Lena opened her eyes feeling refreshed after a long period of core cultivation to find the morning sun warming her face. She sighed a breath of relief as her internal energy flowed through her core without issue, and her aura was stable and calm. A brief moment of fear caused a faint ripple in her aura, but she soon discovered Micro meditating nearby, Blue meditating on his head.

“I honestly expected you to flee, young one.” She called quietly to Micro.

“A deal is a deal.” Micro replied, opening his eyes slowly.

“And I’d like to see Feng again anyways.”

“I spent countless years searching for any sign of master Feng…” Lena sighed.

“I long since gave up hope of meeting him again in this life.”

“He picked a good place to hide.” Blue suddenly added, waking from her trance and jumping to her feet.

“What do you mean?” Lena asked.

“How far must he have travelled to escape our sect?”

“He’s not far from here, but he’s not somewhere humans normally end up.” Blue replied.

“It’s not quite another world, but it’s not quite this one. It’s hard to explain in human terms…”

“I’ll trust you to lead me to him. I dare not ask for more.” Lena bowed deeply.

“Though I would ask what became of your contest. I’m unfamiliar with the Core Card you chose to master, and it seems you both have mastered it in an unbelievably short time.”

“It’s the Charm Skill.” Micro replied.

“And Blue won the race.”

“It wasn’t so unlike an ability I was born with, after all.” Blue declared with her chin raised.

“How fascinating that you should fill your soul with such a random assortment of skills and arts…” Lena said as she stood up and stretched.

“Feng said I would need to master a lot of cards if I want to find a road home.” Micro replied.

“You’re referring to your homeworld?” Lena asked with a frown.

“Who but a god could possibly travel between worlds?”

“There’s always a way home.” Micro said calmly.

“If only gods can find that road, I’ll just have to become one.”

“That’s the spirit.” Blue laughed.

“If that useless one called Nora can do it, anybody can!”

“You speak lightly of becoming a god…” Lena said while shaking her head.

“Where do you plan to begin on this grand quest?”

“Well, the first thing I need to do is find an Amber level sect. Then I have to find a basilisk named Lo.” Micro explained.

“Lo, you say?” Lena asked.

“He’s a friend of the dragon who gave me two Core Cards. That was just before I met Feng actually.” Micro continued happily.

“Now you speak of ancient fairy tales, and yet I hesitate to doubt you…” Lena wondered aloud, but she could only shake her head and resolve herself to face the day ahead.

“In any case, I’m ready. We may depart when you see fit.”

“Alright.” Blue replied, making herself comfortable on Micro’s shoulder.

“It was quiet last time we passed through, but there’s all kinds of things to worry about where we’re headed. Nevermind the fairies and those magic-casting creeps that pop up everywhere…”

“I’ll be on my guard, pixie.” Lena replied earnestly.

“Lead the way.”

~

The same forest Micro had passed through after escaping the cave of his summoning felt different from before. He recalled the sense of frustration of anxiety that filled his every step, and he looked up at the trees which blocked the sky. Now, able to perceive the energy of the world around him, the forest felt like a much less mysterious place, and even the darkness of the forest floor felt bright beneath his feet.

“This place has even more energy than the mountains.” Micro remarked as he passed by a tree so large that even his garage may fit neatly within the circumference of its trunk.

“There was a battle here a long time ago, way before my time…” Blue replied sleepily from his shoulder.

“Pixies were here first, but the energy attracts a lot of pests…”

“What kind of pests?” Micro asked.

“Mosquitoes are the worst.”

“There’s a few over there.” Blue replied, pointing ahead at several rocks which seemed to be moving slowly across the ground.

“Just walk around them though. They bite, but they’re slow.”

“Okay…” Micro answered, watching the rocks curiously. He wondered why slowly moving rocks would pose a threat at first, but he understood Blue’s warning as they walked by the creatures.

GRRR

Several of the little rocks turned to reveal faces, their growls making a sound like tires moving across a gravel road. They moved on four short legs, though even their legs were little more than oddly shaped rocks. One of them opened its mouth, revealed shiny pebbles for teeth, and began wobbling toward Micro, but he easily distanced himself from the creature with several quick paces.

“They say Gravel Golems were created by the son of an immortal in another age, in an attempt to please his father…” Lena said with a nostalgic smile.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“That’s unlikely, but I’m surprised you know of them at all.” Blue smirked.

“Master Kang taught us much of the natural world, long ago…” Lena replied quietly.

“His eyes saw much beyond the walls of our sect.”

Micro looked back at Lena and noticed the hard expression she usually wore had softened to the point that he hardly recognized her. Her constant scowl had been replaced by a faint smile, and he felt much less hostility directed toward him.

“The natural world on this world is very different from the natural world on my world…” Micro remarked as he stepped over a small gelatinous creature.

“What’s this little green thing?”

“That’s an ordinary slime.” Lena replied.

“It’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t know of them.”

“There’s a lot I don’t know.” Micro shrugged.

“Slimes form in a variety of environments, as long as the conditions are suitable.” Lena explained, picking up the slime in both hands.

“This one is young and harmless. Its body is mostly transparent, and its core is almost too small to see.”

“Slimes are cultivators?” Micro gasped.

“Many creatures naturally form cores, while others’ bodies function similarly to cores.” Lena replied while setting the jiggling creature back on the ground.

“Some people hunt them for pleasure or sport, but Master Kang taught us to be more respectful of the world's natural processes.”

“You don't seem respectful of me.” Micro said.

“What part of you is a natural process?” Blue interjected.

“That's true...” Micro sighed.

“No, your words are justified.” Lena replied.

