Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 355: Dangerous Task

Volde paused for a moment, then spoke again, his tone respectful but cautious. He glanced toward the abyss once more before returning his gaze to Lucas. "There is one thing I must ask," he said carefully. "Transporting small groups is one matter, but moving thousands in succession is another entirely. Spatial techniques are notorious for collapsing under strain. How will your ability handle the sheer scale of this?"

Lucas did not answer immediately. He met Volde’s eyes calmly, his expression composed and unreadable, as though the question had been expected long before it was voiced. Around them, the army continued its restless preparations, yet in that moment the noise felt distant.

"You are right to ask," Lucas finally said. "A careless use of spatial power on this scale would tear the pathways apart or leave people stranded between points, and that is something I would never risk."

Volde nodded slowly. "That is precisely my concern. Even seasoned spatial cultivators avoid repeated long range transfers in hostile zones."

Lucas folded his hands behind his back and took a small step forward, his voice steady and confident. "If I were unsure of my limits, I would not even propose this plan, let alone place an entire army’s life upon it. My spatial control has reached a level where stability is no longer an issue, even with repeated use."

Volde studied him intently, searching for hesitation or exaggeration, but found neither. "So there will be no backlash. No degradation with each transfer."

"There will not," Lucas replied without wavering. "The pathways will remain fixed once established, and each group will pass through without interference."

Volde exhaled quietly, the tension in his brow easing. "Then that answers my concern. I only asked because I have seen too many confident plans crumble when power meets reality."

Lucas gave a faint, knowing smile. "Caution keeps people alive. I value that."

Volde inclined his head again, satisfied. "Very well. If you say there will be no problems, then I trust your judgment. You have earned that much already."

Lucas met his gaze, his expression firm. "Focus on your role once the crossing begins. Leave the spatial pathways to me."

Volde straightened, resolve settling into his features. "Understood. I will be ready when the first group moves."

Lucas nodded once, signaling the end of the exchange, and turned his attention back toward the looming abyss, his confidence unshaken and his true reasons kept firmly to himself.

Lucas remained where he was for a moment longer, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse of the abyss as if he were measuring it against something only he could see. Outwardly, his composure never faltered, yet inwardly he understood the truth with striking clarity. This was not a feat he could have attempted days ago, nor was it something his former limits would have endured without tearing apart under the strain.

He knew, with absolute certainty, that this was only possible because of the profound changes wrought within him by the empress’s celestial essence. The refinement of his body, the stabilization of his meridians, and most importantly the evolution of his spatial authority had elevated him beyond what conventional cultivation alone could have achieved in such a short span of time. The spatial void within him felt deeper now, broader and more obedient,space itself had learned to yield rather than resist.

Lucas closed his eyes briefly, breathing in and out with measured calm, acknowledging the silent debt he carried without allowing it to burden his focus. Whatever had transpired had already become part of him, inseparable and permanent, and now it would decide the fate of thousands. When he opened his eyes again, the weight of that responsibility settled firmly upon his shoulders, yet his resolve did not waver.

This power had not been gained for indulgence or pride, and he intended to use it exactly as it was meant to be used.

After a while, with all preparations settled and no further words required, Lucas stepped forward with the ice belle drifting quietly at his side. Without ceremony, he folded space around them and vanished from the edge of the boundary, reappearing deep within the dark abyss itself. The transition was instant, yet the moment his feet touched the ashen ground, the oppressive weight of the abyss pressed down on him like an unseen tide.

The land around him was lifeless and cracked, its surface blackened as though scorched by ancient calamities that had never truly faded. The air was thick, heavy with a suffocating stillness that carried the echoes and cries of tormented souls. Even for a cultivator of his level, the abyss was hostile, gnawing at both body and spirit with relentless intent. The ice belle hovered closer to him instinctively, her presence radiating a gentle chill that pushed back the corruption seeping through the air.

Lucas steadied himself and extended his senses outward, carefully measuring the distance he had traversed. This was as far as he could go in a single leap without risking instability, and it was far enough to serve as the first anchor point. With a slow, deliberate motion, he knelt and pressed his palm against the ground, channeling his spatial qi with absolute precision. The space around his hand rippled faintly, responding to his will as invisible lines of authority sank into the fabric of the abyss.

He then turned to the ice belle and nodded softly, his voice calm despite the crushing atmosphere. She understood immediately, drifting forward and releasing a stream of pure icy essence that flowed like silver mist before sinking into the marked area. Her energy intertwined seamlessly with his spatial qi, forming a stable seal that glowed faintly before vanishing from sight. Though invisible to the eye, the mark was unmistakable to his senses, a fixed coordinate anchored firmly against the chaotic nature of the abyss.

Lucas rose to his feet and surveyed the area once more, committing every detail to memory. This point would serve as the first gateway, a place where the army could gather briefly before moving onward through the next passage. Satisfied, he drew a slow breath and prepared to move again, knowing this was only the beginning of a long and dangerous task that rested squarely on his shoulders.