All the heavens, starting as the ruler of the universe

Lin Yan stood in the desert outside Jiuqiao Town, not in a hurry to enter the town.

His senses expanded outwards, perceiving the laws governing the world.

Six main threads run through the very foundation of this universe, like six invisible pillars, supporting the space, time, mind, power, reality, and soul of the entire world.

Infinity Stones.

Lin Yan opened his eyes. Although this universe was not created by the Infinity Stones, all the major events that happened revolved around these six stones.

They are like six nails, firmly pinning the fate of this universe to the same track.

He didn't come to this universe for the gems themselves, but if he wanted to understand the underlying rules of this world, he couldn't bypass them.

Just then, a ring of golden sparks suddenly burst forth in the air three steps away from him.

Mars spun outwards, revealing a scene that stood out starkly against the desert: wooden floors, antique furnishings, and a faint aroma of tea in the air.

A figure dressed in a yellow monk's robe walked out of the portal.

He was bald, had a peaceful expression, and his hands hung naturally at his sides.

Her eyes were fixed on Lin Yan, her gaze as calm as a still lake, but beneath the surface, something was tightening.

The Supreme Master – Ancient One.

She stopped three steps away, clasped her hands together, and nodded slightly.

She was polite and courteous, but her senses had already scanned the person in front of her from head to toe.

Then the Ancient One's pupils contracted slightly.

The young man in front of me, dressed in dark gray casual clothes, is just an avatar.

Behind the avatar lies a vast expanse that even her gaze cannot fathom; it is not a dimension, but a complete universe.

"It's not very polite to spy on others." Lin Yan didn't care about being spied on, but this incident gave him an excuse to act.

"...Your Excellency has come to Earth," the Ancient One began, his voice calm, but his speech a beat slower than usual, "and as the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth, I have no reason to ignore it."

"Just passing by," Lin Yan said.

"You say you're just passing by," the Ancient One said, "but your very existence is a power."

Lin Yan looked at her but didn't reply.

"A powerful being, even without doing anything, will influence everything around it." The Ancient One's gaze was calm. "Like a star, it doesn't need to deliberately burn; simply being there is enough to change the orbits of all the planets."

"So what do you think I've affected?"

"Not yet," the Ancient One said, "but once you arrive, the thread of fate will begin to swerve."

Lin Yan's lips curved slightly; this Supreme Mage was indeed quite interesting.

She wasn't blaming or driving them away; she was simply stating a fact—she knew her world couldn't withstand an existence of this level, but she had no way to stop it.

"I meant no harm," Lin Yan said.

Gu Yi looked at him but didn't reply.

"If you don't believe me," Lin Yan turned his gaze to the Eye of Agamotto on her chest, "you can take a look with the Time Stone."

The desert wind blew, stirring up a few grains of sand.

Gu Yi stood still, her hands still clasped in front of her chest, her posture unchanged.

But Lin Yan could sense that her fingers tightened slightly.

The Eye of Agamotto was on her chest, its green light sealed inside the necklace, as quiet as a sleeping seed.

She possesses the Time Stone, which allows her to see countless branches of timelines, but at this moment, she dares not release it.

It wasn't that she was afraid Lin Yan would steal it, but rather what she would see.

The Time Stone allows her to see the past and future of any being.

But the person in front of me is not in this universe's timeline.

If she were to open the Eye of Agamotto and look at this person from the perspective of the Time Stone, she would see only emptiness.

The void of a complete universe.

Even a glimpse of that thing is enough to forever cloud a mortal's mind.

“…No need,” the Ancient One said, then she raised her eyes. “If you’re not in a hurry, why don’t you visit Kamar-Taj?”

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"There aren't many places on Earth that can accommodate someone like you," the Ancient One said calmly. "Karmar-Taj is one of them."

She spoke politely, but her meaning was clear: since they couldn't stop it, they would invite her.

It's better to keep him where she can see him than to let him move around where she can't see him.

Lin Yan looked at her, and after two seconds, nodded.

"OK."

The Ancient One drew an arc in front of her with both hands, and golden sparks burst forth again, spinning into a portal.

Beyond the gate lay no longer a desert, but an ancient courtyard with wooden corridors, bluestone floors, and in the center stood an ancient tree that had lived for countless years, its branches stretching out quietly in the twilight.

The air was filled with the scents of sandalwood and old books, and the faint sounds of apprentices practicing spells could be heard in the distance.

Kama Taj.

As Lin Yan stepped through the portal, he felt an extremely faint energy film slide across his skin.

That was Kamar-Taj's protective barrier, an insurmountable obstacle for ordinary people, but to him, it was nothing more than a spider web.

After passing through the portal, Gu Yi led him to a tea room where a copper kettle bubbled over a charcoal fire, and the twilight outside the window was gradually sinking into the depths of the courtyard.

The two sat down across a small table, and Gu Yi personally brewed two cups of tea. The tea was clear and green, with steam rising gently.

"What brings you to Earth," the Ancient One said, picking up her teacup, "?"

"See the rules," Lin Yan said.

"What rules?"

"The rules of this universe." Lin Yan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and found that the tea was surprisingly fragrant.

Gu Yi looked at him and remained silent for a few moments. Then she put down her teacup.

"Your Excellency may visit the library in Kamar-Taj," she said. "The knowledge here may not be much to you, but it is, after all, the accumulation of thousands of years of earthly history."

"Your library won't let me use it for free." Lin Yan put down his teacup. "I took your things, so I'll naturally give you something of equal value."

Lin Yan seemed to have already thought it through. Then he stretched out his hand, and a dark light shone from his fingertips. The shadow condensed into a thin spellbook in his palm: "Complete Book of Spells, a legacy left by a great mage from another world."

"There is also a spell that can summon the Shadow Legion from other dimensions. The Shadow Legion is an army made of shadows, with nine tribes each having their own role. This is perfect for you."

The Ancient One remained silent for a long time. She was not surprised that the being before her could see through her connection with the Dark Dimension, but this was the first time she had ever seen such a law-abiding being.

"How shall I address you?" Gu Yi asked, sounding a little more attentive than before.

"Just call me Lin Yan."