"…"
Shirley stared at the vague outline of the treasure. It appeared to be in the shape of a peach, but she couldn't see what it was. She had nearly no knowledge of the treasures that were in Exalt or Primarch Grade. Myria and Dalila wouldn't know either, so she wasn't particularly guilty of not knowing, but she wished she knew what it was, unable to help herself as she moved towards it.
"Wait…"
But suddenly, Lhasa appeared in front of her, "The ancestor is in slumber and will attack anyone who approaches this treasure."
"…"
Shirley blinked, "I see. What is it…?"
"This… I don't know. You may ask the elders."
"…"
Shirley raised her brows as she stared at Lhasa. The other party averted her gaze. Clearly, she was lying. Shirley guessed she wasn't willing to part with this incredible treasure.
'Perhaps they have their own uses for it…'
She folded her hands, not really afraid of a battle with a Celestial Descent Light Spirit at the Empyrean Stage. His aura was weak, but she could still make out his cultivation base. This crippled spirit was at Level One Empyrean Spirit Stage. She guessed because he had crippled himself, allowing him to remain here as Lhasa said, but for what reason, she didn't know. But as for his prowess, she knew it would not be too high, considering he crippled himself.
Shirley was confident that she could defeat him.
Regardless, she sighed and turned away, heading to the exit.
Lhasa relaxed and followed her behind. They didn't go all the way back since this space was a one-way path. One can enter through the entrance but cannot leave through the entrance. They needed to find the exit. Since the defensive mechanisms weren't activated, the exit was easily found at the end, and they exited.
"Hehehe~ Stop! Or I'll chase you~"
"Hehehe~"
"You can't catch us, fire birdy~"
Once Shirley was outside, she saw Freya chasing the little Celestial Descent Light Spirits, playing with them. She chased them in her tiny magical beast form, appearing harmless. The adult spirits watched on with smiles.
This scene instantly washed away her greed for the Exalt Grade Treasure. After all, to take it away, she would have to massacre this tribe, which also had plenty of little spirits.
She now felt the warmth of the aurora light, much more embracing and comfortable.
'Oh well, thinking optimistically, if each region had an Exalt Grade Treasure, then I should be able to obtain plenty during our journey…'
Shirley inwardly convinced herself.
At this moment, Isabella appeared beside her. The exit was just the other side of the temple.
"How did it go?"
"Perfect." Shirley gave a thumbs up and informed her of the happenings inside.
Isabella was satisfied with the treasures they had gained. They were all High-Level Empyrean Grade Treasures and helped in law comprehension, which meant that they would have significant progress in comprehending Law Intents. She had heard Davis say that he could state enough how important higher Laws Intents were for the next stage after the Empyrean Stage.
Fortunately, she believed Shirley, and the latter came back with good treasures.
"…!"
Isabella's brows raised when Shirley told her about the possible existence of an Exalt Grade Treasure using soul transmission.
"Uhmm… it could just be my imagination. For all I know, it could just be a Peak-Level Empyrean Grade Treasure. Mhm. Most likely, I was wrong. Forget about it."
"…" Isabella saw Shirley's eyes dart, causing her to smile, "It's fine. There's no need to worry if I will make a move. It's far more imperative for us to get what we want and leave since that is our word. I'm not the one who will become vicious for a mere treasure."
"Big sister, you're the best~"
Shirley pounced on Isabella and grabbed her hands, causing the both of them to giggle.
In particular, Shirley relaxed. She guessed if it was any other supreme genius worth their ambition, then they wouldn't bother to care about some spirit tribe. Fortunately, she had a righteous elder sister who cared about integrity and honor.
"More than that- I'm more interested in the fact that their Ancestor needed to cripple himself. What's up with that? Is this some kind of sacrificial ceremony?"
Isabella sounded confused. She couldn't understand why the Ancestor would cripple himself if his intent was to remain here and guard the treasure. Even if he managed to remain here, what could he possibly do without a high prowess?
Wouldn't other spirits that entered the Empyrean Spirit Stage easily defeat and consume him?
"Let me ask~"
Shirley responded as she patted her bosom. She was about to ask before but determined that remaining in the Celestial Treasury would've made Lhasa more worried, making her more fidgety. Hence, she came out first before asking.
