Breakingthrough Beyond The Ninth Stage

Chapter 152 — Breaking Beyond the Ninth Stage

The territory was quiet when Aether returned to the central clearing. Aria was practicing with her spear, Lyra was refining her Thunderheart Physique nearby, and Seris was cultivating beneath a tree. Vaelira was examining her spatial crystal while the others attended to their own training. The territory remained a private stronghold for Aether and his group, without unrelated residents or outsiders wandering through it.

Aether glanced at the women before opening his System interface.

[Origin Tempering Realm: Stage 9]

[Origin Points: 1,075 / 1,600]

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 1.12%]

[Physique Integration]

[Voidmoon Physique: 44%]

[Starforged Physique: 12%]

[Moonlit Life Physique: 10%]

[Thunderheart Physique: 11%]

He studied the information carefully. He had already accumulated considerable strength, but reaching the tenth stage required more than collecting Origin Points. He still needed to refine sufficient Origin Energy, stabilize his foundation, and ensure that his energy remained under complete control throughout the breakthrough.

Aether had no intention of remaining at the ninth stage longer than necessary.

"I'm going out to train," he told the women. "I need to gather the remaining Origin Points and test my current strength."

Aria lowered her spear and looked at him. "Don't push yourself too hard."

"I won't."

Lyra folded her arms. "You always say that before going off to fight something dangerous."

"That's because I usually come back just fine."

"Usually isn't particularly reassuring," she replied.

Aether laughed before leaving the settlement alone. He headed toward the northern ravine, where he had previously sensed several powerful beasts. He wasn't interested in killing harmless creatures simply to collect points; he wanted opponents capable of challenging his current abilities.

As he approached the ravine, he released a controlled pulse of Origin Sense. Several signatures appeared within his perception, most of them weak, but a cluster of dark-furred predators caught his attention. Their Origin Energy was denser than that of ordinary beasts, and their movements suggested that they were actively hunting.

Aether changed direction and approached them.

The beasts emerged between the trees, their hardened claws scraping against the rocky ground. The leading predator snarled before charging, and the others immediately followed.

Aether drew his weapon and met their attack. His first strike knocked the leading beast sideways, while a quick pivot allowed him to evade the claws of a second attacker. He countered before it could turn around, then sensed another beast attempting to circle behind him.

He shifted his position and struck without hesitation.

The fight continued for several minutes, but the predators couldn't coordinate well enough to overwhelm him. Aether used precise movements and carefully timed counterattacks to keep them separated, finishing each opponent before it could exploit an opening.

When the final beast fell, he checked his System.

[Origin Beasts defeated.]

[Origin Points gained: 125]

[Origin Points: 1,200 / 1,600]

Aether glanced toward the deeper part of the ravine. The battle had barely warmed him up, and he could sense a significantly stronger presence farther ahead.

He followed the signature until a large beast emerged from behind a rocky outcrop. Its body resembled that of a heavily built feline, but dark crystalline plates covered its shoulders and back. Origin Energy gathered around its claws, creating a faint distortion in the air.

The beast attacked immediately.

Its claws swept toward Aether's chest, forcing him to raise his weapon and intercept the strike.

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CLANG!

The impact pushed him backward across the rocky ground. Aether steadied himself and narrowed his eyes, recognizing that this opponent possessed considerably greater physical strength than the previous group.

The beast lunged again, but Aether activated Shadow Step and vanished into the darkness beside a boulder. He reappeared several meters away as the creature's claws tore through the stone where he had been standing.

Aether counterattacked, striking a gap between the crystalline plates along its side. A sharp crack echoed through the ravine, and the beast roared before swinging its tail toward him. He ducked beneath the attack, allowing the tail to smash into the ground, then moved in again while the creature struggled to regain its balance.

Rather than wasting energy against its strongest defenses, Aether waited for another opening. When the beast committed to a heavy strike, he slipped past its claws and drove his weapon into the exposed gap between two plates. He followed with a second attack, ending the fight before it could recover.

[Powerful Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points gained: 200]

[Origin Points: 1,400 / 1,600]

Aether withdrew his weapon and examined the damaged crystalline plates briefly before continuing deeper into the wilderness. He had accumulated enough points to make the breakthrough worthwhile, but he still needed two hundred more.

