The moment the being ordered Shen Hao to "look him in the eye," the atmosphere shifted. The sky above them seemed to grow heavier, as if the air itself was thickening under the weight of an unspoken challenge.
Shen Hao did not flinch. He lifted his head deliberately and met the violet-glowing orbs of the tall, floating cultivator. This being was clearly not human, his presence radiated a strange energy, his body suspended mid-air with an otherworldly grace.
Between them, a silent pressure grew, tightening like a coil ready to spring. One pair of eyes held the cold, cosmic authority of someone who had witnessed the rise and fall of countless stars. The other eyes, Shen Hao's, reflected a mixture of calm defiance, seasoned by hardships unseen by ordinary men. He seemed to say without words, "I have seen worse. I have survived harsher trials. Your intimidation will not shake me."
Then, breaking the tension, the being spoke again.
"Show me your UID," his voice cold, commanding.
Shen Hao raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Demanding," he replied, his voice calm but edged with humor. "You a customs officer, or just rude?"
Without waiting for an answer, he reached into his storage ring, feeling the cool metal against his fingers. From within, he withdrew a flat, obsidian-black card. Intricate circuits glowed faintly across its surface, pulsing with the steady heartbeat of Qi. This was his unique identification, a mark of his existence in this vast universe.
He handed it over with a playful smirk.
"Careful," Shen Hao warned lightly. "It's got my worst photo on it. Try not to fall in love."
The being took the card between long, claw-like fingers, inspecting it silently. His eyes flicked from the card back to Shen Hao, then returned again. He squinted, tilted his head, paused, and then something unexpected happened.
A snort escaped him.
Then a wheeze.
And suddenly, a booming laugh burst from the being's lips, shattering the heavy stillness like thunder.
"BWAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" The sound rolled across the sky, shaking the very air around them.
A flock of birds, startled by the sheer volume, abruptly changed course mid-flight and vanished from sight.
The gatekeeper's laughter echoed loudly as he clutched his stomach, still holding Shen Hao's UID.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA! THIS IS… AHAAA… THIS IS YOUR… OFFICIAL FACE?!" he howled between breaths.
Shen Hao's expression turned mock-offended.
"It was a long week, alright?!" he shot back.
The gatekeeper staggered backward, laughter still ripping from his chest as if his spirit might break free. The absurdity of the photo, etched forever on that card, seemed to embody Shen Hao's tumultuous past.
"WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE YOU JUST ATE A FIRE PILL BY ACCIDENT?!" the gatekeeper gasped, tears of mirth streaming from his glowing eyes.
"Because I did!" Shen Hao admitted with a grin. "Right during the photo!"
They both burst into laughter again, the sound light and free, a rare moment of respite amid their endless challenges.
Finally, they sank onto the cracked stone path, clutching their ribs as laughter wracked their bodies. The gatekeeper's floating rings wobbled with his shaking form. They gasped, cackled, tried to breathe, and failed, only laughing harder.
Shen Hao gasped between breaths, clutching his side. "I can't feel my face…" His voice was strained but carried a hint of genuine amusement.
The gatekeeper wiped his glowing eyes with the back of his hand, still chuckling softly. "I haven't laughed this hard since the Emperor of Slime slipped on his own mucus cloak."
Shen Hao's eyes glistened with tears of laughter. "You have no idea how much that photo has haunted me." He shook his head, half in disbelief, half in surrender to the humor.
Suddenly, the gatekeeper slammed a fist onto the stone ground, causing a small tremor to ripple outward. "YOU LOOK LIKE A CONSTIPATED CLOUD!"
Shen Hao groaned dramatically, collapsing back against the cracked stones. "I KNOW!" he admitted, laughter still bubbling beneath his words.
They shared another bout of laughter, this time softer but no less genuine. The kind of laughter born from years of hardship and mutual understanding.
