They returned to Highland Reach but they did not stay in Highland Reach for long.

  "I only need to get a few things before we head to the capital. As you probably know, the Grandmaster is not here," Taren explained as he led Li Yu toward a teleportation array in the center of the citadel’s keep. "He resides in the Capital, Sanctum. Given the intelligence you possess regarding Balor, we will go to him directly."

  Li Yu stepped onto the array. The world twisted and when the light faded they were standing on a suspended platform of white marble and floating high above a sea of clouds.

  "Welcome to Sanctum," Taren said as he stepped off the platform.

  Li Yu followed him and looked around. There were floating islands drifting lazily in the sky and connected by chains of shimmering light. It was beautiful and tranquil. Something that was immensely rare in this world.

  Li Yu scanned below and saw a massive city. It was the capital city of the human nations. This place was above the capital and was probably full of defensive arrays to protect the city below.

  ‘Perhaps this place was a weapon itself.’ Li Yu thought.

  "This way," Taren instructed.

  He led Li Yu across a bridge to a secluded peak. There were no guards here. Actually, there was no one else around here. After they walked for a bit, they came upon a small humble wooden cottage that was surrounded by a vegetable garden.

  An old man was kneeling in the dirt and pulling weeds. He wore rough stained linen robes and a straw hat. He looked like a mortal farmer who had spent his life toiling in the fields. But Li Yu’s instincts screamed at him. The "farmer" didn't have a presence. He was a void in the world. A terrifying emptiness that suggested he was well beyond what Li Yu was.

  "Teacher," Taren bowed deeply with his forehead nearly touching the grass. Li Yu bowed as well with a respectful clasp of hands. "Junior Li Yu greets the Grandmaster."

  Thorne leaned on his hoe. He looked at Taren and then at Li Yu.

  "You brought a guest, Taren," Thorne said. His voice was like dry leaves rustling together. "And you are agitated. Your sword intent is leaking."

  "The news is grave, Teacher," Taren said as he straightened up. "And it concerns Demon Lord Balor."

  Thorne’s eyes sharpened. For a split second the peasant vanished and was replaced by a mountain that could crush the sky. Then, he was a farmer again.

  "Come inside," Thorne said. "I have tea."

  The inside of the cottage was sparse. A mat, a table and a teapot. They sat down around the table. Thorne poured tea with steady hands.

  "Speak," Thorne said.

  Taren looked at Li Yu. Li Yu took a breath and he began recounting his story again. Thorne listened in silence. He didn't interrupt. He didn't gasp. He just watched Li Yu with those moss green eyes.

  When Li Yu finished, silence filled the small hut. Thorne reached out. He placed a finger on the table.

  "May I?" Thorne asked.

  Li Yu nodded. "You may look."

  Thorne’s eyes glowed with a soft and golden light. A wave of spiritual pressure, gentle but immense, washed over Li Yu. It was a probe, seeking to check the young man sitting before him.

  Thorne frowned. The light in his eyes flickered.

  "Fog," Thorne murmured. "Just as Taren said. I see a form but I cannot see the substance. Your soul and your very being is... obscured. Like looking at a mountain through a heavy storm. I can see the shape but understand nothing about it."

  Thorne retracted his senses. He looked at Li Yu with newfound curiosity. Not many people in this world could escape his gaze.

  "You are young," Thorne said. "Unbelievably young for the power you have. To survive an encounter with a Demon Lord that wanted to kill you... you are either very lucky or cursed that you had to encounter the Demon Lord to begin with."

  "I prefer lucky," Li Yu said with a small smile.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Thorne chuckled. "Lucky indeed. And this news... Balor."

  The Grandmaster leaned back and was looking out the window at the sea of clouds.

  "Balor hated humanity," Thorne said softly. "Of all the ten lords, he was the one who advocated for our complete extermination the most. Balor saw us as a stain upon this realm. If he is truly gone... or even weakened... that is a reprieve we desperately needed."

  Taren nodded vigorously. "It gives us time, Teacher. Time to strengthen. Time to train the new generation. The other Demon Lords will probably not bother us nearly as much. But who knows what will happen if he is truly dead."

  Thorne looked at Li Yu. "And you brought us this time. Even if it wasn’t your intention to do so."

  The old man’s gaze became piercing.

  "You are strong, Li Yu. I can feel the potential of your body. It rivals the bodies of beasts and demons, yet you are human. You have a good heart as well. You defended Iron Wall when you could have run. Humanity needs pillars. We are old and only getting older. The time of the Three is fading. We need new blood. New pillars to take our place."

