In the tower, Igris suddenly heard the news that the secret realm was perfectly sealed by the realm guardian.

He had never known that such a guardian even existed, let alone one of such overwhelming power.

The voice did not travel in an ordinary manner. It did not echo through air or space. Instead, it manifested directly within the consciousness of every existence that had ever entered that realm or had any form of connection to it. It was absolute, undeniable, and carried an authority that could not be questioned.

"Where is the boy? If everyone was expelled, then he should have appeared here."

Igris remained still, yet tension was clearly etched across his face. His thoughts moved rapidly, attempting to reconcile the situation. If the realm had truly expelled all entrants, then Alex should have emerged without exception. The absence of his presence suggested something far more complicated.

...

Inside the realm.

[Ding! The realm outside is sealed by a meta-existence realm guardian. Host should remain here until he comprehends the thirty laws of the Dao of Greater Teleportation.]

Alex slowly opened his eyes, confusion clouding his expression.

"What was that?" he asked, his voice carrying both uncertainty and alertness.

He rose slightly, his senses extending outward as he tried to grasp the situation.

"I am sealed... and a meta-existence realm being is here? How is that possible? Are they not beings who exist only one level below Absolute Reality-level entities?"

His thoughts were disordered. The presence of such a being contradicted everything he had previously understood about the hierarchy of existence.

[Ding! Yes. To exit this realm, you must illuminate the thirty-sixth wing of your martial soul. Only then will you gain the ability to traverse any location freely, while your presence remains completely suppressed by the system.]

Alex exhaled slowly, steadying himself.

"Very well."

There was no alternative. He closed his eyes and began the process of comprehension.

Time flowed differently within the realm. Days passed in silence, blending into one another like an endless stream. There were no disturbances, no interruptions, only the quiet persistence of cultivation and understanding.

Years slipped by as though they were mere moments.

Three years passed in this manner.

On that day, beneath the still surface of the water, Alex opened his eyes once more.

His appearance had undergone subtle but undeniable changes. The immaturity that once lingered in his features had disappeared. His face now carried a composed sharpness, and his presence had deepened. He appeared more refined, more controlled. His age had reached twenty, and with it came a quiet, contained strength.

[Ding! Host has comprehended the Dao of Great Teleportation.]

At that instant, the thirty-sixth wing of his martial soul ignited.

A deep purple radiance spread outward, illuminating the surrounding water with a faint, ethereal glow.

[Ding! Host has acquired the talent, "Ultimate Veil."] 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

[Ultimate Veil: No entity can detect or trace your presence unless you permit it, or unless the observer exists above the Absolute Reality realm.]

Alex observed the change calmly.

"Good. I want to leave this place. I am beginning to feel bored," he muttered, his tone carrying a trace of impatience.

Before he could act, a thunderous voice reverberated through the realm.

"The being who remains here, come forth. I will not harm you. My master has instructed me to meet you."

The voice carried immense force, yet it lacked hostility. It was commanding, but not oppressive.

Alex paused.

"What should I do?" he asked internally.

There was no response from the system. For once, the decision rested entirely on him.

"This realm is merely a trial ground established by my master. You have drawn his attention."

The guardian’s voice sounded again, firm yet measured.

Alex remained within the pond, unmoving.

"You are the one who attempted to enter the River of Time, are you not? I hold no malicious intent. Please, come out."

This time, the voice that followed was different. It was calmer, more restrained, and carried a certain depth that could not be ignored.

For reasons he could not fully explain, Alex felt inclined to respond to that voice.

After a brief hesitation, he rose from the pond.

Water parted around him as he stepped onto solid ground.

Before him stood two figures.

One was a massive humanoid entity clad in a combat suit, its presence imposing and silent. It stood with disciplined stillness, exuding the unmistakable aura of a guardian.

The other was not a physical body, but a projection.

A middle-aged man, composed and dignified, hovered in place. His expression was calm, yet his eyes carried an unfathomable depth.

"Ah. So you are that young man," the projection said, observing Alex with quiet interest. "You are indeed remarkable. And I see that the lotus has also chosen you. I have an offer for you."

Alex remained cautious.

"What kind of offer?" he asked.

He was fully aware that the being before him was an Absolute Reality-level existence. Any interaction with such a figure required careful consideration.

"I will grant you ownership of this realm, along with its guardian. In return, you must assist me with a matter."

"You need my help?" Alex’s surprise was evident.

"Yes," the man replied calmly. "My inner world has reached the level of a meta-reality. At our stage, such worlds can function independently, though we retain the ability to exert control. However, anomalies have begun to appear within it, and I have been unable to identify their origin."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"If you can locate and understand this anomaly, I will consider it a significant favor."

Alex frowned slightly.

"But I am not strong enough. If even you cannot control your inner world completely, then the anomaly must be extremely powerful. How am I supposed to survive?"

"You need not concern yourself with that," the man said. "He will accompany you."

He gestured toward the guardian.

"Within my world, there is no being stronger than him. However, only an anomaly can perceive another anomaly."

The implication was clear.

Alex fell into thought.

The offer was undeniably valuable. Ownership of such a realm, along with control over its guardian, was something beyond ordinary comprehension. Yet the risk remained.

"I have matters to attend to first," Alex said after a moment. "Time within this realm can be accelerated, correct? Allow me to make use of that function. Once I am prepared, I will contact you and attempt to assist, if I am capable."

The man nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. From this moment onward, this realm belongs to you. The guardian will act under your command. You may control everything within it as you see fit."

He raised his hand slightly.

In that instant, a notification appeared before Alex.

[Ding! Host has bound this realm and obtained complete control over it. Time flow can be accelerated up to one thousand times. Do you wish to activate this function?]

"Yes," Alex responded, without delay.

He then looked toward the projection and inclined his head slightly.

"Thank you."

The man accepted the gesture with a faint smile before his projection gradually faded.

Silence returned to the realm.

Alex stood still for a moment, processing everything that had just occurred.

Now, he possessed a realm of his own, a guardian of immense strength, and the ability to manipulate time within this space.

His path forward had become clearer.

He would first focus on comprehending all the laws and daos and lighting up all the wings of his martial soul. At the same time, he would dispatch the guardian to protect his planet in his absence.

It was an extraordinary gain, far beyond anything he had anticipated.

For a brief moment, he thought of Igris. If he didn’t send him here, he would gain anything what he gained now.

So he was thankful toward him.