The Last Incident Before Middle Continent

The enormous Griffon Beast slowly descended onto a flat Qiu Ling several miles away from Tianya City.

Lin Ming and his companions immediately leaped lightly off the beast's back. Lin Ming then guided the docile giant to turn around and embark on their journey back to the Jia Nan Academy.

After watching the Griffon Beast disappear into the clouds, Lin Ming and the others turned their gaze to the majestic city in the distance.

The outline of Tianya City became even clearer under the sunlight. The towering city walls resembled Giant Dragon coiled around it, exuding an ancient and prosperous aura that far surpassed any city in the Jia Ma Empire, and even appeared more orderly and magnificent than the Black Emperor City of the Black Corner Region.

This place is one of the gateways to the Middle Continent, with countless people and goods coming and going every day. Its prosperity is indeed the greatest Lin Ming has ever seen.

"Let's go, into the city," Lin Ming said calmly, withdrawing his gaze.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Lin Ming had already prepared several large black robes. He, Xiao Yi Xian, and Ye Xin Lan quickly put on the robes, the wide brim of the hoods obscuring their faces. As for Zi Yan, Lin Ming thought for a moment and had her put on a black robe as well, but he didn't make her completely conceal her aura. Instead, he made her faintly exude the pressure of a Peak Dou Emperor.

Such a combination is neither overly ostentatious—lacking the conspicuous presence of a Peak Dou Emperor Dou Zong expert—nor is it convincing enough to intimidate most petty villains. After all, a force capable of cultivating such a young Peak Dou Emperor is certainly not simple.

The four men, dressed in black robes, followed the bustling crowd and successfully passed through the city gate guards' checkpoints to enter Tianya City.

The scene inside the city was dazzling. Wide streets, large enough to accommodate dozens of carriages side-by-side, were lined with shops, their banners fluttering. They sold everything from specialties of the Northwest Continent to rare treasures, Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills from the Middle Continent. The streets were teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder, many of whom possessed formidable auras; Dou Wang and Dou Emperor were everywhere, and occasionally, one could even sense a faint trace of a Dou Zong's aura passing by. Various exotic mounts and magnificent carriages weaved through the crowds, the sounds of clamor, hawking, and discussion mingling together to create a vibrant and competitive Scroll Painting.

"As expected of the pivotal city connecting Middle Continent..." Ye Xin Lan sighed softly. Even though she came from the Ye Family of the Middle Continent and was used to prosperity, the unique atmosphere of Tianya City, which blended the styles of various parts of the continent, still made her feel novel.

Zi Yan looked around excitedly, showing great interest in the sparkly jewelry and the unfamiliar snack stalls. If Lin Ming hadn't been holding her back, she probably would have run off long ago.

Lin Ming had a clear goal and didn't linger too long at the bustling scenery along the way. Under his leadership, the four headed straight for the city center, where the Spatial Fluctuations were most intense.

The closer you get to the city center, the denser the crowds become, and the more pronounced the invisible sense of spatial oppression in the air becomes.

Finally, a huge plaza appeared before everyone's eyes. The plaza was entirely paved with a kind of hard, grayish-white boulder, and in the center of the plaza, a pitch-black void with a diameter of over a hundred feet was silently suspended in the air about three feet above the ground.

That is Space Wormhole!

At the edge of the wormhole, Silver Space Power shimmered, rippling gently like water. Inside the opening was a deep, distorted darkness that seemed capable of swallowing all light, with the faint sound of howling winds emanating from it, inspiring awe. A powerful suction force emanated from the wormhole; if it weren't for the strong energy shield surrounding the plaza, anyone who approached would likely be sucked in.

Beside the wormhole stood a magnificent Stone Hall, the residence of the Luo Family, who managed the wormhole. At this moment, a line of about a dozen people was waiting in front of the wormhole to use it. Most of these people possessed considerable strength, and their expressions ranged from expectant to tense to calm.

