Chapter 102: The Ancient City

After a full day of preparation, Ma Yi had adjusted himself to the most perfect state, and Yue Ji had also rested well throughout the day. The two had agreed that Yue Ji would conceal her form and follow closely by Ma Yi’s side. She would not intervene unless absolutely necessary, a point Ma Yi wholeheartedly agreed with. After all, if Yue Ji had to act every time something happened, what would be the point of his own training? He might as well stay home and consume elixirs to advance.

As night gradually fell, Yue Ji calmly surveyed the world around her. The young man had just made a promise to this world, and her heart felt lighter for it. After all, even she had not recognized this small world, yet it accepted the young man.

“Ready?” Yue Ji asked, glancing at Ma Yi, who was just rising from the ground.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Ma Yi moved beside Yue Ji. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a protective barrier around him. Ma Yi was only at the entry-level realm; with his current strength, venturing into the void alone would be like an old immortal hanging himself—seeking death. Thus, only under Yue Ji’s protection could he reach the starry expanse.

Yue Ji soared higher and higher with Ma Yi, who estimated they had flown at least a thousand miles. Looking back, he could see the entire small world clearly. This tiny world was nestled within a spatial fold, shaped somewhat like a bookmark wedged inside a book.

“Break,” Yue Ji whispered, her right hand forming a sword finger that pierced forward. The space around them momentarily halted, and a circular void appeared before them, resembling a hole punched through a pane of glass.

Yue Ji swiftly guided Ma Yi through the opening. They stood above the void in the void, as if bridging two worlds. The space beyond the hole was a world, yet outside it stretched the vast cosmos. Curious, Ma Yi approached the void, which seemed to have appeared out of thin air, suspended in the night sky. Looking through the back of the opening, he saw not Yue Ji but the small world again.

“This is truly wondrous,” Ma Yi marveled. “A small world hidden inside another space.”

“Yes,” Yue Ji nodded, “once the barrier of this small world is restored, it becomes undetectable to anyone without considerable power.” She couldn’t help but wonder which great being had placed her inside this small world.

Suddenly, a pillar of red light erupted from the small world, shooting skyward. A strange red membrane rose rapidly from the ground, crashing against the spatial barrier. The once-open portal was instantly sealed by a frosted glass-like layer, making the interior invisible from outside. The membrane rippled like water waves, striking the border before retreating and gathering again at the breach.

Ma Yi noticed a flash of red light within the hole, and the small world inside blurred beyond recognition. Then, with a soft thud—like a drop falling into still water—the portal vanished, and Ma Yi felt the space tremble slightly.

“Let’s go.” Yue Ji glanced around and then took Ma Yi’s hand. The two now floated amidst the stars.

“Do you know the way?” Ma Yi asked, looking around. They were like aliens in the vast cosmic night, with no sense of direction.

“Just over there,” Yue Ji said, pointing to a star no bigger than a grain of rice.

“Alright.” Ma Yi, a former technology enthusiast, knew that such a tiny speck meant a vast distance—at least hundreds of thousands of miles away, possibly more.

Yue Ji took Ma Yi’s arm, and suddenly the starlight around them transformed into streams of flowing light. Before Ma Yi could fully grasp what was happening, they stopped.

“We’ve arrived,” Yue Ji said with a smile, looking down then back at Ma Yi.

“So soon? How long did that take?” Ma Yi asked in surprise.

“Your body can’t handle long-distance teleportation at once. Otherwise, I could have instantly brought you to the planet’s surface,” Yue Ji explained, having learned the term “planet” from Ma Yi.

“Wow, crossing hundreds of thousands of miles in a blink—no wonder ancient humans were said to cross star seas. This might be close to light speed,” Ma Yi marveled, unaware that such speed was only suitable for long-distance travel and impractical in close combat, as one misstep could send a person tens of thousands of miles away, effectively disappearing from the battlefield. True long-distance teleportation exceeding light speed was a topic for later.

