Chapter 1131: Third Layer Shutdown

Chapter 1131: Chapter 908: Third Layer Shutdown

The estate room’s bath is carved from a single piece of blue-veined stone and deep enough for two or three people to sit in.

Hot water continuously gushes from the silver beast’s mouth, with a few pale purple petals floating on the surface. The steam and floral scent blend together, as if the entire garden has been turned into mist.

He slid into the water, his shoulders and back submerged, leaving only his head resting against the rear edge.

The warmth seeped from his skin into his bones, like countless delicate fingers easing the fatigue accumulated over the days.

He couldn’t remember the last time he soaked in hot water with such peace of mind.

The bathroom was very quiet, with only the gentle flow of water and the occasional faint crackle from the fireplace.

Duke soaked for a long time, only getting out once he was fully relaxed, donning the prepared snow-white linen robe.

The window wasn’t closed, and the night wind carried the sound of the thin silver water curtain outside the terrace, reminiscent of distant rain.

He sat on the soft chair by the bed, settled himself, and then took out two items from the Space Ring.

The Light Rule Fragment hovered above his left shoulder, with strands of pale golden light continuously streaming out, casting a layer of soft warm glow over half the bed.

The light was not glaring but carried an ancient weight, as if someone had eternally sealed a piece of sunrise within.

The Earth Attribute Rule Fragment floated by his right shoulder, entirely dark yellow and rough on the surface, as solid as a stone freshly unearthed from the planet’s core.

It wasn’t as flamboyant as the Light Fragment, but Duke felt a deep and steady resonance between him and it, like two pieces of old iron buried under the same mountain.

They slowly rotated around him, one on each side, like two small stars with him as their core.

Duke gently separated the fragments in front of him, placing the Light Rule Fragment directly ahead about an arm’s length, with its pale golden glow subtly fluctuating with his breath, like a miniature sun suspended by invisible threads.

He placed his hands gently on his knees, closed his eyes to focus, suppressing the stray thoughts within his Spiritual Sea bit by bit.

The surrounding sounds gradually faded away, even the water sound outside the terrace seemed distant, as if from another world.

The room was left with only the faint humming from the two fragments, one bright and one dark, like two different frequencies of breathing.

Duke first extended his Spiritual Power toward the Light Rule Fragment, with tendrils as light and gentle as touching the surface of an ancient artifact for the first time.

As soon as his Spiritual Power made contact, the Light Fragment gave a slight tremble, and several strands of pale golden light detached from its surface, climbing up his spiritual tendrils. These strands were not scorching; instead, they carried a warm tenderness like sunlight falling from high in a winter afternoon.

He took a deep breath, and the strands of light spread like dandelions blown by the wind, sliding along his spiritual pathways into his Spiritual Sea.

The light slowly expanded within him, initially just a faint layer like a sprinkle of golden powder on the water surface, but quickly gathered, more and more, eventually forming a fine golden river that flowed gently around his Spiritual Sea.

He could feel the light purifying something, gradually working the most fundamental aspects of the Light Rule into his spiritual core.

The surface of his skin also showed faint golden patterns, like countless tiny rays of light moving under the skin, not painful or itchy, just making him feel as if he was lit up from within.

After an indeterminate period, the golden river gradually faded, finally transforming into fine points of light, dispersing into the depths of his Spiritual Sea.

Duke did not stop; he slowly opened his eyes, shifted the Light Rule Fragment some, and brought the earth-yellow Earth Attribute Rule Fragment to the front.

Unlike the Light Fragment, this fragment was much more solid against his Spiritual Power.

When his spiritual tendrils first touched it, it was like reaching into the shadow of an entire mountain, carrying a deep and stable earth scent.

He changed his approach, not enveloping but deeply rooting his spiritual tendrils inside like roots into soil.

Energy from the Earth Attribute Rule Fragment seeped through his Spiritual Power bit by bit, like a tide slowly flooding into his body.

It felt like vast expanses of yellow earth quietly spreading layer upon layer in his spiritual world, thick and dense.

His body subconsciously sat straighter, his shoulders and back feeling weighed down but oddly grounded.

The earth-yellow glow started from his fingertips resting on his knees, slowly creeping up, along the wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, and finally settling at the forehead.

These lights weren’t bright but extremely stable, like the last warmth from the earth at dusk.

When the last traces of earth-yellow light settled into his body, Duke finally let out a long breath.

He opened his eyes, the two fragments still suspended in the air, one bright and one dark, seeming much quieter.

[Rule of Light: LV2 (8756/20000)]

[Earth Rules: LV2 (6933/20000)]

Duke glanced at the Skill Panel surfacing in his mind from the skill tree, noticing the proficiency numbers behind each rule advancing slightly.

He returned the two fragments to the Space Ring, stood, and walked to the edge of the terrace.

Night had deepened, and the lights of Morningstar Manor were extinguishing one after another in the mist.

Duke leaned on the stone railing, looking at the distant dark mountain shadow that couldn’t be dispersed.

On nights like this, being able to peacefully train was itself a luxury.

This place also provided a rare opportunity for their peaceful retreat.

…

A month passed faster than imagined at Morningstar Manor, with Elf Attendants delivering three meals and changing clothes daily, and the garden’s silver water curtain never faltered, even the sunlight seemed finely tuned for temperature.