章 14: Preparing the Ritual Circles

The secluded location chosen by Alaric was nestled deep within a dense forest on the outskirts of the Aetheris family's territory. It was known but disregarded by the Aetheris Family, valued only for its peculiar mana-disrupting properties.

The disturbance in mana flow made the land unsuitable for cultivation, rendering it unimportant to anyone seeking power or influence. However, for Valen's purposes, it was perfect—an ideal spot where he could prepare without drawing unwanted attention.

The magic in the air made the area naturally concealed, its thick tangle of vines and trees as an extra barrier.

The ground itself felt heavy, as though the land harbored ancient, forgotten secrets. Valen stood in the clearing, the air around him humming faintly.

He could feel the mana in the environment fluctuating, distorting any attempt to track or sense magical activity in the area.

Alaric, standing silently at his side, bowed deeply. "My lord, the site is secure. No one will care to disturb us here. The mana disruptions keep it hidden from all who aren't actively searching."

Valen surveyed the area, his eyes sharp. He had no doubts about the location; it was remote, unremarkable, and—more importantly—perfectly shielded from prying eyes. He nodded. "This will do."

His gaze shifted, and his focus sharpened. He had advanced to the 5th major realm, 3rd stage—the Elemental Awakening Realm.

In this world, the power of the elements can only be harnessed once one reaches this stage. Before that, cultivators were limited to non-elemental mana.

For Valen, though, the real power lay in his Primordial Core. Without it, his progress would have been much slower—he would likely still be in the 3rd major realm.

However, every step forward in cultivation was more grueling now. The early stages of cultivation had been swift, but from the 5th major realm onward, progression was like pushing against an unyielding force.

It required patience, discipline, and precision. Nothing could be rushed.

Valen knelt in the center of the clearing, his breath steady as he drew a dagger made from starstone, its edge glinting with a faint blue light.

He extended his mana through his hand, letting it seep into the blade, the tip glowing as the energy flowed through it.

There was something almost ritualistic in his movements, the way the mana wove through the dagger's edge and into the earth.

Slowly, deliberately, he began to carve the First Circle—the innermost part of the ritual, where Aeliana would be placed.

The ancient runes etched into the earth glowed softly as his mana filled them. This was the circle that would activate the ritual, drawing in the power of the orbs and focusing it on Aeliana.

His hands moved with precision, inscribing each symbol perfectly, knowing that even the slightest error could ruin everything.

Once the First Circle was complete, Valen stood and surveyed his work before moving on to the Second Circle, surrounding the first.

This was larger and contained 500 smaller circles. These were where the Prime Essence Orbs would be placed.

Each orb had been crafted with painstaking care, using special incantations that Valen had discovered through the secrets of the stone tablet from Echoes of Eternity.

These Prime Essence Orbs would be essential to the ritual, their energy amplifying Aeliana's physique, empowering her so that her blood could fuel the stone tablet's activation.

The orbs would act as the catalyst for unlocking her hidden potential, using her special physique—the Primordial Vein Vessel. Her blood, the only substance capable of awakening the stone tablet, would set the ritual into motion.

Valen's brow furrowed as he carved the final symbols into the second circle. His movements were deliberate, his focus unbroken.

The complexity of the runes grew with each stroke, but Valen's mastery of the ritual was absolute. The stone tablet had provided all the details—the circles, the patterns, the required materials—and Valen followed them flawlessly.

Next came the Third Circle, the largest and outermost ring. This circle contained 9,500 smaller circles, each one meticulously inscribed to hold the regular Essence Orbs.

These orbs, though less potent than the Prime Essence Orbs, were still vital. They would serve as fuel, empowering Aeliana's special physique, which in turn would allow the stone tablet to absorb her blood as activation energy.

The third circle was vast, spreading across the entire clearing, its design intricate and precise.

Valen's hands moved faster now, as though the magic itself was guiding him. The earth seemed to resonate with each carved line, the symbols coming alive as his mana flowed through them.

The energy radiating from the circles was palpable, a subtle hum that echoed through the forest. With the last symbol etched, Valen stepped back, admiring the flawless structure of the ritual site.

The circles were perfect, a masterpiece of ancient magic brought to life through Valen's tireless effort.

Each and every aspect had been meticulously prepared, the incantations woven into the earth, ready for the day they would be activated.

Valen's gaze drifted over the circles, his thoughts turning to his battle arts training.

Over the past two years, his mastery of Astral Edge and Void Step had reached the peak of the Expert sub-level, allowing him to execute his moves with greater precision than ever before.

Void Cleave was now sharper, each strike more focused, capable of cutting through enemies from a distance.

His Lunar Barrage flowed effortlessly, a deadly series of rapid strikes that made him nearly unstoppable against large groups of enemies.

Yet, it was the Galactic Rend that had been the greatest challenge. The powerful downward slash created shockwaves with each strike, but it still placed immense strain on his body.

While he could use the move more easily now, he was held back by his current realm. Only when he advanced further would he be able to fully unleash its power?

For now, he was content with his progress, knowing that even at this stage, he was already far beyond what most his age could accomplish.

His Void Step, too, had improved. Though he could not traverse vast distances with it, Valen was now able to phase in and out of space within any visible range, making him untouchable to those below the middle stages of the 6th major realm.

His mastery of the technique made him a blur on the battlefield, vanishing and reappearing in the blink of an eye. Each movement was precise, calculated, and devastating.

As dusk began to fall, Valen stood in the center of the ritual site, the air thick with the energy of the circles.

He could feel the power pulsing beneath his feet, a tangible force waiting to be unleashed. Everything was in place. The Prime Essence Orbs, the Essence Orbs, the ritual itself—it was all ready.

Kael had failed to claim the First Great Opportunity in Echoes of Eternity, missing out on the unimaginable power it offered—cause of the so called love.

Valen knew that the true nature of the opportunity was still a mystery, but the stories hinted at greatness so profound that no one could comprehend its full potential.

However, Valen would not let it slip through his fingers. Whatever power lay within the stone tablet, he would claim it for himself.

Valen opened his eyes, his gaze cold and determined. The day of the ritual was approaching, and with it, the power to reshape his fate.