The Indestructible Soul was a rare phenomenon of the martial world. In fact, it was so rare that Ryu didn't know much about it outside of its base abilities. Seeing it interact with the souls of Yaana and Ailsa, though, he found it all to be very fascinating.
The gap between his soul and Ailsa's was enormous. When they dual cultivated, it should have been her nurturing his soul, not the other way around. But, somehow, the exact opposite occurred.
Beneath the influence of Ryu's Indestructible Soul, both of his wives found their souls growing in foundation and gaining tinges of gold. Though it didn't seem like there was any amount of sex that could bring them to the same level as Ryu, what was undeniable was the fact that the stronger Ryu's own soul grew, the more they would benefit from it.
These benefits were fairly subtle for now. But, Ryu had a feeling that it would be a great help toward the two women forming their Godhoods in the future.
If others knew that Ryu was planning for the day both of his wives would become Sky Gods, they would definitely call him a madman. If they knew that he actually planned for the day all three would step into that stage, they might very well directly try to lock him up. The Sky God Realm wasn't something you could just guarantee entering because you felt like it.
But, Ryu didn't seem to care about common sense and logic. He felt like there was nothing out of his reach with his current Pupils. He believed that his wives would be able to make it on their own. If that failed, he was confident in his ability to guide them. If even that failed, there was nothing in this world that could hide from his eyes, he would scour the whole of the martial world for the treasures they needed to take that final step.
Nothing would stop him.
'It's been a while since I've seen Master, I should go.'
Ryu closed his eyes, his arms still wrapped around his women as his mind entered the Crystalline Jade.
…
'This feels… different.'
It had been a very long time since Ryu entered this space because it had mostly outgrown its usefulness if he was honest.
The technique floor was useless to him as he already had the Visualizations of the four Zu Ancestors. They alone would take a lifetime to master and bring to their peak, so why would he waste time with other Visualizations, especially since they were so powerful to begin with?
Flora's <Divine Chaotic Annihilation> Visualization was endlessly versatile. It could do everything from protecting Ryu's mind all the way until stripping the surroundings of qi. But, that was all auxiliary. Its greatest strength would always be in an ultimate defense and counter Visualization, capable of taking even the most powerful of attacks, tearing them to shreds, and then breaking them down to the most fundamental of Spiritual Qi.
With an Indestructible Soul, Ryu's current Spiritual Qi reserves were already vast, but they weren't endless. In tandem with Flora's Visualization, his Mental Realm stamina was leagues and bounds beyond most others.
Eska's <Immortal Sakura> Visualization spoke for itself. When fused with Ryu's Heavenly Patterns it was a practically impenetrable defense. And, even in the case attacks shattered the petals, something that rarely happened nowadays, Ryu's Indestructible Soul would no longer take damage like it had in the past, making it an absolute nightmare for enemies.
Morvar's <Infinite Formation Eye> Visualization was probably the most versatile of them all. It allowed Ryu the ability to deploy large scale formations without having to rely on precious materials and formation flags.
If Ryu was honest, if he put time and effort into this Visualization, it would likely quickly become one of his most lethal abilities. A combination of this Visualization, with his Heavenly Pupils and Origin Flame would wreak havoc on a level never before seen.
Of course, since Ryu realized he had neglected it, he would also make the effort to change things. With how matters were now, his next step to becoming the one man army he always viewed himself as was this. If he could deploy large scale formations mid battle, who cared how many enemies he faced? He would destroy them all.
Finally, there was the Visualization of Ryu's Master, <Elemental War God>.
The Staff Stage, the Outline Stage, the Skeleton Stage, the Vein Stage, and finally, the Wheel Stage.
Ryu had already reached the Skeleton Stage, allowing him a perfect Spirit Body that even allowed him to de and reconstruct his soul into and out of the Elements without much issue. It was thanks to his Master that the mysterious white flame leapt to action, becoming the foundation that allowed his soul to become Indestructible… Or, maybe according to a theory of Ailsa's, return to what it once had been…
Ryu had yet to properly research the Vein and Wheel Stages, so it can be said that he had let his Master down in this regard. He couldn't allow his skill in the other Ancestors' Visualization to surpass his comprehension of <Elemental War God>.
This was all to say that Ryu was very confident that all of his bases were covered when it came to Visualizations so the first floor wasn't something he needed to visit for them. And, now that he had the treasure vaults of two of his Clans with him, not to mention Ailsa by his side, he didn't need the other techniques here either.
So, when Ryu stepped into the Crystalline Jade once again for the first time in a long while and felt how fresh and novel the feeling was, he couldn't help but bask in it for a moment.
Was this how it felt to step into a world of the Ethereal Plane while having the talent to back it? Things no longer felt foggy or distant, and because his Heavenly Pupils were unlocked to their full degree, nothing could hide from him either.
And… That was precisely why when he stepped foot onto the first floor for the first time in a very long time, he could finally see it…
Ryu had neglected a point. There weren't four Ancestor Visualizations on the first floor, there were five of them. The fifth had always been covered in a dense layer of fog Ryu could never see through…
Until this moment.