The Ascension of the Celestial Priest

13; The Unexpected Breakthrough.

What woke Lukas up was an ungodly stench that seemed to come from everywhere. His face scrunched up, he felt like every fiber in his being was covered in slime and grime and it made his hairs stand and his mouth gag even as he was still a half awake.

Collecting himself he looked around only to see himself and her sister were sprawled on the floor and for some reason both of them were covered with something sticky and dirty that it shook him both to full awareness. Getting up in a hurry he broke to the small window, opened it, got a mouthful of fresh air and before he rushed to the bathroom he woke up his sister in a hurry.

"Aria! Wake up "she groggily woke up too and then when the smell hit her she visibly shivered. Waking up as if electrocuted she looked around and seemingly took every little detail in flash before she took his bed cover, covered herself with it and then rushed out of the room without another word. Nothing about what they saw, what they did and even what the hell happened. And it wasn't as if they could even talk as he tried to utter a word as she left before gagging on the stench like a drowning fish.

He hurried went to his plain bathroom, thanking the heavens they were some filled water containers inside and then washed and scrubbed himself more than twice e for a good measure. He was never one for being a germ phobic but gods forbid that smell was enough to turn anyone into one.

After his mind calmed; he thought about it and then shook his head. He didn't know what happened after they had fainted from his Soul Altar to somehow their bodies being caked with such stuff. He can only reason that somehow the whole stench was caused by either one of both of them though if he couldn't tell the reason why in the first place.

After the bath he felt lighter, cleaner, his senses seemed as if they were heightened and even his mana seemed denser…wait mana. He checked his body and it was vibrating with mana twice that what he had before. Puzzled he stretched himself first before letting his mana out and to his surprise it was gleaming now. He was surrounded by a bluish and whitish haze that flowed and swirled around in a visible manner. He instinctively felt he got even stronger than before.

Mid Mortal rank, his mind suddenly made the conclusion. Puzzled and excited he cleaned up the room in a hurry making sure the ungodly smell vanished, crossed his leg and then started running the visualization art in his mind palace. And lo behold it run even smoother, more powerful and seemed to be able to refine even more mana that before. Drunk in the godly feeling and distracted he found himself meditating for hours even before a knock pulled him out of his reverie.

Looking outside it was nearly evening. The whole ordeal took place in a span of a few hours and even his meditation made him forget about time. With his stomach growling, the door opened revealing his younger sister with a small bundle of cloth is her hands.

They looked at each other before they both smiled at each other almost as if they read each other mind to take their time and not embarrass each other about what just happened.

"I brought some food."She fully entered, "Something told me you would be distracted and so I thought I could spare you some trouble."

"Thanks "Lukas felt grateful. He shifted himself from the floor, bringing the bundle with him to the table, while his sister sat on the newly made bed. The bundle contained few fruits, some pleasant smelling herbs and wooden container. Opening it, it exploded with a crispy smell that sent Lukas's stomach stumbling with hunger and caused his tongue to salivate. Without further ado, he took a small piece of the roasted meat inside and it instantly melted inside his mouth, sending a warm energy from his stomach to all over his body.

"What is this?" he couldn't help but ask. Her sister half-smiled as she answered "Just some wild pheasants my master breeds in her courtyard. They are Tier 2 beasts and they are usually a preferred delicacy for her meal."

Lukas delved in even deeper, savoring the taste feeling the energy coursing through his whole body.

"It is delicious" he said.

"Well don't get used to it." She said "I could barely sneak it under her nose. Though once in a while we do get a chance to taste them and today was one of those days"

Lukas turned at Ariandel and a question formed in his mind. "Who is your master?" he curiously asked. All Ariandel did in response was just smile and then change the subject.

"You had a breakthrough" she observed. Being the stronger of the two she could positively see how mana throbbed around his young brother. Lukas knew it was not the right for him to push for an answer so he shrugged before he nodded in response.

"After I woke up it didn't take me long for me to notice that I have advanced." He continued," I found my mana was twice as much as last time. I think I broke through Mid-Mortal Rank"

His sister nodded as if she wasn't surprised. "I also broke through a small realm; from Early to a Mid Ranked Earth Mage."

They both paused, looked at each other as similar thoughts crossed their minds.

"You don't think…." Aria asked

"That godly statue is responsible for this… "Lukas finished in a whisper.

Aria then asked a question that had puzzled her ever since she laid eyes on the figure.

"What do think that statue is? A God?"

Lukas was just about to answer before he paused. He had to consider his response because no matter what , he was a reincarnated soul, and the Cosmic figure inside of him might just be the reason why he was still alive and breathing. And thinking further on it, the action of letting his sister into his soul altar was the reason why he elicited a first response from it though why it had increased both of their cultivation in the first place added to many of the questions he already had. He still had a few shivers every time he remembered the foreboding feeling he experienced and the stark naked feeling he had when the golden eyes settled on him.

"I…don't know." was the final response he gave. And in part he was telling the truth, just not the whole truth. Her sister took his response in stride and went on.

"Well whatever that figure is, It may have given us the kind of opportunity that most people would have never imagined in their dreams."

Lukas finished his succulent mean before he turned to ask "What do you mean?"

Aria paused in thought "I think…and this is by a long guess is that we have been purified…in a way." She added "My master once taught me that with each breakthrough we get the chance to purify our foundation, from our soul to our bodies in ways we can barely comprehend until we reach higher realms. And if I'm not wrong it also helped with our bloodline…though for now I have no idea what it is."

Lukas bowed his head in thought. From his sister's thoughts all of what she said made sense. From the ungodly stench that could be attributed to their bodies being cleaned to the blood resonance they both felt. In the end Lukas's body has been reborn, meaning it can now be said he has upgraded his talent immensely and more benefits will be seen in the near future.

"Next time we return home, we need to learn more about said bloodline." He spoke.

Aria nodded in agreement. "Maybe our Family's heritage might have something in their records about it but for now." she got up from the bed. Her whole body visibly radiating immense amount of mana; which she unconsciously slipped for a moment.

"We need to keep this between us only. What you have encountered in that forest might the kind of fortuitous encounter in a magnitude we do not understand yet. We should never allow it to slip even a a hint of it or else we might find ourselves in the kind of trouble that might just cost our lives"

Lukas inclined in agreement before his face got a little worried. She smiled in response, "You don't have to worry. Not a word of this will reach my master's ears. Not until we figure it out if we can trust her or not. Be careful." She lightly said before she made for the door.

"Don't worry." Lukas said as he watched her leave. "Are you going already?"

She nodded. "I have to return to my abode and stabilize my new rank. It's enough for me today. Too many surprises and too many secrets all around." she jokingly smiled before she hid her worries deep inside. "Strengthen your foundation and prepare yourself. If I'm not wrong then you still have a few more weeks before you are called for your final mission."

She gave her swift goodbyes before she disappeared from his room. On her way back to the inner sect, she was filled by too many thoughts. Every time she remembered those golden eyes a chill passed through her body. She was right in the end; her brother had changed after he returned though she couldn't really tell if it was a heaven's blessings or hell's curse for her brother to have such a godly figure in his soul altar.

Only time would tell.