Chapter 6: The Star God Pagoda

The fabric of space, itself, seemed to shake, and a dizzying sensation clouded Tang Mu's senses. His head started spinning, and he shut his eyes reflexively. An instant later, he opened them again and noticed he was no longer in his hostel room but before a golden gate of towering height.

Isn't this the gate portrayed within the strange orb dropped by the Vegroid? How did I arrive here?

Tang Mu was so shocked beyond measure. He couldn't stop his heart from racing. All signs of drowsiness vanished from his face, and his alertness became razor-sharp. He stood rooted in place as the gears in his mind turned and whirled to process what had just transpired.

At the moment, Tang Mu was standing on a massive stone walkway that led to the towering arched gate. His eyes naturally took in the moss-like plants around the place, and his nose picked up the fresh and delightful scent of the flowers beyond the walkway. The place was as silent as the grave, and his ears couldn't pick up any sounds from the surroundings.

Looking past and beyond the gate, Tang Mu saw an area shrouded in dense fog. And within the fog, he noticed a barely visible outline of a towering pitch-black pagoda that seemed to rise past the clouds. The massive structure stood some distance behind the golden gate, projecting all its majesty and glory.

This is obviously not a dream... I must be somewhere far, far away from the hostel. What exactly happened?

Tang Mu pinched himself as his astonishment grew to unprecedented levels. It had been nighttime, and he had been sleeping soundly in bed. But all of a sudden, it was as if the world had twisted and transformed. He then remembered blinking his eyes before suddenly finding himself before the massive gate.

It seemed like something mysterious had transported him away from his room within an instant, and most likely, he was no longer in any area close to the Asia Metropolitan Region but in a totally separate dimension or a different time zone.

Could this be instant teleportation?

Could this be related to the orb dropped by the Vegroid?

Tang Mu made a few speculations after recalling what he had seen in the crystal orb hours before. The fleeting image that had been depicted within the orb bore an uncanny resemblance to the gate before him.

The similarity between the image within the orb and his current surroundings caused him to wonder whether he had suddenly arrived within the 'orb' itself or in an 'actual place connected to the orb' but far away from his hostel. He was confused and couldn't get an exact handle on what had exactly happened to him.

I should take a look inside the gate. Maybe there are answers.

Tang Mu took a deep breath. He was both nervous and excited. He felt like he was on the cusp of encountering something that might change his life.

He wasted no time, and his bare feet trod upon the stone walkway as he slowly approached the towering arched gate.

As he got closer, his eyes took in the various mystical symbols inscribed on the polished golden walls of the gate. They were totally foreign to him, and after observing for a minute, he decided not to give them much attention. He continued moving along the stone walkway until his silhouette finally passed through the gate.

Right then, the dense fog shrouding the place suppressed Tang Mu's vision and other senses. He couldn't hear anything. He couldn't smell anything. The only thing he could barely see was the outline of the stone walkway beneath his feet.

It was as if he had walked into a land of eternal silence, a land of unfeeling dead, and he could barely stop himself from shuddering from within. Fortunately, as a person who had experienced death once, he was braver than most. He took a deep breath to calm his agitated nerves and continued moving along the stone walkway.

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A few dozen seconds later, the mist became less dense, and the towering pitch-black pagoda that seemed to rise beyond the clouds filled Tang Mu's vision. The massive structure stood there in all its magnificence as if conjured from a fantasy of old. Its flawless and symmetrical design gave it an ancient and deific feel, seemingly as if it had stood in place for millions or even billions of years.

Tang Mu's eyes were naturally drawn to the colossal gold-framed door, probably dozens of feet high, which seemed to be the only entrance into the pagoda. Above the door was an enormous golden plaque with the words "Star God Pagoda" written in beautiful calligraphy.

The calligraphy exuded a majesty grander than anything Tang Mu had ever experienced. With just one look, he appeared to have been charmed by the splendor of the inscribed text. He swallowed hard and subconsciously mumbled his doubts.

"The Star God Pagoda... Does it have an association with a divine existence from somewhere in the universe?"

It was at that moment that a change happened. Tang Mu's voice echoed through the otherwise silent place before achieving an uncanny resonance with something beyond his understanding. A tremor seemed to pass through the area enshrouded in mist, and the black-inked words on the plaque above the door exuded a brilliant luster.

Suddenly, a creaking sound reverberated, and the colossal gold-framed door leading into the pagoda opened. Beyond the door was a totally dark space that seemed like an open maw of a gigantic beast.

"This..."

Tang Mu's heart went on a wild caper, thumping in his chest like a blacksmith's hammer hitting the anvil. He had just mumbled the words on the plaque, and the door leading into the towering pagoda opened.

Had he become a protagonist in the classic Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves? Could he open the next few doors by pronouncing a phrase like Open Sesame?

Tang Mu shook his head and tossed the distracting thoughts to the back of his head. He took a deep breath and glanced at the now-open door that seemed to lead into the depths of hell.

As a free spirit, he didn't need to deliberate for long on what to do.

He was already before the massive pagoda, and if it was something dangerous, then he was already fucked. Moreover, he neither knew where he was nor how to escape from the place.

So, why not take the risk and see what the pagoda could offer? Why not gamble? Maybe, if he was fortunate enough, he might just find something that could change his mundane life forever.

Tang Mu quickly hardened his resolve. Without hesitation, he covered the remaining distance and entered the pagoda.

At that moment, his vision blurred, and he felt as if his body had pierced through a thin film. Looking around, he didn't find himself in an area covered in darkness (as previously expected) but in a magical place illuminated by glowing star-like crystals.

The place he was in was a large grand hall with a high arched ceiling. Breathtaking sculptures and finely curved furnishings, inlaid with gold, diamonds, and other unidentifiable but beautiful gems, stood untouched around the place.

Colorful tapestries and paintings that could have only been completed by the greatest minds in the universe hang upon the gray walls. Everything around was dazzling and spectacular, and Tang Mu could only sigh again and again at the hall's grandeur.

This is magical. But again, where am I, and how will I get out of here?

Although intrigued, Tang Mu was not in a rush to touch the artwork. With the urgent need to find an exit from the strange place, he continued looking around until his eyes subconsciously landed on a golden gothic arched door at the far end of the grand hall.

The door stood there peacefully, exuding a mythical presence, like a portal leading to something magical or another world.

Ignoring everything else, Tang Mu moved closer and noticed the two words "Celestial Gallery" written in beautiful calligraphy on the door plaque. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and took a peek inside.

An inconceivable ethereal-like stairway, illuminated by hovering and glowing star-like crystals, appeared in his vision. His sight followed the ascent of the stairs that seemed to float in the void, taking in the sublime grayish edges of the mystical structure until a diaphanous and broad platform came into view.

Tang Mu immediately caught sight of the enormous eye-catching mural painted on an exquisite tall arched stone slab rising from the middle of the platform. But probably due to the distance, he couldn't identify what exactly was depicted in the mural.

Tang Mu didn't stop his observations, though. He squinted as he tried to identify whether an extension of the ethereal-like staircase existed beyond the platform. But even after craning his neck and straining his eyes, all he could see was foggy light shrouding the platform boundaries.

This might really be a gallery with only paintings on stone slabs. They should have some function since they are in a place as magical as this.

As for whether there is something different beyond the platform after the stairs, I guess I'll have to ascend the stairs before finding out.