CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 267: THE TOP THIRD-YEAR STUDENT LAN BA! ALL THE OCEAN CRYSTALS HERE ARE MINE!

Looking at the Underwater Mechanical Crystal Dragon Palace with such precise construction before him, Lin Tianming felt that it didn’t seem like it had sunk from land to the seabed, but rather that it was built at the seabed from the very beginning.

With today’s human technology, this would definitely be impossible, which made Lin Tianming even more convinced that this must have been left by the Mechanical Ascension Civilization.

In the Mechanical Secret Realm, the Mechanical Mainbrain Destiny he encountered had said that the people from the Three Ascension Divine Kingdoms could not defeat the Deceit God and, for self-preservation, sealed off most of their territories.

The world he is in now is actually just a very small part of what existed before the Three Ascension Divine Kingdoms sealed themselves, known as the Abandoned Land by the Three Ascension Divine Kingdoms.

It was quite normal for there to be many relics left by the Three Ascension Divine Kingdoms here.

Thinking of this, Lin Tianming stopped fussing over the matter.

Thinking about the trial of the Underwater Mechanical Dragon Palace being the collection of Ocean Crystals, Lin Tianming looked around and spotted many crystals emitting the pure power of the ocean’s Water attribute.

"Are these the Ocean Crystals?" he muttered to himself. Confirming that he seemed to be the only person nearby, Lin Tianming began the collection of Ocean Crystals.

Soon, Lin Tianming had collected all the Ocean Crystals from this area into his Storage Space.

After a thorough search of the area to ensure nothing was left behind and no other discoveries were made, Lin Tianming proceeded to the next area.

A sight of another extensive spread of Ocean Crystals caught his eye, somewhat surprising Lin Tianming.

"The Sea Emperor Festival has been held for who knows how many times; how come there are still so many Ocean Crystals here? They’re as common as cabbages!" he pondered.

After a moment of thought, Lin Tianming came up with a possibility.

That is, this Underwater Mechanical Dragon Palace might keep nurturing new Ocean Crystals after the existing ones are taken away.

Only this could explain why there were so many Ocean Crystals in every area he entered.

While he had not yet encountered anyone here, Lin Tianming collected Ocean Crystals to his heart’s content.

The Ocean Crystals here possessed such pure Water attribute power that, if he collected enough, he might be able to combine them into an Ocean Crystal capable of nurturing a hint of Divine Power.

If they were similar to the crystallized power left over after the death of a Divine Realm Demon, then he would have hit the jackpot.

Because then he could go learn Divine Dao Domain Skills from his dear Teacher Tianshui!

With this thought in mind, Lin Tianming suddenly felt full of enthusiasm.

Wherever he went, not a blade of grass was left.

Since there was a high probability that more Ocean Crystals could be nurtured here in the future, it would be a waste not to collect more, right?

After looting several areas without encountering a single person, Lin Tianming was like a kid playing the classic game of Pac-Man, joyfully gobbling up all in his path.

"This Underwater Mechanical Dragon Palace seems much larger than I imagined; nearly a hundred people entered, yet I haven’t bumped into a single one..."

While collecting the Ocean Crystals, Lin Tianming also kept an eye out for other things in the Underwater Mechanical Dragon Palace.

Whenever he saw any precise instruments from the Mechanical Ascension Civilization that he had not seen before, he would study them closely, fearing to miss out on any treasures.

Unfortunately, up to now, he has not discovered anything of value other than Ocean Crystals.

"Are there really no Divine Artifacts or treasures like that here at all? Were they all taken by people who participated in past Sea Emperor Festivals, or were the items in the Mechanical Dragon Palace moved out by the people of the Mechanical Divine Country before it was sealed?"

Feeling somewhat regretful that he did not find more valuable treasures in the Mechanical Dragon Palace, Lin Tianming could only earnestly collect the Ocean Crystals.

After scouring Ocean Crystals from nearly ten areas, Lin Tianming finally encountered other people.

Moreover, it was several of them at once, and this group seemed to be quarreling over the allocation of Ocean Crystals in this area.

