109: Chapter 109 Wanchu Ancient Mine

No. 8 Base City.

This was a steel fortress built atop a mountain ten thousand feet high. Unlike the sci-fi neon glow of other base cities, this place possessed a more rugged, primal sense of weight. The massive black rock walls were covered in claw marks and dried blood—medals of honor left behind by countless beast tides.

"Wow! Brother Lin Fan, what's that?"

Upon entering the city, Wang Linlin was filled with curiosity about everything around her.

She pointed at a public water dispenser by the roadside that was automatically spraying water, her large eyes full of wonder. "Is there a little dragon hidden inside that iron box? Why is it spitting water?"

"That's a water dispenser." Lin Fan rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's not a dragon; it's a water pump."

"Then what about this? Is this bristled brush a weapon?"

Wang Linlin picked up a toothbrush from a roadside stall and brandished it. "It looks a bit like a concealed weapon. The bristles on top are very hard—is it used for piercing armor?"

The middle-aged stall owner was dumbfounded, staring at this impossibly beautiful girl.

"That's for brushing teeth." Lin Fan quickly stuffed the toothbrush back and scanned a code to pay for it. "Linlin, let's take care of business first. I'll buy you a copy of 'One Hundred Thousand Whys' later so you can read it at your leisure."

Although Wang Linlin still had a stomach full of questions, she immediately nodded upon hearing "business" and followed closely behind Lin Fan, though her large eyes still couldn't help but dart around.

Looking at her like this, Lin Fan felt a sense of emotion in his heart.

Who could have imagined that this ditzy girl, who didn't even recognize a toothbrush, was actually the Heavenly Music Saintess from a thousand years ago, who suppressed a Half-step Sovereign Realm expert with a single performance of 'Phoenix Seeks Phoenix'?

Under the guidance of several guides, the two made their way to the City Lord's Mansion located at the mountain's summit.

This was the core of No. 8 Base City and the residence of the legendary Earth Sovereign—Chu Tianxing.

Just as they reached the entrance, two rows of guards clad in heavy armor knelt on one knee in unison.

"Welcome, Brigadier General Lin!!"

The sound was thunderous.

Lin Fan's current reputation was famous throughout the entire human territory. Especially within the military, he was practically a living legend.

"Quite the reception, tsk tsk."

Lin Fan adjusted his collar and strode inside with Wang Linlin.

Inside the great hall, a grey-robed elder stood with his hands behind his back, looking at a combat map on the wall. He didn't exude the slightest aura of a powerful expert, looking just like an old man from next door.

But when Lin Fan activated his Bright Heart Dharma Eye to look, he felt a stinging pain in his eyes.

Within that seemingly aged body, an ancient ferocious beast seemed to lie dormant; every movement could trigger a resonance with the laws of heaven and earth.

Earth Sovereign, Chu Tianxing!

"Junior Lin Fan greets Old Chu." Lin Fan cupped his fists in salute, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

Chu Tianxing turned around, sized Lin Fan up, and smiled.

"Good kid, well done."

Chu Tianxing's voice was sonorous. "In the battle of Ten Thousand Snakes Grotto, you slaughtered nine Domain Kings and terrified those slithering worms of the Heavenly Snake Clan. I even heard of your fame at Battlefield No. 8. Truly satisfying! So damn satisfying!"

"Old Chu praises me too much; it was just good luck," Lin Fan said modestly.

"Luck is also a form of strength."

Chu Tianxing waved his hand, then his gaze moved past Lin Fan and landed on Wang Linlin behind him.

In the next second.

This Earth Sovereign expert, who awed all eight directions, actually retracted the smile on his face, his expression becoming solemn.

He straightened his clothes and then bowed deeply toward Wang Linlin.

"Your junior, Chu Tianxing, pays his respects to the Heavenly Music Saintess."

This scene frightened the wits out of the guards and guides in the hall.

"Holy crap?! The Earth Sovereign is bowing?!"

"Who is this girl?! Such a huge presence?!"

Even Lin Fan's eyelids twitched.

Wang Linlin was startled and hurriedly waved her hands. "Old Grandpa, don't be like this. Linlin can't accept this!"

"You are worthy of it."

