•••

The Ether family, and friends were currently in the midst of happy reunion within the Patriarch Room of the Elysian airship.

Cestra Ether stared in awe at his son before him; he was so bewildered he didn’t even notice the woman who looked remarkably similar to his wife next to him.

Grandmother Anemone chuckled to herself, quite pleased with Cestra’s reaction.

The chuckle brought Cestra out of his daze; his body immediately went stiff when he noticed Anemone.

How could his wife not tell him about his mother-in-law over the past thousand years?

He immediately bowed deeply towards her, “Cestra Ether greets mother-in-law!”

Grandmother Anemone gave a nod of approval, and said, “Jasmine, you sure did pick a great husband. His looks are superb, his disposition seems delightful, and he’s even managed to reach such a level in the secluded Astral Realm.”

“Of course, I’m only going to have one husband in my life; I needed to make sure he was the best for me.” Jasmine gave a light giggle, her breasts jiggling in the process.

Cestra was almost drooling, causing the mother and daughter pair to laugh with even more glee.

“It seems he likes this side of you more, my lovely daughter,” Anemone said with mirth.

“I think… they all do, Mother.” Jasmine replied.

Grandmother Anemone quickly looked around; all the men, including the women, were all staring at Jasmine, and her new look.

‘Good, good. Stare at the beauty of the Religion,’ Anemone thought arrogantly.

‘Wait, what are the women looking at?’ Anemone turned towards what they were gazing at, ‘Oh, I don’t think so.’

An overwhelming pressure landed on the women, and a voice was transmitted into their heads, “Do not even dare to have any ideas about my grandson. He’s only nine.”

The women all quickly looked away, sweat forming on their backs. The men were woefully unaware of the catastrophe that nearly occurred.

“Brother Astrallis, how did you get wings?” Azui, the phoenix asked her friend.

Spreading his obsidian wings out in all their glory, he said, “I comprehended a movement technique called Helical Rising from the East. My body went through a transformation when I was in my grandmother’s Religion, and it seems my comprehension of the technique had reached such a level that it became something innate within me; forming these wings,”

Azuielle, Azui’s mother, also moved towards Astrallis staring at his wings, “Odd. These wings look very similar to the wings of an archaic Anthrazit Phoenix, which I’ve seen inside some ancient canons,”

“All I know is that I comprehended the wings when I saw a vision of a cosmic creature with wings just like these fly over a supernova, the Astral God called them sera...

Before he was able to say anything, a golden monkey flew into him. They both rolled multiple times finally coming to rest next to the shore of the lake, where the pavilion they were seated at rested.

“Wukong, I know you were excited to see me, but you didn’t have to do that,” Astrallis said not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

“I didn’t, a force controlled me and pushed me into you,” Wukong said in confusion.

Astrallis immediately stared at his grandmother, who was conspicuously whistling with her head facing the sky.

He decided to ignore it, as she apparently had reasons for what she did.

“Oh yes, Wukong how did your inheritance go?”

Wukong, now much taller than last, puffed his chest out in pride, “I managed to become a spiritual-disciple to Immortal Golden Ape,”

“Spiritual-disciple?” Astrallis asked confused.

“I didn’t become a soul-disciple as he obviously isn’t dead. Therefore he took me as a spiritual-disciple until I can reach a certain comprehension of his technique I cannot become a full-disciple. He also said that once I achieve a satisfactory level of comprehension, he will send me to his abode, ‘Cave Behind the Falls’ and learn with my other senior-brothers and sisters.”

Astrallis then asked both Baihu and Azui their experiences; they also had similar situations to Wukong.

This left Astrallis amazed, as all his friends managed to acquire an immortal inheritance, and a chance to join the pinnacle sects of the universe. At the same time this made him realise that it wasn’t just the geniuses within the pinnacle sects or ones who have immortal masters that he must be wary of, there were also people who stumbled across lucky chances. One’s birth does not define the height which they can reach.

Azui gave Astrallis a long look, “Astrallis, you are completely different, and I don’t just mean physically; your temperament and personality seem to have changed.”

Azui’s words left him stumped.

