Horne bent low at the waist, his face wreathed in smiles.
"Congratulations on advancing to Stigma, Lord Lynn. When I heard the news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep for days. With your unparalleled talent, becoming a Stigma was only a matter of time. I just never expected it to happen so soon."
Lynn looked at him, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
"What good is being a Stigma? You've got a more comfortable life than I do, kid."
Cold sweat immediately broke out on Horne's forehead. He had no idea what Lynn meant. Could it be that Lynn was displeased to see him living too comfortably?
He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and forced a smile.
"You jest, my lord. These are merely vulgar, lowly pleasures of the mundane world. How could they compare to your noble pursuit of the great path? I'm just muddling through life, taking each day as it comes."
Seeing Horne's smile grow increasingly strained, Lynn stopped teasing him.
"Can the teleportation array reach the Thick Earth Demiplane, where Earth's Pulse is located?"
Horne hurriedly nodded. "It can, but it can't reach the core directly. There's a teleportation node deep in the mountains at the easternmost edge of the Northern Territory. It can send you straight to the outskirts of the Thick Earth Demiplane."
Lynn nodded.
Horne immediately understood. "I'll calibrate it at once."
He turned and walked to the control console, his fingers gliding over the runes.
A moment later, the teleportation array lit up.
Horne stepped aside and lowered his head. "My lord, the teleportation array is ready."
Lynn stepped onto the array and stood still. White light rose beneath his feet, swallowing his figure.
He vanished.
Horne collapsed into his chair and let out a long