Chapter 6: The Door of Time and Space

Mels' skills were now on a completely different level; few in the human world could get near him without making a sound, yet the enemy appearing now had managed just that! Just this fact alone convinced Mels this person was no ordinary individual.

"What master honors us with his presence? Since you're willing to speak, why not show yourself?" Mels said casually, but he thought to himself: "Among the Five Clouds Cave, I've only met the Mad Lion Dharma King. Though his skills are remarkable, he couldn't possibly approach me without a sound. As one of the Four Great Dharma Kings protecting the cave, the other three at his level should be roughly equal in ability. Since this person claims to be from Five Clouds Cave, he must be either the Cave Master or one of the Light and Dark Dharma Protectors. The Cave Master likely wouldn't come personally, and given this person's mysterious and shadowy actions, he must be the Dark Dharma Protector."

"Hehe, youngster, if you can force me to reveal myself, I'll let you go today; otherwise, I doubt anyone will light incense for you next year!" The Dark Dharma Protector still refused to meet Mels, only provoking him with words.

Mels understood perfectly well that the enemy was engaging in psychological warfare. In battles between masters, gaining a psychological advantage meant taking the lead, and when fighting someone stronger, one must seize every opportunity to strike the opponent. Judging by the Dark Dharma Protector's appearance, his abilities should surpass those of the Dharma King, so Mels dared not be careless.

"Hmph! Cowardly rat, since you refuse to show yourself, stay hidden in your rat hole. Everyone, ignore him. Let's see what tricks he has to hide here forever!" Unable to pinpoint the Dark Dharma Protector's hiding place from his voice, Mels began using words to force him out.

The Dark Dharma Protector initially thought Mels was just trying to anger him, but he didn't expect Mels to actually turn around and start packing his belongings, showing no regard for him at all. Seeing this, the demon who had roamed the Sub-Humans world for years couldn't help but feel his anger flare. In the past, anyone he frightened like this would either be terrified or lose their composure, leaving them at his mercy.

"Kid, you're tough, I'll give you that. Just wait, and let this Dharma Protector send you to your grave!" Though he knew Mels was provoking him, the Dark Dharma Protector couldn't bear the disrespect. Furious, he refused to believe this youngster could defeat him. Unable to hold back any longer, the Dark Dharma Protector leaped from his hiding spot, flying through the window into the room to strike at Mels.

"Perfect, I've been waiting for you!" In truth, Mels had never relaxed for a moment. He simply understood that the other was using a peculiar method, wrapping his voice in his Qi energy and releasing it only when the energy drew near, making it impossible to pinpoint his location. From this, Mels deduced that his opponent was undoubtedly an expert accustomed to living in darkness and skilled in assassination techniques.

Understanding the opponent's characteristics, Mels naturally sought an environment favorable to himself. The only thing he could do now was wait for the other to strike first. Mels didn't want to kill the opponent, but the opponent couldn't afford to wait indefinitely. Time was on Mels' side, which was why he devised this method of provoking the other into action.

Mels' tactic succeeded. Unable to endure Mels' mockery and disrespect, the Dark Dharma Protector indeed flew in through the window. This was the moment Mels had been waiting for. In a flash, he grabbed the Soft Sword at his waist and met the Dark Dharma Protector with lightning speed.

The Dark Dharma Protector wielded a pair of short swords, while Mels held a three-foot blade. In terms of weapon strength alone, Mels held a certain advantage. Coupled with their comparable abilities, Mels fought without restraint, gaining the upper hand in the first exchange and forcing the Dark Dharma Protector back over three meters with a single strike.

When the Dark Dharma Protector reluctantly landed and steadied himself, Mels was shocked by his appearance. Since arriving in the Sub-Humans world, he had never seen a Sub-Human with such features. The Dark Dharma Protector standing before him resembled a giant bat from head to toe. His entire body was pitch black, with large bat wings stretching from under his arms to his waist on both sides—no wonder he could effortlessly fly into the room through the window.

