114: Chapter 114 Master's Wine, The Path of the Void

Lin Feng walked to the rust-stained iron door and raised his hand to knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in."

Zhao Ritian's lazy voice came from inside.

Lin Feng pushed the door open and entered.

The room was still the same as before. Dim yellow lights, a wooden table with peeling paint, several bamboo chairs, and a cabinet with an old-fashioned radio on top. A few yellowed photos hung on the wall, looking exceptionally aged under the light.

Zhao Ritian sat in his wheelchair, holding a purple clay teapot and drinking tea directly from the spout. Seeing Lin Feng enter, he lifted his eyelids and pointed to a nearby bamboo chair.

"Sit."

Lin Feng sat down. Zhao Ritian put down the teapot and sized him up.

"Healed up?"

"Healed," Lin Feng nodded. "Nothing's wrong at all."

Zhao Ritian snorted. "You're lucky, kid. An explosion of five million damage—anyone else wouldn't even have scraps left."

Lin Feng scratched his head and chuckled. "Just good luck."

"Luck?" Zhao Ritian glanced at him. "That tower of yours wasn't just luck."

Lin Feng's smile stiffened.

Zhao Ritian waved his hand. "Alright, don't be nervous. I'm not going to steal it. Everyone has their own secrets. That tower of yours is your Opportunity, and it's also your life."

Lin Feng was silent for a second, then spoke. "Master, that tower... I got it in a Secret Realm. I'm not entirely sure what it is. I only know it's called the golden tower soul, it can protect my Soul, and it can evolve by devouring various Materials."

Zhao Ritian nodded. "It should be a Legacy from a Secret Realm. Nurture it well; it will be of great use in the future."

Lin Feng acknowledged him.

Zhao Ritian took another swig of tea, then leaned back in his wheelchair, looking at the ceiling and speaking slowly. "Tell me, what did you come to see me for?"

Lin Feng sat up straight. "Master, I want to ask you about the Myriad Races of the Void Realm. And... what exactly do Pioneers do?"

Zhao Ritian looked at him. "What, finally thought it through? Want to join the Pioneers?"

Lin Feng shook his head. "No. I just want to understand. Today's Gazi Race, and that Panzi Race they mentioned... I've never heard of them before. Textbooks don't teach it, and teachers never mentioned it. It's as if... these things were deliberately hidden."

Zhao Ritian was silent for a few seconds. Then, he smiled. His smile carried a hint of weariness and bitterness.

"They weren't hidden; they were... forgotten."

Lin Feng was stunned. "Forgotten?"

"Yes," Zhao Ritian nodded. "Ordinary people don't need to know these things. They only need to know that there are Dungeons on Earth, monsters, Explorers, and Pioneers. That's enough. As for what lies beyond the Void Realm, what the Myriad Races are, what the Arena is... those things are too far away for them."

He paused and looked at Lin Feng. "But you can't afford not to know. Because you are already standing on this line."

Lin Feng didn't speak, just listened quietly.

Zhao Ritian stood up from his wheelchair, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside. With his back to Lin Feng, he spoke slowly.

"Do you know when Earth began its datafication?"

"The year 2600, fifty years ago," Lin Feng replied.

"Right, fifty years ago." Zhao Ritian nodded. "Then do you know why Earth datafied?"

Lin Feng shook his head. This wasn't in the textbooks. They only said it was a natural phenomenon, but no one knew the real reason.

Zhao Ritian turned around and looked at him. "Because of the universe will."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted. "The universe will?"

"Yes," Zhao Ritian nodded. "Fifty years ago, the universe will chose Earth and incorporated it into the Universe's civilization system. Datafication is the gift the universe will gave to Earth—and also a shackle."

"Gift? Shackle?" Lin Feng frowned.

"A gift, because datafication gave humanity transcendent power. Ranks, attributes, skills, equipment... these things allowed humanity to leap from an ordinary Carbon-based biological civilization into a transcendent civilization."

"A shackle, because datafication also restricted humanity. Rank caps, Talent limits, skill Bottlenecks... these are all rules set by the universe will. Humans can only grow within these rules and cannot exceed them."

Lin Feng was deep in thought.

Zhao Ritian continued. "And beyond the Void Realm, those strange races, due to their racial characteristics, have very few restrictions on their growth. They rely on Cultivation, evolution, and Bloodline Legacies to grow stronger generation after generation. Some races have individual strengths that can even rival gods."

Lin Feng gasped. "Then Earth... isn't it very weak?"

Zhao Ritian gave a bitter smile. "Weak? It's more than just weak. Among the Myriad Races of the Universe, Earth's civilization is ranked at the very bottom."

"The very bottom?" Lin Feng was stunned.

"Yes," Zhao Ritian nodded. "Universe civilizations are divided into nine levels. Level one is the lowest, and level nine is the highest. Earth... doesn't even count as level one. It can only be considered... Preparatory Level."

Lin Feng's mouth hung open, unable to speak for a long time.

Zhao Ritian looked at his expression and smiled. "What, can't accept it?"

Lin Feng shook his head. "It's not that I can't accept it, it's... too sudden. I always thought Earth was strong. We have datafication, Explorers, Pioneers, so many experts..."

