75th Mine Anomaly

Looking at the vigilant Piltover Enforcers, Yuan Chen's face showed little wariness or concern.

Piltover Enforcers, located in District 19, is far less famous or large than Piltover itself. In Piltover, where powerful oligarchs act with impunity, the Piltover Enforcers is essentially a law enforcement organization used by these powerful families to maintain order in Piltover.

Before coming to this mine, Yuan Chen specifically learned about the situation of Piltover in this world.

Based on the available information, while other things may remain uncertain, Yuan Chen is certain of one thing: the Twin Cities in this world are not the same as the Twin Cities in the War of the Two Cities.

At least in this world, while Hex Crystal have been developed, Hextech Gate have not yet appeared. The Sun Gate remains Piltover's foundation.

This massive sea gate not only gave Piltover control of the trade route between Valoran and Shurima, but also gave Piltover control of the east-west shipping lanes between the two continents.

But that's all in the future. At least for now, Yuan Chen has no intention of communicating with these soldiers.

"Give up the resistance, officers of Piltover," Yuan Chen said calmly.

"The Shurima east of the Kalduga Mountains and south of the Kumungu Mountains on the continent of Shurima has been our territory of Ixialia since ancient times. We once ceded this land to you, but now it is time for it to return to its rightful owners."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, the guards exchanged puzzled glances—they had never heard of Ixialia before.

After all, Ixialia's record in outside history stopped two thousand years ago. Now, apart from a few specialized archaeologists, almost no one has heard of Ixialia's name.

"What are you talking about? What Ixialia? We've never heard of him!"

"Don't deny the world's oldest wisdom and civilization because of your shallowness." Yuan Chen raised a finger, and then his Fire Dragon Heart Battle Suit moved without wind. Without any warning, an invisible aura began to surge outwards like a storm.

Boom!!

There was no truly deafening roar; the Piltover Enforcers soldiers only felt an indescribable pressure bearing down on them. This mental pressure struck their delicate minds like a heavy hammer.

There was no stinging pain, but they could clearly feel the instinctive fear and panic emanating from their bodies. The pressure from the Dragon Blood Enhancement was further amplified by the Fire Dragon Heart Leather Armor, and just by Yuan Chen standing there, one couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spine.

Without the enhancement of the Fire Dragon Heart Leather Armor, perhaps a few elite soldiers in Piltover Enforcers would still be able to hold their rifles and cannons firmly in the face of this pressure.

But now, amplified, this fear, originating from the depths of their souls, makes it impossible for them to even steady their breathing.

Those with strong willpower could barely stand still. But those with slightly weaker willpower had already collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolling back and foaming at the mouth, under the pressure.

Anyone who didn't know better would think Yuan Chen had awakened Conqueror's Haki.

Seeing so many people fall to the ground, Yuan Chen withdrew his gaze and released the continuously increasing pressure.

"Leave here and send someone who can actually get things done. I don't have time to waste on you."

The guards had previously been skeptical of Yuan Chen's words, but now, after personally experiencing the immense pressure, they realized the seriousness of the situation.

A middle-aged man, resembling a squad leader, stepped forward. He had deep-set eyes that gave him an exceptionally profound look. He sported a mustache reminiscent of Lu Xun's, and glanced somewhat flusteredly at Yuan Chen before him, saying:

"The mining operation is a joint effort between Piltover and Zaun. I'm just the team leader and don't have decision-making authority. Although I don't know what Ixialia, please wait a few more days. We will relay your request to our superiors as quickly as possible."

"Goodbye and don't come back."

Yuan Chen aside, and the Road Protector behind him silently made way for him.

Seeing this, the guards, disregarding the miners from Zaun behind them, led their guards and fled outside as if their lives depended on it.

Watching them leave, Yuan Chen nodded and said to Qiyana beside him:

"Next, we will have a friendly exchange between our two sides."

"Yes, although it's a newly emerging civilization, Piltover's university is quite good. Their president Heimerdinger, is Yordle. Although he rejects magic, he has some innovative ideas about the combined use of magical energy and machinery."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Qiyana merely curled her lip, glanced at the alchemy drills and Hextech engineering vehicles placed in the mining area, and Qiyana eyes were filled with disgust.

"Mechanical magic, it's truly... base and disgusting."

Yuan Chen wasn't surprised by Qiyana's aversion. It was precisely through these machines that Piltover had been relentlessly wreaking havoc on Ixialia's Dense Forest.

