Entering Kamar-Taj

A spatial gate connected New York and Nepal.

Bai Jing stepped through the gate and found himself in a Nepalese-style wooden house. The interior was spacious, furnished with two rows of tables and chairs. Light streamed in from one side, casting a golden hue across the room as it was dusk.

It felt like a banquet held inside a yurt.

There were three people inside: a middle-aged man dressed as a Chinese Taoist. Although his hands were hidden by his clothes, Bai Jing could tell he was missing one.

Another was a bald man in a yellow monk's robe, with kind eyes and a gentle smile, who was making tea.

The third was a black man standing guard nearby, silent, likely a follower.

Bai Jing glanced at the Taoist, then at the bald man. He knew immediately that the bald man was the Ancient One.

"It seems you know a lot about me..." the Ancient One said, guessing from Bai Jing's gaze.

"Yes, your story is known throughout the multiverse!" Bai Jing replied honestly.

The Ancient One wasn't American; she had genuinely protected Earth for five hundred years.

Many transmigrators feared the Ancient One, probably out of guilt. If you don't intend to destroy the world or Earth, she won't bother you.

Bai Jing had no intention of destroying Earth, so he wasn't afraid of her.

"Indeed, the fluctuations of space and time around you led me to some guesses. However, you don't seem to have any ill intentions towards this world. I just didn't expect you to come looking for me." The Ancient One looked up. "Would you like some tea?"

"Thank you..." Bai Jing accepted the tea and took a sip. The taste was actually just average, but it was quite sweet.

He had initially thought that the black hole on him had distorted time, preventing the Ancient One from seeing him. Now, it seemed he had been overestimating himself!

"I've come here hoping to learn magic from you. Is that possible?" Bai Jing asked, putting down his teacup.

Although the Ancient One had lived for five hundred years, she wasn't a rigid or dogmatic mage. She maintained a good mindset, so there was no harm in speaking directly.

"Magic is never far from those who seek it!" the Ancient One smiled. "If you are willing to learn, I can certainly teach you!"

"Ah!" Bai Jing was a little surprised. Was it that simple?

Still, Kamar-Taj didn't seem to have many requirements for accepting disciples. Even Kaecilius, who was full of bitterness and hatred, was taken in.

It was only after Kaecilius's betrayal that things became slightly stricter. Then, after Strange knelt outside for five hours, the Ancient One's heart softened again.

The Ancient One nodded and asked, "However, do you truly believe in the existence of magic?"

"Of course, I believe!" Bai Jing nodded matter-of-factly. Why else would he be here?

"Very well, then..." The Ancient One raised her hand and pushed Bai Jing forcefully!

Boom!

Bai Jing felt as if he had gone blind.

The light, electromagnetic waves, sound waves, and air molecules that were everywhere in the air instantly filled his entire spirit. In that moment, his mind went completely blank!

The world he could see was filled with immeasurable light, and the world he could hear was like a stormy sea. He felt like a boat adrift at sea, or as if he were standing directly in front of the sun.

Beside him, Master of the Mystic Arts The Ancient One looked at Bai Jing's soul with surprise.

Bai Jing's physical body was no different from an ordinary person's, and most of his soul was also similar. However, his eyes were like two vortices, instantly sucking in all the light in the room!

Fortunately, it only lasted for a moment. The next moment, Bai Jing seemed to regain consciousness, immediately suppressed the black hole's fluctuations, and then opened his eyes.

"So my Black Hole Eye isn't on my physical body, but on my soul?" A major confusion in Bai Jing's mind was resolved. He had always wondered why his mental processing speed and senses had improved so much, yet his physical body seemed unchanged, struggling to run even 300 meters.

Now he knew: his spirit had been strengthened, not his body.

But since the body and spirit were integrated, the strength of the spirit would inevitably affect the body. Therefore, Bai Jing's physical body was also gradually strengthening, but it had only been a short time, and the effects were not yet obvious.

Previously, bound by his physical body, the black hole's absorption ability had been somewhat restrained. Now that his spirit had been forced out, the control over his eyes was instantly insufficient.

Fortunately, his eyes were his own, and he quickly regained control.

"Is this your ability?" The Ancient One looked at Bai Jing's eyes, feeling that this power was ordinary, found everywhere in the universe, yet terrifying in its essence.

She thought of black holes but didn't say it.

Bai Jing nodded, his gaze fixed on the Ancient One. If anything went wrong, he would have to think about escaping.

But the Ancient One didn't attack. She just looked up as if contemplating something, then continued, "The essence of magic lies in the deepening of the spirit. The first step of deepening is to perceive one's own spirit.

Normal meditation takes years to complete this process, even for geniuses. As for the mediocre, it might be impossible in a lifetime. By forcing your spirit out, I have shortened this process!"

"Are there any side effects?" Bai Jing asked. "I heard that taking shortcuts in cultivation can lead to side effects?"

