Towering square spaces constructed of rough gray brickwork formed the walls of the waiting room.
SWOOSH!
Countless bluish cubic particles swirled into existence with a soft, crystalline chime, slowly assembling themselves in a dance of light and matter as Ji Wuye materialized within the space.
His crimson pupils remained closed beneath delicate eyelids, and his long white hair—fine as silk and gleaming like freshly fallen snow—cascaded over his shoulders in an immaculate fall.
Gradually, he opened his eyes, the vermilion irises adjusting to the dim illumination as he took in his surroundings.
===========================
[!] You have 30 minutes remaining before being teleported to the seventh floor!
===========================
His eyes remained calm, not a flicker of surprise disturbing their depths, as the transparent screen appeared before him.
SWOOSH!
Moments later, a greenish light enveloped his entire body, just like it had before, seeping through cloth and skin alike. It delivered a warm and refreshing sensation, like spring rain soaking into parched earth, washing away the lingering aches and tensions.
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[!] All temporary injuries have been healed!
===========================
As the notification faded from view, dissolving into motes of light that scattered and vanished, Ji Wuye didn't rush to take action. Instead, he moved with deliberate grace to sit down on the lone bed in the otherwise empty space.
The rough-spun blanket scratched against his palms as he adjusted his position. Lowering his head to gaze at the stone-bricked floor, his mind churned with thoughts from before. His brow furrowed slightly.
'If both of them share the same goal, but with different underlying concepts, then the issue must lie in the fusion,' he reflected silently, his fingers unconsciously tracing abstract patterns on his knee as his thoughts deepened.
A blinding light suddenly appeared in his hand, causing the shadows in the corner of the room to retreat momentarily, and with it, a jian materialized in his grip.
SWOOSH!
The next moment, a gentle, faint bluish Qi enveloped his palm, extending to the blade of the jian like water flowing along a predetermined path.
The energy hummed with a barely audible vibration, sending the faintest of tingles up his arm. Before long, the blue light flickered and shifted, transforming into an orange hue that cast warm, dancing shadows across his contemplative face.
The sight only deepened his confusion, a slight tightening around his eyes betraying his frustration. What exactly caused these two concepts to conflict with each other? One method sought to modify the object itself, shredding parts of it to create vibrations that made the blade sharper with a stronger slash.
The other simply aimed to infuse Qi into the weapon, merging it with elemental energy. This not only allowed the weapon to manipulate the element itself but also enhanced its slashing power.
Ji Wuye's crimson pupils took on an orange glow as he studied the jian in his grasp, now bathed in the light of his Fire Qi. The warm radiance cast flickering shadows across his sharp features, highlighting the thoughtful furrow in his brow.
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Yet, as he carefully observed, his fingers tensing slightly against the hilt, the vibrant orange hue of the Fire Qi gradually dimmed like a sunset fading to dusk.
The blade's brilliance retreated from the tip downward, leaving behind only faint amber traces that clung desperately to the metal. At the same time, he could feel the Fire Qi flowing within his meridians weakening as he cut off the Qi supply to his jian.
"I have no idea," he muttered, his voice resonating softly against the unyielding stone walls. He shook his head. The remaining embers of orange light sputtered and died, leaving the blade ordinary once more.
The final goals of the two concepts didn't clash; in fact, they aligned perfectly like two rivers meant to converge. Even their processes did not contradict each other, each flowing alongside the other without apparent interference. Yet, there was still rejection.
He rotated the blade slowly between his palms, the cool metal a counterpoint to his still-warm skin.
Perhaps it was because Fire Qi was being used, its volatile nature resistant to the precision required, or maybe it had something to do with applying the Great Resonance technique to a metallic object, which inherently clashed with Fire Qi, like water poured on flame. Or perhaps…
"The sound..." he murmured, letting the words linger in the air as his mind raced ahead of his voice.
Both concepts—the imitation and the genuine one—produced distinct sounds. One resonated like a dull thump, akin to a stomp on packed earth. The other rang out like a zither string being lightly plucked, a high, clear note that seemed to dance on the air itself.
"Well, let's figure that out later," he said to himself. His shoulders relaxed slightly as he dismissed the thought for now, setting aside the intricate puzzle for a more opportune time.
Then, he stored the jian back in his inventory—the weapon dissolving into motes of blue light that swirled briefly before vanishing completely.
