Finally, the day of departure arrived. Wang Xuan arrived early at the familiar manor on the outskirts of Ancheng, waiting for everyone to gather before setting off from there.

"Are you going to wear a realistic human mask?" Qingmu asked him.

Wang Xuan nodded. At this stage, he still couldn't completely defend against energy guns and special bullets, so he preferred to keep a low profile as much as possible.

"This isn't the old era anymore; everyone's movements can be traced. If someone truly wants to find you, they can uncover clues sooner or later," Qingmu explained, emphasizing that no matter how cautious one was, their true identity would eventually be revealed.

Wang Xuan understood this, but he needed this buffer period. Once he mastered the golden body technique to the seventh or eighth layer, he would feel confident that conventional firearms could no longer harm him.

"What's the destination this time?" Wang Xuan inquired.

"Originally, we were supposed to go to the Moon or Mars, but given their hostility toward the Old Techniques, we've decided to stay on the Old Land," Qingmu replied. After all, once they ventured deep into space, any unexpected events could be unpredictable, and mecha experts would obviously have a significant advantage. In the end, the location was set for the Congling in the Old Land.

Old Chen arrived, his short and dense silver hair shining brightly, and his demeanor had completely changed. His eyes were sharp as blades, piercing like steel needles. Wang Xuan could hardly believe this was Old Chen; compared to his usual calm self, he seemed like a different person. Especially when he donned a cold, silver mask, he was unrecognizable, contrasting sharply with the warm demeanor Wang Xuan remembered.

Old Chen nodded to Qingmu and Wang Xuan without saying much and went to a quiet room to rest, exuding a deep, tranquil presence.

Wang Xuan chose a mask that resembled a typical young Eastern person—youthful and vibrant. He had heard from Qingmu that their opponents came from diverse backgrounds, so he deliberately picked this face.

"It's time to go." Qingmu stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching a large silver-gray spaceship appear in the sky, slow down, and land on the large helipad behind the manor.

It was indeed from the Wu family; an important figure was arriving to accompany Old Chen to Congling, likely to witness an intense confrontation. Regardless, at this critical moment, with uncertain prospects, the Wu family still showed up and took responsibility for transporting Old Chen, which demonstrated their sincerity.

Wang Xuan knew that the Wu family seemed to be encountering some troubles, and it appeared that only practitioners of the Old Techniques could assist them, leaving him somewhat puzzled.

"Is it just the three of us going?" Wang Xuan was surprised. Apart from him, Old Chen, and Qingmu, there were no other companions.

"It's enough for the three of us; mainly, my master will be the one to act," Qingmu said heavily, glancing at his master's back, feeling uncertain. He added that there would be other the Old Technique experts heading to Congling from various places, as well as personnel from the relevant departments of the Old Land for endorsement and deterrence.

Wu Chenglin personally came out to greet Old Chen, showing great courtesy and respect. Wu Yin followed closely, her attire impeccable, with a stunning figure and a soft, slightly sweet smile on her fair and beautiful face. After showing respect to Old Chen, she warmly greeted Qingmu and Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan was taken aback; the Wu family had such a side to them. It seemed she treated people differently; his previous encounters had revealed her fiery temperament.

"This is…" Wu Yin smiled, standing gracefully with a luminous complexion, her politeness tempered with warmth.

"He's Wang Xiao," Qingmu introduced.

"You can call me Little Wang," Wang Xuan replied, his voice carrying a magnetic quality. With the altered tone, this sound felt the most natural and pleasant.

Wu Yin's smile did not fade, but she felt a hint of discomfort, even displeasure, as the name "Little Wang" brought to mind the anger-inducing Wang Xuan, whom her acquaintances often referred to as "Old Wang." However, in her view, the young man before her had a pure, bright gaze, and his sunny smile was dazzling, seeming far superior to that Wang Xuan.

If Wang Xuan knew her thoughts, he would surely sigh, recognizing how preconceived notions could drastically affect one's aesthetic and judgment. He felt this face was less appealing than his true self.

"Little Wang is impressive; don't let his youth fool you; he has great talent in the Old Techniques. Even now, I might not be his match," Qingmu said, somewhat emotionally. His words bore no embellishment, revealing an unhidden sense of melancholy—his own path was nearing its end.

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Wu Yin was taken aback. This young man in his early twenties was actually so formidable? It was quite astonishing! In this era, with the decline of the Old Techniques, it was rare for young individuals to immerse themselves in the study of them. Even if one had strength, it wouldn't be too outlandish given the age gap.

Could he possibly be the second Chen Yongjie? She was truly shocked; the young man before her might not be able to match the younger Old Chen, but he surely wouldn't fall too far behind.

Many knew that Old Chen had started practicing the Old Techniques from a young age, rapidly gaining fame by his twenties.

Wu Yin immediately placed greater importance on him. Her family's collaboration with the exploration organization was to invite the Old Technique experts to assist, and even if they couldn't get Old Chen, they needed to recruit some relatively famous practitioners. This young Wang Xiao, being so young, was definitely worth considerable effort to recruit.

