A normal sigh: just a deep breath in, then out.
A "Mason sigh": exhaling wind, fire, thunder, and rain as black as ink, spreading through the pale-red void.
"That's way too dramatic."
Andrew Han watched, thoroughly confused.
According to scientific research... sighing causes the lungs to expand, briefly affecting the breathing center and leading to more sighs. Thus, sighing is a normal physiological phenomenon: it increases lung capacity, speeds up blood circulation, promotes bodily functions, induces relaxation, reduces agitation, and helps stabilize the body's internal environment.
Obviously.
Mason is not included in this category.
"Enough, we should get going." Andrew Han tried shaking Mason's arm—they still needed to head to the Famous Masters Pavilion.
The Famous Masters Pavilion gathers all 237 instructors of the Primordial Star-Gate.
But what Andrew never expected was that Mason angrily shook him off, continuing to breathe out gusts of thunder, sparks, and storms, while muttering all sorts of strange, mournful phrases—like "Burn the heretics," "Eliminate couples," "Single is number one in the world," and other bizarre things.
Andrew could understand the words, but simply couldn't make sense of them.
Why was Mason so agitated?
"You don't get it." Mason sighed softly. "I was born in the South-Sage Ancient Kingdom, considered a top-tier cultivation genius, pursued by countless girls. Back then, I thought that was love. But after a long period of careful disguise, I pretended to be an ordinary, mediocre citizen with no special talents and approached them."
Uh.
Looks like he was rejected.
Andrew suddenly understood, wanting to laugh but holding back out of sympathy for Mason.
Then he heard Mason lament, "As just an ordinary person, I cared in every possible way, leaving no detail unattended, but all I got was cold rejection. At most, they gave me 'nice guy cards.' When the cards piled up and filled my manor, I still couldn't find love."
"It's true—I have no money, no power, no influence!"
"But I have a sincere heart!"
Mason shook his head, full of sorrow, as if his disappointment had reached its limit.
Faced with these complaints, Andrew Han frowned and did not respond to Mason's questions.
"Let's go."
Andrew Han spoke.
"Fine." Mason thought for a moment, huffed angrily, then stared at Andrew as if seeking comfort: "Andrew, tell me, what's so bad about being single?"
Andrew replied calmly, "What's so good about being single?"
...
Mason was stunned, unable to utter a single word for a long time.
——
This was the Archaic Hall, one of the three great halls of the Star-Sky Human Race.
The Archaic Hall is divided into seventeen zones. As part of the hall, the Spark-Heritage Zone can accommodate billions of cultivation geniuses—this is no exaggeration.
It should be noted that the Spark-Heritage Zone centers around the four great star-gates.
Beyond that, there are also trade districts, a vast reserve-grade void-city for reserve talents, public cultivation fields, leisure and entertainment zones, teleport hubs to the Cosmic Ancient Kingdoms, and the Spark-Heritage Mission Plaza, among countless other areas.
Its functions are endless, its forms myriad.
Geniuses abound, each with their own place.
The Spark-Heritage Zone has four great star-gates: Standard Gate, Primordial Gate, Primeval Gate, and Eternal Gate.
Even the weakest Standard Gate symbolizes the standard Genius. It is revered and admired by reserve-grade cultivation talents, who both aspire to and fear it.
Reserve-grade cultivation talents are worlds apart from Standard-tier Geniuses—there is simply no comparison!
For example, Sen of the Pink-Skin Humans from the Chenriver Empire.
If Sen had survived and attended the Grand Feast of the Cosmic Ancient Kingdoms, he would likely have been recommended by one of the kingdoms to join the Spark-Heritage Zone as a reserve-grade talent, living and cultivating in the reserve-grade void city.
...
At the entrance to the void city.
Lyra Qin, princess of a Cosmic Ancient Kingdom and a Standard Gate Genius, waited for her kingdom's cultivation talents to assemble. She was tasked with explaining to these reserve-grade talents how to become Standard Geniuses, though she herself was unclear on the process.
She carried a crystalline instrument on her back, its strings occasionally humming.
She wore a jade-green robe, its hem suspended in midair.
At this moment, Lyra Qin's face was expressionless as she quietly watched the reserve-grade talents scramble to please her, feeling only futility and boredom.
"Father really is so dull."
"How to become a Standard Genius, how to enter the Standard Gate—these are things only the gate instructors are qualified to explain." Lyra Qin couldn't help but shake her head, unable to refuse her father's mandate.
Besides.
As a princess of an Ancient Kingdom, she bore this responsibility too.
"Sigh, what does it matter being a princess?" Lyra Qin recalled a recent event: "I, a dignified princess of an Ancient Kingdom, merely queried information on a Primordial-tier Genius—Andrew Han... no, strictly speaking, I just glanced at the talent records of a subordinate empire as per custom, and was immediately warned by the Spark-Heritage Zone's intelligent core!"
