Chapter 166 – Testing Transcendent Power

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 – Testing Transcendent Power

Morning arrived in the Eastern Origin Wilds, and the expedition camp was already bustling with activity.

The researchers had spent much of the night examining the changes in the surrounding energy after Azrael and Seraphina’s breakthrough. Their successful advancement into the Transcendent Origin Realm had caused a noticeable disturbance throughout the area, but the stabilizing formation had prevented the energy from spreading too far.

Azrael stood near the edge of the camp, examining his hands. A thin layer of silver-black energy circulated around his fingers. It was considerably denser than the energy he had possessed in the Peak Mortal Origin Realm, and even a small amount carried impressive destructive potential.

His private System interface appeared.

Character Status

Name: Azrael Ashbourne

Race: Aetherion (Awakening)

Power Realm: Early Transcendent Origin

Energy Core: Transcendent Origin Core

Racial Evolution: Awakening Stage

Evolution Progress: 100%

Skills:

Origin Perception

Astraeus Sword Art

Combat Insight

Stone Resonance

Resonance Sight

Instinctive Combat

Oblivion Judgment

Traits:

Dual Evolution

Adaptive Evolution

Aetherion Resonance

Abyssal Resistance

Origin Core Stability

Transcendent Aetherion Body

Oblivion Authority (Locked)

Azrael studied the information for a moment. His cultivation had advanced, but his race remained unchanged. The Aetherion bloodline still had considerable room to develop, and he suspected that its next evolution would require something beyond ordinary cultivation resources.

He dismissed the interface as Seraphina approached.

"Still checking your status?"

"Just making sure everything is stable."

She smiled. "Mine is fine. I feel like I could run across the entire forest without getting tired."

"Let’s avoid testing that until Orion finishes breakfast."

Seraphina laughed.

Her own System interface remained visible to her.

Character Status

Name: Seraphina Ashbourne

Race: Genesis Bloom (Awakening)

Power Realm: Early Transcendent Origin

Energy Core: Transcendent Genesis Core

Racial Evolution: Awakening Stage

Evolution Progress: 100%

Skills:

Genesis Bloom

Genesis Healing

Life Manipulation

Life Resonance

Golden Sanctuary

Purification

Life Network

Traits:

Dual Evolution

Adaptive Evolution

Genesis Affinity

Blooming Core

Origin Nourishment

Transcendent Genesis Body

Origin Core Stability

Creation Authority (Locked)

Seraphina dismissed her interface and looked toward the training area.

"Orion said he wanted to test our new energy."

"He did."

"Then let’s go."

The twins found Orion waiting beside a wide clearing. Several researchers had already placed reinforced training targets around the area, each constructed from materials capable of withstanding attacks from Transcendent cultivators.

Orion pointed toward the targets.

"We’ll begin with basic energy control. Your breakthrough increased the density of your energy considerably, but you still need to become familiar with its new properties."

He gestured toward the first target.

"Azrael, try a controlled sword strike. Nothing excessive."

Azrael drew Astraeus.

He circulated Transcendent Energy through his body before allowing it to flow into the blade. A silver-black glow spread across the sword, and the surrounding air became noticeably heavier.

He stepped forward and swung.

A narrow black arc crossed the clearing.

BOOM!

The reinforced target split cleanly in half.

The researchers immediately examined the damage.

Orion nodded.

"Good control. The energy penetrated the defensive material without spreading beyond the target."

Azrael looked at Astraeus.

The sword had responded smoothly to the new energy. Its connection with him felt stronger, and he could now maintain a much greater amount of power along its blade without losing stability.

"Again," Orion said. "This time, increase the output slightly."

Azrael raised Astraeus and released another strike.

The black arc travelled farther than before, cutting through the second target and continuing into the rocky ground behind it.

A deep trench appeared across the clearing.

One researcher stared at the result.

"That was considerably stronger."

Azrael lowered his sword.

"The energy is easier to control than I expected."

"Your foundation is excellent," Orion replied. "But don’t assume every technique will automatically become stronger just because you’ve advanced. You’ll still need to adapt your skills to Transcendent Energy."

Seraphina stepped forward next.

Orion placed a damaged crystal formation in front of her.

"Seraphina, use Genesis to restore this formation. Don’t rush it. I want to see how your new energy interacts with an existing structure."

She raised her staff.

Golden energy flowed from her fingertips and entered the damaged crystals. Almost immediately, the formation responded. Its broken channels began reconnecting, while the remaining energy inside the structure gathered toward its centre.

Seraphina adjusted the flow and released a gentle pulse.

SHIIIIING!

The entire formation lit up.

Its energy channels returned to their original state, and the damaged crystals regained their brilliance.

One researcher examined the results.

"She restored the formation completely."

Orion nodded approvingly.

