The First World Coordinates

Chapter 160 — The First World Coordinate

The morning after Kiyomi joined them, Aether woke with a small silver-white fox curled beside him. Her nine tails were wrapped around her body, and her golden eyes remained closed as she slept peacefully. Nyx rested nearby, apparently having accepted the newcomer’s presence without much fuss. Aether watched them for a moment before carefully getting up, unwilling to disturb either beast.

His attention soon returned to the northern formation.

Blackridge had failed to open it, but the organization had left behind enough research to reveal its purpose. If Aether could repair the damaged anchor and recover the missing destination coordinates, he might finally discover where the formation led. More importantly, his Voidmoon Physique and System could potentially turn that discovery into something far more useful than a single ancient gateway.

He summoned his System interface.

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 1.20%]

[Origin Tempering Realm: Stage 10]

[Voidmoon Physique Integration: 44%]

[Spatial Comprehension: Improving]

Aether examined the information before closing the interface. His physique continued integrating the copied Voidmoon Physique even when he wasn't deliberately cultivating it. The process had become increasingly efficient, and he intended to take advantage of that improvement. However, the formation required more than raw power. He needed to understand its structure before attempting to activate it.

After breakfast, he gathered the others. Aria, Lyra, Seris, Vaelira, Sylvara, Elara, and Evelyn joined him, while Nyx followed at his side. Kiyomi had initially remained behind, but the moment Aether prepared to leave, the little fox climbed onto his shoulder and settled comfortably against his neck.

Lyra stared at her. "She has known you for barely a day, and she's already decided you're her personal transportation."

Aether adjusted the fox so she wouldn't slip. "At least she doesn't argue with me."

"Give her time," Aria replied with a smile.

Kiyomi yawned and closed her eyes again, apparently unconcerned with the conversation.

The group soon reached the northern ravine. The ancient formation remained dormant, its damaged rings and broken anchor showing no sign of change. Vaelira immediately began examining the inscriptions, while Sylvara, Elara, and Evelyn organized the recovered components. Seris checked the area for lingering energy disturbances, and Aria and Lyra remained alert to their surroundings. Nyx stayed close to Aether, occasionally sniffing the stones around the formation.

Aether crouched beside the central anchor and released a controlled pulse of Origin Energy. The outer ring responded with a faint silver glow before fading again.

"At least the formation still recognizes spatial energy," Vaelira observed.

"But it can't maintain the connection," Aether replied.

He opened his private System interface and focused on the formation.

[Ancient Spatial Formation Detected.]

[Primary Function: Spatial Pathway Stabilization.]

[Current Condition: Damaged.]

[Destination Coordinates: Incomplete.]

[Missing Components: Three.]

[Reconstruction Feasibility: Improving.]

The System had already identified the three missing components, but their exact functions remained unclear. Aether compared the analysis with Vaelira's research and the records recovered from Blackridge. The damaged anchor regulated the spatial connection, while the outer rings stabilized the passage. The inner structure contained traces of coordinate information, but the destination data was incomplete.

Vaelira placed one of the recovered crystal fragments beside the anchor. "This component appears to regulate the spatial pressure inside the formation. The other pieces should help restore its stability, but we still need to understand the missing coordinates."

Aether studied the fragment before examining the formation again. "Let's repair the anchor first. We can investigate the destination once the structure is stable."

He directed a small amount of refined Origin Energy into the damaged mechanism. Rather than forcing the formation to activate, he followed the existing channels, allowing his Voidmoon Physique to guide his perception of the spatial flow. The silver markings gradually illuminated, revealing several broken connections beneath the surface.

Aether adjusted the energy circulating through the channels. One connection stabilized, followed by another, but the third resisted his attempts. The spatial energy around it fluctuated unpredictably, threatening to disrupt the entire structure.

"Stop for a moment," Vaelira warned. "The inner channel is rejecting the flow."

Aether withdrew his energy immediately. "I noticed."

He examined the markings again and realized that the problem wasn't simply a missing component. The formation's internal structure had shifted slightly, leaving its spatial channels misaligned. Blackridge's attempts to force activation had likely worsened the damage.

