Two days after entering the secret tunnels, Tom had ventured significantly deeper into them.
During this time, he had managed to activate the "Yang Mark" and harness its power—though only to a negligible degree, as he fundamentally lacked an understanding of what it actually was. As the saying goes, "To understand the question is half the answer"; this held true for Tom, who remained powerless simply because he was ignorant of what lay within him—let alone where to begin in comprehending and wielding a force that transcended everything he previously knew about power.
Moving through one of the central tunnels, Tom navigated by the light of mana stones embedded in the tunnel walls, which cast a cold, blue glow across the space. He glanced at his map, let out a soft sigh, and tucked it away into his personal dimensional space. As he continued toward the heart of the tunnel network, he muttered quietly:
"Not much further now. In two weeks, I should reach the center—though I highly doubt it will be an easy journey."
After walking a few more meters, he came to a halt—it was 13:45, time for lunch—deciding to take a moment to collect his thoughts and check his equipment.
Tom brought out some pre-prepared food—a precaution taken to avoid drawing any unwanted attention. It is worth noting that a dimensional space is a realm devoid of conventional laws or concepts; anything placed within it remains in its original state indefinitely—even for thousands of years—ensuring that food, for instance, stays perfectly fresh no matter how long it is stored. For this very reason, individuals possessing such an ability are highly sought after by travelers, mercenaries, Gu masters, and immortals, all of whom frequently undertake long, arduous journeys. Tom cast his gaze toward the ceiling, where a colossal rune appeared. In a calm, steady voice, he began to read its contents:
"When creation and destruction are born from the womb of existence, the earth becomes the testing ground—a crucible for refinement—before the final advent of Ragnarök. Five trials stand between existence and annihilation, balancing peace and war, as well as the sacred spirit that shall only find its end with the ultimate Ragnarök upon this wretched world—a world that has known nothing but ruin. He whose origin is cast out and cursed shall mend what is broken and accursed. O Creation, O Destruction, and O the Union of both: complete your trials and earn your power. The weak are crushed, while the strong do the crushing—which will you be? Victor or vanquished, creation or destruction, or perhaps something that transcends them both? This is an irreversible choice; press onward if you are bold, or turn back if you are wise."
A cold, frost-like glint flickered in his dark, enigmatic eyes as he studied the rune. He finished his meal, stowed his belongings into his dimensional space, and set off toward the heart of the labyrinth with unwavering resolve. He was certain that what lay within was linked to his past life—to the origin of the Yin-Yang mark upon his neck, to the reason he remained a youth despite having lived for a thousand years, and to many other mysteries.
Yet, a vague, persistent intuition whispered to him that the truth was far greater than mere destruction, creation, or even the two combined. With every step he took, a surge of intense anger welled up within him—a feeling akin to betrayal, though of a kind that struck a deeper, more painful blow to his pride. He could not fathom the reason for the assault he had faced, yet the name "Ji Yao Li" had remained etched in his mind ever since he first arrived at these secret tunnels—four and a half days ago. His desire to explore these tunnels stemmed from several factors, not least of which was a persistent, gnawing sense of emptiness; Tom had always felt as though he did not truly belong—as if this world were not his own, or as though something vital were missing. Yet, following his reincarnation, he felt that this void had been partially filled.
As Tom advanced toward the heart of the tunnels—his stride steady, radiating both power and absolute authority—a sudden, inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over him. It was as if he sensed the presence of people he knew, just beyond a colossal stone gate, upon which the following words were inscribed:
"Spring always follows winter; summer follows spring; autumn follows summer; and winter follows autumn. So, too, does power follow merit. He who does not know himself is unworthy of aspiring to absolute power."
He opened the gate with effortless ease. The runes carved into the stone glowed with a hue that blended deep, blackened violet with a brilliant, vivid gold. A blinding light erupted forth, forcing Tom to shut his dark, enigmatic eyes against its intensity. In a realm devoid of laws or concepts—a void dominated by an absolute, infinite whiteness—stood a colossal tree, vast enough to dwarf the deepest recesses of boundless imagination. It was forged from a fusion of golden crystal and crimson ruby, its whip-like branches composed of a substance that blended life force with sacred energy. The tree bore four fruits, each a world entirely distinct and separate from the others in every conceivable aspect. Surrounding this tree were twelve entities, each possessing a power that transcended the "Beyond-Existence" tier—surpassing even the highest power classification established within the narrative.
The very gaze of these beings, seated upon their respective thrones, betrayed their exalted status. They were the twelve supreme guardians, known as the "Protectors of the Sacred Tree of Existence," which held the four worlds aloft.
