World of Rules

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Inside the deep cave, the air was heavy, charged with a mysterious energy that flickered like faint shadows on the rocky walls. There was no sound except for the whispers of the wind seeping through deep cracks, as if carrying ancient secrets from a distant past.

In the heart of this darkness, there was a single illuminated spot—a faint glow emerging from cryptic symbols that appeared briefly on the stone floor before vanishing again, as if breathing slowly, pulsing with an unseen rhythm.

Two figures stood amidst this eerie atmosphere.

One was the head of the Shu family, his body tense but unable to hide the burning excitement in his eyes. The other, Di, remained motionless, expressionless, silently gazing at the ancient teleportation array before him.

"It's ready now." Shu Family's head broke the silence, his voice carrying a mix of anticipation and worry. "We can use it immediately, but…" He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "No one knows where this array will take us. The place we arrive at might be dangerous."

No response came.

Di stood as he was, his eyes slowly scanning the inscriptions on the stone floor. His fingers brushed over one of the glowing lines, as if sensing something beyond the comprehension of others.

There was no hesitation, no worry, not even the slightest interest on his face.

A slight tension rose in the Shu Family's head, but he quickly brushed it aside, remembering that Di was not someone who could be spoken to like ordinary people.

He exhaled slowly before saying, "I'll place the primordial stones now."

Di gave a cold nod, barely moving his head, as if the decision had already been made.

Moving swiftly, the Shu Family’s head took out a handful of shimmering primordial stones and carefully positioned them in their designated spots within the array. The moment the stones touched the inscriptions, the engravings began to glow, their brilliance intensifying gradually, as if awakening from a long slumber.

An invisible force stirred in the air, making the atmosphere heavier, as if the entire cave was now enveloped in an unseen vortex of ancient power.

Little by little, the glow grew stronger.

The faint lights transformed into a radiant flare, like a miniature sun erupting amidst the darkness. Unnatural winds howled within the cave, carrying strange, incomprehensible vibrations that sent chills down the spine.

Di stood facing the surging light, his expression unchanged, his gaze unwavering—without hesitation or surprise.

As for the Shu Family's head, despite his experience in the cultivation world, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

The glow continued to intensify…

Then, in a fleeting instant, everything vanished.

No more light, no flicker, no energy—no trace of the array remained.

It was as if the cave had returned to its original state, as if nothing had ever been there.

But the truth was different—

Because the two figures who had been standing there…

Had disappeared.

---

Somewhere, amidst the unknown void…

A bright light flared momentarily before fading, leaving behind two figures emerging from the emptiness.

Di and the Shu Family's head.

But the air around them was not still—it was thick with tension and residual energy.

The teleportation had not been smooth.

Both men stood in silence, their expressions grim. Their bodies trembled slightly, still feeling the lingering aftershocks of the ancient array. It was as if they had been dragged through a chaotic torrent of energy, where direction and stability did not exist—only an unstoppable flow.

The Shu Family’s head panted heavily, then, without hesitation, pulled out several medicinal pills, tossing them into his mouth and swallowing them quickly. Moments later, his breathing steadied, and his turbulent aura calmed.

Di, however, showed no sign of being affected.

He stood quietly, his dark eyes scanning his surroundings, as if the shock had never touched him.

They had arrived in a cave.

But this was no ordinary cave—

The walls were made of ancient sandstone, layered with thick dust, indicating that no one had stepped foot here for ages. Narrow cracks in the ceiling allowed faint rays of light to seep in, casting long, eerie shadows on the cracked stone floor.

The air was dry, yet it carried a faint scent of decay and stagnation, as if this place had remained sealed for centuries without disturbance.

Despite this, the cave was not entirely empty.

At its center stood another teleportation array.

Despite the passage of time, the engravings on it remained clear, as if waiting to be used again. Traces of energy still lingered faintly, hinting that this array had not been activated for a long time—until now.

In the midst of this ominous atmosphere, not everything was bleak.

One thing was different—

Excitement flickered in the Shu Family's head's eyes.

He could not hide the thrill surging within him, and he had every reason for it.

Smiling, as if the hardship from moments ago had completely faded, he spoke with barely contained enthusiasm:

"We did it!"

He let out a short laugh before adding, while dusting off his clothes:

"This means we've arrived at an entirely unknown place… Who knows what we might find here?!"

...