Chu Tianxing straightened up. "A thousand years ago, if the Saintess and Senior Sage of the Zither hadn't risked their lives to seal the spatial rift, humanity would have perished long ago. This bow is to thank you on behalf of the entire human race."

After some pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Chu Tianxing was a straightforward man and asked directly, "Kid Lin, did you come to Battlefield No. 8 this time to break through to the Domain King Realm?"

"Precisely."

Lin Fan nodded. "Old Chu, I am currently at the peak of the Desolate Realm, and my physical body is strong enough, but I'm still completely in the dark regarding how to break through to the Domain King Realm and condense a Qi Sea Phenomenon. I ask for your guidance."

"The Domain King Realm..."

Chu Tianxing took a sip of tea and said slowly, "The so-called Domain King is about evolving a 'Domain' of one's own within the Dantian's Qi Sea. And the first step is to condense a phenomenon."

"Phenomena are divided into different grades."

"The lowest grade is a pure Origin Qi phenomenon, such as condensing a sword or a mountain. Although this kind of phenomenon can enhance combat power, its potential is limited."

"The middle grade is an elemental phenomenon. For example, wind, rain, thunder, lightning, frost, or intense fire. This kind of phenomenon can draw upon the power of heaven and earth, and its power is impressive."

At this point, Chu Tianxing glanced at Lin Fan. "But with your foundation, if you were to only condense these two types, it would be a waste of natural talent."

"Then what about the upper grade?" Lin Fan pressed.

"Upper-grade phenomena are 'Living Beings'!"

Chu Tianxing said, "Nurturing ancient beings like the True Dragon, Divine Phoenix, or Qilin in your Qi Sea, or even... Gods and Demons! Once such a phenomenon reaches Major Achievement, it possesses the potential for infinite growth and can even birth an independent intelligence to aid you in battle!"

Lin Fan's blood boiled as he listened.

A Living Being Phenomenon!

Wasn't this tailor-made for his Great Sun True Dragon?

"However..."

Chu Tianxing sighed. "Wanting to condense a Living Being Phenomenon is as difficult as reaching the heavens. It requires not only massive resources but also extremely high Comprehension Ability and opportunity. A slight mistake will cause the Qi Sea to collapse, leading to death."

"Back then, the Medicine Sage, Li Shizhen, developed a divine medicine called the 'visualization pill'. This pill allows a person to enter the state of 'Unity of Heaven and Man' for a short time to visualize the most perfect phenomenon. Unfortunately..."

Chu Tianxing shook his head with a look of regret. "After the Medicine Sage fell, the pill recipe and inheritance were lost."

"visualization pill?"

Lin Fan frowned slightly. The name sounded very high-level. If he could get one, his chances of breaking through to the Domain King Realm would increase by at least thirty percent!

Just then.

Wang Linlin, who had been sitting quietly to the side eating snacks, suddenly raised her small hand.

"Um... if it's the visualization pill, Linlin seems to know where some are."

"Hmm?"

Lin Fan and Chu Tianxing turned their heads simultaneously, two pairs of eyes staring at her.

"You know?" Lin Fan asked in surprise.

"Mm-hmm!"

Wang Linlin swallowed the osmanthus cake in her mouth and said indistinctly, "I heard Master say before that Grandpa Medical Sage Bian Que and Grandpa Medicine Sage Li Shizhen were close friends. The two often researched pills together."

"On the eve of that battle, it seems Grandpa Medicine Sage stored a batch of newly refined pills in Grandpa Bian Que's temporary residence. The visualization pill was among them."

"Bian Que's residence? Where?!" Chu Tianxing was so excited his beard was shaking.

Those were the relics of the Medical Sage and the Medicine Sage! Even a tiny bit leaking out would be enough to greatly increase humanity's strength!

Wang Linlin tilted her head and thought for a moment, then pointed her finger at the rolling black mountain range outside the window.

"It seems... it's in that place called 'Wanchu Ancient Mine'."

Boom!!

Hearing those four words, the teacup in Chu Tianxing's hand was instantly crushed into powder.

"Wanchu Ancient Mine?!"

Chu Tianxing's expression turned grim. "Girl, are you sure you didn't remember wrongly?!"

"Probably... not?" Wang Linlin said somewhat uncertainly. "Master said there were many bright, shiny stones there, and Grandpa Bian Que built a small wooden hut inside."