Lin Ming and his companions silently walked to the end of the line and waited patiently. The fee for using the wormhole was not cheap, requiring 100,000 Gold Coin per person, but for the wealthy Lin Ming, it was just a drop in the ocean.

The line moved slowly forward. Just as it was about to be their turn, with only three people left ahead, a sudden change occurred!

"Buzz--!!!"

The Space Wormhole, which had been rotating steadily, suddenly trembled violently!

The silver spatial barrier flickered erratically, becoming extremely unstable. The darkness inside the cave twisted even more violently, and the howling sound emanating from it became sharp and piercing, as if something was about to shatter inside! A chaotic Spatial Fluctuations swept out like a storm, causing the queue of people to scream and retreat repeatedly, fearing that they would be swept into the Spatial Turbulence.

"What happened? What's wrong with the wormhole?"

"Oh my god! Is the wormhole about to collapse?"

"Back off! Back off now!"

The scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment.

"Quiet!"

A low shout, brimming with powerful Dou Qi, resounded like thunder across the square, instantly silencing all the noise.

A streak of light shot out from the Stone Hall beside the wormhole, landing next to it and transforming into an old man dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, with a solemn face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. The powerful aura emanating from him had clearly reached the level of Five-Star Dou Ancestor!

"It's the Luo Family Old Ancestor!"

"Senior Luo is here! With him here, everything should be alright."

Someone in the crowd recognized the old man and felt much relieved. This Luo Family Old Ancestor was the Guardian and manager of the Space Wormhole in Tianya City, and the Pillar of the Sea of the Luo Family.

The Luo Family Old Ancestor's expression was solemn. His hands quickly formed hand seals, and a powerful Soul Power mixed with Space Power cautiously probed into the violently fluctuating wormhole to examine it carefully.

A moment later, he withdrew his Soul Power, his brow furrowed, and facing the terrified crowd, he announced in a deep voice, "Everyone, there is no need to panic. According to my investigation, this wormhole is ancient, and the 'Spatial Mark' used to stabilize the passage have become blurred due to energy loss, causing the passage structure to be unstable and the energy to be disordered. This is not a sign of collapse."

He paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "However, repairing this blurred Spatial Mark and stabilizing it again is no easy task. It requires at least three Dou Zong experts proficient in Space Power to exert their strength simultaneously, using their own Space Power as a guide to unblock the passage and deepen the imprint. I alone am not capable of doing so."

These words immediately caused an uproar among the crowd!

Three Dou Zong? And they must be proficient in Space Power? What incredibly demanding requirements! Dou Zong experts are already rare, and most of them are elusive and rarely seen. Where are we going to find three of them in such a short time? Not to mention, they must be proficient in Space Power!

"So, the wormhole is temporarily unusable?" someone asked anxiously.

The Luo Family Old Ancestor nodded. "Until we find enough manpower to repair it, the wormhole must be temporarily closed to prevent any unforeseen events. Everyone, please return, or find another way to reach Middle Continent."

A wave of despair swept through the crowd. Closing the wormhole? That meant their journey to the Middle Continent would be indefinitely postponed! Find another route? All the other wormholes leading to the Middle Continent were incredibly far away and likely fraught with problems and risks.

The three people ahead of Lin Ming were filled with disappointment and resentment, but there was nothing they could do.

Just as the Luo Family Old Ancestor was about to wave his hand to shut down the wormhole's energy supply, and the crowd began to disperse in dejection—

"Wait a minute."

A calm voice rang out, though not loud, it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that at the end of the line, among the four figures draped in black robes, the one at the very front slowly raised his hand, lifted the brim of his wide hat that covered his head, and revealed a young and calm face.

It was Lin Ming.

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Ming took a step forward, and the aura around him, which had been concealed as if he were an ordinary person, suddenly erupted like a volcano that had been unsealed! A powerful pressure that was in no way weaker than anyone else present instantly spread out, revealing that he was also Dou Zong powerhouse!

"Dou Zong?! Such a young Dou Zong?"

"He was concealing his aura the whole time?"

"Could it be that he wants to...?"

A gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd, their gazes towards Lin Ming filled with shock and curiosity.

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Luo Family Old Ancestor; he hadn't expected such a young Dou Zong to be hidden among the queue. He looked at Lin Ming, his tone softening slightly. "Young friend, what can I do for you?"

Lin Ming cupped his hands in a respectful but firm tone. "Senior Luo, my name is Lin Ming, and I also urgently need to use the wormhole to travel to the Middle Continent. Since repairing the wormhole requires three Dou Zong, I may be able to lend a helping hand."

Upon hearing this, the Luo Family Old Ancestor's eyes flashed with a sharp light, but he immediately shook his head slightly. "Young friend, you have good intentions. However, repairing Spatial Mark is not simply a matter of possessing abundant Dou Qi; it requires a considerable understanding and control of Space Power. Young friend, you have advanced to the Dou Zong at such a young age, showing extraordinary talent, but your Space Power..."

His meaning was clear: he doubted Lin Ming's mastery of Space Power and whether he was competent for the repair work. After all, Space Power was extremely profound and usually required a long period of accumulation and comprehension. Such a young Dou Zong was probably still too young to handle this aspect.

Lin Ming didn't bother to explain the Luo Family Old Ancestor's questions. After all, it was just a matter of passing through here; why bother explaining so much? He simply smiled slightly, and with a thought, he connected with the White Storage Ring on his finger.

"Hehe, the little brat from the Luo Family has quite the high standards. However, with my help, repairing this mere, blurry Spatial Mark won't take much effort." An aged yet arrogant and powerful voice suddenly rang out in the square.

Immediately afterward, an incredibly solid, almost lifelike, old man's soul floated out of Lin Ming's storage ring and hovered in mid-air. With white hair and beard, a solemn face, and surrounded by scorching fire-attribute energy and a vast soul pressure, his aura had clearly reached the peak of the eight-star Dou Zong level! It was none other than Venerable Tianhuo, Elder Yao!

The appearance of Elder Yao instantly plunged the entire square into a deathly silence once again!

Peak Eight-Star Dou Ancestor soul body?! Moreover, the solidity of its soul and the subtle sense of control it had over the surrounding space all indicated that it must have been a top-tier expert who had reached the Dou Venerate level in its previous life!

Dou Venerate! Even if it's just a remnant Soul Body, his vision and understanding of Space Power far surpass those of an ordinary Dou Zong!

The Luo Family Old Ancestor's pupils suddenly contracted, and the composure on his face was instantly replaced by shock and awe! He could clearly sense that this old man in Soul Body had a far superior understanding of space than he did!

"Senior... Senior!" The Luo Family Old Ancestor hurriedly bowed, his tone becoming extremely respectful. "This junior was blind and did not know that a senior was here! If I have offended you, please forgive me! With your help, the repair of the wormhole will surely be foolproof!"

Elder Yao glanced at him indifferently as a response, then said to Lin Ming, "Kid, let's get started. The sooner we finish, the sooner we're on our way."

Lin Ming nodded and looked at the Luo Family Old Ancestor: "Senior Luo, may we begin now?"

"Sure! Of course!" the Luo Family Old Ancestor replied hastily, his attitude completely different from before.

His heart was filled with shock and disbelief. This young man Lin Ming was not only Dou Zong himself, but he also had a powerful Soul Body that was a Dou Venerate in his previous life by his side! His background was probably unfathomable!

At this moment, the Soul Body of the Luo Family Old Ancestor, Lin Ming, and Elder Yao are arranged in a triangle, suspended above the three key nodes of the Space Wormhole.

"Gentlemen, please follow me and inject your Space Power into this node to sense the faint mark. Then, use your Soul Power as a brush and your Dou Qi as ink to redraw and deepen it!" The Luo Family Old Ancestor instructed in a deep voice.

Lin Ming and Elder Yao nodded simultaneously. The next moment, three powerful Space Power, like three silver Giant Dragon, surged from the three of them and precisely injected into the violently fluctuating wormhole barrier!

