"Wait, since Su Yan is here, then maybe I can use her to get into the High Heaven Pavilion," Kate thought to herself, formulating a plan. She quickly masked her thoughts with a polite smile. "Thanks, Ms. Su. My name is Kate Apocalypse. Thanks to you, nothing happened to me. I don't have anything on me right now to repay your kindness," Kate said, feigning humility.
"It's okay, you don't have to pay me," Su Yan replied coldly, her eyes assessing Kate with a detached curiosity. "What are your plans? It looks like you're not a cultivator. Being with me will just incriminate you."
"I-I want to be a cultivator, Ms. Su. Please help me," Kate pleaded, bowing deeply before Su Yan, her desperation evident in her voice and posture.
Su Yan's eyes narrowed as she studied Kate. "This girl is quite desperate. Is there something going on here?" she thought to herself, sensing that there might be more to Kate's story. After a moment of contemplation, Su Yan made her decision. "Then bring this to the High Heaven Pavilion," she said, tossing her jade pendant to Kate.
Kate caught the jade pendant and clutched it tightly. "Thank you, Ms. Su," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. She knew this pendant was her key to gaining entry into the prestigious High Heaven Pavilion.
With the jade pendant in hand, Kate embarked on her journey toward the High Heaven Pavilion. As she walked, she felt a surge of determination. "Thanks to her, I know where the High Heaven Pavilion is," she thought, her resolve strengthening with each step. She was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead and seize the opportunity to become a cultivator in this new world.
Kate arrived at the High Heaven Pavilion at dawn, her steps slow and deliberate as she approached the imposing gate. As she neared the entrance, she was greeted by an old man who eyed her suspiciously.
"What are you doing here?" the old man asked, his tone wary.
"I was sent here by Ms. Su," Kate replied, holding up the jade pendant she had received from Su Yan.
The old man's expression shifted to one of shock upon seeing the pendant. "Follow me, and I'll explain everything to you," he said, motioning for her to follow him.
The next day, Kate woke up in the temporary house she had been given. She stretched and sat up, her mind racing with her plans for the day. "My plan for today is to meet Yang Kai and-" Her thoughts were abruptly cut off by a sudden realization. "Right! The Void Archives!" she shouted, reaching into her pocket to retrieve the artifact.
Holding the Void Archives in her hand, Kate felt a surge of anticipation. "That inheritance should already have been copied! How did I forget about this?" she muttered, staring at the artifact. "First, give it a drop of my blood."
Kate pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the Void Archives. The moment the blood touched it, the artifact began to glow with a golden light, and then it suddenly opened and transformed into a stream of light that entered Kate's body.
"Good, it worked. It should plant itself in my soul," Kate said, closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she found herself inside the Void Archives, an endless library stretching as far as the eye could see.
She marveled at the rows upon rows of books, scrolls, and ancient texts. Each one seemed to hold untold knowledge and secrets, waiting to be discovered. Kate felt a thrill of excitement as she walked through the vast library, her fingers trailing along the spines of the books.
"This is incredible," she whispered to herself. "With this knowledge, I can unlock new powers, understand ancient techniques, and become even stronger."
Determined to make the most of this opportunity, Kate began to explore the Void Archives, eager to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within its endless shelves. She knew that with the power of the Void Archives at her disposal, her journey in the Martial Peak world was just beginning, and the possibilities were limitless.
"First, I need to get to the Grand Corridor," Kate said to herself. After a long walk through the vast, labyrinthine library, she finally reached the Grand Corridor. The sight was awe-inspiring: a grand hall with immense doors that seemed to pulse with hidden power.
"This is the Grand Corridor I built," she murmured, feeling a sense of pride. "Then the next door should be the Tong Xuan Realm." She glanced around, noting that for now, there were only two doors in the Grand Corridor: one labeled "RIH" and the other "Tong Xuan Realm." "Well, it will expand automatically," she assured herself.
Kate stepped through the door labeled "Tong Xuan Realm" and made her way to the Inheritance Shelf. Her eyes lit up as she found what she was looking for: the Inheritance of the Great Demon God. Grabbing the book, she exited the Void Archives and returned to her body, opening her eyes to the familiar sight of the temporary house she had been given.
