Alex stepped into his room and quietly shut the door behind him after finishing his discussion with Merlin. The air inside felt still, almost expectant, as if the space itself was aware that something significant was about to take place. He walked toward the center of the room and paused for a moment, recalling everything Merlin had told him.

Merlin himself had practiced a somewhat similar technique. However, that technique had only contained eight layers, and even with his vast experience and talent, Merlin had only managed to reach the seventh layer. That alone spoke volumes about the difficulty of such cultivation methods. Before this, Merlin had even considered passing that technique on to Alex if he had formally taken him as a disciple. Yet now, things had changed. The technique Alex possessed was clearly far superior.

Although it consisted of only nine levels, each individual level carried a depth that far exceeded Merlin’s version. It was not simply an incremental improvement. It felt like an entirely different order of existence.

Alex slowly exhaled and sat down in a cross-legged position. He closed his eyes and allowed his breathing to stabilize. His thoughts began to settle, one by one, until his mind reached a state of quiet focus.

The first layer of the technique was centered around shaping the soul into its true form. According to the information he had received, every individual possessed a different soul structure. There was no universal template. Each soul reflected the nature, origin, and potential of its owner.

The subsequent layers were designed to refine and elevate that soul further. By the time one reached the eighth level, the soul would reach what the technique described as a supreme state. At that level, the soul could exist independently, even without the physical body. It was a concept that felt both fascinating and unsettling.

Alex did not linger on those thoughts for too long. He directed his focus inward and began to circulate his energy. Slowly, he guided that energy into his sea of consciousness.

Inside that inner space, his martial soul, the angel, sat calmly in a cross-legged position, its eyes closed as if it were in deep meditation.

As soon as the special energy entered that space, the angel opened its eyes.

What happened next was not what Alex had expected.

Instead of forming a separate soul structure as described in the technique, the martial soul itself began absorbing the incoming energy. It did not hesitate or resist. It simply accepted the energy as if it had been waiting for this moment.

A notification appeared in his mind.

[Ding! Martial soul is being merged with the soul core.]

[Ding! The soul is at a critical point of evolution. Please do not stop until this process is complete.]

Alex frowned slightly, confused by the sudden development. This was not how the technique had been described. However, he did not dare interrupt the process. Instinctively, he understood that stopping now could lead to irreversible consequences.

He continued channeling energy, maintaining his focus despite the uncertainty.

As he immersed himself deeper into the process, something extraordinary began to happen outside his perception.

A faint, transparent figure of the angel appeared behind his physical body. It mirrored his posture, sitting cross-legged in the air with an expression of calm authority. The presence was subtle at first, almost imperceptible.

At the same time, the energy within his soul space began to change. It was no longer purely ethereal. It started to darken slightly, gaining density, as if it were transitioning from an abstract existence into something more tangible.

Then, without warning, the energy flow intensified.

Alex’s body began absorbing surrounding energy at an alarming rate. What started as a steady stream quickly turned into a powerful vortex. The energy in the environment, which was already thousands of times denser than that of the outside world, rushed toward him with increasing speed.

The area from which he was drawing energy did not remain confined. It expanded outward, growing wider with each passing moment.

Outside the room, Merlin stood quietly, waiting.

At first, he sensed a subtle disturbance. His expression shifted slightly as he focused on the anomaly.

"What is that boy doing?" Merlin murmured to himself. "Is he cultivating, or is he attempting to comprehend the technique directly? Either way, this absorption rate is highly unusual."

He continued observing, but what he saw next caused his calm demeanor to falter.

The absorption speed did not stabilize. Instead, it increased further.

Far away in the garden, Alexander, who had been sitting leisurely, suddenly felt the shift as well. His gaze sharpened as he turned toward Alex’s room.

"What is this?" he muttered under his breath.

By this point, the affected area had expanded far enough to reach the garden. The surrounding energy was being drawn toward a single point with overwhelming force.

Alexander stood up slowly, his eyes narrowing with interest.

"His absorption speed has already surpassed that of a galactic realm cultivator," he said, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief.

From his perspective, he could see Alex floating in the air inside the room, seated in a lotus position. Streams of energy were flowing directly into his sea of consciousness.

However, he could not see the angelic martial soul behind him.

"He has already comprehended the first layer?" Alexander wondered aloud. "Those old fools claimed it would take at least a year, even for a supreme genius. Were they exaggerating, or is this boy simply beyond conventional understanding?"

