Chapter 283: Picking The Alternative

Caelestra understood Regaleon’s caution perfectly well. After all, the consequences of a failed cultivation experiment could be considerably more troublesome than the disappointment of postponing an advancement.

Nevertheless, from her perspective, the silver-haired Knight was merely allowing uncertainty to overshadow a perfectly reasonable possibility.

But while the Forgotten Knight might be too blinded by his own apprehension and excessive circumspection to recognize it, she was determined to make him see the situation more clearly.

"Regaleon..." She addressed him in a thoughtful tone, her silver eyes studying his expression with unusual seriousness. "I understand that you’re worried, but I think you’re overlooking something rather significant."

Regaleon turned towards her, his golden gaze narrowing slightly in bewilderment.

"And what would that be?"

Judging by his expression, he genuinely had no idea what she meant. Apparently, his determination to avoid an unnecessary risk had become so pronounced that he was struggling to distinguish between a dangerous gamble and a reasonable experiment.

Caelestra resisted the urge to sigh.

"You see, unlike Nether Cores, which contain energy that is fundamentally incompatible with our cultivation, Essence Crystals contain Aether. It’s the same kind of energy your Soul Essences absorb from Aether Cores."

As she spoke, she raised one of the crystals between her fingers. Its translucent surface caught the scarlet light filtering through the ruined temple, scattering a faint shimmer across her fingertips.

"Of course, their properties and functions might differ, but their fundamental nature remains remarkably similar. What I’m trying to explain is that using Essence Crystals as a substitute for Aether Cores might not be a bad idea after all. Both contain Aether, the energy your Soul Essences require, although it exists in different forms."

Regaleon remained silent as he considered her argument.

It was not that he failed to understand her reasoning. On the contrary, he had already recognized the logic behind her suggestion. His hesitation stemmed from something less straightforward than a failure to comprehend the facts.

The advancement of his Soul Essences was important to his future cultivation. If the experiment succeeded, he might overcome a limitation that had plagued him for far too long.

If it failed, however, the consequences could be difficult to predict, and he was unwilling to gamble away an opportunity for advancement by acting without sufficient consideration.

Caelestra noticed the lingering uncertainty in his expression and decided to elaborate.

"I’m not saying the Essence Crystals will definitely work. However, we can’t establish whether they’ll work unless we try. Besides, you’ve already cultivated using the energy from the Essence Pool. Considering that experience, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume your Soul Essences might also be capable of absorbing the Aether stored within these crystals."

She paused briefly, allowing him to consider the connection.

"Even if they don’t work, you’ll have learned something useful. And if they do, you’ll have discovered another resource that could help you in the future. You wouldn’t need to rely almost entirely on Aether Cores anymore."

Her reasoning was simple, but its implications were significant.

The Nether Lands were not a place where one could afford to depend on a single source of cultivation resources. Their journey to the Sanctuary would expose them to unpredictable circumstances, and the group could not always expect to encounter creatures carrying conveniently accessible Aether Cores whenever their reserves ran low.

Discovering an alternative source of energy could therefore prove valuable well beyond Regaleon’s immediate objective.

"Moreover," Caelestra continued, her expression becoming more earnest, "you can use me as an example. I rely on Essence Crystals as raw materials to produce my Coins, and I’ve never suffered any adverse effects from using them. Surely, that should give you some confidence in their reliability."

Regaleon’s gaze shifted towards the crystal in her hand.

Caelestra’s argument was so straightforward that he had already grasped her intended conclusion before she finished explaining it. Nevertheless, hearing her articulate the reasoning helped him examine his reservations from another perspective.

Perhaps he really was overthinking the matter.

He had already experienced the energy contained within Essence Crystals in a more direct form when he cultivated at the Essence Pool. That experience had not harmed him, nor had he noticed any incompatibility between the Aether he absorbed there and the energy his body required.

Furthermore, Caelestra herself was living proof that Essence Crystals could be used safely for cultivation-related purposes.

For him, the crystals represented a possible substitute for Aether Cores, a convenient alternative that might help him advance his Soul Essences.

For Caelestra, however, they were far more fundamental. Her ability to replenish and produce Coins depended on having access to suitable materials, making Essence Crystals an essential component of her cultivation rather than an optional convenience.

She had been using them long before this conversation, and their usefulness was not merely theoretical.

More importantly, Regaleon was not being asked to expose himself to the potentially harmful effects of Nether energy. He was considering whether his Soul Essences could draw upon Aether from a resource whose usefulness had already been demonstrated repeatedly.

The outcome remained uncertain, but the danger no longer appeared as formidable as he had initially imagined.

He lowered his gaze towards the crystals and continued reasoning.

There was another consideration he could hardly ignore.

If the experiment succeeded, he might finally provide his Soul Essences with the energy they needed to ascend. Even better, he would no longer be restricted to a single source of cultivation resources. Aether Cores and Essence Crystals could potentially serve the same purpose, giving him two avenues through which to supply his Soul Essences with energy.

That would make future ascensions considerably less arduous.

Instead of exhausting every available Aether Core and finding himself stranded at the threshold of advancement, he could supplement his supply with Essence Crystals whenever the opportunity arose. The additional flexibility might improve the efficiency of his cultivation and reduce the time required to accumulate sufficient energy for subsequent ascensions.

Naturally, none of those benefits was guaranteed. He could not simply assume that the crystals would work because the idea was convenient, nor could he ignore the possibility that his Soul Essences might respond differently to their concentrated Aether.

Nevertheless, the potential rewards were substantial enough to justify a measured attempt.

Caelestra watched as his expression gradually changed. The tension around his eyes eased, and the uncertainty that had clouded his features began to give way to contemplation.

She did not interrupt him.

For all her teasing, Caelestra understood that Regaleon needed to reach his own conclusion. Persuading someone to consider an idea was one thing; making the decision on their behalf was another.

Besides, if the experiment succeeded, she would rather he understood why he had accepted her proposal than spend the remainder of their journey wondering whether she had talked him into an unnecessary risk.

Regaleon finally took a slow breath.

The ruined temple remained as oppressive as before, with its fractured pillars casting elongated shadows across the dusty floor.

The scent of blood lingered in the air, and the distant rustling of the Crimson Forest reminded him that their respite was temporary.

He had spent too long worrying about what might happen if the experiment failed without giving sufficient consideration to what he might lose by refusing to attempt it.

Prudence was essential, but excessive caution could become another obstacle standing between a practitioner and the strength he sought.

He had no intention of becoming reckless merely to satisfy his ambition, yet neither would he allow uncertainty to dictate every decision he made.

After all, progress demanded more than waiting for circumstances to become perfectly favourable.

Sometimes, it required a person to recognize a reasonable opportunity and have the courage to pursue it despite the uncertainty that remained.

With that thought in mind, Regaleon raised his head and met Caelestra’s silver gaze.

The indecision that had troubled him moments earlier had finally receded, replaced by the familiar resolve that usually accompanied his decisions.

"All right," he said firmly, his voice assuming the decisive cadence that Caelestra had come to associate with him. "I will try it..."