  The offer hung in the air. Join us. Be a hero. Be a Savior. But Li Yu shook his head gently.

  "I am not from here, Grandmaster," Li Yu said. "My home is elsewhere. I cannot be a pillar for a house I do not intend to live in. I don’t want to give others false hope and then just disappear one day."

  Thorne sighed because he was expecting such a response but there was no anger in it. "A wanderer’s heart. I understand. The Dao binds us to our own truths. Our own fates and destinies."

  "However," Li Yu continued, "I am here now. And while I am here, I will help wherever I can. If there are battles to be fought, I can help you fight them. Of course I will not risk my own life in doing so. In exchange, I wish to learn. I am about to advance to Divine Transformation and would like to know more about that step."

  Li Yu placed his teacup down. Thorne stroked his beard. He didn't seem surprised.

  "Divine Transformation," Thorne mused. "The first bridge between the mortal dao and the Heavens. It is indeed an important step for cultivators. To reach it at such a young age is unthinkable. I will give you guidance where I can."

  He smiled and reached into his sleeve and pulled out three jade slips. He placed them on the table.

  "This one contains my own insights," Thorne said as he was tapping the first slip. "My path was the Dao of the Unmoving Earth. I sought to become the mountain. Stable."

  He tapped the second. "This is from my eldest disciple, who passed a century ago. His path was the Dao of Flowing Water. He sought to become the river."

  He tapped the third. "And this is a compilation of general theories from our archives."

  Li Yu cupped his hand and then reached for them.

  "However," Thorne warned. His voice became stern like a teacher lecturing a kid. "Do not copy us."

  "I won't," Li Yu said. He understood that everyone would be different.

  "Good. Because you cannot," Thorne said. "From Soul Formation onward, the path is solitary. In the lower realms, you fill a cup with water. Everyone’s cup is roughly the same shape. But from Soul Formation onwards, you must break the cup and become the water itself."

  Thorne looked deeply into Li Yu’s eyes.

  "Your soul, your path and your future Dao must align perfectly to suit yourself. If you try to walk in my footprints, you will stumble. You must find your own way. What is it that drives you? What is the core of your existence? Look inward before trying to grab external power."

  "I have an idea," Li Yu said.

  "Then meditate on these," Thorne said. "Use them as a mirror and not a map. Return them to me before you leave here."

  Li Yu swept the slips into his storage ring. "Thank you, Grandmaster."

  There was one final question that Li Yu had. The most important one.

  "Grandmaster," Li Yu asked. "Do you know the way back? Is there a method to cross the realms?"

  The silence returned to the hut. Taren looked down at his hands. Thorne looked out the window again.

  "I have guarded this realm for a long time." Thorne said softly. "I have fought Demon Lords. I have explored the ancient ruins of previous eras."

  He turned back to Li Yu.

  "And in all that time... I have never found a door to go elsewhere. Those rifts that you mentioned are random. A force of nature. Things have gotten more chaotic in recent times and the barrier between realms have gotten thinner. The void and space have gotten more chaotic. Balor was probably lucky to have found a rift that was stable enough and then paid a great place to stabilize it for his own travel."

  Li Yu felt a cold weight settle in his stomach. Thorne shook his head.

  "I am sorry, young traveler. I cannot send you home."

  Li Yu closed his eyes for a second. He took a deep breath and let it out. He had expected this. He had prepared for it. But hearing it from the strongest human in the realm still stung.

  "I understand," Li Yu said. "Then I will have to try using my luck. Hopefully with how things are now, I can find a rift that will take me back safely."

  "Luck has favored you so far," Thorne noted with a smile. "Perhaps it will again."

  The Grandmaster stood up and was signaling the end of the audience.

  "You are welcome in the Human Domain, Li Yu. You may not wish to be a pillar but you are a friend. Taren will grant you a high clearance in Highland Reach. Rest. Cultivate. Find your path."

  "Thank you," Li Yu said as he went to stand up. He bowed to the old man and then turned and walked out of the hut. The wind on the peak was cold. The clouds swirled below him. It was a vast white ocean that hid the world below. Li Yu looked at the horizon.

  He was stuck. The only way out was likely through a level of power he hadn't reached yet.

  'Divine Transformation,' Li Yu thought. 'That is the first step. If I cannot find a door... I will become strong enough to kick a hole in the wall.'