Chapter 179: 179. Training schedule – 3

Almost ninety days had passed inside the Domain of Infinite since William began focusing solely on cultivating spiritual energy.

Despite already standing at S+ rank, he constantly felt as though the next realm was within reach.

The threshold seemed so close that, at times, he believed a single steady breath might be enough to push him across it.

Yet that final breakthrough never came. The sensation of nearness lingered persistently, but the wall before him did not break.

Throughout those ninety days, he remained seated beneath the broad tree whose shade had become his anchor point within the domain.

Once he regulated his breathing and spent a few hours cultivating, he entered a state of flow.

In that state, time gradually lost its clarity. His awareness narrowed.

External distractions ceased to matter.

The sound of wind, the warmth of sunlight, and even the faint sounds in the atmosphere all faded into a distant backdrop.

Only the steady circulation of spiritual energy within his core remained at the forefront of his perception.

During that flow, he stopped counting days.

His senses dulled from complete immersion into the task.

There was no impatience in that state. Only repeated breathing and gradual accumulation of spiritual energy.

He took only one deliberate break during the entire period. He stepped out of the domain momentarily to bring back food.

Strangely, while immersed in cultivation flow, he found himself preferring bland and simple meals. Strong flavors felt disruptive to his mind.

Heavy spices and rich dishes pulled his focus outward, which he wanted to avoid.

In contrast, plain food allowed his concentration to remain undisturbed. It was not a new experience for him.

Anyone who repeated a task persistently and entered a state of deep concentration eventually discovered such shifts in preference.

When he finally rose from his seated posture after nearly ninety days, his joints felt stiff. He rotated his shoulders and cracked his neck.

His limbs stretched outward as he loosened the tension that had accumulated through a prolonged session of cultivation.

“Nice, I feel so good,” he said quietly as he shook his foot to clear out stiffness.

He then began walking toward the hut at the center of the domain where he had kept Lia.

As he approached, he noticed Maris standing outside, doing some chores. William had told her to live in the hut and cultivate while also keeping an eye on Lia’s health.

“How are her vitals?” he asked calmly.

“My lord, there are no signs of improvement,” Maris replied without hesitation. “Even after I adjusted potion concentrations repeatedly and experimented with multiple compositions, her body rejects every effect. The potions are digested like water, with no reaction.”

William stepped closer and observed Lia’s still figure. Her breathing remained faint but stable. He instructed the system to conduct an assessment.

[Her death is delayed since the injection of the ??? blood has stopped.]

“I was wondering if I should extract her blood and run some tests on it,” he said thoughtfully. “I am not an expert, but perhaps Grimlock could assist through the mental link if there is something to analyze.”

[We can do that. However, it is unlikely you will discover anything new.]

[Her genome has altered in a strange way. If it does not stabilize, she will die. Either you go behind the veil, understand the strange energy, and attempt a cure, or you find a being capable of altering and recovering DNA sequences. However, that is not possible on Aris.]

William frowned slightly.

“Why? On Earth, genetic manipulation was possible to some extent. Why not here?”

[On Aris, biology is far more complex than on Earth. Additionally, civilizations invest in solving problems they encounter. Earth researched genes to cure diseases. On Aris, there was no such necessity until now.]

He nodded slowly since the system’s reasoning was sound.

“True.”

He then studied Lia one last time before stepping away from the hut.

“She has one year at most,” he murmured. “I have to enter the Veil and research a cure. Maybe the Unknown’s quest will guide me.”

He could not allow her to die. The binder placed on her at the system’s insistence had tied her survival to his own long-term gains; his binder would go to waste, and Lia would die needlessly.

“I still wonder who took her away during those missing years after the Capitol incident,” he said quietly. “Grimlock mentioned she was found unconscious outside a cult base and then trafficked.”

[Only one person knows the answer.]

“Yes,” William replied. “I will ask her once she wakes up.”

[To do that, you must defeat the Clayman cult’s leader. However, you will need assistance for that. You could mobilize the Elven Queen and her army, the Storm Dragon also, and the Draconia House as well.]

William shook his head.

“No. Yun Long cannot publicly move in association with others. The deal I made with him was as William, not as Eternal Sovereign. If he moves at the same time as the others, then it’s clear that I am connected to Eternal Sovereign.”

“Anyways, he is a big gun I have reserved for demon lords, not for a puny cult leader.”

“For this matter, other forces will suffice. I just need to manipulate events so that multiple factions are forced to attack the Clayman cult simultaneously. I will use that chaos to enter the Veil.”

[You should increase your presence in other cults as well; I suggest you begin as soon as possible.]

William’s eyes sharpened slightly.

“I have an idea.”

He summoned Barash and Ronin. The two had been assigned a modest region within the domain, separated by a chain of mountains.

They could not cross the boundary without his permission.

William valued his privacy above all, even from his own servants.

Their accommodations were simple huts with sufficient rations, not hellish pits like the one he had given Amorphous to live in.

A swirl of wind carried dust across the clearing as the dragon-kin and the elf appeared before him.

“You both have connections in other demonic cults?” William asked.

They nodded.

“Yes, my lord,” Barash replied. “The Clayman cult exports demonic artifacts, devices, and pills to other cults. Most members have interacted with other cults’ members.”

He continued, “I personally know two individuals. One belongs to Lilith’s cult, and another to Amon’s cult.”

Ronin added, “I also know several individuals across multiple cult networks, my lord.”

William nodded.

“Then you have a new mission.”

He retrieved four teleportation scrolls from his inventory.

“These can transport you 1000 miles in any chosen direction. Will the direction just activate?”

He handed them over carefully.

“Do not use them to leave the academy perimeter. The formations will detect you. For concealment, use this.”

The Trickster’s Veil materialized in his hand.

“You will have to share it. I only have one.”

They accepted it silently.

“Your primary task is increasing the slave network. Approach your contacts one at a time. Bully them, beat them – I don’t care, just force the slave mark.”

Then use them to reach further contacts within their respective cults. Repeat the process. I want at least 100 insider slaves in every cult you can access. Target only lower-level operatives for now. Do not engage high-ranking figures.”

They nodded.

“Complete as much as possible within the next few months until I make a move against the Clayman cult.”

“Use teleportation only in emergencies. Activate the Trickster’s Veil immediately after teleportation. Report your progress weekly through the slave mark. Notify me if anything unusual occurs.”

William told a few more words of precaution to the two of them and then came out of the domain together with them; he immediately told them to equip the trickster’s veil since he did not want to risk detection.

Then he instructed them to leave.

“I just hope the plan works,” he muttered.

[It should]

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