The Dark Dharma Protector clearly hadn't expected Mels to force him back with a single sword strike. As soon as he landed, he began sizing up the Lion-Tiger Clan youth before him. Though his eyes were small, they gleamed sharply; seeing them in the dead of night would surely be unsettling. Yet Mels showed no fear, staring back with equal intensity as if competing through gaze alone.

After staring at each other for a while, the Dark Dharma Protector suddenly grinned, letting out an unpleasant laugh. "As expected of someone the Cave Master has taken an interest in. It seems coming to challenge you during the day was a mistake. Kid, I'll let you go today. If you have any sense, find a place to hide before nightfall. Otherwise... hahaha!" Still laughing, before Mels could react, the Dark Dharma Protector spread his bat wings and flew backward out the window without moving from his spot, vanishing without a trace.

The enemy had come suddenly and left even more suddenly. No one had expected such a formidable opponent to flee so quickly. While Sol cursed the Dark Dharma Protector's family, Mels remained deep in thought.

"Boss, you seem preoccupied?" Kaslo, noticing Mels' unusual behavior, approached and whispered.

"Yes, I think we've encountered a very troublesome opponent," Mels replied gravely. His words immediately drew everyone's attention. They couldn't understand why Mels was so concerned about an enemy he had forced back with a single strike.

"This person's martial skills are on par with mine, meaning he's not far from the Dharma King. If I'm not mistaken, he should be the Dark Dharma Protector, one of the Light and Dark Dharma Protectors of Five Clouds Cave. Having similar skills to the Dharma King but holding such a high position suggests he's either a schemer or possesses special abilities. From how he revealed himself after just a few taunts, he doesn't seem like a schemer, which leaves only the possibility of special abilities. And before leaving, he said to hide before nightfall if we want to live. What do you think that means?" Mels explained.

"Huh... Boss, are you saying he's accustomed to night combat and was just scouting us? The real fight will begin after nightfall?" After a moment's thought, Kaslo grasped the meaning behind Mels' words.

"Exactly! I believe he must be an assassin who thrives in the night," Mels nodded solemnly.

"What do we do then? If that's true, we're in great danger!" Sol said anxiously.

"Don't panic yet. Things might not be as dangerous as we think. Let's not worry about what happens tonight for now. Instead, let's focus on trying to remove these iron bracelets. If we can't by nightfall, we'll gather in a well-lit area. I believe as long as we can see him clearly, we have more than enough strength to protect ourselves," Mels said.

Hearing Mels' words, though still somewhat worried, everyone understood this was the best course of action and nodded in agreement. Soon after, under Mels' warning, the three princes left first to handle matters for their afternoon visit to the Science Academy, while Mels and the others took the opportunity to eat and replenish their energy. A few hours passed quickly. Shortly after noon, the three princes returned with several attendants to the guesthouse and escorted Mels and the others onto a Float Car bound for the Science Academy. According to Ying Feiyu, the Science Academy had existed since the Eagle Clan established its territory, and nearly all Eagle Clan technology originated there. Today, the academy had grown into the largest scientific department, comprising nineteen sections and gathering over ten thousand Eagle Clan scholars, housing almost all research instruments in the Sub-Humans world.

Due to its immense scale and large staff, the Science Academy was located in an oasis ten kilometers outside the royal capital. From the capital, it took about an hour by Float Car. The academy was protected by the Eagle Clan's most powerful military forces to ensure the safety of its scholars and prevent theft of its numerous technological products.

Speaking of the Eagle Clan's military, Ying Xunlei seemed quite proud. The Eagle Clan possessed the only freely flying troops in the Sub-Humans world. Though their wings didn't allow for long-distance flight, covering a few hundred meters was effortless. In the Sub-Humans world, aircraft consumed too much energy to be commonly equipped in armies, but the Eagle Clan had a powerful air force capable of freely soaring over city walls. These Eagle Clan soldiers were skilled fliers among their people, typically armed with various beam weapons. Unrestricted by terrain in battle, they could easily breach enemy cities and deliver devastating strikes from above. It was thanks to these soldiers' exceptional performance that the Eagle Clan firmly held its position as the strongest race in the Sub-Humans world.