Lin Ming's Space Power, nourished by the World Prototype, far surpasses that of ordinary Dou Zong in both size and purity. As for Elder Yao's Space Power, it carries a sense of effortless mastery, directly addressing the source, as if he is not laboriously repairing, but easily smoothing out wrinkles.

With the Space Power, especially Elder Yao's insightful guidance, the chaotic energy inside the wormhole was quickly calmed down.

The three powerful Soul Power followed closely behind, like the most precise carving knife, searching deep within the invisible spatial barrier for those ancient marks that had already dimmed and blurred. Then, using them as a foundation, they poured in boundless energy and spatial insights, gradually relighting, deepening, and solidifying them!

The entire process went much more smoothly and quickly than the Luo Family Old Ancestor had anticipated! What he originally thought would take at least half a day to complete was accomplished in just about an hour under the guidance of Elder Yao, a former Dou Venerate, and with Lin Ming's exceptional spatial control far surpassing that of his peers.

"Buzz..."

A steady, long spatial hum resounded. The violently trembling wormhole completely stabilized, the silver spatial barrier shimmered with light, even and soft, and the darkness inside no longer twisted and raged, but returned to its depth and tranquility. The chaotic suction force also disappeared, replaced by the unique pulling sensation characteristic of a stable Space Passage.

The Space Wormhole has been repaired!

The Luo Family Old Ancestor withdrew his power, his face filled with amazement and gratitude. He immediately thanked Lin Ming and Elder Yao, saying, "Lin Ming, young friend Lin Ming! Thank you for your help, seniors!"

Those who hadn't yet left the square also cast grateful and awe-inspiring glances. If it weren't for Lin Ming and the others' intervention, they didn't know when they would have been able to use the wormhole.

Lin Ming waved his hand. "Senior Luo, you're too kind. It's just a matter of mutual benefit."

The Luo Family Old Ancestor was a straightforward person, and perhaps because he had previously underestimated Lin Ming, he immediately took out three powerful and lustrous Magic Core, as well as a small boat about the size of a palm, exquisitely designed and made entirely of some kind of space wood, and handed them to Lin Ming.

"Young friend Lin Ming, these are three Seventh Order Magic Core. Although not particularly rare, they still contain a considerable amount of energy. This is just a small token of my gratitude. In addition, this 'Silver Wood Space Ship' was specially made by my Luo Family. When traveling through Space Wormhole, it can automatically absorb Space Power to protect the hull, increase travel speed, and make the journey more stable and comfortable. I am gifting it to you to lend you a helping hand on your journey to the Middle Continent."

Seventh Order Magic Core is quite valuable, and this Silver Wood Space Ship is an even more priceless treasure, extremely helpful for long-distance space travel. The Luo Family Old Ancestor's gift of gratitude is truly sincere.

Lin Ming didn't refuse; he genuinely needed these things. He accepted the Magic Core and Space Ship, stored them in his Storage Ring, and bowed, saying, "Thank you very much, Senior Luo."

"Have a safe journey, young friend!" The Luo Family Old Ancestor smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

Lin Ming nodded, put his black robe back on, and gestured to Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, and Ye Xin Lan beside him. Without further delay, the four of them stepped towards the now stable Space Wormhole, which was emitting a faint silver light, under the watchful eyes of countless people.

Standing at the edge of the wormhole, feeling the spatial pulling force emanating from it, Lin Ming took a deep breath, a hint of anticipation and determination flashing in his eyes.

Middle Continent, here I come!

He took the first step, his figure disappearing into the dark cave. Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, and Ye Xin Lan followed closely behind, entering one after another.

As the four figures were swallowed by the wormhole, the silver spatial ripples slowly subsided, and Tianya City Square returned to order. However, the legends about the mysterious young Dou Zong and the powerful Soul Body beside him would probably circulate here for a long time.

Lin Ming and his companions' journey to the Middle Continent officially began with the activation of the Space Wormhole!

(This concludes the initial storyline; the following chapters will focus on the Middle Continent storyline!!!)