Shen Rou glanced down at her meticulous notes, then back up at Lin Yi, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes as her hypothesis solidified.

"That explains the significant delay in your return. The official event concluded, and all other participants, by all accounts, returned almost immediately. Your later reappearance is thus accounted for by your entrapment in a separate, time-layered space." She paused, allowing the implication to sink in. "Which, logically, also means your actual event duration, the time you experienced, was considerably longer and more intense than everyone else’s." It was a quiet acknowledgment of the extraordinary ordeal he had faced.

"Yes," Lin Yi agreed, offering no further elaboration.

Wang Hao, who had been staring intently at the surface of the table, his mind still reeling from the narrative, slowly raised his head. His eyes, now clear and focused, fixed on Lin Yi with an uncanny perception.

"You intend to go there," he stated, not as a question, but as a deep, unwavering understanding of Lin Yi’s trajectory.

Lin Yi met his gaze directly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

"To that planet," Wang Hao clarified, his voice quiet but firm, "the one with the gate you spoke of. The true world beyond this one."

"That’s indeed correct," Lin Yi confirmed, his path clear and unyielding.

"The Middle Domain," Wang Hao murmured, articulating the name of the place that represented the next, infinitely grander stage of existence, a realm whispered about in legends.

"A world beyond this plane of existence, where strength as we know it, is entirely redefined," Lin Yi said.

Wang Hao stared at him for a long, contemplative moment, absorbing the full weight of Lin Yi’s decision, the inevitability of his ascent. Then, almost imperceptibly, he asked quietly, the question tinged with a blend of longing and apprehension,

"When?"

"Soon," Lin Yi replied, his eyes reflecting a quiet resolve. "After I finish what needs to be done here, tie up loose ends, and prepare for such a momentous journey."

Wang Hao nodded slowly, a deep understanding dawning upon him. Then, in an entirely separate, almost involuntary motion, he shook his head, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor running through him.

"If there is any way for me to follow you," he said, his voice gaining strength, infused with an unshakeable conviction, "I want to go. I truly do, Lin Yi." He met Lin Yi’s eyes directly, his gaze burning with an earnest, unwavering desire. "I’ve been right there, watching every single step you’ve taken since the very day we awakened. Every level you gained, every impossible battle you fought, every miraculous, impossible thing you’ve accomplished." He inhaled deeply, gathering his resolve. "I want to see where your road ends, Lin Yi. I want to bear witness to your ultimate destiny."

He paused, a flicker of profound realization crossing his face, correcting his own words with a newfound clarity.

"No. Not ends."

"Where it rises. Where it truly ascends beyond anything we can currently imagine." His voice was filled with an almost spiritual reverence, a deep-seated belief in Lin Yi’s boundless potential.

Lin Yi looked at him silently, his expression unreadable, acknowledging the sincere depth of his friend’s loyalty and aspiration. He understood Wang Hao’s heart, his fierce devotion. Yet, he was also keenly aware of the stark, undeniable reality of their current positions. Wang Hao was currently level 26. The monumental distance from level 26 to the dizzying heights of level 250, the kind of power needed to even survive the periphery of what Lin Yi had just described, was not a gap that could be crossed through mere determination or spirit alone. It required an immense accumulation of power, a profound transformation that rarely happened in the span of a single lifetime.

With a soft rustle, Lin Yi reached into his inventory, his hand disappearing for a moment before reappearing, holding a small, elegantly crafted flask. He placed it gently on the table between them. The flask, made of polished, dark wood with intricate silver inlays, seemed to hum with a subtle, latent energy.

Wang Hao blinked, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked at the mysterious object.

"What is that?" he asked, his voice hushed with curiosity.

"It’s called the Brew of a Thousand Steps," Lin Yi explained, his voice even. "It’s specifically designed for those who are below level 200. When consumed, it instantly grants one hundred levels."

Wang Hao froze, his eyes fixed on the flask as if it might at any moment erupt into a blinding flash of light. The concept was almost beyond comprehension.

"One hundred?" he whispered, his voice incredulous, barely daring to believe such a thing was possible.

"Instantly," Lin Yi confirmed, emphasizing the immediacy of its effects.

Wang Hao stared at the flask, his mind struggling to process the implications. He looked at it as though it might not be a mere liquid, but a volatile, explosive substance, capable of ripping apart the very fabric of his understanding. The idea of such an instantaneous, massive leap in power was utterly alien to his experience of grinding levels and painstakingly slow growth.

"You drink it," Lin Yi continued, patiently elaborating, "and you will become level 126. But it’s crucial to understand: these levels are not experience points in the traditional sense. You will gain the raw attributes, the sheer power that comes with those levels, but not the accumulated mastery, the ingrained skills, or the deep understanding that comes from earning each of those levels through arduous combat and dedicated practice." He wanted to make sure Wang Hao understood the profound distinction between raw power and true skill, a lesson he himself had learned so brutally.

Wang Hao swallowed hard, his throat dry. The sheer magnitude of the gift, the transformation it promised, was almost overwhelming.

"One hundred levels..." he muttered again, the words tasting foreign on his tongue.

"Instantly," Lin Yi repeated, his gaze unwavering, reinforcing the incredible truth.

Then, with an air of deliberate generosity, Lin Yi began to place item after item onto the table, each one gleaming faintly, exuding an aura of immense power and rarity.

First, a Legendary grade sword, its blade glinting with an otherworldly sharpness, promising untold damage. Next, a complete Legendary grade armor set, pieces of gleaming metal that seemed to hum with defensive enchantments.

Following these, three Epic Skill Cores, each pulsating with arcane energy, clearly suited for the rapid growth of a Scout-class individual, specifically chosen to augment Wang Hao’s known path.

A Legendary defense ring, intricately crafted, its gem shimmering with protective magic, appeared next. Finally, two recovery treasures, glowing with a soft, restorative light, items so rare and potent that they were simply unavailable anywhere within the entire realm of Jianghe, true relics of a higher world.

The growing pile of artifacts cast a luminous glow across the tabletop, a display of wealth and power that would make kings envious.

Wang Hao’s eyes traveled from the rapidly accumulating pile of unimaginable treasures to Lin Yi, then back to the items, his mind struggling to quantify the sheer value, the profound generosity. He was speechless, utterly overwhelmed.