Chapter 6: A Century

Before the Ghost Mask was revealed to the world, it was always kept locked away in the Nameless Tower within the Celestial Fox Clan’s imperial palace. The tower was shrouded in layers of protective barriers, each cast by successive generations of the clan’s masters; stacked together, they formed a formidable web that only the clan’s designated heir could penetrate.

Bai Lian’s seclusion for cultivation could not be delayed. Soon, the news of the Celestial Fox Clan’s new Crown Prince would spread throughout the Five Realms. With this in mind, the Fox Emperor set out for the Nameless Tower himself. He had visited the tower once as a child with his father, but the experience felt entirely different now that he traveled alone.

The barrier web surrounding the tower had no effect on him. Despite having been long neglected, the tower remained free of dust, as clean and orderly as if it had just been built. Pushing open the heavy doors, he found the interior equally pristine. Contrary to the baseless rumors outside—which claimed the tower was a vault for the clan’s most precious treasures—the truth was far simpler: the structure existed solely to house a single mask.

The interior of the Nameless Tower was vastly different from its exterior. While the outside appeared to have many levels, the interior was actually a single, hollow space. Within this space, there was nothing but a pedestal used to display the Ghost Mask.

Relying on his faint childhood memories, the Fox Emperor walked to the pedestal and knelt. He reached beneath one of the legs and pulled out an ancient, yellowed volume, its pages stained with watermarks and worn by untold ages. He could not help but sigh; his ancestors were truly eccentric, using such a precious relic to level a wobbling table.

After retrieving the book, the Fox Emperor carefully read through it. The text stated that the "small world" within the Ghost Mask could only be opened twice. Time within this pocket dimension flowed a hundred times slower than in the outside world; once opened, five years would pass in reality before the realm could be accessed again. This meant that once Bai Lian entered to cultivate, he would be trapped there for five hundred years, even though only five years would have elapsed outside.

Having finished the manual, the Fox Emperor’s brow furrowed, and he found it difficult to smooth the lines of concern. Even for him, enduring such long-term isolation would be a monumental task, let alone for his young son. The book also noted that all living things within the small world grew at a normal pace.

As the Crown Prince, Bai Lian would return after five years with the wisdom and growth of five centuries. The Fox Emperor was torn; he saw the immense benefits but found it hard to part with his son. The Celestial Fox Clan, one of the great powers of the Celestial Realm, had always valued harmony above all else. Yet, this harmony was predicated on the clan’s strength. Only with power could one afford to speak of peace. Currently, the situation was volatile, and the forces of the Demon Realm were restless. He could not afford any errors. As the Emperor, he had to prioritize the clan and make the correct decision.

With a silent sigh, he accepted his fate. He put down the book and left, arriving in an instant at Bai Lian’s chambers. When he entered, he found his son staring blankly out the window.

Before the Emperor could speak, Bai Lian turned his head and offered a faint smile. "Has Father found the way to enter the small world?"

The Emperor was puzzled. He had only discussed this matter privately with the Elders and had not made the news public. How did his son know?

Bai Lian seemed to perceive his father’s confusion and said calmly, "I overheard it by chance when I went to look for you, Father. Do you understand the method now?"

Recalling the purpose of his visit, the Emperor told Bai Lian everything he had read in the ancient book, leaving the choice to him—though he knew the outcome was already set.

Upon hearing the details, Bai Lian’s expression shifted in a way that felt unnatural. He lowered his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips, and a strange light flashed in his gaze. For a fleeting moment, the Emperor thought he saw the Ghost Mask resting on his son’s face. But as he blinked, the illusion vanished, and he heard Bai Lian say softly, "Father, I am willing. It is only five years in the outside world; I can endure it."

The Fox Emperor was stunned into silence. It took him a long moment to recover, his eyes rimmed with red. He stepped forward, patted Bai Lian’s shoulder three times, and whispered, "Good."

The Emperor had already laid out the pros and cons—including the five-hundred-year duration within the small world and the unpredictability of a realm no one had ever entered. He had never expected his somewhat timid youngest son to make such a decision.

The date for the small world to open was only a few days away. Given the urgency, the Emperor finished giving his instructions and went to discuss the final details with the Elders; as the new Crown Prince, they had to ensure Bai Lian’s safety by any means necessary.

"Did you see that? Your father doesn't care for you as much as you think," a voice materialized out of thin air the moment the Emperor departed.

The voice was high-pitched and childish. Bai Lian, no longer looking his usual self, seemed accustomed to the presence. He said coldly, "It is not your place to interfere in my affairs. You are merely a spirit of the mask, nothing more than my subordinate."

It turned out the voice belonged to the spirit of the Ghost Mask. Having spent ages in the spirit-rich environment of the Celestial Fox Clan, the mask had developed a consciousness. Since it had recognized Bai Lian as its master, the mask-spirit was indeed his subordinate.

"Hmph, it is what it is," the spirit replied, sounding unbothered and somewhat smug. "The door to the small world opens in a few days. What do you plan to do? This is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. Besides, with me by your side, I can ensure you move through that world unimpeded and return unscathed."

Bai Lian ignored the posturing and asked, "Tell me, what is actually inside that small world?"

The spirit pondered for a moment before explaining, "Everything in this universe has two sides: Yin and Yang. If this world is Yang, that small world is Yin. Everything you see there is a mixture of truth and illusion. Do not trust anyone—you can only trust yourself. If you want to become stronger, it isn't just about empty words. In the small world, you cannot act recklessly. You must listen to me."

Whether Bai Lian took the advice to heart or not was unclear; he simply turned back to the window and resumed his blank stare.

***

A few days passed in the blink of an eye. The day the small world opened finally arrived.

The opening was scheduled for the exact moment when night transitioned into day. The Fox Emperor and several Elders accompanied Bai Lian to the Nameless Tower to wait.

As the time neared, the Emperor stepped forward and handed Bai Lian a set of seeds and a storage ring. "These are spirit seeds the Demon Emperor helped me acquire. Plant them carefully in the small world; the spirits they manifest will keep you safe. And in this storage ring, your mother has prepared everything you might need."

Bai Lian gripped the seeds and the ring, looking up with a smile. "I will remember, Father."

The air began to churn. A black vortex, wreathed in flickering bolts of lightning, slowly manifested in mid-air. Bai Lian’s feet lifted off the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he was pulled into the vortex. It vanished instantly, leaving no trace behind, as if nothing had ever happened.

The Fox Emperor gazed with lingering worry at the spot where his son had disappeared. *May everything go smoothly for you, Lian'er.*

Inside the small world, Bai Lian stood stunned, staring at the familiar architecture before him. "Little Bai, this is the small world. Do not let your guard down," the childish voice warned.

Bai Lian remained motionless. Who could explain why this small world contained a place identical to the Celestial Fox Clan’s domain?

Before him stood the Nameless Tower—the very place he had just departed.

Suddenly, the doors of the tower were pushed open with a loud *bang*. The person who emerged was none other than the "Fox Emperor." He exclaimed with overwhelming joy, "Lian'er! You’ve finally returned! Your father has waited so long for you!"