He straightened his posture, and commanded inwardly, 'Shop.'
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[*] SHOP
===========================
[>] Skill [<] || [>] Items [<]
===========================
‘The 7th floor, huh,’ Ji Wuye thought, reflecting on his memories from the previous timeline. It should have been noisier and far easier, 'especially since there are usually a lot of hands,' he added inwardly, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Logically, with his current strength and the prospect of numerous helpers, there should have been no real need for him to buy anything. But…
He hesitated, recalling the latest challenge he had overcome.
A change...
‘Items,’ he commanded silently.
===========================
[*] ITEMS || TOG COINS: 50,000
===========================
- Grapes of Longevity - 5,000 coins
- Ethereal Lotus Pendant - 12,500 coins
- Twin Revolvers Crimson Fang - 15,000 coins
- Azure Wind Boots - 8,000 coins
- Serpentwood Elixir - 3,000 coins
- Dragonspine Greatsword - 11,000 coins
- Silver Moon Talisman - 7,500 coins
- Cloak of Flame - 1,000 coins
- Heavenly Plum Wine - 2,000 coins
- Runed Cowboy Hat - 4,500 coins
- Ironclad Spirit Bracers - 6,500 coins
- Phantom Silk Robe - 9,000 coins
- Inscription Soul - 500 coins
- Crimson Tiger Fang Dagger - 7,000 coins
- Basic Adventurer’s Kit - 1,500 coins
...
===========================
Browsing through the items, Ji Wuye’s attention immediately landed on the top of the list.
===========================
[!] You have purchased the item: Grapes of Longevity x4!
===========================
Looking at the remaining coins in his possession, a bitter laugh escaped his lips. “20k coins gone just like that,” he snorted lightly, shaking his head slightly. But it was worth it. The item he purchased was one coveted by all the old monsters of Jianghu, and he had a plan for it.
Turning his attention back to the remaining items, his crimson pupils casually scanned the list until he selected everything he needed.
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[!] You have purchased the item: Cloak of Flame!
===========================
===========================
[!] You have purchased the item: Inscription Soul x4!
===========================
Rising from the bed, Ji Wuye patted his white martial robe, adorned with dark blue stripes, before glancing at the screen showing his inventory.
“That should be enough,” he muttered to himself as another transparent screen abruptly flashed before his eyes.
===========================
[!] With 15 minutes remaining, are you certain you wish to enter the seventh floor at this moment?
===========================
…
Once again enveloped by darkness, Ji Wuye's body began to take form, gradually reconstructing itself as he was transported to the seventh floor.
His consciousness flickered like a candle flame caught between existence and void, each cubic particle of his being materializing with a faint blue shimmer against the absolute darkness.
In the middle of this process, however, he felt a sudden heatwave assault his half-formed senses—a scorching wall of air that seemed to press against him from all directions.
Even with a body strengthened by the Unbreakable Vajra, he could still sense the warmth pressing against him.
As his body fully materialized with a final pulse of light, he opened his eyes, blinking against the sudden assault of brightness and heat.
His crimson pupils glowed faintly in response, adjusting rapidly as they took in the scenery around him—a massive volcanic world stretched before him in all its terrible majesty.
The sky above was fractured, a swirling vortex of crimson storm clouds that churned and boiled like blood in a cauldron, punctuated by glowing meteors streaking downward, trailing tails of orange and gold across the apocalyptic canvas.
BOOM!
The ground trembled with every impact, the vibrations traveling up through the soles of Ji Wuye's feet and resonating in his chest.
And then…
BLUP!
BLUP!
Gurgling, bubbling sounds—akin to boiling water, though unmistakably more viscous and threatening—rose from below. The noise was accompanied by wet pops and the occasional hiss of escaping gas that carried with it a wave of blistering heat.
Ji Wuye's attention shifted downward. He stood atop a jagged basalt platform, its surface obsidian-black and etched with cooling cracks that occasionally revealed the molten core beneath.
The platform floated precariously above an ocean of seething, molten fire that stretched to the horizon in all directions, its surface constantly breaking with bubbles that burst and released plumes of toxic vapor.
As Ji Wuye surveyed the vast, volatile landscape, "It's familiar, but…" His words trailed off as he noticed something odd, his gaze sweeping across the hellish panorama with increasing focus. In this entire world, he was alone. There were no other challengers, no other people.
Where is everyone?
