Ascension of the Silent Guardian

Thus, Tian Ling and Mei Lianhua made their way to the island designated for Tian Ling. The journey wasn’t long, as the island was relatively close to the central island of Elder Mei Lianhua. When they arrived, Tian Ling was immediately struck by the vastness of the place. The island seemed to stretch endlessly, its contours disappearing into the distance. The ground was perfectly flat, and the only notable feature was the endless green blanket of grass that spread as far as the eye could see.

“Well then,” Elder Mei’s voice was calm, yet carried an unmistakable authority. “Take out the Mythic Realm and begin positioning it. I’ll help ensure you don’t lose control.”

Tian Ling nodded silently, focused. With a fluid motion, he retrieved the Mythic Realm from his storage ring. The object glowed softly, emitting a formidable energy. The two headed to the center of the island, where the portal would be positioned.

Tian Ling stretched out his hands and began to activate the Mythic Realm. The energy that flowed from his hands was intense, and for a moment, it felt as though the very air around them had grown heavy. Sensing the effort required, Mei Lianhua extended her hands as well. Her energy, precise and controlled, merged with Tian Ling’s, stabilizing the process and ensuring everything proceeded as expected. It was meticulous work. Several hours passed before the Realm was fully stabilized and aligned with the island’s space.

Suddenly, the portal of the Mythic Realm began to take shape. It was colossal, continuing to expand, almost as if defying the limits of space. The scene before them was so grand it seemed surreal, almost like a divine vision.

“How absurdly large is this Mythic Realm?” both thought simultaneously as the portal continued to grow. It was already at least five kilometers in diameter, much larger than the Mythic Realm of Beasts that belonged to the Serene Mist Sect. Mei Lianhua’s curiosity only grew. She knew Tian Ling was special, but this magnitude was something unusual even for her, a seasoned elder. “Does he have an immortal secretly backing him? How did he obtain a Mythic Realm of this size?” she wondered but restrained herself. Tian Ling had already made it clear he wouldn’t reveal certain secrets, and she respected his decision.

Finally, the portal stopped expanding and stabilized. The entire process had taken nearly half a day. Now, the portal spanned twelve kilometers in diameter, occupying more space than the largest palace in the sect. The size was simply unbelievable.

“What’s inside this Mythic Realm? An entire world?” Elder Mei quipped with a slight smile, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“I’m not sure yet either, but its size is definitely impressive,” Tian Ling admitted, still absorbing the enormity of his own accomplishment.

“But, Tian Ling,” the Elder continued, still pondering the situation, “where will you build your palace? Leaving the portal in the middle of the island might complicate things.”

Tian Ling smiled, having anticipated the question. “Why build it here on the island, Master? I’ll create my palace inside the Mythic Realm.”

Mei Lianhua opened her mouth, ready to question him, but after a brief reflection, she closed it again. “That makes sense,” she thought, her eyes lighting up with sudden understanding. “It’s much easier to protect a single entrance than multiple ones. Besides, it would be infinitely safer.” She then nodded in approval, deciding that the idea was, in fact, quite practical.

The two then crossed the portal, entering the vast Mythic Realm. As soon as Tian Ling stepped inside, the system echoed in his mind, as it always did during crucial moments. A translucent screen appeared before his eyes.

[You have entered the Mythic Realm of the Gods. Do you wish to inherit this Realm as its new master? (Yes/No)]

Tian Ling was momentarily surprised. He hadn’t expected the system to intervene and help him be recognized as the Realm’s new master. However, it made sense, considering that the Realm had been gifted to him by the system itself. Without hesitation, he clicked “Yes.”

Although there was no visible physical change, the moment he accepted, Tian Ling felt something different. A wave of power, subtle but undeniable, coursed through his body.

“What is this feeling? I sense that… everything in this place is under my command,” Tian Ling thought, amazed and a little daunted by the enormity of the control he now possessed.

Once they crossed the portal, they were greeted by a vast plain that seemed to stretch endlessly. The landscape resembled that of the island, but here, there was something different—a feeling that the very space itself was malleable. Deciding to explore further, the two flew into the sky, using their divine senses to examine the Realm with greater precision. What they saw left them speechless.

“All the elemental Qi... And the density of spiritual energy here is even greater than that of the sect,” Elder Mei exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.

“And the size… I can’t even see the end of this place,” added Tian Ling, still stunned by the Realm’s vastness.

“Congratulations, Tian Ling. You literally have a world in your hands,” Mei Lianhua joked, casting him a smile, still impressed by what they had just witnessed.

After their brief aerial exploration, the two descended to a flat area near the entrance portal. Tian Ling was already contemplating the next steps.

“Shall I bring some disciples to help you construct your palace?” Mei Lianhua offered, ready to arrange the necessary support.

Tian Ling smiled calmly, stretching out his arms. “That won’t be necessary, Master.”

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble slightly. To Mei Lianhua’s astonishment, a palace began to emerge from nothing. Stones and pillars formed as if they had been shaped by the air itself, rising from the ground with impressive precision. The palace wasn’t as grand as the Elder’s from the outside, but it was simple, solid, and suited Tian Ling. He didn’t want anything flashy; to him, simplicity meant strength.

“You can already control the Mythic Realm completely?” Mei Lianhua asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise. The fact that Tian Ling had already mastered the Realm so quickly intrigued her.

“Naturally, the Realm has already recognized me as its master,” Tian Ling replied with a serene smile.

“Naturally? That doesn’t even make sense…” Mei Lianhua thought, though she maintained a composed expression. Tian Ling’s control over such a vast and powerful Realm in such a short time left her both unsettled and curious to understand her disciple’s true potential.

After inspecting the palace’s exterior, Tian Ling and Mei Lianhua entered to see the interior. The space was vast and spacious, though still empty. In the center stood a cultivation stone, clearly a spot where Tian Ling would spend most of his time cultivating. Four pillars adorned the corners of the palace, and even without any decoration or furniture, the simplicity of the place still exuded a sense of majesty.

“Maybe we should add a few things to give the place more life, don’t you think?” Tian Ling suggested with a playful smile, knowing that while cultivators didn’t need comfort, he enjoyed having a cozy environment from time to time.

Without delay, he brought out some furniture he had obtained from the sect. Simple things like a bed, a table for conversations, and some basic utensils. Though unnecessary for a cultivator, Tian Ling knew that at certain moments, it was nice to relax and maintain a few ordinary habits.

“This should do for now,” he said, looking satisfied with the new palace he had just built within his vast Mythic Realm.

Mei Lianhua observed everything in silence, still processing the ease with which Tian Ling had shaped the Realm around him. She knew her disciple was special, but what he was accomplishing before her eyes made her wonder just how far he could go.