Chapter 32: Guardian of the Ancient Archive

A mysterious pressure filled the air.

The voice echoed again—deep, ancient, and filled with authority.

> "Who dares disturb the knowledge of the ancients?"

Li Jun remained calm, his All-Knowing Eye activating to scan the surroundings.

A phantom figure materialized in front of him.

It was a towering, ethereal beast, shaped like a lion but with four glowing eyes and golden markings across its translucent body.

[Archive Guardian – Spirit of the Lost Era]

✔ Protects the Ancient Beast Archive.

✔ Tests those who seek forbidden knowledge.

✔ Only allows the worthy to leave with its secrets.

Li Jun's eyes narrowed.

"A spirit guardian…"

The beast's gaze locked onto him, scanning his soul.

> "You seek the truth of the Lost Era. But only those who prove their worth may inherit it."

The Trial Begins

BOOM!

The guardian lunged forward, its claws shimmering with golden energy.

Li Jun reacted instantly.

"Lunar Sovereign Wolf—Void Step!"

His beast vanished, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth.

WHOOSH!

But the spirit beast didn't stop.

It roared, sending out a wave of mental energy that struck Li Jun's consciousness directly.

For a split second, his mind went blank.

Then—memories surged forward.

His past life. His battles. His sacrifice.

> "You cannot escape your past."

The voice rumbled within his mind.

Li Jun gritted his teeth.

"Then I'll surpass it."

Breaking Through the Illusion

Activating his All-Knowing Eye, he pierced through the mental attack, shattering the illusion.

CRACK!

The energy wave dispersed, and the guardian staggered back in surprise.

"You… broke free?"

Li Jun stepped forward, his aura rising.

"I don't need to prove my worth to a test of the past. I will carve my own path."

The guardian's four eyes glowed, then—

It smiled.

> "Very well. You have passed."

The pressure vanished.

The spirit beast's form began to fade, but before it disappeared, it spoke one last time.

> "The truth you seek is buried deeper than you think. The world is not as it seems."

With that, the guardian vanished completely, leaving only the scroll in Li Jun's hands.

The Hidden Warning

Li Jun looked down at the ancient text, his mind racing.

If the guardian acknowledged him…

Then this knowledge must be real.

But what did it mean by the world is not as it seems?

His grip tightened.

I need to get stronger. Fast.

Whatever was hidden in the past—

It was still influencing the present.