Chapter 669 - Space Element

Alex looked around the house with the Great Elder as his guide. The house wasn't that big. In fact, it looked like his house on Earth. Two-stories house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, except that this house was mostly made of wood. 

"This is your house, do you have anything you need?" Aileen asked.

"No. As long as it's comfortable to stay, I don't have many requirements." Alex nodded with a smile.

"Then, do you want to fight me? I can probably see your combat style and give you some pointers. After all, you only learn Space Ability this late, so it might only be a support ability for you. That's why I need to see your full combat ability to make sure I don't give wrong advice." Aileen asked.

'I think it's good to end everything today. I can talk with Anna and the others later since I might need a few months in this place. Besides, there are still one and a half years before the banquet starts… I have plenty of time." Alex nodded. "Yes. I will follow Great Elder's instruction."

"Good." Aileen nodded before using her Spatial Gate again to connect this house with her personal training area. She thought about having him call her by her name to make him more comfortable, but she felt it would only have the opposite effect. Hence, she waited until Alex became used to this new place first.

They went inside the gate and arrived in a huge dirt field. It was a huge field with its size around 1x1 kilometers. It seemed that he and the Great Elder would have a great fight here. 

"This is where we fight. The whole field has been protected by Array, so you can go all out." Aileen smiled. "I actually want to have you fight against my disciple instead of me, but he is on the surface right now… Probably come back here in three days or something. He is a quite good disciple and has reached 1-Star Martial Saint, so both of you should have good sparring later on."

Her plan was to have Alex and her disciple be a rival to stimulate each other's potential. Hopefully, his disciple wouldn't be so petty to think Alex's age and somehow get jealous about it.

"Anyway, Viola said you have two elements, Fire and Space, especially that both elements are stronger than your Master's. That's why I will not limit myself in this fight, so come at me with your full power."

Alex nodded before releasing his Spiritual Energy as he made a distance from Aileen. He took out both weapons and let his Pure Fire out. This might be the first time he fought with all of his abilities in one on one fight. 

Aileen took out her weapon that turned out to be a bow and nodded at him, telling him she was ready. 

Alex leaped toward her while activating his Spirit Eyes. Aileen didn't do anything and only waited for him to come at her, albeit Alex suddenly felt a faint presence. Checking with his Spirit Eyes, he could see three Space Plates appeared between them, trying to trip him up.

The three plates were varied in height. One was on his foot, one was at his stomach while the last one was right in front of his head. 

Alex leaped and stepped on the highest Space Plate and attacked her from above. 

"Heaven Light Slash!"

"You can perceive the Space Plates with your Spiritual Energy. That's good." She misunderstood him. Alex might be able to faintly sense the Space Plates with his Spiritual Energy, but not to the point he could locate them. If he didn't have Spirit Eyes, he might need to retreat. 

"An expert should be able to feel it from afar. That's why you shouldn't use Space Plates easily outside because people will know you have a Space Element." She softly started her lecture while creating another Space Plate above her head, blocking Alex's attack. Yet, she suddenly realized she had been underestimating him this whole time. 

Leaping backward, she saw Alex breaking her Space Plate easily. She smiled and praised him once more. "To think you have become a Sword Saint at such a young age. I heard the tale of your master and thought he was the pinnacle of talent, yet you just proved I was wrong. Haiz, there is always a sky above the sky."

Alex ignored all her comments and slashed his sword and spear, sending two sword waves. 

"Blade of Conquest."

"Anyway, Space Element is very versatile. You can use its power as if taking advantage of your Pure Fire. Like this." She raised her hands, and ten Space Plates appeared. Each of his sword waves would face five Space Plates at the same time.

His sword waves continued, breaking every single Space Plate before stopping on the Fourth Space Plate. "!!!" 

'Although I didn't use my Mythical Fire Slash, I still attacked her with Absolute Blade Path, Blade of Conquest, and Spiritual Weapons. If I used Mythical Fire Slash, she might only need to add a few more Space Plates to completely block it!' Alex thought, sweating profusely. It would be bad to have his strongest attack destroyed with only Space Plates.

"Just like how a few Element Arts can be used at all stages, Space Element Arts can also be used that way. Spatial Gate and Space Plate are an example. If you can master the control of Space Element in nature and draw the line from Space World… or that Blue Layered Realm, you can create a strengthened Space Plate like earlier.

"I will ask you this, how many Space Plates do you need to block your attack?" She narrowed her eyes.

Alex was startled by the question and thought seriously. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" It was her turn to be surprised before she shook her head helplessly. To think you are that far behind… I am wondering how you used your Space Element this whole time."

"Teleportation Array, Sneaking with Spatial Gate, and Making Array with Space Plate," Alex answered honestly.

