Zhuge Ming was eager to complete the Puppet Body Project, but unfortunately, there were no suitable materials in the Hua Xia Empire. This concept came from the world where Lin Qian currently resided. Therefore, to successfully complete the Puppet Body Project, they had to find the most crucial refining techniques. There was no other way.
Zhuge Ming wanted to come to Lin Qian's side, to personally manage the new territories of the Hua Xia Empire, ensuring that his emperor had no worries. The other five legion commanders also yearned to be by Lin Qian's side, ready to help him overcome challenges and conquer new lands. The beast generals shared the same desire, hoping to expand the empire's territories to the ends of the earth for Lin Qian.
"Prime Minister, I believe the day when you can personally assist me is not far off," Lin Qian said seriously to Zhuge Ming. "I will certainly work hard to improve my strength, travel to the Central Region, and obtain the refining techniques that will allow you to arrive in this world as soon as possible."
After cutting off the connection with Zhuge Ming, Lin Qian waved goodbye to Xiao Jiang.
"Your Majesty, this valuable item—I can't accept it!" Xiao Jiang called out anxiously as Lin Qian turned to leave. The boy bent his knees, preparing to jump and retrieve the Soul-Saving Lamp.
Just as Xiao Jiang was about to leap, a gentle force enveloped him, preventing him from jumping and making it impossible for him to reach the lamp.
"No need. This isn't a valuable item—just keep it," Lin Qian said with a wave of his hand. He then casually added, "You might also notice that after drinking the potion, the effects will naturally dissolve in your body. If you spar with others now, the results will be even better."
With a wink, Lin Qian smiled and left the house.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Jiang shouted loudly, bowing deeply as he watched Lin Qian's figure fade into the distance.
Lin Qian didn't look back, simply raising his hand to acknowledge the boy's gratitude.
Leaving Xiao Jiang's home, Lin Qian continued to wander around the settlement, curiously observing the daily lives of the four races.
Children from the four races played and sparred together, interacting harmoniously. The way these different races lived together could be seen in the interactions of the youngest among them.
As Lin Qian leisurely walked through the settlement, he noticed two figures hurriedly approaching in the distance. One of them was familiar—it was Barreto. The person walking with Barreto was another human, an older-looking man with a cultivation aura of the Soaring Sky level within the Breaking Void realm.
"Your Majesty, this is Wang Gang, the leader of our settlement and Liu Fang's master!" After the two men arrived in front of Lin Qian, Barreto quickly introduced them.
"Oh?" Lin Qian raised an eyebrow in surprise after hearing Barreto's words. He hadn't expected the leader of the settlement to be a human.
The human leader named Wang Gang stood tall and straight, his posture commanding respect despite his graying hair. His spirit remained strong and lively. Given that this world's soul cultivators lived longer due to their cultivation, Wang Gang's age couldn't be judged by appearances alone—he could easily be younger than Barreto.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your assistance and for revealing the reason behind the weakness of our people!" Wang Gang stepped forward excitedly upon seeing Lin Qian, bowing deeply. "May I ask, Your Majesty, are you from the Zhongzong Settlement?"
However, Lin Qian's response left both men stunned and speechless.
"What is the Zhongzong Settlement?"
It took a moment for Wang Gang to recover from his shock. Carefully, he asked again, "Your Majesty, could it be that you are not from the Zhongzong Settlement?"
"No, I am not."
Lin Qian's definitive answer caused Wang Gang and Barreto to exchange surprised glances.
"Your Majesty, the Zhongzong Settlement is the largest of our four rebel settlements. The strongest elders of our four races reside there," Barreto explained cautiously after seeing Lin Qian's reaction. "In that case, Your Majesty, are you from one of the four other settlements—East, West, South, or North?"
As Barreto mentioned these four major settlements, both he and Wang Gang felt it was a strong possibility. To them, Lin Qian's formidable strength, especially at such a young age, indicated that he must have come from one of the larger settlements. They also assumed that the discovery of the reason behind the human race's weakness had likely been made in one of these five major settlements.
Lin Qian looked at Wang Gang and Barreto before shaking his head. "I am not from this Forest World. I come from the surface world above."
As he said this, Lin Qian pointed upward toward the sky, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Lin Qian's gesture left Barreto completely confused, unable to comprehend its meaning.
"Leader, is there a settlement floating in midair in our Forest World?" Barreto asked Wang Gang, his question making Lin Qian chuckle.
However, Wang Gang's reaction to Lin Qian pointing upward was entirely different. It was as if a thunderbolt had struck him, triggering a long-forgotten memory.
With a trembling voice, Wang Gang asked, "Could it be… that Your Majesty is from the world above the ground?"
Seeing that Wang Gang had guessed correctly, Lin Qian nodded, confirming it. There was no need to hide this information.
"So, the legend is true!" Upon Lin Qian's confirmation, Wang Gang's face lit up with astonishment, and his demeanor grew noticeably more excited.
Barreto observed his leader's unexpected reaction with great surprise. Wang Gang had always been calm and composed, expertly managing the settlement with precision. It was this steadiness that had made him the settlement's leader. Seeing Wang Gang tremble with excitement and mumble incoherently was a shocking sight for Barreto.
"What does 'the world above the ground' mean? Aren't we already on the ground?" Barreto asked, thoroughly puzzled by Wang Gang's words.
Seeing Barreto's confusion, Wang Gang waved his hand repeatedly. "It's not what you think. You know I enjoy reading ancient texts, right?"
"Yes, that's true." Barreto nodded. He often saw Wang Gang reading ancient scrolls whenever he had free time, enjoying the peace and quiet of his studies.
Wang Gang's house was filled with books, more than any other item.
"In many ancient texts, I've come across a theory that this world of ours isn't the real world—it's actually located beneath the surface of the true world," Wang Gang explained solemnly to Barreto.
Barreto listened to Wang Gang's words with disbelief. This revelation completely upended his understanding of the world. The idea that their world was merely underground, beneath the true surface, was almost too fantastic to grasp.
"According to the ancient texts, this underground world was once a battlefield. After the formations here were destroyed in the war, the exits were sealed, trapping the races that fought here underground, forcing them to live here ever since," Wang Gang continued, explaining to Barreto. As Lin Qian listened, his eyes lit up with understanding.