Planet Master

At this time, Tatsumi, Ame and Smagenrog were in the Afterlife Arena.

Ever since Ame became a Perfect Connection to the Afterlife, Tatsumi had told her so many things, including the Afterlife Arena.

The strange thing was that Ame too, could enter the arena and participate. As for Smagenrog, he had achieved six consecutive victories.

He became a Bronze Tier 3 and was not defeated even once. The challenge for Smagenrog was quite a lot but Smagenrog was in the human form so the opponent did not realize that Smagenrog was actually a dragon.

If he revealed his true body, no one would ever challenge him.

Ame on the other hand, was enjoying every single moment of the battle. Since the power in the Afterlife was starting to get lifted, Tatsumi reminded everyone that their strength could increase.

Now, Ame was using her signature weapon with her memories of it. She changed the replica of the Myriad Manifestation Umbrella in her hands numerous times, depending on the situation, melee or ranged attack.

Her opponents were caught in her rhythm, being played like a fiddle. Then Ame raised her rank to become Bronze Tier 3.

Tatsumi and the others were watching Ame to see something and they were not disappointed when looking at her.

“How does that feel?” Tatsumi asked her.

Since her first debut, Ame had been charging to the higher position so that she could be equal to the others, especially to Tatsumi.

“I feel my pent-up frustration has been released, and now, I am free from it.” Ame looked at Tatsumi and smiled while her eyes closed, turning into a crescent.

“Erm, beating up people count as refreshing your mood nowadays?” Tatsumi thought about it and he knew that some of the people preferred that kind of thing.

But not him. The more he beat up those people, the more frustrated he became.

For the sake of helping Father God and broadening his horizon, Tatsumi decided to scout things and learned about so many of the other races through the Afterlife Arena.

He was sure that the races in it were available as well as the extinct ones.

“Hey, at least it works for me.” Ame placed her hands behind her as she relished in the sensation.

“Sometimes, you all just need to beat someone up. That’s one solution.” Smagenrog commented.

His humanoid form was a restriction and a disguise so that he could be able to fight properly in the Afterlife Arena. If he were to reveal his true form, he was afraid that no races in the equal realm would dare fight him.

Dragons were called invincible in the same realm for a strong reason.

“I didn’t expect that even you would be able to join our ranks. What happened?” Tatsumi asked a question that was nagging at his mind.

Smagenrog had been the enemy of the civilization and had been defeated at his hand. Although he felt that it was with the help of his new transcendent discovery as well as a luck factor involved, he was truly invincible in the Core Formation Realm.

Now, Smagenrog became one of the members of the civilization, although in the Afterlife Model instead of the world of the living.

One of his fangs was tempered by Annie to perfect the Dragonsbane, while the rest was processed, leaving only the bones that the civilization showed off to the other races.

Tatsumi once asked Smagenrog about his physical body and his answer stunned Tatsumi.

“It is just a physical body. When the time comes, it will be defective and no longer functioning. Unless…you reach a higher realm of transcendence.” Smagenrog said this with a serious tone.

“How high is needed is the question.” Tatsumi added. His face showed that he was still grasping at the current level, trying to find his way to the path of transcendence.

At least, he had formed a way to the third heavenstage of the Revolutionary Realm. For the humans, this was a Rank 2 transcendence and nothing impressive.

“Everyone is gathering near the exit. We should go to them.” Ame said.

“Sure. Let’s go.”

Tatsumi, Ame and Smagenrog then went to the group, which was more than familiar to them.

On the other hand, the spectators of the Afterlife Arena started to notice the rise of the newcomers. It happened in batches so their attention was on them.

“Do you see their physical trait? They looked like half-beasts without the beast characteristic.”

A comment from a spectator sounded, which was soon followed by another.

“Isn’t that interesting? Which race are they from? Does anyone know?”

“Perhaps they are the missing link between the beast and the half-beast.”

“The one with the horn and vertical pupil is the most interesting so far. He has a regal aura which can only be countered by the swordsman in their group.”

“I saw them gathered together near the exit before entering the Arena. Now, a friend of mine also said that they’d gathered near the exit and go on their way to their Afterlife Model.”

Murmurs and discussion started to increase but this was only for the lower-level ones. As for the higher-ups, they only took notice of this before shoving the thought into the back recesses of their minds. After all, such an event was too often for them, which caused fatigue in their curiosity.

-

After arranging the matter of the Afterlife Arena, Tatsumi went immediately for his research on the path of transcendence.

That included the power of Body, Mind and Technique. The Technique aspect included the way to control all forms of energy, which would be used to nourish the Body and the Mind.

The Body aspect was covered mainly by Maito Dai, the Mind by Charles Xavier and Technique by him. Despite being in the younger generation, he had already involved in several large projects that affect the civilization as a whole.

