Tang Dynasty: Starting with Dimo, he was targeted by Li Shimin.

Chapter 37 The Gate to the Secret Realm

After Cui Yuanting left, Lin Luo closed the shop door.

We're closed today.

It wasn't because he was lazy—well, a little bit—but mainly because he needed to think about some things.

The Cui family's people have arrived.

Although he was just a "young man who came to drink tea", Lin Luo was not stupid.

A man surnamed Cui appeared at the Magical Artifacts Shop on the fourth day after the eleven county magistrates associated with the Cui family were raided.

This is no coincidence.

It's a test.

"What's the boss thinking?" Xiao Xiao asked, walking over with a washed teacup in hand.

"I'm thinking about how to deal with the Cui family."

"Is it not okay to do nothing?"

"No. They won't let this go."

Lin Luo leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.

The Cui family lost the salaries of eleven county magistrates, 30,000 shi of grain, and their reputation in the imperial court.

They will definitely settle this score.

And the goal of settling accounts—

It's most likely the Magic Wonders Shop.

Because of the water spirit's rainfall, the swallowtail otter's court farce, and the authentication of the little spirit's report—

All the key factors that helped Li Shimin pointed to this store.

If Cui wasn't stupid, he could deduce from publicly available information that the shop was related to the emperor's "immortal arts".

"So—" Lin Luo sighed, "I need to become stronger."

It's not just the elves that are stronger.

He himself also needs to have the ability to protect himself.

The elves can help him with many things—but they can't be with him 24 hours a day.

If the Cui family really sent someone to do it in secret—

No spirit could save an ordinary human body.

Just as he was thinking about these things—

The system panel suddenly popped up automatically.

Lin Luo paused for a moment—he didn't open the panel.

It was prompted by the system.

【Ding--】

[Host security requirement level detected as increased.]

The main storyline progress has met the requirements.

[New feature unlocked – "Mystic Realm of Elves".]

Elf Realm?

Lin Luo frowned as he looked at the four words on the panel.

The system continued to display instructions—

[Mysterious Realm of Elves: Fragments of Magical Space Projected by the Kingdom of Roc in the Tang Dynasty.]

[The secret realm retains some of the laws of the Kingdom of Locke—including its magic system.]

[Humans who have formed a bond with elves can enter the secret realm and awaken basic magical abilities corresponding to the elf's attributes through magical resonance.]

Awakened magical abilities can be taken out of the secret realm and used in the real world.

Lin Luo read it three times.

Then he sat up straight.

Let me sort this out—

"Is this 'Mysterious Realm of Elves' a fragment of the laws of the Kingdom of Roc projected into the Tang Dynasty?"

【Yes. 】

"After entering, those with a bond with elves can awaken magic?"

Yes. The type of magic awakened depends on the attribute of the bonded spirit. For example, a bonded spirit with a light attribute can awaken basic light magic; a bonded spirit with a water attribute can awaken basic water magic.

"Can awakened magic be taken out of the secret realm? Can it be used even in the Tang Dynasty?"

Yes. However, in the initial stages, it's only basic magic with limited power. It requires continuous training in the secret realm to improve.

"Where is the entrance to the secret realm?"

[Generifying. Please proceed to the backyard.]

Lin Luo stood up.

Xiao Xiao watched his expression—it changed from lazy to serious.

"What's wrong, boss?"

"This could be a big deal."

He strode towards the backyard.

backyard.

That wall in the corner—the stone wall that usually leans against the clutter—

Things are changing.

A faint golden pattern appeared on the surface of the stone bricks, as if someone had drawn a picture on the wall with an invisible pen.

The texture becomes denser and brighter.

They eventually converged into the shape of a door.

Two meters high and one meter wide.

It has a golden border, and in the center is a slowly rotating, endless cloud of milky white light.

Like an open door leading to another world.

Dimo flew down from the roof, his two large eyes fixed on the portal of light—

"Ugh!!"

Its ears stood up, and its fur shimmered slightly—

It was as if I sensed something extremely familiar.

Abu also walked over from a distance, tilting his head to look at the door—

"Huh?"

I wasn't afraid.

On the contrary... I'm curious.

Shui Lanlan poked her head out of the water tank, her bow bow askew at a ninety-degree angle—

"Blue Blue!!"

It cried out excitedly, slapping the water with its little paws.

And Little Pal—

Little Parr, nestled in a small basket in the corner, quietly opened her dark red eyes beneath the thin veil.

It stared at the door of light for three seconds.

Then it shrank back.

Go back to sleep.

It seems that Dark-type Pokémon aren't very interested in things with a strong "light aura".

╮(´∀`)╭

Little Owl walked over, his amber eyes opening completely for the first time.

She looked at the door of light, her expression somewhat complicated.

