In the epic expanse of what could only be described as the architectural equivalent of a giant flexing its muscles, Lynx stood—with a mix of envy and a slight crick in her neck—from gawking up at the most ginormous edifice she'd ever clapped her eyeballs on. 

I mean, we're talking mega-enormous. It made three-story buildings look like they were constructed out of a toddler’s building blocks—adorable, but hardly impressive.

Peering at the gate, eyes wide enough to rival saucers in the "World's Largest Tea Set," Lynx caught sight of twinkling little golden dragon doodles sashaying like they owned the place. 

(Pssst, dragons, you're gold, we get it, you're shiny—no need to show off.) The gate radiated tomb vibes, but like, the kind of tomb that throws you a ‘Welcome to the Afterlife!’ party, not the ‘Sorry about the mummy's curse’ one.

With a swagger in her step that could only be described as royal—with all the pomp and circumstance of a queen at her own jubilee—Lynx near the door. And lo and behold, as if it recognized true majesty, the door crept open, as lazily as a teenager on a school morning. 

That's when it hit her, "Why do I feel like I just got promoted to queenhood?" 

She pondered, giving her chest a pat in the most queenly fashion someone named Lynx could muster, her heart thumping away like it was trying to win gold in the 100-meter sprint. 

Empowered by a fervent zeal and undeterred tenacity, Lady Lynx girded up her loins to embark upon a quest of extraordinary magnitude within the hallowed confines of the enigmatic temple. 

—Twaa Mph! 

With the subtle click and inevitable thud of finality as the stone gate sealed shut behind her, she found herself ensconced within the ancient sanctuary's embrace, a realm where time seemed to fold in on itself like a curious origami crane of history. 

Not one to be easily daunted by the prospect of a terminus to her ingress, Lynx's keen gaze swept across a peculiar congregation of diminutive abodes that dotted the temple's interior like a pantheon of miniaturized pavilions at a grandiose exhibition. 

Each edifice, though quaint in stature, bore the solemnity of a monastic cell, hinting at a profound singularity of function within its quartet of walls.

As these architectural anomalies were lucent veils, ephemeral as a dragonfly's wings yet luminous with the luminescence of the aurora borealis, each solemnly proclaiming the cultivation rank requisite for passage through its hallowed thresholds. 

A sonorous timbre, omnipresent and resonant as the beat of a ceremonial drum, permeated the sacred expanse with its decree: [Only a person who matches the same requirements can enter the Gate of the Battle Temple.]

And thus did Queen Lynx stand, undaunted in a lakeside of stillness, her resolve unshaken, as the clarion call of destiny invite to her inner warrior, challenging her to transcend the mundane and align her own prowess with the arcane criteria set forth by this arena of champions. 

In this fantastical land where the norm was hopping between realms and casually busting out Qi moves like they were part of a Zumba class, Lynx faced an otherworldly predicament. 

She read the memo that popped up in midair like a mystical spam ad, [Battle temple of resolute will: requirements - At least a cultivator on Qi refining and first Stage Rank / Maximum Rank is Foundation realms with 9th Stage Rank.]

With a bemused squint that one has when trying to read the fine print on a contract without their glasses, Lynx assessed her situation. 

She was as ready for this as a cat at a dog show. Nonchalantly scratching the top of her nose, as if trying to summon some divine inspiration via itchy face morse code, she taps on her options in brain.

Eventually, with a shrug that would impress even the most disinterested teenager, Lynx ambled over to one of the houses. 

It was like walking into an exam room where the only study you'd done was looking at the cover of the textbook.

Pep-talking herself, she mumbled, "A ninja must assess their 'ninja-ness' and strive for... even... ninja-ier heights?" 

With that dubious nugget of wisdom, she boldly slid the house door aside…

—BAM! 

As Golden light slapped her in the face like a sunbeam with personal issues. 

Just as she thought she was about to uncover some secret or at least fall upon a philosophical paradox, the door slammed shut behind her, leaving her blinking away the audacious brightness.

