Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 187: Gate of Yaoxing, Crown of Destiny

"When you open the door of destiny, destiny has already seen you."

"At the end of the annihilation of all stars, every step forward is a sacrifice of self."

The entrance to the Yaoxing Secret House is a dark blue space that seems to be frozen by the sea of ​​stars.

There is no gravity here, only starlight. Countless doors are suspended in mid-air, each emitting a unique aura: some are inlaid with meteorite fragments, sparkling;
Some are wrapped in thorns and iron chains, as if they once imprisoned gods;

Some are as dilapidated as ruins;

Some are pure white, as if leading to the center of destiny.

Siming stood in the center of the dreamlike room, looking around in astonishment, his eyes full of alertness and confusion.

"Everyone who comes to Yaoxing Secret House for the first time has this cute expression like you."

A laughing voice sounded from behind him.

He turned around and saw Ruoli stepping out of the silver-white door she had opened, with starlight clustering under her feet and her translucent moon-shadow robe fluttering like clouds and smoke.

Her expression was as lazy and charming as ever, but there was a meaningful smile at the corner of her mouth.

Siming's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone filled with caution and confusion: "I thought the headquarters of the Guild of Mystics would be more solemn and dignified."

"Zhuangyan?" Ruoli covered her lips and smiled, her voice as soft as water, but with a hint of sarcasm.

"That's what outsiders imagine. Mystics never pursue order; we worship 'possibility.' And fate—never takes it seriously."

She turned around and walked towards the silver door leading to the core. Her voice fell with the wind: "Follow me, Xiao Siming, don't get lost. The doors here... sometimes open in the wrong direction."

Sima Ming said nothing and followed quickly.

He walked through a weathered amber door and entered the true core of the Yaoxing Secret House - the Starry Destiny Council Hall.

The entire hall was shrouded in flowing starlight, with a giant round table carved from a whole piece of obsidian crystal suspended in the center, and a complete constellation map of the twelve zodiac signs was projected on the table.

The stars are connected by golden threads, like a heavenly net, slowly rotating.

Each star represents the fate and destiny of a mystic.

Several high-level mystics were whispering in the meeting hall, their auras as deep as the abyss.

However, when Ruoli stepped into the starlight gate, everyone stopped talking, stood up at the same time, and looked solemn.

"Your Excellency Youhua."

"Welcome back, my lord."

The young mystic was the first to salute, his tone so respectful that it almost trembled.

The older director also bowed slightly and said in a steady voice, "Yao Xing has been waiting for you."

Ruoli simply nodded slightly and said softly, "I'm not here today for the Council, but to guide a rising star to the top of the ladder and the crown."

All eyes fell on Siming at that moment, with scrutiny, inquiry, and a hint of oppression.

He felt an invisible stream of starlight coming from all directions, gently touching his destiny star map, and then quietly retreating.

Siming suppressed the fluctuations in his heart and continued to move forward with Ruoli in silence.

"You seem to be more important to them than I thought," he whispered.

Ruoli didn't look back, but just chuckled: "Whether I am important or not is not important. What is important is that they think I am important."

"This is the most exciting part of destiny."

They passed through a corridor built of light and came to an extremely magnificent silver dome round hall - the treasure house of the Yaoxing Secret House.

The door to the treasury is made of seven kinds of star iron. The secret master guarding the door is wearing a silver robe. Every line on his body corresponds to the fate star map, and his expression is as cold as a sculpture.

When Ruoli arrived, they immediately knelt on one knee and said in unison, "Your Excellency Youhua, please come in."

Ruoli raised her hand and replied calmly, "Thank you for your hard work."

Sima Ming stared intently at the countless mysterious and strange objects shining in the treasure house, and his eyes subconsciously revealed an expression of amazement.

The sky-like dome is inlaid with countless meteorite crystals, and the ground is paved with stone slabs shining with starlight.

Every object placed on the light array exudes the aura of a different world, as if each one is a condensation of a complete history.

"Is this... the place that the mystic always dreams of?" he asked in a low voice.

"In their eyes, it is." Ruoli casually pushed aside a floating card, and the card instantly turned into light particles and scattered.

"But to me, these are just some shiny baubles."

Her tone suddenly changed, and her eyes fell on Siming as sharp as a knife.

"But Siming, you must remember—" "A true mystic will never covet these external things."

"Because fate..." she said slowly, "can take away everything you have at any time."