"Is this... an extension of the shelter?"

"No." Lin Luo shook his head. "The system said this is a fragment of the laws of the Kingdom of Locke."

"A secret realm."

"After going inside—"

He glanced at Dimo.

"Humans can awaken magic."

Xiao Xiao was stunned for a moment.

Then a hint of...nostalgia flashed in her amber eyes?

"Magic..." she murmured.

"Huh? You know?"

"Boss, I am the guardian spirit of Sleeping Owl Sanctuary." Little Owl squinted, his tone unusually serious.

"The sanctuary's origins lie in the Kingdom of Locke. I... was once part of that world as well."

"Magic Academy, Star Magic, Alchemy, Attribute Badges—"

"I know all those things."

"But here in the Tang Dynasty—without magical infrastructure, these things can't be used."

"But what if there's a secret realm..."

She looked at the door of light, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"That's different."

Lin Luo looked at Xiao Xiao.

This was the first time he had seen this expression on Xiao Xiao's face.

It wasn't dozing off, it wasn't laziness, it wasn't "the boss is having lunch"—

It's the expression of someone who "knows a lot of things but is usually too lazy to talk about them," when they suddenly decide to take something seriously.

"Would you like to go in and take a look?"

"No." Little Owl shook his head. "I'm a guardian spirit, not a magician. I can't awaken magic even if I go in."

"But you can, boss."

She looked at Lin Luo.

"You have a bond with Dimo. Dimo ​​is the juvenile form of the Light-attribute Spirit King."

"If you go in—"

"You'll most likely awaken light magic."

Light magic.

Lin Luo glanced at Dimo ​​on his shoulder.

Dimo was looking at him too.

The two pairs of eyes met.

"Mmm!" Dimo's expression clearly said—Go, go, go!!

Its tail was wagging wildly, and its two little wings were flapping.

It wanted to go in.

really want.

Because of the aura emanating from that door—

It's the taste it's most familiar with.

The taste of home.

The taste of the Kingdom of Loke.

Lin Luo took a deep breath.

"Okay. I'll go in and take a look."

He glanced at Little Owl.

"After I go inside, you watch the shop for me. If anyone comes—"

"Don't open the door." Little Owl yawned, reverting to his usual lazy demeanor.

"Just say the boss isn't here, and you'll come another day."

"What if it were Li Shimin?"

"Then say the boss went out to buy goods. Even the emperor has to wait."

"...Okay then."

Lin Luo picked up Dimo ​​and walked to the portal.

The light mist swirled slowly before him, gentle yet profound, like a quiet vortex.

He reached out his hand—

My fingertips touched the surface of the light mist.

It's warm.

Like sunlight.

"They're gone."

He stepped into the portal of light.

White light.

An overwhelming white light.

Then--

Color is back.

Lin Luo opened her eyes.

He was standing on a grassy field.

The lush, carpet-like grass stretched to the horizon.

The sky was pale blue, bluer, clearer, and cleaner than the sky of the Tang Dynasty.

It was as if someone had washed the sky clean.

The air was filled with an indescribable, sweet scent—

It's neither floral nor fruity.

Rather, it has a... magical flavor.

He looked down at himself—

It's the same body, the same clothes.

But he could sense it—

Something inside my body was vibrating slightly.

It was like a string that had been dormant for a long time, suddenly being gently plucked.

"Ugh!!!"

Dimo jumped out of his arms and did three somersaults in the air—

Then its body suddenly erupted with a golden light far more intense than ever before!

The wings of light fully unfolded—they were a whole size larger than when they were in the Tang Dynasty!

It was so excited that it flew around Lin Luo seven or eight times, chirping incessantly—

"Ummy ummmy ummmy ummmy ummmy!!!"

They're back! They're back! They're back!!

This is the magic of the Kingdom of Roc!!

It sensed it!

Lin Luo looked at the incredibly excited Dimo, then glanced at the surrounding scenery—

In the distance, the silhouette of a building, faintly visible, seems to float in the clouds.

Like some kind of... academy?

In the middle of the grass beneath their feet, a stone tablet had appeared out of nowhere.

Several lines of golden text were engraved on the stone tablet—

"Welcome to the Elf Realm—Fragments of the Windsmian Province in the Kingdom of Roc."

"Here, you will learn your first spell."

"Please join your elven companions and journey towards the source of magic ahead."

"Your magical journey begins here."

Lin Luo looked at those few lines of text.

Then he looked up at the building floating in the clouds in the distance.

The wind blows across the grass.

Dimo landed on his shoulder, its golden wings slightly folded, but the light in its eyes was brighter than ever.

"Mmm."

Let's go, boss.

Lin Luo smiled.

"Walk."

He took the first step.

ᕙ (⇀‸↼ ‶) ᕗ

……