“Your continued existence in this world has been sanctioned by a Cerulean Envoy, but you will likely face many who object to your presence here. My duties as an Imperial Guard are absolute where heroes are concerned, though I will admit I am relieved to see you vindicated.”

“Azar didn't seem happy about it.” Micro added.

“I cannot claim to fully understand the motivations of the younger disciples of Azar's faction. He has never displayed such insubordination in my presence, though I fear the teachings of one certain-” Lena explained, but she cut her sentence short and shook her head.

“Excuse me. I may be older than I thought, to be rambling about the internal politics of my sect to a stranger to whom I am indebted...”

“Well, don't worry about it.” Micro said, watching the slime slowly make its way under a rotting tree stump, apparently in no hurry to hide. He then turned his head upward as a strong presence flew overhead, its figure vaguely visible through the trees.

“What is that?”

“That's not natural either...” Blue whispered.

“I thought it was a young dragon, but it's too wild for that. Don't catch its attention.”

“It wreaks of chaos energy...!” Lena whispered as the creature flew by, the wake of its energy washing over the three of them like wind.

Trill poked his head out of Micro's pocket, disturbed by the sensation, but Blue quickly gestured for him to return to his slumber.

“I get the feeling that isn't a friendly creature.” Micro whispered back, then turned to face Blue.

“How far is Feng's house from here?”

“It should only take a day, unless you find another dungeon to jump into.” Blue replied.

“I'll try to avoid any detours today.” Micro reassured her.

“You lead the way.”

“You shouldn't take even a Jade level dungeon lightly, young one.” Lena said as the group began to move again, making sure not to step on any of the small slimy creatures littering the ground.

“Each is a test designed to push a mortal mind to its breaking point.”

“That shouldn't be a problem.” Blue laughed.

“What do you mean?” Lena frowned.

“Don't you know? He isn't a mortal.” Blue replied coyly.

“He's a tool!”

~

Micro had grown tired of explaining the nature of his previous form to people he came across, so he turned the conversation toward the many creatures they encountered. Blue continued to guide Micro through the mysterious and energy-rich forest while Lena introduced him to much of the wildlife they came across.

“Aside from that bird you were eaten by, I don't think there were so many animals in these woods last time we were here.” Micro said to Blue as they sat down to rest by a clear stream.

“I made sure we didn't run into much back then because I was still recovering from being sacrificed.” Blue scowled.

“Don't go thinking I'm the type to alter course because I'm scared of a few slimes.”

“The old man liked animals.” Micro replied.

“It's a shame he couldn't come to this world with me.”

“If he's anything like you, our world got off easy.” Blue quipped.

“Oh, that's odd...”

“What is it?” Lena asked.

“His house was near the foot of a mountain last time I checked.” Blue explained as she peered ahead with glowing eyes.

“Are you lost?” Micro asked.

“Lost in my own-” Blue shouted, but she was distracted by what she saw ahead.

“What's wrong? What do you see?” Lena asked, her anxiety growing.

“It's nothing. Sometimes the forest is like this.” Blue replied calmly.

“Your friend's house isn't where it was.”

“Where is it?!” Lena shouted.

“If you were lying to me all this-”

“Relax a little, before your excessively grey hair falls out.” Blue interrupted her.

“His house moved. Well, the area where his house was is what moved.”

“So where is it?” Lena asked, struggling to remain calm.

Blue jumped down to the ground and walked several paces ahead. Micro and Lena stopped walking as they observed the pixie's sudden gesture.

“It's right there.” Blue declared.

“Use your eyes, stupid cultivator.”

“Ah!” Lena gasped as she realized what Blue had meant. Her eyes began to glow as she applied her Spirit Vision Skill. She brought her hands to her face in disbelief at what she saw.

“It can't be...”

“Huh?” Micro blurted out as he peered forward with energy concentrated on his eyes.

“I can't see anything.”

“You can only see so much with your eyes and energy alone.” Lena explained quietly with a quivering voice.

“Only the Spirit Vision Skill of a certain level can see through the illusion created with the same level Spirit Vision Skill.”

“Just keep walking.” Blue called back as she continued forward.

“It's only an illusion for the eyes. It's not hard to pass through. He must've put it up after we found him last time.”

“Ah...” Micro said, slightly frustrated.

“I should master more cards soon.”

As Blue predicted, Micro was soon able to perceive the distinctly humble abode of Feng where he had taken refuge not long ago, though a feeling of nostalgia for the small wooden cabin accompanied his relief. He less happily recalled the rusty clothes he was wearing at the time. Compared to the soft garments he'd been given by the Fire Mountain Turtle Sect, though they were now ripped and torn, he was content not to be troubled by the terrible smell of the ancient leather that stuck to his muddy skin.

Lena stopped before reaching the door with bated breath, hesitant to reach out and knock. But Micro could still remember the tea Feng had served and looked forward to testing it against his Spirit Taste Skill as soon as possible.

“I'm back!” Micro announced as he punched a hole through the wooden door with a swift motion.

“Oops...”

“Wha-” Lena gasped.

“You're stronger than you used to be. It happens.” Blue said, then jumped back onto Micro's shoulder.

“Feng?!” Micro called out nervously as the door opened slowly with a creak.

“Who- Oh?” Feng's voice could be heard from within the hut.

Micro stepped through the door and observed Feng sitting near his small fireplace with an earthenware cup of tea in his hands. However, his clothes were torn and bloodstained, and his face was pale.

“It's good to see you're still alive, young Micro. Your little friend too...” Feng said with a hoarse voice.

“Come in quickly, before they return!”