Magic: Reincarnate from high-voltage electricity at the start, level up independently.

Footsteps tapped on the cold stone steps, their crisp sounds echoing through the empty palace.

Chu Ge and Ai Gu, one after the other, steadily stepped onto the second floor of the palace.

Chu Ge raised his eyes and quickly scanned his surroundings.

The layout here is almost exactly the same as the first floor.

The hall was also extremely spacious, completely empty of any clutter, with a row of heavy stone doors standing on each side.

The only difference is that the stone doors on the second floor only have twelve doors, which is half the number on the first floor.

Aigu's gaze was fixed on the first stone door on the right, his expression cautious: "Could there be demonic beasts imprisoned inside as well?"

"Most likely."

Chu Ge gave a curt reply.

The moment she finished speaking, she took a step and walked straight toward the first stone door on the right.

After a few steps, Chu Ge arrived at the stone gate. He raised his hand and gently placed his palm on the cool stone surface.

Like the stone door on the first floor, this door has no spatial restrictions.

Chu Ge exerted a slight force in his palm, and the heavy stone door slowly pushed inward along the track.

The dull thud of the stone door opening slowly echoed through the silent hall.

The room was dimly lit, with only the torches embedded in the walls burning quietly, their flickering orange-red flames barely illuminating the space.

At the far end of the wall, a dark mass was curled up on the ground, tightly bound by thick, cold, black iron chains.

The thing was tightly curled into a ball, about the size of a small hedgehog, covered in black fur, so tightly that no head or limbs were visible, making it impossible to tell what it looked like.

It seemed to be sleeping very soundly, showing no sign of being awakened even when the stone door was pushed open and noise entered the room.

With its even breathing rhythm, its fluffy black body rose and fell slightly, making it strangely cute in its quietness.

Chu Ge stood at the door and quietly observed for a moment.

Because the creature was curled up so tightly that its outline was completely obscured, she couldn't immediately tell what kind of monster it was.

But the next second, an invisible sense of oppression quietly enveloped him.

Even though this demonic beast was asleep and showed no initiative to attack, the aura that unconsciously spread from its body was still so powerful that no one dared to underestimate it.

SS level.

Chu Ge instantly determined the opponent's level without the slightest fluctuation in his eyes.

Aigu, who followed her into the room, also sensed this terrifying aura at that moment.

The pressure that was passively released while he was asleep was like a mountain crashing down on him.

Aigu himself only possessed S-rank strength, and the gap between him and SS-rank power was like an insurmountable chasm.

An immense sense of oppression instantly swept over his entire body, making him stiff and unable to breathe.

He stared at the sleeping monster in the corner, not daring to make a sound. Aigu knew perfectly well that if such a powerful creature were disturbed and awakened, the two of them would most likely perish here.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Aigu immediately raised his hand and covered his mouth tightly, even deliberately making his breathing softer.

After Chu Ge finished his observation, he did not linger.

She pulled the stone door, closing it again and shutting out the air inside the room.

The two left the room together and returned to the empty, cold second-floor lobby.

At this moment, Aigu's face no longer showed the composure and calmness he had when he first went upstairs. His expression was extremely solemn, and his brows were full of vigilance.

Having experienced the oppressive power of an SS-class monster up close, Aigu was well aware of the situation.

Even if a monster of this level is only at the early stage of SS rank, it could crush an S rank like me as easily as crushing an ant; I have no chance to fight back.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the fear surging within him, and turned to look at Chu Ge solemnly: "What do we do now? Should we continue opening the remaining doors to check?"

He paused for a moment, then continued earnestly, "In my opinion, these twelve doors should all imprison SS-level demonic beasts."

"We're lucky today; the first one is sleeping, but the next monster might not be so docile."

A heavy weight was always hanging over Aigu's mind.

Even though those monsters were firmly chained and unable to move freely, it did not mean they were absolutely safe.

He didn't know exactly how strong Chu Ge's combat power was, but in this world, SS-level was already at the very top of the pyramid.

In his mind, no matter how extraordinary Chu Ge's talent or how powerful his strength was, he could at most be on par with these imprisoned SS-level demonic beasts, and could not possibly crush them.