Aether changed his approach. Instead of pushing energy through the channel, he used his spatial comprehension to identify the original alignment and gradually guided the surrounding energy back into position. The process required careful concentration, but the resistance began to weaken.

Finally, the third connection stabilized.

HUM!

The formation illuminated from the outer ring inward. Silver light spread across the engraved stones, and the damaged anchor began drawing energy from the surrounding environment. Vaelira immediately checked the readings, while Aether maintained control over the spatial flow.

[Spatial Anchor: Restored.]

[Outer Formation Rings: Stabilized.]

The official page where the author publishes the story has this chapter, while this copy was reproduced without approval.

[Inner Coordinate Structure: Partially Functional.]

Aether released a slow breath. "That's the first problem solved."

Vaelira smiled. "And it would have been impossible without your spatial comprehension."

"Not impossible. Just considerably more difficult."

She shook her head, but her expression remained pleased. Their work had restored the mechanism Blackridge had failed to repair, and the formation was finally stable enough to reveal more of its original structure.

Aether turned his attention toward the central ring. "Now let's find out where it leads."

He supplied a measured stream of Origin Energy. The formation responded immediately, projecting a series of silver symbols into the air. Several coordinates appeared, but large sections remained missing. The projection flickered before stabilizing on a single sequence.

[Destination Coordinate Fragment Detected.]

[Spatial Signature: Confirmed.]

[World Classification: Unknown.]

[Coordinate Integrity: 63%.]

Aether's eyes narrowed.

The formation possessed a destination, but the information was incomplete. Activating it without understanding the remaining coordinates could send them somewhere unpredictable—or cause the passage to collapse before anyone could return.

Vaelira studied the projection. "The coordinates are divided into several layers. The formation can identify the destination's spatial signature, but it doesn't have enough information to calculate a completely stable route."

Aether nodded. "Then we'll reconstruct the missing layers."

He focused on the projection and allowed his System to analyze the recovered coordinate fragment alongside his growing spatial comprehension. For several moments, nothing changed. Then a new notification appeared.

[Compatible Spatial Pathway Detected.]

[Analyzing Origin Energy Signature...]

[Destination Coordinates Partially Reconstructed.]

[System Function Compatibility: Confirmed.]

Aether's expression sharpened.

The System had identified something beyond the formation itself.

[New System Function Available.]

[Origin World Passage — Initial Activation.]

[Requirement: Establish a stable connection to a verified destination.]

[Current Status: Awaiting Successful Synchronization.]

Aether read the notification twice.

The System wasn't simply helping him repair the formation. It had recognized the spatial pathway as a potential destination and was preparing to establish a permanent connection.

If the synchronization succeeded, the ancient formation would become the key to unlocking a personal world-travel ability.

He immediately understood the implications.

The formation could reveal the destination and provide the initial connection, while his System could preserve the coordinates and use them to open future passages. He wouldn't have to depend on the ancient mechanism every time he wanted to travel. Once the connection was established, he could return to Earth whenever he wished, provided he had sufficient energy and the destination remained accessible.

"Vaelira, can you maintain the outer rings while I stabilize the inner structure?"

She looked at him. "I can try. What are you planning?"

"Establishing a connection."

Her expression became serious. "Then we need to be careful. If the destination is another world, we have no idea what lies on the other side."

"That's why we're only establishing the connection for now. We won't cross until we understand what we're dealing with."

Vaelira nodded and took her position beside the outer ring. Aether stood at the center, with the recovered crystal fragments arranged around the anchor. He released his Origin Energy gradually, allowing the System's analysis to guide his adjustments while Vaelira stabilized the surrounding structure.

The formation began to hum.

Silver light rose from the engraved stones, forming a circular pattern above the central anchor. The air inside the ring distorted, and a faint image of a distant landscape appeared before breaking apart.

Aether immediately sensed the difference between ordinary spatial fluctuations and the energy of a world beyond Earth's familiar environment. The pathway stretched farther than anything he had encountered before, and the pressure required to maintain it increased rapidly.

His Origin Energy reserves began draining.

