Chapter 1446: Rise of Netherborne

Arthur was tired of training.

He spent a millennium training with Ragnar to control his wrath.

At the moment, he learned to do that better than anything else. He no longer lost control — no longer allowed it to control him. But ever since then, he felt like all he did was train.

Master Guffaw was right. They needed to train for the upcoming challenges, but the three days felt like an eternity for Arthur. He was itching for a fight — for the feeling of power that overwhelmed him whenever he released his spiritual energy.

The issue is that every time he released the spiritual energy, it consumed him, almost turning him into energy himself. It crossed the boundaries of his soul and welded Arthur into the world.

Lusica and the others trained in a different path — one that promoted the growth of their souls. Arthur had to train to keep his soul against the overflowing spring in his soul that brought spiritual energy from an unknown source.

It was his biggest mystery.

He was called many things — Outsider, Creator, Seika, Lorius, and eventually the King of Wrath.

None of them explained why he had this amount of spiritual energy.

No one could explain it.

Arthur asked Guffaw that question.

"Spiritual energy is an internal energy," the master said. "It doesn't come from elsewhere. Yours is not coming from an unknown source, but from within."

"I can feel it," Arthur corrected him. "It's like a hole inside me, spewing out more spiritual energy unless I hold it back."

"You are describing a seal," Guffaw said. "It can feel like an external source of energy, but it is not. If you would like, I can perform a ritual to uncover that seal and examine it."

"I'm not sure about exposing my soul like that."

"I cannot access your soul or interfere with it," Guffaw said. "But I can let you see it for what it is — naked, bare, and vulnerable."

"That doesn't sound pleasant."

"Because it's not," Guffaw said. "Unless someone is inflicted with a spiritual parasite, they better avoid exposing themselves like that. The mind and soul are two different things. What you believe to be yourself might not be the shape of your soul."

"Did someone do it before me?"

"Many," Guffaw said. "But most of them chose to abandon their cultivation of the soul afterwards. They couldn't accept what the world has shaped them as — and they lost the ambition to change that."

Arthur was silent, staring at his friends each pushing themselves to the limits. "I don't want to do it now," he said. "Maybe when we meet again in the upper layers."

"That's for the best," Guffaw said. "Your training is simple. You need to sit inside this pond, but make sure it doesn't overflow. The more spiritual energy you leak, the more water will come out. Try it."

Arthur looked at the pond, which had a circular rock in the middle. He jumped and landed on the rock before sitting down. The moment he did, the water began overflowing, gushing out of the pond.

"Control your spiritual energy," Guffaw said. "Make sure that the water doesn't rise higher than the rims."

Arthur nodded and took a deep breath. He controlled his energy, and the water began receding. It flowed in unison with his breathing, twisting like a typhoon.

Once the water was under control, Arthur opened his eyes again. Master Guffaw nodded in approval. "You have to maintain the same level water for three days. That's all we can achieve in this short period of time."

Arthur sighed. "That sounds like it would be a boring three days."

The water level rose, and he had to focus again.

"Believe me, Seeker," Master Guffaw said with a grin. "Once you enter the Sovereign Path, you will miss these boring days."

"I think a part of the training should be about what we're going to face there," Arthur said with intrigue. "How about you explain what the Sovereign Path is?"

"I can tell you stories, but never the truth about what you'll face. Each person faces a different challenge, and it shapes them differently. However, one thing is for certain and I can advise you about."

"And that is?"

"The Sovereign Path does not test whether you are good or bad," Guffaw said with a dark expression. "Some of the most villainous people in history conquered their paths, but the powers they obtained only made them tyrants."

"Then, what does it test?"

"Whether you are capable of becoming a sovereign or not," Master Guffaw said. "It doesn't matter what kind of ambitions you pursue, but you must prove yourself worthy of achieving them."

"How do I prove that?" Arthur asked, and the water began overflowing.

"I don't know," Master Guffaw said. "For me, it was to maintain order, hence my realm. For the Spirits Sovereign, it was to connect worlds. For you… it could be anything."

"That's barely advice," Arthur said as he tried to calm down, but the water didn't stop overflowing. "You are just telling me to prove myself without any hint of the criteria."

"I'm telling you that the Path changes you," Master Guffaw said. "And it has no time or place — expect to meet people you never thought you would meet."

"People I know?"

"Possibly even yourself, but from a different realm," Master Guffaw said. "This is your final test, Arthur. Conquer the path and you will have a real chance to bring down the gods and find what they are hiding."

Arthur remained silent and nodded. Then, he closed his eyes and began taking this training more seriously. Master Guffaw looked at him with approval before raising his head toward the sky.

"Let's just hope that this is the right time for you to ascend the path," he whispered. "The entire universe has been waiting for this moment — the Rise of Netherborne."

Arthur heard the words, but did not respond. He found himself sinking until he reached a familiar place — his inner consciousness. What had been once a clash of titans and lightning was now a serene landscape.

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