Zhao Yu hadn't yet cast any spells, so Noah Drake said:
"What are you standing there for? Sweep the yard."
Seeing him start picking up each leaf, Noah Drake sighed…
"I have something important to think about... Either sit down and meditate or make a broom in the meantime."
...
'In this otherworld, where strength measures one's worth, personal development is the top priority.
Recruiting the first member, get 10 tickets. The system is quite generous, isn't it?
10 tickets, I wonder what I'll get... '
"The function of the Universal Gathering system opens..."
And so, in Zhao Yu's eyes, the site master's eyes gleamed brightly as his body became unbound, floating in mid-air... Around him, gusts of wind, leaves, rays of light, and mysterious vibrations... All seemed to be cheering, like a crowd applauding... Suddenly, the site master raised his hand, and a pillar of light shot down from the sky. As the light faded, a bronze compass was left in his hand...
Zhao Yu stood there, stunned...
'That divine scene, that terrifying illusion... was it just to bring out this compass? Are you trying to mesmerize me with such a spectacle...?'
Outside the mountain manor
38 people had reached the gate...
Since seeing the notice board outside the manor, everyone had been a bit bewildered...
Is this really the exploration of the relic that will affect the fate of the five great royal dynasties? It feels more like visiting a mountain retreat... The group's morale slightly dropped...
But just then, the flag that Luna Victor had brought with her suddenly started acting strangely...
The flag slipped from her hand and flew up into the air, the symbols on it gradually disappearing, leaving a plain black flag with no markings.
At the same time, the sign above the manor changed from "Three Tigers Mountain Manor" to "Tigers Leopard Manor."
This sudden change made the entire group split into five alert and cautious factions, wary of each other.
Simultaneously, the announcement on the board stating that the gates would open in three days became blank...
Realizing the flag's change posed no threat, the group gradually calmed down and exchanged peaceful glances.
At this moment, Luna Victor, the leader of the Moonlight Empire, looked at those around her.
"The manor's name has changed, surely a great event is about to occur. Do any of you have any insights?"
Aurelius Cassian calmly replied,
"Whatever the case, we should hold our forces back for now…"
Princess Lalatina and Prince Mac Dung, along with Prince Thiet Luu, agreed to keep their armies hidden and respond based on the situation.
Still, no one came to open the gate...
After some discussion, the group decided that someone from the Moonlight Empire would step forward and knock first.
A prince from the Moonlight Empire stepped up to knock on the door, but before he could finish ascending the steps, he stopped, as if there was a barrier.
A few others tried as well, but they too could only reach the steps of the manor and go no further...
Seeing there was no danger, the group advanced, but everyone stopped at the stone steps, unable to move any further.
The furthest anyone got was Prince Mac Dung of the Great Prosperian Dominion, but even he was three rows of bricks away from the final stone step, still not close enough to touch the door.
Realizing they couldn't go any further, the group backed off to discuss strategies...
Suddenly, the air grew still, and the sky formed a formation pattern...
The same strange phenomenon once again blanketed the skies over Eastern Continent...
But unlike before, this time it felt solid, like a foundation stone, immovable and indestructible, no matter how much the world might change.
It's happening again...
Feeling the vibrations from so close, unconsciously, all the group could see was that vast, boundless starry sky above, along with a deep sense of infinite safety... unable to break free.