"Who are you? Where are you taking me?"
"Shut up, or I'll kill you!"
… …
Ahh, why is my life so messed up? Is this a dream? If so, I'd better wake up and get ready for my shift before I'm late.
"Ouch, ouch—it hurts! So it's not a dream…"
One day earlier…
Planet Earth. Australia—desert region.
The air shimmered over the baking sand, a mirage of heat and dust that distorted the horizon. Without warning, three figures materialized in the heart of the sun-bleached expanse, as if they had simply stepped out of a hole in the sky.
The woman stood with an impossible grace. Though her robes were of a simple, unadorned white, they held a subtle, iridescent sheen that rippled in the heat, and her long, black hair, tied in a high ponytail, seemed to catch the sun like spun gold. She was Su Liana, and her every movement was one of effortless power, a silent testament to her otherworldly origin. She radiated an air of effortless superiority, as if she were a goddess who had descended from the heavens to grace this desolate land with her presence.
Beside her, a calm presence solidified the air itself, the very pressure of his being a weight that settled over the landscape. Elder Zuo Tianhe wore a set of dignified, sweeping robes, a small, meticulously embroidered sword emblem resting on his chest. His posture was as steady as the mountains of his homeworld, his gaze sweeping the alien landscape not with apprehension, but with a deep, methodical analysis. He was a High Elder of the Azure Edge Pavilion, and his silent presence was enough to quell any doubt about their purpose.
A third man stood respectfully behind them, head bowed slightly, his hands clasped behind his back. His fine clothing was immaculate, but his every action—the careful way he held his mysterious device, the subservient tilt of his chin—spoke of a well-practiced loyalty.
"Young Lady, the coordinates are correct. This is where the Young Master escaped to." He held up a strange, glowing compass-like object. "But for some reason, the bloodline-tracing device cannot follow him further."
Su Liana's lips curled in a glint of cold amusement. "He actually used his brain for once. Hiding from the bloodline trace requires a certain amount of cunning, something I didn't think he possessed." She dismissed his concern with a flick of her hand. "No need to worry, Master Hu. I have other means. But first, we need to understand this place."
She pulled a simple talisman from a shimmering ring on her finger. The paper, a glowing square, absorbed the ambient essence of this strange new world. The trio waited cautiously, their powerful auras deliberately leaking to gauge the local creatures. They sensed weak, insignificant life forms—creatures barely more than animals—but nothing of true power. This was a deeply disturbing discovery. To experienced cultivators, it meant that any truly strong beings were masters of concealment, biding their time.
After an hour, the talisman pulsed with a blinding light before flying back into her open palm. Su Liana examined its contents, and her expression, so confident a moment before, shattered into disbelief.
"Impossible… it can't be!" she whispered, her hands trembling.
Elder Zuo's brows knitted. "What is it, my Lady? Has something gone wrong?"
"This world… it's a mortal realm, but it's not a normal one. There are countless hidden spaces scattered across it, and the strangest thing is that mortals have never discovered them. And according to these records, all life here is destroyed every few hundred thousand years, only to begin anew!"
Elder Zuo's eyes narrowed. "What? How can such a thing be possible? To turn all life into mere mortals... this is an elaborate scheme. We must not linger here. Let us find your brother quickly and return. I will inform the Ancestors; they will decide how to deal with this world."
"Agreed, Elder." Su Liana turned to Master Hu. "We'll seize control of a nearby mortal power. Once we have a safe place, I'll use my artifact to track my brother."
"As you command, my Lady."
The trio soared toward the nearest mortal settlement. They didn't need force to gain influence. A simple gift—a rejuvenation pill, a trinket so common in their world it was barely worth mentioning—was enough to win the eternal devotion of a local billionaire family. The family patriarch, William, was a man whose influence stretched far and wide. He was old, with a face full of wrinkles and hands that trembled slightly with age, but the pill had already restored some of his youthful vigor, and his humble tone was not born of fear alone. He knew that the powers dismissed as myth by the public—gods, ghosts, or aliens—were real, and he knew he had found a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Honored guests, please rest here," William bowed deeply, his mind racing. He was a man accustomed to power, but the ease with which these beings had appeared and granted him a miracle was a chilling reminder of his own insignificance. "I am William, patriarch of this family. Please tell me your needs, and I will see them fulfilled. My family's influence spreads far and wide in this world."
"Mister William," Master Hu said, his voice flat and cold, "our Lady seeks her missing brother. If you aid us, your rewards will be beyond your wildest imagination. The pill you received earlier is worthless compared to what awaits."
William's heart pounded at the notion of more potent treasures. He pledged his full support, vowing to use every resource at his disposal.
Su Liana handed him a slip of paper with coordinates. "This is the last trace of my brother. Investigate this place."
To everyone's surprise, the location was not some hidden cave or wilderness, but a luxurious hotel in the heart of a major city's CBD. After considering it, William realized it made perfect sense. Why would a young master of these mysterious and powerful beings waste time in a hovel when he could enjoy the best luxuries this world offered?
"Master, should we obtain the guest records of the hotel?" his assistant, Anna, asked.
William shook his head. "He'll have disguised himself. Instead, we'll take over the hotel entirely tomorrow. That way, no one will slip through unnoticed. The Lady can judge for herself."
"As expected, Master is wise!" Anna bowed and rushed to make arrangements. Within hours, the entire hotel—rooms, restaurants, event halls—was booked under William's name. His cover story? That he was testing the staff before making a long-term investment.
When Master Hu heard the plan, he nodded in approval. "Your foresight is impressive. If this succeeds, your rewards will be doubled."
William's eyes gleamed as he bowed low. He immediately called in favors with police officials, secured extra security, and placed his own men throughout the hotel.
Tomorrow would be his chance. A chance to rise above all mortals.
And he would not waste it.