"Lhasa, why did your Ancestor cripple himself? You said one could break through here. Could it be that an Empyrean Spirit can't remain here either?"
"That's true." Lhasa nodded to Shirley, her holy appearance looking heavenly, "This fragment light world of ours does not support existences whose prowess is above Mid Empyrean Spirit Stage. Therefore, once we Celestial Descent Light Spirits break through to the Empyrean Spirit Stage, our prowess is at least six levels higher, leaving us pressured immensely. We would have no choice but to leave this fragment light world or be suppressed by the world. That is why there is no Empyrean Spirit here, and our Ancestor who is crippled does not surpass that margin, allowing him to remain here without being suppressed."
"…"
Isabella and Shirley looked at each other. Their expressions were full of doubt.
The two of them knew their prowess was also at the Mid Empyrean Stage, so why were they not suppressed? Was it because their cultivation bases were in the Immortal Emperor Stage?
Isabella wondered and thought it made sense.
However, Shirley's gaze flickered, her lips moving.
"Does crippling your spirit veins actually result in a loss of comprehension?"
She asked Lhasa, causing her to nod her head softly.
"Indeed. To cripple the spirit veins connecting to our soul is to forgo our connection to the heaven and earth energy… that is why our prowess is so low after being crippled."
"As expected~"
Shirley raised her palm and smashed it with her fist, her expression rejoicing as though she solved a puzzle.
"I always thought that these fragmented worlds, minor worlds or whatever they are called to, be no different than a drop in the sea of Laws. In that case, this realm suppresses lifeforms based on their cultivation, prowess, and law comprehension. For example, I think this space has a suppressive reaction to those lifeforms whose prowess reaches the Mid Empyrean Stage. However, that alone isn't enough since we aren't suppressed. It also requires that their comprehension be Level Eight or lower."
Isabella's gaze shook as she connected the dots, "Yes… the Celestial Descent Light Spirit is surely capable of comprehending Level Eight Light Quiddity upon entering the Empyrean Spirit Stage. That could answer why they need to leave because they're endangering this fragment world with their higher law comprehension. But if the Empyrean Spirit chose to be a cripple, then they would lose their innate control over Laws since they lose the connection to the heaven and earth."
"Exactly~"
Shirley held Isabella's hands and jumped.
"Shirley, you're so great. Law comprehension… the sea of Laws… this is indeed the Elemental Dimension. Each fragment world is a drop in this vast ocean. Well said~"
Hearing Isabella be full of praise, Shirley nearly melted.
Now they understood why they weren't suppressed. They hadn't comprehended Level Eight Quiddity, after all. They couldn't since it wasn't a Law Intent that's at the Empyrean Stage. However, they figured by the time Davis was here, he might get suppressed by this fragmented world, making it difficult for him to traverse.
After all, he casually broke some of the restrictions the cultivation stages had and comprehended higher-level Law Intents.
Nonetheless, they could only imagine how vast the Shard World was. There were already more than twenty places marked on the map, each one filled with an immense amount of treasures, yet they had not finished exploring even ten percent of the Shard World. And this Shard World was merely a world that was broken off from the true Elemental Dimension.
They felt it was crazy.
"…"
Meanwhile, Lhasa couldn't understand why they considered themselves equivalent to Mid Stage Empyreans.
Surely, there was no way their prowess would be that ridiculous, right?
She inclined her head, finding herself doubting for no reason.
Isabella let go of Shirley and opened her mouth, "With this, we know this fragment light world is a bit safer. There probably isn't any powerful lifeform here, allowing these spirits to thrive into a tribe."
"Indeed. There's no report of an Empyrean lifeform being here as far as I know." Shirley nodded, "If they want to stay, then they would need to cripple themselves. That means the spirits who have all entered the Empyrean Spirit Stage chose to leave this fragmented world, am I right?"
She turned to look at Lhasa.
"Yes, those of us who breakthrough we need to leave. We will do it in a few days at the edge of the fragmented world since we obtained the light spirit essence. We will even hold a ceremony. Are you all willing to join us?"
"Oh…" Shirley turned to look at Isabella, seeking her opinion.
"…"
However, Isabella was looking into the distance. Shirley followed her gaze and saw that Bylai was moving towards a… rock that had a crown…?
She blinked, recognizing it was that little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit.
'This little spirit followed us all the way out here…?'