The Dawn of the New World

"I would not be in this pain had I not challenged your position, please accept my sincerest apologies-"

His forehead was touching the ground in utter servitude but it was the veracity of his voice that called out to Hao Xuan. This was perhaps the first time since stepping into the sanctum that he had come across someone who meant what he said without any ulterior motives.

"You have nothing to apologize for," Hao Xuan quickly added, "I understand better than most how one can lose oneself in a moment of anger," he threw a nasty side-eye to the Old Witch.

She antagonized him from the moment she opened her mouth so he was hardly to blame. Hao Xuan was ready to move on but in another surprising development, the ape took a stand against the old witch's presence despite the recent revelation.

"-But I cannot allow this abomination to darken my doors in good conscience. This creature, I don't know what she has told you but she can never be trusted!"

Hao Xuan looked up at Baba Jezda's floating figure and from her expression it was obvious she had expected this. She quickly reached into her robes and pulled out some metal blocks and chains before throwing them at the ape's kowtowing figure.

"You needn't be in my presence for a moment longer as long as you do what is asked of you. Bind these to the champion's blood and soul and let us end this fortuitous encounter here and now."

But the ape remained still. His entire body was shaking in anger and even Hao Xuan could tell that he was about to lose control.

"My Lord, please...forgive my behavior but if I have to hear one more word from this creature's mouth I will no longer be able to hold myself back."

Hao Xuan's gaze turned cold and his expression somber. He knew he had to take a stand and get in the ape's good graces.

"Leave us, there is nothing for you to do here anymore," he waved his hand shooing the Old Witch away like a stray dog.

With an ugly expression, her figure began to fade away into the background until there was nothing left of it. Her voice echoed above the lake one last time, "Your time here is limited, do not forget that."

Only when he was sure the witch was gone did the ape raise his head in a somewhat relaxed manner. Mendax let out a breath of relief and came up behind him patting the ape on the shoulder.

"Do only what you must, don't get involved in whatever she is cooking now...it never ends well," he whispered in his ear not so inconspicuously before walking back up the volcano, leaving them alone.

Hao Xuan crossed the land bridge to step foot onto the island at which point the changed scenery once again. Rather than a mostly empty open space, it was a giant hall with countless doors in every other direction.

The island was in fact a separate little space within the ape's domain and now that Hao Xuan was inside he could see what it actually looked like. From the outside it only looked to be around 15-20 meters wide but from the inside, it had to be over 500 meters wide if not more.

Hao Xuan couldn't help but look around at the literal mounds of sparkling ores and raw minerals sitting out in the open giving off majestic auras. There were dozens of old wood tables filled with all kinds of finished weapons, armor, and gadgets that one could possibly imagine.

Hell, there was even a half-finished Automaton hanging by chains near the ceiling. It was gold and silver in color but even Hao Xuan could tell that the materials used to construct it were not nearly as ordinary.

It was an entirely artificial construct that behaved like a living person but was in fact an immortal tool used by some ancient races in the ages long past. He had never actually seen one in such a great condition.

They were usually traded as gifts between the rich and powerful to show their status, nothing more than a harmless ornament.

The one hanging in front of Hao Xuan was missing its lower half and parts of the head. It was about 1.2 meters in length in the shape of a humanoid. It looked almost brand new giving Hao Xuan the illusion that if he reached out and touched it, it would wake up and answer.

He walked up to it in a daze, reaching out with his right hand before catching himself in the act. The ape saw Hao Xuan's interest and chose to part with some valuable information.

"It was found a few centuries ago in the tomb of an ancient cultivator. It was guarding the entrance and managed to kill two groups of grave robbers before some of its more sensitive elements broke down. The third group took it apart to sell piece by piece. I have only managed to find half of them so far."