Amid Ying Xunlei's boasting, the Science Academy gradually came into view. At first glance, the buildings here differed greatly from those in Eagle Clan cities. While Eagle Clan city structures resembled lighthouses, the buildings here were more similar to Bear Clan architecture, mostly ground-level structures several stories high. Ying Feiyu explained to Mels that the "peculiar" architectural style was due to frequent accidents during experiments. Ground-level buildings minimized impact and reduced destructive potential in case of accidents, which was why the Eagle Clan adopted other races' architectural styles.

As soon as they entered the protective walls surrounding the Science Academy, Mels and the others truly felt the strength of its defenses. Despite Ying Feiyu and the others being princes, the guard forces showed no leniency, insisting on checking their passes and recording everyone's names before allowing them through. Thereafter, each time they passed an important area, they were checked again. By the time they reached the core of the Science Academy, Mels and the others had passed through twenty-three checkpoints, taking nearly an hour.

"We're here. Dean Kamosde is inside," Ying Feiyu said to Mels as the Float Car came to a stop and he opened the door. Along the way, Ying Feiyu had already given Mels a detailed introduction to Dean Kamosde. This elderly scholar was a once-in-a-century genius inventor for the Eagle Clan. He had been fast-tracked into the Central Research Academy at thirty-five and was now eighty-two years old. Over nearly fifty years of scientific innovation, he had created countless new technologies for the Eagle Clan and was an expert in material dynamics, advanced mechanical principles, and metal super-temperature concepts. Ying Feiyu had chosen him hoping his experience and intellect could help remove the bracelets from Mels and the others.

Led by Ying Feiyu, the group soon entered the underground laboratory. As they descended the stairs, they saw the white-haired Eagle Clan elder leading nearly a hundred students in a metal dissolution experiment.

"Teacher Kamosde, this is Mels, whom I mentioned this morning," Ying Feiyu stepped forward with a smile.

"Don't disturb me! Whoever it is, stand aside and wait!" The elder shouted, paying no heed to Ying Feiyu's status.

Ying Feiyu, seemingly accustomed to such rebuffs, could only shrug helplessly and walk back to Mels. "Brother Mels, I'm sorry. My teacher is like this—he won't help until his experiment is finished. It took a lot of effort to persuade him to let us come today. It looks like we'll have to wait a while."

"It's fine. We're in no hurry anyway. Let's wait for the elder to finish his experiment," Mels replied with a smile.

Old Scholar Kamosde's experiment was actually nearing its end. About half an hour after Mels and the others arrived, he stopped all his work and turned to Ying Feiyu. "Ah! Your Highness, why didn't you notify me of your arrival?" Kamosde exclaimed in surprise, having completely forgotten he had made Ying Feiyu wait for over half an hour.

"No choice, Teacher. You said, 'Don't disturb me! Whoever it is, stand aside and wait!' So I had to wait!" Ying Feiyu replied half-jokingly.

"Haha, my apologies. This old fool often offends Your Highness. Please forgive me," Kamosde laughed.

"It's no problem. Teacher, this is Brother Mels I told you about. The metal bracelets on his hands can't even be cut by particle blades. We're at a loss, so we came to you," Ying Feiyu smiled before getting to the point.

"Such a thing? Let me see quickly!" Excited by the prospect of such durable bracelets, Kamosde hurried over to Mels and grabbed his arm, pulling it close for inspection. However, when Mels obediently revealed the bracelet from under his sleeve, Kamosde's expression suddenly changed dramatically, and he stepped back repeatedly.

