Chapter 531: Entering the World beneath the tree, Paragon’s Pressence

"What else?" Grey looked at her, then back at the majestic blue dragon hovering behind her.

Then, as if a sudden realization hit him, Grey chuckled dryly. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Your martial soul looks like you," Grey replied with a firm nod.

"What do you mean it looks like me? Are you calling me ugly?" Alissa glared at Grey, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"No." Grey was speechless. Damn, his attempt at a compliment had completely backfired.

"I meant to say that your martial soul is as pretty as you are."

"H-hmph." Alissa became flustered immediately, a faint red tint spreading across her cheeks, but she hid it quite well with an angry pout, turning her face away.

Seeing her act like this, Grey honestly wanted to reach out and pinch her cheeks, but he held the urge in.

Why is she seeking validation from me, though? That was the part that concerned his logical mind the most.

"You are a dummy," Alissa mumbled softly under her breath as she walked back to stand beside Julie.

Soon, the Spirit Ancestor led everyone to the specific boundary where the Spirit Domain physically connected to the World Tree.

They saw the colossal structure of the World Tree growing closer and closer as they approached its massive, bark-like exterior. The surface was etched with glowing green veins pulsing with dense life force.

"The only way to enter this place is by getting direct permission from the World Tree itself," the Spirit Ancestor explained, gesturing to the solid wood.

"Not many people here ever get permission to enter, honestly speaking."

"You can try."

"Do you want to go first, Alissa?" Grey turned to his always angry and cold cute chipmunk and asked.

She did not say a word. She just strode forward with determined steps.

And surprisingly, the moment she made contact, her figure blurred and melted seamlessly into the World Tree.

Seeing this, the others eagerly stepped up to try as well. In the end, only Aerin was able to enter after Alissa. The invisible barrier rejected the rest.

Soon, it was Grey’s turn. He turned to the others who were left behind and spoke. "Wait here, we will be back soon."

He stepped forward confidently, and the tree parted its energy to let him pass without a single problem.

"Why did he say it like he knew he could enter already?" the Spirit Ancestor mumbled in mild confusion as he also stepped through the barrier.

Grey’s vision shifted dramatically. The solid ground vanished, and he saw that he was free falling through a vast, endless sky into the mysterious world below.

Right beside him was Alissa. She had a deep frown on her face as she turned her head to look at Grey amidst the rushing wind.

"Grey, I cannot use my powers," she yelled over the roaring air.

Hovering close to them was Aerin. Hearing this, she spoke up. "It is because it will take a lot of time to get used to the laws of this world. Only the native elves have gotten used to this specific world’s pressure."

"Can you use your powers, Master?" Aerin turned to Grey and asked.

"I can." Grey nodded. His deep comprehension of laws already allowed him to adjust to this new reality, though not to his very limit. His abilities were currently restricted to his own physical body. He figured it was the natural suppression of this isolated world.

"Then, I suggest carrying Miss Alissa. Otherwise, she will plunge straight into the dense ground below. The impact carries enough sheer force to crack an origin core."

"Oh." Hearing this, Grey turned serious. He angled his body and swam through the air towards Alissa, looking at her as she stared back at him with a visibly flustered look.

"Here. Just get it over with already." She sighed, letting herself be embraced by Grey.

He caught her smoothly, holding her securely in a princess carry as they continued to free fall.

Alissa looked up at Grey’s calm face from within his embrace, then quickly shifted her attention down to the rushing clouds, her face flushing red.

"Do not worry, Alissa. I will keep you from turning into a vegetable," Grey said in a serious tone.

A blinding white light began to grow in their vision, and soon, they dropped through the barrier and into a world filled with endless, vibrant clouds. There were actual physical structures built around the clouds, resting right on top of them, and tiny, glowing spirits were flying everywhere.

"What are those?" Grey asked Aerin, still falling.

"Those are World Tree spirits. They naturally inhabit this realm."

"Oh." Grey nodded, taking in the sights.

This world was strange and advanced. It was to the point that even he could not easily fly until he spent time getting used to the spatial fabric.

Soon, the solid ground rapidly approached. There were many distinct areas below, and just before Grey and Aerin crashed down, Grey pulled all the kinetic force in his mind and tried to influence their trajectory.

Boom! Just inches before his feet hit the ground, his telekinesis brought him to a dead stop. The power then faded, and he dropped the remaining few inches to the ground without any resistance, landing softly with Alissa in his arms.

Seconds later, the Spirit Ancestor also arrived, landing gracefully.

"So, how is it?" he inquired, dusting off his robes.

"It is good. I can feel my Law of Spirit stirring just by standing here," Grey commented, sensing the rich energy in the air.

This was a very suitable place for cultivating his laws.

"Hey, can you let go of me now?" Alissa asked with a deadpan look, her voice tight.

Grey was still holding onto her. She felt incredibly embarrassed being held like this in front of everyone.

Grey complied and gently let go of her. However, the exact second she lost contact with Grey, she felt an immense, crushing pressure crash down on her shoulders. Grey quickly reached out and grabbed her hand tightly, instantly easing the terrible pressure.

"You still have not gotten used to this world. Try revolving your energy first to build a resistance. You can hold onto my hand while you do that."

"..." Alissa nodded with a deadpan look, though she did not pull her hand away.

At that exact moment, the Spirit Ancestor suddenly frowned, a stunned and horrified expression twisting his face.

The following second, an ancient, metallic medal materialized in his hand. It was blaring with a piercing red light, projecting a glaring system warning into the air.

[Warning! Warning! Ascendancy power detected nearby]

[Warning! Warning! Ascendancy power detected nearby]

[It has been confirmed to be a Paragon.]

It was not just the Spirit Ancestor’s expression that changed.

Grey’s casual demeanor vanished, his expression turning deadly serious.

"A Paragon?"

"What is the meaning of this, Spirit Ancestor?" Grey asked, his eyes scanning the cloudy horizon. "Why is there a Paragon here?"

Alissa instinctively clenched Grey’s hand much harder when she heard the dire warning.

"I do not know myself," the Spirit Ancestor said, his voice laced with deep trouble and confusion.

"How did one of them even find its way into this sealed realm?"

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "But do not worry, Saint Grey. Even if it is a Paragon, it should just be a projected clone."

"I am sure we can do something about a mere clone."

"Still, we need to exercise extreme caution."

"You are my guest, Saint Grey. Please rest assured, I will manage the Paragons myself."

The Spirit Ancestor gripped his glowing medal. "If it comes to it, we will call in our powerful seniors at the Helios organization to intervene."