As the echoes faded, Shen Hao lay on his back, staring up at the vast expanse of sky. His cheeks were flushed, his breath steadying after the storm of mirth. The spiritual energy within him felt drained, as if the laughter had exhausted not only his body but his inner Qi as well.
The gatekeeper stood, slowly regaining his composure. He wiped a stray tear from the corner of his eye, still smiling warmly.
"That," he said between breaths, "was beautiful."
He extended the UID back toward Shen Hao with a respectful nod.
"You pass."
Shen Hao blinked, still catching his breath. "Pass what?"
"The vibe check," the gatekeeper said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
They exchanged a knowing look, two warriors recognizing strength and spirit in each other.
The gatekeeper introduced himself. "Name's Tevalk. Demi-Conqueror Realm, Level 4. Official Gatekeeper of Hollow City. And you, Shen Hao. Survivor of monster stampedes and tragic ID photos."
Shen Hao returned the salute casually, adjusting his sleeve with a slight grin. "And now, part-time tourist. Just passing through."
Together, they moved forward, stepping into the silent streets of Hollow City.
The old buildings rose like ancient sentinels, their shadows stretching long in the fading light. Empty plazas and quiet alleys gave the city an eerie stillness, broken only by the distant hum of power emanating from the mountain above.
Shen Hao glanced around, eyes scanning the deserted surroundings. "Kind of peaceful. If peaceful means 'where did everybody go and should I be running?'"
Tevalk chuckled softly. "They're not hiding. The entire city's at the Celestial Nexus Array. Big event today."
Shen Hao feigned surprise. "Oh? What kind of event?"
Tevalk's tone grew serious. "Someone's actually using the array. First time in almost a hundred years."
Shen Hao raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Using it, huh? That's... rare."
Tevalk smirked, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and respect. "Back in the day, when it only cost five hundred million credits, you'd get one or two transfers a year. But now? One billion credits. Upfront. No discounts. No coupons."
Shen Hao nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. I heard about the price hike. Real motivation to start saving, or start robbing."
Tevalk laughed heartily. "Exactly! Most people can't even afford the thought of it now. That's why today's such a big deal. Last user was ninety-eight years ago. And that guy? Well, he caused a minor political collapse."
Shen Hao grinned wryly. "Sounds like my kind of company."
They rounded the final corner, climbing the stone steps toward the peak of the city. Shen Hao's steps slowed as the mountain opened into a vast plaza carved from ancient stone, worn smooth by centuries of footsteps.
It hit him like a wave.
Thousands of cultivators, from countless corners of the universe, gathered in this open-air arena. The air buzzed with raw power, Qi swirling in layered waves that mingled and collided like invisible currents.
Some cultivators sat in meditation, their forms serene as they tapped into the universe's flow. Others hovered just above the ground, bodies radiating faint glows. A few simply mingled, whispering rumors and secrets, their voices low and hurried.
At the center of it all stood the Celestial Nexus Array.
Massive floating rings of ancient stone circled a pulsing core of radiant light. The rings spun slowly, their surfaces etched with shifting symbols that glowed and changed with every rotation. The energy radiating from the array was thick and heavy, filling the entire plaza with an undeniable presence.
Tevalk gestured with a sweeping hand. "There it is. The most expensive spin cycle in the realm."
Shen Hao studied the array carefully, eyes narrowing slightly. "Impressive. And I assume the mystery man is about to step in?"
Tevalk nodded. "No one's seen his face clearly. Just showed up, paid the full amount, and waited. Some say he's royalty. Others say he's a runaway. Either way, no normal person spends that kind of coin."
Lingfeng, floating lazily beside Shen Hao, added with a teasing tone, "Or he's just really tired of walking."
Shen Hao folded his arms, his gaze sharp. "Let's see what kind of man steps through the stars."
The crowd shifted slightly, a wave of murmurs rippling through the gathered cultivators. All eyes turned toward the raised platform at the center of the Celestial Nexus Array.
There, standing with an effortless grace, was the man who had paid one billion credits as if it were mere spare change.