"Teacher, what's wrong? Why do you look so pale? Are you unwell?" Noticing something amiss, Ying Feiyu quickly stepped forward, grasping Kamosde's cold hands with concern.

"Your Highness, I'm fine. Please tell me, who are they exactly?" Kamosde grabbed Ying Feiyu's arm.

"Them? You mean Brother Mels? They're the saviors of us three brothers!" Ying Feiyu answered, puzzled.

"Saviors?" Kamosde fell silent for a long moment before suddenly turning to his hundred-plus students. "Stop your work, all of you! Leave now, and no one is to enter without my permission!" Hearing their teacher's command, though confused, the students dared not question it. In moments, the basement was empty except for them.

Seeing everyone had left, Kamosde suddenly approached Mels, positioning himself between the three princes and Mels. "Humans, I've seen through your identities. Now, tell me truthfully: why have you come to our Sub-Humans world? Why are you getting close to His Highness? Do you intend to enslave us Sub-Humans again?!"

Hearing Kamosde's words, Mels and the others paled, and even Ying Feiyu took a step back in shock.

"Humans? What humans? Are you talking about us, old sir? Do we look like humans?" Sol reacted swiftly. Seeing their identities exposed by this old scholar, he quickly stepped forward, hoping to divert attention with words. But Kamosde ignored him, his eyes fixed on Mels as if waiting for the truth.

After a tense stare-down, Mels suddenly reached up and pressed the mechanisms on both sides of his neck. The mask he had worn for over two months popped open with a light click, revealing Mels' handsome face.

"You're right. We are all humans. If you want to capture us, we will resist. But before you alert anyone, I want to tell you: I won't harm you, nor will I enslave Sub-Humans. We only wish to pass through the spacetime gate in the western desert of the Sub-Humans world to reach the Federation continent. There is something we must stop there," Mels said calmly to Kamosde.

"If I wanted to capture you, I wouldn't have sent my students away. But that doesn't mean I'll let you go. There's still some time. I hope you can tell me why you came to our Sub-Humans world. If your answer convinces me, not only will I not alert anyone, but I'll also help you remove the Sealing Magic Rings on your hands," Kamosde replied with equal composure.

Hearing Kamosde's words, Mels felt a glimmer of hope. Yet what truly made him willing to reveal the truth was the old scholar's clear eyes. In them, Mels saw no selfish desire or deceit, only calmness and clarity. Slowly, Mels gave a concise account of how he came to the Sub-Humans world and how he met Ying Feiyu and the others. Though he kept it brief, it still took nearly an hour and a half.

"...That's the story. Now you should understand my purpose," Mels said softly.

"To think that after completing their cruel experiments on us, the Federation humans conducted even larger-scale experiments!" Kamosde exclaimed angrily. "Strange as it sounds, you're on our side—at least you're enemies of the Federation. The things on your hands are called Sealing Magic Rings. Though I don't know who captured you or why they threw you into that abandoned prison, I believe you are not evil Federation humans. Come, let me help you remove the Sealing Magic Rings." With that, Kamosde approached Mels, his eyes no longer guarded but instead filled with a gentle, almost paternal warmth.

Mels never expected things to progress so smoothly. As a Sub-Human, Kamosde was willing to help him, a human, remove the bracelets. Yet the proof was right before him. Kamosde used no tools, merely twisting the Sealing Magic Ring in a complex sequence. In moments, with a "click," the iron ring that had been on Mels' wrist for over two months—impervious to all previous attempts—snapped open on its own.

"These Sealing Magic Rings were invented centuries ago to deal with Summoned Beast warriors from the Federation continent. Once worn, human warriors could no longer use their Summoned Beasts' power, making them a form of restraint. They've actually been lost for over a hundred years. I only discovered the manufacturing method about a decade ago and made a few samples based on records, which is how I can remove them for you," Kamosde explained casually as he moved toward Sol.

"Old sir, aren't you afraid I'll release my Summoned Beast and kill you all after removing this?" Mels asked.

