Chapter 355: A Small Favor; A New Deal

"Follow me. There’s a formation here—don’t stray." Dongfang Yao instructed.

Lin Moyu stayed close, matching Dongfang Yao's footsteps through the secret realm.

Moments later, the scenery shifted, and they emerged from the formation’s boundary. The fragrant aroma of tea filled the air. Ahead, a tea table was arranged neatly, an old man reclining comfortably in a chair beside it.

Though his demeanor bore some resemblance to Meng Anwen’s, Lin Moyu thought Meng Anwen seemed more natural.

Dongfang Yao stepped forward briskly, pouring a cup of hot tea for the old man, "Grandpa Li, this is Lin Moyu, the one I mentioned. Do you remember?"

Dongfang Li nodded, a faint smile on his lips, "Yao, my memory hasn’t failed me yet."

With a wave of his hand, several ancient books floated off a nearby shelf, landing softly on the tea table. Their worn covers exuded an aura of antiquity.

Dongfang Li closed his eyes, speaking firmly, "These books—you have one day. Read them here."

Lin Moyu frowned slightly. Dongfang Li, this God-level powerhouse, carried an air of aloofness that bordered on arrogance.

His gaze shifted to the bookshelf, where hundreds of similar books sat. Yet, the old man had offered him only a small selection—a mere fraction.

Lin Moyu’s expression turned cold. Given the circumstances, he questioned whether reading the books was even worthwhile.

Dongfang Yao, noticing the change in his demeanor, leaned in and whispered something to Dongfang Li.

Dongfang Li’s eyes snapped open, his gaze locking onto the godly general badge on Lin Moyu’s shoulder. His expression shifted immediately.

The arrogance melted away, replaced by a warm smile tinged with astonishment, "Ah, so you’re Godly General Lin!"

His attitude transformed entirely. Lin Moyu’s rank as a godly general matched his own, and Dongfang Li dared not show any disrespect.

Lin Moyu asked calmly, "Am I only allowed to read these few books?"

Dongfang Li laughed heartily, "With your standing, how could you be limited to just these, Godly General Lin?"

With another wave of his hand, an entire bookshelf flew over, landing steadily before Lin Moyu.

"Please, Godly General Lin, enjoy some tea as you read. Take as long as you need."

This was far more acceptable. Lin Moyu nodded slightly, showing a faint smile. Respect was vital when dealing with God-level powerhouses, and there was no need to push too far.

"Thank you, Senior." He replied courteously before turning his attention to the books.

Whatever Dongfang Yao had whispered earlier was unimportant. What mattered was the result.

Dongfang Yao had previously mentioned that the royal lineage had painstakingly collected ancient texts for their imperial secret archive over countless years. Lin Moyu suspected these texts were only a fraction of what the secret vault held, likely those deemed appropriate for sharing.

The ancient texts were rich in content, detailing hidden truths and obscure events from ages past. Among the records were mentions of Jiang Yi and Godly Mage Xu Yan, information unavailable elsewhere.

Lin Moyu’s understanding of the world deepened as he read.

He learned that the royal family had long known Jiang Yi was alive and that his secret realm was concealed within Xiajing Academy’s Dungeon Hall. Jiang Yi hadn’t chosen this location arbitrarily—it was his only option. The Dungeon Hall’s continuous flow of elemental energy sustained his secret realm indefinitely.

The records also shed some light on Godly Mage Xu Yan, who had vanished during a great battle. Not long after his disappearance, Battlefield No. 3 dungeon emerged. Speculation at the time suggested that Xu Yan might be within the dungeon, but no one ever found him.

Lin Moyu deduced the truth: Xu Yan had deliberately chosen to remain hidden.

The ancient texts also provided valuable insights into the Immemorial Battlefield. However, what captivated Lin Moyu most were the accounts of the Primordial Space and the Dragon King Hall dungeon.

The Primordial Space had remained enigmatic throughout history. Its legendary Primordial Rune skills were unmatched and defied conventional class systems. Yet, most who obtained a Primordial Rune ultimately failed to keep it.

By fully merging with the rune and venturing into the Primordial Space, one could unlock immense rewards. A rare few have even managed to retain the Primordial Rune skill, yet the skill was reportedly weakened.

As for the nature of the Primordial Space itself, it was shrouded in secrecy. Those who returned from it lost all memories of their time inside, leaving its true circumstances a mystery.

"It seems I’ll have to enter it myself to uncover the truth. The lower layer of the Immemorial Battlefield—it shouldn’t take too long." Lin Moyu murmured, his eyes blazing with determination.