He strengthened the flow without losing control, allowing the Infinite Origin Physique to refine additional energy from the surrounding environment. The process was faster than it had been before his breakthrough, but the formation still demanded more power than he could casually provide.

"How long can you maintain this?" Seris asked, watching the energy fluctuations carefully.

"Long enough if the synchronization succeeds."

Aether concentrated on the coordinate structure. His Voidmoon Physique responded to the spatial energy, allowing him to perceive the pathway's direction more clearly. The System processed the information, correcting incomplete sections of the coordinate sequence as the formation supplied additional data.

Then the projection stabilized.

[Spatial Synchronization: Successful.]

[Destination Coordinates: Acquired.]

[World Classification: External Cultivation World.]

[Origin World Passage: Unlocked.]

[Registered Destination: World Coordinate 001.]

Aether's eyes widened slightly.

He had done it.

The System had acquired a verified destination coordinate from the ancient formation and established a permanent entry in his personal travel network.

[Origin World Passage — Initial Stage]

[Registered Destinations: 1]

[Earth: Home Coordinate Registered.]

[World Coordinate 001: Connected.]

[Passage Generation: Available.]

[Energy Requirement: Dependent on Distance and Spatial Stability.]

The formation continued glowing, but the System's new function no longer depended on the ancient structure remaining active. Aether could now generate a passage using the acquired coordinates, allowing him to travel between Earth and the connected world without returning to this ravine each time.

The ancient formation had provided the destination. The System had turned that discovery into an ability.

Lyra stared at the glowing ring. "So... you can actually open a passage to another world now?"

"Yes."

"And return?"

"Yes."

She looked at Aria. "I think we've officially reached the point where our ordinary journeys are going to become much less ordinary."

Aria smiled. "Were they ever ordinary with him?"

Aether ignored their teasing and studied the remaining information. The coordinates were registered, but the first passage still needed to be tested. He wasn't going to lead everyone into an unknown world without checking whether the route was stable.

He raised his hand and activated Origin World Passage.

A silver ring formed in front of him, drawing energy from his Origin Energy reserves. The opening widened gradually, revealing a distant landscape beneath an unfamiliar sky. Vast mountains rose beyond a broad valley, and streams of luminous energy flowed through the air like rivers of light. Far in the distance, enormous structures stood against the horizon, their silhouettes suggesting a civilization far more developed than anything on Earth.

The air around the opening carried a dense, unfamiliar concentration of Origin Energy.

Aether could feel it even from this side.

The greater cultivation world was real, and the System had successfully connected him to it.

He maintained the passage for several seconds before closing it. The energy consumption was significant, but manageable with proper preparation. More importantly, the connection remained registered after the passage disappeared.

He opened his System interface one final time.

[Origin World Passage: Initial Stage]

[Registered Destinations: 1]

[Earth: Accessible.]

[World Coordinate 001: Accessible.]

[Return Passage: Available.]

Aether smiled.

He had spent too long treating the greater world as a distant possibility. Now he possessed a way to reach it and return to Earth without abandoning his territory or the people he cared about.

He turned toward the group. "We won't cross today. We'll prepare first, gather supplies, and make sure everyone is ready. But the next time we open this passage, we'll be able to enter another world."

Vaelira looked toward the fading formation, clearly fascinated by what they had accomplished. "The ancient structure was only the beginning."

"Exactly," Aether replied. "The System has recorded the coordinates. We can continue researching the formation, but we no longer need it to travel."

Nyx approached and pressed her head against his hand, while Kiyomi peeked from Aria's arms toward the place where the portal had appeared. The little fox's nine tails swayed as she watched the last traces of silver light disappear.

Aether glanced at the unfamiliar mountains visible in his memory of the brief opening.

His cultivation had reached Stage 10, his physique was developing faster than before, and he had finally gained access to a world where stronger opponents, ancient inheritances, and resources beyond Earth's reach awaited him.

The next stage of his journey would be different.

He would not abandon Earth, nor would he leave his territory behind. He would simply gain the freedom to travel between worlds, gather opportunities, and return home whenever he chose.

Aether looked at the women beside him.

"Let's go home. We have preparations to make."

This time, the path to another world was no longer a mystery.

It was a destination waiting for him to enter.