The Portal to the Unknown

  Huang Di found himself in a new place, where, in all directions, there was only eternal nothingness. Darkness reigned supreme. The transition had been so abrupt that it took him a few moments to realize he was no longer in the labyrinth. The sensation of displacement was disorienting, but he quickly composed himself, recalling the elder’s lessons on illusions and trials in ancient tombs.

  Focusing his mind, he initiated a variation of a relaxation technique, a combination of King’s Supra and the Appearance Alteration Technique, seeking to calm himself and organize his thoughts.

  As he concentrated, Huang Di sensed a powerful presence surrounding him. Though he could not see them, he knew he was not alone. Above him, two high-ranking experts watched in silence.

  One of them, Saio the White, had the appearance of a celestial man, radiating a gentle light that illuminated the surrounding darkness. His white hair and eyes with six-pointed star-shaped pupils gave him an aura of wisdom and mystery, as if nothing escaped his penetrating gaze.

  The other, Uzuz, had a humanoid form with distinctly demonic features. One half of his face resembled that of a red orc; the other was pitch black, forming a disturbing image. His aura was as dark as the void, and the surrounding darkness seemed to emanate from him. Uzuz was bound in golden chains, like those from the pagoda Huang Di had discovered earlier.

  “Saio,” began Uzuz, his voice dripping with scorn, “you’re going to lose again. You’ll waste even more of your energy. Why don’t you just release me and end this game once and for all?”

  “Silence, demon,” Saio replied, his voice firm and commanding. “This one is different from the others. He possesses a destiny aura so powerful I cannot see the beginning or end of his life. Truly, he is chosen of fate.”

  “You’ve told me that before,” Uzuz countered with a mocking smile. “And what happened to the others? They all spoke of fulfilling their dreams... You don’t have much time left. I can wait, I’m still alive. But you... you’re just a remnant soul of the past. If not for that treasure of yours, do you really believe you could keep me here? What a joke.”

  Uzuz cast a look of disdain at Saio.

  “Even if he does succeed in fulfilling whatever legacy you wish to pass on... do you truly think my race will sit idly by and allow him to grow? In five years, your remaining energy will vanish, and I’ll be free. But even if he does succeed... do you honestly believe that in only five years he can reach the Mortal Absolute Rank? And even if he manages that, he’ll remain trapped in this realm forever, with no chance of ascending to the higher realms. And even if, by some miracle, he breaks through... my race will never let him live in peace. Not a single day.”

  Uzuz laughed, clearly pleased by the tension that had settled on Saio expression.

  “And still, you believe he can make a difference, Saio? Tell me another joke. That one’s grown old.”

  At that moment, an intense light began to emanate from Huang Di’s body, starting as a gentle glow and rapidly intensifying. Saio watched with interest, while Uzuz frowned, disturbed by the change.

  “Look, deceitful Uzuz,” said Saio. “Your shadows are unraveling, piece by piece.”

  Another treasure emerged from Huang Di’s body: the pagoda he had seen earlier, now in a miniature version, shining brilliantly above his head. The pagoda began to emit a golden light that dispelled the surrounding darkness, revealing a completely new, small world.

  The air there was rich with ancient energy, and the concentration of Qi was far denser than anything Huang Di had ever encountered. It was a realm where kings and emperors could be forged in a short time, a true paradise for cultivators.

  Relic of Space and Time

  Huang Di stood atop a mountain, gazing in awe at the scene before him. Spread out before his eyes was a small world, roughly a hundred kilometers in diameter, a flat land illuminated by a glowing orb in the sky that resembled an artificial sun. The mountain upon which he stood, though impressive, was not the tallest. Towering above all others was a colossal peak made of black iron, a material commonly used to forge rank 5 and even rank 6 artifacts.

  At the center of this miniature world was a small city, its heart marked by a grand library, around which stretched four distinct regions. To the north, forests and glistening lakes shimmered beneath the artificial sunlight. To the south lay a desert expanse, dominated by a massive dead tree and what appeared to be a dormant ancient volcano. To the west, a broad plain nurtured field of alchemical herbs, along with small shrubs and low-growing trees. And to the east, where Huang Di now stood, a sprawling mountain range unfurled, crowned by the largest peak that dominated the entire horizon.

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  As he absorbed the grandeur of this mysterious realm, a powerful voice echoed from the heavens:

  “Candidate to become the master of the Relic of Space and Time’s Small World, you have three years and six months to prepare and pass the trial of the first stage. The requirement to attempt the trial is to reach the Earth Rank. Good luck.”

  At once, a profound silence fell over the entire domain, freezing it in solemn stillness.