"Haha, I'm already one foot in the grave. I've seen all kinds of people in my lifetime. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were a good person, so I believe you won't harm me. If I'm killed by you, it only means my judgment was poor, and I'd deserve it," Kamosde laughed in response.

"Brother Mels, I never imagined you were human! I thought the Lion-Tiger Clan had truly produced a young prodigy!" While Mels and Kamosde were talking, Ying Feiyu stepped forward, lightly placing a hand on Mels' shoulder with a smile.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry for deceiving you," Mels said apologetically, clasping his fists. "Deceive me? Did you? All I know is that my brother Mels once saved us three brothers!" Ying Feiyu turned to his two brothers behind him. At that moment, Ying Xunlei and Ying Jidian both nodded emphatically in agreement.

Hearing the words of the three Eagle Clan princes, Mels was deeply moved. Even though he knew the Eagle Clan crown prince's greatest enemy now was not humans but Five Clouds Cave, and that much of this was to win Mels over to his side, Mels still felt a warm surge of emotion in his chest.

"Young man, no need for such sentimental talk. If you have time, put your mask back on. Otherwise, the moment you step out that door, all the soldiers will attack you," Kamosde said with a smile after removing the Sealing Magic Rings from everyone.

Mels knew this wasn't the time for sentimentality. Heeding the old scholar's reminder, he immediately picked up his mask and put it on. In moments, the young Lion-Tiger Clan warrior reappeared before everyone's eyes.

"This mask is truly remarkable, showing no flaws at all. And after putting it on, even the limbs change appearance. The technological capabilities of the Federation are indeed far superior to ours!" Kamosed praised sincerely as he looked at Mels. Approaching Mels, he continued, "With your strength and the Summoned Beast, dealing with the Five Clouds Cave shouldn't be a problem. But the real danger lies after reaching the Federation. You've likely seen Federation warriors—their combat power far surpasses that of us Sub-Humans, and their technology is even more advanced.

You must never underestimate the power of technology. For instance, the cold weapons you use—frankly, even our particle swords are superior to them, let alone the Federation's standard combat equipment. Here's what I suggest: leave your weapons with me for a few weeks, and I promise to refit them into more powerful weapons. This will not only help you avoid utter defeat in future battles with the Federation but also show them that we Sub-Humans won't forever rely on the technology they left behind. We, too, can create a civilization more brilliant than theirs."

Hearing Kamosed's words, Mels and the others naturally had no objections. After setting down their weapons, Kamosed used the excuse of "avoiding gossip" to usher Mels and his companions out of his laboratory. In truth, Mels and the others knew that the old scholar was most concerned about the actual material composition of the Sealing Magic Rings. At that moment, Kamosed was likely already eagerly diving into his lab, engrossed in studying the metal used to make the rings. With the Summoned Beast's problem resolved, Mels and his group could now return to the capital with peace of mind. This time, even Ying Feiyu was filled with confidence in Mels, believing that Mels would ultimately live up to his expectations and completely destroy the Five Clouds Cave!

On the way back to the capital, Mels discussed with the others their plan to confront the Dark Guardian that night. After a brief discussion, everyone agreed that using the power of the Summoned Beast would be more effective in an uninhabited wilderness. Thus, Ying Feiyu ordered the accompanying guard unit to return to the capital, while the small group drove a Float Car toward the outskirts.

By the time they left Kamosed's place, it was already dusk. When Mels and the others reached the desert edge far from the capital, the sun had completely set. As if they were waiting for the Dark Guardian to appear, they simply lit a bonfire, gathered around it, and chatted and laughed loudly, seemingly dismissing their impending enemy.

In reality, the Dark Guardian had been lurking around Mels and the others all along. After their earlier confrontation during the day, the Dark Guardian understood that the gap between himself and Mels wasn't large, which was why he had reluctantly decided to launch his attack at night. Confidently, the Dark Guardian believed that even the Cave Master would have no certainty of withstanding his ambush in the darkness. After circling the area once to confirm that Mels and his group hadn't set up any ambushes, he swaggered into view before them.

