Chapter 37: Aether's Curiosity

There are two methods to become a True God. The first is through the comprehension and cultivation of laws. When you master six fundamental laws and three higher laws, your destiny will undergo a transformation, allowing you to ascend to True Godhood.

Higher laws? What kind of laws are considered higher laws? Yun Fan asked, listening to the Void Archives' explanation.

Higher laws include: Life, Time, Space, Destruction, Causality... With each word the Void Archives spoke, Yun Fan's expression darkened. These were no simple concepts.

What about the second method? Yun Fan felt that the first method was too time-consuming. Becoming a True God through mastering laws would take forever.

The second method involves splitting the soul, dividing it into the Primordial Spirit, the Yin Spirit, and the Yang Spirit. When the three spirits reach a level where they can independently break through dimensional barriers, they can merge and attempt to ascend to True Godhood.

Yun Fan understood now. The first method, cultivating laws, was more aligned with Western systems, while the second method, merging the three spirits, was more Eastern.

I'll go with the second method. What do I need to do? Yun Fan thought for a moment and decided the second method suited him better. If he guessed correctly, Paimon was likely one of the three spirits, though he wasn't sure which one.

I do not recommend splitting your soul at this time. Your current strength is still insufficient. Aside from the risks involved in soul-splitting, even if you succeed with the help of the Primordial Laws, each spirit will only possess one-third of your full power. I suggest you grow stronger first.

After hearing the Void Archives' advice, Yun Fan didn't insist. He knew his limits. Even at his full strength, he could only fight Zhongli to a draw. If his power were reduced to one-third, he'd be at a severe disadvantage.

Was it because the Jing Yuan character card wasn't strong enough? No, the weakness lay in Yun Fan himself. He hadn't fully integrated Jing Yuan's power and couldn't unleash its full potential. It felt like he was missing some kind of catalyst.

Boom!

A sonic boom echoed, and a gust of wind swept through, tousling Yun Fan's silver hair and pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Hmm?" Yun Fan frowned slightly and looked up. The previously impenetrable wind barrier now had a gap the size of a Ruin Guard. Venti had stopped playing his lyre, indicating success. The sound and wind were likely the aftermath of breaking the barrier.

"That's our destination, the ruins of Stormterror's Lair," Venti pointed to a distant tower faintly visible through the mist.

Everyone followed Venti's gaze and saw the towering Stormterror's Lair piercing through the clouds. Though time had eroded its former glory, its majesty and grandeur remained undiminished from afar.

"Are we... going to climb that?" Paimon gulped, unsure. The tower was so far away and so tall. Climbing it would be exhausting.

"How does Dvalin even get home? With the wind barrier and this tower, doesn't he get tired?" Paimon complained.

"He doesn't run. He flies," Venti replied with a smile.

"Oh, I guess that makes sense."

"Your Highness, the Anemo Archon and his followers have arrived at Stormterror's Lair. Among them is... your sibling," an Abyss Mage bowed and reported to the prince.

"Lumine?" The golden-haired prince's expression shifted noticeably upon hearing the report.

'Aether, you'd look great in this dress.'

'Aether, when will we have a stable home?'

'Aether, let's find a new home together. As long as I'm with you, I'll...'

Aether recalled the memories of traveling through various worlds with Lumine, his heart aching with pain and bitterness. Due to the interference of the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, he had been forcibly separated from his sister and trapped here. Now, his sister had finally awakened.

'Lumine, wait for me. Once the Abyss submerges the throne, I will take you to find a true home where we can live together.'

"Your Highness," the Abyss Mage who had reported earlier seemed to have more to say.

"What else?" Aether composed himself and asked calmly.

"Aside from your sibling, we've noticed an unusual individual in the Anemo Archon's group."

The Abyss Mage's words piqued Aether's interest.

"An unusual individual? Tell me more. What makes him different?"

"Yes, Your Highness," the Abyss Mage complied and began to explain.

"We first noticed him during Stormterror's attack on Mondstadt. He was the one who repelled Stormterror," the Abyss Mage glanced at Aether, who remained expressionless, and continued.

"He used a power I've never seen before, even purer and more corrosive than the Abyss."

"More corrosive than the Abyss?" Aether's eyes narrowed in surprise. In all the worlds they had traveled, powers more potent and corrosive than the Abyss were exceedingly rare.

"Yes. According to our investigation, this person appeared in Mondstadt a year ago, claiming to be a merchant from Liyue. We haven't had time to gather more information."

"Interesting. Take me to see him."

"Whew, we finally made it up. Paimon is exhausted," Paimon lay on the ground, panting. She didn't want to move at all, just rest on the ground.

"You were flying the whole time. How are you tired?" Lumine teased. They were the ones who had done all the climbing. If it weren't for their elemental abilities and enhanced physical strength, they would have collapsed long ago.

"I was using phantom limbs. Phantom limbs get tired too," Paimon sat up and looked around. They seemed to be at the top, but how were they supposed to enter Dvalin's lair?

"Come look at this," Venti called out to the group.

Diluc was the first to approach. Seeing what Venti had found, he stroked his chin.

"Is this... a Light Guide Mechanism? I think I've seen something like this in ancient texts. Let me see if I can restore it," Diluc said, starting to work on the mechanism.

Soon, the Light Guide Mechanism was restored. With the sound of gears turning, a seal at the top of Stormterror's Lair shattered.

"It worked. Let me see," Venti stood at the highest point, overlooking the entire Stormterror's Lair.

"There are three more seals. They're located in three different parts of the lair."