Previously, things were better; Hex Crystal weren't used so widely, so Piltover's development of the eastern part of Shurima was quite limited. However, with the rise of technology, the Piltover's destruction of nature has become increasingly severe.

But... "A qualified leader cannot let their emotions affect them."

Yuan Chen manipulated the Flowing Water to cut open a sealed box next to him, taking out a Hextech Gemstone that had already undergone rough processing, with surface impurities removed, revealing a shimmering, ice-blue magical energy pulse inside.

"Look closely, this is a natural condensation of magic. Through the transmission and transformation of the engine circuitry, it allows people to easily cleave mountains and break rocks with tools. And in this process, its energy circuit has many similarities with Ixialia's Yuan Chu Axiom."

She handed the Hextech Gemstone to Qiyana, whose eyes held a hint of dissatisfaction—mainly because Yuan Chen had rejected her.

Then Yuan Chen handed out the raw stones one by one to the gathered Ixialia scholars, saying:

"If there is only one ultimate truth in this world, then whether it's the Spirit Theory of Ionia, the Yuan Chu Axiom of Ixialia, or the magical machines of Piltover, the end point of this path is the same..."

"Different paths, same destination; that's what Ionia believes."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Tina, the master with the gold-rimmed glasses who had accompanied him to the mining area, nodded in agreement.

"Yes... This raw stone contains extremely rich power. Refining and forging it might allow us to better implement many of the theories of the Yuan Chu Axiom on a material level."

Uh... Primordial physics?

While thinking to himself, Yuan Chen remained outwardly calm and composed.

Hearing the masters' insights on Hextech Gemstone, Qiyana, though still dissatisfied, merely snorted and said, "Suit yourself, I need to rest!"

As she spoke, Qiyana swung the Oretal Ring Blade in her hand. A moment later, to the incredulous gaze of the Zaun laborers, a large number of vines, or perhaps activated tree roots, broke through the hard rock of the mining area and came to the surface, quickly forming the shape of a house.

Yuan Chu Axiom - Wood Release! The Technique of Three Rooms and One Living Room!

Watching Qiyana enter the house with some dissatisfaction, Yuan Chen felt quite helpless. But just as he was going in to comfort her, Yuan Chen suddenly felt a warm and restless sensation in his waist.

Not only Yuan Chen's waist, but the mine shaft beside him also emitted a rumbling sound. It didn't collapse; it was more like some giant creature was awakening and moving deep inside the mine.

Subconsciously, Yuan Chen reached into the silk pouch at his waist, and after confirming what was resonating with this place, he narrowed his eyes.

It's Dark Descendant Crystal.

After a brief silence, Yuan Chen took his hand out of the ribbon at his waist, then looked at the somewhat uneasy laborers from Zaun beside him and asked loudly:

"Were there any mysterious events that occurred in the mining area before we arrived?"

Yuan Chen's sudden loud voice attracted the attention of many people. Not only the miners, but also the Ixialia scholars who were studying Hextech Gemstone, and even Qiyana, who had hidden in the house waiting for Yuan Chen to comfort her, pushed open the window made of tree branches.

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, the laborers of Zaun did not react at all—they had suddenly appeared here with a large army and even drove away the Piltover garrison officers, claiming that this was their territory.

It would be a miracle if the laborers of Zaun could trust Yuan Chen.

In response, Yuan Chen frowned and said loudly, "Answer me! I won't hurt you. But if you continue to refuse to communicate, I'll have no choice but to throw you in to explore the bottom—you should have heard the sounds coming from the mine just now!"

Hearing Yuan Chen's coercion, the laborers began to murmur amongst themselves. But in the end, out of a desire to live, some of them raised their hands.

It was a mechanical arm, with a glass jar filled with a green solution inserted upside down into its shoulder, which Steel Structure. Through an IV tube exposed outside the body connecting the flesh to the prosthesis, the alchemical solution in the glass jar activated the connection between the prosthesis and the nerves.

Swallowing hard, the tunnel foreman Hewitt, forced himself to speak and said, "I have some news..."

"Say it."

"The tunnel I'm in charge of is that mine shaft," Hewitt said, pointing to a distant mine shaft.

"Yesterday we were digging perfectly fine, but today when we went to work, we saw a stone wall inexplicably appear in the tunnel, and even explosives couldn't break it down!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen fell into thought— Piltover Enforcers, Zaun's laborers, the mining area, the stone wall, and the Ne'Zuk's Darkin Crystal on his body...

Connecting the existing clues, Yuan Chen's eyes revealed a hint of surprise, then he looked at Qiyana beside him:

"Let's go down and take a look!"