"Then just follow what the book says," she instructed herself. She pricked her finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the book. In response, a golden skeleton materialized in front of her. Without hesitation, Kate grabbed the skeleton, and it fused with her body.
"This should hurt, but I guess it's okay since I don't have to feel it," she noted, her voice steady despite the intense process. "The next thing is the Tempered Body Record, which can only be practiced in the morning."
Dressed in the sect's uniform, she couldn't help but critique it. "This is ugly... How can Ms. Su have a custom uniform?" she wondered, a hint of envy in her voice. With a resigned sigh, she stepped outside, her mind set on her next task.
"Meng Wu Ya should be here," she thought, making her way toward the Contribution Hall. However, before she could enter, she noticed a group of disciples gathered nearby. Curiosity piqued, she decided to check it out.
After pushing herself through the crowd, Kate saw a young man sitting in the middle, meditating. "It's Yang Kai. This is where the story begins. Since that's the case, he'll pick a slightly larger man. I just have to take his place," she thought, her mind racing with the implications.
Kate maneuvered herself to stand beside the disciple, waiting patiently. It wasn't long before Yang Kai threw his broom, and it pointed directly at her when it landed. The crowd's disappointment at not being chosen was palpable, but their curiosity was piqued as they anticipated Yang Kai's upcoming battle with the new disciple.
Stepping forward, Kate faced Yang Kai. "Yang Kai, trial disciple, Tempered Body 3rd Stage," Yang Kai announced, his voice steady and confident.
"Right, I haven't started my cultivation yet," Kate thought to herself, a twinge of worry passing through her mind. Aloud, she declared, "Kate Apocalypse, Tempered Body 1st Stage."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. It was shocking that she would face Yang Kai with such a low cultivation level. Yang Kai himself looked slightly concerned. "Should we stop this? I'm still two levels higher than you," he offered, his tone considerate.
"Thanks for your consideration, but with my special body, I think I'll be okay. Please allow me to use a technique to help myself," Kate said. Her words caused even more shock among the onlookers, as only those at the Initial Foundation Realm were typically capable of such feats.
"A special body constitution?" Yang Kai asked, intrigued.
"Something like that," Kate replied, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Then let's start," Yang Kai said, adopting a ready stance.
Yang Kai initiated the fight, dashing toward Kate with impressive speed. He launched his attack using the Long Punch Technique, but Kate dodged effortlessly. "Being immortal, I got bored a lot, so I studied a lot. This is a piece of cake," she thought to herself.
Kate jumped backward, gaining some distance. "Looks like I won't need to open a gate," she mused, feeling confident.
She then dashed at Yang Kai, preparing to punch him straight in the face. Yang Kai, anticipating her move, leaned to the left to dodge. But Kate, using the momentum of her punch, grabbed Yang Kai by the nape of his neck with the same hand and kicked his foot, throwing him off balance. She threw him to the ground and retreated swiftly.
Yang Kai, momentarily stunned, quickly got up, his eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and respect. The crowd, which had been watching with bated breath, erupted into whispers. Kate's agility and technique were far beyond what they had expected from someone at the Tempered Body 1st Stage.
Yang Kai steadied himself, reassessing his opponent. "Impressive," he said, a hint of a smile forming on his lips. "You really are something special."
Kate smiled back, her confidence unwavering. "Thank you, Yang Kai. I look forward to learning and growing stronger here."
Yang Kai nodded, preparing for the next round. The crowd watched eagerly, knowing this duel was far from over. With each move, Kate was proving she was a force to be reckoned with, and her journey in the High Heaven Pavilion had only just begun.
Yang Kai wasted no time and dashed at Kate, preparing to throw a punch. As soon as Kate was within his reach, he suddenly jumped to the right, kicking the back of her leg and making her fall backward. Before she hit the ground, she used her momentum to perform a handstand with her right hand, saving herself from falling completely, and retreated.