"Andrew Han hails from an empire."
"If he can quickly establish himself in the Primordial Gate, he may have a chance at the Primeval Gate."
Thinking this, Lyra Qin's eyes flickered as she unconsciously gazed toward the Primordial Gate.
...
Each star-gate extends a colorless membrane, isolating all things and forming its own exclusive cultivation void.
In the Spark-Heritage Zone, within the Primordial Gate's pale-red void, Andrew Han and Mason traced two dazzling near-light-speed paths, flying toward the Famous Masters Pavilion together.
The special feature of the pale-red void: unlimited acceleration.
According to legend, a Stellar Palace-tier Primeval Genius once spent half a star-year continuously accelerating, accumulating speed until he reached a million times the speed of light, then dove straight into a real black hole—he survived, but after years of recovery, fell back to the Standard Gate.
This legend circulates throughout the Spark-Heritage Zone.
It proves the mysteries of the pale-red void and warns all geniuses of the four great star-gates to focus on cultivation above all.
Traveling at light speed, they kept accelerating—for nearly two days.
Andrew Han and Mason exited light-speed and arrived directly in front of the Famous Masters Pavilion, steadying themselves and straightening their robes.
"This is the Famous Masters Pavilion."
Andrew Han looked up at the pavilion floating in the void.
This grand, towering structure resembled the ancient multi-eaved halls of Huaxia, with interlocking brackets and white crystal covering its surface.
Ten massive pillars supported the pavilion's front gate, each crystal column carved with countless unyielding human figures, symbolizing the Human Race's arduous rise. It was like the legendary Lingxiao Palace, inspiring Andrew Han with awe and respect.
(Irrelevant: This chapter isn't finished ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!)
"The instructors of the Famous Masters Pavilion each have their own responsibilities," Mason explained via voice transmission. "Of the 237 instructors, only forty-two are permanent residents, dedicated to guiding Primordial-tier Geniuses in their cultivation paths."
"By the way."
"There are also conflicts among instructors, sometimes leading to fierce disputes, usually due to differences in cultivation philosophy. So you must be careful... For example, Master Gong-Hao and Master Yan-San often argue or even fight because their philosophies clash."
Mason spoke softly, leading Andrew Han into the Primordial Gate's Famous Masters Pavilion.
Passing through the pavilion's glazed main entrance, they entered the interior, greeted by exotic scents and frequent manifestations of wonders. Strange grasses and flowers covered the ground, small bridges and flowing water, and lifelike sculptures seemed to soar straight to the ninth heaven.
Lush trees and dazzling flowers everywhere.
Only a single flowing river originated at the main entrance, running through the entire pavilion.
"Look."
Mason pointed at the river, then at its banks: "On either side of this river are the quiet rooms of the permanent instructors. If there is no circular plaque hanging at the door—like 'Do Not Disturb' or 'In Consultation'—you may knock and wait for the instructor's permission to enter."
Andrew Han nodded, "Mm."
He answered and walked along the river, his emotions strange and complex, though it hardly mattered.
Though his heart was pure... though he forced himself not to think about it... Andrew Han couldn't help but feel that the layout reminded him of a modern Huaxia men's club—an alternative service, designed for men.
"Ahem."
"I need to ask the instructor for advice, then begin the triple assessment." Andrew Han thought to himself, forcing his mind to remain clear and focused.
The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed along the left bank of the river. After walking several kilometers, they found a dazzling nine-colored quiet room, with the name 'Gong-Hao' etched in golden light at the top of the crystal doorframe.
At this moment, Mason politely extended his right hand, spreading his fingers. He gestured for Andrew Han to consult first.
"Thank you."
Andrew Han smiled and knocked on the crystal door of the quiet room.
Silence.
For about half a moment.
A weary voice came from inside: "I'm organizing materials right now, so I can't offer you any advice."
Hearing this, Andrew Han bowed slightly and moved on to the next quiet room.
But the second... the third... even the fourth Primordial instructor were all unavailable. Some were organizing materials, some in a bad mood, and one was even asleep!
Andrew Han: "..."
Mason: "..."
The two exchanged glances, amazed at their bad luck.
But little did they know...
Inside the quiet rooms, many instructors were looking at each other through the walls, even more perplexed.
"We're forbidden from influencing Andrew Han."
"Could it be that this Starlight-tier Primordial Genius, Andrew Han, is involved with the Power of Destiny?"
"Forget it, stop guessing. An instructor from the Eternal Gate even sent a projection here just to wait for Andrew Han and guide his cultivation? Personally, I think it's unlikely Andrew Han is tied to the Power of Destiny—it's more likely he's the descendant of some supreme being."