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Chapter 430: Source of the Clue
🕑 Added 2024-10-14 10:25:56 +0000 UTCAccording to Wang Gang's explanation, Lin Qian finally understood why the three elders and he had ended up in different places.
In the ancient chaotic battle, this underground world had also served as a battlefield, and the passage leading to it was likely maintained by formations. The spatial fluctuations of the passage would have been a result of the formation's effects.
However, the formation that enveloped this underground space and maintained the normal operation of the entrances and exits had been disrupted by the war's impact. Although it wasn't completely destroyed, it had become unstable.
This explained why Lin Qian hadn't seen an exit after arriving here. The three elders who followed him into the underground world had also ended up in different locations within it. The disrupted formation’s spatial fluctuations made it impossible for Lin Qian to pinpoint their exact locations.
The current situation was becoming clearer, but there was another concern on Lin Qian's mind.
If the damaged formation caused spatial instability and affected the entrance and exit of this underground world, then it might also affect his ability to leave. Lin Qian speculated that the entrance back to the surface world might have already disappeared!
If the exit had remained intact, it didn't make sense that the races living in this underground world had never left. They weren't even aware that they were living underground. Wang Gang only realized this because of Lin Qian's arrival and his own deductions based on ancient texts.
From Wang Gang's expression, Lin Qian was convinced that if he hadn't shown up, Wang Gang might have dismissed those ancient records as mere myths.
"Your Majesty, are you truly from the surface world?" Wang Gang asked excitedly, his curiosity evident.
In response to Wang Gang's question, Lin Qian nodded affirmatively. "Indeed, I am the ruler of a nation called the Hua Xia Empire on the surface world. As for this Forest World you live in, it is indeed underground, beneath a place called the Soul Martial Continent."
Upon receiving Lin Qian's confirmation, Wang Gang felt a storm of emotions surge within him. "So, the ancient records were true all along. The wisdom of the ancients did not deceive us."
On the other hand, Barreto's entire worldview had crumbled, leaving him in a daze. He stared blankly at Lin Qian, still unable to accept this shocking reality.
Wang Gang, however, now understood why Lin Qian had been able to identify the cause of the human race's weakness. In the surface world, the human race was likely very powerful.
"This isn't the best place to talk. Your Majesty, would you care to move to my humble abode, where we can have a proper conversation?" Wang Gang suggested, glancing around.
Agreeing with Wang Gang's suggestion, Lin Qian nodded. "Indeed, this isn't the best place for a discussion. Lead the way."
After Lin Qian agreed, Wang Gang quickly led the way, with Barreto following along in a daze. Anyone would feel unsettled if their understanding of the world was shattered.
Lin Qian understood Barreto's feelings well. When he first reincarnated in this world, he too was confused for a long time. Almost every night, he would look at the bright moon outside and try to convince himself he was still on Earth.
But every time Lin Qian nearly succeeded in deluding himself, a second moon would appear in the sky, shattering his self-deception.
It was only through the love and care of his parents in this life that Lin Qian managed to adjust his mindset in just over five years. Otherwise, he suspected he might have gone mad.
Before long, Lin Qian arrived at Wang Gang's residence. Although Wang Gang was the settlement's leader, his house was only slightly larger than the others, with two floors—just a bit better than the homes of the other residents. After all, he was the leader of the settlement.
The first floor of Wang Gang's house was his office. The desk was piled high with documents, all related to the settlement’s affairs, requiring his decisions and planning. The surrounding walls were lined with bookshelves filled with various ancient texts.
"It might seem a bit cluttered, but I enjoy being surrounded by books," Wang Gang explained with a smile as he noticed Lin Qian surveying the room.
Lin Qian nodded slightly and then said, "I have a small favor to ask, if Wang Gang would be so kind."
"Your Majesty, please feel free to ask."
"Could I borrow these ancient texts? I promise to return them in perfect condition after our conversation." Lin Qian gestured to the numerous books around the room.
Wang Gang burst out laughing. "Your Majesty, feel free to take them as long as they are returned intact. After all, these books are my lifeblood."
"Rest assured, I will return them without a single page missing," Lin Qian replied. With Wang Gang's permission, he waved his hand, and all the books in the room vanished into thin air.
The books had been sent to the Hua Xia Empire, where the Tian Gong Division would promptly record their contents. These texts held valuable information about the culture of this underground world and would greatly aid in understanding it.
Wang Gang and Barreto were astonished by Lin Qian’s ability to store so many books in an instant.
Afterward, Wang Gang led Lin Qian upstairs to his personal quarters, where there was a small meeting room. This room was typically used for discussing settlement matters.
Once Lin Qian was seated in the head chair, Wang Gang prepared spirit tea and sat down with Barreto in the side seats.
"Your Majesty, could you tell us more about the surface world?" Wang Gang asked eagerly, his curiosity about the surface world growing stronger by the moment.
Seeing Wang Gang's enthusiasm, Lin Qian smiled and began to describe the situation on the Soul Martial Continent's surface in detail. He also mentioned his reasons for coming to the underground world, hoping that Wang Gang might know something about the dwindling spiritual energy on the surface and whether it had any connection to the underground.
"That doesn't sound right, Your Majesty. I've never heard of such a phenomenon," Wang Gang said, shaking his head repeatedly. He didn’t believe there were any strange formations in the underground world that absorbed spiritual energy from the surface.
According to Wang Gang, who had seen and experienced much, he had never heard of the underground world's spiritual energy being siphoned from the surface.
"Your Majesty, the red energy you mentioned—does it resemble blood vessels when it attaches to the spirit trees?" At that moment, Barreto, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, asking Lin Qian a question.
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