The Outcome and the Revelation of the Goddess

  Huang Di, stunned, watched the scene around him transform drastically. The enemies surrounding him vanished as if they had never existed, and the very space seemed to fragment, disintegrating before his eyes. He realized Umbra had been abruptly sent back to the grimoires, and before he could comprehend the situation, he was enveloped in a blinding light and transported elsewhere.

  When he opened his eyes, Huang Di found himself in a landscape of desolation and chaos. The air was thick with an ancient aura and overwhelming power. Bones of colossal beasts, larger than any creature he had ever seen, lay scattered all around, forming a true cemetery of titans. The atmosphere was heavy, as if he was being observed by entities beyond his understanding, forces that defied all logic.

  As he struggled to grasp what was happening, Huang Di became aware that he was the center of attention of an assembly of beings of immeasurable power. Living and dead, spirits and souls, were gathered in a colossal cosmic amphitheater, witnessing an event of epic proportions. Among them were beings of all classes, races, clans, and species, each possessing intelligence and power that made Huang Di seem like a mere ant in comparison.

  These spectators had come from every corner of the multiverse to witness the final phase of the initiation test for the Relic of Space and Time a legendary treasure known by many names: the Hall of Champions, the Place of the Chosen, the Ark of Treasure, the Collapse of Time, among others. The Relic, an ancient and mysterious entity, held gates scattered across different levels of reality, offering many, across ages, the chance to seek power and knowledge.

  Yet, something unprecedented had occurred. All access points to the Relic were abruptly sealed across every universe where its gates existed, leaving only those beings inside at the moment of the lockdown. And this lockdown coincided with Huang Di’s entry, leading many to speculate about the connection between the youth and this cosmic event.

  Four divine-powered beings, whom Huang Di knew only from legends and ancient records, appeared in their true soul forms. An Azure Dragon, with scales shining like the night sky; a Phoenix, whose flaming feathers seemed to consume the very air; a White Tiger, whose fur was as pure as freshly fallen snow; and a Black Tortoise, whose shell appeared made of obsidian sprinkled with stars all observing Huang Di with looks mixing curiosity and astonishment.

  Then, an even more imposing presence emerged: a Golden Dragon, whose ethereal form seemed forged from solidified sunlight. Its presence was so dominant that even the stars seemed to shrink before it. A majestic crown, made of the multiverse’s rarest materials, adorned its head, symbolizing supreme authority.

  The spectators, including the four mythical beings, felt the Golden Dragon’s imposing aura and feared it deeply. It cast a disdainful glance at Huang Di, as if the youth were not even worthy of their curiosity. To it, Huang Di was a mere ant that could be crushed at any moment. It wondered impatiently why so many beings cared about a simple human.

  Without further delay, the Golden Dragon decided to end the matter. It released its aura a power so vast that even the most powerful beings present were alarmed. With a single gesture, it sent a golden palm strike toward Huang Di, an attack that would not only destroy his body but also his soul, preventing even reincarnation.

  At the instant the blow was about to hit Huang Di, he felt an overwhelming pressure that forced him to his knees. Then, the small pagoda within his spiritual palace activated. It detached from Huang Di’s body and began to grow, emitting an intense golden light that filled the entire environment. For Huang Di and nearly all beings present, except the four mythical beasts and the Golden Dragon, time simply stopped. Even the blow froze in midair.

  From the pagoda emerged a figure of transcendental beauty, a woman whose presence defied all description. Her mere existence made the mythical beasts tremble. She was the Goddess of Fortune and Misfortune, known for her blessings upon allies and curses upon enemies. Her sanctity was unquestionable, her majesty comparable to creation itself.

  With a mere thought, the Golden Dragon, who recognized her as an ancient friend, undid his strike and withdrew from the scene, leaving Huang Di under the Goddess’s protection. She smiled gently at the four beasts and winked before returning to the pagoda, which once again rested within Huang Di’s body.

  Time resumed its normal flow, and Huang Di found himself back in the duel arena, but now before a stunning woman, seated atop an imposing fox, who watched him with a gaze full of curiosity.

