chapter 13: the first pillar - timebound realm

The moment Zhen Wu set foot into the vast, unknown space, a shift occurred. He could feel it—time itself was no longer a simple, linear flow. It was a chaotic tangle, a spiraling force that resisted all attempts at comprehension. The very air around him seemed to pulse with the power of forgotten moments, memories unmade, and futures yet to be written.

The Timebound Realm was not just a place—it was an experience. It was the very concept of time made tangible, a domain where moments folded upon themselves, and the past, present, and future collided in an eternal dance of uncertainty.

Zhen Wu's senses, now sharpened beyond human comprehension, were flooded with the swirling energy of this realm. He could feel his consciousness stretching, expanding, trying to grasp the true nature of the time-bending force that surrounded him. It was an overwhelming sensation, like trying to hold onto a waterfall while standing at its base, but he welcomed it. This was the challenge he sought—the trial that would test him in ways beyond his previous understanding.

With a deep breath, Zhen Wu focused his will. He reached out into the swirling chaos of time, seeking the Pillar of Eternity, the key to unlocking the next stage of his journey. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and his hand reached forward, fingers trembling with anticipation.

The Pillar of Eternity was a force unlike anything he had encountered. It was not a physical object, but an entity, a living manifestation of time itself. It resonated with the very core of his being, answering his call, and yet, it was elusive, hiding itself deep within the folds of time.

He stepped forward, his every movement an effort to cut through the layers of temporal distortion that surrounded him. As he walked, he began to see glimpses—shifting images that flashed before his eyes, like reflections in a cracked mirror. Some were moments from his past—his first steps into cultivation, his awakening as the Supreme Dao. Others were future possibilities, paths that could unfold depending on the choices he made in the coming moments.

Zhen Wu was no stranger to these visions. He had seen the future before, but never like this. These were not mere possibilities; they were the fabric of time itself, alive and changing before his eyes. In one fleeting instant, he saw himself standing at the apex of creation, his hands shaping entire worlds. In another, he saw the universe collapsing, consumed by darkness, his power failing to stop the inevitable.

The visions were endless, overwhelming, and yet, Zhen Wu remained calm. He had faced countless challenges, but none like this. The pull of time was insistent, trying to draw him into its web. But Zhen Wu understood now—the key to passing this trial was not to fight against time, but to understand it, to embrace its fluidity and its complexity.

And so, Zhen Wu closed his eyes, letting go of all resistance. He allowed the visions to wash over him, not as distractions but as lessons. Each moment, whether from the past or future, held a truth. Each fragment of time was a piece of the puzzle that made up his existence. His power was not only about control—it was about understanding, about finding harmony with the flow of time.

Slowly, the swirling chaos began to settle, and before him, a figure emerged. It was a reflection of himself, but not the person he was now. This was a younger version of Zhen Wu, a man who had not yet ascended to his current state, a man still full of uncertainty and doubt.

"Who are you?" Zhen Wu asked, his voice resonating with the weight of eternity itself.

The figure did not respond immediately. Instead, it simply stood there, staring at him with eyes full of sorrow and longing. Zhen Wu could feel the pain in that gaze, the silent cry for something lost, for something that had never been understood.

"I am... a part of you," the figure finally spoke, its voice distant and hollow. "I am the past that you have left behind, the person you were before you embraced your destiny. You must remember me, Zhen Wu, if you wish to move forward."

Zhen Wu frowned. "What do you mean? I have already surpassed the past. I have transcended it."

The figure shook its head. "No, you have only moved beyond it physically, but you have not truly understood it. You cannot embrace the future without accepting the past. The Pillar of Eternity is not merely a tool—it is a reflection of your own soul, of everything you have been and everything you can become. If you cannot reconcile with this past version of yourself, you will never truly understand the flow of time."

Zhen Wu stood silent, contemplating the figure's words. He had long thought of the past as something to be left behind, something to transcend. But now, he realized the truth. Time was not just a line to be crossed; it was a circle, a cycle. His past, his present, and his future were all intertwined. He could not separate himself from any part of it.

The younger version of Zhen Wu stepped forward, extending a hand, not in threat, but in invitation. "You cannot become the future without understanding who you were. Only by embracing all that you are can you claim the Pillar of Eternity."

For a long moment, Zhen Wu stood there, the weight of the figure's words sinking in. Then, with a slow but resolute movement, he reached out and took the hand. As his fingers brushed against the figure's, the world around him shattered, and for a brief moment, Zhen Wu felt as if he were falling through time itself—past, present, and future collapsing into one.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing before the Pillar of Eternity. It was no longer hidden, no longer elusive. The swirling mass of time had calmed, and in front of him stood a radiant column of light, an embodiment of every moment that had ever existed and would ever exist. Its energy thrummed with the power of countless ages, and Zhen Wu knew that it was now his to claim.

With a calm and steady hand, Zhen Wu reached forward and touched the pillar. In that instant, his mind was flooded with knowledge—ancient secrets of time, the true nature of the Dao, and the limitless possibilities that lay ahead. The future, the past, and the present were no longer separate. They were one.

The Pillar of Eternity had recognized him, and in doing so, had granted him its power. Zhen Wu felt his strength grow exponentially, as if he had become a part of time itself. The mysteries of the universe, the ebb and flow of all things, were now within his grasp.

But even as he claimed his victory, Zhen Wu knew that this was only the beginning. The Dao was infinite, and there were still three more Pillars to find, three more challenges to face. But for the first time, he felt no fear, no doubt. He was the Supreme Dao—Zhen Wu—and nothing could stand in his way.

---

End of Chapter 13