In the next century, the new Veritas Legion focused on consolidation.

Lower ranks trained and cultivated as much as they could to reach higher ranks and thus gain a small chance to be able to effect the coming war.

Higher ranks, from Tier 1 and above focused on stabilizing their cultivation and gaining mastery over a single Dao, just as Pef did.

Pef decided to focus on the Dao of Water for his first mastery, not because it would become a strong weapon or defense, but because it was his spirit element. As soon as the glove marked the Dao of Water with 100% several other Daos connected with Water in direct or indirect ways also grew substantially. Ice, Snow, Fog, Cloud, Rain, River and Sea gained the most growth, just as other linked elements received a bonus due to the higher insight.

Even the Dao of Blood gained a few percents, due to being made mostly of water.

Anyway, the greatest achievement from this breakthrough was the ability to create water out of nothing, or better said, converting qi into water. Considering the amazing rate at which Pef's qi regenerated as a Tier 4 cultivator, this single ability was a logistical bonus of immense value, since water was a necessary supply for any army or population.

Already, with the Legion maize being grown inside Pef's inner world and water supply being sufficient for a galaxy full of people, Pef could plan his next campaign with a more relaxed outlook.

Weapons and armor were still being manufactured by the Legion's smiths and other high ranks, although high level artifacts like the new gloves and flying knives were still in low supply.

But, just as Pef achieved his Dao of Water, Lady Lin completed her Dao of Smithing, which would be a great boon in the future. Pef suspected the Legion's power word gun was somehow responsible for that achievement, but wisely abstained from commenting on this, out loud. Reason might be only a sentient artifact, but it was a Tier 7 all the same.

Due to Pef's experience to the orange glove's immense intellect and near-infallible planning, Pef decided to accept that artifacts of high cultivation tiers may be much smarter than him, or any other organic.

Which thought lead to the next problem. The Exitus Gate, as the Legion had begun calling the qi anomaly that constituted their next objective.

'The gate is probably sentient as well, right my glove?' Pef asked inward, with some worry.

A minute of long silence followed. 'No way to know, yet. But probably yes. Brute force will not work, if the gate has over-ride codes for the Legion guns.' the artifact mused in a cold tone.

Pef sighed and glanced at his Elf wife. Nellie was also a Tier 4 cultivator, even if she had a different cultivation path. Magic powers, while weaker than regular qi elements and Dao domains allowed for a much higher versatility.

Any type of element could be used, and a myriad of spells were possible for someone of sufficient power and talent.. just like the Elf goddess. Pef shifted his gaze back onto his glove, once more suspicious of having been played. There were few coincidences where the glove was present.

"What is it now, husband?" the Elf Princess asked, noticing Pef's glance.

"You will be important when we attack the gate, my dear. There must be magic spells that are meant to deal with corrupted or recalcitrant artifacts." Pef mused out loud.

Nellie blinked in surprise at the news, then nodded slightly. "I can try."

Pef shifted his perspective inside his inner world, where Vela and Jace were also studying magic, under his Avatar's eyes.

"How would you deal with a damaged artifact, Vela?" the Avatar wondered absently.

The Elf vestal smiled a bit bitterly. "It depends how damaged it is. How much of its original functions and memories remain?" the Elf goddess asked in a light voice.

Pef just shook his head. He didn't know, but this was important information anyway. Perhaps...

His musings were interrupted. "Lord Pef. The Zeus-Exitus beacon is now online. We have a stable voidhole to the gate. Lady Aria asks for you, from the other side." came a qi transmission from the nearby gas giant in the system.

"It's time. Let's dip our fingers into the other side." Pef said, and Blinked away reaching the duty Major on the Zeus battlestation in a single jump.

"My lord! The Green regiment is preparing to cross through." the Legion officer exclaimed as Pef appeared at his side.

Pef just nodded and stepped into the void channel. A series of short flashes and he arrived beside Aria, and the giant pyramid that marked the real space entrance into the Exitus Gate.

"Any problems, so far?" he asked with a gentle voice.

The green haired goddess smiled thinly. "The voidbeast died during the emergence from last tunnel. I had to spend all my qi to stabilize the tunnel's end."

Pef hugged her in response, aware of how dangerous that last part might have been. "The Garden helped?" he asked while patting her vine necklace.

Aria nodded slowly, patting her neck tenderly. " Calls herself Verdant Garden, now." she explained while the Law words lit on the necklace surface, the Aria Verdi inscription glowing in a vibrant emerald green.

'I'm sure you could do it too, my orange friend.' he whispered inward, towards the sentient glove.

'If I feel like it. Installing arrival station now.' the artifact responded in a sarcastic vibe, then clenched by itself. From the glove's inner pocket it emerged another space station, which would become the arrival terminal of the Exitus Gate voidtunnel.

Although the size of a small moon, the terminal still paled in comparison with the actual pyramid gate, which appeared to be the size of small sun, around a million kilometers at the widest. In a minute, the voidtunnel was anchored to the new station and the first Legion troopers began to arrive.

Assembling in order, by company and battalions, the Green Regiment commanded by Aria began manning the station, everything from sensors and shields to weapons and hydroponic gardens, barracks and hangars for the Legion fleet. In the next decade, this terminal would become the primary anchorage of the Legion fleet in this universe.

And if they could open the gate, then this base will provide logistical support and a departure point for exploration or military ships that would cross into the new universe on the other side.

Of course, high ranked cultivators would not actually depend on a structure for their needs, no matter how powerful or advanced. But all the same, there were less than a hundred Divine Soldiers in the Legion for now, the rest of the personnel were still fragile in comparison. Stations and ships were needed, since the void environment was harsh even for Saints.

Pef attended to his duty as well, filling the water tanks on the terminal station and the food banks with Legion maize.

Once the task was done, he cautiously approached the pyramid and hesitantly placed his left palm on the surface.

At first, the structure seemed inert and solid, but Pef wasn't impatient anymore. He continued his attempt, sending Legion command codes and authorizations via qi waves, then mental pings and pulses.

More and more Legion personnel arrived, as Pef continued his probing attempts.

Although the Gate did not respond yet, he could feel reaching deeper and deeper as time passed.

Then one day, Lady Lin appeared beside him, with a club-shaped artifact in hand. "Let me try, Pef. Perhaps it will listen to Reason." the Smith goddess quipped in a light voice.

Pef grinned, and then a blinding golden wave covered the sky.