W.R. Eternal: Due to numerous requests, I suppose it was much of a stretch to transition into a new world. Past chapters are deleted from half of chapter 11 onward. I'm not a professional writer, and I suppose my new idea wasn't as well received as I'd hoped. Still, I appreciate the feedback and this story will continue as if Han Cong Wei never went to Area 51.

Chapter 11: Leaving the Space Gate

"Find anything while you were down here?" Benkei asked and noticed the look on Hiro and Sakura's faces. "You guys should condense your Spirit Crowns by the entrance. There is less disturbance with the spirit energy in the air there."

"A few dozen spirit crystals," Wei said and tossed the sheath of his sword on the ground. "Lost my sword to destroy the demon. Gonna need a new one."

"Take one of the katana you gave me," Benkei said, giving Wei a katana.

"I'll use my three flying daggers for now," Wei refused as he held two of the daggers while keeping the third in the pouch he placed where his sheath used to be. The ground rumbled above shortly after Sakura, Hiro, and Lu Mang (after waking up) created their Spirit Crowns and reached early Foundation Establishment.

"There's a Space Gate up ahead. We should use it to get out. Would like to get the drake's dragon pearl, but its too dangerous," Benkei sighed.

"No time. We got no time," Wei said as the ground shook above them.

"Get back! It spirit energy is rising and strong enough to burn the whole building above us to these plains!" Sakura shouted, her spirit sense magnified with her cultivation increase.

"Holy shit!" Benkei cried as they jumped away from the area Sakura pointed to.

"Quick! Use this time to absorb the drake's flame essence!" the ghost yelled, causing Wei to close his eyes and will the fire into his body as a river of flames broke the limestone and cement above their heads. Wei fell to his feet, letting the light essence and wood essence surge through his body to control the drake's flame essence now in his body.

"RUN!" Benkei yelled as another river of flames broke through the ceiling. Wei panted heavily as he led the others toward the Space Gate under the ghost's direction.

"I think you made it angry. Its trying to claw and burn its way to the plain," Sakura said as they watched the Space Gate create a portal as they got within three meters.

"My god. The prime minster lied to us?" Shen Ling said as she paused a foot before the Space Gate, staring at her Cosmos Ring.

"You're right. This Space Gate leads--" Qing began. 

"We need to go in!" Lu Mang said, grabbing Shen Qing's hand as he ran through the portal. Ling saw her cousin go in and rushed after them.

"Go, my lady. Quickly," Hiro said, urging Sakura to go in as a loud thump boomed behind them. Wei cried out in pain as a massive bear appeared behind them and bit his between his left shoulder and neck. Wei stabbed backwards with his left arm and at the head with the right.

The bear yelled with pain, releasing him as Hiro jumped forward. The back of the bear's paw knocked Hiro into the portal as the bear flailed with pain. Benkei saw that Sakura still did not enter and picked her up. He ran into the portal, the duo disappearing as a river of fire burned through the sewer tunnel.

The bear screamed in pain as fire burned it. Its anguish cry abruptly halted as two flying daggers pierced its throat. Wei quickly thrust his hand up and through the top of the inside of the bear's mouth, wrenching a small crystal orb with energy swirling within. He released his magical beast, the sabertooth biting the meat off the bear happily.

He rolled his head with relief as he used his wood essence to drain the last of the bear's life force still flowing within its veins. His wounds healed and he stashed the monster core into his hidden body space. He quickly drained the drake flames burning the bear before depositing the corpse and his magical beast into the Blood Vein Ring. He looked around for more danger before rushing to the portal with the flying daggers in his pouch.

He lost his footing as the ground quaked behind him. The walls seemed to break apart as he felt a rush of wind behind him. He paused as a large black claw slashed his empty backpack, the force driving him onto his back. Wei immediately took off his backpack and stashed the badge in his pocket.

