After getting a taste of Old Lan’s cooking, Ye Jun didn’t think he had anything else left to do. He tried contacting his dear friends but got nothing in response.

He sighed and decided to just do it. He was currently in the best condition to try Ascension, as the feeling of sensing Soul Essence still lingered there in his mind.

Without any hesitation, he climbed the mountain peak and reached Han Yuexin’s home. Like always, he found her meditating on her special spot.

He waited for a few minutes before Han Yuexin allowed him inside. He clasped his hands before her and said, "I would like to attempt the advancement."

"Are you sure?" Han Yuexin asked, frowning. "You can take your time building your foundation before trying. It’s extremely dangerous."

"I’ve read everything about it, Elder Han," Ye Jun spoke with resolution and determination. "I’m as ready as I ever could be."

She looked into his eyes for a few seconds before smiling, "I hope you succeed then."

"What do you think?" Ye Jun asked, as he saw her leaving her spot. "Do you think I’ll succeed or not?"

"I don’t gamble on lost pieces," Han Yuexin said. "Now, follow me. Brother already prepared everything for you. With our preparations, the chances of your success will be boosted by at least thirty percent." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"That’s a lot," Ye Jun blinked in surprise.

"As I said, I don’t gamble on lost pieces. If we’re betting on you, then we will go all out."

Ye Jun smiled, feeling glad that he had decided to show his talent instead of hiding. It wasn’t like the Sect was being very kind towards him, well technically it was, but their real motives were selfish.

If it was anyone else, they would have done the same. All they wanted was a talent that could elevate their position in the Heavenly Frost Palace, so more resources would be allocated to them.

To his surprise, Han Yuexin took him to the back of the mountain peak, and only then did Ye Jun remember that nobody actually visited the other side or knew about it.

Then, they ascended until misty white clouds covered their surroundings from every side. Fortunately, Han Yuexin was there to guide him, otherwise he was pretty sure he could get lost here.

’A natural defensive formation?’ he thought. ’Anyone below Soul Tempering will easily get lost. Only those with Soul Sense can find their way probably.’

Though, he doubted that, as the formation might as well be able to affect one’s Soul Sense too.

After what felt like an eternity, the mist began to clear up, finally allowing Ye Jun to see his surroundings and the destination. He inched forward, noticing Han Yuexin stopping, and finally saw the location that made his heart skip a beat.

Five thick pillar-like stones rose in the middle of the white clouds, piercing through them as if they were endless pillars connecting the earth to the heavens.

Four massive pillars followed the cardinal directions, while a single one rose from the middle. All four were connected to it through bridges of floating stone steps, seemingly stairs leading down to that eye of the pillars.

"This is the Ancestral Site where our Founder ascended to the Ruler Realm," Han Yuexin said, pride and reverence clear in her voice. "That Realm is a bit special, you see. The world itself acknowledges your existence and marks the place of the Ruler’s birth as special."

Ye Jun nodded in understanding, still unclear about that mysterious realm. The more he heard about it, the more he longed for it. As for its specialness, it was also easier to guess.

After all, the realm itself had the name Ruler in it, and that meant a lot considering it was a world ruled by the Heavenly Dao. To become a Ruler, one needed its acknowledgement. Only then would it allow the birth of another Ruler under it.

"That specialness allows breakthroughs to become easier, as the Heavens themselves favour the descendants of the Rulers in this way," Han Yuexin said, smiling. "That fiancée of yours is very lucky to have multiple Ruler Realm powerhouses in her clan."

"Multiple?"

"Yes, multiple," Han Yuexin nodded. "Although the world only knows of one, her mother, the Supreme Ruler of Heaven’s Last Ember, the current Matriarch of the Song Clan, the Overlord of the North."

Ye Jun felt a chill just from hearing that name, and the clouds began to churn around him, as if reacting to that name.

"I spoke it through my Soul," Han Yuexin said, clearing his confusion. "Due to the special nature of the Soul, it allows these phenomena since one name is connected to only a single Ruler."

’No wonder there are so few of them,’ Ye Jun thought. ’Otherwise the world wouldn’t react so strongly.’

Now, he couldn’t wait to meet Song Liangxue’s mother. He was curious how a living Ruler would be in person, how different they were from regular humans like him.

He took a deep breath to calm himself and asked, "What was the title of your Founder?"

"He wasn’t quite a heaven-overturning genius," Han Yuexin said with a dry chuckle. "Unlike the Song Clan’s head. Still, he is famous by the name Ruler of the Thousand Blade Storm."

"That’s cool as hell," Ye Jun immediately said.

"I know, right?" Han Yuexin’s eyes brightened up. "Other people say he wasn’t impressive but he’s so cool. Like how is that name lame? Those people are so dumb."

’Ah! So he’s your idol,’ Ye Jun thought. ’You grew up looking up to him.’

Han Yuexin continued to ramble on about her founder, and Ye Jun just agreed with everything. After a while, he interrupted her and asked, "I also remember Liangxue’s grandfather’s title, Saint of the Endless Frost. Is he different?"

Han Yuexin’s smile died down as she turned to look at him, "Whenever you speak about him, be respectful. I’m not giving you details as there’s a reason why it’s hidden, so ask the Song Clan yourself."

"Ah! Alright," Ye Jun shut his mouth.

"In any case, this place is special. You will have a bit easier time because the world will go easy on you, but that’s only a bit," Han Yuexin said. "It will still be very deadly, which is why we have made additional preparations."

She pointed at the centre pillar and said, "We have carved a Soul Anchoring Formation on it. It will anchor your Essence and Nexus to its core and allow you to return to it in case you get lost in the Spiritual Plane."

The Spiritual Plane was the metaphysical plane on which one’s soul resided. And the greatest danger in ascending to the Soul Tempering Realm was getting lost instantly in the vastness of the Spiritual Realm.

Most people lost their lives before they even attempted a proper ascension because their will wasn’t strong enough to resist the Spiritual Realm’s vastness.

Of course, one didn’t die immediately. They would first become lost in that vastness, then grow lonely and assimilate with the surroundings.

But that only happened because they didn’t know their way back. If they could return to their Essence, shape the Soul, and merge it with the Nexus, then they could resist the world better as its resident.

"This is very helpful," Ye Jun admitted. "I was actually a bit worried about it, even though I’m sure my will is pretty strong. But I’m pretty sure everyone thinks that."

"Haha! They do!" Han Yuexin laughed. "That is why they always end up dead, but it’s good that you have confidence and also awareness. It will keep you alive there."

She shook her head and said, "There’s more. We have arranged the Soul Tempering Liquid. It will increase the density of your Essence for a short time, allowing you to shape it better."

’That must have cost a lot,’ Ye Jun thought. ’And it will also help a lot after I clear the trials.’

"We also have a Memory Severing Technique," Han Yuexin said, glancing at him. "It will remove your traumatic memories, allowing you to pass the trials easily. But it will create a very weak soul."

"I don’t want it," Ye Jun instantly rejected it. "Also, if I ignore them now, more will come later in the future and I’ll be so weak that heart demons will form in my soul. I don’t want weakness, and I also want to face my past."

"Are you sure about that?" Han Yuexin asked, eyes narrowed. "I’ve heard about your complicated past in the Ye Clan, do you really want to live that?"

Hearing her, Ye Jun froze, just realising something very important. He didn’t just have his memories, but also those of the Ye Jun who grew up in the Ye Clan.

And their souls had also assimilated together, which meant they were one person in the eyes of the Heavens, so they might take trials for both of his lives.

’Holy fuck! How did I miss that?’