“Boom~”

A beam of white light shot skyward behind them. A powerful aura swept over them, blowing Xiaobai’s hair straight back.

On a mountain in the distance.

A small white creature was waving its little paws, looking delighted.

Xiaobai glanced over and called out.

“Well, Kitty, did you successfully break through?”

“I did, meow~ Master, I’m a nine-star now too, meow~”

The White Tiger, having successfully broken through, beamed. Meanwhile, it was already thinking about when it could go back and beat up all the people who’d kept calling it stupid.

“By the way, Master, have you finished discussing things, meow?”

“Nope. The old man fainted, so we can’t talk anymore.”

“What happened to that grumpy old man, meow?”

“Oh, he seems to have been tricked. It hit him pretty hard, and he fainted.”

“Then let’s leave him alone, Master, and keep looking for the exit, meow. The air down here isn’t as nice as the air above ground.”

“All right.”

Xiaobai agreed.

Then Xiaobai cast a pitying glance at the scruffy old man, who was still unconscious.

“Since you’re so pitiful, I’ll take a loss and won’t forcefully search you or demand that so-called compensation.”

“After all, I’m an honest person who always keeps my word.”

(Someone’s mouth twitched violently...)

Then Xiaobai withdrew the pressure it had released and walked over to its Kitty.

“Oh, right, Kitty.”

“What is it, Master, meow?”

“This... Star God Iron Mountain. Do you still want it?”

“No, this mountain’s useless now, meow. Look, it’s not glowing anymore, meow~”

Xiaobai looked up. Sure enough, the mountain that had been shining with dazzling silver light was now completely dark. It looked like one huge chunk of scrap metal.

It seemed its Kitty had absorbed quite a lot of magical power.

It should be strong enough to take one of Xiaobai’s serious slaps now.

A curious thought popped into Xiaobai’s mind. And then...

“Smack~”

Xiaobai slapped it.

The White Tiger’s body merely swayed a little.

“Mrow~ That hurt...”

“Master, why’d you hit me?” the White Tiger complained.

“Just testing you. Kitty, it looks like you’ve improved a lot,” Xiaobai said approvingly.

“Aww, thank you for praising me, Master, meow!” The White Tiger was delighted.

“Thud~”

The next blow landed in the same spot, but with more force than before.

“Mrow~ Why’d you hit me so hard this time, Master, meow?” The smile that had just appeared on the White Tiger’s face froze.

“I’m training you. It’s for your own good, so bear with it,” Xiaobai said with a perfectly straight face, talking utter nonsense.

Again, meow...

I can’t beat you... I’ll put up with it, meow...

◇

The human and the cat continued along the path where they’d first encountered the two great doors.

They walked on and on, until the path came to an end.

They reached a small room. A huge magic array lay at its center.

Just like those two doors, the array had three large characters written on it: “Teleportation Array.”

The three characters blazed with dazzling red light, blinding Xiaobai all over again.

“You son of a—”

Unable to hold back, Xiaobai drew its sword and was about to slash at it.

“Don’t, Master! Don’t get worked up, meow~ If you do, we’ll never get out, meow~”

The White Tiger clung tightly to the hand Xiaobai was using to draw its sword, wrapping its little body around it.

“Fine. For the sake of getting out, I’ll hold back.”

Xiaobai took a deep breath and calmed its little temper.

“Kitty, let’s go up there.”

“Okay, meow.”

The human and the cat walked forward excitedly and stepped onto the teleportation array.

“...”

“...”

After a long while, nothing happened.

They tried jumping.

Still, nothing happened.

This was getting awkward...

Suddenly, a line of red text appeared on the wall in front of the teleportation array. It read:

You’re so stupid you can’t even use a teleportation array.

“You...”

Another line of red text appeared:

Really want to cut me up, don’t you? If you do, you won’t be able to leave. Come on, come on! Please, cut me~

By now, Xiaobai’s hand was trembling uncontrollably.

The red text appeared again:

Oh, well. Since you’re not reacting and have sincerely accepted that you’re an idiot, I’ll be magnanimous and tell you how to use the teleportation array.

First, channel in your power. Once the array glows green, that’s enough!

Then, say the incantation, and the teleportation array will work. I’ll tell you the incantation after you finish the first step!

Finally, a message from the great God of Alchemy, Will: If you’re too useless to operate something as simple as a teleportation array, you deserve to be trapped here.

◇

“Hehehehe. So now I finally know who you are.”

Xiaobai murmured.

“Hey, Kitty.”

“What is it, Master, meow?”

“Do you know where the God of Alchemy’s tomb is?”

“Huh? Why do you ask, Master?”

“I want to pay him a little visit...”

“...”

◇

“Kitty, I have more power, so I’ll do it.”

“Okay, meow~”

“Channel in the power.”

Xiaobai reached out, pressed a hand against the markings on the magic array, and began channeling power into it.

One-tenth...

Nothing.

Two-tenths...

Nothing.

Three-tenths...

Nothing.

Four-tenths...

Still nothing.

“What kind of God of Alchemy is this? I’m strong enough to wipe the floor with that old man now, but I still can’t even activate a teleportation array? Is this thing fake or what?”

Xiaobai looked doubtfully at the markings on the array.

They made no sense.

The markings were so complicated that they made Xiaobai’s eyes swim. It was completely baffled.

Should I keep going? This God of Alchemy doesn’t seem very reliable.

Just look at that brainless move of labeling even the big doors. What kind of decent teleportation array could he make?

But this was the only way out for now.

Xiaobai gritted its teeth. I’ve got power to spare. I’m not afraid.

“Keep going.”

Half its power...

Nothing.

Six-tenths...

Nothing.

Xiaobai was getting angry. I poured my mighty power into this lousy array. I’m not asking for anything earth-shattering, but the least you could do is pop up a bubble or something!

But did it get a bubble? Not a chance...

Seven-tenths!

Still nothing.

If it doesn’t open soon, I’ll blast through this layer of earth with a pillar of white light!

I can just climb up along the wall, can’t I...?

Eight-tenths!!!!

The red light went out, and green light came on.

At last, it was over. What a pain.

“Ow, ow, I’m exhausted. And you call yourself the God of Alchemy? Your lousy teleportation array takes way too much power to use.”

Xiaobai felt like it was about to collapse. It had never used so much power before, and its whole body seemed to be floating.

It quickly sat down right there to recover its strength.

“Kitty, where’s the incantation? I’m too tired to move. Can you look for it?”

“Master, the incantation appeared just now! It’s right under your butt, meow!”

“Let me take a look.”

Xiaobai shifted its bottom and looked over.

◇

“Hey, Kitty, are you sure you don’t know where the God of Alchemy Will’s tomb is?”

“Master, hurry and say the incantation, meow! Then we can leave, meow!”

“Heh. Don’t let me find your tomb...”

(“Master, Master, why does your face look so dark? Are you feeling sick, meow?”)

“I’ve got all the time in the world. One day, when I find it, I’ll dig your tomb up from end to end. Just you wait.”

Xiaobai gritted its teeth as it spoke.

There, right where Xiaobai was looking, a line of tiny, glowing green text appeared.

Incantation: Daddy Will, please carry me to victory...