He leaped backwards as he turned his head to see the claw reach for him again. He frowned as he saw a sword embedded in the claw. He rushed onto the claw as it scraped the stone floor like sand and pulled the sword out with all his might. He lost his balance and fell backwards and saw the blade was broken as he fell back. He quickly scrambled through the individual claws of the dragon as he scooped up the scales and stored them and the broken sword in his hidden body space.

He looked back once more as the claw finally drew back into the sewer tunnel. Wei felt his body stiffen as he saw a magnificent, powerful reptilian eye staring at him from the other end of the burning sewer tunnel. He was temporarily paralyzed as some sort of dragon magic affected his body movement. As the dragon moved its head to spew another river of fire, Wei gained control of his body and jumped through the portal.

"Oof," Wei grunted as he landed on the ground hard. He looked up and frowned, his eyes widening as he saw a familiar face. "You! You're not supposed to be here."

"Well, that's not at all rude to say to someone older than you," Director Oscar Ji chuckled as he helped Wei to his feet. "Had a rough time with a drake Mr. Han Cong Wei? You certainly were busy. You made your companions all enter the Foundation Establishment tier. I must say, I am impressed. A stupid thing to do, but impressed."

"How are we back?" Wei asked.

"Please. Why would the ring shine if you would head to a different world? I'm sure one of you figured it out," Director Ji smiled, looking at Hiro.

"Yes, sir," Hiro nodded.

"Hmm. As expected of the Kage Clan. Never underestimate those damn ninjas. Well, their ancestors could have been samurai vassals too. No one really can prove the origins of ancestors from another world. We can only assume and move on with our lives," the director laughed. "You pack all the Spirit Pearls into your 2x2x2 Cosmos Ring?"

"Yes," Wei nodded.

"Wonderful. As you helped all those people reach the Foundation Establishment, they will get the price everyone else does. You, Ling, and Qing will get the thousand spirit crystals and items from the imperial vault. Congratulations. Truly. You're no the first group to immediately come back, but you are the only group to come with each member still possessing their limbs and their lives. Some,....most, lost a teeny bit."

"A life is a teeny bit?"

"The mortality rate is high enough as it is. To come back on the verge of death and die right where we stand is already too lucky. At least your family gets to bury you and move on," the director sighed sadly. "You helped them survive. You did good."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Cong Wei, no words can describe how grateful we three are," Benkei said as he shook hands and gave Wei a quick hug. "Should you ever pass by Thousand Sword Grave Sect, I'll treat you to loads of food in the most expensive restaurant nearest to the sect."

"The Miura Clan will definitely repay your kindness to your Han Clan. You have the word of Lady Sakura," Hiro smiled and the trio walked to a beaming sect elder to wait for other people to come back before the deadline.

"Fire, earth, thunder, light, and wood. You've also reached the late Foundation Establishment, found a magic ring, slain a demon, found a horde of Spirit Pearls, and you'll soon get your rewards. Your gains from the Space Gate are phenomenal. I envy you a little," the director laughed and gave the prime minister Wei's Cosmos Ring with all the Spirit Pearls inside. "Let's go. This place is too crowded and you look stir-fried. Smell like burnt clothes too. Who is that little guy?"

"Oh. This is my spirit beast, my contracted magical beast. I found it in the demon's lair unconscious," Wei lied as he pointed to the two foot tall sabertooth cub.

"You really like attention," Director Ji noted as all eyes stared at the magical beast with mixed expressions. "You lot better look away before I pry your eyes out!"

No one dared anger the powerful director whose cultivation scared even the numerous sect elders and prime minister. They could only watch the cub walk beside Wei as the director led him away. As people discovered his origins, many couldn't believe the heavenly luck that former cultivation cripple had.

Several dozen minutes later, Wei sat in lotus position on the third floor of the pagoda while his mind ventured into the Blood Vein Ring. There, he and the ghost began to discuss what happened.

"What do you think this sword is?" Wei asked as the ghost stared at the broken sword.

"It is bizarre. I can't say what world that drake came from, but that sword isn't even absorbing the spirit energy from the river," the ghost frowned as Wei stabbed the broken sword in the river bank of the canyon. "I can only say that you shouldn't think about using it at your level. It would only be stolen to benefit others."