"I'm done! To think you only use it that way, such a waste of talent." She let out a long sigh. "I could feel something from you using the Spatial Gate earlier… I noticed that the intensity of the Space Element in your body was greater than mine. That's why I am saying you are wasting your talent.

"Fine, I will give you the basics of Space Element first. What do I mean by intensity earlier? Just like how you differentiate normal Fire Element to Pure Fire with the strength, Space Element has a way as well. That is to see the power to pull or suck the Space Element from nature to form your Space Ability.

"I could feel that instead of pulling the Space Element nearby, it seemed that they were attracted to your Space Element itself. In other words, you might have around 1.5x more absorption than normal people. After all, the Space Elements naturally gather to your Space Ability in one case, and you can force your Space Ability to absorb them in another case.

"This process will be easy since the real problem is how fast you can do it. This will be your homework all the time you are staying here. Are we clear?"

"Yes. Thank you, Great Elder." Alex nodded and cupped his hand respectfully.

"No need to thank me yet. I will be charging for this additional lesson later." Aileen shrugged, following the rule to the bone. "I will tell you how to absorb the Space Element in the air after this fight since this is the basics."

"Understood."

"Then come at me again. Don't forget about using your Space Element."

Alex nodded and raised both weapons again. He charged at her with his spear, trying to thrust her neck with it.

Aileen simply created another Space Plate to block this spear charge. It was at this time, Alex smiled as he shifted his stance, and the spear started becoming blurry.

"Phantom Thrust!" The spear appeared blurry and somehow bent as if it was a snake. It continued toward Aileen's neck, hoping it would reach her. 

Unfortunately, it was stopped by invisible barriers, only allowing him to break the first two layers. "That was a good move indeed. Luckily, I sensed some danger from it and prepared a countermeasure. This will be the second lesson. You already know about creating a larger Space Plate, right?"

Alex nodded as he retreated once more.

"Then do you know that a Space Plate can actually be shaped into anything you want? Don't be fixated on its name, thinking it will only be a rectangular plate. You can use this technique to create a sphere or a cube… Anything. Of course, its durability will be much lower, but you can simply create multiple of them simultaneously. You can even trap your opponent in an invisible barrier."

Alex opened his eyes wide and decided to test it by creating a sphere. He was surprised once again when he succeeded on his first try. Although the energy was unstable, he only needed to practice more.

"Oh… You even can make it on the first try. This is truly a waste of talent. I'm wondering why you do not train your Space Element?" Aileen sighed. "Does your master actually not teach you?"

Alex shook his head. The first time I met Master was long ago. I had Space Element at that time, but it was too disappointing that Master thought I needed to search for another one." Alex shook his head. What he said was true, and that was why Maxwell said if he got his Space Element, it would come from this place. Of course, that was only his prior thought, and after knowing Lin Xingzhi, his system, and his progress, he didn't think like that anymore. 

On the other hand, the last time they met was when Alex was chased by multiple Martial Kings. Maxwell didn't really have too much time back then, so he only cared about his current progress. Alex also sometimes wished he had more guidance from his own Master, albeit the condition didn't allow him. 

If someone asked whether he regretted it or not, he would say no. Only by facing and learning all of these things alone would he progress faster.

"Such a shame." She sighed. "Well, Your Master's biggest strength is Fire Element, so seeing your Pure Fire must get him fixated on it. Anyway, I shouldn't badmouth others here and focus on teaching you the basics.

"You are doing good in your Space Plate already. At least it doesn't have as much problem as your Spatial Gate. After knowing these basic things, the Space Plate will be your strongest defense."

"I can see that." Alex nodded in agreement. In fact, Aileen didn't move this whole time due to the Space Plate technique. Not only could she generate it again and again, but she could also do it all around her body and her surroundings. The reason she chose a bow must be… "Did Great Elder use a bow because your Space Plate is your main ability?"

"Correct." Aileen nodded with a smile. "I am mastering my Bow to kill my enemy while using Space Plate to defend my body. I will be like a moving fortress at that time.

"However, there is also another step to this. Just like how you use Intent to cover your Element Arts, you can also fuse one to your Space Plate, reinforcing it even further."

She raised her hand and released a few more Space Plates. 

Alex could see another energy which was supposed to be her Bow Intent. "That is really powerful. I am not confident I can break it… Maybe only two?"

"Haha… Don't forget that I'm still an 8-Star Martial Saint. It's already ridiculous to break two of my Space Plates." She laughed out loud.

Alex couldn't help but smile, not knowing whether he was happy with the praise or the knowledge about Space. If he had mastered Space Ability from the start, it would surely increase his ability even further.