The Crystal Pagoda [II]

"Who's there?"

"The crystal mark? Hmm, that changes everything. This can only mean you are now the holder of this gateway. Ah, necessity is now placed upon me to attend to you, childling."

The voice sighed. Then, with a shrilling sound, a figure enveloped in a brilliant white nimbus light appeared before Ju Feng. Few seconds later, the white light receded to reveal a frail-looking old man wearing a white robe covered in distorting ripples. Although the old man masked his aura, his nimbus light gave Ju Feng an inkling of the old man being an ancient entity.

"My name is Qiyuan, one of the ten Jianhuren. We are the keepers of the gates of planes."

Ju Feng, who was lost for words, glanced nervously at the old man who simply ignored his stares and continued with his talk.

"The gateways were created at the beginning of creation, and we are tasked to watch and guide them. They are our assigned domains, that's why we have absolute powers over them. No living soul can use the gateways without the right of passage. That's the way of creation, and it's important we maintain this."

With two watchful eyes on the confused Ju Feng, the old man smiled.

"Do you not ask why? I'll tell you anyway. You see, childling. The gateways are direct passages to all the planes of creation. It leads to all the twelve planes of existence. There are four planes in this universe, four planes in the primordial chaos, three in the void. The last one is known as the 'convergence', where the paths of all entities meet. This gateway here, the one you see as a pagoda, is one of these passages to all the planes."

"Ah, gateway? This must be a dream!!"

Either it was a dream or he had lost his precious mind. Otherwise, how could he explain this crazy happening?

"It depends on how you look at it. If you are talking about this place being a dream place to be, you may not be wrong. Most souls from all over existence would be happy to be here. That, I can tell you with certainty. You see, childling. You'll have the chance to travel around which may sound great to you. However, other benefits are out there to. If you are strong enough to take them. But if you are talking about you sleeping and having a dream in your world right now,, then the answer is no. Everything you see is real."

"A dreamy reality? Ah, I've totally lost my mind."

"You have the mark of the pagoda, childling. This can only happen if you are the new lord of this gateway. A gateway can be activated by the holder through his will. Or to a new holder by trance, as in your case. Being your first time, you unconsciously activated the pagoda when you were in a trance, and you entered through the door to appear here. You've been here before, but that was on the outside. By the way, after today you won't be able to come here through trance anymore."

Seeing the expressions of the speechless Ju Feng, Qiyuan shrugged as he shook his head.

"You see, these gateways were created differently from the others. There are many gateways in existence that connects one plane to another, but there are fewer numbers of gateways connecting all planes."

Spurred on by curiosity after getting a little hold of himself, Ju Feng asked.

"Like a portal?"

"It is a portal. But there are no portal like these gateways. They work differently from the common portals which need arrays or formations to work. There's no need for such things with this. You get to where you are going and back, as long as you don't die before coming back. Can you see the difference now, childling?"

Lost in the reverie of the moment, Ju Feng could only nod his head in reply as the old man continued.

"There are worlds out there, childling. Worlds without numbers, both major and minor worlds. Planes to see. You are now the lord of this previously holderless gateway, but you are not strong enough yet. You must wait until you are more stronger to survive out there before you attempt any use of the gateway. Or else, you'll simply die."

"Thank you sir, I'll keep that in mind."

Ju Feng said, bowing deeply with a cupped fist.

"Hm. Also remember, others will desire what you have, if they know what you have. How you keep this gateway safe is left to you."

"Okay, sir. I won't forget that. But what if I want to go back?"

"You can't go back on your own for now. So, I will send you out this time. But as I said earlier, you won't be able to come in through the trance anymore. You will have to enter through the doors. Not to worry childling, once you are strong enough to power the pagoda, a door will appear that leads to my place. And when you are done, you will leave through the same door. Once you can power the pagoda to open the door, that means you are strong enough to see the worlds out there. Until then, here's the token as the holder of this gateway. It's the right of passage."

"Thank you, sir. It's an honour to meet you."

