Chapter 296: Ah! Of Course I Know

After Qin Feng left the lab, Lei Dong remained alone in his office for a long time. The simulated landscape outside the window displayed a twilight hue, soft light spilling onto the desk, yet unable to dispel the heaviness in his heart. The screen still displayed fragments of Qin Feng's revised theoretical models; those simple, elegant formulas now seemed to him like silent questions.

Who taught him?

This question, like a ghost, lingered in his mind. He tried piecing together known clues: Qin Feng's inhuman strength, his unusually deep knowledge of the Kunlun Ruins, and now this display of knowledge far beyond the era's reach… all pointed to a source beyond current understanding.

Was it a "Guide" left behind by a Prehistoric Civilization? Or, as some radical scientists speculated, a "Descender" from beyond the Star Sea?

Lei Dong rubbed his temples, feeling exhausted. The deeper he collaborated with Qin Feng, the more he sensed his unfathomable depth—and the more he realized that the New Era, even all of human civilization, might be being drawn into a vortex far grander than imagination.

At that moment, the internal communicator buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. It was Xia Wan.

"Commander Lei, are you available? I… have some questions about training I'd like to ask you." Xia Wan's voice came through the communicator, carrying traces of post-training fatigue, but more importantly, a resolute determination.

Lei Dong gathered his thoughts: "I'm free. Come to my office."

Not long after, Xia Wan knocked and entered. She wore her training suit, her bangs damp with sweat and clinging to her cheeks, yet her eyes burned unusually bright, as if fire smoldered deep within. Her once calm demeanor now carried a sharper, more refined edge.

"Commander Lei." Xia Wan bowed.

"Sit down, don't be formal." Lei Dong gestured to the chair across from him, noticing her breath remained steady, but the subtle, powerful energy fluctuation within her had grown slightly more refined, "Did you hit a training bottleneck?"

"Not exactly." Xia Wan sat, hands resting on her knees, slightly clenched, "It's about… the coordinates of 'Jing Yi.'"

Lei Dong's gaze sharpened: "Coordinates? Mr. Qin Feng just provided a new analytical approach—efficiency will improve greatly. What did you find?"

Xia Wan shook her head: "It's not about analysis. It's… I might know what 'Jing Yi' is—or who."

"What?" Lei Dong leaned forward slightly, his expression turning serious. Information on "Jing Yi" had been exhaustively investigated by the Base—historical texts, myths, secret archives—all yielded nothing. The name appeared out of nowhere, with no connecting threads.

Xia Wan took a deep breath, as if organizing her words, her eyes carrying a hint of memory and uncertainty: "I'm not sure if my feeling is right, but… when 'Yun Ge' mentioned the name 'Jing Yi,' deep within my Bloodline… there was a faint resonance. Familiar. Very… intimate."

She paused, trying to grasp that elusive sensation: "Like… like hearing the name of a very, very important relative from long, long ago. I can't recall who exactly, but that imprint of soul-deep closeness—there's no mistake."

Lei Dong frowned tightly: "You mean 'Jing Yi' might be connected to your Bloodline Inheritance? Is he… another ancient being, like 'Yun Ge'?"

"I don't know if he's a 'being,'" Xia Wan lifted her head, her gaze clear and certain, "but I know he's waiting for something. 'Yun Ge' said he guards the 'Lock,' and the 'Lock' relates to the Final Trial. I feel… that trial may be meant for me—or for others like me, Bloodline Inheritors."

Her tone carried an unshakable certainty, as if this were not speculation, but an instinctive recognition born of Bloodline.

Lei Dong looked at her, deeply moved. Xia Wan's perception, combined with Qin Feng's recently revealed knowledge seemingly tied to the Ancient Civilization, seemed to be connecting scattered clues. A blurred outline began to emerge: an ancient civilization (or group), long vanished or hidden, had left behind an Inheritance (Xia Wan), a Guide (Yun Ge?), a Guardian (Jing Yi?), and a Final Trial—and Qin Feng appeared deeply entwined with this system, perhaps even one of its members?

"So," Lei Dong spoke slowly, "you believe finding 'Jing Yi,' obtaining the 'Lock,' and unlocking the Final Trial is your… mission?"

Xia Wan nodded firmly, her eyes resolute: "Yes. Not just to grow stronger to face the crisis Yun Ge spoke of—but because… I feel this is my path. The responsibility I was destined to bear the moment I received this Bloodline Power." She remembered her father's grave injuries and her own helplessness, remembered Qin Feng's words: "Control yourself." Her gaze hardened further, "I don't want to feel powerless again. I need strength—real strength, to protect what I want to protect. And that path lies with 'Jing Yi.'"

Silence fell briefly in the office. Lei Dong felt the unyielding resolve in Xia Wan's words. This was no longer the girl who needed his protection and guidance, newly awakened—but a warrior rapidly maturing, her path now clear.

"I understand." Lei Dong said gravely, "The Base will fully support you. Once the new analytical model is complete, we'll immediately lock the coordinates and draft an exploration plan."

"Thank you, Commander Lei!" Xia Wan stood, bowing deeply.

As she turned to leave, Lei Dong, seemingly offhand, ventured the question that had long haunted him: "Xia Wan, how much do you know about Mr. Qin Feng? I mean, those… abilities of his."

Xia Wan paused, her steps halting. A strange expression crossed her face—as if Lei Dong had asked an obvious question. She turned to him, her tone natural and certain, even tinged with "Don't you know this already?":

"Ah! Of course I know."

Lei Dong's heart leapt, watching her expectantly.

Xia Wan blinked, speaking with utter certainty: "The Master… is omnipotent. Knowing these things is only natural."

Lei Dong: "…"

He stared at Xia Wan's pure, almost reverent gaze, momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth, then swallowed the rest of his questions.

Fine. He'd forgotten: in Xia Wan's eyes, Qin Feng's every anomaly could be summed up in four words—omnipotent.

The answer was simple, direct, even… blind.

Yet it suddenly made Lei Dong realize: perhaps for Xia Wan, for the journey ahead to find "Jing Yi," it didn't matter who Qin Feng truly was, or where his knowledge came from.

What mattered was that he stood there, representing absolute power and a possible direction.

And they needed to walk that path.