“How did you realise this Azui?” He asked.

“Call it a girls intuition. Also, how come you are wearing such revealing clothing? I can see all your muscles.”

•••

A month soon passed, throughout this period Astralis enjoyed his time with his father, whom he hadn’t seen in over four years. Cestra was floored listening to Astrallis’ experiences, and deservedly a little envious.

Astrallis also made time for his master, the Pinnacle Elder; Grandpa Doehring had already come to terms with the fact that he does not have the capabilities to tutor Astrallis on the Primordial Way, and eventually, he acquiesced his mastership to the expertise of Grandma Anemone. This didn’t mean that he took a backseat towards Astrallis studies, as he already saw Astrallis as his grandson, he just became an observing family member.

During this moment of relaxation and bliss, Astrallis’ inner-self became exceedingly calm, and he entered the World-Wandering realm. In the World-Wandering Realm, he will roam the world pondering upon the Primordial Way, formulating esoteric insights. Once these comprehensions reach an adequate level, they will manifest into seeds, which will germinate when he enters the World-Coalescing Realm and create an embryonic form of a world within his dantian.

The World-Creation Realm is a stage in which a cultivator’s inner-world is formed through the assimilation of their Soul-Being and the embryonic world.

World-Wandering, World-Coalescing, and World-Creation make up the Great Realm known as the World-Realm which is the precursor to the Minting Realm.

•••

The time had come for Astrallis to roam the thousands of empires in the Astral Realm.

“Astrallis, once you step through this teleportation array, you will be sent to a random place within the Astral Realm. We will not give you any means to survival, it is up to yourself,” Grandmother Anemone said, her face solemn.

“I can see the mirth in your eyes, grandma. You’re obviously enjoying this,” Astrallis rolled his eyes.

“I can’t keep anything hidden from my grandson.” She smiled.

Astrallis gave a quick bow to his family and friends around him and entered the teleportation array.

“He sure is decisive, he didn’t even give us a proper goodbye.” Cestra chuckled.

•••

A figure with obsidian wings was currently flying over jungle-terrain, its long black hair flailing behind him.

This seraph-like figure was Astrallis Ether, the young master of the Ethereal Grotto Sect and the Felicity Blood Religion.

It had been just over a week since he was teleported into this primordial-like jungle; every day was filled with battling beasts and enlightenment on the Way.

“I’ve noticed that the rate at which I’m improving is markedly higher when I’m living between life and death,” Astrallis said towards the lion-kitty floating beside him.

“Indeed, comprehension works that way. The body is pushed to the limit, and in doing so it works substantially more, allowing for easier enlightenment. Of course, this improvement doesn’t correlate into cultivation realm improvement, but rather an advancement of one’s battle power as well as one’s being,” Bataar, the lion-kitty, nodded.

“You’ve been emitting your blood-aura over the past week, it’s time for you to emit your Buddha Qi. That way you can become in tune with the world around you,” Bataar commanded

The only reason Grandmother Anemone acquiesced to Astrallis’ solo-adventure was that of the presence of Bataar. With the knowledge and guidance of the primordial beast, Astrallis’ conflicting personalities would not go too out of hand.

Bataar and Anemone’s goal during this solo-experience was for Astrallis to come to terms with his characteristics, and hopefully forge a path to combine, or at least contain his multiple personalities.

A teal Qi began to permeate Astrallis’ body, a benevolent and calming atmosphere surrounded him.

The rampaging sounds in the forest behind him all suddenly stopped.

“It seems the beasts behind you have all stopped, most likely confused by your sudden change.” Bataar laughed.

Astrallis gave a serene smile in response as he flew towards a clearing in front of a rustic hut; the hut was sizable enough to fit one individual. He stared at his little abode with happiness; he quite enjoyed his current lifestyle and the novelty of it.

He sat down on the clearing in front of the hut, his hands on his knees, lotus stance at the ready.

He activated his cultivation base, three Qis, emerald, gold and teal, started to rotate slowly and elegantly around his body. The Qi would intermittently move forward in short bursts, before slowing down again, this carried on for many sunsets.

•••