novelzi Chapter 10 The Mysterious Void
Chapter 10 The Mysterious Void
The world turned dark once again for Wen Ran. His body floated weightlessly in an endless expanse of stars. When he opened his eyes, his head spun in dizzying circles, and a crushing pressure bore down on his mind, forcing him to gasp for air.
"Where am I?" he murmured, his voice calm despite the disorientation. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any clue about his location. "The last thing I remember is falling down the ladder... I must have hit my head hard enough to knock me out." His countless years of experience ensured he never forgot the past easily.
This place feels... different. The energy here... it's strengthening my mind. His thoughts raced, piecing together the puzzle. Could this be connected to the system? It's the only explanation that makes sense.
With deliberate effort, Wen Ran steadied himself, twisting and turning until he managed to stand upright, though his body still floated amidst the stars. The space around him was ethereal as if he had stepped into the very fabric of the cosmos. Distant stars shone with a brilliance that radiated raw, unrestrained power, filling the air with an energy so potent that it made his mind hum with activity.
This energy was not unfamiliar to him. In his past life, after four thousand years of cultivation, he had touched a fragment of it—a force revered as the key to ascending to godhood. But Wen Ran had turned away from that path. His hatred for the gods had driven him to reject their power outright. Instead, he had chosen a different route: refining the energy into a universe of his own creation. It was a transformation that granted him the strength of a god while allowing him to remain human.
As he drifted in this mysterious space, his gaze locked onto something in the distance. The tablet floated silently in the void, unassuming in its simplicity. It was roughly the size of a palm, carved from dull, weathered stone that bore no shine or glow. Its edges were uneven, as though it had been crudely shaped, and faint scratch marks marred its surface. At first glance, it seemed no different from a discarded relic, unworthy of attention. And yet, the very stars seemed to bend and pulse around it, as if the tablet was the source of their light and energy.
That ancient tablet... it's tied to this place. Wen Ran's heart stirred with newfound resolve. Its power is immeasurable. Something like that could help me slay the gods again.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move. His body felt bound, his strength too weak to bridge the vast distance between him and the tablet. Frustration simmered within him, yet it also stoked a flame of determination.
The first layer of the pagoda.
The energy surged within him, rushing like a tidal wave through every corner of his mind. Wen Ran clenched his fists as the power filled him, strengthening his soul, sharpening his focus, and reinforcing his mental fortitude. The dim light of the newly-formed foundation pulsed gently, a testament to his progress.
For a brief moment, silence returned, broken only by the faint hum of the pagoda's foundation. Wen Ran opened his eyes, the weight of the universe still pressing upon him—but now, it felt lighter, as if the burden had been halved. He could feel the growth within, the surge of mental power coursing through him like a blazing fire.
He stood in the vast darkness, his gaze fixed on the single, small layer of foundation glowing faintly before him. It wasn't large or imposing, but it exuded a quiet stability—and that was what mattered most to Wen Ran.
A strong foundation shapes a true warrior. A weak one may lead to rapid growth, but it will shatter the moment it hits an unyielding wall.
"Wen Ran!" A desperate scream echoed all around, jolting Wen Ran's mind. The vast darkness and endless void dissolved in an instant, replaced by the rough ceiling of the cave above him. Beneath his head, something soft supported him, it was a girl's lap.
He blinked, disoriented, as his gaze focused on the crying girl above him. Her golden eyes brimmed with tears, and each one that fell onto his face seemed to pierce his heart. For reasons he couldn't explain, a deep ache settled in his chest, as though her sorrow was his own.
"Yao'er..." he murmured, his voice soft and hoarse. "I'm okay..."