A villainous laughter left Alaric's lips. It could not be any less obvious that he had the answer. Mental Energy was derived from the Soul energy. What was it that happened when the Soul was locked?
One could imagine a world without array and alchemy and other branches. How would they survive at all. This was a fatal flaw that would strike the universe. But the universe was willing to compensate for it was involved and it had to be fair.
The universe's form of compensation was by allowing a new form of energy to take over but the energy was different. Since everybody was born with the Soul, it was impossible for the universe to birth a new power.
But what happened next was that a new energy was derived from the Soul. This energy was not the Soul but it was to function as a replacement. This was how these branches were able to survive all this time.
Still, there was a flaw and that was that Mental Energy was easily depleted and needed rest to refresh it again. This meant that it's use was limited. There were ways to improve Mental Energy but they were slow and without reaching a certain capacity, it was impossible to improve ones comprehension in their brances such as arrays.
But what was it that had happened when Alaric unlocked his Soul? Did it replace Mental Energy? Of course not entirely. Though he was able to use the Soul to form arrays and he could use it for Alchemy if he wished, it was different.
Mental Energy was derived from the Soul and the split mind technique was specially designed for use with Mental Energy. This meant that the Soul was useless in this case.
But the number of ways he could split his mind increased when Alaric unlocked his soul and even rose after he improved his Soul. It was not that his Soul had taken over but the surplus energy was used to strengthen his Mental Energy!
The action was unconscious but Alaric was able to pinpoint the exact time his Mental Energy was increased. And it so appeared that it had the greatest boon when his soul was unlocked and even greater after his soul became stronger.
Now he had an answer of how to strengthen the Split Mind Technique. He was not supposed to substitute the Mental Energy with the Soul. Instead, he had to strengthen and replenish his Mental Energy with his Soul power every time he was using the technique.
He could just assign a mind to do this task on his behalf and he would be able to split his mind more times. He did not have to worry about his Soul power for there was almost no way he could deplete the reserves of the Supreme Plane!
Alaric chuckled. He had just realized that he could split his mind 32 times and not 16 times. He did not hesitate as he split his mind 32 ways. He did not forget to assign a mind to replenish the Mental Energy with Soul power. Then he got to work and observe the changes that happened.
***
He scanned his body and the first part he scanned was his Origin Source. It used to be his Bloodline but it had paved way for the Origin Source that was formed. This was where the chains were and also inside the chains he found a mesmerizing scene.
He did not miss the two profound motes of lights on the chains on his bloodline. He was tempted to probe them again but when he did, he felt his Mental Energy get sapped completely almost breaking the technique.
Had he not had counter measures, he would probably have fallen unconcious. A cold sweat matter his forehead as he evaded them. He looked into the chains and his look turned to a frown.
The last time he checked was when his Bloodline was getting separated into two. One silver like and the other had been light yellow. This was back when he awakened the weakest Wind at the Sixth Grade.
At that moment, it had caused the two to float in what appeared to be a dark region with the only light coming from the two. Now that he looked at it, it was completely different.
He could also tell that the chains on his Bloodline had released another 5%! This could be said little but that would be foolish. Alaric was an immortal and if he were to have his Bloodline released, he would ascend.
But that was no longer the case though. Had been brought up in the Immortal Realm, it would be okay as his body and energy would grow at the same pace. But this time was different. He was now starting to cultivate and if he were recklessly release his Bloodline, he would explode in a bloody mist!
Also, it appeared that the Origin Source was getting larger. I appeared that there was a ten meters radius sealed by the chains. Inside was complete darkness. But in every darkness was a light.
For Alaric, it appeared to be four. There were four orbs of different colours floating around. He knew what they represented. According to brightness, it would show the grade of his element. Well, as for the four orbs, none seemed to lose to another in terms of brightness.
These were all First Grade elements. His first Element to awaken at first stage was Lightning which was silver. The more the lightning evolved, it would also gain a new colour on it.
The silver obviously represented the silver lightning he could produced. If he awakened another lightning branch, he would be able to have the lightning orb multi colored.
Next to the silver orb was the yellow orb. It was bright and did not lose in any way from the silver despite the fact it was the weakest before and the dullest was impossible to believe. Alaric was proud for having his wind element finally reach the First Grade too.
It was subtle but what he observed shocked him. The yellow orb appeared that it was getting brighter. It was minuscle and he would have missed it had he not had several minds observing it.
It appeared that it was going to be brighter soon and Alaric was filled with anticipation. Was it possible there was a grade above the first grade? He was shocked by this discovery that he trembled.
What grade was it going to be? Was it even going to remain yellow? He could only bid his time and wait to see what changes were going to happen.
He moved his focus from it but so that he would not forget, he decided leave a mind to monitor the situation of the wind element orb. He then moved to an orange orb.
He was surprised by what the orb represented. He did not have the system to do the work for him. He did not even know which element was represented by orange colour.
It also did not lose out in brightness which was proof it was also in the First Grade.He decided to probe it with his mind so that he could discern what it entailed.
He probed its surface but when his senses were about to reach it, it appeared that they never reached it. It was more than that. It appeared like he was stopped and stuck that he never moved from the moment which his senses almost reached it.
He pulled his senses but something was off about the speed. It was almost like he had been forced ahead of time to withdraw o. He could not grasp his mind around the concept but that was enough to inform him that that was the Time element!
This felt unreal. Like a dream. Time element at First Grade? People would curse at the heavens for being blind. But Alaric shock turned to a grin. Who would believe if he said he had Time element? No one! What if he said he had it at first grade? They would just beat him so he would shut up.
Knowing he had a Time element, he was drawn to the last orb. It appeared dark but it was grey reflecting less light. But its intensity and the almsot bright white at its center was proof of how much it did not lose to the rest.
Alaric sent his senses to probe it. What shocked him most was when his senses felt as though they had just gone past it and not even felt it? He drew his senses again and again but it all ended in the same way.
It was almost as though it was non existent. Had it not been for the fact that he was able know naturally that it was there, he would have assumed that it was an illusion. But he already had an answer to what it was.
It was the Space element! First Grade at that. Cursing at the heavens was going to be n6o enough and some would even feel that the heavens were biased. Others were struggling at the Sixth Grade with a single element yet Alaric was currently wielding four all at the First Grade!
If that was not bias, then how else could it be classified?