Zhao Ritian waved his hand. "Those experts are not worth mentioning before the truly powerful races of the Universe."

He walked back to his wheelchair, sat down, and picked up the teapot. "Do you know what Pioneers do?"

Lin Feng thought for a moment. "Explorers manage the Dungeons inside Earth, and Pioneers manage the Void Realm outside Earth."

"Correct, but not entirely," Zhao Ritian said. "The duty of a Pioneer is to find resources for Earth in the Void Realm, explore unknown areas, and deal with the Myriad Races. To put it nicely, it's pioneering; to put it bluntly, it's... begging."

"Begging?" Lin Feng frowned.

"Where do you think Earth's technology, Cultivation Techniques, and equipment come from?" Zhao Ritian said. "Most are traded from those higher civilizations. Traded with resources, traded with labor, traded with... human lives."

Lin Feng fell silent.

Zhao Ritian looked at him. "Lin Feng, do you know why I've always hoped you would join the Pioneers?"

Lin Feng shook his head.

"Because the Pioneers are Earth's only window into the Universe," Zhao Ritian said. "Only by joining the Pioneers can you truly understand this Universe, the rules of the Myriad Races, and Earth's situation. Only by understanding these things can you become strong—truly strong. Instead of being a big fish in the small pond that is Earth."

He paused and looked into Lin Feng's eyes. "The Void Corridor Dungeon where your parents disappeared—do you know why it's called the Void Corridor?"

Lin Feng shook his head.

"Because it connects to an ancient passage in the Void Realm. That passage leads to the depths of the Universe," Zhao Ritian said. "When your parents entered that Dungeon back then, they likely... are no longer in this world."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted. "Are you saying... they went to the Void Realm?"

Zhao Ritian nodded. "It's possible. But it's also possible they died in the passage. No one knows. That Dungeon hasn't been cleared in all these years because its end is not in this Dimension."

Lin Feng was silent. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

Zhao Ritian looked at him and sighed. "I know you're in a hurry to find them. But with your current strength, going there is just seeking death."

Zhao Ritian looked at his expression and smiled. "What? Scared?"

Lin Feng shook his head. "Not scared. Just... feeling that I'm too weak."

"Weak?" Zhao Ritian raised an eyebrow. "You've only been Awakened for a few months and you're already Rank 46, and your Talent is extraordinary!"

Lin Feng scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Zhao Ritian waved his hand. "Alright, don't think too much. The path must be walked step by step, and Ranks must be raised one by one. Haste makes waste."

He paused and added, "How much do you know about the Myriad Races Arena?"

Lin Feng shook his head. "Today was the first time I've seen it."

Zhao Ritian nodded. "Earth has already experienced this kind of Arena many times."

Lin Feng was stunned. "Many times?"

"Yes," Zhao Ritian nodded. "America, Japan, Korea, Europe... many countries have fought in these Arenas. Some won, some... lost."

"What happens if they lose?"

"If they lose, they cede territory," Zhao Ritian said. "According to the rules of the universe will, territory lost in the Arena belongs to the winner. Permanently."

Lin Feng's pupils contracted. "Then... those countries that lost..."

Zhao Ritian nodded. "America lost part of Alaska, Japan lost part of Hokkaido, Korea lost Jeju Island, Europe lost Gibraltar..."

He named over a dozen places in one breath. Lin Feng had heard of every single name. Every place had appeared in textbooks. But the textbooks never said these places were lost in the Arena.

"These... weren't written in the textbooks," Lin Feng's voice was a bit dry.

"Of course they wouldn't write it," Zhao Ritian sneered. "Writing it would cause panic. Ordinary people don't need to know these things. They only need to know that the country is still here, the territory is still here, and life must go on. As for those lost territories... they're just treated as being caused by natural disasters."

Lin Feng fell silent. He suddenly felt that this world was much more cruel than he had imagined.

Zhao Ritian looked at him, his gaze softening slightly. "You won today's Arena. But you only won a small battle. The Gazi Race is just a small race; the Panzi Race is the truly large race."

"Is the Panzi Race... very strong?" Lin Feng asked.

Zhao Ritian nodded. "Very strong. Ranked in the top thousand among the Myriad Races. They are more than one level stronger than the Gazi Race."

He paused and looked at Lin Feng. "Furthermore, the Panzi Race and the Gazi Race are allies. Since you killed members of the Gazi Race today, the Panzi Race will not let the matter rest."

Lin Feng's heart sank. "Then what will they do?"

Zhao Ritian thought for a moment. "According to the Cosmic Convention, after an Arena match ends, the winner has a one-year protection period. During this period, no race may launch an attack against the winner for any reason."

"One year?" Lin Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

"But what about after a year?" Zhao Ritian said. "After a year, the Panzi Race can apply for a new Arena match. By then, it won't be three Rank 50 warriors. It might be five, it might be ten. It could even be Rank 60 or Rank 70."

Lin Feng fell silent.

Zhao Ritian looked at him. "So, you only have one year."

"One year..." Lin Feng murmured.

