The next day Alrin was standing before a specific building known as the soul pavilion after Lilith confirmed his speculation about the soul being his problem.
To help disciple's cultivation had constructed individual buildings of each of the 9 elements. The very buildings themselves were formation to allow only the energy of a single type of element. This made them dangerous because the elemental energy was allowed to flow naturally which depending on the element could result in serious injuries or even death.
While all the other elements had multiple buildings across the sect for disciples to cultivate in and gain a deeper understanding of them this soul pavilion was the only one in the sect. This was due to the fact it was almost always the last element a disciple would cultivate for immortality and thus most disciples would actually not need it as most did not have the talent to get that far. Because of that it was by far the least used elemental building in the sect.
Entering the pavilion Alrin was not greeted by an outer disciple or even an inner disciple it was in fact an immortal elder of the sect unlike most other buildings. This was because only an immortal had the attainment in the soul and the speed to step in of a disciple was going to make a mistake and lose their soul here.
"An outer disciple? Don't waste your time come back when you are stronger." The elder spoke. He was a man who wore blue robes had black hair and brown eyes.
Hearing that Alrin bowed respectfully before speaking, "Elder my cultivation requires me to increase my understanding of the soul to grow stronger. I would like permission to enter."
Hearing that the man took a closer look at Alrin, "Hmm? You are hard to see through but I can at least see your soul has been changed and you are telling the truth. I will permit your entry." The elder spoke."
"Thank you elder." He said once again bowing.
"I only have one piece of advice before you enter do not forget the connection to your body." Saying that he closed his eyes.
Behind where the elder was sitting was a large set of double doors the only other doors in the building. Pushing them open and entering Alrin at first did not feel anything even as the doors behind him closed.
It was only when the door fully shut that he felt a change. The space here was special meant to deprive one of all their 5 senses. A formation was even placed so they could not use Sencia and only use their soul to sense the world. Because of that it was completely darkness and even Alrin could not see through it. He could not see but he could feel an energy surrounding him but to him the nature of that energy was incomprehensible.
Unable to understand it he began walking through the emptiness to try to get a feel for it but after doing that for an unknown amount of time he learned nothing would change and sat down to cultivate normally instead.
While sitting he tried doing whatever he could to understand the elemental energy of the soul contained here but it was fruitless. He tried to understand how it flowed but could gleam anything from that at all. Next he tried to absorb it into his body but it was extremely slow and uncooperative making it a fruitless endeavor.
He sat here for hours trying to think of a way to understand the soul when he remembered the elder's words. He knew doing things the normal way would never work so he began trying to force his soul out of his body.
The only problem with this method is what Kor told him about his cultivation method. It was created to perfectly seal all energies within the body although it would not be able to be perfected until he ascended it still made it difficult to force his soul out. Of course just because it was difficult did not mean he would give up.
It was only after what was days or maybe weeks to Alrin that he finally began to feel something. The elemental energy of the soul here was beginning to pull at his soul trying to assimilate his soul with itself.
This is because this element was the most special while it was a natural element that existed in the universe and not just in living creatures it also seemed to possess its a will of its own. No one not even immortals knew the reason for it possessing its own will unlike the other 8 elements but that is also why it was the only element that was of the Divine path.
This will seemed to be drawing out trying to draw out Alrin's soul but whereas a normal soul could easily be pulled out of a body Alrin's body was his soul and vice versa. It did not work how he originally intended it to but pull allowed him to connect his soul and body with the soul energy in the surroundings without having to worry about his own soul being assimilated.
The connection was weak but feeling it he opened his and the darkness that was all he had been able to see now had something else. The elemental energy of the soul filled the entire space but unlike a living soul that was looked solid and dense it was more like a mist filling the area. This was also why he had not been able to see it before when normally all he had to do was channel energy into his eyes to see a person's soul.
Looking down at his own body he could now see the way he had been pursing his cultivation was misguided. He had simply been increasing the raw amount of energies in his body but now that he was looking at it through a new lens he could see why this was wrong. Increasing the raw elemental energies in his body would make him stronger but it was also unstable as they were constantly clashing in his body.
This was when he remembered how Alara's body felt when they were dual cultivating and how he had felt perfect. It was because despite having multiple separate cores when the energy circulated through her body they full fused together and flowed achieving an effect similar to a body cultivator without the downsides.
Looking back down at himself once again he realized just how much of his mess his body truly was. It would be like a river of water and a river of oil meeting up to form a single river. The rivers were not fully fusing sure some of the water and oil may get mixed together but they were never truly turning into one simply existing together. Luckily for Alrin his first core or elemental in this case was the soul and possessing its own will had kept the others in check but as they increased and got stronger it was getting harder and harder for it to do so. If it were to continue like this then even with his cultivation method his body would end up destroyed when the elemental energies eventually rampaged and went wild for control even he would be killed by them.
This was the difference have a master to guide was. If not for Lilith's advice he may had delayed things or even tried a different method but now he had caught it early.
He had only gained a small attainment in the soul but it was enough for now so he got up to leave the Soul Pavilion. This time as he left he realized their were many disciples here some were like him at first wandering around. Other's were seated in cultivation and he even saw a few disciples with souls leaving their body.
Normally that would have been the end of it but he saw a nearby inner disciple convulsing. Taking a closer look he saw that a thread connecting all the souls to their body but this person's soul had gone too far and the thread was beginning to stretch and break.
Seeing this he chose to interfere instead of getting the elder because it appeared she was short on time. Quickly running over he dispersed the soul energies that were pulling away at the woman's soul and covering his hand in a extremely small amount of energy he gently guided to soul back to the body.
Once it returned the woman's body finally began to relax and seeing that Alrin took his leave with nothing more to do.
While he was doing this the elder in charge of the pavilion had been watching him the entire time. He could not directly intervene to save the girl but he could disperse the energy and guide the soul back allowing her to save herself. Yet just as he was about to do that he noticed Alrin heading over to the girl and decided to observe. Alrin may have just been an outer disciple but he had managed to pique his interest when he could not clearly see through him.
"Elder their a female disciple who passed out inside." Alrin said respectfully.
"She's fine I already took a glance at her."
"I understand then I will be on my way."
"Wait have you ever thought about switching to the soul path?" The elder asked.
"I apologize elder but I'm a body cultivator my path is set." Alrin explained.
"What then how were you able to interfere with a soul!?" He asked out of sheer shock but seeing Alrin's silence he realized he made a mistake. "Forget I asked you can go."
Alrin quickly left this time not saying anything more. Connecting to his ring Alrin realized he only been in there for a day and was starting to feel quite hungry. What he did not know was that it also contained a time dilation formation and he had actually spent months in there. If not for his cultivation he would have had to leave long ago.
Returning home he was going to make food since Kor was bound to come out soon when he decided to send Alara a message asking to meet-up. She was after all the best person who could help him control his energies.
Before he sent the message he began to hesitate since they had grown much closer. Even though she was always helping him out of her free will he did not her to feel like he was only using her. Because of that he hesitated and in the end chose to delete the message a decision he would not have made just a few weeks ago and now he chose to go down the hard way.