Boundless dark golden mist surged and flowed between the strangely shaped buildings, seemingly without end.
Amidst the grand or bizarre structures stood a massive, magnificent, and strangely shaped palace with two spires, the spires reaching into the sky and disappearing into the dark golden mist, exuding an aura of grandeur.
The palace was constructed from black stone blocks, their surfaces adorned with exquisite carvings and magnificent murals, flowing with peculiar symbols that showcased giant-like strength and glory. The colossal archways and majestic towers brought an indescribable sense of solemnity.
Inside the immense palace, towering stone pillars were faintly visible within the dark golden mist, supporting a vast dome.
Deep within the palace, situated atop a nine-tiered stone staircase, was a colossal throne carved with mysterious patterns.
Below the stone staircase, on either side of the immense palace, stood five high-backed stone chairs, surrounded by dark golden mist.
Below the high-backed chairs, forty-nine strange stone chairs were arrayed in a peculiar pattern, the overall arrangement conveying a sense of solemnity, mystery, order, and chaos intertwined.
Suddenly, a mournful cry echoed within the immense palace, only to quickly fade within the grand temple and the pervasive dark golden mist. Above the nine-tiered stone staircase, on the colossal throne carved with mysterious patterns, a translucent figure completely formed by the condensation of dark golden mist continuously let out wails and mournful cries, stirring the surrounding dark golden mist to surge into the figure.
After an unknown period, the dark golden mist stopped surging and returned to calm. The previously translucent figure became solid, and the wailing and mournful cries gradually ceased.
A weak murmur escaped the figure on the throne. Ren Yu finally found himself and regained consciousness amidst the extreme pain and mental chaos.
Ren Yu looked around. Even with his good composure, he couldn't help but utter a curse.
He looked up at the dome shrouded in dark golden mist and said, full of grief and indignation, "Did I transmigrate? When others transmigrate, they get halos, but why am I in so much pain I feel like I'm dying? What the hell is this, I don't even have a body!"
Ren Yu was from Earth in the 21st century, a college student who was full of ambition, planning his future and contributing to the country. Unfortunately, his aspirations were cut short, and he died prematurely. He woke up to find himself transmigrated to another Earth.
Everything seemed familiar yet unfamiliar. The strange environment and strange world almost crushed him. After a period of depression, he finally pulled himself together and discovered that the literary works from his original world did not exist. He then prepared to use his knowledge from his original world to integrate into society and live the boring life of a rich young master.
However, while traveling by sea and recalling works of literature, he encountered a tsunami and sank to the bottom of the sea. In the last moment of his blurry consciousness, he was submerged by what seemed like boundless dark golden mist surging in the deep sea.
Ren Yu slumped on the magnificent throne, or more accurately, floated above it. He extended his slightly translucent left hand, formed by dark golden mist, and sighed helplessly.
Although the influx of dark golden mist brought boundless pain, it also stabilized his ethereal and fragile soul.
As the price for the pain, streams of information carrying mysterious symbols also surged into his soul, making Ren Yu understand his current situation.
This was the Kingdom of Disorder, one of the nine Sources separated from the Original Creator.
Wait! Original Creator! Source! Kingdom of Disorder! Ren Yu felt his mind was about to explode again.
He muttered, "Did I transmigrate to Lord of Mysteries?" A cry of anguish echoed in his heart.
Why? Such a dangerous and bizarre world, with those Outer Gods and Ancient Ones lurking. Wait, the gaze of the cosmos! I'm finished.
After a period of fearful wild thoughts where nothing happened, Ren Yu finally calmed down and considered the current situation. Based on his previous experiences and the information transmitted by the dark golden mist, he was currently within the Source: Kingdom of Disorder.
It was reasonable that the Source's status isolated him from the Outer Gods' perception and gaze.
So what was his current situation? Also, the Kingdom of Disorder was sealed in the Western Continent by the Celestial Worthy, who was also the Lord of Mysteries, after the battle between the Celestial Worthy and God, and it was only expected to be unsealed at the end of the Fifth Epoch after the Cat Worm achieved the status of Lord of Mysteries.
So was he sealed now?
Surely not. Didn't they say transmigrators were all lucky? Why was he so unlucky? No, perhaps the Celestial Worthy and God haven't fully awakened yet, and he still had a chance. But he couldn't do anything now. Heavens, please favor this unlucky person!
Suddenly, the boundless dark golden mist surged violently, and a majestic and deep voice resounded throughout the immense palace, saying "Interesting," startling Ren Yu, who was slumped on the throne.
Strangely, Ren Yu had never heard that voice before, yet he understood its meaning. "Who are you?" Ren Yu suddenly stood up and looked around. Besides the hall shrouded in dark golden mist, there was nothing else.
"God, the Creator, the Omniscient and Omnipotent One, the Lord of the Astral World," the majestic and indifferent voice replied. "I didn't expect such a strange soul to merge within this Source. Who are you? Why do you not have the original imprint?"
Upon hearing the reply, Ren Yu's heart churned. God, Lord of the Astral World, then this was the First Epoch, the period when God and the Celestial Worthy had just awakened and not yet fallen. This was bad. God controlled the Spectator pathway. Could he have already seen through his thoughts?
No, if he could see through and read minds, there would be no need to ask. He mentioned merging. Could it be that after merging with the Kingdom of Disorder, he possessed some characteristic that evaded mind-reading? It was possible.
Did the original imprint refer to the mental imprint formed after the Original Creator split? Of course, he didn't have it; he had transmigrated from another world. But how should he answer?
His thoughts raced. Ren Yu looked up at the dome shrouded in dark golden mist. "I don't know either. I just encountered a shipwreck, sank to the bottom of the sea, and was submerged by the boundless dark golden mist before arriving here. Respected Lord of the Astral World, do you know what's happening?"
After a difficult silence, the majestic and indifferent voice replied, "A variable is also an opportunity. The instinct of convergence dictates that I and the Lord of Mysteries must fight. Your future is shrouded in mist, and I cannot foresee it. It is truly interesting."
The grand and majestic voice echoed within the palace. At the same time, an indescribable light broke through the boundless dark golden mist and enveloped Ren Yu. Through the gap created, a figure entirely composed of light stood silently.
Streams of light surged out from the figure of light and entered the hall shrouded in dark golden mist. They merged with the dark golden mist to form a ring and a staff, which landed on the nine-tiered stone staircase, beside the colossal throne.
"Currently, you do not possess the status or strength to truly merge with a Source. However, with my help, and relying on a soul without the original imprint, you can establish a stronger connection with the Source over a long period, initially assimilating and controlling this Source while avoiding madness. Once you possess the corresponding status, you can smoothly control this Source."
The majestic and indifferent voice echoed in Ren Yu's ears. Before he could respond, Ren Yu, enveloped in light, uncontrollably expanded to form a vortex, frantically absorbing the surrounding dark golden mist. Accompanied by layers of ethereal whispers and a tidal wave of soul-tearing pain, he lost consciousness.
The light dispersed, and the dark golden mist surged and gathered, submerging the massive, magnificent, and strangely shaped palace with two spires.