Above The Sky
Chapter 1037 - 1037 125 Another Possibility 12

1037: Chapter 125: Another Possibility (1/2) 1037: Chapter 125: Another Possibility (1/2) Death is an abyss on the path of life that no one can circumvent.

Perhaps through science and some kind of sublimation skills, it can be momentarily leapt over, but the abyss is endlessly vast, infinitely broad, and unfathomably profound.

Unless one can fly eternally, ascending toward the heavens, everyone will ultimately face their fall.

In the past, Teacher Hiliard might have indeed been a powerful figure capable of overcoming this so-called ‘Abyss of Death.’ The more Ian delved into the notes left by his teacher, the more convinced he became of this.

Although outwardly, Hiliard seemed like a mere Knight, his research into the Path of Sublimation had reached a depth so profound that the majority of people in the world, even most of the powerful ones, could scarcely imagine it.

From the transformations of the First to the Fifth Energy Levels—the sublimation and the metamorphosis of the mind, the fusion and conversion of the body and True Ether (Primal Aether) until the final Aether True Body and ultimate ascension—these are sensations so complex that even Fifth Energy Level figures rarely find the words to describe them clearly.

Yet Hiliard not only articulated these concepts with straightforward language but managed to propose an even further advanced idea on this foundation—the concept of the ‘Domain of Extremes.’

[The essence of the Domain of Extremes is simply an nonexistent ‘domain.’ We all know that natural evolution in organisms is inherently flawed; even Magical Beasts are imperfect.

Due to various reasons, these animals gained extraordinary powers, yet they might have once been intelligent beings who degenerated for different reasons—the degeneration itself symbolizes their imperfection.

Every organism has its own set of flaws.]

[Physical frailty, spiritual decay, shallow Origin Quality, lack of skill…

and ultimately, the absence of belief.]

[All living beings inherently possess several of the above defects, and at the very least, one of them.]

[The most perfect being I have encountered is the True Dragon.

Even the corrupted and deranged Mountain Shaking Dragon Laidadel Dorado, which once wreaked havoc in the Dark Mountain Range, brought me the most grueling battle of my life.]

[Its body was flawless, its Origin Quality unimaginably abundant, and its techniques so exquisite that neither I nor Yinaiga could comprehend them.

Its use of Origin Quality even touched upon the technology of the previous era’s ‘Antimatter Engine.’ However, while the civilization of the previous era required furnace cores as massive as two castles placed in Illusory Moon Orbit to prevent catastrophic planet-wide explosions, the Mountain Shaking Dragon’s Furnace Core could effortlessly simulate the highest-level skills.]

[The Mountain Shaking Dragon was defeated by me and Yinaiga only because it lost its own soul and belief.

It succumbed to the madness of its Bloodline’s power, and its faith was fragile—it lacked the will to fight tirelessly for its dreams, to charge forward with courage and fearlessness.]

[Even so, it remained incomparably powerful—a super lifeform possessing three types of ‘Domain of Extremes.’]

[Where there are flaws, there is room to mend them.

Whatever humans can imagine, someone can accomplish.

If even the most powerful True Dragons have shortcomings, then wouldn’t remedying those flaws allow humans to transcend the True Dragons themselves?]

[Body, soul, Origin Quality, technique, and belief… step by step, refining each layer until perfection.

Eventually, one can undoubtedly leap across the abyss known as ‘death’ and ascend to realms atop the Master Throne.]

[Still, humans are innately weak creatures.

Unlike Fae or Treants, we naturally lack any Domain of Extremes, but this turns out to be our advantage.

To lack them means we may start entirely anew, forging our own foundation and becoming beings that best align with our dreams.

Even someone like me, now at the peak of the summit atop the Master Throne, can start afresh, relearning from the beginning.]

[But what if we cultivated the Domain of Extremes starting from the First Energy Level?]

[Transforming our entire lifeform completely, progressing until the Fifth Energy Level or even beyond…

the Bloodline Inheritance left by such humans might embody a natural form of New Humanity with multiple Domains of Extremes.]

[This could be the origin of New Humanity… and the beginning of transforming Terra Human society altogether.]

The notes left by Hiliard regarding the Domain of Extremes, along with his detailed and straightforward cultivation methods, were shockingly complete—far more comprehensive than anything Ian himself had learned.

“These things… I had no idea…”

As Ian perceived the knowledge unfolding before him, he felt a surge of complex emotions: “In this world line, perhaps because my teacher’s body wasn’t as frail and could endure for another year or two, he wasn’t in such a rush to share all this with me?”

“That makes sense.

If there were one or two more years, teacher could guide me step by step, even personally refining the Magic Potion for the Domain of Extremes with me.

In doing so, he could validate his theories, ease his concerns, and eventually leave this world without haste.

That would have been preferable to leaving me all at once with everything.”

“But then… accidents happened.”

Gaining knowledge inaccessible in his own world line should’ve brought joy, but Ian couldn’t help but sigh as he reflected on the alternate possibilities.

