Ancient One: I'll Raise You One Odin

With the five thousand dollars in cash he'd taken from Tony's house, and a JPMorgan Chase that didn't require a PIN, Lin Xu was momentarily at a loss as to where to go.

After all, he didn't know anyone in this universe, and the space of Kamar-Taj was sealed off, so he couldn't even open the Mystic Portal.

Moreover, based on the historical trajectory he learned from Tony's family, there were no Mutants, no Inhuman, and no Fantastic Four. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But based on his past time-travel experiences, it certainly won't be that simple.

Logically speaking, since Old Cyttorak determined the universe based on the source of malice, he shouldn't be wrong.

After thinking it over, he decided to go to the New York Sanctum first; the closure of the space must be a serious matter.

Soon, Lin Xu arrived at 177A Bleecker Street.

Looking at the pattern on the roof that resembled the State Grid, Lin Xu knew he hadn't come to the wrong place.

Ignoring the illusionary lock on the door, they pushed it open and entered.

The first thing you see is an upward staircase with a turn, just like the layout of a brothel in an old TV drama, where the courtesans would stand at the turn of the staircase and serve tea.

Adding some tables and chairs to the lobby would make it even more like a real place!

"Hello, monk~" At this moment, a bald African monk walked out from behind the pillar.

"If I remember correctly, your name is Daniel?"

Daniel stared at the Eye of Agamotto on Lin Xu's chest for two seconds before replying, "That's right, it's me. The Venerable One told me to wait for you here."

"The Ancient One?"

"Yes!" Daniel put the broom aside and performed a mage's salute.

Lin Xu returned the gift.

"May I ask you a question?"

"Can!"

What is the gender of the Ancient One?

Daniel: That was indeed a bit presumptuous of me...

"The Venerable One is naturally male."

Ha, I knew it!

Lin Xu even mentally gave himself a thumbs up. He thought to himself, "I knew it! Of all the times I've traveled through time, except for the one with the Ancient One's help, none of them have been in a normal universe. It seems this time will be no exception."

I just don't know what the Ancient One in this universe is trying to do. First, he shut down the space of Kamar-Taj to prevent him from drawing portals, and now he's making Daniel wait for him here.

"Now that you've waited for me, what's next?"

"Please follow me, Master." Daniel stepped aside as he reached the top of the stairs.

Just call me Lin.

"Yes, Mage Lin ~"

Following Daniel's steps, Lin Xu climbed up the Flower Queen Pavilion and soon arrived at a display case containing something that looked like a bottle or a spittoon.

Daniel explained, "The Pomgarian brazier stores Hellfire. When lit with an open flame and pointed at the enemy, it is extremely powerful and is the bane of all dark creatures." (Doctor Strange 2, Christine uses it to burn ghosts)

"Great stuff!"

Seeing that Lin Xu's expression was normal, Daniel didn't say anything and led him to the next display case, which contained a wooden scepter.

"The Wand of Watoomb, crafted from the World Tree, can enhance the wielder's Mystic Arts abilities, and can also absorb and reflect Mystic Arts attacks. If the wielder is powerful enough, it can even break through dimensional portals."

Lin Xu thought to himself, if he were strong enough, he could break through the dimensional channel on his own, and even the first two abilities could be replaced, but as a beginner, having this thing is indeed good.

"Great stuff!"

Then came the next one.

"The Axe of Angarruumus, a powerful enchanted weapon, capable of..." (Doctor Strange 1, Strange wanted to take it, but was stopped by the cloak)

"This is good!"

"Dragonfang, Magic Sword..."

"Awesome!"

"A black mirror, one side..."

"Cool!"

"The Icon Bell, one..."

"Awesome!"

"Atlantis Dream Wave..."

"That works!"

"Mage Lin, I haven't even started my introduction yet."

"Oh? Really? But this is really nice~"

"But you didn't even look at me."

Daniel followed Lin Xu's gaze and saw Lin Xu staring at a display case with shining eyes.

Inside the display case was a red Cloak that was still moving around.

"Uh... don't you already have one on?"

"You mean the Crimson Cloak? It's just an inanimate object made of Crimson Power. See, when I said I liked other cloaks, it didn't even get jealous."

"The Cloak of Levitation is quite fickle, and it demands a high level of talent from the wearer..."

Hey, this just fell right into my bowl!

Upon hearing this, Lin Xu's eyes lit up, and he walked directly to the Cloak of Levitation.

Unexpectedly, just as he reached the display case, the Cloak of Levitation turned around inside the case, turning its back to him.

Lin Xu:...

Daniel:...

"Ahem, Mage Lin, how about we take a look at some other magical artifacts?"

"Forget it, I've lost interest... Just tell me, what's Ancient One's purpose in having you show me all this?"

"The Venerable One said that if you take a fancy to anything here, you can have it."

Wow, so generous?

However, Lin Xu noticed the key point of the sentence: it was "Own," not "take away"; it meant to possess, not to take away.

To put it simply, you're only allowed to fill your stomach, not your pockets!

"What if I want to take it with me?"

Master Daniel smiled without saying a word.

It seems that won't work, but it's okay. His universe isn't without these things. If he really wants them, Old Deng probably won't refuse.

"Did Ancient One say anything else? If not, I'll be going now."

After seeing the Cloak of Levitation and Daniel, Lin Xu roughly understood the current timeline. If nothing unexpected happened, Strange should have already entered Kamar-Taj, but there was still some time before the Dormammu invasion, and with the Male Ancient One in tow, Kamar-Taj was quite safe.

I don't know why the Ancient One wouldn't let us go to Kamar-Taj, but it doesn't matter, we just won't go!

"Yes, His Holiness said that if you don't like any of these, you can wait a couple more days, and then he will take you to Norway."

"... Norway, Odin, pure seduction!"

This universe, Kamar-Taj

Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!

Ancient One sat atop Mount Everest and sneezed several times in a row, which made him frown.

It's impossible for him to catch a cold. Back when he was young, he and Kaluu practiced their Mystic Arts on this spot shirtless and were fine.

It seems he's really getting old; retirement plans need to be put on the agenda. I wonder if Lin Xu has found a way to come back.

Thinking of Lin Xu, Ancient One suddenly felt uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

He always trusted his intuition, so without saying a word, he closed his eyes, cast Astral Projection, and his soul floated out of his body.

Following her inner feelings, the Ancient One's soul arrived in the dimensional rift.

Suddenly, he felt his soul being drawn, and he did not resist.

Soon, a scarlet desert came into view.

"There was a person in your universe who was intercepted when I tried to bring him back."

"Holy crap, which little brat is it?!"