On the night he chose to leave, Adam stood before the ancient, moss-covered archway at the northernmost edge of the Great Void Sect: the Boundary Portal.
This spatial array had sat dormant for over three centuries. It was the gateway between the Southern Continent and the vast, resource-rich Central Imperial Dynasties.
The Sect Master of the Great Void Sect, in flowing purple robes, stood ten paces behind Adam with three trembling Grand Elders. He bowed deeply.
"Elder Hale," the Sect Master said, his tone full of awe. "The Southern Continent is too small to hold a dragon like you. The Boundary Portal has been aligned with the coordinates of the Central Imperial Capital. May your journey bring glory to the Ghost-Sword lineage."
Adam didn’t turn back. He reached into his sleeve and tossed a small storage pouch toward the Sect Master.
"Inside are fifty Supreme-Grade Foundation-Building Pills and the operational blueprints for the Void-Star Pavilion branch on Ghost-Sword Peak," Adam said calmly, his voice carrying over the wind. "Maintain the branch and collect the profits. When I return, I expect the Southern Continent’s economy to be fully integrated into my network."
The Sect Master caught the pouch, his eyes wide with shock and gratitude. "We shall guard the Void-Star Pavilion with our lives!"
As the midnight bell tolled across the sect, a chime sounded in his soul.
[Notice: Daily Sign-In refreshed!]
’Not here,’ Adam thought. ’A sect archway is no landmark. I’ll save it for the first place worth the reward.’
Adam stepped forward and pressed the Void-Traversing Token into the central pillar of the archway.
HUMMMMMM—!
A column of azure spatial light erupted into the sky, tearing a spinning void rift open within the archway. Violent spatial gales howled through the clearing, but Adam stood unmoved, his blue robes fluttering gently against the pressure.
He looked straight into the rift, a cold, calculating glint in his dark eyes.
’New continent. Bigger clans. Far richer resource nodes.’
He stepped into the azure light, and the portal closed behind him.
[END OF ARC 1: SOUTHERN CONTINENT SUPREMACY]