A Physique That Resists

Chapter 126 — A Physique That Resists

The settlement had finally become quiet by the time Aether found a moment to himself. The excitement surrounding his return and Vaelira's arrival had gradually faded, leaving only the soft sounds of the night and the occasional movement of people inside the building. Aria and the others had spent most of the evening talking with Vaelira, trying to understand the silver-haired woman who had suddenly appeared beside Aether, while Vaelira herself had remained calm throughout the questions.

Aether sat beneath a large tree a short distance from the settlement and closed his eyes. His consciousness sank inward, and the familiar System interface appeared before him.

[Current Cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 9.]

[Origin Points: 270 / 1,600.]

[Infinite Origin Physique: Active.]

[Origin Physique Integration: Active.]

His attention immediately settled on the Voidmoon Physique.

The strange spatial energy was still present within his body. He had already integrated a portion of its characteristics, allowing him to sense space more clearly and develop a faint affinity toward spatial Origin Energy, but the process was nowhere near complete.

Aether carefully circulated his Origin Energy and attempted to draw more of the Voidmoon characteristics into himself.

The reaction was immediate.

The silver energy resisted.

It didn't attack him, but it refused to merge completely with his Infinite Origin Physique. Aether maintained control and slowly increased the pressure, only for the resistance to become stronger.

He stopped before the two energies could become unstable.

Aether opened his eyes and looked at his hand.

"So reaching Stage 9 helped, but not enough to make everything effortless."

That was actually what he had expected.

His Infinite Origin Physique had undergone a qualitative improvement after the breakthrough, but a rare physique like Voidmoon couldn't simply be swallowed in an instant. The spatial characteristics were too complex, and his current understanding of spatial Origin Energy was still limited.

The System confirmed his conclusion.

[Infinite Origin Physique has undergone qualitative enhancement.]

[Physique Assimilation Efficiency has increased.]

[Foreign Physique Resistance has decreased.]

[Compatible Physique Integration has become significantly more efficient.]

Aether studied the notifications.

That was exactly what he wanted.

The improvement wasn't a ridiculous jump that erased all limitations. Instead, his body had become better at accepting compatible physiques. As his cultivation continued to rise, the process would become easier and easier until physiques with sufficient compatibility truly could be absorbed almost as naturally as water.

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But he wasn't there yet.

Not at Stage 9.

Aether tried once more.

This time, he didn't force the Voidmoon energy toward his Origin Core. Instead, he allowed his Infinite Origin Physique to slowly adapt to it.

The silver energy moved through his body.

Aether's breathing remained steady as a portion of the foreign energy gradually dissolved into his own Origin Energy. His perception expanded slightly, and the world around him became clearer.

He could feel the distance between himself and the trees.

He could sense subtle distortions in the air.

He could even detect tiny fluctuations caused by movement several meters away.

Spatial Perception was becoming stronger.

But after several minutes, the remaining Voidmoon energy stopped moving.

Aether opened his eyes.

"That's enough for today."

He wasn't frustrated.

The process was progressing.

That was what mattered.

He had once struggled to integrate even a small portion of another physique. Now his body was gradually learning to accept one of the rarest spatial physiques he had encountered.

At higher realms, the difference would become even greater.

A faint sound came from behind him.

"You've been sitting here for quite a while."

Aether turned his head.

Vaelira stood beneath the moonlight, her long silver hair moving gently in the wind.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

"I could. I simply noticed you were gone."

She walked over and stopped a few steps away.

"You were testing the Voidmoon Physique again."

Aether nodded.

"Still not completely integrated."

Vaelira looked mildly surprised.

"I thought your physique was supposed to be capable of absorbing other physiques."

"It is. That doesn't mean it ignores every limitation."

Aether explained what he had discovered after reaching Stage 9. His body had become substantially more receptive to compatible physiques, but the Voidmoon Physique contained spatial characteristics that required gradual refinement. Forcing the process would only make the integration unstable.

Vaelira listened carefully.

"So my physique isn't easy to absorb."

"Not yet."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Not yet?"

Aether smiled.

"The stronger I become, the easier this process should be. Eventually, something with compatibility like yours may become as easy to absorb as drinking water."

Vaelira looked at him for a few seconds before giving a quiet laugh.

"You're saying that as if it's inevitable."

"For me, it probably is."

There was confidence in his voice, but no arrogance.

Vaelira understood that difference.

Aether wasn't claiming that everything was already within his grasp. He was simply confident in the path he had chosen.

She sat down beneath the tree.

"You really are different from what I expected."

"Blackridge's description of me?"

"Partly."

"What did they say?"

"They didn't know enough to describe you."

Aether smiled.

"Then they're doing a poor job of research."

Vaelira laughed softly.

For a while, they remained there without speaking.

Their relationship was still new. There was no sudden romance between them, no forced closeness, and no reason for there to be one. They had met because both were investigating Blackridge, and their cooperation had slowly developed into mutual trust.

Aether respected her independence.

Vaelira respected his strength.

For now, that was enough.

Eventually, Vaelira stood.

"You should come inside."

"Why?"

"Because Aria has already asked where you went."

Aether raised an eyebrow.

"She did?"

"More than once."

He smiled.

"Then I suppose I should go."

As they walked back toward the settlement, Aether glanced toward the northern horizon.

Blackridge remained there.

They had stolen part of Vaelira's family's spatial relic.

They had investigated her Voidmoon Physique.

They had mentioned hidden Origin pathways.

And now they knew about him.

That made them interesting.

Aether had no intention of becoming some hero who destroyed Blackridge for the sake of strangers.

But they possessed information he wanted.

And they had already interfered with people connected to him.

That was enough.

He would investigate them.

And if they became enemies, he would deal with them accordingly.

For now, however, he had something else to focus on.

His cultivation.

His physique.

His shadows.

And the growing group of people waiting for him to return.

The path ahead was becoming clearer.

Aether intended to walk it at his own pace.