Even then, he also encroached on the other aspect to know how they would develop separately while he was on the path of unification. Meaning, he combined the power of Body, Mind and Technique.

He did this because the three dantian on his body were connected and the only path for him was unification of the three, not just harmonization.

Therefore, he needed to be able to understand as much as possible the three aspects. It was related to his path from now on, therefore, he needed every help from those who were more capable than him.

He knew that everyone could specialize in one path of transcendence, then all he needed to do was use them as a reference and then forge his own path.

After reading the E-mail through the multipurpose wristwatch, Tatsumi could read the latest research notes from Maito Dai and Charles Xavier despite the distance between him and them.

“Look at this. Finally, I can try to locate the next gate location. Furthermore, the subtle way to open the door of the second palace of the mindscape has been modified.” Tatsumi commented after reading the latest note.

For Body Refining, there was a clear instruction as to how one needed to refine their body. The additional note was about the Eight Inner Hidden Gates. Although Maito Dai had found out about the eight, but the sequence for the next one was not found until this moment.

“Well, I need to reply to them. Let’s see…” Tatsumi then typed in his reply to both Maito Dai and Charles Xavier. He became one of the transcendents who also became a researcher on the way to higher transcendence.

After that, Tatsumi had some free time. But before he even started to enjoy it, the replies came faster.

[Maito Dai: Thank you! Your receptive response makes my spirit ignite. I should do some exercise so that my physical body refinement won’t regress.]

[Charles Xavier: Well, if it is helpful for you, I guess it will be useful for the civilization. I’ll store it in the Hall of Myriad Magic as top-secret information.]

[Tatsumi: I should be the one thanking you two seniors. Your research is important to civilization and all I can ask is for you to keep persisting on this. Perhaps this will be your life goal all this time…sorry if the last remark offended you.]

The reply from the two warmed his heart. To be honest, he did not have the magnanimity of the two and was quite profit-seeking. This, Tatsumi did not deny.

But even he still felt reverence and respect toward those who blaze a path for the people.

Remembering something important, he contacted one more person. Most of the time, he spent his time with his family and rarely went out to others.

[Tatsumi: Teacher, are you present?]

This time, he wanted to communicate with his teacher. His teacher did not go to the Fixed Planetary Fortress for obvious reason so he wanted to contact him since it had been a while.

After a few minutes, a reply came.

[Teacher Long Wu: Ah, you still remember me! I thought that you had forgotten me since you have your own family.]

[Tatsumi: That is the main cause, but I will never forget the grace you have given me. How are you doing, Teacher?]

[Teacher Long Wu: Well, fine. Becoming the leader of all the Undead Element transcendents sure is fun but the responsibility that comes with it still makes me busy. Although my child should interact with you and your children for their own good.]

[Tatsumi: Why? Is he actually a bit naughty?]

[Teacher Long Wu: A bit? No, no, no. It is a bit bigger than you thought.]

Seeing the text on his wristwatch, Tatsumi was not sure what kind of reply he should make.

[Tatsumi: Then it’s probably fine. The most important matter is to do it and see through it to the end.]

[Teacher Long Wu: Let’s have a meeting between my family and your family.]

[Tatsumi: Alright.]

Then Tatsumi switched to another person. Actually, he also often communicated with him outside the important matter.

[Tatsumi: Can you read this?]

The person he sent the message to was actually someone he knew quite well. Furthermore, he had joined the organization under Ame’s management.

The Assassin Guild.

[Edward: Why are you contacting me? Is it the usual banter?]

[Tatsumi: Come on, now. We have leisure time for relaxation. Should I call you Senior?]

[Edward: Ehem, better not. I am only a year older than you, so it is not much different. Please!]

[Tatsumi: Alright, I won’t call you senior. Although it is technically the truth but I have to make you feel comfortable, don’t I?]

[Edward: Come on. You know my position in the Guild. I am the Vice Master but still below…you know.]

[Tatsumi: I just feel worried about you. You keep most of your movement in the dark for the missions the Guild has received. I thought that would affect you psychologically and decided to contact you.]

[Edward: Well, thank you for your concern. I am fine. Even I am happy now that I have something more to protect.]

Tatsumi saw the message that came up and knew that his Senior had family to take care of. Although it took a long time for Edward to accept taking care of his family but now Tatsumi could say that even Edward started to get an additional reason for fighting in the Star Battle.

Then Tatsumi sent some more words before closing the application on his wristwatch and looked at the ceiling.

His thoughts were swirling about the invincibility that he had obtained in the same rank.

‘Invincible…huh. It feels great, but lonely at the same time. Perhaps that is the reason why some seek companionship while others endure it with sheer will.’

Tatsumi’s thoughts were on his current situation, where he was practically invincible in his civilization.

