Deep under the ground, an underground river is flowing from west to east with fish, snakes and critters in it.
As the fish, snakes and critters swim in them, a large fish looks toward the small fish school and slowly swims toward it. And stop some long water grasses, the large fish hides in the long water grasses and waits for the small fish school to come near it.
He is ready to strike as the small fish school nears without any awareness of the large fish waiting for them. But then, the next moment in that section of the underground river, everything stops.
The water stops flowing, underwater plants stop moving and also the fish, snakes and critters. It is only for a moment, the next moment everything returns to normal and the large fish strikes and gobbles up some small fish from the fish school.
Kanoru, inside his retreat room, opened his eyes with a smile on his face. He fully comprehended the vibration aspect of the water element fully. The underground river is very deep, so he would normally not be able to control the underground water because of the soil and rocks between them.
But after fully comprehending the vibration aspect of the water element, He can control water that is deep underground.
Now, to test why he comprehended the entire vibration aspect in wind and water elements. The grey energy appears in his palm, and then he controls it to form the elemental structure of Wind Chimes' alien energy, and in a single try, he succeeds.
The power of the grey energy did not increase, but his understanding of grey energy increased. His control over the grey energy also increased.
To check his increase in control of grey energy, without his spiritual energy, the grey energy gathers at the tip of his finger. He can now release the ray attack he released when he was on the ship with a thought, he did not even have to use his spiritual energy to gather the particles at a point and release them as a ray attack.
And then the grey energy gathered at the tip of his finger, disperses and returns to his body. Before, on the ship, he was unable to control and had to release the ray attack. Now, with his thought, he can attack and even take the attack back before he releases it.
Kanoru now comprehend the vibration aspect of the Wind chimes and completes another step to completely master the grey energy. Now he has to comprehend the Explosive aspect from the Explosion alien energy, the Heat aspect from the Steam alien energy, the Freezing aspect from the Bone Freezing alien energy, and the Devouring aspect from the devouring water energy and the Infectious aspect from the Blue Fire alien energy.
But not now, he does not know how much time has passed as he comprehended the vibration aspect. He is completely unaware of the situation outside.
He knows a month has not passed. If a month had passed from the time he entered the retreat room, the war would have started again. He, before entering the retreat room, told Asuna and Gu Mingzhu to call him in times of emergency or a day before the war starts again.
As neither of them called him, that meant no emergency occurred, or the time he spent in the room had not reached thirty days.
But he is certain that many days have passed. He wants to comprehend the Explosive aspect of the Explosion alien energy and then the entire explosion aspect from wind and fire elemental energy. Only then will his mastery of grey energy advance.
But he does not know how much time it will take to comprehend the Explosive aspect. And if his mind is completely focused on comprehending the Explosive aspect, then if someone disturbs him. It would be a crime as completely focusing your mind on one thing happens rarely, and at times, comprehension speed also increases. If someone disturbs them, it is not guaranteed that they can focus their mind again.
So, it would be better for Kanoru now to check how much time has passed and if there is any news for him and the situation around.
Kanoru stands up and uses his energy to clean his clothes. He did not clean himself, as after his body reached the spirit king realm, an energy film surrounded his body so that any dust or anything could not stick to his body.
And he does not smell or sweat in a normal situation, not only he, but everyone whose cultivation reaches the spirit realm. So, he clears the dust that gathers in his clothes and walks to open the door.
Then he walks with a goal, as he already knows where Asuna and Gu Mingzhu are. When he decided to leave the room at that moment, he scanned the entire house with his spiritual energy.
He started to walk to one of the gardens, reaching there, he watched as Asuna conjures a snake form of blue fire alien energy, and then it crashes on the boulder, and then an explosion follows. Nothing happens to the boulder as it is a spell test item capable of withstanding hits from the Spirit King's spell attack.
He comes to find Asuna not because she is his first wife, but because she is not the only one available. Gu Mingzhu also entered the retreat in the room beside him. He is leaning on a pillar, watching Asuna perform spell after spell.
After performing spells with blue fire alien energy, she conjures a javelin. It is also formed from blue fire alien energy, but he sees another energy in it. He sees the yellow sparks moving around the javelin. She then threw the javelin at the spell test boulder 100 meters away from her.
Then follows an explosion much larger than the previous ones, with flame and lightning emerging, and then dust obscures the sight. When the dust clears, Kanoru sees the spell test boulder glowing in red light.
The spell test boulder glowing in red light means the previous spell that hit it. Reached the threshold of a spirit king spell attack.
Asuna, while her cultivation is spirit lord realm. The attack power of her previous spell reaches spirit king-level spell power.
Kanoru smile, seeing this and steps ahead, clapping. He says," Congratulations." Asuna was not shocked because Kanoru suddenly clapped. Because her spiritual sense was always around Kanoru's and Gu Mingzhu's retreat room.
