Relay? What have you done?"

Ahja, looking every bit the sovereign in his newly acquired form, gestured, and the blue particles responded, weaving an intricate robe around him. "He's in a safe quadrant of existence. Given his internal battles, he might never evolve as we did."

A portal of rippling energy, shimmering and pulsing, burst into existence, an ethereal doorway to realms unknown. "The orb, Relay's cradle... was it just an instrument of your grand design?"

Ahja's smirk was both admiring and mocking. "You always were astute. We are reflections, after all."

As the portal pulsed, a figure began to materialize. Stepping forward was Bellaria, exuding an aura of regal elegance. Her silver hair cascaded down her back like liquid moonlight, but her eyes caught and held Kai's attention. Cold, complex, and crystalline, they seemed to evaluate everything and everyone, finding them lacking.

Ahja's demeanor shifted noticeably as she emerged, his voice betraying a note of genuine devotion and perhaps a touch of fear. "Bellaria," he greeted, bowing his head ever so slightly.

She paused for a moment, letting the silence hang heavy. Her gaze roved the room before resting on Kai with evident disdain. The atmosphere grew colder, the palpable tension squeezing Kai's heart with an iron grip.

Bellaria's lip curled in a sneer. "So this is the creature that made our rebirth possible?" Her voice was icy, her tone dripping with contempt. "This... abomination."

Once proud and unyielding, Kai now felt like a cornered animal beneath her scathing gaze. He swallowed hard, struggling to find words.

Ahja stepped slightly forward as if to bridge the gap between them. "He played his part, as destiny willed it."

Bellaria's fingers danced in the air, tracing intricate patterns. Her eyes never left Kai. "The universe has a peculiar sense of humor, using something so... insignificant for grand designs."

Kai tried to muster his courage, but her aura was overwhelming. He managed a weak, "What do you intend?"

She moved closer, her presence dominating the space. "That is the question, isn't it? What does one do with an obsolete piece once the puzzle is complete?"

Ahja, sensing the dangerous shift in the atmosphere, interjected, "Bellaria, perhaps we should—"

She silenced him with a mere glance. Slowly circling Kai, she mused aloud, more to herself than anyone else, "Do I let this aberration continue to exist? Or should it be purged from our new world?"