  Final Phase: Huang Di vs. the Princess

  They exchanged glances, instantly recognizing each other. Huang Di faced the demonic blonde, the central disciple of the Golden Heron Sect, who, like him, had come from the same world to this place. Now they stood face to face, the desire for victory palpable in their eyes. Huang Di concluded that she would be his final hurdle toward mastering the relic, securing access to valuable resources. Although reluctant to harm a woman, he was determined to avoid any damage to her beautiful face, secretly hoping she would yield.

  The princess, for her part, also assessed the situation, with no intention of going easy. As she had with previous challenges, she was determined to overcome this one as well. A familiar voice echoed in the air, announcing:

  “The time for the final phase of the vacancy for membership in the Relic of Space and Time has arrived. The rules are simple: there are no rules. You must subdue your opponent until surrender… or death. Those who wish to forfeit have 30 minutes to do so. After this period, the fight will begin, and candidates may use any resources at their disposal, except third-party assistance.

  A deafening silence filled the space after the announcement. Huang Di, seated in lotus position, withdrew some herbs from his ring and began refining them to recover his energy, having had insufficient time to recuperate after the second phase.

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  Princess Di Saba watched from a distance, intrigued. Her memory of the young man was very different. She recalled him as the only one without a shirt, dressed simply, resembling more a mountain bandit. Now, he radiated the aura of a true martial warrior. The rings on his fingers recognized by her as dimensional storage rings, also caught her attention.

  Di Saba, a prodigy at the fifth level of the Earth rank, was one step from reaching the Sky Rank but had not managed as great a leap in cultivation as Huang Di apparently had in less than a month. This unsettled her. Was he hiding his true power?

  Time passed. The 30 minutes elapsed.

  Huang Di, now at the peak of his condition, was ready. The deep voice returned, announcing the start of the battle:

  “Let the fight for supremacy begin. Good luck, candidates.”

  Huang Di rose, looking at the beautiful flower who could ignite wars merely by her appearance. Yet he was focused. Nothing would prevent him from achieving his goals, not even a stunning woman.

  The princess, sensing his resolve, decided to act. In a sweet and gentle voice, employing her power of seduction, she said:

  “Young warrior, I do not know your name or origins, but since we come from the same world, I offer you the courtesy to surrender and withdraw peacefully. I do not want you to become the prey of my Six-Tailed Fox. Think carefully… our strengths are as clear as day. You are not my opponent. Step back and gain a great friend, one capable of opening many doors for you in the future.”

  Hearing this, Huang Di felt underestimated as if being pitied. He replied firmly:

  “Beautiful lady, in truth, you are absolutely right. The wisest thing you could do is surrender so as not to get hurt. Punches and kicks have no eyes, and I might end up hurting you more than necessary. It would be prudent for you to give up now.”

  The princess was stunned by Huang Di’s boldness. She smiled and ordered her fox:

  “Penelope, finish this individual off.”

  The six-tailed white fox, named Penelope, charged angrily toward Huang Di. He smiled and, with a simple thought, summoned Umbra, who appeared with a confused expression. Telepathically, Huang Di instructed him to deal with the fox while he faced the woman.

  Umbra, seeing the beautiful fox, noticed her unique traits. Sensing she was in heat, he smiled, licking his lips and howling at the sky. The fox abruptly ceased her attack upon seeing him. The princess watched the scene, intrigued. Few possessed a beast so powerful under their control. In her family, there were even mightier beasts, yet these were considered guardians, accessible only upon winning the contest among her siblings.

  Determined to win, Di Saba prepared to face the challenge and eliminate the obstacle that Huang Di represented.

  The Partners’ Confrontation, Memories

  The fight was at a stalemate, and Umbra’s summoning brought a new balance to the battle. The scene, once two against one, was now becoming two against two, swiftly neutralizing the princess’ initial advantage.

  Huang Di took the initiative, proposing:

  “It seems the young lady is a bit hasty. The battle has only just begun. I propose we resolve this stalemate in two ways: first, we fight using only our own abilities, without employing our beasts. Or everyone fights, but beast against beast and human against human. The beast that suppresses the other may then assist its master. What do you think?”

