The First Steps In Astralis

Chapter 163 — The First Steps in Astralis

Morning arrived quietly in the forest of Astralis. Streams of Origin Energy drifted between the ancient trees, and the surrounding vegetation shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight. Near the stream, Aether's group had established a temporary camp after their encounter with the Ironcrest Mountain Tiger and Mountain Bear.

Aether sat on a flat stone, examining the changes within his body. His breakthrough to Origin Vein Stage 5 had significantly increased his Origin Energy capacity, but the improvement in his internal circulation was even more noticeable. Energy that previously required considerable effort to refine now moved through his meridians with far less resistance.

He raised his hand and gathered Origin Energy above his palm. A small sphere appeared, initially unstable before gradually becoming more concentrated. Aether increased its density, observing how his different physiques worked together. The Voidmoon Physique helped stabilize the energy, while the Starforged Physique reinforced his physical foundation. His Thunderheart Physique improved the speed of energy circulation, and his Moonlit Life Physique maintained the balance between the different energies.

He dispersed the sphere and examined his hand.

"Much better."

His Infinite Origin Physique had reached 2.50% development, while the integration of his other physiques had advanced considerably. However, he understood that higher integration didn't automatically grant complete mastery of their abilities. He still needed to experiment, practice, and understand how each physique interacted with his cultivation.

Aether opened his private System.

[Current Cultivation: Origin Vein Realm — Stage 5.]

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 2.50%.]

[Origin Shadow Authority: Advanced Resonance State.]

[Shadow Resonance: 57%.]

[Registered Origin Shadow Imprints: 5.]

He examined the five registered imprints. Blackfang, Ironhide, Grimhorn, the Ironcrest Mountain Tiger, and the Mountain Bear were all connected to his Shadow Authority. The last two were still recovering from the extraction and assimilation process, but they could be manifested whenever he chose, provided he had sufficient Origin Energy to support them.

There was no fixed limit on how many shadows he could summon. His actual restriction was the energy required to maintain them and the control needed to coordinate them effectively.

Aether closed the interface and looked toward the camp.

Nyx was sitting beside the stream, watching Kiyomi investigate the surrounding plants. The little fox occasionally turned toward her, apparently checking whether Nyx was paying attention. When Kiyomi found an interesting leaf, she carried it over and placed it in front of her.

Nyx lowered her head and examined it before looking at Kiyomi.

Aether smiled.

"They're getting along."

Aria approached and sat beside him. "Nyx seems more patient with Kiyomi now."

"She probably understands that Kiyomi is still young."

Lyra joined them, carrying several pieces of collected fruit. "Or perhaps she's simply realized that Kiyomi won't stop following her."

Kiyomi immediately turned toward Lyra, her ears rising. The little fox then returned to Nyx and settled beside her.

Aria laughed. "I think she understood that."

Aether shook his head with amusement. It was good to see Kiyomi becoming more comfortable around the others. She was still young and had plenty of room to grow, but her bond with the group was gradually developing.

Seris approached after finishing her morning cultivation. She examined Aether briefly before looking toward Nyx.

"Her energy circulation has changed again."

Aether turned toward her. "You noticed?"

"Yes. Her vitality is stronger, and the flow of Origin Energy through her body seems more stable. It isn't a breakthrough, but something is helping her refine her foundation."

"Origin Bond Resonance."

Seris nodded. "I thought so. Kiyomi is also benefiting, although her energy fluctuations are much smaller."

Aether looked toward the little fox. The ability was doing exactly what he had expected. His cultivation breakthroughs would nourish his companions, but each would develop according to their own foundation and potential.

Nyx would benefit from strengthening her already established bloodline, while Kiyomi would receive more gradual nourishment as her young body developed. His shadows would also become more stable and efficient.

It was a valuable ability, especially considering that he intended to build a force capable of growing alongside him.

After breakfast, Aether decided to conduct a proper training session. He summoned Blackfang, Ironhide, and Grimhorn first. Their manifestations appeared around the clearing, each displaying subtle improvements following the recent resonance.

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Blackfang's dark Origin Energy circulated more smoothly, and its movements were noticeably more stable. Ironhide's armored body possessed a denser defensive aura, while Grimhorn's six-horned manifestation showed improved recovery after exertion.

Aether then summoned the two newly acquired shadows.

The Ironcrest Mountain Tiger appeared in a flash of metallic Origin Energy, its enormous claws reflecting the morning sunlight. Beside it, the Mountain Bear manifested with its thick, stone-like armor. Both were weaker than their original living forms because Aether had assimilated a considerable portion of their cultivation energy, but their remaining energy was gradually recovering.

Lyra stared at the two enormous manifestations.

"So you can summon them already?"

"Of course. I only need enough energy to maintain them."

Aria examined the tiger. "They're both impressive."

"They'll become useful additions once their energy has recovered."

Aether instructed the five shadows to move through a coordinated training sequence. Blackfang and the tiger handled the faster movements, while Ironhide and the Mountain Bear demonstrated their defensive coordination. Grimhorn moved between them, testing different formations and responding to Aether's commands.

The initial coordination was imperfect. The two new shadows had only recently been registered, and their command responses weren't as refined as those of the older three. Aether adjusted his instructions several times, gradually improving their movements.

After a prolonged session, he recalled all five.

