"What's going on?" Han Jue asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
"Given that there are no immediate threats and the ruins gate won't open for a while, it's time we had this conversation," Thunder God said, settling onto the frozen ground with a weary sigh. He gestured for Han Jue to join him.
Han Jue sat down across from the legendary warrior, sensing the weight of what was about to be revealed.
"The truth is, there are no 'ancient civilizations' from Earth's past," Thunder God began, his tone grave. "Or rather, what we call ancient civilizations are actually remnants left by alien races."
Han Jue remained silent, absorbing this revelation.
"What we classify on Earth as Warrior-level, Beast General-level, and War God-level are collectively known as Apprentice-level in the wider universe," Thunder God continued. "Above Apprentice-level are Planetary-level, Stellar-level, and even Universe-level. Those who transcend the War God level, like Hong and myself, are merely Planetary-level beings. We're barely scratching the surface of true power."
Thunder God's expression grew stern as he fixed Han Jue with an intense stare. "So don't let your achievements make you arrogant. Even in the universe, I'm, "
"What are you doing?!"
Thunder God's warning died in his throat as Han Jue suddenly sprang to his feet and rushed toward the white jade gate. The older warrior lunged forward, grabbing Han Jue by the arm and yanking him back with surprising force.
"Can't I even touch it?" Han Jue complained, though he allowed himself to be pulled away from the mysterious entrance.
"Don't move recklessly!" Thunder God snapped, genuine alarm flashing across his features. "I haven't even finished investigating this place yet. If you trigger some unknown mechanism, we could both be killed instantly!"
The threat hung heavy in the frigid air, but Han Jue's expression remained maddeningly nonchalant, his eyes still fixed on the gate with obvious fascination.
Thunder God studied the young warrior's face, noting the fearless curiosity burning in those misty blue eyes, and released a heavy sigh of resignation. This boy truly has no sense of danger, he thought grimly.
"This structure is likely a training facility left behind by some alien civilization," Thunder God explained, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "It's designed primarily for Apprentice and Planetary-level warriors. Apprentice-level warriors who enter face no risk of death, it's essentially a learning environment. However, Planetary-level warriors face genuine mortal danger."
He paused, letting that sink in before continuing. "The sword Frost and the Millennium Ice Marrow Crystal I gave you were both obtained from within these ruins."
"Then Inspector Jiang wasn't..." Han Jue trailed off, his expression finally showing genuine concern.
"Yes," Thunder God confirmed grimly. "He'd never entered these ruins before. This time, he stumbled in accidentally while fleeing from a siege by King-level monsters." His jaw tightened. "Even I barely escaped with my life the last time I ventured inside. I reached the fifth level before being forced to wait out the time limit to be released."
"Has Hong been here?" Han Jue asked with obvious curiosity.
"Brother Hong?" Thunder God shook his head. "No, he hasn't. He must oversee the Extreme Martial Arts School and can't take such risks. There are two Monster Kings lurking in the ocean depths. If Brother Hong were to fall, those creatures might launch a full-scale assault on humanity's remaining strongholds. We can't afford that vulnerability."
"Can't you defeat those Monster Kings?" Han Jue asked casually, as if inquiring about the weather.
"Are you joking?!" Thunder God glared at him with exasperation. "Didn't you hear me say there are two Monster Kings? I can't fight both simultaneously, and neither can Brother Hong! We need to work together to have any chance of defeating them."
Han Jue nodded, accepting this explanation for now, though his mind was already racing with possibilities.
"So what exactly happens inside these ruins?" he pressed.
"The Apprentice level has three stages, while the Planetary level has six," Thunder God replied, his tone shifting to something almost lecture-like. "The Apprentice level stages are essentially educational. Depending on who enters, different secret techniques and knowledge appear. If you successfully learn what's presented, you pass. If you don't, you'll be automatically ejected after approximately three hundred sixty days, nearly a full year."
Thunder God's expression grew darker. "The first three levels of Planetary level are similar to Apprentice level, learning opportunities. But the final three levels are fraught with genuine danger. You'll be challenged by various combat robots, and you must either defeat them or survive until the time limit expires to escape. I became trapped on the fifth level and had to wait out the full timeout period before being released."
He gestured toward the white jade gate. "Frost was my reward for clearing the fourth level."
"I see," Han Jue murmured, nodding thoughtfully as he processed this information.
The ruins didn't seem particularly dangerous, at least not at the Apprentice level. And he was intensely interested in what secret techniques might be hidden inside.
I wonder if there's a secret technique for enhancing defensive capabilities? he mused silently.
Probably not, or perhaps those who'd entered simply couldn't learn such techniques. Han Jue had tried many times to create defensive force-generation methods from scratch, but without a proper reference or foundation to build upon, he'd been unable to make significant progress.
"Actually, I wanted you to wait until you reached Planetary level before entering," Thunder God admitted, his voice heavy with reluctance. "That way, you could obtain the maximum possible benefits. The rewards for passing Apprentice level stages aren't particularly impressive. The Millennium Ice Marrow Crystal is honestly the best reward available at that tier."
"Boom~"
Hm?
Thunder God's expression transformed instantly, his entire body tensing as his head whipped around toward the white jade gate with alarm flashing across his features.
The ancient gate began moving slowly, grinding across the frozen ground and carving deep furrows in the ice. A figure tumbled through the opening, collapsing onto the snow outside the entrance in a lifeless heap.
Han Jue peered through the gradually widening doorway, but could only see a hazy white radiance beyond, nothing else was visible through that otherworldly glow.
"Jiang Hao!" Thunder God crossed the distance in a single explosive movement, appearing beside the fallen figure almost instantaneously.
