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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Yuan put away the Holographic Map, his brow furrowed. Li Honghe's earlier explanation had stirred a sense of unease within him—there seemed to be intricate connections between the parallel world's Lingqi Mine Vein and Earth's dragon vein.
"So, you believe there is an Entrance to the parallel world hidden deep in the mountains of Xiangxi?" Lin Yuan looked directly into Li Honghe's eyes, trying to catch any hint of suspicious emotional fluctuations.
Li Honghe nodded, a fervent light flickering in his eyes. "Exactly. According to our research, the Dragon Vein Ruins are the connection point between the two worlds. Once we find the Entrance, we can travel more conveniently between them."
"It sounds like a treasure hunt," Zhou Haoran adjusted his glasses, a teasing tone in his voice. "But I'm more curious as to why this Entrance happens to be in Xiangxi."
Su Jiu'er took out an Ancient Compass from her backpack and gently traced the patterns on it. "Xiangxi has been a gathering place for Lingqi since ancient times. The 'Ghost Domain' mentioned in folklore is actually a manifestation of Lingqi's unusual activity." Her voice was soft yet authoritative. "In the records left by my ancestors, there are snippets about the Dragon Vein Ruins."
"It seems our collaboration is essential," Li Honghe smiled slightly. "Tomorrow morning, we will set off for the deep mountains of Xiangxi to search for the Entrance to the Dragon Vein Ruins."
As night fell, the Energy Barrier around the camp emitted a faint blue glow, isolating them from external dangers. Lin Yuan stood alone at the edge of the camp, gazing at the starry sky in a daze.
"Can't sleep?" Su Jiu'er’s voice came from behind him.
Lin Yuan turned around and saw that the compass in Su Jiu'er’s hand was glowing with an ancient light under the moon. "I just feel like things aren't that simple."
"Do you think so too?" Su Jiu'er walked over to Lin Yuan's side and whispered, "My compass has been vibrating since we entered this camp; it seems to be warning me about something."
"Stay alert; unexpected situations may arise tomorrow." Lin Yuan's gaze swept across the several tents in the camp as he contemplated various possibilities.
The next morning, the group prepared to set off. In addition to Lin Yuan, Su Jiu'er, and Zhou Haoran, Zhao Yunfei and Wang Shijie from Tianhua Kingdom's Cultivator community joined the exploration team.
Zhao Yunfei appeared to be a gentle young man who claimed to be a Cultural Promoter for the Tianhua National Qi Gong Association; Wang Shijie, on the other hand, was a Qigong Researcher with an air of elusive coldness in his eyes.
"According to Miss Su's compass, we need to head northwest for about thirty kilometers," Li Honghe checked his Portable Navigation Device. "There is a concealed valley there that may very well be the location of the Dragon Vein Ruins."
A group of people embarked on a journey to find the Dragon Vein Ruins. The vegetation along the way was denser than the day before, and the Lingqi in the air grew increasingly rich, giving Lin Yuan a wonderful sense of comfort.
"This feeling is just like coming home," Zhou Haoran said, taking a deep breath with an expression of ecstasy on his face. "The nourishing effect of Lingqi on the human body is truly magical."
Wang Shijie scoffed, "This is just the most basic reaction of Lingqi. If you had ever witnessed a real Lingqi Mine Vein, you wouldn't be surprised by such small favors."
Lin Yuan shot a glance at Wang Shijie but chose not to respond. This person had made him uncomfortable from the very beginning, as if he were hiding some unspeakable secret.
After about four hours of travel, Su Jiu'er’s compass suddenly began to vibrate violently. "Stop!" she exclaimed urgently. "We are getting close to our target."
The group halted and looked around. They found themselves in a small basin surrounded by mountains, with a rushing stream flowing through the center. At the end of the stream was a waterfall over ten meters high, splashing water that formed a rainbow in the sunlight.
"The entrance to the Dragon Vein Ruins is behind that waterfall," Su Jiu'er asserted confidently, as the compass needle pointed frantically toward the waterfall.
Lin Yuan approached the waterfall, feeling the mist hitting his face. With the aid of his Time Manipulator, he could sense an unnatural spatial fluctuation behind the waterfall, like an entrance to some kind of passageway.
"It seems Miss Su's compass is indeed remarkable," Zhao Yunfei said as he walked up to Su Jiu'er, admiration shining in his eyes. "No wonder she is a descendant of an archaeological family."