However, as soon as she retreated, Yang Kai was already in front of her, trying to punch her. Kate caught Yang Kai's left arm and pulled him towards her, aiming a punch simultaneously. Yang Kai, quick on his feet, caught Kate's punch with his free hand. The two of them were now in a deadlock, each observing the other intensely.
The crowd watched in silence, captivated by the skill and precision of the combatants. Neither Kate nor Yang Kai was willing to give an inch. Their grips tightened, muscles straining as they fought for dominance.
"You're good," Yang Kai said through gritted teeth, his eyes locked onto hers.
Kate smirked. "You're not too bad yourself."
Using a sudden burst of strength, Kate twisted her body, attempting to break free from the deadlock. Yang Kai responded with equal force, but the momentum caused them both to stagger back a few steps.
"Let's see how you handle this," Yang Kai said, launching into another attack, this time with a series of rapid punches and kicks.
Kate met his attacks with calculated blocks and counters, her movements fluid and precise. She could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins, her mind racing with strategies and counter-strategies.
Yang Kai's attacks were relentless, but Kate's experience and agility kept her one step ahead. She saw an opening and seized it, ducking under one of his punches and delivering a swift kick to his midsection. Yang Kai stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing, his eyes blazing with determination.
Kate knew she had to end this quickly. She couldn't afford to let the fight drag on. Drawing on her knowledge from the Void Archives, she executed a complex maneuver, feinting to the left before spinning to the right and delivering a powerful strike to Yang Kai's side.
Yang Kai gasped, the wind knocked out of him. He dropped to one knee, struggling to catch his breath. The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps, amazed by the display of skill and determination.
Kate stood over Yang Kai, extending a hand to help him up. "Good fight," she said, a genuine smile on her face.
Yang Kai took her hand and stood, nodding appreciatively. "You too, Kate. You too."
While staring at the kneeling Yang Kai, Kate pondered, "Is he really this good, or are we just weak?" Without giving him a chance to recover, she dashed at Yang Kai and struck him on the face with her knee, knocking him unconscious. The crowd erupted in cheers, while a nearby observer quietly took notes.
Some time later, Yang Kai woke up at the base of a tree. Kate was seated beside him, leaning against the trunk and reading a book. "Did I lose again?" Yang Kai murmured.
"You're awake," Kate said without looking up from her book.
"What are you doing?" Yang Kai asked, still groggy.
"I enjoyed our little fight, and I have nothing else to do, so I'm here waiting for you to wake up and hang out with you," Kate replied, turning a page. "Anyway, you slept for a long time. It's already dawn, so I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" She stood up and offered her hand to Yang Kai.
"Yeah," Yang Kai replied, grabbing her hand to stand.
Kate returned to her temporary home and lay down, her mind buzzing with thoughts. "First, I need to break through as fast as possible," she mused. "The Gate of Babylon is my strongest technique, but when I tried to use it while resting by the tree, these selection cards appeared again!"
As if in response to her thoughts, five cards materialized in front of her. Kate sat up, examining the cards closely. Each card represented a potential enhancement or skill she could choose.
She pondered her options carefully. "These cards are part of the system the mysterious woman set up. If I'm to get stronger, I need to choose wisely."
The first card read "I'm an Evil God."
The second card read "Overlord."
The third card read "Date a Live."
The fourth card read "Honkai Impact 3rd."
The fifth card read "Against the Gods."
"This again? I wonder what she is planning?" Kate mused. "I won't pick. Do you think I'll let you do anything you want?" she declared with confidence.
The cards transformed into letters that read, "I'll remove the Gate of Babylon and destroy the Void Archive."
Angered, Kate retorted, "Do it then. I still have Yang Kai with me." The words changed again to, "Then I'll give you something that you'll love but I'll remove your immortality."
Curiosity piqued, Kate responded, "We can really communicate, huh? What is it?" The letters transformed once more, now reading, "A Character Creation and Customization Screen."
Reading this, Kate became even more intrigued. "What can it do?" she asked. The letters shifted again, stating, "You'll know, but I can tell you that this is the most helpful thing for you."
Excitement welled up within her. "I wonder what your plan is, but okay then, I'll play along," Kate said. The letters turned into a violet light and entered through her forehead.