Ju Feng with cupped hands, bowed deeply again. But deep in his mind, he was desperately thinking of waking up to see that all those events were nothing but a dream. Oh, how much he really wanted to wake up now.

"Farewell, childling."

Qiyuan looked concernedly at Ju Feng as he released the softest of breath. He could see twirling dark clouds over the soul of the childling which could only mean an impending death. As he closed his eyes in thoughts, he vanished into the thin air.

Moments later, Ju Feng opened his eyes and found himself in his room, much to his great relief. He gently laughed after confirming he was really in his room. About to collapse on his bed for a deserved sleep, he noticed a faint light radiating from the crystal pagoda. Remembering his encounter with the old man, he quickly patted himself and found the token he was given, hidden inside his robe. Instinctly, Ju Feng threw the token to one corner of his room before going on his knees, feeling very light-headed.

It wasn't a dream?! The whole encounter was real?!

That meant the pagoda was really a gateway. His mind quickly recalled the words of his grandmother when she was giving him the pagoda. Could it be portals to the seven realms of treasures? That excited him but also gave him an intense fright.

After deciding not to disturb his mother and grandparents about his encounter, Ju Feng went back to sleep since daybreak was still a long way off. Collapsing on the bamboo bed, he immediately fell asleep.

"Jarredum! Come out and face me!"

The voice of the wyvern bellowed out of the raging cloud.

"Do you think you can threaten me with some useless moves?! Come out! I will sit on your ugly face, and trample your uglier body with my tail! You stupid turtle!"

Raging furiously in the cloud, Uzeroth was determined to finally put the turtle in his place, which is under his tail.

"Jarredum! Where are you?! Show your stupid face!"

"Go away, Uzeroth."

Came a deep mellowed voice in reply.

"Show your face Jarredum. I'm up here waiting."

"What do you want this time, Uzeroth? Why are you disturbing my peace?"

"Come out, and find out for yourself, Jarredum."

Jarredum slowly rose from the deep water, sending ripples across its surface. His deadly eyes were set on the wyvern in a silent fury.

"Aha, finally, the turtle raised his ugly head. Jarredum, give me what is rightfully mine, and we can call it even."

"Rightfully yours? Then, how come I have it? Doesn't that make it mine, Uzeroth?"

"You stupid turtle! If you don't hand it over, then don't blame me for what happens next."

Uzeroth finally had the chance to get his revenge on the stupid turtle. Millions of years it had taken him to prepare for this day. And now, it was time to show the ugly turtle what true power meant. He took out the forbidden Dead-Rift-Seal, and activated it. An item imbued with the terrifying power of the infinite energy of the void which caused the divines to forbid its use in the universe. It was one of the items that ended the last war at a great cost.

"What are you doing, Uzeroth?!"

Jarredum shouted with wide, frightened eyes.

"What am I doing?! Can't you see?! I'm trying to kill you! Why is that so hard for you to see?!"

"Are you insane?! It'll destroy everything here!"

"Oh yes, it will. How wonderful will it be to finally sit on what remains of your ugly head. If anything remains at all. Good bye, my friend."

Uzeroth took out another seal. The greater teleportation seal, used to move from one world to another, and activated it. But he was shocked when he realized he couldn't teleport. After checking again to no effect, he quickly brought out another seal to the same result.

"What's happening?"

Uzeroth asked with an alarmed voice, staring at the smiling turtle.

"If this place is to be destroyed, you are not going anywhere too. That was the Heaven-On-Earth Pentagram talisman. And yes, it was a forbidden item too, my old friend."

"Noooo! You stupid turtle! I'll kill you!"

Jarredum continued smiling while looking at the raging wyvern. Ah, lonely life, miserable life, all coming to an end. His soul would be free from it all.

Ju Feng woke up with a terrifying feeling. Another vivid and intense dream of the turtle, and the wyvern. What even were they? Sacred beasts, divine beasts or primordial beasts? He had no idea and surely wanted no part of it. After calming himself down, Ju Feng washed his face and headed towards the training ground.