  The princess, smiling ironically at Huang Di’s florid words, like a cultivator, was already tired of being treated condescendingly. She did not need pampering, nor did anyone try to make things easier for her. With disdain, she replied:

  “Why should I follow your suggestions? If you think I’m foolish, you’re very mistaken. Divide and conquer is a strategy I have known since childhood, including the art of war. Why would I make it easier for you by separating from my contracted beast, who fights best by my side? If you want a proposal, here it is: don’t die.”

  With those words, Penelope emitted a powerful aura, and Princess Di Saba leapt onto her back, preparing for combat. Huang Di, aware of some of his adversary’s abilities, but certain the feeling was not mutual, began discreetly preparing runes behind his back. These runes could strengthen the user against mental attacks, protecting both him and Umbra, while maintaining dialogue with the princess.

  The princess then unleashed a powerful skill. Shades of purple and pink morphed into a deep red, forming a hypnotic illusion. It was the “Eyes of Seduction” skill, focused on creating mental illusions through the fox. The technique targeted Umbra, surrounding him with hundreds of female wolves resembling him, in an attempt at seduction.

  However, to the surprise of both the princess and Penelope, these images did not bring pleasure or fascination to Umbra. On the contrary: they awakened painful memories, deeply irritating him.

  Umbra let out a mighty roar, not a skill, but an instinctive reflex of rage, learned after fierce confrontations with countless beasts. The roar was so powerful it shattered the charming ability, forcing the princess and her fox to retreat, incredulously. A beast capable of overcoming its most primal instincts and nullifying a mental skill... was unprecedented to the princess.

  Huang Di, though surprised he had not been the attack’s target, realized the intention was to split him and Umbra. The fact that Umbra resisted the skill on his own left him satisfied, reflected in the confident smile that appeared on his face.

  The Battle of Strategies, Which Will Triumph in the End?

  Princess Di Saba and her fox, Penelope, faced Huang Di and Umbra, carefully planning their next move. Huang Di, chuckling at the situation, discreetly crafted hidden formations on the ground using the skill “The Foolish King of Runes.” These runes, when activated, would reveal the true purpose of the formation, not intended for direct combat, but to seal the power of the participants. Any treasure, item, equipment, or even special abilities would be neutralized. Only the physical body would remain as a weapon. For Huang Di, this was an advantage.

  He had chosen this less offensive approach, both to avoid hurting the princess and because he trusted his fighting style as a pugilist. He did not rely on swords, staff, or relics. He believed that the body, when well-trained, was a more reliable weapon than any artifact. Energy might run out, but the well-prepared body would never fail.

  As he arranged the runes, Huang Di watched his adversary, who was also preparing for combat. The princess drew from a spatial ring a small black-and-red sword. The hilt, shaped like a metallic black phoenix, and the double-edged blade, glowing with a fiery ruby hue, emitted a powerful aura. It was, without doubt, a rank 6 or even 7 weapons. Huang Di understood that if that strike hit him, the damage would be severe.

  The princess and Penelope then separated, accepting Huang Di’s suggestion: beast against beast, human against human. The battle began with Umbra and Penelope in the sky, engaging in an aerial dance of cat and mouse. Umbra, more patient, focused on wearing down the opponent’s energy, while Penelope, aggressive and cunning, attacked fiercely, aiming for vital points with precision.

  On the ground, Huang Di was surprised by the princess’s refined fencing technique, which forced him to retreat. With each of her advances, he was compelled to react cautiously, feeling the pressure of her speed and accuracy.

  The fight intensified. The princess revealed another skill strikes, that released red flowers made of flames, floating in the air before exploding. The temperature around rose, and the environment became scorching. Although Huang Di’s body was heavily tempered, he began to feel the impact of the flames. Even so, he kept advancing, and, most importantly, completed his rune formation.

  The situation was critical. The aerial battle remained balanced. On the ground, Huang Di fought to maintain his composure against his opponent’s fiery ability. But he knew he was one step away from activating the formation. And when that happened, the tide of the battle would change completely.