If others could retain their Primordial Rune skill, so could he. If he could integrate the Enhance Troops skill as his own, his power would reach unimaginable heights.

Compared to the Primordial Space, the Dragon King Hall dungeon remained even more enigmatic. While its existence was widely known, only a handful had ever entered it.

The primary obstacle lay in obtaining the entry qualification.

The records mentioned that Jiang Yi had once ventured into the Dragon King Hall, but provided no further details.

As Lin Moyu read intently, Dongfang Yao brewed tea nearby, her actions almost reminiscent of a dutiful maid. Occasionally, she would whisper something to Dongfang Li, who would respond with hearty laughter.

It was clear Dongfang Li deeply doted on his royal granddaughter.

In their exchanges, Dongfang Yao highlighted some of Lin Moyu’s astonishing feats, leaving Dongfang Li visibly impressed.

At level 37, Lin Moyu had already become a godly general, wiped out a 10,000-strong army, and even fought a level 70 Dragonkind Battle General.

Each accomplishment sounded more incredible than the last.

Dongfang Yao also recounted how Lin Moyu had carried her through a dungeon, further impressing Dongfang Li.

Lin Moyu, with his sharp memory and swift reading ability, had finished all the ancient texts on the bookshelf within half a day.

The knowledge he gained broadened his perspective, deepening his understanding of the world and even benefiting his class.

His eyes gleamed with newfound clarity, reflecting the sharpness of his mind.

Dongfang Yao asked cheerfully, "So, how was it? Did you gain anything?"

Lin Moyu nodded, "It wasn’t bad. There were insights here you wouldn’t find elsewhere, but unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately, what?" Dongfang Yao asked curiously.

"Unfortunately, I couldn’t find what I was looking for." Lin Moyu said softly, placing the book in his hands back onto the shelf.

Dongfang Li interjected, “Godly General Lin, what is it you seek? Perhaps I can assist you.”

Lin Moyu replied evenly, “I wish to know about the Desolate Voidland and the entity at the center of the Immemorial Battlefield’s upper layer’s core area.”

Dongfang Li’s eyes widened sharply, his gaze as piercing as a blade. A God-level aura radiated from him, powerful and overwhelming.

Yet Lin Moyu remained unfazed, meeting his gaze calmly, “Can you help me, Senior?”

Lin Moyu suspected the royal family held more hidden knowledge than the texts revealed. The ancient writings confirmed that the Shenxia Empire had been under the Dongfang Family’s control since its inception, spanning thousands of years. Such an enduring history implied a vast and formidable foundation.

As a God-level powerhouse of the royal lineage, Dongfang Li surely had access to secrets few could imagine.

The sharp reaction from Dongfang Li only reinforced Lin Moyu’s guess.

After taking a deep breath, Dongfang Li waved his hand, and the bookshelf returned to its original place. From deep within the formation, a single book flew out.

“The information you seek is here.” Dongfang Li said, “This is something that even Yao is not qualified to see.”

Lin Moyu nodded, “I understand. I won’t forget this favor.”

He fully grasped the significance of the gesture. For information denied even to Dongfang Yao to be handed to him was a rare display of consideration. Lin Moyu, though a man of few words, was astute enough to perceive the implicit message: this was a debt to remember.

Satisfied, Dongfang Li tossed the book to him.

The tome contained only a dozen or so pages on the Desolate Voidland and the mysterious entity. To Lin Moyu’s surprise, the entity in the Immemorial Battlefield’s core area had ties to the Desolate Voidland.

Long before the Shenxia Empire’s founding, the core area of the Immemorial Battlefield housed this enigmatic being. The connection stemmed from an event when Desolate Beasts from the Desolate Voidland invaded the Immemorial Battlefield and wreaked havoc.

In the end, a surge of unimaginable energy erupted from the upper layer’s core area, annihilating the invaders entirely.

This revelation proved the Desolate Beasts were not indestructible—they could be slain provided the power was sufficient.

After closing the book, Lin Moyu exhaled deeply.

He felt as though he had gained some insights, yet at the same time hadn’t. Still, the favor extended to him by Dongfang Li was not something he would forget. He would repay it in due time.

The royal family controlled numerous dungeons. Though smaller in scale than the Xiajing Academy's Dungeon Hall, their quality was notably high, more than adequate for cultivating their descendants.

Next, Dongfang Yao led Lin Moyu to a dungeon in need of upgrading.

“This is the dungeon.” She said, gesturing toward the swirling vortex of energy.

Electric sparks flickered ominously within the vortex. Lin Moyu inspected it carefully, his expression shifting into something unreadable.