So, she was aware when Kanoru left his retreat room and made his way to her.
Kanoru was also aware of this and did not mind, as she did this to stop anyone from disturbing Kanoru. And with spiritual energy, Kanoru could even communicate. With her, with his spiritual energy after he left the room. But he thought he had already left the room, so there was no need to use spiritual energy.
It is not required now, and talking face-to-face is better.
Asuna turns around and says," There is no need to congratulate only this spell that reaches the threshold of the spirit king."
Kanoru smiles and, standing in front of her, says," This spell reaches the power of a spirit king level spell power, after which it would be easy to create other spells of the same power."
Asuna says," I know."
Kanoru pulls her into a hug and smells the scent of roses from her hair. While hugging, he says, " Then why are you not happy?"
Asuna says," It is nothing."
Kanoru's hand roams around her back and says," I know it is not nothing. Who are you going to tell if not me?"
Asuna says," Before, I was not as strong as you, but I was able to help you."
She gets out of his hug and, looking into his eyes, says," But after you break through the spirit king and then in the next two months your strength increases like the speed of light, reaching where I cannot see even your back."
She then turns around and looks toward the blood moon shining in the morning sky. The four blood pillars reaching the blood moon disappear, and with it the portal.
She continues sighing," I am not even confident that I will be able to reach your strength shortly before the result of the invasion comes out. " The result of the invasion is important because if they win, they are still alive, then she would not need to help Kanoru anymore.
After defeating the invader, she could not think of anyone stupid enough to attack Kanoru, as Kanoru's strength was only below that of the six councillors. And with the speed at which Kanoru's strength is increasing, she is certain that even if Kanoru's strength does not reach the same level as the councillors, it will be near them.
At that point, even the councillors cannot harm Kanoru.
And if they lose to invaders and do not surrender. Then anything would not matter; they would already be dead. She would have been killed faster than Kanoru. As difficult as killing Kanoru is 100 times more difficult than killing her.
Kanoru did not even know his strength would reach the same level as the spirit king, who formed 90 elemental runes and connected them. It would be impossible if the clown did not attack him and he did not consider anything, and only to save his life from the clown's attack.
Combine the six alien energies to form the grey energy.
If he had not formed the grey energy, then it would be impossible to reach his current strength.
He thinks he was lucky he took a gamble without consideration and succeeded. He is not even sure if time reverses and reaches the moment when he combined the six alien energies.
That the result would come out the same, and he formed the current grey energy. The grey energy is responsible for his strength.
He understands why Asuna's mood is low and also knows how to raise her mood. Her mood is low because of the disparity between their strength. Kanoru was always stronger than her, but this time the disparity is so great that Asuna cannot see how she can bridge the gap and come near Kanoru's strength.
Kanoru knows how to raise her mood, as this happened once in the capital of the desert kingdom after Kanoru participated in the trial. At that time, Kanoru raised her mood by promising to help her master the five schools of swordsmanship.
Now, if Kanoru shows her a way to increase her strength, her mood will lift. Asuna already comprehended the Explosive and the Blue Fire alien energy. If he is not certain that combining the six alien energies, then he would advise her to comprehend the other four alien energies.
It would be difficult to comprehend the alien energies with water element in them, as her comprehension of water element is nil. She followed Kanoru, comprehending the first two elements- Wind and Fire as the same as Kanoru. But for the third element, she did not comprehend the water but thunder.
She discovered that her affinity with the thunder element is the highest. She always wants to catch up with Kanoru in strength. And comprehending the water element, with which she has an average affinity, she would never catch up with Kanoru.
So she chose the thunder element. And even if she had chosen the water element. Kanoru would not advise her to comprehend the other four alien energies because he is not sure if she can form the grey energy after she comprehends the six alien energies.
But Kanoru steps forward and hugs her behind and supporting his head on her shoulder and kissing her cheek, he says," I will give you a gift after a few days."
Asuna cover his hands on her stomach and says," What gift? And when?"
Kanoru asks," It is a surprise." Then Kanoru steps back and says," Why is Aoi coming?" Kanoru's spiritual energy senses Aoi entering their house.
Asuna, turning around, says," After you enter your retreat, she asked me to help her comprehend fire elemental energy. She chose the second elemental energy to comprehend the fire energy."
Kanoru remembers why he came out and asks," Speaking of retreat, how many days were spent inside the retreat room?"
Asuna answers," 18 days."
Kanoru asks," Anything happened when I was inside, or how is the situation?"
They hear Aoi walking into the garden and say excitedly," Auntie, I am here."
Aoi then spots Kanoru, and much subdued, she says," Hello, Uncle."
Kanoru simply nods at her, and Asuna says," Wait for a few minutes, then we will start."
