The bonfire flickered, casting shifting lights and shadows.
Deep inside the cave, the fawning voice of Hou Yong mingled with a woman’s scolding, occasionally interrupted by clear, sharp sounds.
Wu Ming paid no heed, his eyes scanning the manuscript rapidly.
This manuscript was obviously a work of Jiakong Ming’s heart and soul. Each character was written in tiny regular script, every stroke precise and clear, with many exquisite illustrations in the margins.
“Most of this manuscript is a revised edition of the ‘Phantom Beast Compendium,’ which might be sufficient to trigger an update of the entire bestiary across the Yan continent…”
Wu Ming flipped further.
In the latter half, the manuscript contained Jiakong Ming’s travel notes and essays, written in a more careless manner, even with corrections and scribbles, yet it was precisely this part that intrigued him the most.
Because here, Jiakong Ming had already proposed his third major theory—”Racial Ascension”!
“This world is filled with countless phantom beasts, brimming with mystery and charm, yet racial hierarchies seem like insurmountable barriers ahead… This has greatly intrigued me… What kind of power could break such restraints?”
“As is well known, beyond the harmless phantom beasts, those usable by phantom beast tamers are classified into three basic standards: Common, Elite, and Outstanding. However… even an Outstanding-level phantom beast cannot break through the Warlord limit to reach the Sovereign level!”
“Therefore, I have added and classified higher racial tiers beyond the Outstanding. Phantom beasts capable of advancing to the Sovereign level are termed Silver Race! Those capable of advancing to the King level are the Gold Race!”
“Yet even the transcendent Gold King Race cannot recreate the legendary abilities of the Four Emperor Phantom Beasts. Thus, I boldly speculate that above the Gold Race exists another level, the Emperor-level of the four primal elements—Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water—or perhaps even… God!!!”
“Above the divine-level phantom beasts lies the savior of the Phantom World, the one and only Creator-level being… I long to witness its radiance, and would be content to die immediately afterward… Unfortunately, the Creator has long since perished…”
…
“So indeed, there are higher racial tiers beyond the Outstanding?”
Wu Ming mused silently: “Common, Elite, Outstanding, Silver, Gold, God, and finally the Creator… seven levels in total… The so-called Divine-level phantom beasts must be connected to the primal forces of the world, otherwise they couldn’t achieve the legendary world-destroying feats…”
“And that Mountain Tortoise encountered earlier is also recorded in this Phantom Beast Compendium—it’s a Silver Race being capable of ascending to Sovereign level. no wonder it was so formidable…”
He flipped further and saw dense pages filled with experimental data—Jiakong Ming’s attempts and insights into racial mutations. Any single page of this, if released into the outside world, would be priceless.
“No successful cases in the Elemental Realm… Not applicable in the Divine Nether Realm… Only in the Living Realm is it the best specimen for attempting racial mutation?”
Wu Ming’s eyes lit up as he flipped more pages: “Found it! Wolf lineage! Also avian lineages!!!”
Undoubtedly, this was the most valuable part for him. Otherwise, an Elite-level Evil Wolf would top out at the General level, of little practical use.
And cultivating other phantom beasts would be extremely troublesome.
But now, Jiakong Ming’s Racial Evolution Chart had completely solved this problem for him.
“This man indeed possesses extraordinary talent, perhaps even a peerless genius. His understanding of phantom beasts probably surpasses anyone else…”
Looking at these racial evolution records, Wu Ming felt as if he were holding a mountain of treasure.
Undoubtedly, this was a tremendous wealth capable of reshaping the entire Phantom Beast world!
But it was also extremely dangerous! So dangerous that even the future Heaven-Defying Divine Monkey King, at Sovereign level, still kept this matter secret, using other excuses to cover it up.
Wu Ming continued flipping to the last few pages:
“…I succeeded! I evolved the Stone Ape from Elite to the Gold Race Heaven-Defying Divine Monkey! But I also failed… Even though the Heaven-Defying Divine Monkey is unrivaled among Sovereign-level phantom beasts, it still cannot break through the threshold to Divinity…”
“This Jiakong Ming…” Wu Ming was stunned: “Indeed, the most brilliant scientists are all madmen! He actually wants to elevate ordinary phantom beasts to Divinity?!”
Obviously, without the primal forces of the world, no matter how Jiakong Ming struggled, he was heading down a wrong path, his greatest achievement no better than that of the Heaven-Defying Divine Monkey.
From the last few pages, amidst the messy handwriting, Wu Ming could clearly sense Jiakong Ming’s anguish and frustration.
“…I will not fail! I’ve already sacrificed too much to cultivate the Seed of Divinity…”
“…Fascinating… I accidentally found some records—not even proper documents, but ancient relics from the Clan Era… They mention a completely new system… Ancient Immortal Arts? I have a feeling they might provide me with many insights…”
“Now… I’ve sensed the barrier preventing ordinary Sovereigns from advancing further. I will break through… I will prove my theory is eternally correct! Even if it means violating the ‘Taboos’!!!”
