Underground Passage.

Whistle. Whistle--

Sand twisted and wildly ran through the air, its scorching hot grains grazed past two men stumbling through it. Shoes filled with sand prompting them to clean them up now and then.

Dane stopped to empty his left shoe from sand again.

"So what's your story, Dane?" Shen asked when Dane halted.

"You couldn't have come here for no reason? Although this is the fastest path, it's also the most dangerous one to get to Elisiyam."

"To be honest, my wife left me recently. ``You aren't strong enough,''she said. 'You can't protect us.' She took my daughter and left for another man." Dane took a sharp breath and coughed sand.

"This explains nothing though."

"I am weak. My talent in Mana and Qi are mediocre and way below average, yet I was happy. As long as I had my wife and daughter I had been content," he said, smiling bitterly. "However, when my wife left me, I was lost. I'm forty years old, I only look young because of a cheap disguising technique! I want to hone my strength! I became a traveller for that reason because I heard powerful beings couldn't become powerful without facing countless dangerous situations. If they could do that, why couldn't I?!" he raved with crazed eyes.

Dane felt different to the man Shen knew and the one he met two hours ago. Dane didn't stutter anymore. His ideals were flawed and crazy. He wasn't strong or weak. He was just a desperate man looking for a way out and to regain his family. 'I can't sympathize with him,' Shen thought coldly.

"Other than that," Dane continued, "I heard that Master Raymond is looking for disciples. The flyer said he doesn't care about background or talent as long as they are good enough and meet his criteria. I want to try my luck there. Barking up Master Raymond's tree could solve my problems."

"Then, you're in a hurry?" Shen asked, an imperceptible smile on his face.

"Yes." Dane wiped his sweat.

"I know a shortcut, if you are interested," Shen offered. "It's a faster path to Elisiyam. To be honest, I was planning to take it before finding you."

Dane's eyes brightened as he looked at Shen like an angel. "You would share such a secret with me?" he asked, his lips slightly trembling.

"Of course, we are buddies now, aren't we?" Shen chuckled while patting Dane on the shoulder.

"Buddies…" Dane muttered twice before nodding. "Of course, we are friends!"

It was highly naïve of Dane to believe what Shen said, but someone that could kill that monster so easily wouldn't have a need for him. Shen had helped Dane many times since they met. Dane couldn't be more grateful.

Silently, Shen shifted paths and led the way. The journey seemed safer that way. The scorching wind lessened, and no sandstorms appeared in sight. Monsters had also decreased in numbers, which reassured Dane.

Dane spotted a weird rock on the way. It had a slight edge inclined with a sphere shaped hole in its middle. He felt a slight attraction and curiosity toward it.

"Do you want to check it out? I've seen that rock many times, but it didn't seem important," Shen said. "Maybe you can discover something I couldn't."

Dane approached the rock while Shen stood in place.

Rumble.

Shen smiled when Dane didn't notice and fiddled with the rock. He watched as Dane touched it in various places and looked closer, inspecting it from every direction.

Meanwhile, Shen noticed the ground subtly changing. Holes appeared all around them in a circular motion, sucking all the sand.

It was when the sound of the sand falling and the feeling of it decreasing from under him became prominent did he notice. He looked at Shen wide-eyed, not knowing what's happening.

Shen appeared in front of Dane. "Try touching the rock now. Something might happen if you do," he whispered in his ear.

Dane felt disoriented, but his attraction to the stone didn't decrease. Despite what happened, his curiosity and something inside him urged him to fiddle.

He checked the inside of the hole again. His hand grazed against the sharp edge, letting his blood freely flow. His blood's contact with the rock caused a light to shine from inside the hole.

The surrounding area changed again. Walls sprang up from the ground while bricks formed diagonally forming a downward stair.

'Finally!' Shen sighed in relief. He almost lost belief that Dane was the key, but thankfully he was wrong.

Truthfully, Shen had roamed this desert for a month and had found this place long ago. The only thing he missed was the key. And Dane was that key.

'I finally have access to the inheritance ground,' Shen smiled. 'Now, I just need to reach the trials.'

Dane gazed at his surroundings. Other than the stairs, enormous arcane and ancient buildings arose from the grounds. The scene felt mystifying and dream-like to Dane.

"Dane."

Turning around to look at Shen, Dane pointed at the buildings. "Do you see what I'm seeing?" he asked.

Nodding his head solemnly, Shen said, "It looks like these buildings were built hundreds of years ago. The ones that built them must have been powerful beings from the aura these buildings exude."

Dane's body shook from head to toe. Shen didn't know if it was from excitement, fear, or some other emotion.

"Do you want to check that out?" Shen gestured to the downward staircase. "This might be our opportunity to hit it big."

Shen didn't need to say anything anymore. His words were too enticing for Dane. He might find something and get powerful. His wife would then return to him with their daughter. Clenching his fists in determination, Dane nodded at Shen.

"Let's go," Shane nodded, taking the lead.

Letting him walk in front of him, Shen first looked at the buildings. He examined them while rubbing his chin. 'They aren't simple.' he narrowed his eyes. 'But it seems I don't have enough strength to enter them.'

'I'll come later,' he decided, before looking forward. Dane had already stopped to look at him. 'First things first.' He followed him and descended.