In the wizarding world, a legendary wizard at level six could fly freely through the skies.
In the past, the Death Monarch Emperor Medusa herself had once attempted to reach the very limits of the heavens, seeking the fabled realm of the gods.
But this world's sky was far too high and distant.
"According to the records, even Emperor Medusa reached a height of thirty thousand zhang before encountering an impassable barrier," Li Shengjiang sat solemnly upon his throne, approaching this divine journey with extreme caution.
"However, even for someone as powerful as Medusa, sustaining flight at such heights was extremely exhausting. Back then, after reaching the thirty-thousand-zhang ceiling and exploring briefly, she quickly exhausted her spiritual power and had no choice but to descend."
The Alchemy Emperor frowned slightly in contemplation.
"Medusa lacked sufficient magic power to sustain prolonged exploration of the heavens. But my creation—the legendary alchemical wonder, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon—possesses the necessary endurance to navigate continuously along the celestial boundary."
The female ministers respectfully stood on either side, observing their emperor as he stood at the edge of the Hanging Gardens. Looking upward at the endless blue expanse, he whispered softly, "Since the gods live in the heavens above, the celestial dome must have a gap—an entrance to the realm of the gods."
What nonsense are you imagining?!
A gap in the sky?
There was none!
There definitely wasn't any gap!
Xu Zhi felt speechless.
In their eyes, Xu Zhi was a towering giant of ten thousand zhang in height, and the thirty-thousand-zhang-tall sky was merely about three times his height—the natural boundary of this miniature world.
The sky, just like the earth below and the surrounding borders, had no real openings.
But now, if Li Shengjiang couldn't find something extraordinary, Xu Zhi's carefully crafted lie would be exposed. They would discover no gods existed above, and their entire world was just an elaborate hoax—a Truman-like reality.
Yet, if they believed in a gap that led to the realm of the gods, Xu Zhi had no choice but to create one, lest his illusion crumble.
With this thought, Xu Zhi picked up a large black industrial-grade electric fan from his orchard, began connecting cables and power strips, and carefully positioned it toward the distant airspace above the sandbox.
"Fortunately, I had prepared this in advance. I'll just open a small gap in the sandbox's outer sky boundary."
"But right at this world's entrance, I'll set up this super-powered fan to blow nonstop."
"I declare: Above the ninth heaven, endless destructive astral winds exist! Any mortal daring to ascend and ignite the divine flame will be blown back to the mortal world!"
Astral winds in the sky—created by an industrial fan.
Passages to other worlds—constructed from white water pipes embedded in the ground.
Just thinking about it felt strangely exhilarating.
…
Year 429 of the Babylonian Kingdom.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon had flown along the celestial boundary for over five months. Having made three brief descents to replenish their energy source, they had explored most of the world's upper boundary.
In the ancient Sumerian era, even the fastest giant beast would take more than twenty years to explore from one end of the world to another. But now, Babylon could survey the entire celestial boundary in a mere year, thanks to the legendary alchemical artifact—the Hanging Gardens.
A massive flying machine.
Science and knowledge truly were the ultimate sources of productivity and power.
On this particular day, Li Shengjiang stood near the railing of the Hanging Gardens, gazing deeply into the distant blue heavens. Suddenly, he spotted a strange and magnificent sight far ahead.
"What's that?!"
In the distance, a chaotic, transparent vortex surged violently, distorting and expanding rapidly, forming a tremendous storm.
Even from thousands of meters away, the enormous Babylonian Hanging Gardens struggled to remain steady.
"Your Majesty!"
The ministers approached respectfully.
"Hahaha!" Li Shengjiang suddenly burst into hearty laughter. Rising to his feet, he gazed excitedly into the violent storm before them.
"After seven long months of skyward exploration, we've finally found it. Indeed, the sky does have a gap. Beyond that storm's eye surely lies the realm of the gods!"
Holding his staff in one hand and his shield in the other, Grantham stood firm, staring determinedly into the terrifying winds. Behind him, several witches stood quietly.
"Your Majesty, that storm is far too dangerous. I'm afraid we—"
A gentle reminder came from behind.
"Indeed, it is terrifying," Li Shengjiang whispered. Even from a distance, the immense power of the storm left him breathless, let alone the prospect of passing through it.
"But I must still try."
Li Shengjiang clenched his fist, his eyes burning with ambition and resolve.
I've already come this far. Why hesitate now?
My glorious life—establishing an advanced civilization, spreading technology, investing countless years—has finally led me to the legendary realm of the gods. How could I stop now?
