Two days after entering the secret tunnels, Tom had ventured deeper into them. During that time, he managed to activate the Yang mark and use its power, though minimally, due to not understanding its nature. It was like understanding half a question and getting half an answer. The same applied to Tom; he was helpless, ignorant of what lay within. He had a glimmer of understanding, a spark towards comprehending and utilizing this power that surpassed everything he knew about strength.
Inside one of the central tunnels, Tom moved through them, using the mana stones on the tunnel walls that illuminated the passages with a cold, blue glow. He looked at the map and let out a faint sigh, then placed it in his personal dimension. He muttered in a quiet voice as he moved towards the center of the tunnels, "Not much left. In another two weeks, I'll reach the center, though I doubt it will be easy."
After walking several meters, he stopped because it was lunchtime, 1:45 PM. He also used this time to gather his thoughts and check his equipment. Tom took out some pre-prepared food to avoid attracting unwanted attention. His personal dimension was a void free from laws and concepts; anything placed inside remained as it was, regardless of time, even thousands of years. Food stayed fresh no matter how long it remained in the dimension. This was why people with this ability were sought after by travelers, mercenaries, and even immortal masters due to their long journeys.
Tom directed his gaze towards the ceiling and found a giant rune. He read its contents in a calm tone, "When Creation and Destruction are born from the womb of existence, the testing ground is the place for the refinement of the latter before the final Ragnarok. Five tests separate existence and annihilation, balance and war, and the sacred spirit that will not end until the final Ragnarok of the miserable world that has only seen ruin. He who is originally an outcast and cursed will build what is broken and cursed. O Creation, O Destruction, O all, complete your test and earn your power. The weak are crushed, and the strong crush. So, what will you be: dominant or defeated? Creation, or Destruction, or above them? This is an irreversible decision. Continue your path if you are brave, and turn back if you are wise."
A cold, frosty glow appeared in his deep, dark eyes as he looked at the rune. He then continued his meal, placed his belongings in his dimension, and set off towards the center of the labyrinth with determination and perseverance. He was certain that what he would find in this labyrinth was related to his past life, the reason for the Yang and Yin marks on his neck, why he remained young even after reaching a thousand years, and many other things. Still, a mysterious feeling told him it was something greater than mere annihilation or creation, or both. He felt an immense rage with every step he took, a sense of betrayal, but not of his past life. It was a different kind of betrayal, one that wounded his pride more deeply, yet he couldn't figure out the reason for this surge. However, the name Ji Yao Li had been stuck in his mind since the day he first arrived at the secret tunnels, four and a half days ago. The reason for his desire to explore the secret tunnels was due to several factors, including a persistent feeling of emptiness. Tom always felt an emptiness, as if he didn't belong, as if this world wasn't his, or something was missing. But after being reincarnated, he felt that emptiness was half-filled.
As Tom advanced with steady steps, filled with absolute power and authority, towards the center of the tunnels, he was suddenly overcome by a feeling of familiarity. It was as if he sensed the presence of people he knew behind a giant stone gate inscribed with:
[Spring always comes after winter, summer after spring, autumn after summer, and winter after autumn. Thus, power comes after deserving. He who does not know himself is not worthy to covet absolute power.]
He opened it with complete ease. The runes on the stone gate glowed with a mixture of dark purple and bright gold. A powerful light shone, causing Tom to close his deep, dark eyes from its intensity.
---
In a world devoid of laws and concepts, dominated by an absolute, endless white, there was a giant tree, larger than the corridors of infinite imagination. A creature formed from a mixture of golden crystal and red ruby, its branches resembled whips made of a material blending life and sacred energy. This tree had four fruits, each fruit being a world completely separate from the others in every aspect. Surrounding this tree were twelve entities, each emanating power stronger than entities of the "Beyond-Existence" rank. They had surpassed this rank, reaching power beyond the classification of power within the story.
The gazes of these entities, seated on their thrones, were fixed. The number of these supreme entities was twelve, known as the Guardians of the Sacred Tree of Existence, which bore four worlds. One of these entities, named Zaoliyong, owner of the fifth throne, spoke in a calm tone filled with gravitas and power, his gaze directed at the Tree of Existence with a cold look. "A long time has passed, countless ages and eras. Not much time remains until the birth of the Tree of Existence's ruler, the Great Creator. Only about 500 trillion years remain until his birth." His expression turned stern, his tone more resolute than before. "After the birth of the four rulers of the fruits of existence and the ruler of the sacred Tree of Existence, the Great Creator, we will merely be a memory of the past. What do you wish to do about it? Will we accept our fate, or will we face it? The choice is yours."
