Chapter 46

While listening to Uncle Li Shu Tong narrate the legacy of the knights, Qing Chen could imagine the ancestors of the knights cutting through countless thorns to blaze a new trail.

Because the ocean environment could no longer allow them to complete the eight life-and-death trials, they had to find their own way out.

He asked, "What is the relationship between the breathing technique and endorphins? Why can the breathing technique help open the genetic lock in advance?"

"Because the breathing technique allows you to secrete endorphins instantly after experiencing pain, which is itself a technique for controlling the body. By training your body with the breathing technique, you can walk a path in three months that others take years to complete," Uncle Li Shu Tong replied. "So when you complete the life-and-death trials using the breathing technique, the level of endorphins in your body will be far higher than normal."

"Are there other effects?" Qing Chen asked.

"I'll tell you about the remaining effects after you complete the first life-and-death trial. Knowing them now wouldn't make much sense," Uncle Li Shu Tong said.

"Can't we directly inject endorphins?" Qing Chen asked, believing that the technology in the Inner World could probably extract and inject endorphins without side effects.

Uncle Li Shu Tong smiled and said, "This is an era where even love can be simulated with a phenylethylamine chip, but you must understand that any external assistance is ineffective for us. Some predecessors tried to bypass the breathing technique and directly inject endorphins, but they didn't open the genetic lock after passing the life-and-death trials."

"We can understand the principle of endorphins, but we still cannot understand the genetic lock. To this day, the secret of the genetic lock remains sacred and untouchable for knights."

"We can only use the most primitive method, adhering to the rules of the old era. That's why I say this is the longest shortcut in the world. The path to the divine seat is only one, and it is the painful cultivation."

"Alright, I'll remember that," Qing Chen said. "What will happen after I use the breathing technique to complete all eight life-and-death trials?"

"That question is meaningless," Uncle Li Shu Tong shook his head.

"It is meaningful," Qing Chen looked at the other party and said, "Because in the Outer World's ocean... there is no forbidden land."

He saw Uncle Li Shu Tong's expression of surprise for the first time. The other party usually had a calm and composed demeanor, as if nothing mattered.

But when he heard this, his state of mind clearly fluctuated.

"Yes, there are no transcenders in your world, so how could there be forbidden lands," Uncle Li Shu Tong said in a daze. "So, you can complete all the life-and-death trials in another world."

"What exactly are the forbidden lands and forbidden objects?" Qing Chen finally asked.

Ye Wan, seeing the boss deep in thought, explained, "The roots of forbidden objects and forbidden lands both come from the same existence: transcenders."

"Transcenders?" Qing Chen asked.

"Yes," Lin Xiao said. "When a transcender dies unexpectedly, their abnormally powerful blood seeps into the ground, nourishing the creatures there: ants, centipedes, scorpions, any existing insects. It also nourishes the plants and even microorganisms growing there. Thus, the creatures in those dead lands evolve, and the dead lands become forbidden lands."

"The reason the Inner World's ocean is so terrifying, according to the Lu Island Corporation's investigation, is that a whale that had transcended species died of old age and disease, and its flesh and bones nourished the entire ocean."

"How did they investigate this?" Qing Chen asked.

"Lu Island built unmanned submarines to explore the ocean, to see if there was a possibility of long-distance navigation to find new continents. Before the unmanned submarines were destroyed by marine creatures, they captured images of a massive whale skeleton on the ocean floor," Lin Xiao explained. "This was a secret file from hundreds of years ago, only declassified a few decades ago."

Qing Chen asked curiously, "How big was that whale skeleton?"

"Um," Lin Xiao was at a loss for words. "Really, really big?"

"Speak in human terms," Qing Chen's face darkened.

"The wide-angle lens of the unmanned submarine, which was over 300 meters away, couldn't even capture the entire skull in the frame," Lin Xiao said.

Qing Chen sighed, "Really, really big."

From then on, humans on land never had the idea of going to sea again.

"What are the forbidden objects?" Qing Chen asked.

"Forbidden objects are the transformed forms of a transcender's extraordinary abilities after their death, which can last from a few decades to a century," Lin Xiao explained.

"Can you give some examples?" Qing Chen asked.

"Some forbidden objects are direct manifestations of the transcender's abilities. For example, near City 16, there is a black steam train with six carriages that always travels through the wilderness. Few people know where it is going. It occasionally stops, and if you throw a gold coin through the window into the first carriage, it will take you anywhere, without stopping until you reach your destination."

"Gold coins..."

"Yes, the first carriage is filled with gold coins. Many organizations like to use it for smuggling goods, although it's not easy to find."

"What if someone steals the gold coins?" Qing Chen asked.

"It will close the carriage and trap you inside until you die, so the last carriage is filled with skeletons," Lin Xiao said cheerfully. "So, if you ever encounter it, never steal the gold coins."

Qing Chen nodded.

"Some forbidden objects are not related to the transcender's abilities and may even be mysterious creatures with infinite life," Lin Xiao continued. "If you have a way to contain them, they might serve you."

"What if you don't have a way to contain them?"

"Then they are extremely dangerous."

At this point, Uncle Li Shu Tong seemed to have figured something out and stood up, saying, "When facing forbidden objects, we are like hunters in a forest with a long sword, knowing that there are fierce beasts in the forest and recognizing that these beasts are different. We have learned to classify these beasts and have experience dealing with them. We know which beasts can be fought and which must be avoided. But as the number of beasts increases, specialized hunters are needed to deal with them, and thus the Forbidden Tribunal was formed. They are not only enemies of the beasts but also of those who raise the beasts."

"They not only contain forbidden objects but also contain transcenders who might produce forbidden objects, because they do not want the number of beasts to grow to the point where they can destroy humanity."

Qing Chen listened thoughtfully.

Uncle Li Shu Tong looked at him and said, "Starting today, Ye Wan will teach you combat techniques, physical training, and skills for the eight challenges. I envy you for being born in the Outer World, but that's not important. What's important is that you might change an era. Let's begin; I can't wait to see that day."

With that, Uncle Li Shu Tong left.

The 18th prison was eerie in the darkness, but Qing Chen suddenly felt that compared to the sunny and bright Outer World, he really preferred this place.

Although he was in prison, he felt hope and freedom.

...

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...

Thank you to the students You'er with a story, I am not Yinguang, and Baobao for becoming the book's patrons. The boss is generous, and may the boss have a life as vast as the sea and as long as the mountains!