The ship moved through the void with breathtaking speed, the engines humming with an almost soothing consistency as we drifted deeper into the vast, starless expanse. The Beyond had long disappeared behind us, and the usual landmarks—stars, planets, anything recognizable—were nowhere to be seen. Here, in the deepest reaches of space, it was as though ti and space held no sway.
There was nothing to anchor our position, nothing to give the mind any sense of direction. It was a place of pure emptiness, where even light seed reluctant to dwell.
Yet, despite the disorienting nature of our surroundings, Tao Yang sat confidently at the helm, her hands moving expertly across the controls. She appeared unfazed, her directional awareness steady and assured. It was as if she had an innate connection to the vastness of the void itself, guiding us through the dark unknown with ease.
Hours passed like monts as we flew deeper, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at her mastery.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of drifting through nothingness, we saw sothing—movent ahead. At first, it was just a speck, but as we drew closer, the scene unfolded into sothing far grander. Thousands of cultivators hovered in the empty space before us, their presence marked by the shimring glow of their energy.
They ford a vast periter around what could only be described as a gargantuan vortex, swirling ominously in the fabric of space.
The vortex was imnse, far larger than anything I had ever seen. Its swirling energy twisted and churned, warping the very space around it, casting ripples of power that seed to defy the laws of reality. The sight of it stirred sothing deep within —a mixture of awe and dread. This was no ordinary gateway.
It was a portal to another realm, and it radiated danger from every swirling tendril of energy.
As we approached, the cultivators took notice of us. Their formation shifted like a well-oiled machine, with thousands of them parting to allow us a clear path to dock. It was a display of discipline and coordination that spoke volus about the power that stood guard over this place.
Even in the far reaches of space, there was order, and it was clear that these warriors had been stationed here with purpose.
We ca to a halt, suspended in the emptiness, our ship resting in the void as the cultivators hovered around us. There was a tense quiet, broken only by the soft hum of our ship's engines. Then, from the corner of my vision, I noticed Liang Yu stepping forward.
"I see ng Hao," she said, her voice carrying a note of recognition. She pointed toward a group of cultivators stationed near the vortex. Among them, one figure stood out—a tall, well-built young man, his presence commanding attention.
ng Hao turned toward us, his ember-like eyes catching the light of the vortex. It had been a long ti since I'd last seen him, and in that ti, he had changed. He was no longer the brash youth I rembered. His once boyish features had sharpened into those of a young warrior, his light bronze skin gleaming with health and vitality.
The power he exuded was palpable, and there was an unmistakable confidence in the way he carried himself. ng Hao had grown—not just in stature, but in spirit.
Without hesitation, I exited the ship, hovering toward him alongside the Blue Sun. As we approached, I noticed another figure standing beside ng Hao. The man's presence was hard to ignore. He was tall and imposing, his robes adorned with a jade dragon pattern that shimred faintly in the void. A jade spear was strapped to his back, its presence alone speaking of countless battles fought and won.
This was a man who commanded respect.
"Lord Blue Sun," the man said, bowing slightly in acknowledgnt as we approached.
I had heard plenty of rumors about this man, and now, seeing him in person, I knew exactly who he was. The Jade Dragon General—a hero of the last great battle, the warrior who had faced more Rakshasa than any other and erged victorious. His na was spoken with reverence among those who fought in the Beyond.
The Blue Sun returned his greeting with a nod, while I cupped my hands in respect. "Humble Dragon Shen Bao," I said, introducing myself formally.
The Jade Dragon General smiled, returning the gesture. "A pleasure, Shen Bao. Your na precedes you."
I turned to ng Hao, who was standing slightly behind the general. "Brat, aren't you going to greet your senior brother?" I called out in a playful tone, though my smile was genuine.
A wide grin spread across ng Hao's face. "I thought you died!" he replied, his tone lighthearted but with a touch of sincerity.
"Hah! It'll take a lot more than that to put under the dirt," I laughed, stepping forward and pulling him into a bear hug. I could feel the strength in his fra, the solidity of soone who had trained hard and earned his power. "You've grown strong," I said, releasing him.
ng Hao chuckled. "Not as strong as you, Senior Brother Shen Bao."
I shook my head. "Don't be so modest. Among all of you late arrivals who ventured into the Beyond, you're probably the highest in cultivation now. Take pride in that."
ng Hao's smile faded slightly, a shadow passing over his features. "Not really," he said, his voice quieter now.
