Invitation

In the Marvel Universe, Sanctum Sorcerers had always been known for secretly guarding Earth against magical invasions from other dimensions. To that end, they had established a protective and surveillance network across the planet.

Unfortunately, Li Feng had just returned from another world after squeezing out of a rubber tube. He therefore checked both boxes: magical creature and other-dimensional invader. If the Sanctum Sorcerers failed to notice him under such circumstances, they would be utterly neglecting their duties.

Moreover, Li Feng had used unfamiliar Quantum Energy to travel through worlds. To Ancient One, who was exceptionally sensitive to the power of time, it was as bright as The Lighthouse in the darkness. Even if she wanted to pretend to be blind, it would have been difficult.

Thus, just as Mage Daniel, who guarded the New York Sanctum, was about to sound the alarm and gather people, Ancient One instantly appeared beside him from the Himalayas and said, "Daniel, no need to rush."

"No need to rush?" Daniel turned to glance at the other Mages behind him. He thought Ancient One had stopped him because the invaders this time were either powerful or numerous. There were too few Mages gathered at the moment, and Ancient One feared her disciples would suffer needless losses. After all, training Mages was quite difficult.

Not everyone had the aptitude for magic that Doctor Strange possessed, nor could they grow stronger after being killed by Dormammu an unknown number of times. An ordinary Mage would probably suffer a complete mental collapse after being killed by Dormammu just a few times.

Just as Daniel was about to ask whether they should gather more people, Ancient One smiled and said, "This is not an invasion. It was caused by someone returning home after traveling abroad."

Daniel looked somewhat confused and muttered, "Traveling abroad?"

Then Daniel seemed to think of something. He glanced at the magical equipment that was still blaring alarms, then blankly turned to Ancient One. "Sorcerer Supreme, do you mean someone traveled to another world and has now returned?"

Ancient One nodded. "This little fellow even learned the Portal he used from us. So, strictly speaking, he does have some connection to us."

Daniel was a little dumbfounded. Although he knew Portals could cross worlds, aside from the Mirror Dimension attached to reality, he had truly never seen anyone travel to another world.

Whose disciple was this, to be so incredible? He was still guarding their own world against outsiders, while someone else was already playing with Portals in all sorts of ways and wandering off to other worlds?

To be honest, Daniel really wanted to meet this person who could travel across worlds. It would be best if they could exchange insights on Portal spells. Perhaps someday, when he had time, he could visit another world himself and broaden his horizons.

That was far more interesting than some "I measured the Earth with my feet" nonsense. I've measured other worlds. Can you do that?

However, Daniel glanced at Ancient One and understood that since this person's return from another world had alerted the Sorcerer Supreme, Ancient One intended to handle the matter personally. It basically had nothing to do with him.

Perhaps seeing Daniel's disappointment, Ancient One smiled. "Come with me and meet this little fellow. Speaking of which, you know him too."

"I know him?" Daniel's eyes were filled with confusion. He searched through his memories but could not think of any Mage he knew who could travel between dimensions, until he inadvertently recalled the address that had triggered the alarm earlier.

"Li Feng from Chinatown!"

How capable Li Feng was—would Daniel not know? Whenever a Mana alarm appeared in Chinatown on the surveillance network, he would personally go investigate. Besides caring from afar about the descendant of his old friend, he also wanted to see how well Li Feng was progressing in his spellcasting.

It could be said that Daniel had watched every bit of Li Feng's growth over the past two years. Could Li Feng really have hidden his strength right under his nose?

When Ancient One nodded to confirm that the traveler was Li Feng, Daniel's mouth twitched. This is fucking ridiculous. Or have my eyes gotten so bad that I'm this blind already?

Ancient One raised an eyebrow and opened a Portal with a wave of her hand.

Honestly, if she had not detected the temporal fluctuations Li Feng emitted during his transmission, she would not have noticed him at all.

Li Feng could only be said to have had outrageously good luck. Ancient One had not used the Eye of Agamotto to examine his past. Otherwise, merely based on the fact that Li Feng had appeared as a greasy middle-aged man during his Astral Projection two years ago, Ancient One would have grabbed him by the throat and asked, "Where did you come from, and where are you going?"

Having just returned to his room, Li Feng had no time to check what had changed in the messy space. Naked, on one knee, and vomiting violently, he had already sensed the Mana fluctuations caused by the Portal behind him.

Suppressing the urge to keep vomiting, Li Feng's eye twitched as he looked at Ancient One, who had appeared with her shiny bald head, and Daniel, who would likely be spying on him from behind Ancient One at irregular intervals from now on.

With a fake smile on his face, Li Feng covered his crotch with both hands and carefully shuffled toward the wardrobe. As he got dressed, he said quietly, "Boss, could you give me a heads-up next time before coming over? At least call or send an email. Look at how messy my place is. It really isn't suitable for entertaining you."

Ancient One clasped her hands behind her back and looked Li Feng up and down with great interest. It gave Li Feng the illusion that he was a doll displayed on a shelf, allowing Ancient One, the customer, to inspect his quality as she pleased.

As for whether Li Feng was naked, Ancient One said she had seen plenty in her lifetime and did not care about seeing one more naked man. Besides, Li Feng's Little Belly alone told Ancient One that he was not her type. Since he was someone else's dish, what was wrong with her taking a look? Ancient One certainly did not think she was losing out.

