Chapter 108: The Altar of the Starry Host
He had a strong premonition that his golden finger ability could help him overcome the risk of temporal assimilation.
When he first awakened the golden finger and immediately gained the spatial refraction talent, along with many other talents to choose from, he knew that its essence far exceeded his imagination.
As is well known, the limit of any talent represents a certain law.
The limit of spatial refraction is the spatial law.
Conversely, since the golden finger could grant him numerous talents, including spatial ones, what about time talents?
He had a strong feeling that this was also possible.
Thus, the problem was solved.
Roughly speaking, the golden finger could indeed solve the risk of temporal assimilation.
Once the greatest issue of this inheritance was resolved, the rest ceased to be problems.
Having made up his mind, Chu Cheng immediately sent a message to his mentor, Yun Dingge:
“I have the Primal Heroic Mark. I want to choose the Transcendent Traveler heroic inheritance.”
“?”
A question mark came in reply.
Chu Cheng quickly responded:
“I have a way to avoid the danger of temporal assimilation.”
At the Mage Tower’s observatory, Yun Dingge silently deleted a message he was about to send. After a moment of silence, he sent two words:
“Are you sure?”
“I’m not seeking death!”
“Wait for me.”
As always, the mentor was sparing with his words but decisively clear.
However, the wait was somewhat long—almost half an hour before the mentor’s message arrived:
“Alright, come to my Mage Tower.”
“On my way.”
Chu Cheng immediately set off, teleporting directly to his mentor’s Mage Tower. At the highest floor’s observatory, he found Yun Dingge.
The mentor scrutinized him expressionlessly from head to toe and said in a low voice:
“You still have a chance to regret this. I suggest you choose the Child of Space inheritance. It is legendary rank and perfectly matches your talents, making it the most suitable heroic inheritance for you.”
Chu Cheng bowed earnestly and said:
“I’ve made up my mind. I have a way to bypass this problem.”
“Temporal assimilation is not as simple as you imagine. Being able to resist it now doesn’t mean you can resist it forever.”
“My decision is final!”
Yun Dingge was silent for a moment, then nodded:
“Very well, follow me.”
He waved his hand, and space seemed to shift. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a void. Below was a massive platform outlined with streams of light, and a stairway also traced with flowing light connected the platform. One end was anchored to the platform; the other extended endlessly upward, reaching the distant edge of a blazing sun.
Looking down, the abyss below was an endless black void, dizzying to behold.
Between the platform and the staircase was an arching gate of light, carved with twisted, unrecognizable glowing runes. On either side stood humanoid silhouettes of light, their forms indistinct.
Chu Cheng’s gaze fell upon them, but the light veil displayed only a row of question marks.
??? (???): ????, ????
Yun Dingge approached the humanoid figures and said in a deep voice:
“Permitted by the principal, we will use the Altar of Stars!”
The luminous figures did not move, but Chu Cheng faintly sensed numerous eyes watching him.
Without any further movement or sound, Yun Dingge stepped onto the staircase.
“Stay close to me. Don’t look around. Don’t respond if anyone speaks to you. If you hear any calls, don’t turn back!”
“Got it!”
Chu Cheng’s heart tightened, and he hurried to follow, stepping onto the stairway of flowing light in the void.
The moment he stepped on it, a familiar voice sounded in his ear:
“Chu Cheng, come quickly, there’s something good here.”
He hesitated slightly, his lips twitching, but pressed on.
“Chu Cheng, help me button this up, I’m holding something and can’t reach.”
The alluring, playful voice of Senior Fang Xi came from behind, teasing and coquettish.
Chu Cheng—
“This stairway is called the Trial Staircase. If you can’t even finish this stairway, then don’t consider an immortal-level heroic inheritance. Just honestly inherit the Child of Space.”
“Understood!”
Chu Cheng pressed his lips together and stepped forward resolutely.
With each step, his ears filled with strange voices, both familiar temptations and various enticements.
As he ascended, the power behind these tempting voices grew stronger.
All kinds of temptations appeared—things he had seen, heard, and many he never had. At one point, a teacher’s Hunan accent appeared, nearly causing Chu Cheng to turn around.
These temptations were not mere words; they carried a power that influenced the mind, forcibly beguiling him to turn back.
But he steadfastly guarded his mind, his consciousness fixed on the glowing orb at the center of his mind. He watched as its shimmering light spread, its chilling aura melting away the illusions born in his mind.
“Good.”
Yun Dingge, walking ahead, kept his attention on Chu Cheng. He had thought that with Chu Cheng’s spirit and willpower, it would be impossible to finish this stairway.
Because to dispel such unrealistic thoughts, the difficulty of this trial stairway had not been reduced at all. Ordinarily, even a legendary hero might not finish it.
But although Chu Cheng walked shakily, like a small boat in a storm about to capsize, he unexpectedly made it all the way.
This revealed that there was indeed some secret about this student.
But Yun Dingge cared little for the secret; he only needed to confirm that Chu Cheng truly possessed the ability.
After an unknown amount of time, after being tormented by countless maddening voices, Chu Cheng suddenly felt all illusions in his mind and ears vanish instantly, as if everything before had been a mirage. Simultaneously, Yun Dingge’s voice came to his ears:
“We’ve arrived!”
He raised his head and saw himself standing on a platform formed by countless fine runes. On the platform stood nine humanoid rune statues, their light dimmed. Around the platform floated a faint halo, shielding all imperfections from view.
Yun Dingge looked up and surveyed the surroundings, speaking calmly:
“This is the Altar of Stars, where the school bestows legendary and higher heroic powers.”
“The school places no restrictions here. As long as you have permission, you may come to choose, but all consequences and risks after choosing must be borne by yourself.”
He turned to Chu Cheng and asked solemnly:
“Now, one last time, do you wish to proceed?”
Chu Cheng nodded firmly:
“I am certain! And willing to bear any consequences.”
“Good.”
Yun Dingge turned and walked to the center of the platform, placing his hand on one of the humanoid rune statues. The runes lit up rapidly, burning like fire, soon illuminating the entire statue.
“Now, I will activate the Altar of Stars to connect with the temporal imprint left by the Transcendent Traveler. You will use the Primal Heroic Mark to copy the temporal imprint.”
“Understood!”
One by one, the nine rune pillars were activated.
When the last rune statue lit up, the Altar of Stars was fully activated. Nine beams of light shot skyward, interconnecting to form a complex nine-pointed star formation.
At the center of the nine-pointed star, an invisible fluctuation surged out, exploding and rushing into the boundless void.
Yun Dingge remained motionless, and so did Chu Cheng.
After an unknown span of time, still no movement occurred, but Yun Dingge’s voice came again:
“Prepare!”
Though Chu Cheng could see and feel nothing, he obediently took out the Primal Heroic Mark and activated it with a thought.
The orb glowed, releasing invisible waves.
Though the dome above showed nothing, he sensed another faint wave responding.
This imprint’s wave was strange; when his consciousness touched it, it felt as if an invisible hand grasped it, causing it to expand, contract, or shift shape.
“Temporal imprint!”
Realization dawned in Chu Cheng’s heart, and anticipation shone on his face.
But before his anticipation could last more than a few seconds, as the Primal Heroic Mark fully activated and triggered the temporal imprint’s appearance, the glowing orb in his mind suddenly exploded, then—