United as One

For example, regarding the reconstruction of the Sanctum, the Ancient One took out a few inconspicuous stones.

Xia Yu held it in his hand and could feel a faint magical power emanating from the stone.

"This is the foundation upon which the Sanctum was built. Like magical artifacts, magic is infused into the stone. However, to form an effective array, this stone is far more complex than that of magical artifacts."

Ancient One found a step to sit down and then spoke to Xia Yu.

"If you fail to stop Dormammu, use these stones to rebuild the arrays of several Sanctum, then kill Kaecilius and his followers. As long as there are no seeds of dark power in this world, and with the power of the Sanctum, I believe Dormammu won't be able to do anything to Earth for at least a hundred years. That's plenty of time for you to come up with other plans."

"I'll tell you how to use the stone later. After I leave, I'll instruct Stephen to let you absorb the Time Stone for a while. But remember, never use the power of time carelessly. Too many parallel universes will cause enormous chaos."

Xia Yu knew that Ancient One was giving her last words, so he quickly sat down next to her, unusually sitting upright and listening attentively to what Ancient One had to say.

"When I was born, the world was in chaos. Humans attacked each other and killed one another for food and resources. It wasn't until I became the Sorcerer Supreme that I realized the greatest threat to this world came from outside."

"I've guarded this place for thousands of years, yet I've never had a proper chance to explore the world. I've lived here for a while, for thousands of years, and I haven't even had a proper look at the place I've been protecting."

Although Ancient One is thousands of years old, she always presents Xia Yu with an image of competence and efficiency.

Xia Yu had never seen such a sense of vicissitude and weight on Ancient One.

Ancient One reached out and touched the wooden steps beside her, her eyes filled with endless longing, and sighed.

"Suddenly, I feel like life is not worth living. It's as if I haven't truly lived for thousands of years. I should have traveled more."

Xia Yu was somewhat speechless. For thousands of years, Ancient One had been shouldering the safety of the entire world. It was truly remarkable that she had been able to bear this pressure until now. She also had to resist the Dark Magic within her body. How could she have had time to live her own personal life?

"Auntie, have you ever considered that you might not have to die? I might be able to find a way to resolve the problem of the Dark Magic within you in the future."

Xia Yu felt sorry for Ancient One. He really wanted to buy Ancient One some time to travel around the world and see the world.

Ancient One, a smile that banished all traces of vicissitude, as if he had returned to his youth, possessing a captivating charm.

You must have been very beautiful when you were young.

Xia Yu sincerely praised her, saying that her smile just now had truly amazed him.

"Having known you for so long, this is the first time I've heard you call me 'Auntie' so sincerely. You want me not to die? Do you have the courage to risk the lives of the entire world, including the lives of your friends, to save Odin and me? If either of us survives, who knows what kind of catastrophe might befall us in the future—a catastrophe a hundred or a thousand times more terrifying Dormammu's. Do you have the guts to take that gamble?"

Xia Yu shut his mouth. Although he really wanted to spare the life of the Ancient One, he really didn't dare. As for the lives of Natasha and Tony, Xia Yu wasn't entirely confident. If the Ancient One and Odin didn't die, who knew if such a change in energy level would directly create a black hole that would devour the Earth?

Xia Yu dared not.

The Ancient One smiled again.

"Silly child, neither of us dares to. We don't want Kamar-Taj and Asgard to be completely destroyed. I'm already very happy that you can remain silent and hesitate. Actually, I've been very tired for these past few thousand years. When Strange appeared, you have no idea how happy I was. I could finally rest."

"Come on, have a drink and a chat with me. Take out the good wine from your ring."

Ancient One stopped talking about these things and started chatting with Xia Yu about some interesting things about Kamar-Taj.

Ancient One is gone, Xia Yu knows that he may never see this maverick Sorcerer Supreme again.

Xia Yu stood at the entrance of the Sky Temple for a very long time.

Suddenly, with a wave of his hand, the soil outside the Sanctum rose from the ground and gradually deformed in mid-air.

A huge statue of the Ancient One, in a yellow robe and with a shiny bald head.

It possesses an extraordinary aura, standing tall between the Avengers Compound and the Sky Temple.

Xia Yu decided that when the time was right, he would let the whole world know about the deeds of this Sorcerer Supreme.

She has silently protected the human world for thousands of years and deserves to be commemorated and worshipped by the whole world.

That evening, Tony went out to dinner with Pepper, while Natasha went to spend time with her godson (Hawkeye's youngest child, only two years old).

Xia Yu had no appetite and just sat alone in the Sky Temple, lost in thought.

"I know you're used to Tony's good beers, but try mine today, a single malt, a classic."

Xia Yu looked up and saw Xia Yu Captain walking in, holding a bottle of wine and two glasses.

Xia Yu gave a wry smile and remained silent.

When I came back tonight, I noticed you weren't in a good mood, and there was an extra statue by the door, and this dilapidated Sanctum. I knew something must have happened. Whether you need a listen or a drink, I'll be with you.

"Thanks."

Xia Yu said bitterly.

"If you want to talk, or need advice, no one is more suitable than a nearly 100-year-old man. If you want to drink, I can hold my liquor. Come on, tell me. We're not only comrades-in-arms, but also family, aren't we? You've been keeping everything to yourself lately; it's too tiring."

Seeing that Xia Yu still didn't speak, the Captain opened the bottle cap and poured two glasses of wine.

"What? You're too powerful now, and you think we can't be of any help?"

The Captain handed Xia Yu a glass of wine.

Xia Yu reached out and took it.

"No, you know I wouldn't think that way. It's just that I feel too many things are predetermined, and I don't know how to change them, or even if I can change them. I also don't know if forcibly changing them will bring bad consequences, such as hurting other people."

As it turns out, the Captain was indeed very good at chatting with people. Although he didn't know what Xia Yu was referring to, he understood what Xia Yu meant.

"If a child is standing in the middle of the road and a speeding truck is about to hit the child, would you save them?"

Xia Yu looked up at the Captain, unsure of what the Captain meant.

Answer me, Xia, will you save her or not?

The Captain asked again.

"Save."

Xia Yu could only answer.

"That's the right choice, but it's too late to rescue it. You can only try to stop the truck or shoot it away. What do you do?"

The Captain then asked.

I forced it to stop.

Xia Yu then answered.

"Okay, then did you calculate beforehand whether the butterfly effect might cause more deaths, such as the people in the truck, or whether pedestrians on the road would be affected?"

The Captain continued to ask.

"There's no time to think about all that."

Xia Yu downed the drink in his glass in one gulp and said.

The Captain patted Xia Yu on the shoulder.

"Yes, there's no time to think about all that. We're not politicians, spending our days calculating how to sacrifice the minority for the greater good. We're Avengers. When disaster strikes, we should stop it, shouldn't we? As for what happens afterward, who knows if things will get better or worse? That's not our concern. If disaster strikes, we'll just fight."

Xia Yu's eyes gradually brightened, but he still asked the Captain a question.

"What if saving those children could lead to a global catastrophe?"

The Captain shrugged. "In my opinion, these are two separate things."

"Let me give you another example. Imagine there's a powerful being you can't defeat who wants to Earth-Destroyer, or you have to kill me. Which would you choose?"

I gave him a gesture.

Xia Yu made a universally recognized swear word gesture.

"Don't forget, he's planning to Earth-Destroyer."

The Captain reminded him.

"Then let him give it a try."

Xia Yu said with great confidence.

"You see, you already know the answer. We are the Avengers. We don't trade lives. If they come, no matter how powerful they are, we..."

The Captain looked at Xia Yu.

"Unity is strength."

They both said it in unison.