Ace and Mira's family and friends stopped attacking to allow them to enjoy the baptism in peace. Still, they couldn't help but look at them with a helpless expression.
Nothing needed to be said about Ace, but even Mira, after being given Ace's kernel of Faith, her bloodlines fused and evolved into something simply unbelievable. Now that her Visual Manifestation had merged with her soul self and been supercharged by an extraordinary amount of faith, she had become a monster that, in terms of talent, was second only to Linley and Ace. She had lost her ability to multiply her Willpower, but instead, when she used her new and improved Divine Ability, not only did her already ridiculous amount of Faith multiply tenfold, despite only being a Lesser Sovereign, she was actually able to fuse it with her enhanced Sovereign Power, just like an Overgod who had condensed their Overgod Body.
As it stood, as a mere Lesser Sovereign, she was already no weaker than Aiden when going all out.
For the two of the strongest and most talented beings in the universe to once again receive a new blessing, it was hard not to feel a little envious. Even so, if anyone were to found a new Law it would be them.
Still, whilst everyone was looking at the couple helplessly, Aiden's eyes widened into disbelief. As the one who created the path of concepts from the energy surrounding them, he was the only one able to understand what they had comprehended, even if it was only vaguely.
It had to be remembered that when he had first comprehended the path of Concepts, the chimes of heaven never sounded through the universe. At the time, because he had nothing to compare it to, he didn't think much of it, but after Ace comprehended the Mandate of True Yang, then later the Rules of Space & Time, then Yunaia founded the Mandate of True Yin, and then Linley founded the Laws of Chaos, he couldn't help but wonder why the heavenly chimes never sounded for his accomplishment.
At first, he didn't mind it too much as he had still received a blessing that allowed him to comfortably stand at the peak of Overgods, but as time went on, and he continuously deepened his comprehension of various Concepts, he couldn't help but feel as though the path he had founded and was so proud of was somehow incomplete.
It was for that very reason that, despite the fact that he had long since reached the limits of comprehension for every element possible, including Space, Time, Yin, Yang, and Chaos, he had put off making that final breakthrough and condensing his Overgod body.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, that spark of insight that he was missing had always eluded him… until now.
The moment he felt the energy, he finally understood what he was missing. All this time, despite supposedly being a separate path, the path of Concepts was bounded heavily by the various elements in the universe. One could only comprehend Concepts based on one of the elements already formed in the universe, but as powerful as it was, it greatly limited the path as a whole.
As he came to that conclusion, he realised that Heaven had actually left him breadcrumbs for him to follow. Unfortunately, he had been too blind to pick up on them.
The fact that although one could only comprehend Concepts based on the various elements, and despite some being similar to others, no two Concepts were ever exactly the same, despite them being based on the same element, was the biggest giveaway.
Unfortunately, Ace and Mira ended up being the first ones to comprehend a Concept that wasn't linked to any of the elements in existence. He'd be lying if he didn't feel a little hard done by and envious. Still, he couldn't help but also feel proud – Ace was his first and only disciple, and Amira was his niece. If anyone had to steal his glory, he was proud it was them. Plus, even if he hadn't comprehended the path and, by extension, wouldn't benefit from the blessing. This had still opened up a whole new path for him to traverse – his eyes couldn't help but burn with feverish excitement!
It was right then, as Aiden was lost in his own thoughts, the natural laws enveloping Ace suddenly moved to surround Aiden instead.
Aiden's eyes widened in surprise, but when he saw the expression on Ace's face, he understood that this was his doing.
The truth was, since the blessing was coming from his Will, it would do nothing to improve his power, and now that he had thoroughly understood the ins and outs of this new path, he had nothing else to gain from it. Plus, he was more aware than anyone that the only reason he and Amira could comprehend what they had was because of the foundation that Aiden had helped them lay as children – this was rightfully his achievement. Since he had the power and ability to do so, why not transfer the blessing to the person who actually deserved it most?
At the same time, Ace couldn't help but marvel at the power of the true path of Concepts. Previously, although it was said to be the mirror of the law path, the truth was that at the same level, it was a little inferior, and that was purely because, unless one were an archer or an expert of another long-ranged weapon, they would be forced to get close and personal when fighting.
At first, because most experts preferred to fight at relatively close range when using their weapons anyway, it gave him and his friends an almost unfair advantage over their enemies who didn't understand the truth. Unfortunately, over time, especially after the method of cultivating the path was spread to the masses, the weaknesses were easily understood and targeted.
Unless one was born with an especially powerful and tyrannical physique, those experts of the path of Concepts were too easy to counter, but after he and his wife comprehended the true path of Concepts, the path was finally perfected to be a perfect mirror to the Law path.
Whilst breaking through to the Demi-god level as a saint wouldn't allow one to create a separate clone like one would be able to following the Law path, it would temper their fleshy body to the appropriate level.
This was the actual next level for those mortal and saint warriors, whilst the Law path was the next level for mortal and saint-level mages.
While Amira and Aiden were accepting their blessings, the true heaven was perfecting the path for the rest of the universe. All across the universe, experts of the path of Concept were experiencing a sudden surge in physical strength.
Spreading his perception across the universe, Ace could feel that, at the same time, the Laws of heaven that enveloped this world were becoming more and more whole and perfect, making it so that more and more experts would be able to break through to higher and higher levels without the need of external items like Sovereign Sparks.
Suddenly, his senses locked onto a certain corner of the universe, and his eyes flickered with frost. Without letting any of his friends or family know where he was going, he suddenly disappeared.
He may not have said anything, but how could the others not know where he was going – it was finally time to remove the true parasites of the universe from existence. Still, where before they would all want to go with him to make sure he would be okay, now, they were almost too lazy.
They still had no idea how powerful Ace was now, but from the simple fact that 18 years ago, he was able to rewind Time for the entire universe at once… the results of Ace's battle had long since already been decided.
In an unassuming corner of Chaotic Space, the bodies of the Overgods of the four Edicts were floating aimlessly. The light of life in their eyes had long since dulled, making it look like they were brain-dead.
It was only when Ace appeared in the centre of the four of them that their expression flickered. Even so, it was only for a fraction of a second, they then went back to their listless and lifeless expression.
Looking at the four Overgods that had caused him so much trouble for so long, he couldn't help but shake his head with a sigh as he noted that they were pathetic.
Still, even as their biggest enemy insulted them, their expressions didn't even flicker. They had already resigned themselves to their deaths; in fact, after millions of years of living in torment, they had long since been looking forward to this day. Unfortunately for them, their minds had regressed to such a point that they couldn't even express their joy at the thoughts of death.
Seeing that, Ace merely shook his head as he allowed his will to surge out of him. In their current state, they weren't even worthy of his attack; he simply used his will to wipe theirs from existence before teleporting back to his personal dimension.
He didn't even bother to take their Overgod Sparks with him – whether those Sparks would form a new consciousness or another expert would happen to chance upon it first, Ace couldn't be bothered to care.
When he returned, he found that aside from Linley, all his family and friends had entered a deep meditative state as they got used to their new power thanks to the path of Concepts being perfected.
Turning to his rival, he casually asked if Linley was ready.
Hearing that, a dignified expression appeared on Linley's face as he entered the void and moved to an isolated location to make his breakthrough.
They both understood that there was another existence outside of their universe that had been toying with their fate as he saw fit. Although that existence hadn't truly done anything to oppose them, the fact remained that they didn't know if they were friend or foe, so before they left, Linley needed to make his final breakthrough so they could be ready for anything.