Absolute Cheater-Chapter 378: Massive Changes II

He had selected it not because it was the strongest, but because it was the most compatible. Designed for those with blood-related talents—like him. Like the Magnus family. Like those who carried the mark of Blood Law deep in their cores.

Even if this leaks, it won’t matter. Without Blood resonance, no one can use it. The method rejects the unworthy. It consumes the unfit. It was built to protect itself—and those chosen by blood.

Still, he knew better than to rely on bloodlocks alone. His grandfather, Arnold, would no doubt hide the technique behind layers of secrecy and formidable protections. But should the worst happen... Asher had contingencies in place. Keys, seals, and connected planes woven into the very technique. If triggered, it could collapse access or erase all traces permanently.

Arnold finally closed the thick, soul-bound book and looked at his grandson. His expression was a mix of awe and caution. "This... this is a great technique, Asher. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. Where did you get this?"

Asher leaned back slightly and folded his arms. "From a world far beyond the ones we know. A realm where people are born not with mana cores like ours, but with what they call an Astral Heart. They cultivate it from birth."

Arnold narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Astral Heart... that’s soul-based, isn’t it?"

"Yes," Asher nodded. "Normally, their kind are limited to just Astral Energy. But among them, a rare mutation sometimes occurs. A few are born with something called an Astrasoul Heart—a convergence of Astral Energy and pure soul force."

He tapped the cover of the book. "This technique was built around that anomaly. It’s not a soul art. It’s not a mana technique either. It’s a hybrid system—designed to let the cultivator wield both soul and energy together as one evolving core."

Arnold ran a hand over the book with deep respect. "Gods... to think something like this exists. No wonder you brought it back. If used properly, this could usher in a new era."

Arnold gave a satisfied nod, then walked over to a soulsteel cabinet and retrieved a much older, worn book. "Good. Because ever since your last stunt in that tower—when you figured out how to extract Sword Aura Points using only your weapon resonance—many other kinds of rewards have started appearing. That place is still unraveling its secrets."

He handed the book to Asher. "This is a compiled guide to the Infinity Tower, updated after your last visit. Since then, researchers have documented over forty new paths—each tailored to specific cultivator types. Sword aura wasn’t the only hidden reward. There are soul-forging paths, elemental trials, even illusion-based archives."

Asher flipped through a few pages, scanning the marked floors and rune diagrams.

Arnold added, "The Tower of Infinity isn’t under one faction’s control anymore. After what happened with you, and with all the discoveries, every major race and organization in Volarisa came together. It’s now jointly governed. So if you plan to re-enter... you might need formal permission."

Asher gave a small, knowing smile. "I’ll get it."

Arnold chuckled. "That’s what I thought."

"Also," Arnold added with a smirk, "you might get a surprise when you reach the Infinity Tower."

Asher raised an eyebrow. "What kind of surprise?"

Arnold shook his head with a chuckle. "You’ll know when you get there."

Then, growing more serious, he said, "I suggest you visit the city of Voasye after that. It’s no longer war-torn. Things have calmed down since the last major clash with the Sulbians. Right now, they’re talking peace. But we both know... sooner or later, war will come again."

"I’m not worried about you," Arnold said confidently. "With your power now, you can defeat almost anyone."

Asher nodded quietly, not mentioning the full extent of his strength. He didn’t need to. And even now, with his aura concealed and his cosmic law suppressed, his presence could still shake entire armies if he let it.

Then Arnold reached for something beneath the table. "Take this," he said, handing over a thick crimson-bound scroll. "It’s a Blood Ruler technique I meant to give you a long time ago. But you vanished before I had the chance."

Asher unrolled it slightly, eyes narrowing as he sensed the law engravings within. "This isn’t just a Blood Ruler technique. It was made to complement a deeper system... more like in Vampires."

Arnold nodded. "It is. Our Founder created it based on the old vampire legacies he had. This one came from a vampire noble who moved his blood like water, reshaping it mid-combat into blades, shields, even illusions. It’s an art born from experience, not just theory."

