Prime Originator

There was only one explanation for the existence of a Realm Spirit within a secret realm; it was actually an Artifact Spirit for a Realm-grade Divine Artifact, something that is usually enormous in size.

In other words, the secret realm itself was one humongous artifact. 

"How unexpected…" Leon uttered with mild astonishment. 

"I suspected that the Eternal Night Secret Realm itself was the Eternal Night Demon Emperor's inner world, but I didn't expect for it to be a Realm-grade Divine Artifact. However, cultivators usually only use such large divine artifacts as transportation tools…"

'You're not wrong, sir. I, the Radiant Heaven Realmship, was once used to transport countless handsome lads and beautiful fairies across the vast stars in the distant past. And this is also the Eternal Night Demon Empress's inner world.'

The Realm Spirit informed Leon in its effeminate male voice, making the corners of Leon's lips twitch a few times in response. 

"Can you not speak like that?"

"Like what, sir?" 

The Realm Spirit expressed its confusion in its effeminate voice again.

"Never mind…" Leon's lips twitched again before voicing his doubt, "The Eternal Night Demon Emperor was a woman? Also, what do you mean by this place is the Radiant Heaven Realmship and the Eternal Night Demon Empress's inner world?"

'Yes, sir, the Eternal Night Demon Empress was indeed a woman. And I, the Radiant Heaven Realmship, used to have lush green grass and beautiful cities until the Eternal Night Demon Empress's core cracked and spilled her inner world into my sub-realm.'

After the Realm Spirit explained effeminately, Leon rose into the sky and studied the secret realm around him before rubbing his chin thoughtfully. 

"I see… No wonder the realmship looks like this; the cities in the inner region were all buried, the grass in the outer regions blackened into Nethergrass, the majority of the dark energy liquified into the Bone Sea, and the rest spilled outside, right?"

As Leon analyzed the Radiant Heaven Realmship's cause of change, the Realm Spirit could not help but agree with astonishment.

'Yes, sir, you are exactly right. How did you know, sir? Are you a survivor from that chaotic time?' the Realm Spirit asked.

However, Leon shook his head with a soft chuckle. 

"Impossible. How old do you think I am? It's not that hard to guess if you compare the concentration of dark energy in each region. Nevertheless, I can understand why you have this weird and twisted personality."

'What do you mean, sir?' the Realm Spirit questioned Leon in its effeminate male voice.

"Ah, it's nothing, nothing at all. Don't worry about it…" Leon said as he waved his hand and changed the topic, "Since you are a Realm-grade Divine Artifact, I suppose you don't have a master at the moment, right?" 

'That… is correct, sir. But if you are thinking of refining me, I suggest you give up, sir. My core has already been damaged in the war and further damaged by you just now. Unless it's repaired, no one can bind me.'

"Aren't you supposed to be a Realm-grade Divine Artifact? Can't you repair yourself?" Leon queried with a weird look. 

'That might have been possible in the past, but the Eternal Night Demon Empress's dark power has corroded and changed me on a fundamental level. As a result, I can no longer use simple spirit energy to repair myself, not to mention this world lacks spirit energy.'

The Realm Spirit explained. 

After Leon contemplated for a short moment, he asks, "What if you had True Grandmist Energy?"

'…'

The Realm Spirit fell silent for a moment. 

'True Grandmist Energy? Sir, are you talking about the True Grandmist Energy, the energy of the gods?' 

The Realm Spirit suddenly erupted with excitement before quickly deflating with disappointment in the next instance.

'Ah, but how can there still be any True Grandmist Energy in this world? Ah, there might still be some in the depths of super black holes! Oh, but that's not a place anyone can reach either… Sigh!'

The Realm Spirit's fluctuating emotions between excitement and disappointment amused Leon before he decided to summon a wisp of True Grandmist Energy on his fingertip. 

"What do you think this is?" he quizzed it.

'T-this… this is…! True Grandmist Energy! Oh, my heavenly lord, to think that I would get to see True Grandmist again in this era…' 

The Realm Spirit exclaimed with sheer excitement and pleasant surprise before it suddenly paused with doubt. 

'Hm? This era? What era is this anyway? How long had I been slumbering for? One million years? No, I stopped counting when it hit one million years long ago… Ah, who cares!'

'Sir, there's no doubt that this godly energy you have can repair my core region!' the Realm Spirit stated before giggling creepily and abashedly. 

'Hehe, but do you have enough of True Grandmist Energy to repair my core, sir?'

"As much as you need," Leon coolly replied before curling his lips into a sly smile and saying, "But why should I give any of this energy to you?"

The Realm Spirit immediately froze. 

'But, sir, don't you wish to bind me? My core needs to be repaired before that can—"

"Hm, do I? You have such a questionable character. Maybe I will find a better realmship elsewhere," Leon said with amusement. 

After hearing that, the Realm Spirit did not know whether to laugh or cry. 

'My lord, my great ancestor, I beg you; please don't tease me like that, okay? If you don't like how I talk, I can change it to accommodate your taste…' 

After being shown the candy, the Realm Spirit had no choice but to make a concession. 

However, Leon shook his head and said, "Not going to lie, the way to talk is weird as f*ck, but that's not what I mean by questionable character." 

'Then, what do you mean?' 

"Do you think I'm stupid? It's true that without your core working properly, you'll lose many of your artifact functions like star-traveling, for example, but that's that. Your spirit itself seems pretty fine to me, so what does it have to do with whether I can bind you or not?"

'T-this… Ugh… Hehe, I'm sorry for trying to trick you, sir. Can you please help me repair my core?'

"Call me Master and show me your spirit heart's location, then I'll think about it," Leon stated.

'Yes, Master....'