Chapter 3: The First Exploration of the Hidden Space

As the runes flared to life, radiating like a miniature sun, their blinding brilliance instantly illuminated the entire dormitory. The space around the porcelain vial seemed to be manipulated by a pair of invisible, colossal hands, kneaded and twisted like soft clay, inducing a sense of vertigo and wonder. Amid this chaotic swirl, a faint and elusive door, as though forcibly dragged from the abyss of nothingness, appeared abruptly before Li Hongjun.

The door exuded an unfathomable, mysterious aura, as if its presence drifted across endless epochs from the distant primordial era. It seemed to murmur secrets long buried by the sands of time, while simultaneously issuing a stern warning to any who dared trespass, hinting at the dangers that lay beyond.

"Wow, I actually found the entrance to the hidden space!" Li Hongjun was so excited he nearly leapt in place. His eyes widened like two bronze bells, gleaming with the thrill of imminent adventure, the very picture of a fervent explorer who, after wandering lost in darkness, finally stumbles upon the gateway to treasure.

With a tumultuous blend of excitement and apprehension, he stepped cautiously towards the door, each stride resonating with the pounding of his own heart. At last, he extended his hand and brushed his fingertips against the door. Instantly, an icy chill shot from his fingertip to his core, as if he had touched millennia-old black ice. The biting cold served as a merciless reminder that this was no ordinary place; once crossed, there might be no return.

Li Hongjun drew a deep breath, striving to calm his frantic heartbeat. He summoned the spiritual energy within him, which, like obedient little sprites, danced merrily through his meridians before gathering at his palm. Gritting his teeth, he exerted his strength, attempting to push open the enigmatic door. Yet the door was utterly unmoved, as if rooted in the ground, mocking his futile efforts.

Doubt gnawed at him. "Could there be another requirement?" he thought. He racked his brain, searching his medical inheritance for clues, the cryptic words and intricate diagrams flashing through his mind in a dizzying blur. Suddenly, epiphany struck him like lightning. "Of course—perhaps a drop of my blood is needed as the key."

"Here goes nothing!" Li Hongjun muttered, determination flickering in his eyes. Channeling his energy, he made a shallow cut on his finger. A bead of crimson blood welled up and, as he let it fall onto the door, it was instantly absorbed, vanishing without a trace.

A low, resonant rumble came from the door as it slowly creaked open. A force as powerful as a black hole surged forth, and before Li Hongjun could react, his entire body was swept up like a weightless leaf and dragged inside by the irresistible pull.

"Ah!" he managed to utter a startled cry before vanishing from the dormitory, leaving only an empty, silent room behind, bearing silent witness to all that had just transpired.

When Li Hongjun opened his eyes again, he found himself in a wondrous and otherworldly space. Although not vast, the chamber brimmed with a heavy aura of mystery. The surrounding walls were etched with myriad strange patterns and runes—some resembling ancient script, others like enigmatic totems, as if recounting a history long buried by the passage of time. The runes shimmered with a faint glow, like mischievous stars trapped within the walls, lively yet enigmatic.

At the very center stood a stone table, unadorned yet exuding a subtle aura of antiquity and solemnity. Resting atop it was an ancient tome, aglow with a gentle, warm light that sharply contrasted the mysterious and somewhat eerie atmosphere around it.

"What is this place? And what is that book?" Li Hongjun was plagued by questions, his heart agitated as if a thousand kittens were scratching at it. Yet alongside his confusion was a swelling tide of anticipation; he knew he was on the verge of uncovering astonishing secrets.

He approached the stone table with utmost care, each step accompanied by a subtle tremor beneath his feet, as if the very space resented the presence of an intruder. Reaching the table, he slowly extended his hand and picked up the ancient book—whereupon a torrent of information surged into his mind, overwhelming as a raging flood.

"This is... a compendium of advanced medical arts, with vital insights into breakthroughs in cultivation realms!" Li Hongjun was so astounded he nearly dropped the book. His eyes widened in disbelief. Never could he have imagined that such a precious treasure would be hidden within this space—an unexpected boon for his journey on the path of cultivation.

Just as he prepared to delve into the book's contents, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the space, like the wrathful howl of a demon from the depths of hell, making his eardrums throb in pain. Alarm coursed through him. "Not good, there's danger!" In a flash, he stowed the ancient tome in his storage space and assumed a defensive stance—knees bent, fists clenched, his gaze fixed nervously in the direction of the sound, not daring to blink.