  Huang Di, now certain that he had entered an inheritance tomb left behind by a supreme cultivator from an ancient era, felt a surge of excitement mingled with concern. He knew such tombs were incredibly rare, and being chosen to undergo their trials was a priceless opportunity. If he could conquer the challenge, the treasure would be his, to wield or use however he saw fit.

  Sitting upon a nearby rock, Huang Di reflected on his situation.

  “The time is reasonable to reach the Earth Rank,” he thought. “But I have less than eleven months to return to my world.”

  He was currently at the third level of the Profound Rank, and he needed to reach the seventh to break through to the Earth Rank. Without access to high-grade treasures or medicinal aids, he knew the journey would be arduous.

  “By traditional methods, this would take at least two more years,” he pondered. “Each level I climb demands far more resources than the one before. And now, at the Profound stage, I need ten times more than I did in the previous rank.”

  He recalled the teachings of the Emerald Elder, who had warned him about the exponential increase in resources required to ascend through the ranks.

  Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke within his mind, the same voice that had guided him through the darkness before.

  “Do not worry. Time flows differently in this world compared to the one outside. While a single day passes out there, you may live seven within this realm. And should you reach the higher levels of this realm’s structure, that ratio will increase even further”

  Huang Di swiftly did the math.

  “Then three and a half years here would only be six months in the outside world...” he mused. “With that advantage, I’ll have more than enough time to reach the Earth Rank and still return home in time.”

  The Meeting with the Elders

  Huang Di began his journey toward the center of the small world, while a voice echoed in his mind, imparting crucial knowledge:

  “In truth, the world you encountered was merely the tomb. This place… this is the true inheritance.”

  Yet Huang Di struggled to fully believe the voice. He questioned whether he was losing his mind, or if everything unfolding around him was part of some elaborate trial.

  As he descended the mountain and entered the valley, he noticed an uncanny silence. Despite the diversity of the land and its environment, there appeared to be no other signs of life, until, after several kilometers, he spotted small animals like rabbits and deer. He even heard the distant roar of a bear. Strangely, though, he had yet to see a single bird in the sky.

  Lost in thought, Huang Di pondered the name of this world. In his homeland, known as the Great Blue River, most of the land was covered by an immense freshwater river. The small dimensional world he had previously been transported to was once called the Tomb of the Great God, though the locals now referred to it as The Great Forest, due to the vast woodlands that cloaked half its surface.

  But this place... this was something else entirely. It was called the Relic of Space and Time. Huang Di couldn't help but wonder, what kind of power would be required to create something like this? A massive artificial island floating in the void, isolated and steeped in mystery.

  As he neared the small city, now visible in the distance, he observed that aside from one grand structure resembling a library, there were only a few buildings that looked like residences. He entered the city cautiously, a sense of being watched creeping along his spine. Invisible eyes seemed to follow him from within the surrounding structures.

  Upon reaching the plaza, he noticed towering statues of ancient cultivator-like figures. Lost in contemplation as he admired the sculptures, a voice, deep and weathered, spoke beside him:

  “Truly magnificent, aren’t they?”

  A chill ran down Huang Di’s back. Someone was right beside him, and he hadn’t sensed a thing. If that person had harbored ill intent, he would already be dead. But the presence felt more curious than threatening.

  Turning his head, Huang Di saw a translucent figure: an elder with a long beard reaching his chest, flowing white hair, and a cigar resting between his lips.

  “Fascinating, isn’t it?” the old man repeated.

  Every instinct within Huang Di screamed for him to flee, but to the elder’s surprise, and perhaps even his own, he remained calm, quietly observing the figure before him.

  One by one, other figures began to emerge, stepping out of the homes that now no longer seemed abandoned. More elders, each wearing robes from different eras and regions, slowly encircled Huang Di, cutting off any route of escape.

  He stood motionless, carefully assessing the situation.

  The bearded elder with the cigar burst into laughter:

  “So, you’re the new candidate? Hahaha! Either you’re incredibly brave... or incredibly stupid! Hahaha!”

  Huang Di tense further. He was about to make a move when a translucent middle-aged woman appeared, noble in attire, voluptuous in figure, and sharply rebuked the others:

  “Enough, you fart-brained old relics! Can’t you see he’s in shock, not understanding a thing? Hm?”

  Some of the elders stepped back in embarrassment, giving Huang Di space to breathe. The woman cast him a charming smile, adding a playful wink.

  Taking a deep breath, Huang Di composed himself and spoke:

  “It is an honor to meet you, respected elders. This junior is called Huang Di and is humbled to stand before so many esteemed figures. If you would be willing to share your wisdom, I would be most grateful.”

  He did his best to appear respectful, fully aware that dealing with spirits was no simple matter. If these souls turned hostile, he would be in serious trouble, especially since he knew no techniques to harm spirits or defend his soul.