His search eventually brought him to an abandoned stone outpost. Broken pillars lay scattered across the ruins, and weathered walls surrounded a courtyard that had clearly been deserted for a long time. No one lived there, and Aether detected no human presence in the surrounding area. The only signatures came from a group of aggressive beasts occupying the ruins.

He assessed their positions with Origin Sense before approaching. The beasts noticed him and charged, attempting to surround him between the broken pillars.

Aether moved before their formation could close. He used the terrain to separate the attackers, then employed Shadow Step to pass one of them and strike from an unexpected angle. When another beast tried to intercept him, he redirected his momentum and forced it into the path of a charging companion.

Their collision disrupted the group, giving Aether the opening he needed. He continued attacking with measured movements, conserving Origin Energy while exploiting every weakness he identified. The remaining beasts fell one after another, and the final opponent attempted to flee deeper into the ruins.

Aether pursued it and ended the fight before it could escape.

[Origin Beasts defeated.]

[Origin Points gained: 200]

[Origin Points: 1,600 / 1,600]

Aether examined the notification and nodded. His required Origin Points had reached the threshold, but he didn't immediately attempt the breakthrough. Points alone could not advance his cultivation; his refined Origin Energy and foundation also had to meet the necessary requirements.

He found a sheltered section of the outpost, sat down, and began cultivating. Origin Energy flowed toward him from the surrounding environment, entering his body and being refined by the Infinite Origin Physique. He continued circulating it through his Origin Veins, gradually strengthening his reserves and reinforcing the foundation he had built through repeated cultivation and combat.

As the energy accumulated, the pressure inside his body increased. Aether carefully adjusted its flow, ensuring that every portion of his foundation could withstand the strain. He refused to force the breakthrough before his energy had become sufficiently refined and obedient.

Gradually, the resistance separating the ninth and tenth stages began to weaken. His Origin Energy circulated with increasing stability, and the pressure that had threatened to disrupt his control settled into a steady rhythm.

Aether opened his eyes and focused his refined energy on the boundary separating the two stages.

"Now."

He pushed forward, meeting resistance at first. Rather than releasing everything at once, he adjusted the flow and applied steady pressure until the barrier finally gave way.

BOOM!

A surge of Origin Energy spread through his Origin Veins before returning to his center. His body absorbed the energy, reinforcing his physical foundation as his cultivation advanced.

[Breakthrough successful.]

[Origin Tempering Realm: Stage 10]

[Foundation stability: Confirmed]

[Origin Energy control: Improved]

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 1.16% → 1.20%]

Aether slowly exhaled. His breakthrough had succeeded, and the improvement was immediately apparent. His Origin Energy circulated more powerfully, his senses felt sharper, and his connection between body and energy had become more responsive.

He clenched his fist, releasing a controlled pulse of power that made the air around his hand tremble. Reaching the tenth stage had strengthened him considerably, but he understood that greater cultivation did not automatically grant perfect mastery of every technique. His combat instincts, energy control, and individual abilities still required deliberate practice.

His gaze shifted toward the shadow beneath him.

Three silhouettes stirred within the darkness. Blackfang emerged first, its crimson eyes fixed on him, followed by Ironhide with its heavily armored frame and Grimhorn with its six distinctive horns. The three shadows waited for his command.

Aether studied them for a moment. He had devoted considerable attention to cultivating his own strength and integrating the physiques he had copied, but his Shadow Authority had not advanced at the same pace. He needed to improve it deliberately rather than relying on his shadows as separate weapons whenever a battle became difficult.

"From now on, we're training together," he said.

Blackfang lowered its head, Ironhide answered with a low rumble, and Grimhorn adjusted its stance. Each possessed different strengths, and Aether wanted to make better use of those differences. Improving their coordination, energy efficiency, and combat instincts would make the entire group more effective without requiring their individual power to rise automatically with his cultivation.

Aether recalled the shadows and stood. He had reached the tenth stage, but his next goal was not simply to accumulate more power. He wanted to master his existing abilities and develop his Shadow Authority into a reliable part of his fighting style.

The wilderness had provided the Origin Points he needed, and his foundation had successfully advanced beyond the ninth stage. Now he could return to his territory and begin the next phase of training without disturbing the quiet life he shared with the women.

Aether looked toward the distant mountains before turning back toward home. The world beyond his territory still held unanswered questions, including the mystery of the Northern Seal, but he would approach those matters when he was better prepared.

For now, his breakthrough was complete, and the next stage of his growth would begin with mastering the strength he already possessed.