His expression grew grave as he knelt and reached out, checking for signs of life. Inspector Jiang Hao lay motionless on the frozen ground, his body covered in grievous wounds. The Black God suit had automatically transformed back into its bracelet form. Thunder God carefully removed it from the corpse's wrist, his jaw tight with suppressed anger.
"Damn it!" Thunder God cursed vehemently, about to speak further when he suddenly froze. His head snapped around, eyes widening with shock and disbelief.
Han Jue had vanished.
The white jade gate had already sealed itself once more, its surface smooth and impenetrable. No matter how furiously Thunder God struck it with his Planetary-level power, he couldn't so much as scratch the mysterious material.
"No, what the hell were you thinking, going in there?!" Thunder God's voice echoed across the frozen wasteland, fury and panic warring in equal measure.
How am I supposed to explain this to Han Hechang if something happens to that boy?!
Fortunately, Han Jue was still at Apprentice level, which meant his life wasn't in immediate danger according to the ruins' documented behavior patterns. He should emerge safely in a year at the latest, though Thunder God knew that year would be agonizingly long for those waiting outside.
After several moments of internal debate, Thunder God made a decision.
He wouldn't tell Han Hechang about this incident just yet. There was no point causing unnecessary alarm when Han Jue was supposedly safe inside. Better to wait until the young warrior emerged successfully before revealing what had happened.
Yes, that's the wisest course, Thunder God reassured himself, though unease still gnawed at his thoughts.
If Han Jue could have heard Thunder God's reasoning, he would have felt utterly wronged by the accusation.
That door literally pulled me inside! I didn't choose to enter!
After hearing Thunder God's explanation of the ruins' mechanics, Han Jue had actually been planning to wait until he reached Planetary level before attempting entry. By then, he might have comprehended a Domain and could tackle the challenges far more safely. It wouldn't take too long to reach that level anyway, given his current rate of progress.
Never mind, Han Jue consoled himself philosophically. Now that I'm here, I might as well investigate what this place contains.
He scanned his surroundings with analytical precision, his Six Eyes unconsciously activating to examine the space.
It was a pure white room, vast, empty, and seemingly boundless. Every surface gleamed with that same alabaster radiance, creating an environment that felt simultaneously claustrophobic and infinite.
Han Jue tried walking in various directions, testing the space's boundaries. Before he'd gone far in any direction, he encountered an invisible barrier that prevented further movement, as solid and unyielding as steel.
"Please, trial participant, do not move at will,"
A line of text materialized in the air before him, displayed in both Chinese and English characters that glowed with soft luminescence.
Han Jue wasn't particularly surprised. Given the technological sophistication of universal civilizations and the number of Earthlings who'd previously entered this facility, he'd deduced that Earth's languages would be well-documented in the ruins' database.
"Master this sword technique within one month, and you will be recognized as a Legacy Disciple."
"Master this sword technique within three months, and you will be recognized as an Elite Disciple."
"Master this sword technique within one year, and you will be considered to have passed this stage. Failure will result in forced expulsion from the inheritance site."
As these three statements materialized before him, Han Jue noticed a lengthy paragraph of text appearing on the far side of the barrier, accompanied by a series of detailed diagrams and images that seemed to float in the empty space.
Hmm, very considerate, he thought with approval.
The sword technique bore no name, perhaps he would only learn its designation after successfully mastering its principles and movements.
"One month?" Han Jue chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with competitive fire. "That's far too long."
"I never imagined I'd discover such extraordinary genius in this remote corner of the universe!"
Deep within the ruins' core systems, a blue entity resembling an adorable slime stared at Han Jue displayed on its monitoring screens with barely contained excitement.
"Probably only slightly weaker than my former master, and I happened to encounter him just before departing! What incredible fortune!"
Tens of millions of years ago, its master had brought it to this isolated planet. That master had been a Realm Master-level genius from a Secret Realm of the Virtual Universe Company, one of the most prestigious organizations in all of human-controlled space.
Overconfident in his abilities, the master had attempted to fuse the fundamental principles of Water and Space while still at the Realm Master level, far earlier than recommended. The ambitious fusion attempt had failed catastrophically. As a result, he'd been unable to achieve immortality and had ultimately died of old age, his consciousness fading after millennia of slow decline.
Over the subsequent tens of millions of years, through exposure to its master's residual consciousness and the inheritance materials stored within the ruins, it had evolved from simple programming into genuine intelligent life, a rare transformation even in the vast universe.
Following its master's final instructions, after gaining true self-awareness and sentience, the entity had planned to commandeer the spacecraft and depart this world. Its mission: to search the universe for a suitable successor to inherit its master's legacy and techniques.
Unexpectedly, just as it prepared to activate the departure sequence and leave this backwater planet forever, it encountered a candidate who exceeded all projected parameters.
Furthermore, Han Jue's talents and comprehension perfectly matched the inheritance its master had left behind!
The entity's sensors detected the spatial law perception emanating from Han Jue's Six Eyes, noted the water-based Artistic Conception already integrated into his combat style, and calculated probability matrices for his potential growth.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect, the entity thought with something approaching joy, an emotion it had only recently learned to identify and experience.
This human possessed innate spatial perception while simultaneously demonstrating mastery of water-based techniques. The combination was extraordinarily rare, perhaps appearing once in a billion candidates. And the boy was still so young, with decades of potential growth ahead.
Master would have been pleased, the entity mused, something like nostalgia flickering through its consciousness. Perhaps this human can achieve what you could not, successfully fusing Space and Water into something transcendent.
It settled in to observe Han Jue's progress, its sensors tracking every movement, every breath, every flicker of comprehension in those unusual eyes.
The inheritance would continue. After tens of millions of years of waiting, it would finally fulfill its purpose.
And if this young warrior succeeded? The universe itself might tremble at what he could become.