Chapter 0182

The spirits were used to Tempest weird change in topics. It is a part of what they are and who Tempest is. “Ah, that,” Ventus said then turn towards the culprit.

Astrapi squirmed under everyone’s silent condemnation.

This was a rarity for Astrapi. Ventus and Mizu savored the situation as much as they could for as long as they could.

Astrapi is a part of their collective but her element was the means the Greater Creation or as the cultivators from the Heavenly Mountains calls refers to it, the Heavenly Dao, use to judge. She is the means and a part of the will of the Greater Creation. Therefore, Astrapi’s status among the spirits is very high. Only the three primordial spirits have a higher status than her.

Astrapi maintains a silent aloofness, even among the spirits. She was the impartial judge who stands above everyone else, a messenger of the Greater Creation. She has the might and prestige to look down upon everyone and kill anyone she deems unworthy.

It was interesting for Ventus and Mizu to see Astrapi being put upon the spot. It rarely happens since Astrapi had little care for the world around her. Basically, there were few things which could make her move.

Tempest was one of the few people Astrapi would move for...sort of. There were a few times where the person Tempest was reduced to the lowest of the low and Astrapi could have saved her but she didn’t.

“It was done to save your life. Your body could not handle the chaotic power coursing through your body and you need to be in the best physical condition possible given the circumstances.” Astrapi justified her position with solid reasoning and logic.

She forgot Tempest may be logical most of the time but when it involves something important to her, she can be downright obstinate. “Uh-huh. You were helping me out of the goodness of your heart, and not for any other reason.”

“You could have died without intervention.”

“And who gave you the right to make that call? I’ve felt the power of chaos coursing through my body and I was handling it. The situation in no way shape or form called for your intervention. I could of handled one stupid idiot with both hands tied behind my back. The moron was not a threat. You had no reason to interfere, much less take over my body. You stole the right to decide from me!” Tempest angrily berated Astrapi. “Not only that, you made the situation worse. Everyone knows I have beef with the girl and she died during a beast tide with me conveniently present. The people behind her aren’t stupid!”

“She knows too much. She must die. The treasures you got from the chaotic rift is too valuable to let even a hint of the news to get out. The people chasing you for your treasures won’t care if it was a rumor. They will hunt you down, rape and kill you and then take your treasure. Cardis maybe strong but even he can’t protect you from the besiegement.”

“Ventus can easily control the flow of information. It won’t get out.” Tempest was right. Ventus could have made it so the girl never spoke of the matter. Either that, Mizu could have brainwashed them into forgetting the incident completely. What she did was the extreme option.

Still, Astrapi didn’t regret her actions. She did regret the mistrust Tempest felt due to her actions, but for the actions itself, nope, Astrapi didn’t feel an iota of remorse.

Astrapi couldn’t say that to Tempest. She didn’t know what to say to Tempest. She wasn’t Ventus, created with the skill to talk her way out of anything and everything.

Ventus.

Ventus has the best chance of getting Astrapi out of her current predicament.

Astrapi turned beseeching eyes towards Ventus. Ventus turned her head away, pretending not to notice the clear silvery eyes begging for help.

Even though Ventus could ignore Astrapi in Tempest’s sea of consciousness, she couldn’t ignore Astrapi on the spiritual plane.

On said spiritual plane all the lightning spirits were cozying up to the wind spirits so Ventus can put in a good word for them. When that didn’t work - it was too amusing to see Astrapi squirm - the lightning spirits began to beg and plead. They would have tried threatening the wind spirits but they knew from experience the wind spirits are much more sneakier than they are.

Mizu took pity on Astrapi so she put in a good word for her. “Astrapi took over your body with good intentions.”

“The road to hell was paved with good intentions.” Tempest retorted.

Ventus lamented. How could they not know what Tempest is like after watching over her for so long?

“What to want in exchange for forgiving Astrapi?” Ventus asked straight out.

Tempest perked at the question. Finally, now they were talking. Tempest was angry at Astrapi for possessing her but the situation was complicated. Did it call for possession, no, but it was dicey.

“I want you all to promise me to never do it again without my permission.”

“Oh, so we can possess you as long as you give us permission eh?” Ventus teased.

“My life is important, but so is my sense of self. I don’t want to lose either one.”

“““Agreed.”””

“You can’t intrude on my personal thought.”

“That part is a bit too late.”

Anger clouds gathered above Tempest’s head. They dare!

Tempest's sea of consciousness began to react to Tempest’s intense anger. Strong eddies of wind, giant waves and small bursts of lightning appeared, ready to unleash hell on the spirits.

“Wait! Listen to me explain!”

“Explain!”

“Your sea of consciousness reflects your mind!”

“So what?”

“Your every thought is reflected in your sea of consciousness. Just now when you were truly angry, a storm started brewing. We are in your mind right now. We can not not intrude on your personal thought.” Ventus hurriedly explain.

“How do I keep you out?” Tempest hissed.

“Build a Jade Palace in your sea of consciousness to house your core self. It would protect you from mental intrusion as well as the side effects of absorbing mana.”

The storm died down as fast as it started up.

“Go on.” Tempest urged Ventus.

“A mage’s sea of consciousness is different from the sea of consciousness of other cultivators. Unlike the cultivators in the Mysterious Wasteland who use their sea of consciousness to store their mental powers, a mage’s sea of consciousness is more of a home or a fortress. This is where mages can interact with their spirits and learn the underlying law of their elements and tell out the spells they learn. It is more like a home with a built-in laboratory, gym and classroom all rolled into one.

“And just like a home, it has many rooms. Any private thoughts you have, you can keep in your room while we keep our private thoughts in ours. The thoughts you wish to share with us can be placed in the shared living spaces.”

“How do I go about doing that?”

“That, you have to ask Cardis. The mind is not our forte.”

“You do realize that since I don’t have to spend time cultivating, I can spend time building my Jade Palace. All palaces have jails.” Tempest indirectly threaten them.

“Yes, Tempest.”

“Just you wait. I’ll go to Cardis and ask for a high-level mental power cultivation method and build my Jade Palace. You won’t be reading my thoughts that easily!”

“Yes, Tempest.”

“Don’t patronize me!”

“We aren’t.”

“I’m going to go find Cardis right now for a high-level mind cultivation technique and restrict you all, just see if I don’t,” Tempest yelled before stomping back to her body.

Mizu and Astrapi looked at the demure Ventus with an indescribable feeling. They have to watch out for Ventus after this!