At the same time, Wu Yin had other thoughts. If she could draw Little Wang into her family's exploration organization, making him one of their own, he could teach the other Wang Xuan a lesson—now that would be quite interesting.

Undoubtedly, the conversation along the way was harmonious and enjoyable. Wu Yin, with her elegant figure and graceful demeanor, guided Wang Xuan through the spaceship. Once seated, she was eloquent and engaging, and even when Qingmu left to accompany Old Chen, the atmosphere between her and Wang Xuan remained lively.

Wang Xuan turned his head to look at her. With light makeup, her face was exquisitely beautiful, featuring a high nose and glossy red lips. Her voice was gentle, her thoughts agile, exuding both sensuality and an intellectual charm.

He couldn't help but wonder if someone had switched places with her. Did the Wu family have a twin sister? The Wu Yin before him seemed completely different in both demeanor and interaction.

"People really are different. Little Wang, you're so humble. You're clearly strong but remain low-key. That's rare, unlike some peers..." Wu Yin said, shaking her head.

Wang Xuan realized she was setting the stage for something. She was skilled in conversation, only slightly mentioning it this time, probably to continue the teasing later.

He inwardly scoffed, "Wu family, you really are not kind. Are you planning to make me self-reflect?"

Though far away, the spaceship traveled swiftly, and they soon arrived.

This was a plateau, averaging over four thousand five hundred meters in elevation, with many towering mountains exceeding six thousand meters. The Congling region was a crucial part of the ancient Silk Road, later known as the Pamir Plateau.

Due to the high altitude, especially in late autumn, the entire plateau appeared gray-brown, with vegetation already withered, creating harsh natural conditions.

Many spaceships were already parked in an open area, and on some mountain peaks, there were smaller warships, while vessels hovered in the sky.

Wang Xuan realized that everyone had come prepared to prevent ambushes from large warships and to maintain a balance of power. Additionally, personnel from relevant departments of the Old Land were present, not only for endorsement and deterrence but also due to the involvement of a recently unearthed legendary artifact.

Wu Yin softly said, "The Suihou Pearl. This isn't some mythical object; it's recorded in historical texts and is one of the two most famous treasures from the Spring and Autumn period, alongside the He Shi Bi."

Wang Xuan was aware of the impending conflict over the Suihou Pearl. Some sought to claim it, while others aimed to obstruct them, hence this gathering in Congling to resolve matters.

Old Chen had privately mentioned that this pearl was obtained by a pre-Qin sorcerer after slaying a dragon and was said to bear numerous inscriptions, making it a rare divine artifact. However, he also doubted the authenticity of this Suihou Pearl, as many fakes had been unearthed throughout history.

Standing together, Wang Xuan and Wu Yin had already disembarked the spaceship, gazing at the expansive mountains in the distance, where Wu Yin exuded a faint fragrance.

When Old Chen stepped down, a crowd quickly gathered around him. Regardless of whether they were foes or long-lost friends, they all treated him with great respect, cautious not to be too casual.

However, some stood aloof, not moving an inch.

"Mr. Chen!" a voice called out, quickly approaching. It was a man clad in a small humanoid mech, nearly three meters tall, whose heavy steps exuded a sense of pressure.

"I grew up hearing stories about Mr. Chen, and I admire him greatly. However, it's been many years since Mr. Chen last fought. At nearly sixty, can he still go into battle? Practitioners of the Old Techniques typically start to decline at this age; their vigor diminishes. For safety's sake, I propose to test Mr. Chen's physical condition first to avoid a tragedy during the real fight."

In an instant, the open area fell silent. Many were taken aback by this direct provocation.

Qingmu was furious; it was evident that someone had come with malicious intent to stir trouble at this meeting. They had just disembarked when an unknown mech warrior came to challenge them. Who were they trying to impress?

Everyone knew the implications—this was simply a deliberate insult to Old Chen, adding to the frustrations of those practicing the Old Techniques.

Even those who opposed Old Chen and belonged to different factions frowned, feeling this was excessive.

From various camps—mech, genetic warriors, and the New Techniques—people stepped forward, loudly condemning this behavior as inappropriate.

Old Chen raised his hand to signal Qingmu to step back and walked toward the challenger, replying directly, "Alright, come and test my condition."

"Sure, out of respect for elders, I won't use firearms," the mech warrior said, unsheathing a nearly two-meter-long sword. As he charged, the ground trembled, and with a powerful swing, a bright flash of light sliced through the air like lightning.

Old Chen initially remained still, sidestepping the blade as it approached, then swiftly advanced and delivered a resounding slap to the mech warrior's chest.

Crack!

A horrifying sound erupted as sparks flew from the mech, which soon cracked under the force, exploding into pieces.

A thirty-something mixed-race man fell out, blood spewing from his mouth as he crashed to the ground, motionless.

"What…" Wang Xuan was stunned, unable to believe that Old Chen had shattered the mech with his bare hands—this far exceeded his expectations!

The scene fell silent; many stared wide-eyed, their pupils constricting.

"It's been ten years since I last fought, and many have forgotten me," Old Chen said coldly, his thick silver hair and equally icy mask making him appear imposing as he surveyed the crowd. Few dared to meet his gaze.