“…My hypothesis indeed succeeded, unfortunately, I no longer have time…”
The final page’s handwriting had deteriorated to the extreme, even with dark brown spots, as if splattered with blood.
…
At this point, the entire notebook abruptly ended. Wu Ming silently closed the cover, closed his eyes, and contemplated the immense information.
“Clearly… Jiakong Ming back then was a scholar of extraordinary talent, having researched racial evolution to an extremely advanced degree… However, the domain of Divinity, and these Ancient Immortal Arts, seem to be taboos in this Phantom Beast world. In his experiments, he must have provoked too many enemies…”
Wu Ming opened his eyes, a glint of sharpness flashing in his pupils as he boldly speculated: “Therefore, he chose to set up this legacy, even faking his death to escape like a cicada shedding its shell, continuing his forbidden research?”
“Unfortunately… I have absolutely no interest in cultivating divine phantom beasts…”
It must be said, Jiakong Ming’s initial direction was incorrect. Wu Ming had little confidence in this ‘Divine Phantom Beast’ project.
Besides, the four Divine Phantom Beasts of the future would all appear eventually—wasn’t it easier just to capture them one by one?
Contrarily, he became deeply intrigued by the so-called “Ancient Immortal Arts” mentioned in the notes.
“This… was it the power system of the Clan Era before the great transformation of the Phantom World?”
Wu Ming’s eyes lit up.
His Earth Immortal Yuan Shen, carrying only external rules, was heavily suppressed by this world’s differences, sealed tightly within his physical body, unable to display its true might.
Therefore, he needed to analyze the world’s fundamental rules.
Now, if there were ancient individual power system records like this, they would obviously be of great help to him.
Thinking thus, Wu Ming glanced toward Zuo Linling. He saw that Hou Yong had already untied her ropes, his face bearing two large red marks.
Zuo Linling sat on the ground, tearing small pieces of wild boar meat with her mouth, clearly very hungry.
“The reason I saved this girl was precisely because her martial arts bear similarities to the martial arts of the Zhou World, hoping to find some clues?”
“Finished eating? Then come here, I have questions for you!”
After Zuo Linling finished her meal, Wu Ming chuckled lightly. Seeing her approach, he nodded: “You’re smart, not taking the chance to escape!”
“How come you also know Ancient Martial Arts? Are you from the Lanshi Empire?”
Zuo Linling stared directly at Wu Ming with her big eyes.
“Now it’s my turn to ask. Don’t forget your position… Now, tell me your name!”
Wu Ming smiled coldly.
Yet inwardly, he mused: “Ancient Martial Arts, another system… It seems, however, to have declined greatly…”
“Zuo Linling!”
Zuo Linling turned her head slightly, her low voice barely audible, her shoulders trembling with a helpless air.
“Very well, then why did you try to seize this manuscript!”
Wu Ming raised the manuscript in his hand.
“This is no manuscript, it’s Master Jiakong Ming’s secret records, containing clues to advancing in Ancient Martial Arts—it’s the power that will allow me to seek vengeance!”
Zuo Linling’s eyes sparkled, suddenly gritting her teeth: “Please give it to me! Even just a glimpse would be enough!”
“The power for revenge?”
Wu Ming rolled his eyes.
He had absolutely no interest in others’ blood feuds, but now more information surfaced in his mind, connecting and forming a complete picture: “Advancement in Ancient Martial Arts… Ancient Immortal Arts?”
“Exactly!”
Thinking thus, he tapped the manuscript: “Indeed, it does record an unusual power system called ‘Ancient Immortal Arts,’ though only briefly mentioned, likely not what you imagined…”
“What?”
Upon hearing this, Zuo Linling’s eyes first lit up, then dimmed again. She slumped to the ground, eyes vacant: “Then… what was everything I did for?”
“However…”
Wu Ming’s voice continued: “It also mentions several of Jiakong Ming’s former laboratories. If such information exists, it’s highly likely stored there…”
“Tell me! Tell me!”
Clearly, Zuo Linling immediately clung to this like a drowning person grasping the last straw, her shining eyes fixed on Wu Ming: “I’m willing to give everything for it!”
As she said this, she blushed slightly but bravely lifted her chest, her eyes filled with determination.
“Excellent, talking with a smart person is indeed pleasant…”
Wu Ming clapped his hands: “I can give you the related intelligence, but you must swear to become my subordinate from now on, and first tell me everything about your Ancient Martial Arts style. Also, if we discover other materials in the laboratories in the future, you must give me a copy. How about that?”
“No problem!”
This condition wasn’t excessively harsh, at least not beyond the girl’s tolerance.
After reconfirming, she immediately knelt and swore her allegiance.
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