Su Jiu'er nodded slightly but did not let her guard down. Her gaze continuously scanned the surrounding environment, as if searching for something.
"We need to pass through the waterfall to enter the ruins," Lin Yuan said. "The current is strong, so everyone be careful."
Just as they were about to cross the waterfall, a strange wind suddenly blew through, rustling the leaves around them as if conveying some kind of warning.
"Someone's coming!" Su Jiu'er suddenly whispered, her compass vibrating violently in her hand, nearly slipping from her grasp.
As soon as the words fell, a dozen shadows flashed in from all directions, surrounding everyone. At the forefront was a woman clad in a black robe, her expression stern, with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
“Lu Min!” Lin Yuan exclaimed, shock and anger flickering in his gaze.
Lu Min's lips curled into a slight smile. “Long time no see, my dear student. I never expected to reunite in a place like this; it truly is fate's arrangement.”
Lin Yuan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Three years ago, it was Lu Min who had poisoned him at the provincial martial arts championship, causing him to lose his dreams and become a delivery man. This former mentor had now become his greatest enemy.
“Obsidian Empire! Qi Gong Association!” Li Honghe's face darkened. “How did you find this place?”
Lu Min scoffed dismissively. “Your actions in Tianhua Kingdom have long been under our surveillance. Thank you for leading us here; it has saved us quite a bit of trouble.”
“What do you want?” Zhou Haoran asked warily, quietly opening his backpack to prepare the medical equipment.
“Of course, like you, we are here to find the Entrance to the Dragon Vein Ruins.” Lu Min's gaze swept over the group before finally landing on Su Jiu'er. “Especially you, Miss with the Ancient Compass; your presence makes our task much simpler.”
Su Jiu'er replied coldly, “You won't succeed.”
Lu Min laughed heartily. “Just you few?” With a wave of her hand, the black-clad figures behind her immediately assumed combat stances. “Hand over the compass obediently, and I might consider sparing your lives.”
“It seems negotiations have failed,” Lin Yuan murmured to his companions nearby. “Prepare for battle.”
In the next moment, combat erupted. Members of the Obsidian Empire lunged at Lin Yuan and his group like phantoms, the air filled with fluctuations of Lingqi and the sounds of metal clashing.
Lin Yuan quickly activated the Time Manipulator, causing time to briefly stagnate around him. He used those precious seconds to observe the enemies' positions and movements, searching for the best point to counterattack. The moment time resumed its flow, he struck precisely at two enemies' vital points, sending them staggering back several meters.
Su Jiu'er's fighting style was completely different from Lin Yuan's. She relied on the guidance of her compass, seemingly able to predict the enemy's attack routes. Each time, she deftly avoided a fatal blow at the last moment, countering with a gust of palm wind that sent her opponents staggering back.
"Lin Yuan, watch your right!" Su Jiu'er suddenly shouted.
Lin Yuan instinctively dodged to the left as a sharp blade of air grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep gash in the ground.
"Thanks!" Lin Yuan nodded in gratitude to Su Jiu'er before turning to face the next wave of attacks.
Zhou Haoran showcased his expertise as a doctor. He quickly assembled a portable medical device that could not only treat his teammates' injuries but also fire specially designed acupuncture projectiles to disrupt the flow of Lingqi within the enemies, temporarily weakening their combat effectiveness.
"This way!" Zhou Haoran called to an injured Zhao Yunfei. "I can heal your wounds!"
Zhao Yunfei, clutching his injured arm, rushed over to Zhou Haoran. The latter swiftly activated the device, and a gentle light enveloped Zhao Yunfei's wound. The bleeding stopped, and the injury healed at a visibly rapid pace.
"What kind of technology is this?" Zhao Yunfei asked in surprise.
"It's a combination of science and Lingqi," Zhou Haoran replied with a proud smile. "I'm not just an ordinary doctor."
As the battle intensified, Lin Yuan found himself surrounded by three men in black. One of them was particularly powerful, executing fierce moves and skillfully wielding Lingqi, leaving him overwhelmed.
"I must say, you're much stronger than you were three years ago," Lu Min observed coldly from a distance. "But you're still too inexperienced."
Lin Yuan gritted his teeth, knowing he had to employ stronger tactics. He activated the Time Manipulator again, this time not just for observation but for retaliation. In the five seconds of suspended time, he precisely identified the weaknesses of the three enemies. As time resumed, he struck their vital points with lightning speed.
