Chapter 15 Apprentice of the Future

　　This teenager didn’t expect that he could pass the second test so easily and felt a sense of joy secretly!

　　The door panel was so amazing! He felt like he had been inside for a long time, but it turned out that the time was less than a minute in reality! While he was feeling pleased, he saw the old man reach out and push the huge bronze door effortlessly, and the black and white door slowly opened. "Follow me in. This will be our residence from now on - the Chivalry Hero Pavilion."

　　Gu Moxun had thought the earlier scenes were mere illusions. Then he looked up again. A plaque stretched across the metal gate. Three ancient, vigorous Chinese characters gleamed in gold—侠义阁 (Chivalry Hero Pavilion). So, his previous visions weren’t imaginary! So, what’s the meaning of those words on both sides? Curious about the characters on either side, he asked Master Wei.

　　The elder glanced at the couplets and said, “This is a pair of couplets explaining the meaning of ‘chivalry and righteousness.’ Once you pass the trials and hear Chu Mufan’s story, you’ll naturally understand the essence of chivalry. Enough talk—let’s go!”

　　“Chivalry-hero?” What’s it? The words felt unfamiliar, yet reading the couplets stirred a surge in his heart...

　　Composing himself, Gu Moxun followed the elder inside. A casual glance beyond the gate left him stunned.

　　The space behind the door was enormous—grotesquely so! It seemed less a “guild” and more a “chivalrous cave,” a vast grotto hidden within.

　　With a drop of over 60 meters, the chamber made him feel minuscule, as spacious as a starship landing pad! Rows of cargo containers, glass partitions, and wooden bookshelves stood neatly. Though diverse in style and material, they shared uniform heights of 20–30 meters, looming in the cave like monoliths sprouting from the earth! How does one reach the items at their peaks? he wondered.

　　Filled with various artifacts, the cabinets resembled a colossal museum of all things! Above, models of the Milky Way’s planets and stars floated, orbiting in perfect order.

　　Just a single glance, the teenager knew that these were replicas of worlds that humanity had explored or colonized. So lifelike were they that Gu Moxun easily spotted Mars and Earth. They were identical to the views from the Swan spacecraft.

　　Wei Zhengdao was clearly no stranger to the contents of these cabinets and showed no intention of stopping.

　　This was tough for the young teenager, who at his age was naturally curious about everything. Gazing at the dazzling array of rare items in the hall and the splendid Milky Way model overhead, he could hardly move. But with the master pressing ahead and the Chosen One's story on his mind, Gu Moxun forced himself to look away and follow the elder...

　　He trailed Wei Zhengdao to a semi-circular glass platform nearby. The moment they stepped on it, the platform began to rise. Virtual buttons projected from the handrail displayed heights and destinations.

　　"This is a floating platform—height adjustable. Just press a button to fly where you want. There are many docking points here; you'll get the hang of it. Come, let's view the entire Chivalry Hero Pavilion Hall from above!" As Wei Zhengdao spoke, he maneuvered the platform, which rose smoothly to 40–50 meters.

　　Gu Moxun felt he could almost touch the star models!

　　After Master Wei performed a while, the platform glided forward steadily. As Gu Moxun looked through the glass deck, he saw rows of cabinets pass beneath. From high above, a closer look revealed that these towering cabinets were arranged in an orderly manner according to some pattern, neatly divided into dozens of areas, containing a wide variety of things, each different.

　　Among the things, Gu Moxun could recognize and name various animal and plant specimens, samples of various ores and crystals, prototypes of various machines and firearms. There were also many unknown things, either placed on platforms or sealed for preservation...

　　Gu Moxun glanced at the cabinets sliding continuously beneath his feet and the strange items inside them. And the magnificent star images above, the bustling starry universe...

　　Suddenly, he felt a surge of excitement and lofty aspirations, an impulse to roar out loud! If it weren't for the elder standing beside him, the childlike innocence, which the teenager had buried and suppressed for so long, might have burst out unbridled at this moment.

　　All of this made a desire for freedom and a carefree life arose in the young mind of the teenager. This vague thought slowly turned into a seed, a belief, or perhaps a dream.

　　Years later, this lofty ambition to yearn for freedom and roam the world would accompany the teenager's growth, making him a legendary figure no less remarkable than Chu Mufan and Wei Zhengdao. Of course, this was a story for later, and also the plot of the second part, which would not be elaborated here for the time being.

　　……

　　Gu Moxun was thoroughly engrossed in the view when Wei Zhengdao beside him chuckled and said, "Well? Had your fill of this tour? If not, you can come back to take your time once you pass the trials. This is the main hall of the Chivalry Hero Pavilion. The items stored in these cabinets below are all things brought up from Earth back in the day. Once you pass the trials, you can come here to study—many of these collections are the prototypes mentioned in the Alliance's course materials! The ceiling here has the best star system simulation map in the entire Alliance; you'll mostly need to use it when studying space-related subjects in the future. Alright, hurry over here. I still need to make some preparations."

　　Gu Moxun, who was still lingering on the sight, only then realized that the floating platform had already landed on an empty spot midway up the wall. He quickly lifted his feet and stepped onto the empty ground. Once the teenager drew near, the elder pressed something on a watch-like device around his wrist. Immediately, Zheng Feng's voice came through: "Hello, Master Wei!"

　　"Hi! I've picked up the boy. How's the data sorting coming along on your end?" Wei Zhengdao asked sharply.

　　"Er, just finished! I was about to start analyzing it..."

　　"Hold off on the analysis. Come over here—you're needed for the final trial."

　　"Oh, right away! Did Xiao Xun pass the second test that quickly?"

　　"Yep!" The elder grunted a short reply, and then led the teenager deeper into the Chivalry Hero Pavilion...

　　Wei Zhengdao lived in a three-story small building. It was unclear what method he had used to embed this antique-style building into the wall of the Chivalry Hero Pavilion.

　　The three-story building featured a golden roof, wooden walls, carved beams, and painted rafters.

　　The wooden pillars and walls were coated with clear natural-color varnish. Various vivid wood carvings adorned them, and the roof of each floor was covered with golden glazed tiles. The entire architectural style was an ancient one that brought a sense of peace and relaxation to the heart...