The Ancient One looked at Bai Jing with some surprise. "Your awareness is high. Most shortcuts inevitably lead to endless trouble, but this method is different. This is merely a rope I've lowered for you from the mountain."

Bai Jing nodded. Just as he was about to say something else, he felt a powerful suction from his body, and in an instant, he was back in his own body.

"A person's spirit controls all bodily activities. Therefore, if the spirit is separated for too long, the body will have problems. The body is the vessel for the spirit; if the vessel is damaged, the spirit will have nothing to rely on and will eventually collapse!" The Ancient One explained. "Separating the spirit from the body has many benefits, such as easier meditation and improved memory and comprehension. However, you must not become overly reliant on it!"

Bai Jing nodded repeatedly.

"He will teach you the foundation of your future cultivation!" The Ancient One pointed to Wang beside them. "If you encounter any difficulties, come and find me again!"

"Okay!" Bai Jing nodded and watched the Ancient One slowly descend the stairs, accompanied by the black mage.

"Hey, hello." Wang seemed quite enthusiastic. "What was that move you just did?"

He was less than thirty years old and still had a somewhat lively personality.

"Perhaps, innate Spiritual Power?" Bai Jing thought for a moment and replied, "Like the Five-Colored Divine Light!"

"Oh, oh..." Wang scratched his head, pondering what the Five-Colored Divine Light was.

"What should I do next?" Bai Jing asked.

"Oh, I'll take you to see the books first!" Wang said, walking ahead. "Most magic books are written in Sanskrit, so you'll need to learn Sanskrit first. Then you'll learn how to meditate, and basic incantation gestures. Finally, I'll teach you how to sense the Multidimensional Realm!"

The two went downstairs, turned left and right, and finally arrived at a library.

It was similar to the New York Sanctum Sanctorum, but there were several times more books here.

Of course, Bai Jing wasn't paying attention to the books, but to the Eye of Agamotto placed so conspicuously on the desk.

He knew, of course, that this was the Time Stone.

"Stop looking. You're not ready to use magic artifacts yet. If you have enough strength, you might be able to control this artifact in the future!" Wang said, then softly added, "Master Manilla, I'll get some books for the newcomer!"

A moment later, Bai Jing had four books in front of him, each as thick as a brick but larger than a brick.

Book of Illusions: A book to help people understand the mystic arts, recording various deeds accomplished by mages using spells, similar to "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."

Sanskrit Dictionary, no need to explain further. Bai Jing didn't need to speak Sanskrit; he just needed to understand the words in the books.

Finally, Maxim's Enlightenment. Maxim was a Sorcerer Supreme from a thousand years ago. He systematically organized the methods of meditation, making Magic no longer exclusive to geniuses and allowing ordinary people the possibility of deepening their Spirit.

"How long will it take to finish?" Wang asked.

"Hmm, two days!" Bai Jing thought for a moment and said.

"Very good!" Wang raised an eyebrow. "I like your confidence. Come with me, I'll take you to your living quarters!"

What he called living quarters was a small earthen house less than 10 square meters. The bed and table were covered in dust. A light tap on the glass caused layers of dust to fall again.

"I believe you can overcome this place!" Wang said with a smile and turned to leave.

He didn't hand over a note because Wi-Fi wasn't widespread yet.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Bai Jing looked around and with a slight wave of his hand, walked in from the doorway. Everywhere he passed, the room became spotless.

However, as soon as he lay down, he got up again.

The bed board was really hard.

He lifted the thin mattress and saw there was only one layer, with dirt underneath. What's more, the heated earthen bed wasn't very flat and was riddled with holes from insects.

He was speechless. Even when his family was poor when he was a child, he hadn't slept on a bed like this!

Was this some kind of reality show?

Bai Jing simply used the black hole again to process the bed, making the surface perfectly flat, but it was still uncomfortable to lie on.

He simply gave up on sleeping and got up to read.

"He is not someone who can endure loneliness!" In Kamar-Taj, in front of the temple, Mage Mordo said, "We have no idea of his origins. His power is very dangerous, and his thinking is also very dangerous. If he were to master the power of Magic..."

"Regardless of whether he has Magic or not, his strength will increase gradually!" The Ancient One shook her head. "But here with us, he can at least become a force to resist the Dark Dimension."

In the Ancient One's heart, no one was beyond redemption. Even Kaecilius, who had betrayed them, she had tried to reach. Not to mention Bai Jing, who had never done evil.

Oh, you say Bai Jing killed people?

The Ancient One, with her gaze across the multiverse, didn't consider this a sin. Besides, Bai Jing didn't kill with the intention of killing.

As for his thinking?

Billions of people in the neighboring country shared the same way of thinking. The Ancient One only saw this country becoming increasingly prosperous, with more hope than all other countries.

Of course, she didn't care about the country's affairs. She wouldn't care even if the human world regressed to the Stone Age.

As long as the invaders weren't aliens or from another dimension.