Siming was stunned for a moment, then nodded silently. His fingertips subconsciously touched the star diamond on his chest, and his heart was filled with waves.

They continued forward, passing through the deepest corridor of the secret place, and stepped onto the stairs leading to the "Crown Star Place" -

This space seems to be suspended among the stars, covered by a huge invisible but clearly visible transparent dome.

Above our heads, the slowly turning constellations resemble the gears of fate itself whispering in the night.

Three huge circular mirror doors stand quietly in the center of the space, separated into three parts, with different runes engraved on their surfaces, representing three mysterious systems: world, life and destiny.

The Mirror Gate of Destiny is the quietest. It is like an open eye, its surface covered with flowing black and gold textures, as if it is slowly recording the breath of every person who approaches.

A staff member wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a dark grey robe stepped forward and stood respectfully before the two.
His gaze paused on Siming for a moment before he bowed slightly: "Lord Ruoli, is this His Excellency Siming?"

Ruoli nodded gently, a smile on her face: "Exactly. He will be performing the fate star-raising ceremony."

The staff member turned to Siming and said in a meticulous tone, "Please pay the ten mysterious gold coins required for the ceremony."

Sima Ming said nothing, took out a sealed box from his arms, slowly opened it, and handed out ten mysterious gold coins exchanged from the Dream Sea expedition one by one.

The moment each one fell into the hands of the staff, a faint life pattern vibration appeared, as if responding to his will.

The staff solemnly collected the gold coins, placed them in a copper box engraved with anti-curses, and carefully closed it.

He bowed again. "Registration for the Star Ascension Ceremony has been completed. Please wait while we open the Mirror Room for you."

After saying that, he left quickly, leaving behind a silent waiting in the starry sky.

Ruoli turned sideways and turned to Siming. The smile on her face faded a little, and her voice was low but sharp:

"Si Ming, I can remind you of one thing right now - star upgrade is not a glorious promotion ceremony, but a nightmare that will tear open your soul."

Her eyes revealed a rare hint of worry and solemnity.

"The Fate Mystic's Mirror Chamber is different from life and the world. It doesn't test your cards or your combat prowess, but whether you can—see yourself clearly."

Siming's expression was solemn: "What exactly do you mean by the 'price' you mentioned?"

Ruoli did not answer immediately, but looked up at the Mirror Gate of Destiny slowly turning in the darkness, and her tone dropped:

“The price of failure is sometimes staying where you are, and sometimes… losing everything you have now.”

She slowly raised her hand and pointed at Siming's chest, forehead, and shoulders, as if listing the parts he might lose.

"Reason, faith, memory, even the soul itself."

"It doesn't sound like a fair gamble," Siming chuckled, his tone revealing a bitter sobriety.

"But fate is never fair." Ruoli withdrew her hand, her eyes as cold as moonlight.
"What it loves most is to break the bones of those who dare to question it. And then watch them collapse without a smile."

Siming was silent for a moment, but a glimmer of stubbornness ignited in his eyes: "But I still want to give it a try."

Ruoli smiled, her eyes revealing a long-lost admiration: "Very good. You are indeed the gambler chosen by fate, Siming."

At this time, the staff member returned and saluted, saying, "Sir, the Mirror of Destiny Room is ready. You may enter at any time."

Siming walked to the mirror door with slow but firm steps.

He stared at the mirror that looked like an eye in the sea of ​​stars. A drop of light like a water droplet dripped from its center, as if reflecting his countless possible futures.

He turned around and looked at Ruoli, wanting to say something, but he only saw her looking at him quietly, with a complicated look in her eyes, as if she was saying goodbye, or as if she was seeing him off.

"Go in, Siming." Ruoli said softly, "Destiny has been waiting for you for a long time. No matter what you see inside - don't believe it easily. The shadow in the mirror is never just a shadow."

Sima Ming nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly stepped into the mirror door.

Ripples appeared on the mirror, and his figure was swallowed up by the whirlpool of fate.

The mirror door slowly closed, and the starlight rippled like water, returning to tranquility.

Ruoli stood in front of the door for a long time without moving, and the smile on her face had long faded.

She looked at the door, her eyes so deep that it seemed as if she could see through the thousands of faces of life behind the mirror.

"Destiny..." she murmured, "never lets go of any madman who dares to gamble with it."

"Si Ming, can you...really be that exception?"

"When the mirror door closes, fate and lies intertwine like shadows."

"Only those who face truth and falsehood can awaken from the sleeping stars."

(End of this chapter)