"Let's keep watching."

Chu Ge remained calm and composed, and after speaking, he turned and walked towards the second stone door.

Seeing Chu Ge's resolute departure, Aigu swallowed all her words of dissuasion, silently adjusted her mindset, and quickly followed after him.

He kept reassuring himself and encouraging himself.

Aigu, you're at least an S-class powerhouse.

Even if you encounter real danger, you can escape if you can't win, instead of dying on the spot.

In the blink of an eye, Chu Ge had already arrived at the second stone door.

She raised her hand and gently pushed, and the heavy stone door slowly opened.

The flickering firelight seeped into the room through the crack in the door, illuminating the scene inside.

In the corner of the room, a giant praying mantis, several meters tall, stood silently. Its body was as black as ink, and its hard shell gleamed with a cold metallic luster.

This is also an SS-level monster.

Moreover, the aura emanating from it was several times stronger than that of the curled-up, sleeping black furball from before, reaching the mid-SS level.

The moment Aigu caught up and saw the mantis's appearance, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably and his heart suddenly raced.

A strong sense of danger washed over him, and he subconsciously mobilized all the magic power in his body, tensing his muscles to the limit, ready to deal with it at any moment.

Fortunately, although the black mantis remained conscious throughout and had a cold and intimidating gaze, it showed no intention of attacking.

It stood silently within the confines of the chains, motionless, like a black sculpture that had been dormant for many years.

After confirming there was no danger, Chu Ge did not linger. He turned and left the room, closing the stone door behind him, and headed towards the next door.

For the rest of the time, Chu Ge remained silent, pushing open one stone door after another on the second floor to check on the demonic beasts imprisoned in each room.

Aigu followed behind, her heart pounding the entire time, her eyelids twitching non-stop, her heart constantly in her throat.

Fortunately, all the SS-level monsters in the twelve secret chambers were tightly bound by black iron chains, and they were all calm and showed no signs of ferocity or intentionally harming anyone.

After exploring all twelve doors, Chu Ge looked up at the stone steps leading to the third floor.

Without saying anything more, she started walking upstairs, intending to explore the higher floors.

She felt herself getting closer and closer to the secrets of the palace.

Aigu's curiosity about the various high-level demonic beasts had been piqued, and his fear had faded considerably, leaving only a strong desire to explore.

Without saying a word, he silently followed behind Chu Ge and stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor.

The moment you step onto the third floor, you are greeted by an endless, empty hall, spotless and completely unfurnished.

But unlike the first two floors, there is only one stone door here.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chu Ge walked straight over and pushed open the heavy door.

The scene inside came into view.

In the corner stood a giant eagle, its body entirely black.

Its wings were folded, its posture upright, and its sharp eagle eyes, like cold blades, silently locked onto the two people who had broken into the room.

Peak SS rank.

With just one glance, Chu Ge was able to determine the strength of this black eagle.

This black eagle's aura was so powerful that it had already reached the ceiling of the SS-level in this world.

The strongest of the twelve demonic beasts on the second floor was only at the late SS level. Compared to the peak black eagle in front of them, the difference in their auras was like heaven and earth, completely on different levels.

However, its treatment was no different from that of all the other monsters on the second floor.

Thick, black iron chains were wrapped around it, firmly locking its limbs and body, imprisoning it in a corner, unable to move an inch.

Black Hawk stood silently, his sharp gaze sweeping over Chu Ge and Aigu, as if scrutinizing the two.

Seeing that the other remained silent and showed no intention of attacking, the two decided to turn around and leave the room to continue exploring the path ahead.

Just as the two of them took a slight step, a voice with a touch of human laziness slowly rang out in the room.

"You've come to inherit your master's legacy?"

The sudden sound made Chu Ge stop in his tracks as he was about to step out of the room.

She turned around, her gaze landing on the black eagle in the corner, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "You can talk?"

Black Hawk tilted his head slightly, twitched his wings gently, and said with a touch of self-righteous arrogance, "Otherwise what? Do you think I'm like those idiots downstairs who just lie there sleeping?"

This anthropomorphic demeanor and tone completely overturned the norm of demonic beasts.