The three men in black fell simultaneously, but Lin Yuan also felt a wave of dizziness from overusing the Time Manipulator.
"Lin Yuan!" Su Jiu'er exclaimed, rushing to his side and standing back to back with him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just a little dizzy." Lin Yuan took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. "We need to break through their encirclement and reach the ruins behind the waterfall."
At that moment, Lu Min finally made her move. Her figure flickered like a ghost before Lin Yuan, and she struck towards his chest with a palm. Lin Yuan barely raised his arms to defend, but the force of the blow still sent him staggering back several steps, a trickle of blood escaping his lips.
"Your Time-Space Manipulation ability is quite interesting," Lu Min said, her eyes glinting with danger. "But in the face of absolute strength, these little tricks are futile."
Lin Yuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered, "Is that so? Then come and try it, 'teacher.'"
The two clashed instantly, their Lingqi swirling in the air, creating visible ripples. Every strike from Lu Min was incredibly fierce, as if she could pierce through Lin Yuan's defenses; meanwhile, Lin Yuan struggled to keep up with her using the assistance of the Time Manipulator but was clearly at a disadvantage.
"Do you remember what I taught you?" Lu Min said after stepping back a few paces from their exchange, looking down at Lin Yuan. "'Lingqi is like water; it must be both soft and hard to achieve victory.' Unfortunately, you were too foolish back then to grasp its true meaning."
Lin Yuan snorted coldly. "The only thing I remember is how you poisoned me before the competition and ruined my martial arts career."
Lu Min chuckled lightly. "That was just a small test; I didn't expect you to be so fragile." Her gaze suddenly sharpened. "But now it seems you've found a new source of power. Tell me, where did you get that Time Manipulator?"
Lin Yuan did not respond but launched another attack instead. This time, he held nothing back and fully activated the Time Manipulator, extending the time stop to its limit. In those brief ten seconds, he noticed a tiny flaw in Lu Min's defense—after using a specific technique, there was a momentary gap on her left side.
As time resumed its flow, Lin Yuan accurately targeted that flaw. Clearly unprepared for him to discover such an almost imperceptible weakness, Lu Min could only hastily shift her body but still received a palm strike on her shoulder from Lin Yuan, staggering backward.
"Interesting." A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Min's eyes before she regained her composure. "It seems you've indeed grown quite a bit. But that's still far from enough!"
Suddenly, she unleashed a powerful Spiritual Energy Fluctuation, instantly elevating her aura to another level. Lin Yuan felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, nearly making it hard for him to breathe.
Just as Lu Min was about to deliver a fatal blow, Su Jiu'er’s compass suddenly emitted a dazzling light, forming a barrier that stood in front of Lin Yuan.
"Lin Yuan, hurry! Get to the ruins behind the waterfall! We’ll cover you!" Su Jiu'er shouted.
Lin Yuan hesitated for a moment, but seeing the fierce battle around him, he realized this might be his only chance. He nodded and, taking advantage of the momentary distraction caused by the compass's light, dashed toward the waterfall.
"Stop him!" Lu Min roared, but it was too late. Lin Yuan sprinted into the waterfall and vanished behind the curtain of water.
Behind the waterfall was a deep cave, its walls etched with ancient runes that emitted a faint glow. Lin Yuan didn’t have time to admire the mysterious symbols; he continued running deeper into the cave.
Suddenly, he felt the ground give way beneath him, and he plummeted into an unseen abyss. As he experienced weightlessness, Lin Yuan's consciousness began to blur, flashes of countless scenes rushing before his eyes—past memories, future possibilities, and some scenarios he had never encountered.
Just as he was about to lose consciousness completely, the Time Manipulator activated automatically, enveloping him in a strange light. Lin Yuan felt his body being pulled by a mysterious force, speeding toward an unknown destination.
When he opened his eyes again, he was astonished by the sight before him—he found himself in a completely unfamiliar world. The sky was an eerie shade of purple, and the air was thick with Lingqi that felt almost solid. The distant mountains had bizarre shapes that seemed alien to Earth.
"Is this... a parallel world?" Lin Yuan murmured to himself, filled with questions and unease.
What surprised him even more was the familiar figure sitting on a large rock not far away—Lu Min. She seemed to have been waiting for him for quite some time, wearing a confident smile.
"Welcome to the true Dragon Vein World, my dear student," Lu Min said slowly as she stood up. "Your journey has only just begun."
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