The land was still barren. The cracked soil crumbled under Tian Yuan's touch, but now, faint threads of green could be seen—proof that his Soil Purification Array was working. The qi here was still thin and sluggish, but it carried a different note now, a whisper of vitality struggling to wake.
He was midway through planting a row of Purging Trees, their silver leaves shimmering faintly in the dim light, when the barrier around his realm… shivered.
The sensation was faint—like a ripple in still water—but Tian Yuan's head snapped up instantly. No one could enter without his permission. Not unless…
The system's chipper voice cut in:
> [Uh… Boss… tiny update. I might have detected an energy signature forcing its way through the outer seal.]
"Impossible," Tian Yuan said flatly, already standing.
> [Well… not impossible exactly. More like… not recommended. But they're doing it anyway.]
Before Tian Yuan could reply, the Golden Dragon raised its head from where it lounged by the half-built manor. Its golden eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled in its chest.
> "Something dares to touch my master's gates?"
The land trembled again—this time louder, as if space itself was being hammered. Then, with a sharp crack, a tiny tear appeared in the air above the barren hills. A figure stumbled through it, falling to one knee, gasping for breath.
Immediately, the Labyrinth Mist Formation reacted. Mist poured from the ground, swallowing the intruder whole. The air grew thick, the terrain shifting and folding in on itself.
The system chuckled in Tian Yuan's head.
> [He's already lost. Look—he's trying to walk forward, but he's moving in circles.]
From somewhere deep in the mist came the shout:
"Show yourself! What is this place?!"
Tian Yuan watched calmly from the manor steps, his hands clasped behind his back. "Let him struggle. The formation will strip his spirit energy the longer he stays inside."
The Golden Dragon bared its teeth in a draconic grin.
> "Want me to chase him? I'll make it quick."
"Not yet. I want to see why he's here."
---
Inside the Mist
The intruder—an armored man with a long scar across his cheek—was already drenched in sweat. He swung his sword at a shadow that wasn't there, only for the ground to shift beneath him. The horizon bent, sky turning to earth, earth turning to sky. Every breath he took was heavy, as if the air itself wanted to choke him.
Whispers curled in his ears. Leave. Die. Leave. Die.
Somewhere, something brushed his shoulder. He lashed out—his blade met nothing.
Then he felt it: eyes watching him. Not one pair—dozens.
---
Back Outside
"System," Tian Yuan said. "How did he get in?"
> [He didn't come here on purpose, Boss. At least, not directly. I'm detecting residual teleportation energy… Upper Realm artifact, badly damaged. He might have been fleeing something.]
Tian Yuan's gaze sharpened. "Fleeing here is still trespassing."
The system's voice lowered slightly, as if suddenly serious.
> [His aura… it's strange. He's not just from the Upper Realm. He's… marked.]
"Marked?"
> [Yeah. By something older than the gods.]
The Golden Dragon's eyes narrowed.
> "Then we shouldn't let him leave without answers."
---
Inside the Formation
The mist parted suddenly, and a colossal golden eye opened in the sky—one of the formation's illusions. The intruder froze, heart pounding. The eye narrowed, then a deep, echoing voice filled the air:
> You are not welcome here.
His knees buckled. "Wait! I… I didn't come to fight!"
The mist shifted again, the pressure easing just enough for him to stagger forward.
---
Decision
Tian Yuan finally moved, stepping into the mist. Wherever he walked, the illusions dissolved. The intruder collapsed to the ground at the sight of him.
"You forced your way into my realm," Tian Yuan said coldly. "Give me one reason I shouldn't feed you to the dragon."
The man swallowed hard.
"I… came to warn you. There's something in the Upper Realm hunting cultivators—especially those who build realms of their own. I tried to find a safe place to hide… and I ended up here."
The system hummed in Tian Yuan's head.
> [Boss… he's not lying.]
Tian Yuan's eyes darkened. "Then you'll tell me everything you know. But first…" He glanced at the dragon. "Search him."
The Golden Dragon grinned.
(END OF CHAPTER)