Then she says to Kanoru," Nothing much happened, the truce is going on. I heard a wall is being built around the Sacred Continent, three spirit kings came to join us."
Kanoru nods along as she speaks. The Spirit Kings who came to join should be Hideyo and his friends. Kanoru wanted to inquire if they had joined up on his absence. He did not use his spiritual energy to scan the city to figure out the answer because it was rude and highly offensive.
Kanoru and Asuna use their spiritual energy to scan only their home, as this is their territory. And they would when they face an enemy or are outside.
And before Kanoru can ask the question. Asuna finally says," The highest council called for you."
Kanoru's eyes widen, hearing the mention of the highest council and says," What? Why did not mention it to me before?"
Asuna says," Because it is not urgent. They send a spirit king to call you, but hearing you are in retreat. The spirit king mentions it is not urgent, you can go meet them whenever you are free before the truce ends."
Kanoru says," I have to meet them anyway. Then I should meet them today, otherwise, I will keep thinking about what reason they called me."
Asuna says," What can it be other than because of your strength?"
Kanoru says," I also think so, but without knowing, my mind would not calm down."
Kanoru then remembered that the highest council was above a mountain peak, and the mountain is in the north polar region outside the sacred continent. Now, during the truce, it does not matter, but after the truce ends, it would be difficult to meet there as they would lose control or have already lost control over the entire world except the Sacred Continent.
The location of the meeting place of the highest council should change, but that is not for him to consider, as his strength reaches the level of the councillors. He can consider this when he becomes part of the highest council.
He asks," The same location."
Asuna replies," No, they changed the meeting place, now it's inside the Stone pillar forest."
Kanoru thought they had changed the location, so he did not need to consider this when he became a councillor. He says," Then, I will go and meet them. And try to come back before dinner."
Asuna says," Ok, I will be waiting."
As Kanoru decides to lift off, he remembers that he can form a clone and waves his hand, and chakra emerges from his body, forming a clone. Then his true body flew up in the sky and headed toward the stone pillar forest.
He did not send his clone to the meeting with the councillors because it is disrespectful, as they are stronger than him and there is no emergency situation that he cannot meet them with his true body.
Kanoru clone looks at his true body, leaving, and then he looks at Aoi and says," You should start your lesson with your Aunt Asuna."
Asuna also says," Come here."
Kanoru walks to the side to give them a bench and sits on a bench around the massive garden. He then looks at them, and Asuna starts to teach Aoi. She starts to teach how to increase her control over fire and wind elemental energies.
Kanoru watched for a moment, then his thoughts drifted to the gift he mentioned he would give Asuna. The gift he thought was a spell model containing all the Explosive aspect runes present in Fire and Wind Elemental energies.
He only comprehended some Explosive aspects of Fire and Wind elemental energies when he comprehended the Explosive alien energy. But still, he did not fully comprehend all the Explosive aspects present in Fire and Wind Elemental energies.
He chose the gift of a spell model of Explosive aspect runes because Asuna also comprehended the Explosive alien energy. After mastering the spell model, he would gift. She would be able to form more runes of fire and wind elements, and she may even break through the spirit king realm.
Kanoru can sense Asuna's chakra that she is near the Spirit King realm. And she may be missing five or six runes to break through the Spirit King realm. The runes in the spell model may be the runes that help her break through the Spirit King realm.
So, without anything requiring his immediate attention, Kanoru started to feel the Explosive aspect in Wind elemental energy. He closes his eyes and starts to comprehend the Explosive aspect of the Wind elemental energy.
His attention narrows on the Wind elemental energy particles around him, as the warmth of the sun on his skin, the cold breeze of the autumn season, the chirping of birds, and the voices of Asuna and Aoi, fade in the background.
Time passes, and his True body is halfway to reaching the Stone Pillar forest. Kanoru's clone opens his eyes with a thoughtful expression and murmurs," I have already comprehended all the Explosive aspects of the Wind elemental energy."
Among the 50 wind elemental runes in his spiritual space, he finds the five runes containing the Explosive aspect of wind elements. When discovering five runes containing the Explosive aspects, he speaks in his mind," Vibration aspects present in Water and Wind elements also formed, five runes each and now I discovered that the Explosive aspect in Wind element also formed five runes."
" Then the Explosive aspect in the fire element would also form five runes."
" But before starting to comprehend the Explosive aspect of the fire element. I should check if I already comprehended the Explosive aspect present in the fire element."
He is already inside his spiritual space, and senses the red colors runes in his spiritual space. He senses each rune; from some, he senses that these runes allow him to control fire elemental energies, from some, he senses the Heat aspect, Infectious aspect, Devouring aspect, Vibration aspect, and finally, from some, he senses the Explosive aspect.