I frowned, sensing sothing more behind his words. "Why do you say that? Who among you late arrivals has reached the Void Stage Eight Realm besides you?"
ng Hao hesitated before replying. "There was another man," he said slowly, his gaze drifting toward the vortex. "We don't know his origin or his allegiance. He wore red robes and a mask, hiding his face. He ca from the Vast Expanse, like us, but his cultivation is far beyond mine. He's already at the Void Shattering Stage."
My interest piqued at the ntion of this mysterious figure. "A Void Shattering Stage cultivator? I'd like to et this man."
ng Hao shook his head. "He's not here. He left as soon as the main battle was over. No one knows where he went, or why he ca here in the first place."
"I see," I said, my curiosity only growing. There was always another layer to uncover, another mystery waiting in the shadows. "Regardless, you're the last to join us for the expedition," I added, bringing the conversation back to the present.
"We're taking the Jade Dragon General with us as well," Blue Sun chid in, her tone matter-of-fact.
I nodded. "You ntioned needing another Heaven Stage General for the mission."
The Jade Dragon General stepped forward, his expression serious. "I don't know the full details of the mission, but His Lordship the Darkest Sun instructed to accompany you. I will do my duty."
I glanced toward the swirling vortex, its energy humming ominously in the background. The sight of it alone was enough to send a chill down my spine. "What's the situation with the vortex?" I asked, noting the tension in the general's posture.
The Jade Dragon General's face darkened. "That's the problem. I don't think even I can survive long enough to make it to the other side of that thing," he said grimly, his gaze fixed on the vortex's swirling mass.
I smiled, though the vortex's presence unsettled as well. "Don't worry. The ship can handle it," I said confidently. "With the Soulsteel armor we've added, it should be able to withstand whatever the vortex throws at us."
ng Hao raised an eyebrow but didn't object. "If you say so, Senior Brother."
I could tell he wasn't entirely convinced, but he trusted enough to go along with the plan. I, too, was relying on Tao Yang's instincts about the ship's capabilities. She was confident that we could pass through the vortex unhard, and I had to trust her expertise.
"Right then," I said, preparing to lead the way back to the ship. "Shall we head out?"
"Wait," ng Hao said, his tone shifting slightly. I could tell he had sothing on his mind, sothing he was hesitant to bring up. "There's sothing I need to know."
I paused, turning to face him. "What is it?"
ng Hao took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing. "The Fire King—he's coming with us, isn't he?"
I exchanged a glance with Blue Sun. She had expected this question. "Yes," she said calmly. "He's already on the ship."
ng Hao's expression darkened imdiately, but to my surprise, he didn't explode with anger like I had expected. Instead, he closed his eyes and took another deep breath, steadying himself.
"I should have known," he muttered. "No wonder the Jade Dragon General is here. You're here to keep the peace between us."
The general didn't deny it, but ng Hao's restraint surprised . His growth wasn't just physical—there was a newfound maturity in him, a self-control that hadn't been there before.
I raised an eyebrow. "You've changed, ng Hao."
He nodded, his face solemn. "I won't break military protocol, not with the Jade Dragon General here, and not with you or her watching," he said, casting a glance at the Blue Sun. "But that doesn't an I've forgotten what the Fire King did."
"I wouldn't expect you to," I said, relieved that at least for now, ng Hao was holding his anger in check. "We'll keep him out of your way."
"Fine," ng Hao said, his tone clipped. "But this doesn't an I forgive him."
"Fair enough," I replied, turning back toward the ship. "Now that everything is in order, let's move out."
As we reboarded the ship, I noticed the main hall was emptier than before. The usual hustle and bustle had died down, replaced by an eerie quiet.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, glancing around.
Tao Yang, seated at the helm, didn't look up as she answered. "They've all gone to their rooms to ditate. The upcoming trial will be difficult. Everyone's preparing."
Only she and Master Rain remained in the main room, both of them calm and composed, though the tension in the air was palpable.
"Right," I said, settling into my seat. "Take us to your ho, Tao Yang."
"With pleasure," she replied, her voice steady as she gripped the controls.
With a low hum, the ship began to move once more, heading straight toward the swirling vortex that lood ahead. The energy around us crackled with intensity as we approached, the ship's Soulsteel armor shimring in response. There was no turning back now. We were headed into the unknown, and what lay beyond the vortex was anyone's guess.
But one thing was certain—we wouldn't face it unprepared.
Reviews
All reviews (0)