A Year of Shocking Odin

Svartalfheim.

Looking at the ravaged, lifeless world beneath his feet,

Malekith could not help crouching down, grabbing a handful of dirt and squeezing it in his hand.

"My homeland, my world, my property... in the end, it has all become this handful of scorched earth."

"Asgard..."

Malekith's gaze turned icy, and he clenched the dirt in his hand tightly.

Then he tossed it aside and turned to the approaching figure.

"Algrim, have you found the entrance to the seal?"

Algrim, the dark elf addressed by name, was Malekith's lieutenant—and the only dark-skinned elf among the pale-skinned dark elves.

"Commander, the seal's entrance here has not loosened. The one connected to Midgard must have loosened instead."

"Then we leave for Midgard."

Malekith turned and headed toward the distant spacecraft. "Asgard should have realized what happened by now. We must obtain the Aether before they do!"

The Himalayas.

Outside the gates of Kamar-Taj.

"Ethereal Ascension Sect?"

Odin descended from tornado-like thunderclouds, staring in confusion at the imposing mountain gate before him.

"I haven't visited in so long. I never expected Kamar-Taj to change the name it had used for so many years!"

Feeling rather nostalgic, Odin did not linger and strode directly through the gate.

Yet the moment he entered, he noticed something was wrong. His remaining eye widened roundly.

"What dense energy. It is no worse than Asgard's!"

Earth, the central realm connecting the Nine Realms and known as the mortal world, had always possessed the lowest energy levels among the Nine Realms.

Yet the energy within Kamar-Taj was now nearly on par with Asgard's. How could Odin not be astonished?

"What exactly did Ancient One do? She could not have connected this place to a higher-dimensional world, could she?"

As soon as the thought arose, Odin rejected it himself. "Impossible. Ancient One is Earth's protector. How could she do something so foolish?"

"Indeed, I certainly would not do something so foolish. But you might."

A familiar voice sounded beside Odin's ear.

Odin showed not the slightest embarrassment at being caught badmouthing someone behind her back. He turned with a broad smile and opened his arms.

"Oh, esteemed Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One, it has been so long. Have you been well lately... Ancient One?"

When Odin turned around, he saw nothing. He had thought Ancient One was standing behind him.

"Frigga's illusion magic?"

"How boring. I thought your real body had come down and was planning to find a chance to lose my temper and gang up on you!"

Ancient One's regretful voice sounded again, immediately darkening Odin's face.

As he turned his head to search for her, he said, "Ancient One, verbal sparring is meaningless."

"Besides, our powers are comparable. We have both surpassed the realm of ordinary creatures. Even if you bring your disciples and grandchildren, it will be useless!"

After looking around, Odin found no trace of Ancient One, apart from an orange cat on the ground licking its own butt.

"Stop playing tricks, Ancient One. My lifespan is nearing its end. I merely came to see an old friend."

"What tricks? Am I not right in front of you?"

"Right in front of me?"

Odin's face was full of question marks as he looked around again.

Then he saw the orange cat licking its butt raise its head and look at him with utter disdain.

Ancient One: ...

Odin: "???"

A cat? A disdainful expression?

"Anc... Ancient One?"

Odin staggered back several steps in shock until his back pressed against the mountain gate.

In the past, Ancient One had transformed others into animals. Now, she had actually transformed herself into an animal!

More importantly, she had been licking her own butt. That was far too perverse!

"I did not transform... Forget it. Think whatever you want, but could you stop pressing against me?"

Ancient One's voice sounded again, only this time it came from behind Odin.

"If Frigga came, I would let her lean against me. But forget it, you disgusting one-eyed old man. I am not gay!"

"The... the stone gate? You did not turn into that cat?"

Following the voice, Odin spun around and leaped back, only to see Ancient One's face emerge from the mountain gate.

"I did not turn into a cat. That cat was me to begin with!"

This time, Ancient One's voice came from beneath Odin's feet.

"And could you move your stinking foot? You are standing on me!"

"W... what!!!???"

Completely bewildered, Odin lifted his foot, revealing Ancient One's detestable old face on the stone beneath it.

"Shit, Ancient One, what the hell are you doing? What kind of disgusting acrobatic magic is this!?"

From Kamar-Taj's changed name to the utterly bizarre Ancient One, Odin had completely lost track of what was going on.

He felt as if his CPU was about to burn out.

"This is not magic. It is cultivation. You would not understand even if I explained it."

Ancient One's voice echoed from every direction.

Besides the cat on the ground, the mountain gate at the entrance, and the stone beneath his feet, a heap of strange things emerged as well.

"My god!!!"

Looking at the men, women, old people, and children who came out, along with furniture, stone sculptures, and even some indescribable adult toys, Odin was utterly dumbfounded.

Fortunately, he was only an illusion created through Frigga's magic.

Otherwise, faced with this scene, he truly would have turned around and run!

Yet once the initial shock faded, Odin quickly realized something was wrong.

"Such powerful strength!"

"Ancient One, could these be forbidden magical creations produced through the dark magic you researched from the Darkhold?"

Odin's expression grew solemn as he spoke.

Although Ancient One's willpower and soul made it unlikely that the Darkhold could influence her, there was always a chance.

"The Darkhold? That thing is not worthy!"

All the Ancient Ones spat in unison. "I threw it into an interdimensional node together with the Book of Vishanti, so they could complement each other through yin and yang."

Odin: "..."

You really had nerve. You truly were not afraid that the three-in-one mighty white magic gods would forbid you from ever using their magic again!

"I told you, this is not magic. It is cultivation!"

Ancient One rolled her eyes irritably. "Forget it, I cannot be bothered explaining so much to you. I already know about your two foolish sons."

"Nothing will happen to them. Our sect master has already sent someone to deal with it."

"Cultivation has a sect master too?"

Odin raised his voice, utterly unable to understand what Ancient One was up to.

"Has Kamar-Taj changed hands?"

"I cannot explain it clearly in a short time. Just understand that a powerful being comparable to a cosmic creator god arrived and taught us a new, even more powerful kind of magic."

The matter was too complicated, and Ancient One could not be bothered to explain further to Odin—unless Odin joined her sect as well...

If he joined her sect, he would be a wealthy benefactor!

Then the sect would have a source for the medicinal herbs and materials it lacked!

At that thought, a dignified-looking Ancient One stepped out from the crowd, put on a professional fake smile, and spoke temptingly.

"Odin, king of gods, would you like to join our sect? Cultivation can help solve your lifespan and physical problems~"

"Join you?"

Still shocked by the information Ancient One had revealed, Odin was bewildered again by the sudden invitation.

But he quickly recovered.

"I do not need to worry about my lifespan or body. After all, I have lived long enough. It is time to pass everything on to my descendants."

"Even if I truly wished to keep living, those would not be problems. I have plenty of ways to extend my lifespan."

Odin was not tempted by Ancient One's words in the slightest.

For one thing, he had no idea what was happening at Kamar-Taj now. For another, he truly had lived enough.

Besides, if he did not die, Thor might never awaken the inherited Odinforce in his lifetime.

Ancient One was not surprised by Odin's refusal.

The smile remained on her face, but she quickly stepped forward and restrained Odin's illusion, preventing it from dissipating or severing its connection.

Then she dragged him toward the sect.

"Do not rush to refuse. Come take a look around first. We can talk after the tour!"

"Our Ethereal Ascension Sect definitely will not disappoint you. I guarantee that once you finish looking around, you will sell everything you own just to pay tuition and study here!"