"Heh heh, I never expected you brats to be so bold, daring to come here without a single soldier to wait for death! Did you think escaping here would make it impossible for me, the Guardian, to capture you?" the Dark Guardian said from the shadows.

Hearing his voice, Mels slowly stood up and replied with a smile, "You seem to have a bad habit of overestimating yourself and underestimating others! Who told you we escaped here? We've been waiting here specifically for you for half the day—can't you tell?"

Listening to Mels' calm and composed words, the Dark Guardian suddenly felt an ominous premonition, but he couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong. After hesitating for a moment, he gritted his teeth, pushed aside thoughts of retreat, and declared loudly, "Enough nonsense! Whether you escaped or waited, today is the day you ascend to the Western Paradise, and this is where you'll be buried!"

After hearing the Dark Guardian's words, Mels and the others not only didn't tense up but instead exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Only when the Dark Guardian's face turned ashen with anger did Mels raise his voice and say, "Dark Guardian of the Five Clouds Cave's Light and Dark Guardians, you must think the night is your domain, right? But I must tell you, no matter how glorious your past achievements, targeting us today is the biggest mistake of your life! If you don't believe me, I can conduct an experiment for you. I'll stand here without moving a step or making a single move. If you can get within three meters of me, I'll submit to whatever you wish."

"Youngster, you are far too arrogant! I'll show you whether the Five Clouds Cave is as weak as you imagine!" Fuming with rage at Mels' words, the Dark Guardian let out an angry roar, leaped into the air, and vanished into the surrounding darkness.

Watching the Sub-Human, who moved like a bat, completely merge with the night, Mels couldn't help but marvel inwardly, "Such astonishing martial skill. If I didn't have Little One's help, I'd have no chance of defeating this enemy right now." Although Mels longed to test his true abilities against the Dark Guardian, he knew he wasn't alone. If his recklessness caused harm to his companions or the three Eagle Clan princes, he would regret it for the rest of his life. Thus, Mels suppressed his combative urges and softly called out, "Little One, come forth!" Instantly, light erupted from the back of Mels' left hand, and the Flying Dragon-shaped Summoned Beast, Little One, shot out from the Summoning Gem, soaring proudly into the sky.

"Little One, your enemy is in the darkness. Find him and capture him!" Mels commanded. Without any verbal response, Little One, reading his master's thoughts, suddenly dove toward the ground, shooting like a tiger pouncing on a lamb toward a spot about twenty meters to the right and behind where Mels stood.

"A Summoned Beast? Impossible! You're human... How can you be human?" The Dark Guardian in the darkness seemed to have clearly seen Little One's appearance and cried out in shock. But Little One paid no heed to whether the enemy intended to fight; his orders were to eliminate Mels' foe, and he would do everything in his power to accomplish that.

Summoned Beasts possess perception abilities a hundred times greater than humans. Because of this, no matter where the Dark Guardian moved, Little One could catch up at an even faster speed. At this point, the Dark Guardian had no mind to deal with Mels; he only wanted to evade the shadow-like Little One as quickly as possible and find a chance to flee. However, all his efforts were in vain. If Little One hadn't only received orders to capture him, the Dark Guardian would likely have already been killed by Little One's magic projectiles.

Watching the Dark Guardian running around, no longer bothering to conceal his movements, Mels suddenly felt a strange curiosity. He called out to the Dark Guardian, "Dark Guardian, I don't want to kill you. If you're willing to answer a few questions, I'll let you go."

"Make this thing go away, and I'll answer any question!" the Dark Guardian desperately shouted at Mels.

"Little One, step back for now. Keep watch in the air, and if he dares to flee, kill him immediately!" Mels instructed.

