Gu Jianlin introduced in the simplest terms: "Even at the Catastrophe Level, it's impossible to find their real master. It's hard to say if this world was designed by The Order of the Hidden."
Lin Lan was stunned upon hearing this and looked at him with increasing astonishment.
A mere Third Rank rookie actually knew about such things.
Truly remarkable.
"Now, you can tell me what exactly is going on with the Lin Family and the Penglai Ascension Array."
Gu Jianlin said expressionlessly.
Lin Lan was silent for a long time, then sighed: "Alright, as you can see, I am the last descendant of the Lin Family and the most gifted in the family's history. Ever since the family's ancestor brought back the Penglai Ascension Array, along with the bodies of those children, we've been conducting secret experiments—experiments that have lasted for centuries."
"This eerie inheritance is undoubtedly dehumanizing and insane."
He continued: "Human body refinement—many of the family's descendants died because of it. At first, we knew nothing, only that more and more of our brothers and sisters around us were dying, mostly from inexplicable illnesses. It was bizarre. Until one day, the Lin Family was investigated by the Ether Association. When the lab had to be hastily cleaned up, my sister and I could no longer contain our curiosity. We secretly entered the backyard and saw the unearthed bodies of those dead children."
Gu Jianlin felt a wave of cold horror.
"At that time, we were both newly adults, not of high rank, and knew very little. All those exhumed corpses had distorted and grotesque tattoos, and their deaths were terrifying beyond description."
Lin Lan's eyes showed a faint terror, as if the shadows of the past still loomed overhead: "My sister told me not to make a fuss and planned to seek external aid, hoping to use the association's power to deal with the family. But that very night, after I fell asleep, I had a nightmare. When I woke up, I found those tattoos on my body as well."
Gu Jianlin frowned: "Were you drugged?"
"Yes, the family used drugs to sedate us and brought us to the altar for a ritual."
Lin Lan took a deep breath: "The nightmare was excruciating, as if my whole body was in pain. But when I woke up, I could feel an overwhelming surge of power. The family told me this was a secret Forbidden Technique, a gift I received because of my talent. But I knew the truth, and I was terrified. I told my sister about it—she's the one I trust the most."
Gu Jianlin began to piece things together: "So your sister came up with a plan. She wanted you to take advantage of this power, rise step by step within the Ether Association, join the Night Watchers, and infiltrate the Qilin Immortal Palace."
"Once you were inside, she would expose the Lin Family's secret experiments and destroy the family."
He paused: "Lin Wanqiu knew that once the Lin Family was exposed, the secrets of your power would also be revealed. At that point, your fate would be grim, so you had to hide in the Immortal Palace."
Lin Lan was shocked: "How do you know?"
This young man's intelligence and perceptiveness were almost monstrous.
"I guessed."
Gu Jianlin asked with a frown: "The Lin Family trusted you just like that? They didn't doubt your loyalty?"
"To pinpoint which organ and which part of the body the Holy Light should target, or which cells should be stimulated—it's all extremely meticulous work. My sister even connected with an Alchemist, an old man ranked at the Fourth Rank but the strongest Alchemist in the Extraordinary Stage, whose knowledge of pharmacology was profound."
He explained: "With this, my sister found a way to free me from the family's control. After all, the Lin Family is not some great powerhouse. They just happened to stumble upon the Penglai Ascension Array."
Gu Jianlin said softly: "A Pharmacist?"
Lin Lan was shocked again.
In just half an hour of conversation, he was astonished several times.
How does he know everything!
"Did my sister tell you?"
Lin Lan asked curiously.
Gu Jianlin shook his head: "I guessed."
Lin Wanqiu truly was an extraordinary sister.
No matter their stature, even small people have their value and brilliance.
"But the so-called Penglai Ascension Array is far from a simple tool to enhance the power of Ascenders. It is an experiment—a supreme being's experiment."
Lin Lan paused: "From the beginning, it was never meant for humans to use!"
Gu Jianlin said sternly: "Go on."
"This is the world of the Qilin Venerable, and the so-called Sea of Eternal Life is an accumulation of sinners' corpses. The Candle Dragon Venerable seized this sea and created an alchemy matrix here that defies the heavens."
Lin Lan said: "As for Xu Fu, he is merely a pawn, used to study this bizarre alchemy matrix. What I don't understand is that Xu Fu is indeed an alchemy master in the human world, but his alchemy achievements are insignificant compared to the Ancient God Clan. The true power of the Candle Dragon Venerable should far surpass him."
He scratched his head: "So why would they use a mere human?"
Gu Jianlin thought to himself, this was indeed mysterious.
However, as a sudden idea flashed through his mind, he began to understand.
Perhaps the Candle Dragon Venerable used a human because it wanted to break the rules of the real world.
And humans, precisely, are capable of defying those rules!
"Wait, you just said that once you've arrived here, you can't leave. What do you mean by that?"
Gu Jianlin asked suddenly.
Lin Lan sighed at the question: "Why do you think I've been staying here planting seeds? It's because I truly can't leave. At the end of the Sea of Eternal Life lies the entrance to the second layer. The alchemy matrix here has already been activated, probably during the period when the Gatekeeper disappeared."
"An area spanning hundreds of kilometers is already shrouded by the domain of alchemy. Even if I were to ascend to the Holy Land Level and gain the ability to teleport through space-time, I probably couldn't escape. Only Old Gu could, but I don't know how he managed it."
He said in a low voice: "Old Gu is a peculiar man. During the time I worked with him, I noticed many of his anomalies. Despite only possessing the uncanny ability of profile, countless Ancient God Clan restrictions were ineffective against him."
Old Gu was really that capable?
Gu Jianlin hesitated briefly: "Are you saying that since the domain of alchemy enveloped this place, no one can escape?"
Lin Lan said: "If I'm not mistaken, it's to herald the arrival of someone—not a human, but a… God!"
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