Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Edited by Aelryinth
Once Zhang Che returned to the Huang family’s ancestral home, Huang Juyun asked him a shocking question. “I want you to represent our Huang family and take part in this opening of the secret plane. Are you willing to?”
-Secret plane? What is that?
-To have me represent the Huang family, does that mean there’s a limit to the number of participants?-
Zhang Che was filled with questions, not knowing how to answer.
“I know you have many questions. Don’t be anxious. I’ll slowly explain it to you,” Huang Juyun smiled, and started explaining to him what this so-called secret plane was.
The secret plane gateway was extremely similar to the spatial gateways that led to the beast world.
The spatial gateway was a stable blue gateway, forever remaining in place after it appeared. It wasn’t damaged no matter what attacks were used on it.
The secret plane’s gateway, on the other hand, was a ball of light a few dozen meters in diameter. Its color varied. Although it was immune to any attacks from Mercury as well, it would automatically disappear for a period of time after it appeared.
Not only that, spatial gateways usually appeared close to human habitats, while the secret plane’s gateway usually appeared in the wilderness, with almost no human activity around. It might even appear at extreme environments like the two poles, or even floating above the boundless ocean.
The first secret plane gateway discovered on Mercury was during the third year of the new age. After successfully fending off the beast swarm, and the spatial storm had thoroughly calmed down, it was detected by a newly launched satellite.
What was in the world beyond the secret planes like had always been kept as an utmost secret. Only a very small minority knew about it.
Those who entered the secret plane had also never revealed any information to the outside world.
There was no fixed pattern of time or location for the appearances of the secret plane’s gateway. Every time it appeared, it would bring about a fight between the entire globe’s large influences, be it openly or covertly.
With the threat of the once-a-decade beast swarm looming over the heads of everyone in Mercury like the Sword of Damocles, in the end, the governing parties all over the globe had come to a consensus: the beastmasters could fight however they wanted after entering the secret plane. However, before entering the secret plane, no one was allowed to get into any conflicts.
Furthermore, for some unknown reason, the beastmasters who could enter the secret plane were limited to mid-tier at best. Those who had reached high-tier were rejected by the secret plane’s gateway, and unable to enter it.
As such, there was no need for them to fight over this, and waste their high-end combat forces for no good reason.
As for who could enter and who couldn’t? That was a problem they would never find a resolution to.
After discussions between the various administrative districts, they concluded that since the secret plane gateways appeared in extremely rural areas every time, beastmasters who wished to participate in it could go slaughter their way in themselves.
With the gateway at the center, in an area a thousand kilometers in radius, the beastmasters selected by the various influences would slaughter their way in with their own abilities. If they didn’t dare to, then they could only watch as others entered the secret plane, never knowing what benefits lay within.
There was no such thing as everyone working together to kill all the exotic beasts around the secret plane gateway and entering the secret plane. Let alone the resources in the secret plane being limited, the dangers inside were similarly great. It was impossible for them to return alive if their strength wasn’t at the top.
Moreover, “high-end resources are only enjoyed by those at the top” was a tradition of human since time immemorial. How could they possibly share them with everybody?
Also, after experiencing three beast swarms, people seemed to have realized that although the exotic beasts would come swarming out of the spatial gateways in great numbers, their overall strength would always be that tiny bit weaker than the humans, unable to bring humanity to extinction.
Of course, that was only what they’d seen up until now. No one knew what it would be like in the future.
Even so, the major powers sitting at the top had come to a tacit understanding, with no intention of sharing the secret plane with the common people.
The lowly nature of humanity was carved deep in their genetics. Even if all of entire humanity faced the threat of extinction, it was impossible for them to truly unite as one.
Zhang Che knew very well about that through his own experiences in life. As for what exactly it was, he didn’t dare to think about it due to the threat from the gods above.
—
After hearing Huang Juyun’s account, Zhang Che immediately fell silent.
Danger was certain, and not just inside the secret plane. That was beyond his understanding.
Just the fact that he had to slaughter his way through that thousand kilometer area was not a simple matter.
It had to be mentioned that the secret plane’s gateway always appeared in places with an extremely dense population of exotic beasts. Silver and gold quality beasts were everywhere, dark gold and legend quality beasts abundant, epic quality beasts quietly waiting for your arrival, and don’t even be surprised if you ran into a divine-quality beast…
Even though Zhang Che was very confident of his current strength, he didn’t dare guarantee that he could safely get through that area, and arrive at the gateway to the secret plane.
Going on this trip was sure to be fraught with danger!
But not going on this trip was something Zhang Che was reluctant to do. After experiencing being pulled into the black door by that mysterious force, he already had a feeling that perhaps there might be some grave danger silently drawing closer to Mercury.
Under such circumstances, how would he be able to take care of himself when the situation took a turn for the worse, if he didn’t strive to improve himself now?
If he didn’t dare to take this risk today, or that risk tomorrow, he would slowly fall behind. It would be impossible for him to become someone truly strong.
“How is it, what’s your decision?” Huang Juyun asked softly, seeing Zhang Che keeping quiet for so long, his face uncertain.
Zhang Che didn’t answer directly. Instead, he replied with a question of his own, “Uncle Huang, have you entered the secret plane?”
Huang Juyun seemed to have expected this question. He smiled and nodded, “I did once. But the environment in the secret plane differs greatly every time, so I won’t be talking in detail about what is in there, to save you from having misconceptions. You just have to remember that it is very dangerous in there, but opportunities are similarly aplenty.”
Zhang Che slowly nodded, then fell silent for a moment again. His eyes shone with a determined gaze, and he finally answered firmly, “Alright, I’ll go, then!”
Huang Juyun finally revealed a smile as he nodded and said, “Good! What it means to be someone truly strong is to be willing to work hard and be unafraid of dangers. Otherwise, how are you any different from a flower in a greenhouse?
“Go back and get ready. See what is there that you need; I’ll prepare it for you. You can set off for the icy plains in the north tomorrow morning. The gateway to the secret plane appeared at the vast icy plains near the borders between our Hua Xia region and the Sha Er region.”
Zhang Che thought for a moment. His high-end combat forces were comprised of the Darkfiend Abyssal Dragon, Steel-Armored Tyrannosaurus, Purple Crystal Tortoise, Scarlet Flame Drake, Scarlet Meteorite Huge Sword, and the Unicorn. His other subdued beasts and pets could also display some combat ability; he shouldn’t need anything else, beast card-wise.
“Uncle Huang, I don’t need any new subdued beasts. There’s no time for me to get used to them. But I hope that you can prepare a spatial-type beast card equipment for me, or I might starve to death in the secret plane.”
Huang Juyun blanked out for a moment before bursting out into laughter, “Hahahaha, no problem! You’re a Tier Five beastmaster now, and I happen to have a five-star spatial-type beast card. I’ll prepare everything you will need for you. You just need to be ready to set off tomorrow.”
Zhang Che nodded heavily, “Thank you so much, Uncle Huang!”
“Mhm. Go on, get back and keep your mother company. Who knows how long it’ll be before you return from your trip to the secret plane. It’s better for you to be with her now,” Huang Juyun smiled and waved off Zhang Che, sending him home to settle his affairs.