Chu Ge nodded slightly, not dwelling on the question, and went straight to the point, asking, "What did you mean by 'inheriting the master's legacy'?"

"The literal meaning is easy to understand."

Black Hawk spoke in a flat tone.

Seeing that Chu Ge remained calm and did not press further, he took the initiative to continue explaining: "My master left a rule before he left: anyone who can enter this palace and not be killed by the monsters below is considered to have a destiny with this palace and is qualified to inherit its legacy."

"I am his agent, responsible for guiding those who are destined to inherit the legacy. Once you successfully obtain the inheritance, you will become the new master of all our demon beasts."

After hearing these words, a look of understanding flashed in Chu Ge's eyes: "As expected, I knew this palace held an opportunity."

She pointed to the ceiling above her head, her gaze inquisitive: "The inheritance is upstairs?"

The staircase did not end there, but continued upwards, indicating that there were higher levels in the palace.

Upon hearing this, Black Hawk's tone suddenly became hesitant, carrying a hint of uncertainty: "I guess... right."

Hearing this answer, Aigu's lips twitched violently, and he was speechless.

So you brought up the matter of inheritance, but you're not even sure where the inheritance is going to take place?

This agent is incredibly unreliable!

Chu Ge silently complained to himself as well.

She quietly looked at the SS-level peak black eagle in front of her. She had originally thought it was calm and dignified, but now her impression was overturned, and she felt that it exuded an unreliable aura.

The room fell silent for a moment, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

Black Hawk seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere and, in an attempt to break the silence, took the initiative to start a conversation, asking in a deliberately profound tone, "Aren't you even a little curious about who my master really is?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Ge finally showed some interest and said calmly, "Tell me about it."

Aigu, who was standing nearby, immediately perked up and started listening.

His curiosity was already bursting.

The mysterious master who could build this giant underground palace on his own and keep more than a dozen SS-level monsters must be an extremely important figure.

"Then listen carefully, my master is the most perfect man in the world!"

Black Hawk cleared his throat, adopted a solemn and respectful posture, and began to ramble on with praise.

"My master is handsome, dashing, and debonair; his looks are unparalleled, surpassing all other men in the world!"

"My master is exceptionally gifted, possesses unparalleled talent and extraordinary intelligence; he is a once-in-a-millennium genius!"

"My master is all-powerful and omnipotent, possessing profound knowledge of the laws of heaven and earth, and transcending the shackles of the world!"

One compliment after another poured out of Black Hawk's mouth, all of them the most effusive praise.

Once it started talking, it couldn't stop, praising its owner incessantly for over ten minutes without repeating a single word.

Chu Ge and Ai Gu stood quietly in place, patiently listening to its long-winded explanation.

After more than ten minutes, having heard all the praise, the two had only one thought in their minds:

It's all nonsense, like listening to a song on TapTap online, with not a single useful piece of information.

It's like someone telling you that the purpose of your butt is to poop.

The hype surrounding Black Hawk continues.

From being kind-hearted and compassionate to possessing unparalleled combat power and extraordinary wisdom, a barrage of praise was hurled at him, lasting for nearly ten minutes.

For over twenty minutes, the entire conversation was filled with empty talk, without revealing any useful information about the owner's identity, background, or strength.

Chu Ge remained extremely calm, expressionless throughout, treating it merely as a tedious test of his Dao heart.

...That's just too boring.

Aigu listened until he was exhausted, his eyelids drooping, and he almost couldn't stay awake any longer.

However, due to the terrifying strength of the other party at the peak of SS level, he dared not show the slightest disrespect, let alone interrupt, and could only endure it.

A full hour passed.

Black Hawk finally emptied his belly of all the praise he could muster, and reluctantly stopped talking, ready to get to the point.

"In conclusion, our Lord is such a perfect and unparalleled being."

It paused, then solemnly revealed the ultimate answer: "My lord's name is Nicholas Zhao Si. He is not a person of this world, but an unparalleled powerhouse who transcends this realm."

"Many years ago, our Lord left this world, leaving behind his legacy for us servants, who quietly await the arrival of those destined to be here."

