On the bronze cylinder was inscribed a cultivation technique even more ancient than pre-Qin civilization. The origin of these four bronze cylinders was unknown, and Ning Beichen suspected they were from beyond current human civilization, perhaps even from outer space.
The cultivation technique on these bronze cylinders was profound. Even for Ning Beichen, who understood the characters, it was abstruse and difficult to comprehend, certainly not something he could practice at the moment.
However, besides the cultivation technique on the bronze cylinders, Ning Beichen's mind also acquired some images, which included how to leave this sealed hall.
Ning Beichen did not rush to leave. Instead, he sat down cross-legged, recalling all that had happened.
"The bronze cylinders absorbed my blood, acting like an ancient and mysterious machine. They returned the blood to me through some method. I wonder if it caused any harm to my body?"
Upon thinking this, Ning Beichen immediately and carefully examined and sensed his physical condition. To his surprise, his body not only showed no signs of harm but felt better than ever.
Following this, Ning Beichen circulated his Grandmaster cultivation.
The result astonished Ning Beichen immensely, for his cultivation had, without him realizing it, been promoted to Grandmaster.
Ning Beichen clenched his five fingers, and the air crackled. He felt an incredibly powerful force.
Grandmaster!
This was definitely Grandmaster-level cultivation!
Ning Beichen was utterly shocked. He had not been a Middle Grandmaster for long. If he followed the experience taught by his master, it would have taken at least six to ten years to reach Grandmaster, even with the aid of heavenly treasures and his own genius. Yet, after merely interacting with the bronze cylinders, he had become a Grandmaster without even noticing.
"Could this be my fortuitous encounter?" Ning Beichen murmured excitedly.
"It must be." Ning Beichen detected no issues with his body and had inexplicably been promoted to Grandmaster. If this wasn't a fortuitous encounter, what was?
Of course, fortuitous encounters also came with risks. However, some encounters might not necessarily be good. Just like now, his entire blood was mysteriously drained, and then it mysteriously returned to his body, while he inexplicably advanced to Grandmaster.
But did Ning Beichen have a choice? Absolutely not. He couldn't and had no way to revert everything to its original state. Furthermore, without this fortuitous encounter, Ning Beichen would have no way to leave this place and would be facing certain death. Moreover, with his Grandmaster cultivation, Ning Beichen had a certain sense of fortune and misfortune. At least for now, he felt no danger or anything amiss. Therefore, no matter what mysteries or conspiracies lay ahead, Ning Beichen could only steel himself and accept it.
Having come to this understanding, Ning Beichen felt a considerable sense of relief. At least he was still alive and well, which was enough. Even if there were future plots or schemes, that would be a matter for later. In the worst-case scenario, if someone had set up a conspiracy here, it was beyond his current ability to resist.
The most important thing for him now was to find Linglong.
Ning Beichen stood up and cast another glance at the four bronze cylinders. He noticed that the patterns and characters on them had all vanished. The bronze cylinders were now bare, with only the four pearl-like orbs remaining. Ning Beichen's mind now held memories of how to leave this place, and he knew that these four luminous pearls were the mechanism for departure.
Following the method in his memory, he used his Grandmaster power to touch one of the pearls.
With a "buzz," the pearl emitted a bolt of lightning. Ning Beichen then unhesitatingly used his Grandmaster power on the other three pearls. Each pearl released a bolt of lightning. The four bolts of lightning from the luminous pearls converged in the center of the hall, forming a basketball-sized sphere of electricity.
As the sphere of electricity appeared, Ning Beichen poured all his Grandmaster power into it. The sphere instantly enlarged, creating a portal of interwoven currents in the center of the hall.
Gazing at the terrifying electric light, Ning Beichen stepped through without hesitation. He wasn't fearless because he was brave, but because he had seen this scene in his memory and knew it was the only way to leave the hall.
Ning Beichen passed through the portal unharmed and found himself in a place that resembled a garden. Moreover, Ning Beichen had fragmented memories of this garden. It wasn't merely a garden but should be called a medicinal garden. In some mysterious ancient era, numerous medicinal herbs were planted here. However, the medicinal garden before Ning Beichen was now filled with withered herbs, leaving only patches of dry land.
Ning Beichen walked into a plot of medicinal land, squatted down, and scooped up some soil. The soil crumbled into sand in his hand, it was unclear if it was due to weathering or some other reason.
While searching for Linglong, Ning Beichen scoured the medicinal garden, looking for any remaining items.
"If only I knew the origin and era of this complex!" Ning Beichen sighed inwardly. This place was too mysterious, with no records left behind. Outsiders knew nothing about it, not even a single word in historical accounts. Ning Beichen even suspected that this place did not belong to his current timeline, perhaps being an independent pocket dimension. However, Ning Beichen had no evidence to support this.
"Eh!" As Ning Beichen walked past a patch of medicinal field, he discovered a tree root. This root was his sole discovery in the medicinal garden. Ning Beichen hurried over and dug out the root. However, the root appeared to have been withered for a long time, showing no signs of life. Yet, Ning Beichen could sense that this root was extraordinary, seemingly containing potent energy.
"Perhaps this is some kind of medicinal ingredient?" Ning Beichen murmured to himself, holding the root. He had never seen such a root before, nor did he know what kind of medicinal herb it belonged to. However, a withered root containing residual potent energy could only mean that the items here were extraordinary.
After studying it for a while, Ning Beichen couldn't make heads or tails of it. He decided to put the root away and planned to take it back for research, perhaps even to try and grow it.