CRACK!!

Finally, a huge vertical crack ripped through the center of the mirror. Emperal watched all of this with an intense look.

SHATTER!

In the next second, the mirror shattered! Turning back into a gigantic vortex, seeing this, Emperal was stunned.

Before he could take a step forward, from the center of the vortex, an invisible, intangible but transcendent energy leaked and flew straight towards Emperal.

Surrounding him, it seeped inside his pores, muscles, bones, Spirit Root...everything. He was being filled—literally.

"Is this...Soul Energy?"

Emperal couldn’t help but question as he barely contained a moan, the process was pleasurable, way too pleasurable.

It seemed to be directly tickling his soul.

This continued for another hour before he could no longer absorb it. Looking at the vortex, Emperal smirked and stepped forward.

"We will meet again, whatever this white space is."

Saying that, he stepped into the vortex.

...

A few minutes earlier.

Vara looked at Emperal with a concerned look, her eyes hardened as she stared at the Mirror.

"This Mirror better not play any tricks on my Emperal, or else I have to forcibly enter the So—!!!"

Just as she was about to finish her words, the mirror in question suddenly vanished!

"WHAT!?"

Vara was horrified when she saw this. No, she wasn’t concerned because of the mirror, but...Emperal!

She hurriedly looked down and sighed in relief when she felt his breathing. She raised her finger, and on the tip, a warm glow was ignited.

She pressed her finger lightly on his forehead, and his earlier fatigue and injuries rapidly healed. But then...she halted.

"This...his Spirit Root"

She sighed when she saw that and ignored the thing floating above it.

"His veins are so robust and well-constructed, his control is monstrous. Still now, I don’t understand how this man was born with such a low-level Spirit."

She sighed and shook her head. Thinking about the past was useless.

But, she still didn’t understand what caused the disappearance of the mirror. Even with all the knowledge she possessed.

Before she could think about anything further, Emperal’s body suddenly jolted in her arms!

COUGH!!!

Emperal coughed a mouthful of blood, his mind felt like spinning as another massive wave of nausea hit him.

Fortunately, a warm glow spread through his entire body. Erasing all and every negative side effect. Such as nausea, headache, and a burning feeling in his mind.

Emperal’s eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was...Vara’s face.

"For how long was I out?"

He clutched his head and slowly tried to sit up, which he successfully did. But suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

"Yes, look inside your body."

The Infernal Dragon’s voice echoed, and Emperal swore he detected a hint of excitement in his voice.

Closing his eyes, he focused on his body. The moment he did, he was...speechless.

There was...an independent space created in his mind. It wasn’t large, just a few miles. Five, to be specific.

"This...what is this?"

Here, there was nothing. It was the same whiteness he had seen earlier inside the mirror.

"This is called Soul Space. It is the most advanced and complex level of powers to ever be mastered by the Creatures of Verth."

The Infernal Dragon’s voice once again echoed, breaking his stunned silence.

"Soul Space? What does it even do?"

"This here...is an entirely different power system you are getting access to. This time, I won’t say you were lucky; you have genuinely earned it. Because there’s no way luck can ever intervene in the matters of souls."

The Infernal Dragon spoke; its words, though, finally made sense to Emperal.

"W-Wait!? Does this mean—!?"

"Yes, rejoice. You can no longer worry about the Spirit Root for the time being. This cultivation system is entirely independent of Spirit Root’s interference."

"Haah...Haaaahhh..hah"

Emperal took deep breaths to calm his thumping heart. This...this was totally out of his calculations.

Heck, he didn’t even know such things existed. But then, a doubt arose in him.

"If this is what you said, why didn’t everyone embark on Soul Cultivation?"

"Hmph! Do you think the path of Soul Cultivation is meant for everyone? Hardly ten percent of the population can barely enter this. And, Emperal. There are far more things you have yet to see; do not assume Verandis is the sky."

Emperal nodded, he didn’t dare let the emotions take hold of him. Looking up, he saw the Consciousness Mirror still hovering in the sky without care in the world.

Observing closely, he saw there was a small, tiny crack in the corner of the Mirror...from which the Soul Energy was leaking,

Emperal’s expression changed when he saw this; thousands upon thousands of possibilities flashed in his mind. But before he could delve into those thoughts, the Infernal Dragon’s voice echoed in his mind,

"Do not think about those useless things at this moment, focus on your soul and unlock all my abilities. Aside from those, there is the five-item collection journey. Avoid doing unnecessary stuff."

Emperal nodded, "I understand, thank you for the information and insights. I really don’t know how I would have fared without your support." Emperal spoke honestly; after all, it was the truth.

"..."

The Infernal Dragon didn’t reply, much to Emperal’s disappointment. But he shook his head and shrugged. There were far more important things to handle.

He was incredibly excited to continue and embark on this road, but Vara was waiting for him outside. And he had to settle a few things first.

Without hesitation, he vanished. Leaving the Soul Space.

Just as he vanished, a massive shadow fell upon the soul space. It was a claw, a gigantic claw. Even its shadow was not enough to cover the space.

"That boy is surely something else. This accursed piece of Mirror itself has chosen him, just...how long has it been since something like this has happened?"

The shadow slowly retreated and finally vanished in a haze. Leaving behind just a few words.

"Ah, how I wish my fourth sister were here. She would be incredibly excited to see a Dragon get access to !@#$@%&^."

And the voice vanished, like it never existed.