After both sides became better acquainted, the group resumed their journey toward the colossal tree aboard the expanded celestial cloud. Anda had to weave additional celestial clouds into their main one to create more rooms and space for the newcomers.
With the addition of Barcas and Livana, their numbers grew to fifteen people, not including their spirit beasts.
During the initial reunion, Barcas had been too overwhelmed to notice, but he later learned with astonishment that their group included a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. His surprise deepened when he was told about the spirit artifact that could temporarily revert a cultivator's realm back to the Core Formation stage, allowing them to pass through the portal.
Barcas acknowledged the practicality of this idea, but his own mind was occupied by a far grander ambition. He did not wish to merely adapt to the portals' limitations. He wanted to study the portals themselves, with the ultimate goal of stabilizing the void tunnel so completely that any cultivator, regardless of their realm, could travel through it safely.
Of course, he recognized this as an end goal, a distant pinnacle of his research. For now, his objective was more immediate. He aimed to first recreate the portal, making it usable for rapid travel across the Cloud Continent, and eventually, for travel between continents.
The path he had chosen was bound to be incredibly difficult, fraught with challenges that had stymied cultivators for millennia. Yet, since this unique talent had chosen him, he felt a profound responsibility not to let it go to waste. Among the billions of people on the Cloud Continent, only a rare few were born with the innate ability to sense and discern all kinds of energy. This included energies unsuitable for cultivation that spirit roots could not detect, and even higher-level energies typically only perceptible to cultivators in much higher realms.
A prime example was spatial energy. Normally, only those who had reached the Soul Transformation Realm could begin to perceive it. Yet, he and his sister had been able to sense it since birth. Once their rare talents were discovered, the Institute of Universal Energies had immediately recruited them, nurturing their gifts with the best resources available.
Having been exposed to such greatness and wondrous possibilities since childhood, how could he not dream on a grand scale?
Later, as the journey continued, the topic of Barbara and Leyvi's relationship eventually came up, and Barcas learned the full details. While he had formed a good impression of Leyvi so far, appreciating his friendliness and open-handed generosity, the fact that Leyvi already had multiple wives gave him pause. He found it difficult to fully accept this arrangement for his sister.
This would not have been such a significant issue if they came from a small family or a commoner background. However, they were from a prominent family in the Central Region. Given their status, his sister did not need to share a husband with other women, and this fact made it hard for him to consent.
And so, the twins engaged in a private exchange using sound transmission at the rear of the cloud, discussing the matter at length. Barcas tried to dissuade her, while Barbara worked to convince him of her choice.
Leyvi was aware of this private discussion, but he did not dwell on it. He had already made his decision, and Barbara had agreed to it. Barcas's opinion, while understandable, did not ultimately matter to him on this point. That did not mean, however, that he would treat Barcas poorly because of his disapproval. Leyvi had always made it a point to treat his family and extended family very well.
Meanwhile, Victor watched the situation with a sense of amusement. He had been in a similar position to Barcas a decade prior, when his own sister, Selene, had wanted to marry what he had then seen as a country bumpkin. He remembered his own doubts and disapproval vividly. Although he now fully approved of Leyvi, his own preference for quiet and solitude meant he still could not truly connect with Leyvi's loud and outgoing nature.
The debate between Barbara and Barcas continued for some time. Finally, Barbara broke away from the conversation and approached Leyvi, asking him to follow her.
Does she need my help to convince her brother? Leyvi thought, his mind beginning to race. Hmm... what should I say to convince him?
Brother-in-law! Barbara and I are in love with each other! Nothing you say or do will separate us! Our love is unbreakable!
No, no, no. Too dramatic. Leyvi shook his head inwardly. That kind of speech only happens in Sayu's romance novels.
Brother-in-law, if you disapprove of our relationship, I will make sure your life is as miserable as possible! Your family will disown you, your wife will leave you, and your child will spit on you! You will wish you were dead!
No, no, no. He shook his head again, more firmly this time. That is something a cliched villain would say. Far too vile. That cockroach villain Ori might say something like this.
Brother-in-law, look at all these Void Crystals. If you approve our relationship, I will give you enough for a lifetime of research!
Leyvi was about to dismiss this idea as well, but then he paused. This one actually had potential. After all, Void Crystals possessed the mysterious power to siphon energy. A brilliant researcher like Barcas would surely be fascinated by the question of where all that energy went.
Leyvi gave a slow, internal nod. This might be a very effective bribe.
A few moments later, Leyvi and Barbara were seated at the rear of the celestial cloud, facing Barcas and Livana. Leyvi maintained his usual, friendly smile, ready to begin his carefully prepared negotiation.
But before he could utter a single word, Barbara spoke first.
"Brother, let me show you this," Barbara said. Without any warning, she suddenly lifted up the hem of Leyvi's shirt, fully exposing his sculpted and well-defined muscular abdomen.
Huh? What the heck!? Leyvi blinked, completely dumbfounded. He had not anticipated this development at all.
What is she trying to do? Leyvi's mind raced. Don't tell me she is trying to be intimate with me in front of her brother? Girl, don't be crazy! How does this win your brother's approval? People would think I am a sex fiend!
Barbara's next action made Leyvi feel even more bewildered.
She took her brother's hand and guided it directly toward Leyvi's exposed abdomen.
Wait, wait! What are you doing, Barbara? I don't have a problem with people of different orientations, but I only like women, you know? I don't want your brother!
Barcas's palm made contact with Leyvi's skin.
Immediately, his eyes widened in shock. What? What kind of energy is this? It felt akin to Qi, yet fundamentally different at the same time. And the sheer volume of energy was staggering. A standard core shouldn't be capable of holding such an immense amount. What is with this guy's core? It is incredible. There was no existing record of such a phenomenon, meaning it was likely unprecedented.
Barcas glanced at his sister. He saw her wide, knowing smile and her sparkling, eager expression.
I see. So my sister agreed to marry him because of this. The realization dawned on him. This Leyvi was probably the only person in the world with this specific kind of core and energy. A mysterious, one-of-a-kind phenomenon like this was something that would captivate any true researcher. He felt his own powerful curiosity stirring.
However, prying into the secrets of another cultivator's foundation without consent was a serious taboo, strictly forbidden by the Protectors. The only legitimate path to studying this mystery was through a close, sanctioned relationship.
By marrying him, Barbara would have the unique opportunity to study this anomaly and potentially make a grand discovery that could reshape their understanding of cultivation.
Understanding his sister's true intention, Barcas gradually came to terms with the situation. So what if Leyvi had multiple wives? Barbara was clever and resilient enough to handle it. This was merely a minor inconvenience when weighed against the monumental pursuit of uncovering the world's greatest mysteries.
Furthermore, a person capable of forming such a core was bound to become someone extraordinary. Aligning with him would not be a loss for her. Not to mention, Leyvi and his wives all seemed to possess kind and easygoing personalities, making them pleasant people to be around.
"Brother Leyvi, from now on, please take good care of my sister," Barcas said, his voice formal and sincere.
"Huh?" Leyvi blinked, thoroughly confused by the sudden shift. What just happened? He changed his mind just like that?
Did he like my toned body or something? He wondered, his thoughts spiraling. Or does their family have a specific requirement for a potential husband to be muscular? Oh, wait.
The memory surfaced.
It was the same with Barbara last time. Could he sense my abnormal core too? So he suddenly approved of me because of that?
A sense of understanding, mixed with bemusement, settled over him.
As expected from a scholar. Does that mean I can attract all scholarly ladies just by showing them my core?
The absurdity of the thought made him inwardly chuckle.