I have my ambitions!
Though he stood at the peak of the sixth-level wizardry, Li Shengjiang clearly understood he lacked the prodigious talent of someone like Medusa. He felt that even after all these years, he might never break through to the seventh level, the height Medusa had attained.
After all, he knew his strengths lay in alchemy and technological advancement, not pure wizardry.
Even now, he had yet to create any original spells, still relying on those inherited from the Three Witches' era.
But wearing "Grantham," his alchemical suit, he could surpass a full level, effectively reaching peak level-seven strength, equal to the legendary hero-king Gilgamesh.
"Back then, Hermes, God of Wisdom, told the Three Witches that Gilgamesh held pseudo-divine power. So, I now also possess pseudo-divine strength. Can I cross this storm and reach 'Achilles,' the realm of gods?"
His eyes ignited with a blazing fire of expectation.
"All of you, stay here."
He leaped forward, walking upward into the invisible steps toward the endless storm.
Boom!
The storm roared furiously.
"Today, on behalf of mortal men, I, the Emperor of Babylon, shall visit the gods above!"
Whoosh!
Invisible blades of wind sliced at his alchemical body, attempting to fling him away. Yet, Li Shengjiang moved steadily, unaffected.
"Your Majesty!"
"His Majesty has grown unimaginably powerful!"
Behind him, countless witches watched in awe.
The emperor's strength had reached a terrifying realm beyond their comprehension.
"This guy defeated Medusa years ago. Now, he's unbelievably powerful, nearly inhuman."
Xu Zhi watched the scene unfold, his brows furrowed in mild astonishment.
"This isn't a regular fan—it's an industrial-grade model worth over twenty thousand yuan. Originally intended for apocalyptic storms to reset the sandbox in emergencies. Level one wind is enough to flip through the pages of a thick dictionary effortlessly."
Yet now, a tiny ant-sized wizard was resisting winds capable of blowing away heavy books—unbelievable!
"Your courage is commendable, but I cannot allow you up here," Xu Zhi murmured calmly, deciding this was a good chance to assess wizard strength, similar to how he tested Gilgamesh before.
"Level two."
Xu Zhi clicked the remote. The wind instantly doubled in strength, becoming overwhelming.
Even standing before it made breathing difficult. Leaves and paper boxes nearby were immediately swept away.
Yet—
Step!
Another step.
"I, Li Shengjiang, reincarnated in another world as the Alchemy Emperor, refuse to bow before gods or men! Mere gods of another world…"
His determined expression held a fierce will. Struggling forward, he still pressed on, though the wind's strength had doubled.
"Spring's Protection!"
"Wind Barrier!"
"Invisible Air Body!"
"Death Wall!"
Spell after powerful spell was cast to protect him. Teeth clenched, staff firmly in hand, he fought through the tempest.
Step!
Another step.
"Nothing in this world can hinder me. Not even the gods above…"
"Level five," Xu Zhi casually clicked, instantly shifting from level two directly to the highest setting.
Boom!!
An overwhelming gust burst forth, like a furious beast roaring ferociously.
Roar!!
The wind from this industrial fan now approached a devastating, typhoon-level force, instantly blowing chairs aside.
The tiny ant Li Shengjiang finally couldn't hold on. Swept off by the overwhelming winds, he plummeted uncontrollably from the sky.
Bang!
Crashing down heavily, Li Shengjiang was severely injured. Witches aboard the Hanging Gardens quickly cast protective spells, catching him safely.
"I've been invincible my entire life in this world, yet now… I've been utterly defeated."
Li Shengjiang stared bitterly at the endless storm above.
"I already dominate this world but still can't reach the realm of the gods. That wind—it's terrifying. What kind of world-class spell is this? It's eternal, endless… this storm won't cease for thousands of years."
Shaken deeply, Li Shengjiang realized his insignificance.
He believed himself invincible, only now realizing he was merely a humble mortal ignored by gods above.
Perhaps in their eyes, he was just a fleeting existence, forgotten within their mere blink.
Weakness itself was a sin.
"I almost broke through… level eight. If I could just reach that mythic level, perhaps I could cross this storm."
Li Shengjiang's expression darkened. Resolutely, he turned away, vowing silently, "Once I reach level seven like Medusa, wearing Grantham, I'll have level-eight strength."
The Spear of the Magnificent Wizards recorded:
"In Year 429 of Babylon, Alchemy Emperor Grantham ascended to the heavens aboard the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Yet, upon encountering the 'Eye of the Storm, Gigantes,' he failed to pass and could not meet the gods."