Chapter 22: The Age of Exploration

Jiang Ping continued his inspection of the world, every secret of the Original World laid bare before his eyes.

Among these findings, he stumbled upon something very peculiar.

Strange trees were growing in every corner of the world. While this might seem ordinary, these trees were distinctly different from the native flora of the Original World; they were the very species of the divine tree Rahil! Once, Rahil was the only extraordinary tree in existence, but now these massive trees flourished throughout the world’s corners.

They were neither tall nor imbued with any extraordinary energy, yet somehow, they had undeniably become the local overlords. To investigate this anomaly, Jiang Ping decided to descend personally.

……

A fragrant wheat aroma filled the air as a large mud road stretched before a horse-drawn carriage rolling slowly.

“Tsk, I heard that the wheat we’re cultivating now originates from the ancient Human King!” a young man in the carriage spoke up.

“What Human King? To me, it sounds like mere myth! The origins of the grains are mysterious, having undergone many mutations and selections, clearly not the work of just one generation,” another man, around thirty, countered.

“You can’t say that. Recently, the archaeological team from the Tulip Kingdom unearthed remnants of a city from thousands of years ago deep underground. They even found living seeds, and the alchemical blueprints shocked the kingdom’s lords! I heard the Tulip Kingdom plans to build a grand ship again,” a clearly well-informed middle-aged man chimed in.

Hiss.

Upon hearing the man’s words, everyone in the carriage gasped. The Tulip Kingdom was not far from this continent, separated only by the Black Ling Sea. The discovery of remnants and plans to build a large ship indicated a serious intent!

This era was the Age of Exploration!

Countless continents were isolated by oceans, with kingdoms in constant conflict.

Especially in recent years, with the kingdom’s call, countless people were rushing into the depths of the ocean.

Each day brought discoveries of new continents, recuperations of underwater relics, and the establishment of new trade routes. Resources and knowledge were continually exchanged between different continents.

After the calamities, people rebuilt civilization, with each continent still benefiting from the legacies of ancient ruins.

Every time a new relic was unearthed, human kingdoms reaped considerable rewards. So, every continent was dedicated to exploring the seas. So far, the world map has yet to be drawn, and no one could definitively say what lost lands lay deep beneath the oceans.

“Actually,” the middle-aged man continued, “the rumored divine artifacts from myths, the Spear of Destiny, might really exist.”

His words stunned everyone into silence.

“That’s just fanciful talk from poets,” the merchant clearly expressed disbelief.

There are far too many legends about this artifact. Some say it was left by the Creator God, others claim it was a treasure forged by the heavens and the earth, and yet others believe this mysterious spear is a crystallization of ancient civilization.

All these legends praised its mystery and power.

These mythological tales were well-known to everyone in the carriage; they grew up listening to these stories.

“From what I gather, the ancient murals that have been excavated consistently depict a scene where a giant deity bestows three treasures. The primary task of each kingdom’s archaeological team is to seek clues about the Spear of Destiny.

This artifact not only possesses tremendous power but also symbolizes divine right; it is an heirloom from ancient times. Whoever possesses it will be the chosen one!”

The crowd listened, enthralled, but the merchant remained skeptical. The previous young man immediately pressed on, “So, have the archaeological teams in each kingdom discovered anything?”

“Alas…”

The middle-aged man sighed deeply, “From what I’ve heard, the nations have grown desperate. Many claim it has disappeared into the annals of history, but a significant number believe this artifact still exists!”

Upon hearing the middle-aged man’s words, everyone felt a pang of sorrow. Did this artifact, steeped in endless legend, truly still exist? Was it even real?

“It does exist,” a firm voice suddenly cut through the carriage. Everyone looked around in surprise, discovering a plain-looking young man.

Though the young man’s appearance was unremarkable, resembling just another passerby, he held a certain something that set him apart. Despite him being present, it felt as if no one was aware until he spoke.

The middle-aged man looked at the young man curiously, seemingly puzzled as to why he was so certain.

The young man continued, “According to a chief royal scholar named Tula who dedicated his life to searching for artifacts…”

Tula! Everyone perked up, recognizing the name. He was the wisest doctor in a millennium, having visited dozens of kingdoms, traversed every known continent, and lived a magnificent life, filled with countless prestigious titles and the seals of ten nations.

“Before Tula passed away, he told all his disciples, ‘Do you wish for the Spear of Destiny? It is deep within the ocean! I spent my life searching for this artifact and ultimately discovered the last recorded location was on a ship during the Great Calamity!” And Tula’s words led nations to strengthen their naval forces and compete for oceanic supremacy! Whoever obtains the Spear of Destiny will become the ruler of the world!”

The Age of Exploration was, in fact, initiated by Tula’s last words! Everyone’s eyes widened in realization. No wonder the nations had been escalating their exploration of the seas these past few years; it all stemmed from the quest for this legendary artifact.

“Tsk, tsk!”

The young man was, of course, Jiang Ping himself. He hadn’t expected the Age of Exploration’s cause to be the search for the Spear of Destiny.

The middle-aged man’s revelations thrilled those in the carriage, making the journey feel far less dull. The younger passengers squirmed in their seats, eager to leap from the carriage and race to the seashore, diving into this grand treasure-hunting era.

A little boy of around five or six suddenly jumped out from his mother’s embrace.

“Just you wait! I will travel to the ends of the earth to find the Spear of Destiny! I will become the King of the Seas!”

With that, he clenched his chubby little fists in front of his chest, his eyes burning with seriousness. His baby face showed no hint of jest.

“Hahaha!”

Everyone in the carriage erupted into laughter at the child’s words, even the driver chuckling heartily. Jiang Ping couldn’t help but smile and shake his head.

The carriage was instantly filled with a joyful atmosphere. Everyone saw it as innocent child’s play, unaware of the perils of the world.

The boy looked baffled at the laughing crowd, turning back to his mother in confusion. Did he say something wrong? The young mother smiled warmly, pulling him into her embrace, “Lu Fei, treasures aren’t that easy to find. If they were, after all these years and with so many people looking, wouldn’t there have been any results?”

The boy remained grave. “That’s because they aren’t capable! I know I can find it!”

The laughter resumed, but the boy stayed serious, his baby face set with determination.

Jiang Ping smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Finding treasures isn’t impossible, you know.”

The boy beamed, his cheeks puffing and eyes squinting into tiny slits.

Finally, someone acknowledged him! Why did everyone think he was joking? How infuriating!

The carriage began to slow as they reached their destination. One by one, the passengers disembarked, concluding this journey of stories.

The boy reluctantly waved goodbye to Jiang Ping. After several gentle tugs, his mother managed to lead him away.

No feast lasts forever. Before leaving, Jiang Ping gave the boy a small gift.

The boy opened his palm to reveal a luminescent green leaf. His mother curiously inspected the leaf.

The leaf resembled a rare species typically found throughout the continents. Delicate patterns wove together into a mysterious design. Despite having been plucked days ago, the leaf remained vibrant and full of life.

“This little trinket is quite unique,” his mother couldn’t help but praise.

The boy carefully held it, fearful it might slip away.

As the wheel of history rolls onward, he remained blissfully unaware that his grand journey was about to begin. This leaf would accompany him throughout his life, helping him avoid countless storms and illuminating his path home through the vast ocean.