"All of the above, totaling 36,123 words, are my Lord's personal instructions before his departure, and I am relaying them to you word for word."

As soon as he finished speaking, Black Hawk abruptly raised his right wing, tilted his head slightly, and with an extremely solemn expression, gave a solemn salute to the air, shouting loudly:

Finally, praise be to our Lord!

After three seconds, the ceremony was over.

The hour-long, high-intensity praise clearly took a toll on its energy.

Black Hawk instantly abandoned his solemn demeanor, slumped down on the cold ground, and completely let loose, ranting at the two of them.

"So? After hearing my introduction, don't you also think that my owner is extremely narcissistic?"

Before the two could answer, it nodded to itself, looking agreeable: "To be honest, I think so too."

"If you're going to leave, then leave. Why did you have to leave behind such a long and awkward string of nonsense? I have to memorize it every day, afraid that I'll forget it."

"Every time I repeat it, I feel embarrassed and disgusted, like I'm eating a long, smelly pile of excrement."

"I'm exhausted. I've talked so much in one go, my lips are practically worn out."

Chu Ge and Ai Gu stood opposite each other, looking at each other, unsure of how to react.

It felt like listening to a stand-up comedy show.

The two could only remain silent, making the scene somewhat comical.

But in Black Hawk's complaints and narration, the two gleaned a significant piece of information.

The owner of this palace, Nicholas Zhao Si, does not belong to this musical world!

Furthermore, the other party had already successfully escaped this world and gone to the outside world.

This news sent shockwaves through Chu Ge's heart.

After arriving in this world, she explored countless times before finally understanding two ways to leave.

The first method involves using one's own strength to forcibly break through the world's barriers, tear apart the spatial constraints, and forcefully break out of this world.

The second method is to win the grand championship of the once-every-century God of Music Grand Ceremony, gain the approval of the God of Music, and ascend to transcendence with the deity. This is the only orthodox and verifiable way to leave this world.

Chu Ge didn't know which method Nicholas Zhao Si used, but he felt it wasn't one of the two methods he knew.

Is there a third way?

The moment this thought arose, an overwhelming joy welled up in Chu Ge's heart.

If there really is a third, unknown shortcut to transcending the boundaries, does that mean she can leave this world earlier without having to endure until the grand ceremony begins or fight to the death for the championship?

Suppressing the surging excitement in his heart, Chu Ge looked at the slumped Black Eagle and asked earnestly:

"Mr. Eagle, may I ask how your master, Mr. Zhao Si, left this world?"

Faced with the crucial question, Black Hawk shook his head decisively, his tone frank: "I don't know."

"My lord is all-powerful and his methods are beyond the comprehension of the heavens. How could a servant like me, left behind, possibly fathom or fathom his plans and strategies? I am only responsible for guarding and guiding; I know nothing else."

Although Chu Ge was slightly disappointed by the answer, he did not press the matter further.

Knowing that a third method of escaping the boundary exists is already an enormous gain.

She didn't linger, turned around and walked out of the room, her gaze fixed firmly on the stairs leading to the fourth floor.

The true legacy lies on the fourth floor of the palace!

"Let's go up and take a look first."

Aigu called out to Black Hawk and quickly followed Chu Ge's footsteps, heading towards the top floor together.

Behind them, Black Hawk, seeing the two about to leave, instantly perked up and hurriedly shouted:

"My two brothers! If either of you obtains the inheritance, never forget me! You must come back to rescue me from these chains and restore my freedom!"

"understood."

Aigu casually replied, without stopping.

Upon hearing the response, Black Hawk's face instantly lit up with joy, his eyes, which had been dull for many years, now gleaming with excitement.

After being trapped here for countless years, it finally saw hope of regaining its freedom!

Fearing the two would forget, it raised its voice again, repeatedly urging, "You absolutely must remember! Don't forget!"

Unfortunately, after he finished speaking, the two people in front of him did not respond again, and their footsteps gradually faded away.

Black Hawk sat on the ground, stunned for a long time, the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

It slumped back onto the ground dejectedly and began to comfort itself: "It's okay, they were just walking too fast to hear me, that must be it."