There are three runes of the fire element containing the Explosive aspect. Then, following the previous discovery. I need to comprehend only two runes containing the Explosive aspect.
He then started to comprehend the Explosive aspect of the fire element.
As Kanoru's clone comprehends the Explosive aspect of the fire element. Kanoru's true body stops flying and looks toward the 100 stone pillars in a formation inside a forest. Every pillar is 50 metres in height, reaching the same height as the trees in the forest.
The astonishing sight is that the entire ground in a circle around the 100 pillars is petrified in stone, and even the trees in the forest are petrified. He thought this was the power of someone who formed 100 Earth elemental runes.
Someone was Petrified Spirit Saint. Only his title remained because of the astonishing sight. Petrified Spirit Saint was alive many years ago. People now forgot his name and when he roamed the world. It is so old that no record also remained till now. Only his title is remembered by the world.
As Kanoru flies inside the stone, he stops sensing spiritual energy and even the other elemental energies, except only one energy. Inside the stone pillar forest, only one energy is present: the Earth elemental energy. The 100-stone pillar formation absorbs and comprehends all energies and releases the earth elemental energy.
Kanoru flies to the centre of the forest and sees a huge castle. He senses many inside the castle, and they also sense him as the gate of the castle opens. As Kanoru lands in front of the castle gate, a burly man strides out.
Kanoru, looking at him, can tell he is not human. A transformed Demon Beast, the common name for Spiritual, Blood, and Warcraft Beast.
The demon beast says," Who are you?"
Kanoru says," I am Kanoru, and the highest council called me."
The demon beast replies," You're Kanoru. The one who formed a new energy and with a strength of 100 connected runes."
Kanoru shows the grey energy that comes out from his right palm and says," Yes, I am."
The demon beast stepped back, giving space for Kanoru to step inside. He says," Everyone is waiting for you."
Kanoru, stepping inside the castle, says," Why?"
The demon beast closes the door behind Kanoru and starts walking. He says," Because you formed a new energy, but your strength did not reach the same level as the councillors."
Kanoru sees the demon beast turn back while glancing at him, says," So, they are curious, and me too about how you formed the new energy."
Kanoru says," I combine six alien energies to form the grey energy."
The demon beast says," Which?"
Kanoru shows him the six alien energies.
The demon beast says," So, I can form the new energy that you formed after I comprehend the six alien energies."
Kanoru replies," I am not sure," and explains to him the reason.
The demon beast is unable to ask further questions as they reach their destination. A large door stands in front of them.
The demon beast says," Enter, I will be waiting for you outside."
Kanoru nods and pushes open the door, and enters the room.
He enters a large room with six empty chairs against the wall of the room. Three chairs each on both sides of the room.
Kanoru looks around in confusion because nobody is present inside the room. The demon told him to enter, but not one of the councillors was present. He thinks of leaving the room and questioning the demon beast outside.
As he turns around to leave the room, he senses an influx of spiritual energy in the room and then six people appear in the room. Seeing the six people suddenly appear, he thought they had left their energy on the chairs and could descend into the room with their clones.
Kanoru says," Hello, Councillors."
Elewyn says," Kanoru, I am surprised a few years ago we met, your strength and cultivation realm was in the spirit lord realm, but now your strength reaches the limit of the spirit king realm."
Kanoru says," It is all due to luck."
Wen Qiang says," Do not say you are lucky. You are like us, formed a new energy and after you formed 100 connected runes. You will join us and become a councillor."
Kanoru says," I am really lucky in forming the new energy," and explains how the new energy was formed.
Hayate, after listening to Kanoru's explanation, says," It is not entirely due to luck if you had not mastered the six alien energies, then you would not be able to form the grey energy."
Ywet asks," Then, when can you fully master the grey energy?"
Kanoru, hearing Ywet a thoughtful expression, takes on his face, and inside his mind, he calculates the answer. It took him to fully comprehend the vibration aspects was 18 days. Then, if he considers around 20 days for each of the five aspects, it would be 100 days.
He already fully comprehended the Explosive aspects of the Wind Elemental energy. So, it would not take 20 days to fully comprehend the Explosive aspects of the Fire Elemental energy. However, the other four aspects may take longer to comprehend.
And adding another 20 days, it would be four months. So, he says," In four months, I should be able to fully comprehend my grey energy."
The councillors look at each other. And then Elewyn says," We give six months. When the war starts again, you do need to participate. In the next six months, we want you to explain to us the runic formation behind the grey energy."
Kanoru nods, agreeing with them as this agreement is favourable to him. After a short conversation with them, he leaves the room.
Outside, he meets the demon beast. He then took him to meet the others in the castle, who were curious about his grey energy and then he again explained how he formed the grey energy before leaving he mentioned to them that after six months he would share the runic formation behind the grey energy.
After that, he leaves the castle and flies back to his house.