His curiosity deepened, but he chose not to interfere.

Meanwhile, the disturbance continued to spread.

Even individuals in the lower realms, including Aurora, began to sense the abnormality. The energy in the surroundings was behaving erratically, rushing toward Alex’s residence like a gathering storm.

Aurora quickly made her way to Alexander, her expression filled with confusion.

"Grandpa, what is going on?" she asked. "What is that shameless boy doing now?"

Alexander glanced at her and smiled faintly.

"We will find out soon enough," he replied. "Instead of worrying about him, why do you not focus on your own cultivation? Are you not feeling even slightly competitive after being defeated so thoroughly by him? The great demoness doesn’t feel anything?"

Aurora’s face flushed with embarrassment.

"Grandpa, do not call me that," she said, pouting slightly.

"Well, it is the name everyone uses for you at the academy," Alexander responded calmly.

Aurora huffed but did not argue further. After a brief pause, she asked another question.

"By the way, will you send him to the academy as well? The Grand Martial Tournament is only three months away. He will need a team if he wants to participate."

Alexander considered her words.

"I had that intention," he admitted. "However, I will let him decide for himself. There is no need to force such matters."

Time passed.

Three full days went by without interruption.

Inside the room, Alex remained completely absorbed in his cultivation.

Then, finally, the process reached its conclusion.

[Ding! You have reached level 51.]

[Ding! The martial soul technique has reached the first level.]

The notifications echoed in his mind, pulling his consciousness back to reality.

Alex slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he did was glance behind him.

The angel was still there.

However, it was no longer transparent. Its form had become semi-solid, radiating a subtle but undeniable presence.

"So, you are my soul core now," Alex murmured quietly.

Another notification appeared.

[Ding! The martial soul has reached planetary level in terms of personal strength. You have received certain memories. Would you like to accept them?]

Alex frowned slightly.

"Personal strength?" he asked. "What does that mean?"

The system responded immediately.

[Ding! The martial soul can engage in combat independently if the host is unconscious or grants permission. During such instances, it utilizes its personal strength.]

Alex nodded slowly.

"I see. And what about the memories?"

[Ding! Memory integration in progress.]

Before he could react further, his consciousness was abruptly pulled inward.

A vast scene unfolded before him.

He found himself standing in an enormous battle field that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Countless angels stood in perfect formation, their presence exuding overwhelming power and order.

At the center stood their king.

It was the same angel, his martial soul. The one with fifty-four pairs of wings. Its appearance was majestic, almost beyond comprehension.

Facing them was another army.

This group was entirely different.

Their forms were shrouded in darkness, their existence radiating an oppressive aura that contrasted sharply with the brilliance of the angels.

At their forefront stood a figure that appeared to be their leader.

Alex could not clearly discern its features. All he could perceive was that it embodied pure darkness.

The angelic king spoke, its voice calm yet authoritative.

"Chaos Clan, are you certain you wish to proceed with this battle? Your chances of victory are negligible."

A response came from the opposing side.

"We will determine that ourselves. You have ruled the Genesis Realm long enough. It is time for change."

The moment the words faded, the entire scene collapsed.

Alex was pulled back into his body.

He was drenched in sweat, his breathing uneven.

"If that angel was capable of holding an entire reality in its hand and was still engaged in such a battle," he muttered, "then what scale of conflict was that?"

He paused, his thoughts racing.

"And the Chaos Clan... could it be related to the same clan that took Anna?"

The questions lingered without answers.

However, he could clearly feel the changes within himself.

Previously, his soul had reached the planetary level, but it had been unstable and scattered. There had always been a faint sense of burden.

Now, that burden was completely gone.

His soul felt unified, solid, and entirely under his control.

He stood up and walked toward the door.

As soon as he stepped outside, Aurora appeared in front of him.

She crossed her arms and stared at him suspiciously.

"You bad man," she said. "What shady things were you doing inside that room? You look very suspicious."

Alex smiled casually and reached out to pat her head.

"Do you want your uncle to tell you a story?" he asked. "If you do, bring me some good food first."

Aurora stomped her foot in frustration.

"You are shameless," she muttered before turning and walking away.

A light laugh echoed nearby.

"Haha, do not tease her too much," Merlin said as he appeared.

Alex shrugged slightly.

"Supremacy has asked for you," Merlin added, his tone returning to seriousness.

Alex’s expression shifted subtly.

"I see," he replied.