"You definitely haven't forgotten..."

It murmured softly, repeatedly giving itself psychological cues, but its confidence grew weaker and weaker.

After a long silence, a soft, bewildered murmur echoed slowly in the empty room: "Is that really true...?"

……

The steps wound upwards, and after walking for an unknown amount of time, the stone steps underfoot finally disappeared completely.

At the end of the stairs lies the top floor of this underground palace—the fourth floor.

Just like the spacious layout of the three floors below, the fourth floor is still vast and boundless, without any superfluous decorations.

In the very center of the hall, two enormous stone doors, completely different from each other, stood facing each other.

One on the left and one on the right, one black and one white.

The white stone gate is warm and clean, exuding a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere;

The black stone gate was dark and heavy, exuding a chilling and domineering aura.

Chu Ge walked up to the white stone gate.

Beside the stone gate stands an ancient stone tablet with a powerful and vigorous character engraved on it: Wisdom.

Below the stone tablet, there are several lines of clear small characters, which are the rules and annotations left by the palace owner.

[To those destined to enter: This is the Gate of Wisdom. Upon entering, you will face a test of intelligence. Pass through ten levels to unlock the final inheritance of the Gate of Wisdom.]

Special Note: The ultimate inheritances of the Black and White Gates are completely different, and each person has only one chance to challenge each gate. Once you successfully complete the challenge, the corresponding gate will completely disappear, and there will be no further opportunities to challenge it.

—The most handsome and wise man in the universe, Nicholas Zhao Siliu

Chu Ge read through all the rules word by word, his brows furrowing slightly as he silently memorized all the restrictions.

Just then, Aigu's voice came from behind.

"Chu Ge, come look this way!"

Chu Ge turned her head and saw Aigu standing in front of the black stone gate opposite her, waving at her: "This black gate has the character '武' (martial arts) carved on it. It seems that the competition is purely about martial prowess!"

"I'm going there."

Chu Ge stopped paying attention to the Zhi Men, which required mental maneuvering, and turned around without hesitation to walk towards the black Martial Men opposite.

Upon arriving at the black gate, she quickly read through the rules for passing the level.

The rules of the martial arts school are simple and brutal; there are no complicated mental puzzles, only pure combat.

Once inside, you can start a one-on-one challenge mode. Defeat your opponent to clear the level.

This rule is exactly what Chu Ge wants.

She turned to Aigu beside her and seriously assigned the route: "I'll take the Martial Gate. You're in charge of the Wisdom Gate here."

"no problem."

Aigu nodded in agreement without hesitation, his mind completely clear.

In terms of combat strength, he is far inferior to Chu Ge.

Using force to overcome obstacles is extremely risky and is more suitable for the powerful Chu Ge.

With my meticulous mind and rich experience, I have a much greater advantage in dealing with intellectual puzzles than in head-on physical combat, so the division of labor is just right.

"be safe."

Aigu gave a solemn instruction, then turned and walked towards the pristine white gate of wisdom.

Chu Ge looked at the dark and imposing martial arts gate before him, his eyes showing no hesitation or fear.

With a push, the heavy martial gate opened with a thud.

A blinding, pure white light burst forth from inside the door, enveloping Chu Ge's entire body.

Light and shadow shift, and space is instantly transformed.

Chu Ge had already left the underground palace and was now firmly standing on a vast and boundless giant arena.

The arena was entirely made of dark gold crystals and stretched as far as the eye could see.

Beyond the arena lay an endless sea of ​​clouds, with white mist churning and floating high in the sky. The surroundings were empty, with only the howling wind.

Chu Ge stood in the center of the arena, quickly adapting to the new environment.

Just as she scanned her surroundings, a mechanical voice devoid of any emotion slowly descended from the heavens, echoing throughout the entire cloud-filled arena.

"Challengers are ready. We are randomly matching you with opponents of similar skill level."

"Opponent data being generated... Matchmaking in progress..."

"Match successful!"

"Your first opponent in this challenge—"

The cold voice paused slightly, then, carrying a weighty air of authority, slowly announced the opponent's name:

"The Ancient Dragon of the Void!"