Just before they arrived at Kyoma, Carter parted way with Tenmaru.

"Our journey ends here, Tenseitama." Carter said.

"You’re not going to go with me to Kyoma?" Tenmaru raised an eyebrow.

"No. But don’t worry, Ginro Musashi will be there. He will fulfill his promise to you." Carter said.

Tenmaru nodded. The words of a Shrine Maiden was enough to reassure him. After all, she had never been wrong about her prophecy.

Tenmaru rushed his horse forward and disappeared down the trail.

’Finally. He is gone.’

Carter needed to part way with him to switch to Ginro. He also needed to pick the aspect he would retain also. He diverted from the trail and stopped the horse under a tree.

"Stay here." Carter patted it gently. This time, however, the horse seemed to understand him.

It nodded.

Carter raised an eyebrow. ’Is this also an effect of the new powers I have?’

The white-haired girl sat down beside the stumped.

Carter had exceeded 100% Synchronization and allowed him to retain one aspect from the Shrine Maiden. He, obviously, was going to choose one of the Transcendent Ability or the Transcension Skill.

True Eyes. Carter didn’t know what this ability did yet. Its description was also very concise, disallowing him to understand its true potential.

Transcendent Aura. This was almost an upgrade ability from Superhuman Adrenaline. It lost the enhancement aspect but in return gave Carter an unimaginable advantage. He could freely affect other objects or beings. But the extent of this power was unknown.

Transcendent Circulation. Another Transcendent Ability, an immunity toward other types of energy.

And then the Transcension Skill, the skill that needed the fusion of 12 other skills to be created. Its actual capability was unknown.

Carter rubbed his chin in deep thoughts.

’I really don’t know which one to choose because I don’t know the true extent of these abilities yet. Maybe I need to test them first...’

Carter refrained from picking his aspect for now. Instead, he took out his Cards of Destiny.

’I can have a total of 4 Guardians. I only have Seija now. There are three more open slots.’

Transcension was a unique skill. It didn’t just mutate his abilities and grant him a new one. It also affected how he used his already existing abilities.

When he touched the cards, a faint white glow enveloped them and they floated gently in the air.

_’What is happening?’ Carter widened his eyes for a little bit.

He could control the cards with only his thoughts.

’Is this Transcendent Aura?’

Carter looked over to grass on the field. He used Transcendent Aura alongside with Half Formation. The short skinny grass suddenly blossom and became larger.

His eyelids fluttered gently.

’So this is what Transcendent Aura means. It isn’t just manipulating your own body anymore. But it does have one big restriction.’

Carter could feel his power deplete greatly the more drastic changes he tried to enforce.

But that wasn’t all, his power wasn’t limited to plant alone. He saw a caterpillar climbing on the branch of a tree. It was chomping on some leaves passionately.

White aura enveloped Carter’s hand as he slowly twisted his palm. The white light appeared on the caterpillar and quickly skipped the entire half of its first life.

It created a cocoon and within a second, a butterfly flew out.

’Transcendent Aura... The most precise description of this ability is the power to adjust reality to your will.’

Carter weaved his fingers. The Destiny Cards swirled in the air like dancers.

’But it can also enhance my other ability.’

Carter was very tempted to retain the Aura. But he needed to test other things too.

’Let’s see. Show me a potential Yokai that I can turn into a Guardian. This Yokai must allow me to test the power of Transcendent Circulation.’

Three cards floated in front of him. Transcension had affected Cards of Destiny and made it to react differently. The chaotic manifestation of the elements were no more. Instead, the elements flooded out of the cards and fused with the Transcendent Aura around it, making the aura to shine all kinds of different colors.

The three cards were water, grass, and wind.

’Not even a fire card?’

The three cards transformed in front of him. Each manifested into a portal. Carter was pleasantly surprised by the changes. He was even more like a seer now.

Carter reached his hand into each of the portal.

’I see... What changed the Cards of Destiny wasn’t Transcendent Aura. Transcendent Aura was only a manifestation of Transcension. The power originated from the Skill itself.’

Carter had learned what he needed to do. He stood up and turned off his Aura.

’This ability is consuming a lot of energy. I might need an ability that can fix this.’

Carter jumped back on horseback and dashed down the road.

Sendoku, the Toad Poison Sect was created by Ryuja many years ago. But Ryuja was also once a disciple of another Sect. This Sect was called Madoku, the Demonic Poison Sect.

Madoku was a long Sect with hundred of years of history. Unfortunately, the Grandmaster of Madoku made a mistake accepting Ryuja as his disciple. His entire Sect was slaughtered mercilessly by the legendary Toad Poison that he made himself.

As for the former Grandmaster of Madoku, he was nowhere to be found. Some said Ryuja killed him a long time ago. Some said he died with his Sect the day Ryuja betrayed them. And some said, the Grandmaster had run away.

None were true. Because Carter had learned what truly happened that day.

Carter went to the ruin that was once the fiercest Fighter Sect of this entire Empire, the Demonic Poison Sect.

It was only boulders and debris now. A few remnants of what would be grand modular structures of the past Sect.

The white-haired girl rode into the place with her horse. Even now, the Sect was filled with the remaining Toad Poison. Nothing lived here, not even plant.

The Toad Poison was heavier than air. It lingered low on the ground and concentrated into large purple smoke.

"Stay here." Carter told his horse.