By the time Li Feng had hurriedly dressed himself, Ancient One had more or less seen everything she needed to see. All that remained was for Li Feng to personally confirm her guesses.

The moment Li Feng finished dressing, Daniel impatiently asked, "Li Feng, how did you manage to travel to another world?"

All right, that explains why you weren't spying on me from afar this time.

Li Feng scratched his brow and picked up the Magic Book Balthazar Blake had given him from the floor. "Shouldn't you introduce yourselves before getting straight to the point?"

Ancient One surveyed Li Feng's tiny room and smiled. "Didn't you already call me boss? Is there any need for introductions? Besides..."

Ancient One pointed at the surveillance screen, which had gone completely black after no one had been home for so long. "I imagine you are not unfamiliar with Mage Daniel, who has been monitoring you."

Daniel had not noticed the surveillance screen at first. After all, no one would pay attention to a black television screen in a shabby room. Only when Ancient One specifically pointed out that it was a monitor did he realize that Li Feng had likely noticed his supposedly secret observations long ago. It made him feel rather embarrassed.

It was supposed to be covert observation, yet the other party already knew he existed. What was covert about that?

"I learned of your existence from my grandfather's notes."

For some reason, Li Feng felt he needed to explain himself. Otherwise, if this big shot Ancient One decided to play around with the Time Stone and look into his past, would not all his secrets be exposed?

Ancient One nodded in acceptance of Li Feng's explanation. It was not merely because Li Feng's grandfather had recorded her identity in his private notes. Any disciple who had stayed in a Sanctum would write a few words about her in their records. And that unmistakably shiny bald head made it easy even for Mages who had never met her to recognize her identity at a glance. After all, there truly were not many women who practiced magic and shaved their heads.

Because returning to the Marvel Universe had caused his Quantum Energy to surge violently, Li Feng, who was still unable to calm that turbulent energy on his own, had to take deep breaths to ease the pain in his body. Fortunately, Ancient One saw how much pain he was in and used magic to stabilize the Quantum Energy.

Feeling much better, Li Feng immediately said respectfully to Ancient One, "Thank you."

Ancient One shook her head, signaling that no thanks were necessary. However, Daniel at her side could no longer suppress his curiosity and asked again, "We came here to ask how you completed interdimensional travel."

Li Feng scratched his head and glanced at the messy room caused by his trip to Balthazar's World, as well as the thick layer of dust covering the floor because he had no idea how long he had spent in the other world.

While wondering whether he should find a better place to live, he explained to Ancient One and Daniel the principles of world travel that Balthazar Blake had told him.

Unlike Daniel, who did not understand the Quantum Realm, Ancient One understood. Put simply, only Li Feng himself could accomplish this kind of travel. It was like the seemingly calm River of Time, which actually concealed immense dangers beneath its surface. One careless misstep, and one would be dragged into the river and drowned.

The Quantum Energy Li Feng used to travel was different from the branching timelines caused by using the Time Stone to cross time and space. The Quantum Energy within Li Feng was more like a ship that protected him, allowing him to drift along the River of Time, while Portals were harbors where he could go ashore.

Of course, as had been said before, Li Feng could only travel to worlds where magic existed. The ship and harbor had to match for Li Feng to disembark. Otherwise, try docking a wooden raft at a harbor built for aircraft carriers, or an aircraft carrier at a harbor for kayaks. Either the raft would be destroyed before reaching shore, or the aircraft carrier would run aground.

However, not just anyone could board this ship. For now, aside from Li Feng, who had accidentally formed something akin to a bond between the little boat and its owner, no one could board this miraculous vessel of time.

Ancient One also understood that as long as Li Feng remembered the locations of these harbors, he could freely travel back and forth between multiple worlds.

But clearly, Li Feng's strength was not yet enough to allow him to remember these harbors. Thus, Ancient One knew that Li Feng could only board from the Marvel Universe for now, drift aimlessly to the next harbor, and then rely on the little boat that remembered the coordinates of the Marvel Universe to bring him back.

After Ancient One's explanation, Daniel said he did not understand the principles, but he also understood that interdimensional travel was basically beyond his reach. Dejected, he waved his hand and said he needed to return to the New York Sanctum to be alone.

Ancient One, however, extended an invitation to Li Feng. She hoped he could visit Kamar-Taj when he had time, and she wished to borrow Sun Long's Magic Book from him. In exchange, Ancient One said she could personally teach Li Feng magic for a while.

What could Li Feng say to that? Naturally, he told Ancient One to wait a moment.

Li Feng immediately called his landlord and said that he had enjoyed renting in Chinatown, but had found a new place to live and would not be renewing the lease. Then, carrying only a few changes of clothes, he passed through Ancient One's Portal and arrived at Kamar-Taj.

Li Feng had already made plans for the future. He would keep traveling to Magic Worlds to learn, hoping to gather the Infinity Stones and return home before Thanos arrived—or, once he became strong enough, simply snatch the Infinity Stones directly from Thanos.

Of course, the latter was merely wishful thinking. By the time Li Feng became strong enough to crush Thanos, he would probably be able to open the door home on his own without the Infinity Stones.