Chapter 7

Aeron arrived at the Combat Pavilion.

Elder Tesra, the Fourth Elder on duty, looked surprised. "Young Lord? What brings you here?"

"I was wandering around and happened to pass by, so I came in to take a look," Aeron said casually.

He came up with the excuse on the spot. If he told the truth, Elder Tesra might worry and refuse to let him in.

"The Grand Tournament of Ten Orders will be held the day after tomorrow. Acolytes from every order will gather near Rovern City. You shouldn't go out tomorrow. Wait until the day after and observe the tournament with us," Elder Tesra advised.

He worried that Aeron might sneak out alone again. If someone with ill intent targeted him, the consequences would be serious.

Earlier, when Aeron went missing, the entire order had been thrown into alarm. If Aeron had not returned when he did, they might have mobilized everyone to search Rovern City.

For now, Elder Tesra only hoped Aeron would remain within the order until the Grand Tournament of Ten Orders ended.

"Don't worry, Elder Tesra. I won't leave the order before the Grand Tournament begins," Aeron assured him.

Elder Tesra relaxed. "Good."

"Elder Tesra, I'm bored. I want to look at some combat techniques," Aeron said.

"If you wish to read them, go ahead, Young Lord," Elder Tesra replied. "But do not practice them in secret. Combat techniques carry tremendous power. Your power level cannot support them yet. They could damage your energy channels."

After the reminder, Elder Tesra allowed Aeron to enter.

The pavilion had two floors. The first floor was open to acolytes, while the second was reserved for elders.

Aeron faced no such restriction. He walked straight to the second level, where only 32 Mystic combat techniques were stored.

Combat techniques were divided into six grades: Mortal, Mystic, Terra, Celestial, Saint, and Divine.

Mortal ranked lowest, while Divine stood at the pinnacle. Even Mystic techniques held great value among the ten orders of Rovern City. They were rarely taught to ordinary acolytes. Only those who had made significant contributions or displayed exceptional potential could obtain them.

Aeron surveyed the techniques arranged throughout the room and frowned. The selection was extensive, yet he had no idea which one suited him best.

"Choose Stormstep and Tyrant Slash. Ignore the rest. They are all trashy," the silver-haired woman said.

Aeron's mouth twitched. "Trashy…"

Given her mysterious nature and the way she treated stars and the moon as clothing, Mystic techniques likely meant nothing to her.

He picked up the scrolls for Stormstep and Tyrant Slash.

"These two must be quite powerful then?" Aeron asked quickly. If she recommended them, they should not be weak.

"They are also trashy," the silver-haired woman replied calmly. "Just slightly better pieces of trash than the others."

Aeron let out a helpless smile. He had thought he had found hidden treasures. Instead, they were merely the tallest among a group of short men.

"Even with the All-Devouring Vein, you are still far from strong," the silver-haired woman continued coldly. "You must first learn how to survive. Stormstep does not possess much offensive power, but it can greatly increase your speed. In critical moments, it might save your life."

"I see." Aeron nodded. "What about Tyrant Slash?"

"It is the strongest attack among the techniques here. Once unleashed, its power is fierce and overwhelming.

"But it has a flaw. It places enormous strain on the energy channels. If they are not resilient enough, repeated use can damage them or even cause them to rupture.

"However, you possess the All-Devouring Vein. That problem does not apply to you."

Only then did Aeron understand her choice. One technique enhanced movement, the other focused on attack. Together, they complemented each other perfectly.

"Learning two techniques at once will likely take time," Aeron said as he looked at the scrolls. He wondered which one to begin with.

"It will not take long," the silver-haired woman replied. "A moment will be enough."

"A moment?" Aeron frowned.

"Just start with one," she said. "You will understand."

Aeron opened the Stormstep manual. He had flipped through it once before out of boredom. At the time, the complex diagrams of spirit energy circulation had given him a headache.

Now, when he looked at it again, he froze. It was not difficult. In fact, it felt incredibly simple. The moment he glanced at it, he understood everything.

Not only that, but the entire circulation diagram also imprinted itself clearly in his mind.

Aeron was stunned. 'How could this be?'

He began circulating his spirit energy according to the diagram, and Stormstep activated. A gust of wind formed beneath his feet. In a flash, he crossed ten feet.

He had mastered it at a glance, in a single attempt. The technique was complete.

This was a Mystic technique! Aeron had once seen a senior acolyte practice one. It had taken that acolyte three full years to master it, and he had been the most talented among them.

"Continue," the silver-haired woman said.

Aeron nodded and continued practicing. By the second attempt, his movements felt smoother. His spirit energy consumption had already dropped noticeably.

After several repetitions, his speed increased further.

Then a sudden moment of insight struck him. With a single step, he crossed 100 feet as a visible current of wind wrapped around his body.

At that instant, Aeron sensed that Stormstep had undergone a tremendous transformation.

"What happened?"

"The Stormstep you practiced progressed from beginner to minor mastery, then to major mastery. Now it has surpassed major mastery and reached Apex Mastery.

"The Stormstep you now possess is comparable to a quasi-Terra technique."

Aeron was stunned. "Apex Mastery, quasi-Terra grade..."

Apex Mastery represented the ultimate limit of a combat technique. Normally, reaching major mastery meant the technique had achieved its full potential.

But that was not the absolute peak. Beyond major mastery lay Apex Mastery. At that level, a technique's power could exceed its original limits by more than double. Even reaching major mastery was extremely difficult, let alone Apex Mastery.

Aeron knew he had never possessed such ability before. This had to be the power of the All-Devouring Vein.

Yet leaping from minor mastery directly to Apex Mastery showed just how monstrous that divine vein was.

"The All-Devouring Vein you possess is the strongest energy channel in existence," the silver-haired woman said. "Forget Mystic techniques. Even Saint or Divine techniques can be mastered quickly."

Aeron's breathing quickened. "Divine techniques too?"

"Of course."

Excitement surged through him. If he could obtain a Divine technique, he would be able to unleash its terrifying power at once.

Divine techniques were rare, but that did not matter. He could search for them over time.

"You once mentioned that the All-Devouring Vein is only one part of the Supreme Divine Body. What are the other parts?" Aeron asked.

"Knowing now would serve no purpose," the silver-haired woman said. "Your realm is still too low to restore the power of the Primordial Hall of Sealed Gods. When you reach the required level, the hall will regain its strength and rebuild the remaining parts. As for the rest, do not ask. I will not answer."

Seeing that she had no intention of explaining further, Aeron stopped pressing. He turned his attention to the second technique.

Then he began practicing Tyrant Slash.