He tapped the scroll’s edge. "It’s tuned specifically for Blood Rulers. You’ll find it suits your core technique more than most of what we’ve collected."

Asher smiled faintly. "This is much better than the one you gave me before."

Arnold gave a dry laugh. "You’ve already outgrown half the legacy I prepared for you. I suppose it’s a good thing you wandered. You returned with more than I ever expected."

Asher tucked the scroll into his storage ring. "Thanks, grandfather."

Then Arnold leaned back and asked, "What are your plans next?"

Asher didn’t hesitate. "I’m heading back to the Infinity Tower. Last time, I reached Floor 200. This time, I plan to go deeper."

Arnold raised an eyebrow. "You should. The Infinity Tower remains one of the greatest relics of our galaxy. Even with cultivators reaching Floor 1378, no one’s reached the true end. Not even close."

"I won’t stop until I see what lies beyond," Asher said calmly.

"Then prepare well," Arnold replied. "And remember—Infinity doesn’t just test strength. It tests spirit, soul, and the will to keep walking through endless trials."

"The dungeons I’ve been through were far more gruesome," Asher said calmly. "Compared to those, the Infinity Tower isn’t just a trial ground for the young—it’s something far older. Something more... complex."

Arnold raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

Asher leaned slightly forward. "While passing through one of the outer worlds in another realm, I came across ruins—ancient and half-buried. Inside them, there was a record, an encoded memory fragment left behind by a fallen civilization. It spoke of an Infinity Tower... one exactly like the one we have here."

Arnold blinked. "The same structure?"

"Yes," Asher confirmed. "Same shape, same principles—Laws of Creation, Destruction, and Harmony woven into its design. But in that world, it wasn’t a training ground. It was once the heart of a powerful organization before their entire realm was destroyed in a war between primal factions."

Arnold slowly nodded, the pieces clicking together. "That would explain everything. The Infinity Tower we have... it wasn’t built by us. It was found. In a dungeon site on an uninhabited planet, buried deep beneath soul-iron ruins. After our researchers failed to crack it, it was handed over to the World Academy to be used as a cultivation trial for students."

He paused, expression tightening. "If your theory is correct—then what we call the Infinity Tower isn’t just a trial structure. It’s a remnant. A surviving piece of something vast and ancient."

"Exactly," Asher said. "It didn’t originate here. It only appeared in our world after the fall of that distant civilization."

Arnold leaned forward. "So... the Infinity Tower is actually a remnant of something far greater?"

Asher nodded. "Yes. It’s more than just a training site. It’s a source of infinite cultivation resources—a structure designed to evolve with its challengers. And that’s exactly why it became the center of a war that destroyed the organization which once protected it."

He paused. "If the Sulbian Empire ever learns the true nature of the Infinity Tower... they’ll come for it. Not with politics. Not with spies. But with armies."

Arnold’s expression darkened. "Then you must not tell anyone what it truly is. Let the world believe it’s just an ancient trial ground. Let the Sulbians think we’ve yet to uncover its secrets."

He tapped the soulwood table firmly. "At least until we’ve taught this soul-mana hybrid method to our people. Until the new generation rises with strength that can counter or surpass even the Sulbian soul cultivators."

Asher met his gaze and nodded. "Agreed. For now... it stays between us."

Arnold exhaled slowly. "Good. When the time comes, let them learn the truth too late—when we no longer have to fear them."

Arnold leaned back in his chair, the weight of their conversation slowly settling. He glanced at Asher for a long moment, then spoke, his voice lower and steadier than before.

"There’s one more thing," he said. "You should speak to your mother."

Asher didn’t respond immediately.

Arnold continued, "I know it’s not easy. That foolish daughter of mine... she’s not the kind of woman who speaks from the heart. Not often. But she’s carried her own pain too. After your birth, after losing so much—she saw only one path. And yes... she turned you into a weapon. A tool for revenge."

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