His body quietly Spiritualized, Lin Tianming didn’t rush to reveal himself.

A burly man asserted with undeniable certainty, "All the Ocean Crystals in this area are mine; you all can leave now."

"Why should you monopolize them all? There are so many of us, why don’t we split them evenly!"

"Exactly! If you’re so greedy, we’ll kick you out, and you won’t get a single Ocean Crystal from here!"

"That’s right, I’d advise you not to be so greedy. Anyone who has made it to the third round of the Sea Emperor Festival is no pushover. This isn’t a place you can just dominate by yourself!"

The others naturally objected to the burly man’s claim of sole ownership.

Having cleared the Sea Emperor Tower and the Coral Illusion Array to become one of the less than a hundred participants, wasn’t each of them an elite from their respective academies?

For them to give up on the Ocean Crystals in this area just because of the burly man’s words was unthinkable!

Seeing that the group was being uncooperative, the burly man instantly released his Level 40 aura.

"It’s because of this!"

Feeling the burly man’s powerful Awakener aura, which overwhelmed everyone present, those who initially opposed him changed their expressions in shock.

"Le... Level 40? You’re actually a Level 40 Awakener!"

"I’ve heard that the top third-year student from the Imperial Academy this time, Lan Ba, is at the Level of a Level 40 Awakener... Could it be... Could it be you’re Lan Ba?"

"No mistake! Look at the long spear in his hand, that’s not a weapon forged by a Forging Master, but his superpower, the Overlord Spear manifested! To think we’ve actually encountered Lan Ba, the strongest contender in this Sea Emperor Festival! He’s exactly at Level 40, the maximum level eligible to participate in the festival, who can beat him?"

"The previous two rounds weren’t about comparing real combat power. That first-year student named Lin Tianming could attain first place with his Talent, but in the third round, which is about real combat power, I’m afraid even Lin Tianming can’t defeat Lan Ba!"

Lin Tianming, who was secretly enjoying the show from the shadows, couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard the group mentioning him.

They talk about their own matters, why bother bringing him up?

He was now just an onlooker enjoying the drama!

Seeing that these people recognized his identity, Lan Ba continued, "Now that you know who I am, if you’re wise, you’ll leave quietly. That I’m not snatching the Ocean Crystals you’ve already collected should already be considered merciful of me!"

Faced with Lan Ba’s disdainful remarks, the group was frustrated, but what Lan Ba said was the truth; none of them was a match for Lan Ba, who was already at Level 40.

Among them, one person was unwilling to give up but, taking in the situation with so many people present, he came up with an idea.

"This Lan Ba is going too far with his Level 40 might! He was the last to enter, yet he wants to drive us, who arrived earlier, away so he can enjoy the Ocean Crystals here all by himself!

Although we can’t defeat him one-on-one, it’s a different story if so many of us join forces!

If he wants to monopolize, then let’s team up and beat him! That way, we can split the Ocean Crystals in this area evenly, and even snatch the ones he has!"

As the saying goes, greed is not enough for a snake to swallow an elephant; these people were incited by the speaker’s agitation and their eyes turned fierce.

Exchanging glances, they confirmed that everyone was ready to gang up on Lan Ba; with a loud outcry, they launched their attack on him.

Seeing that so many people were joining forces to attack him, Lan Ba narrowed his eyes slightly.

"The gap between you and me can’t be closed just by numbers! Since I let you go and you refused, and now you’ve even initiated an attack, don’t blame me for being ruthless and seizing the Ocean Crystals from you as well!"

Seeing that Lan Ba was too preoccupied to break free from the group attack, Lin Tianming, who was watching the show, suddenly had an idea.

Perhaps he could stealthily sweep all the Ocean Crystals in this area while they were busy fighting one another?

With such a thought in mind, Lin Tianming couldn’t help but lift the corners of his mouth in a slight grin.

"Senior Lan Ba, leave them to you. I’ll graciously accept the Ocean Crystals for myself, Junior Lin Tianming!"