"Her Genesis Energy has become considerably more refined. She can now restore complex structures with much less energy than before."

Seraphina smiled and looked at the formation.

"It feels different. My Genesis Energy can reach deeper into things now."

"That’s the benefit of your new realm," Orion explained. "Your energy is no longer limited to the same range of influence you had before."

He pointed toward another section of the clearing.

"Now let’s test your offensive abilities."

Seraphina raised her staff.

"Genesis Bloom: Radiant Spear!"

A golden spear formed above her palm. Unlike her previous versions, its structure was compact and extremely dense. The spear shot forward and struck a reinforced target.

BOOM!

The target shattered, scattering fragments across the clearing.

Seraphina examined her hand.

"That was much stronger."

Azrael smiled.

"You’re going to make my sword training difficult."

"Good."

Orion laughed at their exchange before pointing toward the forest.

"There is something else we need to test. Your new power should allow you to fight creatures that were previously beyond your capabilities. However, the best way to understand your limits is through actual combat."

As if responding to his words, a heavy roar echoed from the distant forest.

Several researchers turned toward the sound.

Orion’s expression changed.

"Something has entered the outer perimeter."

Azrael immediately activated his perception. A large creature was moving through the trees, approaching the camp at considerable speed.

The twins exchanged a glance.

"Looks like we have our first test," Seraphina said.

They headed toward the forest with Orion following behind.

A few moments later, an enormous beast emerged from the trees. It resembled a giant bear, but its body was covered in thick green scales, and a pair of curved horns extended from its forehead.

Orion recognized it immediately.

"A Verdant Horn Behemoth. It’s a Commander Beast, and its cultivation should be around the Middle Mortal Origin Realm."

The creature roared and charged.

Azrael examined it through his private System.

Creature Identified: Verdant Horn Behemoth

System Level: 29

Power Realm: Middle Mortal Origin

Classification: Commander Beast

Attributes: Earth, Wood

Azrael smiled slightly.

"This should be manageable."

The creature slammed its front paws against the ground, causing thick roots and stone spikes to erupt beneath the twins.

Seraphina raised her staff.

"Golden Sanctuary!"

A golden barrier spread around them, stopping the incoming attacks. Azrael stepped through the opening and accelerated toward the beast.

His sword flashed.

Astraeus Sword Art: Severing Arc!

The attack struck the Behemoth’s shoulder, cutting through its scales and forcing it to turn.

The creature swung its enormous paw.

Azrael blocked with Astraeus, but the impact pushed him several metres backward. He quickly recovered his footing, surprised by the strength of the creature’s physical body.

Seraphina took advantage of its distraction.

"Genesis Bloom: Binding Roots!"

Golden roots emerged beneath the beast, wrapping around its legs. The Behemoth struggled to free itself, but the roots tightened and disrupted its balance.

Azrael moved again.

This time, he concentrated Transcendent Energy along Astraeus and aimed for the opening created by Seraphina.

"Oblivion Judgment!"

His blade struck the creature’s chest.

A black flash passed through its scales, and the Behemoth collapsed before it could release another attack.

The entire encounter lasted less than a minute.

Seraphina lowered her staff.

"That was easier than I expected."

Azrael nodded.

"Our new energy makes a considerable difference."

Orion approached the fallen creature.

"Against an opponent below your realm, the difference in energy quality is substantial. However, don’t become careless. A powerful creature with unusual abilities can still threaten a stronger cultivator."

Azrael agreed.

He had already noticed that his first clash with the Behemoth had forced him to use more strength than expected.

The twins received another private notification.

Victory Confirmed

Creature Defeated: Verdant Horn Behemoth

Creature Power Realm: Middle Mortal Origin

Experience Granted

Azrael: Combat Insight proficiency increased.

Seraphina: Genesis Bloom proficiency increased.

Azrael dismissed the notification and looked toward the forest.

"Should we continue exploring?"

Orion considered the question before nodding.

"We still have several areas to investigate, and your breakthrough has given us more freedom to explore the deeper parts of the Eastern Origin Wilds. However, we’ll remain together. I don’t intend to lose two of the strongest members of this expedition."

Seraphina smiled.

"We won’t make it difficult for you."

"That’s exactly what I’m worried about," Orion replied.

The group returned to camp to prepare for the next expedition. Azrael and Seraphina had successfully tested their Transcendent Energy, and both had confirmed that their new cultivation realm had greatly improved their combat capabilities.

Their races, however, remained at their Awakening stages. Their next racial evolutions would require separate opportunities, and neither intended to rush them simply because their cultivation had advanced.

For now, they had a new realm to explore and plenty of creatures strong enough to challenge their growing abilities.

Add a real breakthrough challengeCut repetitive testing explanationsClarify the Chapter’s central consequence