Chapter 62: Prepare for Dimensional Shift...

Feng Lin took a deep breath, feeling the surge of new power coursing through his body. His Qi flowed smoothly, stronger than ever before, and his Chaos Core pulsed with renewed energy. The system's presence felt more integrated, its notifications less intrusive yet ever-present in his mind.

Yan Mei and Zhen watched him with quiet curiosity. They didn't need to ask; they could sense that something had changed.

"Feeling stronger?" Zhen asked with a grin, though there was a flicker of something else behind his eyes—maybe envy, maybe concern.

Feng Lin nodded, keeping his answer short. "Let's just say we're ready for what's coming next."

Yan Mei shot him a knowing glance. She was perceptive and had likely noticed the shifts in his strength, but she didn't press him for details. Instead, she turned her attention back to the ruins, her eyes scanning the dim chamber. "If this relic was here, there could be more. Should we explore further?"

Feng Lin considered it for a moment. The system hadn't indicated any other objectives within these ruins, and his instinct told him that their real journey lay elsewhere.

"We've found what we came for," he said, his voice steady. "It's time to move on."

Zhen didn't argue. "Fine by me. This place gives me the creeps anyway."

As they made their way back up the staircase and into the open air, the sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. The town bustled in the distance, but here, at the edge of the woods, it felt as if they were in a different world entirely.

Feng Lin felt the system stirring once more, flashing another notification.

[System Notification: New Quest Available – Investigate the Nexus of Realms.]

[Quest Details: The Nexus of Realms is a point of convergence where different worlds intersect. Investigate the nearby dimensional distortion to uncover potential connections to other realms.]

Feng Lin's brow furrowed. A Nexus of Realms? That sounded far more significant than anything they had encountered so far. It was becoming clear that their journey was about to take an even more unpredictable turn.

"We need to head south," he said, already making mental calculations. "There's something important we need to check out—just beyond this town."

Yan Mei looked at him quizzically. "What's there?"

Feng Lin chose his words carefully. "A place where worlds connect. I have a feeling we'll find answers there."

Zhen raised an eyebrow. "Worlds connecting? Sounds like we're diving into something big."

Feng Lin nodded. "Bigger than we've ever imagined."

As they left the town behind, the terrain changed from rolling hills to dense forests, the air becoming thick with the scent of earth and wild vegetation. The path they followed wasn't marked, but Feng Lin led with quiet certainty, guided by the system's constant prompts.

Along the way, they passed small, hidden towns—each seemingly isolated from the rest of the world, existing in their own quiet pockets of time. The people here were different, some barely acknowledged their presence, while others regarded them with cautious curiosity.

Feng Lin made sure they didn't linger. The pull of the Nexus of Realms was growing stronger, and the system's urgency was impossible to ignore.

Finally, after several days of travel, they arrived at the edge of a vast, shimmering lake. The water sparkled with an unnatural glow as if touched by the light of distant stars. Above the lake, the sky seemed to ripple, faint distortions appearing in the air—like fractures in the fabric of reality itself.

"This is it," Feng Lin said, stopping at the water's edge. "The Nexus of Realms."

Yan Mei's eyes widened as she gazed at the rippling distortions. "I've never seen anything like this."

Zhen frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his spear. "This is… dangerous. Whatever's causing that distortion can't be natural."

Feng Lin agreed. The energy here was different—chaotic, but in a way that felt familiar. His Chaos Core resonated faintly with the distortions as if it recognized the power at work.

[System Notification: Nexus Detected. Potential Connections to a new World Identified.]

The system flashed another notification, this one more urgent.

[New World Detected: Aralun – Tier 2 World of Magic and Steel. Do you wish to proceed?]

Feng Lin's heart raced. A Tier 2 world? That was far beyond anything they had encountered so far. The potential for growth, knowledge, and power was immense, but the risks would be equally great.

He turned to Yan Mei and Zhen. "There's a world beyond this distortion. A place of magic and steel, where we might find answers—or even more questions."

Zhen's grip tightened on his spear. "You want to go through? What if we can't come back?"

Feng Lin remained calm. "We have a choice. We can stay here and continue on our current path, or we can take the risk and step into something far greater."

Yan Mei looked between the two of them, her expression thoughtful. "We've come this far. If there's something beyond this Nexus that can help us, we should take the chance."

Zhen hesitated, but after a moment, he sighed. "I knew you'd say that. Fine, I'm in. Let's see what this world has to offer."

Feng Lin nodded, feeling a sense of resolution settle over him. Together, they approached the distortion, the air crackling with energy as they neared the edge of the Nexus.

[System Notification: Prepare for Dimensional Shift…]

With one final glance at each other, they stepped through the distortion,