This training chamber was vast.
When Sadius saw what was inside, he couldn't help but frown. What's going on here?
Inside the training chamber, two Lowgods circled around an enormous chunk of amethyst crystal. Destruction-type energy continuously radiated from both of them, and they were channeling their divine power into the massive amethyst.
As Sadius examined it more closely, he noticed that within the giant crystal was a hazy figure—so faint and so similar in hue to the amethyst that he had nearly missed it.
The two Lowgods beside it—one male, one female—turned out to both be dual-element soul mutates of Earth and Destruction.
To think the Redbud Sovereign actually managed to find soul mutates and two of them, at that.
"Milady, what exactly is going on here?" Sadius asked, clearly confused about what the two were doing.
"Do you see that shadow within the amethyst?" she asked.
Sadius nodded.
"That is my divine body from the Saint realm."
Sadius was baffled. How could the Redbud Sovereign's true body be trapped inside that massive crystal?
"Milady, may I ask what exactly happened here?"
"It all started when I discovered Lyle and Diana, those two soul mutation cultivators," the Redbud Sovereign began. "I attempted to merge the amethyst-origin essence they refined into my own body."
"At first, I could feel my physical defenses increasing, so I instructed them to continue refining more amethyst-origin essence for me to absorb. My body continued to grow stronger."
"My true body is that of an Amethyst Beast, and my physical defense was already close to the level of a Highgod artifact. Naturally, I wanted to surpass that threshold and reach the Sovereign artifact level. That would greatly enhance my power."
"But once my physical body reached that level, something went wrong. My true body began secreting natural amethyst crystals on its own, and I was gradually encased within them."
"I tried using my Sovereign power to suppress the mutation, but it only made things worse. My body was completely engulfed in the crystal. Now, neither my Destruction-type Soveteign clone nor my Earth-type Highgod clone can return to my true body."
"I can feel it…my true body is slowly being assimilated by the amethyst. All I can do now is have Lyle and Diana continuously inject divine power to stave off the assimilation—but it's a losing battle."
Sadius hadn't expected anything like this.
Does that mean that refining amethyst-origin essence to strengthen the body to the level of a Sovereign artifact will always lead to such a result?
He felt a bit of lingering fear—his own physical body was already nearing that level. Now, he no longer dared to refine any more amethyst-origin essence.
"Please, see if there's a way to stop this assimilation force," the Redbud Sovereign asked.
Sadius fell into deep thought. This was something he'd never encountered before.
"Milady, you mentioned that their divine power can slow the assimilation. Then… would it be more effective if they reached the Highgod level?"
The Redbud Sovereign shook her head. "I've already used Sovereign power to aid them, but all that does is delay the process. If this continues, in less than ten thousand years, my true body will be fully assimilated. That will be the end of me."
Ten thousand years might sound long, but for a Sovereign, it was the blink of an eye.
"Then let me give it a try," Sadius offered. He stepped up to the enormous amethyst and began injecting fused divine power of three elements.
He sensed immediately what the Redbud Sovereign had described—it wasn't very effective.
Then, silently, Sadius switched to using his four-way fused divine power, disguising it to appear as though it were still just three.
As soon as the four-element fused divine power entered the crystal, he felt something different.
Instead of resisting the assimilation force, it resonated with the amethyst-origin essence inside the crystal.
The resonance was faint, but real—it didn't cause any reaction on the surface, yet deep down, Sadius instinctively understood the solution.
He withdrew his divine power and returned to the Redbud Sovereign.
"Milady, I've found a way."
The Redbud Sovereign was visibly excited. "What is it?"
"You'll need a soul mutation cultivator who trains in both the Earth and Destruction Laws, and who personally advances to become a Highgod in both."
"And?" she pressed.
Sadius hesitated.
"Milady…perhaps I should see if there's another solution. This one… might not be suitable for you."
She frowned. "Not suitable? Why not? Just tell me."
Sadius was torn. He swore to himself that this wasn't some made-up nonsense—he had genuinely perceived this as the solution.
"Milady, let me first swear to the Overgod. This method was just revealed to me. I'm not lying or withholding anything."
The Redbud Sovereign raised an eyebrow. Why's he swearing to the Overgod?
"Just tell me. I trust you."
Sadius swallowed hard.
"You need to form a soul contract with the soul mutation cultivator who independently becomes a Highgod in both Earth and Destruction."
A soul contract—meaning either a master-servant pact or an equal partnership pact, as used with magical beasts.
"Sadius, what nonsense are you spouting?!" came a sharp voice. It was Reisgem, her son.
"To resist amethyst assimilation, why would my mother need to enter into a contract? She's a noble Sovereign! Even an equal contract is beneath her!"
"So let's just look for another way instead."
The Redbud Sovereign fell silent.
Sadius had sworn by the Overgod, stating clearly that he wasn't lying or hiding anything. Could it be that this truly is the only solution?
If there were another way, she would have found it already.
"…Very well. Then let's form an equal soul contract. Sadius, how far have you progressed in the Destruction and Earth Laws?"
"I've already comprehended all four Profound Mysteries of the Earth Law. I'm close to mastering the Profound Mystery of Force and Earth Movement as well. As for Destruction, I've grasped four Profound Mysteries so far—once I comprehend two more, I should reach the Highgod level."
"Not bad. Then focus on your cultivation. I'll guide you in the Destruction Laws if needed. With your talent, it shouldn't take long for you to reach Highgod level."
The Redbud Sovereign arranged for Sadius to begin secluded training in this very chamber.
"Mother, he's clearly lying! How could something like this be true?" Reisgem protested.
"Enough, Jingjing. We have no other options. And it's just an equal contract—there's no need to worry."
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