The Journey Begins

Chapter 130 — The Journey Begins

The next morning, the group left the settlement together.

Aether walked at the front with Vaelira beside him, while Aria, Lyra, Seris, Sylvara, Evelyn, and Elara followed close behind. Their formation wasn't accidental. Aether wanted everyone close enough to respond immediately if something attacked them, while Blackfang moved through the forest ahead of the group and Ironhide and Grimhorn remained concealed within his shadow.

The journey toward the Frostveil Mountains was peaceful at first.

The forest gradually became denser as they moved north, and the temperature slowly dropped. Aether occasionally used his Origin Sense to scan their surroundings, while Vaelira relied on her growing spatial perception to detect unusual distortions.

After several hours, Vaelira suddenly stopped.

"There's something ahead."

Everyone immediately became alert.

Aether looked toward her.

"What did you sense?"

"Spatial distortion. Very faint."

Aether concentrated.

A moment later, he detected it too.

"You're right."

He looked toward the others.

"Stay together."

They moved forward cautiously.

The distortion led them to a narrow valley where several strange stones had been arranged in a circular formation. The stones were covered in black markings.

Vaelira crouched beside one.

"Blackridge."

Aether examined the formation.

"It's a monitoring array."

"So they're watching this region?"

"Yes."

He studied the energy flow.

The formation was connected to something farther north.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"Interesting."

Lyra looked at him.

"What?"

"This isn't monitoring the road."

Aether pointed toward the mountain.

"It's monitoring the Origin Energy beneath it."

Vaelira immediately understood.

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"They're trying to locate the pathway."

"Exactly."

Aether reached toward the formation.

His newly developed Spatial Perception allowed him to understand the structure more clearly than before. He could feel the spatial connections running between the stones and identify the point where the formation connected to the deeper network.

He didn't destroy it immediately.

Instead, he memorized the structure.

Then he smiled.

"Now we know what they're looking for."

Aria looked at him.

"And?"

"We let them think they haven't been discovered."

Evelyn smiled.

"So we're going to deceive them."

"Yes."

Aether placed a small amount of Origin Energy into the formation.

The monitoring array stabilized.

To anyone watching from the other side, everything would appear normal.

Aether then turned away.

"Let's keep moving."

They continued north.

As the group traveled, Aether periodically checked his internal condition.

The Voidmoon Physique was still only partially integrated, but the process continued naturally. Every time he circulated his Origin Energy, the spatial characteristics became slightly more harmonious with his Infinite Origin Physique.

He could now sense spatial distortions more clearly than before.

His spatial affinity was growing.

But he still couldn't manipulate space freely.

That would come later.

Aether wasn't impatient.

He had already learned that his Infinite Origin Physique became more efficient after every breakthrough. If Stage 9 had produced this much improvement, future breakthroughs would make the difference even greater.

Eventually, highly compatible physiques would become far easier to absorb.

But he would earn that ability through cultivation.

The group stopped near a river in the afternoon.

Seris prepared food while the others rested. Aether sat slightly away from the group, checking the surrounding area.

Aria eventually approached him.

"You've been quiet."

"I'm thinking about the mountain."

"Blackridge?"

"And the Origin pathways."

Aria sat beside him.

"You really want to understand them."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Aether looked toward the distant mountains.

"Because the more I learn about Origin Energy, the more I realize that what we understand is only the surface."

Aria nodded.

"And you want to see what's underneath."

"Exactly."

She smiled.

"Then we'll see it together."

Aether looked at her.

He didn't respond immediately.

Then he smiled.

"Together."

Later, when they resumed traveling, the group encountered their first Blackridge patrol.

Six cultivators emerged from the forest.

The strongest was Stage 8.

Their weapons were already drawn.

One of them shouted, "Stop!"

Aether continued walking.

The Blackridge cultivator raised his weapon.

"Did you not hear me?"

Aether stopped.

He looked at the man.

"You should put that weapon away."

The cultivator laughed.

"You think you can give us orders?"

"No."

Aether's expression became cold.

"I'm giving you one chance to walk away."

The man attacked.

Aether sighed.

"So be it."

The battle erupted.

Lyra and Sylvara moved together, while Evelyn and Elara supported them from the side. Seris remained slightly behind, prepared to heal anyone who was injured. Aria fought beside Aether, her movements becoming increasingly confident.

Vaelira disappeared with Void Step.

She reappeared behind the strongest Blackridge cultivator.

Her Moonlight Blade struck.

Aether simultaneously attacked from the front.

The man attempted to defend against both.

He failed.

Grimhorn emerged from Aether's shadow and struck him from behind.

The Stage 8 cultivator fell.

[Stage 8 Origin Cultivator defeated.]

[Origin Points +55.]

[Origin Points: 495 / 1,600.]

The remaining Blackridge cultivators tried to retreat.

Aether's expression didn't change.

"Blackfang."

The shadow wolf emerged.

A second later, the forest became silent.

Aether looked at the others.

Everyone was unharmed.

Seris immediately checked them anyway.

Aether smiled faintly.

This was different from traveling alone.

It wasn't slower.

It wasn't necessarily more dangerous.

In fact, having everyone with him meant he could divide responsibilities naturally.

He didn't have to handle every enemy.

He didn't have to protect everyone by himself.

They could fight.

They could grow.

They could stand beside him.

That was exactly what he wanted.

Aether looked toward the distant Frostveil Mountains.

The peaks were now visible beyond the forest.

Snow covered their highest points.

Somewhere beneath them was an ancient Origin pathway.

Somewhere inside that region was Blackridge's research facility.

And somewhere within that facility were answers.

Aether's eyes narrowed.

"Let's go."

The entire group continued forward.

This time, Aether wasn't leaving anyone behind.

The road to Frostveil had truly begun.