Seeing that Little One was no longer pursuing him, the Dark Guardian finally caught his breath, walked dejectedly up to Mels, and said resentfully, "Human, what do you want to ask?"

"I don't want to harm you, nor do I want to pry into your secrets. I just want to ask: you should be among the strongest Sub-Humans resisting Federation warrior invasions. Why do you seem so afraid of Summoned Beasts? Based on your current behavior, it's hard for me to imagine how Sub-Humans have managed to withstand repeated Federation attacks." Mels fixed his gaze on the Dark Guardian as he spoke.

"Haha, that's a reason you Federation people will never know! Although I'm not the strongest Sub-Human, I have the honor of a Sub-Human. No matter what conditions you offer, I will never tell you!" the Dark Guardian laughed maniacally.

Seeing the Dark Guardian's arrogant attitude, Mels frowned slightly, then asked again, "Fine, since you're unwilling to answer that question, then answer my final one: where exactly is the headquarters of your Five Clouds Cave?"

"Tsk! Pitiful human, though you possess great strength, you're nothing but a brainless fool. Pah! You want to know the Five Clouds Cave's headquarters to annihilate us? Don't worry, I'll never be like the shameless Eagle Clan and side with you despicable humans! Life may be precious, but death isn't terrifying. Human! Let me tell you one last thing: you will never enslave us Sub-Humans again! Even if only one of us remains, we will resist to the end!" After saying this, the Dark Guardian suddenly drew his short sword and, before anyone could react, plunged it into his own forehead.

Watching the Dark Guardian collapse with a thud, Mels felt a sharp pang in his heart. He truly hadn't intended to kill the Dark Guardian, but he never expected this assassin who lived in darkness to possess such unyielding resolve.

"Lord Dark Guardian, you truly are a protector of the Sub-Human world. May your soul ascend to paradise." Just as Mels remained silent, Ying Feiyu stepped forward, closed the Dark Guardian's eyes, and spoke softly.

"Your Highness, why did he kill himself in such a strange way, stabbing the sword into his own forehead?" Sol asked curiously.

"It's a tradition passed down by Sub-Human warriors for thousands of years. Federation humans have many strange instruments, one of which can extract all memories from a deceased person's brain even after death. To prevent their secrets from being exposed, all warriors who fall in battle against humans use their weapons to pierce their own skulls, avoiding having their memories stolen." Ying Feiyu explained quietly to Sol, his face filled with pain as he looked at the Dark Guardian. After hearing Ying Feiyu's words, everyone understood the purpose behind the Dark Guardian's peculiar suicide method and couldn't help but admire the bravery and fearlessness of Sub-Human warriors during the ancient wars against humans.

With the Dark Guardian dead, Mels and the others could no longer obtain any information from him. With everyone's help, the Dark Guardian's body was loaded onto the Float Car, and Ying Feiyu decided to bury him with the honors of a noble warrior. However, with the Dark Guardian gone, their hope of reaching the Five Clouds Cave was completely shattered. Mels and his companions could only wait quietly for the next assassin who might appear at any moment, hoping to find another opportunity to discover the true location of the Five Clouds Cave.

Days passed. On the fifth day after returning to the capital, as Mels and the others sat idly in the guesthouse chatting, Ying Xunlei suddenly rushed in excitedly. The moment he saw Mels, he shouted, "Brother Mels, we found it! We found it!"

"Found it? Found what?" Mels stood up, puzzled.

"Whew..." After catching his breath and calming down, Ying Xunlei wiped the sweat from his brow and said excitedly to Mels, "Didn't you always want to find the space-time gate to the Federation continent? Today, the aerial unit brought back news—they found it!" Hearing Ying Xunlei's words, Mels and the others immediately cheered loudly. After long efforts and repeated dangers, the gate to the Federation continent had finally opened for them. Yet, what dangers awaited them on the Federation continent? Could Mels successfully pass through the space-time gate to reach the Federation? Only fate would ultimately decide.