CHAPTER 369: RETURN

Before he could fully process this revelation, the Golden Headband spoke once more, its voice echoing even more deeply in Orion’s mind:

[Congratulations for breaking the previous record and passing the 40th Step on your first attempt. You have been placed at the 10th Rank of this floor.]

Orion stared blankly at the space in front of him, speechless for several moments. His heart raced, realization slowly dawning upon him.

He had not only succeeded in a seemingly impossible challenge but also shattered a longstanding record on his first attempt. Even Lumi remained momentarily stunned, silent at Orion’s incredible feat.

"Ranked tenth already, huh?" Orion finally murmured softly, breaking the quiet stillness surrounding him.

Despite his battered condition, a small yet satisfied smile appeared on his lips. Still, exhaustion clouded his mind heavily, reminding him of the toll this achievement had exacted.

He slowly shook his head, gathering himself together. His expression softened slightly, a gentle sigh escaping his lips. "I should return now. I don’t even know how much time has passed here," Orion whispered, his voice faint. "Grandpa and Grandma must be worried sick."

Lumi immediately echoed his concern, her voice gentle but anxious. [Yes, Master, it’s been months since we arrived here. They must be concerned as hell. Let’s hurry back for now. We can return to explore more later.]

Orion nodded slowly, casting one last lingering glance toward the crystalline stairway stretching endlessly upward, its radiant brilliance silently beckoning challengers forward.

Though eager to explore further, Orion knew that now was not the right moment. His current priority was returning home safely to ease his family’s worries.

Exhaling deeply once more, Orion quietly activated the Golden Headband, mentally commanding it to get him back.

Instantly, the headband responded. Warm golden light enveloped Orion gently, the familiar sensation comforting.

The staircase and the vast expanse around him slowly faded away, dissolving into particles of golden brilliance as Orion vanished entirely from sight.

Meanwhile, at the second zone, a large gathering of other trial takers who had silently watched Orion’s astonishing performance stood frozen, staring incredulously at the now-empty space where Orion had just vanished.

Shock and disbelief filled their expressions, whispers rapidly spreading among the stunned observers.

"Did you see that? He cleared the 40th Step on his first attempt! That’s unheard of!"

"Who exactly is this dude?!"

Without further hesitation, several individuals rushed toward a towering, ornate board placed beside the staircase, a special ranking board reserved for the highest achievers among challengers.

Their eyes widened collectively in astonishment upon seeing the glowing new entry placed clearly at the tenth spot:

[10th Rank - Primus]

Whispers erupted among the gathered crowd, voices filled with surprise, curiosity, and a slight hint of envy.

"Another monster has joined us. How are we supposed to compete with someone who clears the 40th Step on their first try?"

"How did he get access to the Monkey King’s legacy? It couldn’t have been easy. Is he one of those rare geniuses chosen directly by Lord Wukong himself?"

Others nodded solemnly, understanding that the Monkey King’s legacy could be obtained through numerous methods. Some discovered the corpse of a previous trial taker, others inherited it from their predecessors, others luckily chanced upon it without a trial, and many more.

Yet among all the different kinds of trial takers, a single particular group stood out—the people who passed the test of Wukong himself.

Everyone wondered which category Primus belonged to.

"Regardless of how he gained it, he’s clearly not ordinary. We’ll have to watch closely."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, speculation and excitement reverberating throughout the space.

Meanwhile, atop the ranking board, Primus’s name glowed quietly, a testament to Orion’s exceptional talent and relentless determination.

Back in his familiar room, Orion slowly opened his eyes, still sitting cross-legged atop the meditation mat, exactly as he had been before he’d entered the Legacy Grounds.

The serene silence, illuminated gently by the afternoon sunlight filtering through the large windows, felt oddly surreal.

Everything remained precisely as he’d left it. The peacefulness and stillness of the room were a striking contrast to the grueling challenges and intense pressure he’d endured within the Monkey King’s Legacy.

Exhaling a long breath, Orion’s gaze drifted slowly toward the window. The gentle, golden rays of the afternoon sun bathed the room in comforting warmth, painting soft patterns across the polished wooden floor. Nothing had changed at all.

With a puzzled expression, Orion murmured softly, "I wonder how long has passed."

Lumi remained silent for a brief moment, her usually bright and bubbly presence tinged with a strange, curious uncertainty.

Finally, she murmured quietly within Orion’s Sea of Consciousness,

[Strange... the time... it seems strange.]

Orion immediately raised an eyebrow, sensing the confusion in Lumi’s voice. Concerned yet intrigued, he questioned, "What do you mean? How is it strange?"

Rather than merely speaking, Lumi materialized her translucent System screen form before him.

Her avatar gently floated midair, her text pointing toward the Silent Hall Cube placed at the center of the room. Her voice resonated softly, thoughtful yet slightly bewildered,

[Look at that, Master. The Silent Hall Cube has barely used any mana from the mana crystals you put in it—if at all. It seems like time was nearly paused while we were inside the Legacy Grounds.]

Orion’s expression froze briefly, realization dawning upon him like a sudden burst of clarity. His eyes widened slightly, staring fixedly at the cube. "I see, so that’s the case," he finally whispered, shaking his head slightly in admiration and disbelief.

"Damn, this is something else. Time manipulation at such a massive scale... as expected of the Monkey King."

He quietly laughed under his breath, unable to fully suppress the awe and wonderment welling within his heart.

The power to control or nearly halt the flow of time itself on such a massive scale that it affects not only his world but all other worlds... such strength and profound understanding left him both shocked and inspired.

With another gentle shake of his head, Orion felt exhaustion weighing heavily upon him once again. Now that he knew little to no actual time had passed, his body and soul clearly remembered the intensity of the trials.

Rising carefully from the meditation mat, Orion stretched slightly, allowing his muscles to loosen and relax. "I will just rest then," he said softly, smiling wryly at Lumi. "Too much stress for a single day."

Lumi’s translucent screen gently floated along beside him as he moved toward his bed. Her voice carried amusement as she responded warmly, [It was a long... day? Hehe, it was certainly eventful, Master.]

Orion chuckled lightly, nodding in quiet agreement. Yet, just as he was about to reply, a familiar warmth bloomed across his forehead once again.

Orion paused, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion as the Golden Headband softly materialized upon his brow.

Before he could voice his confusion, a separate golden-tinged screen shimmered into existence before him. It hovered gently, glowing with radiance. On it, Orion clearly saw a single new message:

Continuum: Oh? We have a new member? Primus? Come on, introduce yourself to your seniors here.

Orion stared incredulously at the screen, momentarily stunned into silence. It felt surreal to him—he couldn’t believe he was seeing this in this world.