From the shadows emerged a monstrous creature, towering and mountainous in size. Its body was bristling with sharp spines that glinted with a cold, metallic sheen beneath the dim light, as if they could pierce anything. Though it resembled a porcupine, it had the fierce, predatory eyes of a wolf, burning with bloodlust and savagery enough to chill the bones. A nauseating stench oozed from its body, like the reek of countless rotting corpses, so foul that Li Hongjun nearly gagged. Every step it took gouged deep furrows into the ground with its talons, carving out its own terror and majesty onto the hard floor.

"What the hell is that thing? Did Nuwa's hands slip while making clay people and create this reject?" Li Hongjun cursed inwardly, using humor to steady his nerves. He had never seen such a bizarre creature. There was no time to ponder—by now, the monster had fixed its predatory gaze on him, eyes gleaming as if appraising a delectable meal, ready to pounce at any moment.

Li Hongjun rapidly activated the "Chaos Heaven-Devouring Divine Art." Spiritual energy within him ignited like gunpowder, surging violently. A faint shield of energy formed before him, casting a soft glow—a last line of defense. Sensing resistance, the monster roared again, shaking the entire chamber. In the next instant, it lunged at him like a bolt of black lightning, closing the distance in a heartbeat.

Li Hongjun dodged just in time, narrowly evading the attack. The monster, enraged by its miss, raked the ground with its claws, tearing deep pits into the stone floor. It turned again, eyes aflame with fury, and charged once more. This time, Li Hongjun stood his ground, seizing the moment to shout, "Spirit Wind Palm!" A gust of spiritual energy shot forth like a howling gale toward the beast.

The strike landed, but the monster merely shuddered, as if brushed by a breeze. It bellowed in derision, mocking the futility of Li Hongjun’s attack. Then it opened its cavernous maw, spewing a tide of black, swirling mist toward him. Dread seized Li Hongjun. "That mist looks deadly—must be poison. This creature is both vicious and cunning!" He hurriedly reinforced his shield, intensifying its glow in a desperate effort to ward off the lethal miasma.

But the poison was fiercely corrosive. Cracks began to web across the shield, like a spider’s web torn asunder. Li Hongjun’s anxiety mounted—he knew the shield would soon collapse, and he would be consumed by the toxic cloud. In that dire moment, he suddenly recalled a purification technique from his medical inheritance. Hope flared within him. "Maybe I can use it to dispel the poison. Desperate times call for desperate measures!"

Without hesitation, he swiftly formed hand seals, his fingers weaving intricate patterns in a blur—a dance of dazzling complexity. A beam of white light shot from his palms, surging like a dragon into the poisonous mist. Under the purifying light, the miasma began to dissipate, melting away like frost under the sun.

Seeing its poison neutralized, the monster faltered, a flicker of fear in its eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Li Hongjun shouted, "Spirit Energy Missiles!" Several missiles, sparkling with spiritual light, hurtled toward the beast like shooting stars. Unable to dodge, it was struck and howled in agony as the blasts detonated on impact, spraying black blood that hissed and sizzled where it landed, corroding pits into the stone.

Pressing his advantage, Li Hongjun unleashed the "Spirit Wind Palm" again. This time, he poured all his power into the attack, the strike roaring forth like a super typhoon. The monster tried to resist but was utterly overwhelmed. The blast sent it crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.

"Phew, that's finally over." Li Hongjun exhaled heavily, wiping sweat from his brow. He felt as though he'd walked through the gates of death, his legs trembling, heart still pounding with lingering fear. He knew this hidden realm surely concealed many further dangers, but the hard-won victory filled him with resolve to continue exploring. After all, the treasures here might propel him forward on his cultivation path, perhaps even make him a legend.

Surveying the fallen beast, he silently congratulated himself on his quick wits and courage. Then, invoking the "Chaos Heaven-Devouring Divine Art," he conjured a massive vortex of spiritual energy in his palm, drawing in and absorbing the monster's power. Its body shrank under the force until it was completely devoured. The influx of energy rocketed his cultivation from the third to the seventh level of the Qi Refining stage before finally halting. He immediately began consolidating his new strength, turning his focus to studying fireball and gravity techniques.

At the same time, he wondered what else might await him in this mysterious space—more rare treasures, or even greater threats? Whatever the case, he was fully prepared to face any challenge. After all, on the long road of cultivation, how could one see a radiant rainbow without first enduring the storm? Straightening his clothes, Li Hongjun drew a deep breath and set forth once more into the unknown, his heart brimming with anticipation and fearless resolve.