The Ancient Ruins, by the lakeside at night.
The black-haired youth yawned, happily gnawing on a freshly fried, golden egg. Beside the fire, a black pot bubbled with monster bone soup, filling the air with fragrance.
"Mmm—this is the taste of life."
He paid no attention to the group of outside cultivators kneeling in the distance all night, their faces filled with devotion and fanaticism.
…
Meanwhile, the entire dungeon space began to tremble.
Boom—
Cracks spread across the sky, as though giant hands were tearing open a curtain, and light from the outside seeped in. Mountains crumbled, the lake shook, and the dungeon itself resonated with the mortal world.
The outsiders cried out: "The dungeon is merging with the human world!"
"This means… the master is descending!"
Their hearts burned feverishly, as if they were witnessing an apocalyptic miracle.
…
The black-haired youth, however, nearly dropped his egg as the shaking knocked his bowl askew.
"Damn! An earthquake?!"
He rushed out of the hut, looked up, and saw the sky's rift linking to the world outside. The wind howled, carrying the sounds of mountains and rivers beyond.
Blinking, he muttered, "Weird… isn't that the direction of the market I peeked at when I was a kid? Don't tell me the dungeon's connecting to the market?"
Thinking of candied hawthorns, flatbread, and skewers outside, his eyes lit up with excitement.
"Perfect! I've been cooped up here for years. Time to go out for a stroll today!"
So he slung a small bamboo basket over his back, packed with roasted fish and a big egg, intending to "trade for candied hawthorns."
…
At that moment, the dungeon gate fully opened, a road of light piercing heaven and earth!
Boom—
Countless cultivators raised their eyes, blazing with fervor.
"He's coming! The dungeon master descends to the mortal world!"
"Prepare to receive him!"
"This is heaven's revelation—the descent of the ancient god!"
The earth quaked, ethereal bells rang through the void, and countless sect elders led grand formations on either side of the light path, bowing reverently.
"Welcome the dungeon master's descent into the mortal world!"
…
On the other side of the light, the black-haired youth strolled out with his bamboo basket, humming casually.
Sunlight bathed his youthful face, and he greeted cheerfully:
"Hi, everyone! I'm just out for a walk."
…
For a heartbeat, the world froze.
Then, a roar like mountains collapsing and seas surging shook the heavens.
"Welcome the ancient god's descent!"
"Welcome the master of heaven and Dao!"
"Welcome the dungeon master!"
Boom— Countless cultivators fell to their knees, mountains and rivers trembling as if all life bowed in worship!
The youth stood stunned, almost dropping his basket.
"What the hell… what are you doing? I just came out to buy candied hawthorns!"
…
An elder with a white beard wept, shouting, "Look! In his hand—he carries the Egg of the Ancient God!"
—In truth, it was simply the egg he wanted to trade for hawthorns.
Another cried out in terror, "And the meat in his basket… that's Thunder Abyss Fish! A beast that could annihilate saints—roasted and tossed in his basket!"
"This is a miracle! He brings the ancient god's food to bestow upon the world!"
Boom— The heavens and earth erupted in frenzy.
…
The youth stood bewildered in the middle of the light path, muttering:
"Don't tell me… they all want to snatch my egg? No way, I need it for hawthorns!"
Clutching the basket protectively, he edged forward carefully: "Excuse me, excuse me, I'm just going to buy something."
…
But in the eyes of the crowd, it was something else entirely.
"Heavens… he's walking into the mortal dust! He will grant his divine relic to a chosen one!"
"Whoever receives his offering must be the child of destiny!"
"This is the 'Descent into the Mortal World' of the ancient god!"
At once, countless prodigies trembled with red eyes, rushing forward—
Only to be blasted back, coughing blood, by an unseen force before they could approach.
"Ahh—! With a mere thought, he repels the masses!"
"What kind of power is this?!"
…
The black-haired youth rolled his eyes. "Are you crazy? I just said excuse me—why throw yourselves at me?"
Quickly stepping down the light path, squeezing past the crowd, he muttered, "Ah, the air out here really is fresher than in the dungeon."
Behind him, however, billions of cultivators wept hysterically, prostrating in madness.
"The ancient god has truly descended!"
"This is heaven's proclamation—this is a new era!"
The entire continent fell into frenzy.
…
And the black-haired youth wandered toward the distant market with his bamboo basket, one thought in his mind:
"Hope the candied hawthorns haven't gone up in price."