Going back in time, it was a beautiful sunny day within the central sect. On this day, the three new factions slowly arrived at their new residences. Following the orders of Corin and Loeus, they did as before: placed the same stone with the writings of the factions at the entrance and united between the three mountains, busy setting up a camp for everyone.
This time, a central elder, after investigating what happened, explained to the new disciples about the place. In a year and a half, they would be assessed but never lose their central position. Even if they became central workers, they could maintain the factions, shifting the focus to work. Soon, if they paid to rent the place, they could live there forever.
The first tent created was a central one, and then they left Ruri unconscious in the silent place. Corin didn’t know what to say to her when she woke up; Loeus just sat on the ground near the improvised bed, completely stunned.
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The hours dragged on as if they were days until the dreaded moment finally arrived. Ruri woke up suddenly, her heart beating irregularly, and she jumped out of bed in a startle. Her eyes frantically searched around the room until they fixed on Corin, but when her gaze met Loeus, a shiver of premonition ran down her spine.
"Where... where is master!?" Her voice came out in a trembling whisper, her lips shaking with the anguish that consumed her.
Seconds passed. Then, outside, a roar echoed, causing all the disciples to stir, looking toward the center of the place. The central tent was thrown into the air amid a sudden explosion. Corin emerged in the air, coughing up blood; he threw the tent fabric away, his trembling eyes seeking stability.
"I’m not lying. He... he’s gone. And said he won’t come back!" Corin murmured with trembling lips, struggling to maintain composure in the face of the terrible reality.
"How can you claim that master is dead!? You traitor! He will return!" Ruri roared in despair, uncontrollable anger boiling within her.
But then, the last words of her master echoed in her mind, freezing her in place. An oppressive silence hung over the camp as everyone witnessed Ruri’s emotional collapse. Her face, once serene and beautiful, twisted in agony; then she fell to her knees... and tears flowed in endless torrents.
Time seemed to have lost all meaning as Ruri remained motionless, consumed by the tearing pain. She felt the guilt of not being able to help. She thought she had finally gotten close to him, but in the end, it was futile and weak to the point that he had to leave.
The day dragged into night, and the new dawn brought with it only a new wave of anguish. A new tent was erected around her, but Corin and Loeus remained by her side in silence, unable to find solace amid those tears. The whale spoke clearly; they had to support her, and they had to stay strong. Soon, they drew strength from where they didn’t know they had it.
A deep and suffocating abyss opened in Ruri’s mind, but in the midst of the darkness, memories of her master and that night in front of the Paraselene emerged like a faint light. She recalled the story of her master’s life, his unwavering determination, and his impossible feats. Those feats were recognized even by the queen and the Heaven’s Will. Understanding gradually crept into her consciousness, dissipating the darkness.
"He’s not dead..." Ruri murmured to the two beside her, her eyes regaining some focus. "Master is not an ordinary person, even if his body was destroyed. That was just something they took. They lived forever, and... came back to me..."
Loeus and Corin sighed. The whale said it was better for her not to nurture hope, but how were they supposed to change that? Time... only that could change.
"Master thought of everything," Ruri began to speak, rising with seriousness. "He left the city with everything for us to train. He left a disciple of the god of forging by our side, and even created connections with the sect and the city through Nimfle. We have infinite resources to gain, and he left us in the central sect to cultivate ourselves."
She clenched her fists firmly. "The plan must continue. We have to be as outstanding as possible so that when the families arrive, they notice us! We can’t disappoint him... or when... when..." She stopped, feeling her body tremble and her words crumble.
"Ruri..." Corin said gently. "Master may really not come back, not because he doesn’t want to. You must seek your own path."
"My happiness depends only on me... I remember master’s teachings." Ruri responded immediately. "I’m in the central sect, I will cultivate myself to the extreme. I will save my people. I will fulfill my path, and then I will wait. He will come back."
Loeus and Corin sighed. Then, time passed...
***
Back in the present, the whale floated in a complete and dark void, without any stars or points of light, no matter which direction they looked. They were still mortal and couldn’t float in space forever, or they would die. So, they burned all the QI from the spiritual crystals they had. Fortunately, there was no radiation to attack them, after all, there was no sun anywhere.
Soon, Bruno murmured. ’We’re finally in the underworld... but I don’t feel anything... it’s truly a complete Yin world.’
’Yes, the universes have intense Yang, but Yin still flows in balance. Here, there is no Yang at all; everything seems to have been converged elsewhere.’ Alm replied lightly.
’So, can you sense a wide area with the correct Yin? The closest place is where?’ Bruno spoke lightly.
’If we keep going straight, we’ll arrive before our crystals run out, but it’ll be close. The main thing is that I discovered something else.’ Alm said emotionlessly. ’In all directions, there are no stars. But through the Yin, I can clearly feel countless points stretching in all directions, distorting reality.’
Bruno quickly understood. ’Black holes?’ Since there were no stars to generate light, they couldn’t see the black holes bending light either. They were simply there, silent and invisible.
’Yes, on Earth, there was the theory of universes within black holes.’ Alm replied, recalling something distant. ’The underworld is the place that connects all universes... so there are infinite black holes. It’s like we’re in the heart of a cosmic web, where universes intertwine. That’s why the underworld is the convergence point of all these different places.’
’So, all universes exist within black holes, with their own laws. That’s why it’s impossible to get out normally. Even with maximum divine cultivation and even a realm above, where we reached, it was not possible to leave the black hole.’ Bruno murmured thoughtfully.
’All the Yang seems to converge to the black holes and accumulate. Thus, life arises in the universes while this place becomes filled with pretty much just Yin. Here only Yin remains, but life persists, and there are beings that live here.’ Alm calmly concluded. ’But life here is sparse, and there must be countless treasures all over the place. This place is much easier for us to cultivate.’
’But the danger is hundreds of times greater. I won’t gain anything, and our bloodline won’t either.’ Bruno retorted.
Alm replied. ’Indeed, we have to find a way to go back. Staying here will benefit us only temporarily. We are too weak; we have to reach a level where we can protect ourselves before we return.’