“Look for a chance to descend. From here, the human situation doesn’t look too optimistic,” Yue Ji said. With her strength, she could see everything happening on the ground, but Ma Yi could not.

“Tell me what’s going on—I can’t see,” Ma Yi said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“For now, humans have gathered inside an ancient city protected by defensive barriers. There are flight bans and other restrictions in the skies, so battles and defenses are happening on the ground or at low altitudes. Outside, the area is controlled by hordes of alien creatures, mostly ranging from level nine to ten. Even higher-level aliens who arrive here are suppressed to that strength range, so there’s no need to worry.”

“You’ll be suppressed to level nine or ten too? Doesn’t that put you in danger?” Ma Yi asked Yue Ji.

“More or less. But I can first conceal my form using secret techniques, then suppress my power to that level. That way, the local restrictions won’t affect me, and I can safely stay by your side,” Yue Ji smiled. Being a master at the Breakthrough Realm, even if suppressed, she was far stronger than others at levels nine or ten. Mentally, she could effortlessly dominate all life on this planet.

“Alright, stay safe. When you get the chance, find the Greenwood Token,” Ma Yi nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’m right beside you—you just can’t see me.” With those words, Yue Ji began to use her secret technique. Ma Yi felt her presence gradually fade from his senses. Though she remained standing there, he could no longer detect her, as her form slowly vanished into invisibility.

Seeing the space beside him empty, Ma Yi gritted his teeth and swiftly descended toward the planet.

“Ahhh! Damn it!” Ma Yi had forgotten Yue Ji’s warning. This planet only allowed low-altitude flight. As soon as he touched the atmosphere, his protective barrier dissipated. Unable to fly, Ma Yi began to free fall.

His pitiful screams startled the combatants below. Both humans and alien creatures stopped mid-fight, staring upward as a lone figure plummeted from the sky like a parachutist. Although he fell from great height, air resistance slowed his descent to a near-constant speed.

“Isn’t that the missing guy?” someone from the human side recognized Ma Yi.

“Yeah, I wondered if he was hiding somewhere scared. How did he fall from above?”

“He’s been missing for half a month. Our top fighters have all been wounded by those monsters. We’re just holed up in the city defending. Whether he’s here or not makes no difference.”

Inside the city walls, humans whispered among themselves. They might not know others, but everyone remembered Ma Yi as the last to arrive at the gathering, even face-planting at the scene—a comical figure no one forgot.

Though Ma Yi tried to control his glide, he was still about a mile or two from the ancient city. Gritting his teeth, he charged into the dense mass of alien creatures below.

“Ow, damn, the ground is so hard!” Ma Yi groaned, climbing up after crashing through dozens of alien bodies. Though he had slowed himself after entering low altitude, his speed was still considerable. Finally stopping after toppling many enemies, he was dazed, stars dancing before his eyes.

“Hahaha, he fell right into the enemy army! This is hilarious.”

“Is he here to entertain us? He’s just delivering himself to the enemy.”

“Too funny.” “He’s dead meat. So many enemies—there’s no way he gets out.”

The young talents atop the city walls laughed at Ma Yi’s plight, showing no intention of rescuing their comrade trapped among enemy forces.

Rubbing his head and ribs, Ma Yi was grateful he had reacted quickly—otherwise, broken ribs would have been the least of his problems. For him, a broken rib was minor and could heal within a few breaths. Unfortunately, his clothes were ordinary and could not withstand such damage.

“Grrr!” The alien creatures howled as a horde rushed forward. These beings resembled the insectoid creatures from the movie Starship Troopers but with mantis-like torsos grafted onto massive bodies—a grotesque fusion.

“Looking for death?” Ma Yi shouted, charging into the fray. Surrounded quickly by two or three aliens, the thousands beyond could not approach, allowing Ma Yi to fight a few at a time while steadily advancing toward the ancient city.