"Yes, one year." Zhao Ritian held up one finger. "Within one year, you must become stronger. Strong enough to handle the Panzi Race's challenge. Otherwise, the Old City District will become the Panzi Race's territory. At that time, the entire Donghai City will be exposed to their threat."

Lin Feng clenched his fists. "I understand."

Zhao Ritian nodded and said no more. He stood up, walked to the cabinet, opened the door, and took out two jars of wine. The jars were made of ceramic, sealed with red cloth, and covered with a thin layer of dust.

"Thirty-Year Nu'er Hong." Zhao Ritian placed a jar in front of Lin Feng. "I'm happy today, let's have a drink."

Lin Feng took the jar and slapped away the sealing clay. A rich aroma of wine wafted toward him. The scent was mellow and lingering, carrying the flavor of time.

He poured a bowl, lifted it, and took a sip. The liquid entered his mouth, spicy yet sweet, sliding down his throat and warming his stomach.

[Consumed "Thirty-Year Nu'er Hong," all attributes temporarily +10% for 1 hour]

Lin Feng's eyes lit up. "This wine... it even increases attributes?"

Zhao Ritian laughed. "Nonsense. Did you think the wine I've hidden for thirty years was some ordinary stuff?"

Lin Feng took another sip, feeling comfortable all over.

Zhao Ritian also poured a bowl, lifted it, and took a small sip. He looked at the wine in the bowl, his gaze somewhat distant. "This wine was brewed by your Master's Wife."

Lin Feng's movements paused. "Master's Wife?"

Zhao Ritian nodded. "Thirty years ago, when she was still around, she brewed a few jars. She said they were for me to drink slowly when I got old."

He smiled, a hint of bitterness in his expression. "Now, I really am old."

Lin Feng looked at him, not knowing what to say.

Zhao Ritian waved his hand. "Let's not talk about that. Drink."

The two sat opposite each other, bowl after bowl.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhao Ritian began to talk more. He told many stories from the past. He talked about how he Awakened his Talent when he was young, how he joined the Pioneers, and how he faced life and death in the Void Realm. He talked about the Myriad Races he encountered—some friendly, some neutral, and some... who wanted to treat humans as food.

Lin Feng listened quietly, occasionally asking a few questions.

Zhao Ritian got excited and even pulled out an old photo album from the cabinet, pointing at the yellowed photos and introducing them one by one. "This is your Master's Wife, beautiful, isn't she?" "This is your Senior Brother; he saved my life three times in the Void Realm back then." "This is that old fellow Vice President Chen Jiuding; he was a bookworm even when he was young..."

Looking at those photos, a warm current surged in Lin Feng's heart. His Master was usually lazy and didn't seem to care about anything, but at his core, he was a man of deep sentiment and righteousness.

Before they knew it, the two jars of wine were empty.

Zhao Ritian leaned back in his wheelchair, his face flushed. He looked at Lin Feng, his gaze becoming serious. "Lin Feng, there's something I've been wanting to tell you."

Lin Feng sat up straight. "Please speak, Master."

Zhao Ritian was silent for a few seconds. "Regarding the Pioneers... I hope you join, but not now."

Lin Feng was stunned. "Why?"

Zhao Ritian said, "Because what you want to do most right now is find your parents. Joining the Pioneers means going to the Void Realm, and you might be gone for years. Can you wait that long?"

Lin Feng fell silent.

Zhao Ritian continued, "Wait until you find your parents and settle this matter, then consider joining the Pioneers. At that time, if you want to go, I will personally take you. If you don't want to, I won't force you."

Lin Feng looked at him, his eyes feeling a bit hot. "Master..."

Zhao Ritian waved his hand. "Don't get sentimental. I just feel that with your potential, it would be a pity if you didn't venture into the Void Realm."

Lin Feng nodded heavily. "Once I find my parents, I will definitely go with you."

Zhao Ritian smiled. "Good."

He took another swig of wine. "Alright, it's getting late. You should head back."

Lin Feng stood up. He had drunk quite a bit, but with his current Physique, this amount of wine was nothing. He walked to the door and looked back.

Zhao Ritian was still sitting in his wheelchair, holding his wine bowl and looking at the yellowed photos on the wall. The light shone on him, casting a long shadow.

"Master, I'm leaving."

"Mm."

Lin Feng pushed the door and went out.

The night wind blew against his face, carrying a hint of coolness. He took a deep breath, feeling his mind clear up significantly.

Today's gains were immense. It wasn't equipment or Materials, but knowledge. Real knowledge about this world. The Myriad Races of the Void Realm, the universe will, the Arena, the Pioneers... these things would never be written in textbooks. But these things were the truth of this world.

"One year..." he murmured.

In one year, he had to become stronger. Strong enough to handle the Panzi Race's challenge. Strong enough to go to the Void Corridor and find his parents. Strong enough to protect this city and the people he cared about.

He clenched his fists, unfurled his Wind Wings, and flew into the night sky.

Behind him, in that dilapidated small building, the light was still on. Zhao Ritian sat by the window, watching his back disappear into the night, a slight smile on his lips.

"This kid... is much stronger than I was back then."

He downed the last gulp of wine and closed his eyes.