Pathway

"Senior, the planes of existence? Am I in a dream? This has to be a dream."

"It depends on the perspective of that. If you are talking about this place being a dream place to be, I believe it is. Entities from all over existence would be happy to be here, I guess. There is benefit of travelling around which may sound great to you. Other benefits are out there too, if you are strong enough to take them. But, if you are talking about you having a dream of this place right now, then the answer is no. This place is very real."

"Real? Ah, I've lost my mind. Senior, please forgive me, but how did I get here?"

"You have the mark of the pagoda, childling. This can only happen if you have been accepted by the pagoda. A gateway can be activated by the holder through his will or to a new holder by trance, as in your case. You unconsciously activated the pagoda when you were in a trance and you entered the door to appear here. You have been here before, but that was outside. Anyway, maybe a mistake, maybe not, I don't make the choices for people. I only make sure there's law and order in the use of this gateway. By the way, after today you won't be able to come here through trance anymore."

Seeing the speechless Ju Feng, Hypathos shook his head and continued.

"You see, these gateways were created differently from others. There are many gateways in existence that connects one plane to another, but there were fewer numbers of gateways connecting all planes. There are ten in the whole existence. This one had been holder-less until now."

"Senior, Is this like a portal?"

"It is like a portal, but there's no portal like these gateways. These gateways work differently from ordinary portals that need arrays or formations to work. There's no need for such things with this, and no worries of getting lost from wrong destination alignments. You get to where you are going and back, as long as you don't die before coming back. And we, the gatekeepers are always here to maintain order. Can you see the difference now?"

Smilingly, Hypathos asked.

"Yes, senior. I can see it."

Ju Feng replied. Although he was still lost in the reverie of the moment.

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

"Thank you senior, I'll remember that."

Ju Feng said, bowing towards Hypathos.

"And remember this too, others will desire what you have, if they know you have such an item. How you keep it safe, is left to you."

"I will, senior. Many thanks. Senior, if I want to go back, what do I do?"

"You can't go back on your own for now, I will send you out this time. You won't be able to come in through the trance anymore, you will have to enter through the doors. Not to worry, 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 is the token of authority as the holder of this gateway. It's the right of passage."

"Thank you senior, it's an honour to know you."

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

"Farewell childling."

Moments later, Ju Feng found himself in his room, and was greatly relieved after confirming he was really in his room. He was about to collapse on his bed for a deserved sleep, when he noticed the faint light the pagoda was still radiating. Remembering his encounter with the old man, he quickly patted himself and found the token given to him, hidden in his robe. Suddenly, Ju Feng felt very light-headed.

It wasn't a dream!

The whole encounter was real. That means the pagoda was really a gateway. This made him happy, and frightened at the same time. The thought of having such a means frightened him. Why was he even happy? He had no idea. To see other places? Maybe. Why would he even wanted to see other places? To be food for daemons? No way. No, he wasn't that happy but frightened. Who knows what is out there? He might even find himself in the void by mistake. Uh-uh, he was perfectly fine where he was.

Having decided not to disturb his mother and grandparents about his encounters for the time being, Ju Feng went back to sleep since it would still take a while till daybreak. Collapsing on the bed, he immediately fell asleep.

"ZOTHIKOS! 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 stupid ugly face, and trample your more stupid, and uglier body! You stupid turtle!"

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

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

"Go away, Fotios."

Came a deep mellowed voice in reply.

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

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

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

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

"Aha, finally, the turtle raised his ugly head. Zothikos, give me what is rightfully mine, and we can avoid any unnecessary fight over it."

"If it is yours, how come I have it? Doesn't that make it mine, Fotios?"

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

Fotios finally had the chance to get his revenge on the stupid turtle. Five hundred million years it had taken him to prepare for this day. And now, it was time to show the ugly turtle what true power means. He took out a divine seal, the Cosmic Void Rift, and activated it. The destructive power of the seal was so terrifying that using it was totally forbidden in the universe. The seal was last use during the great war, and was one of the items that ended the war at a great cost.

"What are you doing, Fotios?"

Shouted Zothikos with wide, frightened eyes.

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

"Are you insane?! You used a forbidden seal! It will destroy everything here!"

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

Fotios took out another seal, the greater teleportation seal, that could be used to move from one world to another. He activated the seal, but realized he couldn't teleport. After checking again to no effect, he quickly used another one to the same result.

"What's happening?"

Fotios asked with alarmed voice, staring at the smiling turtle.

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

"Nooooo! You stupid turtle! I will kill you!"

Zothikos continued smiling as he looked at the raging wyvern. Lonely life, miserable life, all coming to an end. His soul will 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 were they? Sacred beasts, divine beasts or even primordial beasts? If he even knew what any of them truly looked like.

After calming himself down, Ju Feng washed his face and headed towards the training ground.