As soon as he finished speaking, the place, which was not a place, was engulfed in absolute silence. A period of time, which did not exist, passed, and then the owner of the first throne, who was the most powerful of them all by an unbridgeable gap, spoke in a tone filled with indifference, but with ultimate seriousness and power at its core. "I know that, but as guardians of the Tree of Existence, we cannot shirk what we were created for. We and our kin are guardians of twelve other Trees of Existence. We must complete our mission and give the rulers of the Tree of Existence what they deserve. This is my final decision. If anyone has anything else to say, let them say it. My ears are open to everything you have to say." He paused, listening to the discussions of the other throne owners, but they remained silent, none daring to oppose him.
The owner of the fourth throne, named Domenico, let out a deep sigh before speaking. "Since none have made any statement, the decision of the fifth throne owner, Zaoliyong, is rejected, and the situation will remain as it is. I declare the end of the meeting of the Guardians of the Tree of Existence, number 6,300,577,823,550. We wish all attendees a life filled with happiness and prosperity."
Then, each of the guardians of the Tree of Existence departed. They were called "Creators" due to their ability to create anything from nothing and erase anything and everything. Additionally, they were born from the Tree of Existence itself, making it impossible for them to die, except by a higher entity or one who possessed authority over the Tree of Existence itself. This was the law of their lives: they had to protect the Tree to remain in existence. However, the Tree was more powerful than all twelve throne owners combined. It was a living entity that could take human form whenever it wished. This Tree was known as the Mother of Existence, and it was the primary reason for the existence of these four worlds that it embraced in its crystalline arms.
While everyone was returning to their worlds, Zaoliyong seethed with anger, hatred, and malice towards both Domenico and the owner of the first throne, Ji Yao Li, the head of the Guardians of the Tree of Existence. Meanwhile, as Ji Yao Li was heading towards his own world, located within one of the four worlds, Domenico and the owner of the eighth wing, Alexazia, approached him, their faces filled with seriousness. "Mr. Ji Yao Li, wait a moment." Ji Yao Li, heading towards his private world, stopped and then turned his gaze towards Domenico and Alexazia. He walked towards them with his hands behind his back and spoke in a calm tone filled with the gravitas and wisdom gained from countless ages of experience, "What is it? Why have you stopped me, Alexazia and Domenico? I hope you have a good reason."
Alexazia and Domenico went straight to the point, without any detours. Their expressions and tones had shifted to a slight worry, which made him somewhat puzzled by their hesitation, but he decided to hear them out after seeing their state, as he was sure it was something extremely important, enough to make two of the Sacred Tree Guardians anxious. "Mr. Ji Yao Li, it appears that the owner of the fifth throne and the other throne owners intend to overthrow you from your position as their master." Ji Yao Li's expression turned stern as he listened to Alexazia and Domenico, then he ordered them to leave. "You may leave and get some rest." Alexazia and Domenico bowed at a 45-degree angle in respect before heading to their private worlds to rest, while worry about something that could turn the world upside down, for the worse, crossed their minds. The reason he ordered them to get some rest was that guarding the Tree of Existence drained a significant amount of power from entities, even those with infinite power or those who had reached beyond infinity. Nevertheless, it released a terrifying amount of energy that helped them focus and control their power in case of any imbalance caused by the mental energy drain from guarding the Sacred Tree of Existence.
Ji Yao Li headed towards his private world, contemplating Domenico and Alexazia's words. Both of them were loyal to him, so it was unlikely they would lie about something like this. As Ji Yao Li was heading towards his world, he suddenly heard a strange voice in his mind out of nowhere. "Wake up. Come on, wake up." Ji Yao Li was surprised by the voice he suddenly heard in his eardrum; it was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. He muttered in a low voice, stroking his beard gently, "What in the hell is going on... Maybe I should get some rest. I haven't rested from guarding the Sacred Tree of Existence for thousands of years." Several minutes passed before he reached his private world and entered a giant palace resembling an academy. He walked with steady steps, letting out a deep sigh. "Why do I feel like what's happening to me has happened before?"