"Will you be able to regain a flesh body again?" Wei asked.

"Even if you could perform such a miracle now, the power of my spirit is too frail. The moment my ghost form leaves too far a distance from this Blood Vein Ring's rich spirit energy dimension, my body would disintegrate almost instantly. At most, I can appear five feet away from you. If I didn't care that others would see me, I could get up to fifteen feet away from you," the ghost sighed. "I believe it is because my cultivation was so high that it requires my soul to possess an equally great spiritual power to survive the process to regain a flesh body. I never suspected such a fate, so I cannot say for sure if I'm right."

Wei nodded silently and drank some of the liquid spirit energy to enrich his soul before his mind returned to his body. He closed his eyes and began to assimilate the drake flame essence. Due to the power of the drake flame essence, Wei's body became unaffected by cold or hot temperature. His flames became the same purplish red as the drake scales he collected.

Director Ji was shocked to discover the change as he gave Wei's reward of a thousand spirit crystals. Ling and Qing joined the Oscar Ji and Wei for breakfast before the two imperial cousins told Wei that they came because of the other reward.

"I'm sure those two have been there before, but you might never get another chance. Based on the sheer number of Spirit Pearls, you can pick up to four items from the imperial vault. Should you pick a magical weapon, only choose one. Most celestials live their entire lives using one magical weapon and evolving it to suite them personally," the director advised.

"I understand," Wei smiled as he felt slightly nervous. He had never been to any sort of palace before. He had only read stories about them in books back on the island.

"One more thing: do not involve yourself with the internal strife of imperial politics. You are a duke and answer only to the emperor and empress dowager," the director warned. "The empress dowager is the emperor's mother and one old crone even I would hesitate to anger. Hesitate to anger, not fear mind you. This dynasty is not as powerful as the ones I've seen in the past. They've only seized that dynasty's assets, but not their true legacies. Don't trust those princesses either."

"Are you talking about the hidden dangers of beauties?" Wei asked, once again reminded of the many concubines and royal women he beheaded.

"Exactly. Men, you see coming. Very rarely is there such a male schemer to truly fear. Jealousy and envy are easy to predict, but a woman isn't. Even if you could control a woman's soul for her entire life, you still wouldn't be able to understand her. The princes, their intent towards you would be easy. You can tell if they wish to have you assassinated or use you as a tool, but not a princess unless she is a spoiled brat," the director whispered as the girls beckoned to Wei.

"They are terrifying, the schemes of concubines," Wei agreed as his mind remembered bits and pieces.

"Best to not keep an imperial waiting. Heed my advise, little duke. The less you stay at the palace, the better. Just smile, nod, say a word or two, and get the hell out of there," Oscar smiled and sighed as Cong Wei rushed to catch up to the cousins.

"Did you do what I asked?" Oscar said as a boy appeared from the shadows.

"Of course, sir. Here is the report of what I've seen him do," Hiro nodded as he gave Oscar a small folder.

"That's why I hate ninjas. Even though those imperials had powerful magical treasures, almost nothing can see through the illusion of the Kage Clan. Your Lady Sakura must also be an incredible actress," Oscar beamed as he read the papers. "It doesn't say how he killed the demon."

"I don't know how he cast that sealing formation. It is as if he just learned it on the fly and took a chance," Hiro shook his head.

"Give these twenty Spirit Pearls to your sect elder as agreed, and one million gold to Sakura's Miura clan. As you're reward, you can keep the spatial ring once you give the items to them," Oscar said as he tossed an orange spatial ring.

"Always a pleasure to serve such an esteemed supreme expert as yourself. My master also said to remind you that we discovered another ruin. We'll have to trouble you for translations at a later time. She said she'll pay the usual," Hiro bowed and disappeared into the shadows.

"Dual light essence and even having the ability to steal a drake's flame essence. You really are interesting. I do hope you meet my expectations and grow more powerful. Perhaps your mother....," the director said softly, unable to finish the words as he headed back inside the pagoda.