When her vision cleared, she found herself in the ultimate ninja nightmare - not a stealthy shadow in sight.

Instead, she stood in a void that made her feel like she had been tricked into playing the lead in a play where the script was a single blank page. 

“SHIT!” Disgruntled, Lynx muttered a curse, feeling as if the realm and the system had just 'left her on read.' "Why the heck I can't sense anything? Did I just walk into an interdimensional prank show?"

There she was, in the company of nothingness but a mythical creature that looked like it had wandered out of a fantasy convention, lost and confused. 

It was the kind of betrayal you feel when you open a can of peanuts only to be met with a springy snake. But like any good ninja stuck in an existential sitcom, Lynx knew the show must go on. 

The mystical creature that stood before Lynx bore an otherworldly visage, a composition of disparate elements seamlessly blended into a fantastical whole. 

Its regal appearance has horns of a deer's antlers, gracefully arching upwards, adding an ethereal quality to its countenance. 

The eyes, a focal point, held an eerie semblance to devil's eyeballs, radiating a different glow that hinted at a depth of wisdom and ancient knowledge.

The creature's form is undulated with a long, snake-like body, sinuously coiling in an intricate dance of serpentine elegance. 

Its movements ring a mesmerizing fluidity, evoking a sense of both danger and grace. 

The abdomen, strikingly unique, mirrored that of a large rooster, its plumes intricately detailed, creating a juxtaposition of the mythical and the earthly in a harmonious fusion.

Scales were on the creature's form, of those found on a carp, shone in an iridescent array of hues that played with the ambient light. 

Each scale seemed to tell a tale of ages past, hinting at the ancient mysteries encapsulated within the creature's very essence. 

Its claws bore the fierce elegance of an eagle, each talon honed to perfection, capable of both delicate precision and formidable strength.

These powerful appendages grounded the creature with an air of authority, further accentuating the blend of diverse elements within its form.

(A fucking big dragon.) Lynx found herself gazing upon an imposing figure—an enormous sized Chinese mythological creature whose magnitude left her awestruck yet lacking any visible display of emotion.

“Embrace your fears within your own consciousness instead of succumbing to physical battles.” The dragon uttered with a heavy voice, presenting its big face to her. Its voice resembled a male and muscular.

Each pronouncement seemed to weigh heavily on Lynx, causing her to swallow nervously. She could not help but question her decision to enter the temple so confidently.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a revelatory moment washed over her, Only her to recall harrowing episodes of captivity in a pitch-black chamber.

A sudden epiphany dawned on Lynx as she understood the gravity of the situation.

Anxious that it might be related to the dragon's warning, memories of her past confinement in a dark, oppressive room flooded her mind with vivid clarity.

"If that’s then… P-Please! Don't show me anything." In a plea tinged with desperation, she implored the dragon to spare her from revisiting those haunting memories, fervently hoping to avoid confronting that dark chapter of her life once more.

But… the dragon, with a hint of reproach in its gaze, questioned her "Why? Are you afraid of your own memory? If you do not want to… it's okay... you can live in this black space for your eternal lifetime." 

The dragon's piercing eyes betrayed a sense of frustration, Anger, Rage and sympathy upon diving into Lynx's thoughts and memories.

This exchange underscores the internal struggle faced by Lynx as she grapples with the prospect of confronting her past traumas and the dragon's challenge to accepting them as part of her journey towards self-discovery and growth.

Although invoking the thought of one's past may seem unkind, there are indeed merits to be gained from such introspection. 

Lynx, now embodying evidence of this duality, was gripped by apprehensions stemming both from her previous experiences and the presence of the dragon before her.

This statement highlights the paradoxical nature of remembering the past; while it can cause distress and discomfort, it can also serve as a catalyst for personal development and healing. 

This concept is exemplified in Lynx's current predicament, where she is as a poignant illustration of the potential outcomes resulting from engaging with one's history.

[A.N— You can read 10 additional chapter on patreon with membership. You can join in future if you like it.]