A lingering melancholy gripped his heart.

In this world line, Hiliard—a man poised to break through to the Sixth Energy Level or at least on the brink of transcending beyond the Fifth—ultimately ended his journey quietly, buried in a coffin.

But he left the Ian of this world line a final legacy: a sealed box forged from Heavy Abyss Iron.

Indeed, in this alternate world line, Hiliard melted down his longsword to craft the box, informing that Ian that it contained his greatest legacy.

If Ian reached the Second Energy Level Peak and no one sought him out or hinted at traces of Hiliard’s works, Ian would then be allowed to open the box and utilize the contents within.

However, if someone came for him before he reached the Second Energy Level Peak, Ian was to hand over the box to the seeker.

In all likelihood, by doing so, Ian could preserve his life.

In the real world, Ian was well aware that the box contained Teacher Hiliard’s ‘Heart Core of the Mountain Shaking Dragon’ and ‘Silver Chip.’ Since Ian’s physical condition was excellent and he didn’t sustain critical injuries during his battle with Weyges that necessitated repairs, instead prioritizing his development without interference, Hiliard safeguarded the legacy by sealing it in the box.

When Ian reached the Second Energy Level Peak, he would be able to survive anywhere in Terra; then, inheriting the legacy would neither be too late nor jeopardize his progress.

It would even accelerate his breakthrough to the Third Energy Level.

This was Hiliard’s initial plan.

In the simulated world line, Ian also sought to aid Hiliard in resolving the ‘Ice Prison Calamity Ash’ issue.

This anomalous toxic particle was essentially an ultra-microscopic semi-material crystalline toxin, far scarier than nanobot technology.

Its composition, formed from the most minuscule Origin Quality Crystal Chips, defied conventional physical principles, rendering it a surreal poison.

This was clearly not a legacy of the previous era’s civilization.

It was more likely a creation of the Spark or the remnants of the Heavenfall Spaceship.

If not for the Silver Chip, Hiliard would’ve already succumbed long ago.

After his teacher’s burial, Ian tirelessly studied the notes.

He proactively declared to Elder Pude that he was a Prophet and validated his declaration through multiple fulfilled prophecies, gaining the old man’s attention…

But not only that, since he didn’t carry much suspicion, Elder Pude even claimed that Ian awakened the family’s Earth Series Bloodline inheritance, originating from the Silver Halberd Falcon, to conceal Ian’s Unyielding Fortress.

This also earned Viscount Grant’s favor.

With Elder Pude’s endorsement, Ian began leveraging the Viscount’s Mansion’s resources to delve deeply into Inscriptions and Alchemy.

Such developments were neither surprising nor scarce.

In brief, without the Silver Chip, Ian concentrated more on the Unyielding Fortress.

Having fewer secrets to bear, he boldly sought resources from the Viscount and others.

Ian meticulously planned his next steps as was his habit, scheming to accelerate resource acquisition, aim for swift growth, and incorporate the teachings Hiliard left to refine the Unyielding Fortress.

If this course had continued…

and endured for another four or five years, Ian would’ve achieved progress in both Alchemy and Inscriptions, alongside breakthroughs in his research on the Path of Sublimation—all leading to yet another leap forward.

Then came the arrival of that man.

Inspector Knight Weyges.

In this matter, everything unfolded just as it did in the original world line—having detected traces of Hiliard and Ian through meticulous clues, Weyges made his way to Harrison Port for investigation.

With his exceptional mastery of intelligence gathering, the Inspector Knight unearthed leads tied to both Hiliard and Ian.

Ian, who had earlier perceived the knight’s oddly invasive behavior, utilized local connections like Viscount Grant to covertly and overtly spar with Weyges, engaging in numerous rounds of cunning exchanges.

At last, by springing a trap, Ian lured Weyges into the Thunderhunter Jellyfish Swarm at Sigh Cliff, initiating a confrontation head-on.

“These jellyfish won’t harm you.”

The young man from the simulated world line spoke, clutching the trigger for the Alchemical Explosive detonator in his hand: “Even the bombs I’m holding would merely leave you gravely injured.”

“You’ve uncovered my true identity and learned who my teacher was.

Should you expose the truth, there wouldn’t be a place for me to hide—not just in Harrison Port, but in the entire Empire.

Even so, you relentlessly pursue me, chasing after my teacher’s trail and the secrets of his endgame… Weyges, who are you really?

Are you my teacher Hiliard’s enemy or his former apprentice?”

“Why do you hunt a dead man so obsessively?

Do you seek a hidden truth, or are you wishing to bury yourself alongside him?”

“…You sharp-tongued brat… Your knack for piercing through human intent is just as extraordinary as your Sublimator talents.”

Surrounded by traps and a ring of Thunderhunter Jellyfish, the Inspector Knight cloaked in bone armor softly remarked: “As for me… you could say I’m an enemy of that old man.

No—I can’t say that…”

“I… don’t deserve to be.”