Don’t ask things you are not supposed to know. Curiosity kills the cat.
This was the lessoned learned for Lu Li. He could see stars dancing in front of his eyes and almost had a concussion. After he crawled back up, he remained seated without posing further questions.
Leng Wuxin kept silent as well, showing no intention to provide explanation. She merely threw a file to Lu Li and said, “It tells you about the Central Imperial Universe. Get to know it and don’t get tripped up!”
Lu Li took over the file. It was a map with notes in the margins. The notes were written in the ancient language, simple remarks of the situation of the Central Imperial Universe.
Unlike the Heaven Reverse Universe which had many plains, the Central Imperial Universe had only one continent with some large islands surrounding it.
It was said on the file that there were three dynasties controlling the entire Central Imperial Universe, namely Qi Dynasty, Leng Dynasty and Feng Dynasty. It goes without saying that they were governed by the Qi Family, Leng Family and Feng Family respectively.
Lu Li read the map carefully while Leng Wuxin browsed another file. When Lu Li was almost done memorizing the map, she threw another file over and said, “You will pretend to be the apprentice of Skyline, an old warrior, and here is his information. This freak once looted many talented disciples from small families of the Central Imperial Universe. You can say that you were taken by him when you were three. He hasn’t made an appearance for hundreds of years now and we suppose his life is coming to an end. Also, he lives in a very secluded place. My family may have suspicions but nobody can find any proof.”
Lu Li picked up the file. He was taken aback after a crude reading. It was said in the file that the Skyline had reached the Semi-God Realm 2000 years ago. He had skills beyond imagination and once, he killed his way into the Feng Dynasty and murdered a dozen patriarchs of the Feng Family on his own.
“Semi-God Realm?”
Lu Li turned to Leng Wuxin with his confusion, “What is Semi-God Realm? One realm higher than the Earth Immortal Realm?”
“Yes!”
Leng Wuxin nodded and explained, “Earth Immortals are on earth but Quasi Gods are regarded as close to gods, deities. I don’t think you have Semi-God Realm warriors in that small universe of yours.”
Lu Li nodded as an answer but said nothing else, hoping to hide some information about the Heaven Reverse Universe from Leng Wuxin.
Lu Li inferred that the Semi-God Realm should be the equivalent of chosen warriors in the Heaven Reverse Universe. Moving above the Semi-God Realm, one should be reaching Emperor of Heaven Reverse’s realm and could then ascend to heaven and become a real immortal.
Lu Li read on, trying to remember everything. Leng Wuxin had handed him an arduous task, a nearly impossible task.
Nevertheless!
He had to carry on. He had to find ways to accomplish the mission. If not, his life would come to an end right away. Carrying forward, there was still a glint of hope that he could survive.
Where there is a will, there is a way. He must move on by some means or the other even if he was traveling toward a dead end. There was not hope unless there was life.
Lu Li learned every piece of information by heart. Leng Wuxin took out another ring from her ring, gave it to Lu Li and said, “There are many Mystical Materials here, enough for you to reach the Human Sovereign Realm. When you join the Leng Family and reach the Human Sovereign Realm, Leng Family will provide you with more Mystical Materials for you to go on.”
She handed a brownish Buddha prayer bead and another map to Lu Li and continued, “This Buddha prayer bead is precious. With this Buddha prayer bead, the Beasts of Primordial Chaos in the Prison of Gold won’t attack you. Of course…you must still be careful in the Prison of Gold given that there are many humans and aliens in there. There will be talented warriors from not only the Central Imperial Universe but also other universes. You will have to blame your luck if you die in there. The red mark on the map is the portal to the Central Imperial Universe. Get to it and have the Buddha prayer bead with you, you will be able to enter the Central Imperial Universe.”
“Now let’s go!”
With that said, Leng Wuxin put away her lotus and led Lu Li up the mountain road. When they reached the last two stairs, she looked back at him and said, “The poison will show effect within half a year. So…if you cannot arrive at the Leng Family within six months, you will die. Good luck.”
Leng Wuxin then flew up by herself. The last stair had no more abnormal gravitational force. Lu Li stepped onto it slowly after a moment.
“Buzzing!”
In front of Lu Li, the view changed drastically. He found himself in a strange world with glaring mountains and mysterious metals and mines. The mountains were in odd shapes, so were the trees, which, to Lu Li’s surprise, were golden or dark blond in color.
Fire, wood, earth, water, gold, ice, wind, darkness, soul and thunder, the 10 levels of Purgatory of Primordial Chaos!
And this was the fifth level, the Prison of Gold.
Lu Li was amazed at the wondrous worlds. Leng Wuxin stated that the first five levels were not particularly dangerous. He couldn’t imagine how terrible it would be above the sixth level.
Taking out the map of the Prison of Gold, he confirmed he was in the center of the Prison of Gold and he had to go to the west in order to go to the Central Imperial Universe.
Leng Wuxin was nowhere to be seen. Lu Li had to rely on himself to find the passageway to the Central Imperial Universe. He stood for a while before he flew to the west. He didn’t go long. He found a mountain of gold to hide in, took out some water and prepared food for a meal to recharge.
“Live, I must survive this. I must grow and go home… home!”
Lu Li murmured to himself, leaning against the wall. He buried his thoughts of Bai Qiuxue, Jiang Qiling, his worry of Little White, Lu Ling, Lu Feixue and Lu Renhuang to the back of his mind.
He must forget about the Heaven Reverse Universe or else all the concerns would become monsters living in his head, the last straw that overwhelmed him, and he would collapse.
Dangers were abound in the Prison of Gold. He would be at death’s door when he arrived at the Central Imperial Universe. He must cheer up and fight a battle of wits and strength. He must exhaust his means in order to increase his chances of survive and to go home.
For his family, his loved ones, his friends and himself, he must go on. He would fight against this ridiculous fate. However difficult it was going to be, whether there was a way ahead or no, he would have to carry on and return to the Heaven Reverse Universe, or…die!
“Phew, phew!”
Lu Li took a deep breath. Looking back on the past few years, the overwhelmed feeling gradually receded.
He had found himself in perilous situations on more than one occasion during the past years. But he had gotten out of the jaws of danger again and again and he had survived. If he could make it for so many times, he could survive again. He would go home.
Home!
Home!
Home!
This was the only thought flashing on Lu Li’s minds constantly and it took roots, turning into the will for him to fight. He swore to himself that he would go home at all expenses, even if it meant he had to murder millions, to travel across mountains and rivers, to go past worlds and continents or to kill all heroes in the world. He must go home!
Many were waiting for his return, for him to come home!
…
Two hours. Lu Li sat in the mountain for two hours. His calmness was restored and the fighting spirit rose high. He walked out, carrying the divine weapon of Dragon King in his hand and walked to the west, step by step.
Glaring mountains of gold lay everywhere in the Prison of God but it still looked deserted. There seemed to be no human nor living things within a radius of 300 miles. Lu Li was alone, carrying the saber in his hand and stepping forward. The setting sun stretched out his shadow, desolation all round…