‘But outside, there will be a stronger opponent. This is just a temporary situation and I need to get stronger too. No, let’s get stronger together.’ Tatsumi was in a daze and some thoughts entered his mind and empowered him.

He hoped that those who were close to him could grow stronger and follow him. Truthfully, he was afraid of being alone despite knowing that the Afterlife existed.

‘That’s quite a thought you have.’ Kudungga was connected to him almost on a daily basis so he detected a change in Tatsumi’s mind.

‘Oh, it is just a slight thought that concern me. I feel like being invincible means that no one can match you and that is the reason why different people treat their loneliness differently.’ Tatsumi confessed.

‘So what will you do now that you have landed in that situation?’

‘I’d rather let my people go with me than endure the loneliness.’ Tatsumi replied almost instantly.

‘Do you hear what you said? That is the hard path to take. But once again, you often paved the way for the hard choice in your life.’ Goto added.

‘Furthermore, you know that your wives are still looking for your lineage.’ Chi You commented.

It was actually a long-term mission. His wives only knew that he was an orphan in the Heavensend Continent and born in the territory of the current Qin Empire. That was why they searched far and wide for his parents, but still no news.

Even when Tatsumi himself went to the Afterlife, he searched every single one of the people in it but it looked like the people related to him by blood knew him and hid themselves. Tatsumi could not force them to speak.

‘If no one wants to speak, then let the Father God decide that the people involved atone by revealing all they know about you in your youth.’ Kudungga commented.

‘But I searched all the people there. Do you mean to tell me that there is a chance that they concealed it?’ Tatsumi furrowed his brow as a serious question nagged at him.

‘Of course they could. We can make things better or worse in the Afterlife. Although our movements are more limited and we have to connect with someone, there is a high chance that the individual you seek is actually connected to you but conceals it.’ Goto said his mind.

‘Conceal the connection…’

Tatsumi murmured, trying to delve deeper into the connection. Instead of the usual feeling he got, now he tried very hard to discern the connection between his Nafs and the other. Tatsumi became so focused that other distractions faded into background noise.

Beyond the connection he had with the three forefathers…Tatsumi ‘felt’ the connection as if it were a thread and then he stopped.

He stopped because he felt an unfamiliar connection to his Nafs from a certain direction. Tatsumi tried to imprint the thread so that he could remember the person who was connected to him.

It was so hidden that Tatsumi had to focus all his attention on it, otherwise the feeling would fade.

The three forefathers then quickly helped Tatsumi locate the source of the other connection.

‘So it is true that the people closest to you after they have deceased will be connected to you who are still alive. That is both comforting yet sad.’ Kudungga commented.

‘Let us go as soon as possible to unravel this connection. I can’t wait to see what kind of people his grandfather turned out to be.’ Goto said with conviction.

They realized that Tatsumi’s parents were still alive even now, meaning that they embarked on the path of transcendence, increasing their lifespan.

But they were also certain that the grandparents were not so fortunate. Seeing the thread, they could guess that both the maternal and paternal grandparents were in the Library of Consciousness.

‘I don’t know what this mean but I need to get clarification from them.’ Tatsumi thought as he focused his feelings on the threads that were connected to him.

This time, he did not descend on the Afterlife but searching for the end of the connection in it. With the help of the three forefathers, Tatsumi managed to get to the sources of the connection.

Then Tatsumi sent his thoughts and feelings through the connection.

‘If you are related to me by blood, please respond. You have watched over me for so long but are afraid of exposing yourself. Now is the time for me to get to the bottom of this!’

Tatsumi used his strong willpower to get to the very source of the connection. Then he heard a hazy voice, strange and foreign to him.

“Please tell me that you are connected to me by blood.” Tatsumi’s voice was hoarse. He wanted to know more about the family that had abandoned him. He wanted to know the exact reason why his parents had left him in the Nine Suns Orphanage.

“I’m…sorry…”

“What are you sorry for!?” Tatsumi growled.

“We…did not know…during our lives.”

Tatsumi breathed out his frustration and tried to understand what they were saying.

‘Supposedly, they did not even realize that they had me as their grandson. Or is that truly the case?’ Tatsumi thought.

‘Let’s find out ourselves, shall we?’ Goto said while holding his excitement. He may be wise and knew many things but it did not mean that he knew everything.

Tatsumi nodded and then detected the sources of the connection. Connection meant that the deceased was someone quite close to the living. This time, Tatsumi was sure that they were his grandparents.

“If you have a story to tell, tell me first and foremost. Am I not your grandson?” Tatsumi spoke with a firm tone and a resolute mind.

There was no reply.

Kudungga, Goto and Chi You were waiting for a response since this matter involved Tatsumi and they were just there for support. Other than that, their information helped Tatsumi greatly at revealing his lineage.

Although the moves that Charlene and Ame had made were also referenced in their information.