[Shadow Resonance: 57%.]

[Manifestation stability: Improved.]

[Shadow recovery: Improving.]

Aether closed the interface. The training hadn't increased their resonance percentage, but it had given him a better understanding of how the five shadows could operate together.

Meanwhile, Aria had been examining the Ironcrest Spirit Grass collected the previous day.

She held one of the stalks between her fingers, studying its metallic energy.

"This grass might help my spear techniques."

Aether looked toward her. "Because of its metallic affinity?"

"Yes. My Starfall Spear techniques rely heavily on concentrated Origin Energy. If I can use the grass to improve the stability of my energy, I might be able to increase the penetration of my attacks."

"That's worth investigating. Just make sure you refine it properly."

Lyra picked up another stalk. "Then I'll examine whether it can help my Thunderheart Physique."

Aether nodded. "You can both study it. Seris should check its effects on the body before anyone consumes it."

Seris smiled. "I'll handle that."

Sylvara had been quietly observing their discussion. She eventually approached Aether with a different concern.

"We should also investigate the local beasts before traveling too far. The creatures here aren't comparable to the ordinary beasts we encountered on Earth."

"Agreed," Aether replied. "Yesterday's two were a good example. We shouldn't assume that every powerful creature will be fighting another beast when we encounter it."

Evelyn looked toward the forest. "Then finding a settlement should be our priority. We need information about this region."

"Exactly."

Vaelira approached from the enormous stone where the damaged spatial inscription had been discovered. She had spent most of the morning studying its remaining symbols.

"I've made some progress."

Aether walked over. "What did you find?"

Vaelira pointed toward a section of the inscription. "The technique describes how to stabilize a spatial anchor through controlled Origin Energy circulation. It doesn't create a passage between locations, but it can reinforce an existing spatial coordinate and prevent unwanted displacement."

Aether examined the symbols. His System immediately began another analysis.

[Partial technique detected: Spatial Anchor Stabilization.]

[Analysis Progress: 34%.]

[Known principle: Stabilization of spatial coordinates through controlled Origin Energy circulation.]

[Additional information unavailable.]

The analysis had advanced slightly, but the missing sections still prevented a complete understanding.

Vaelira continued, "I believe the technique could be useful when dealing with unstable spatial structures. It might also help me understand the principles behind your Origin World Passage."

"Then continue studying it. Understanding the principles is more important than simply memorizing the technique."

Vaelira smiled faintly. "I was planning to do exactly that."

Aether looked toward the surrounding forest. They had collected resources, studied an ancient inscription, and gained two powerful shadows, but they still knew very little about Astralis itself.

It was time to move beyond the wilderness.

"We'll head toward the valley tomorrow. There should be a settlement somewhere beyond those mountains."

Aria nodded. "We can look for cultivation techniques and information about the surrounding regions."

"That's the plan. I also want to understand how people here trade resources and organize their factions."

Lyra folded her arms. "You still don't intend to join a sect?"

"No. I'll visit them if there's something worth learning or trading for, but I have no intention of becoming someone else's disciple."

Aether glanced toward the others.

"We're independent cultivators. We can establish connections, acquire techniques, and cooperate with factions without placing ourselves under their authority."

Nobody objected. They all understood that their journey wasn't about finding someone to control their cultivation. They wanted to become stronger through their own efforts.

The following morning, the group left the temporary camp and headed toward the valley. The forest gradually became less dense, revealing a wide landscape filled with distant hills and several enormous stone structures.

As they approached the valley's entrance, Aether noticed something unusual.

A paved road stretched across the terrain, and several groups of travelers were moving along it. Some rode on large beasts, while others traveled in flying vessels supported by formations. Their clothing and weapons varied considerably, suggesting that they came from different regions.

In the distance stood a large settlement surrounded by towering stone walls. Several defensive formations shimmered above its gates, and a faint barrier covered the surrounding territory.

Aether slowed down.

"There's our destination."

Vaelira examined the settlement. "The defensive formation is quite sophisticated."

Evelyn looked toward the road. "There are more travelers than I expected."

Aether observed them carefully. Most appeared to be cultivators, although their strength varied considerably. Some possessed auras comparable to Origin Reservoir cultivators, while others were considerably stronger.

He didn't recognize their techniques or cultivation traditions, but the System could help him analyze them once they were closer.

As the group approached the settlement, they passed a wooden sign bearing several unfamiliar characters. Vaelira examined it before translating.

"Stonehaven."

Aether looked toward the enormous gates.

Stonehaven was their first opportunity to interact with Astralis civilization directly. They needed information about the local factions, cultivation resources, and the surrounding territories. More importantly, he wanted to understand how independent cultivators operated in this fragment.

The gate guards noticed their group approaching, but nobody immediately stopped them. Travelers entered and left regularly, and Aether's group didn't appear particularly unusual among the other cultivators.

Before entering, Aether glanced toward his companions.

"Stay together. Let's gather information before making any commitments."

Aria smiled. "Understood."

The group passed through the gates.

Beyond them lay a bustling cultivation settlement, filled with shops, formation workshops, resource exchanges, and buildings displaying the symbols of different factions.

Aether's eyes moved across the unfamiliar streets.

Astralis was no longer just a distant name displayed by his System.

He had finally reached one of its civilizations.

And this was where his exploration of the greater cultivation world would truly begin.