One of them—Zhao Li Yong, occupant of the fifth throne—spoke. His tone was calm, imbued with both composure and immense power, his cold eyes fixed upon the Tree of Existence:
"A vast expanse of time—countless eras and epochs—has passed. The birth of the Ruler of the Tree of Existence (the Supreme Creator) draws near; only about 500 trillion years remain until his arrival." His tone sharpened, becoming even more firm than before:
"Once the four Rulers of the Fruits of Existence and the Ruler of the Sacred Tree of Existence—the Supreme Creator—are born, we, the original creators, will fade into nothing more than a memory of the past. What do you intend to do about this? Shall we accept our fate, or shall we confront it? The choice is yours."
As he finished speaking, the space—if it could even be called a space—sank into absolute silence. After an interval of what was not truly time, the occupant of the first throne—the strongest among them by an unbridgeable margin—spoke. His tone was laced with indifference, yet beneath it lay a profound seriousness and absolute power:
"I am aware of this. But as the guardians of the Tree of Existence, we cannot We must not fall short of the purpose for which we were brought into existence. We, along with our peers, are the guardians of the other twelve Trees of Existence; it is our duty to fulfill our mission and ensure that the rulers of the Tree of Existence receive what they deserve. This is my final decision. If anyone has anything else to say, speak now—I am listening."
He paused for a moment, waiting to hear from the other throne-holders, but they remained silent; no one dared to oppose him.
Then, the fourth throne-holder, known as Domenico, let out a deep sigh before speaking:
"Since no one else has offered a statement, the decision of the fifth throne-holder (Zhao Li Yong) is rejected, and the status quo shall remain unchanged." "The meeting concerning the guardians of the Tree of Existence—number 6,300,577,823,550—has concluded. We wish all those present a life filled with happiness and prosperity."
Following this, the guardians of the Tree of Existence departed. They were known as "Creators," possessing the ability to manifest anything from nothingness—or, conversely, to erase anything and everything. Furthermore, as they were birthed from the Tree of Existence itself, it was impossible for them to perish, save at the hands of a higher entity or one who held authority over the Tree itself. Such was the law of their existence: they were bound to protect the Tree to ensure their own continued being. The Tree, however, was more powerful than all twelve throne-holders combined; it was, in its own right, a living entity capable of assuming a human form whenever it chose. Known as the "Mother of Existence," the Tree was the fundamental reason for the survival of the four realms, which it cradled within its crystalline embrace.
As everyone began their return to their respective realms, Zao Li Yong seethed with rage, hatred, and malice—directed specifically toward Domenico and the holder of the First Throne, Ji Yao Li (the leader of the guardians of the Tree of Existence).
Meanwhile, as Ji Yao Li headed toward his own realm—situated within one of the four worlds—Domenico and Alexazia, the holder of the Eighth Wing, approached him, their expressions grave.
"Lord Ji Yao Li, wait a moment!"
Ji Yao Li, who had been making his way toward his realm, came to a halt. He turned his gaze toward Domenico and Alexazia, his hands clasped behind his back, and spoke in a calm, measured tone. Filled with the composure and wisdom gained from countless ages of experience:
"What is it? Why have you stopped me, Alexazia and Domenico?" "You had better have a good reason."
Alexazia and Domenico got straight to the point, wasting no time. Their expressions and the tone of their voices betrayed a hint of anxiety—something that caught him off guard. Yet, seeing their state, he decided to listen; it was clearly a matter of such gravity that it had managed to unsettle two of the guardians of the Sacred Tree of Existence.
"Lord Ji Yao Li, it appears that the holder of the Fifth Throne—along with the other throne-holders—intends to topple you from your position as their master."
Ji Yao Li's expression sharpened as he took in their words. He then dismissed them:
"You may go and get some rest."
Alexazia and Domenico bowed at a 45-degree angle as a sign of respect before departing for their respective realms to rest. All the while, the fear that something might occur—something capable of turning the entire world upside down, or worse—weighed heavily on their minds.
The reason he had ordered them to rest was that guarding the Tree of Existence drains a vast amount of power from any entity—even those who possess infinite strength or have transcended the infinite. However, the Tree itself emits a terrifyingly immense amount of energy, which helps these guardians maintain focus and stabilize their own power, preventing any instability that might arise from the mental exhaustion caused by their duty of guarding the Sacred Tree of Existence.
Ji Yao Li headed toward his own realm, contemplating what Domenico and Alexazia had told him. Both of them had always been loyal to him; that was precisely why... It was unlikely that they would lie to him about something like this.
As he headed toward his own realm, a strange voice suddenly echoed in his mind—appearing out of nowhere:
"Wake up! Come on, wake up!"
Ji Yao Li was taken aback by the voice resonating within his ears; it felt both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. He muttered under his breath, gently stroking his beard:
"What in the name of the Creator of Hell is going on... Perhaps I should get some rest; I haven't taken a break from guarding the Sacred Tree of Existence for thousands of years."
A few minutes passed before he reached his own realm. He stepped into a colossal palace—one that bore a striking resemblance to the Versalkin Academy—and walked forward with steady strides, letting out a deep sigh:
"Why do I have the feeling that what is happening to me now has happened before?"