Zhou Jing returned to the Main World briefly, just enough to stretch, eat, and check on Lina. She was tinkering with a small mechanical device in her workshop, brow furrowed and sleeves rolled up. Even in the casual light, Zhou Jing could see her sharp instincts, the way her hands moved with precision, calculating angles and forces. Lina's reputation wasn't exaggeration—she had an SSS-grade talent, rare even among the elite of the Main World.
"Finally back," Lina said, tossing a wrench lightly onto the table. "You've been gone forever. Did you at least keep them alive?"
Zhou Jing smirked. "Alive and stronger." He leaned against the doorway, letting the warmth of the sun hit his face. His mind was already calculating coordinates and probabilities. The system had detected a new realm: Whispering Peaks, a mountainous astral realm where energy flows concentrated along high-altitude ridges. Perfect for scouting a new power system.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
New Astral Realm Detected: Whispering Peaks
Coordinates Saved
Recommended Initial Apostle: Zhou Yuan
Time Flow Relative to Main World: x25
Potential System Types Detected: Martial Cultivation, Elemental Taoism, Blood Mutation Variant
Zhou Jing accessed the Apostle interface, his fingers brushing over invisible holographic controls. Zhou Yuan appeared instantly before him, standing in the projection chamber. Every sinew, every muscle responded perfectly to Zhou Jing's will.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Apostle Ready for Deployment
Direct Control Engaged
Command Imprint: Pending (No Autonomous Commands Set Yet)
The descent felt like falling through liquid stars. Time warped around Zhou Jing, stretching and compressing, until the glowing peaks of Whispering Peaks formed beneath him. Mountains shimmered with blue energy currents, pulsing faintly with life.
Across a distant ridge, small humanoid beings emerged. Tattoos along their bodies glowed faintly, pulsing with energy that matched the peaks. They moved in perfect rhythm, wielding short curved blades, clearly trained. Zhou Jing narrowed his eyes—they were early practitioners of the Peak Martial Path, a martial cultivation system native to this realm.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Power System Detected: Peak Martial Path
Skill Tier: Novice — Adept
Energy Flow Integration Possible: Yes
Observation Reward: Pending
Zhou Jing adjusted Zhou Yuan's stance. Every step perfectly aligned with the invisible currents. The first practitioner lunged, twisting with precision. Zhou Jing moved Zhou Yuan fluidly, parrying and redirecting. The system recorded every micro-movement.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Astral Points Obtained: 5
Information State Particles Obtained: 2
Peak Martial Path Blueprint Observed
Another strike came, faster and stronger. Zhou Yuan sidestepped and countered with a spinning kick that sent the practitioner sliding across the stones. Energy currents reacted—some feeding into Zhou Yuan, some recoiling from the opponent. Zhou Jing smiled faintly. Real combat accelerated learning far more than observation alone.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Astral Points Obtained: 8
Information State Particles Obtained: 4
Partial Technique Blueprint Captured: Basic Stances of Peak Martial Path
Recommended Action: Continue Engagement for Full Observation
As the sun—or astral equivalent—set over the jagged peaks, Zhou Yuan had defeated the first wave without injury. Zhou Jing allowed the Apostle to rest briefly. Below, energy nodes glimmered like captured starlight. The system highlighted points of interest, mapping each node for future exploration.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Next Objective: Investigate Energy Nodes in Whispering Peaks
Potential Skills Available: Elemental Strikes, Flow Meditation, Energy Reinforcement
Recommended Apostle Deployment Duration: Medium-Term
Even from the Main World, Zhou Jing's mind wandered to Lina. Her SSS-grade talent could have easily solved many engineering puzzles, or even tactical simulations if she knew about the astral realms. But he kept the system secret. Around her, his other friends trained or studied, unaware of the multiversal games he was playing. They were normal people in appearance but gifted in their own ways—perfect support for his life in the Main World.
Zhou Jing leaned back slightly in the Apostle's body, eyes reflecting the glowing peaks. The Whispering Peaks had revealed their first secrets, but many more awaited—and beyond them, the infinite astral realms stretched like a boundless map, each with power systems, challenges, and mysteries to conquer.