Wei raised an eyebrow, his mind turning over Madam Yue's words. He'd noticed that within a five-mile radius of the village, only weak animals roamed—nothing stronger than first-level beasts. Extending his soul power cautiously, he probed the surroundings for an explanation but found nothing out of the ordinary. His search came up empty. Madam Yue watched him, her eyes glinting as his soul power surged outward.
She waited patiently until he finished his investigation, her expression calm but expectant. Finding no answers, Wei turned to her. "What's keeping the stronger beasts away?" "It's a formation," she replied, her voice steady. "It surrounds the village, with its core right here in this inn—my former home."
Pieces of the puzzle clicked into place in Wei's mind. Her knowledge of spatial gates, her unusually strong soul power, and now a protective formation—it all pointed to something extraordinary. Still, he needed confirmation. "What's your exact strength?" he asked. Madam Yue didn't hesitate. "I'm at the peak of the Dou Grandmaster realm." 'As expected,' Wei thought, 'this is the Dou Qi Continent.' The familiarity of the setting grounded him, and he shelved his broader questions for later.
He fixed his gaze on Madam Yue. "That still doesn't explain what you want from me." She fell silent for a moment, then spoke with blunt honesty. "I want to help you for a substantial return. You're a young master of considerable means, stranded in a foreign land full of uncertainty, desperate for information and aid. I can provide everything within my power to help you. In return, I ask only for a few magical cores—level four or higher."
Wei leaned back, intrigued but wary, as she continued. "That encounter I mentioned? I saved a man at the Venerable level long ago. He offered me three gifts of my choosing, as long as they were within his power. I asked him to teach me alchemy, to help protect my village, and to share cultivation techniques. Unfortunately, I lacked the talent for alchemy, so instead, he strengthened my soul and taught me about the world—its powers, its secrets. He also gifted me a high-grade Black technique and some cultivation pills. Finally, he set up this formation, powered by magical cores, to repel beasts of level six and below."
Madam Yue sighed, leaning back in her chair. "That was over fifty years ago. My stock of magical cores is nearly depleted now. In about three years, the formation will fail." Her gaze grew distant. "It's not a problem for me personally—I don't have much time left. But my son is the mayor here, and the girl you met at the counter is my granddaughter. This village is a paradise compared to the world outside, a safe haven for those I love. I don't want it destroyed or its people harmed. It's my home."
With a sudden resolve, she rose and kowtowed before him, her back creaking audibly. Wei winced at the sound. "I beg you, young master," she said, her voice trembling with sincerity. "I'll give you all my humble knowledge and possessions. I know it's little compared to what you're accustomed to, but please—help me protect this place and its people."
As she spoke of protecting her home and loved ones, Wei's eyes trembled, memories of his own lost home flooding back—a place he could no longer return to. He looked at her gently, his heart softening at the desperation and love in her words. He hurried to help her up, his touch gentle but firm. She complied, careful not to push him further, aware she'd already been bold enough.
Sinking back into his chair, Wei rubbed his temples. "It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but I don't have any level four magical cores—or higher—on me right now." Madam Yue's face paled at his initial words, but her expression shifted as he finished.
"So, you believe you could acquire them in the future?" she asked, hope creeping into her voice. "I understand, young master. I'll aid you in any way I can, trusting you'll gather the cores we need within the next three years." She was already gambling the village's fate—what was one more wager?
Wei studied her, surprised by her trust. "You're willing to place that much faith in me?"
She smiled faintly and poured him another cup of tea. "What you seek isn't valuable to me, and I've already got a good read on your character. Even if I'm wrong, I'd lose little by helping you. But if I refused and earned your wrath? That's a risk I can't afford."
Wei nodded, accepting the tea and taking a sip. "I guess we have a deal, then." Madam Yue's face lit up, a spark of relief in her eyes. "Wonderful, young master. You can stay in the first room—everything's on the house. Would you like me to answer any questions now, or would you prefer to rest and ask later?"
Wei considered for a moment. "I have a few questions now, if you're able to answer. Others can wait until I've had time to think. For starters, where exactly are we? What's the nearest city? And can you help me exchange gold for gold coins? Also, please, just call me Wei." "No problem, Young Wei,"
Madam Yue replied warmly. "We're in a village on the outskirts of the Gama Empire, in the northwest continent, near the Monster Range. The closest city is Wutan City, which has an auction house if you need to buy or sell anything. As for your gold, I can exchange solid gold worth up to one million coins without issue. Any more than that, and I'd risk drawing unwanted attention to myself and the village."
The mention of Wutan City sent a spark through Wei's mind, stirring a flurry of thoughts and possibilities. He pushed them aside for now and pulled out a stack of gold bars—roughly a ton's worth. The gleam caught Madam Yue's eye, but she remained composed, not a trace of greed in her expression. She stored the gold with a nod, ready to handle the exchange as promised. Wei stood, stretching slightly.
"I'll rest now. Once I've sorted out my plans, I'll come find you again. I'll stay in the room you mentioned for a while. Just leave food outside the door and don't enter unless I come to you first." Madam Yue rose and escorted him to the room. As he opened the door, she handed him a small item.
"Here, Wei. This is sleeping incense—it'll help you rest easier. Have a good night." He nodded, accepting the incense, and closed the door behind him. The room was modest, like a small studio apartment—cozy but not cramped. Wei set the sleep incense beside the bed and lit it, its faint, soothing scent curling through the air.
He positioned his puppet to stand guard, then lay down on the bed, his mind buzzing. 'What a coincidence' he thought, 'to end up in the world of Battle Through the Heavens, of all places.' It was fortunate, though—he knew this realm well, having loved the novel in his past life. 'I'll need to make a plan to get what I want.' As the incense's smoke filled the room and his thoughts swirled, Wei's eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted into sleep.