CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 415: ANCIENT CULTIVATION SECT GATE

When Yu Ruoyun saw the enlarged photo, she, like Wang Lan, stood up abruptly.

"Is this the mountain gate of an Ancient Cultivation Sect?"

"It seems we share the same opinion."

But soon, Yu Ruoyun sat back down dejectedly, a bitter smile on her face. "What does it matter if we know this is the mountain gate of a cultivation sect? Sea mirages appear quite by chance, and the original scene has never been found. Who knows where this mountain gate is located?"

"No, but this sea mirage is very special." Wang Lan brought up the post. "The first appearance of the South Heavenly Gate over the East Sea was five years ago, but it has started appearing frequently in the last two years. It appears nearly every month, or every other month. Could it be that this Immortal Sect Gate will reveal itself soon?"

"Reveal itself? Are you sure you’re speaking sense? Is there any logical connection here?"

"Anyone who has read web novels would guess that such frequent natural phenomena mean either a treasure is about to appear, or some Ancient Sect Gate is about to emerge..."

"What on earth is a web novel? And what’s your basis for this speculation?"

"Never mind that for now; there’s something even more critical here. Do you remember what date it was when we first saw those three giant Exotic Beasts appear out of nowhere?"

"It should have been on the seventh day after we entered the Pioneer Space. It took two days to reach Lethe Canyon. The remaining five days were pretty dull. On the fifth day, at Big Grass Valley of the Ninety-seventh Group, that’s when we encountered them."

"It was February twenty-second, correct?" Wang Lan said, opening another image. "Check out the timestamp."

"February twenty-second, at 3:27 in the afternoon?"

"Yes. Although time perception can be skewed in the Pioneer Space, we had only been inside for a few days; it wasn’t long enough for such a large deviation. So... can you check the exact time of the beast tide in the East Sea Pioneer Space?"

"This... no problem."

Yu Ruoyun picked up the phone and made the call. After finishing, she put down the phone, a curious gleam shining in her eyes. "Are you speculating that the arrival of giant Exotic Beasts from the Different Dimensional Space of the East Sea is related to the South Heavenly Gate?"

"The phenomenon in the East Sea Pioneer Space is definitely special, and the appearance of the South Heavenly Gate in the East Sea is also very special. Two such special events, so close to each other, coincidentally happened on the same day. It’s easy to speculate that there is an unclear and indescribable connection between them."

"Easy?" Yu Ruoyun shook her head with a wry smile. "Sorry, I don’t see it. Maybe I’m an idiot."

"According to common sense, an unusual event is definitely accompanied by more unusual phenomena. If two strange events occur in the same place at the same time, there must be a connection between them.

Moreover, do you remember how the Academy of Science explained that group of giant Exotic Beasts that appeared suddenly? They came from the same Different Dimensional Space. Normally, an appearing Different Dimensional Space would be absorbed and merged by a nearby giant space.

Yet the space where those giant Exotic Beasts resided was not. That space was like a fixed space. For instance, like the Nine-layer Pagoda. So how did those Exotic Beasts come to the Pioneer Space from a fixed space? Although the Academy of Science hasn’t provided an answer, the answer seems to be on the verge of being revealed..."

"What answer?"

"Haven’t you also studied Different Dimensional Space Theory? Can’t you think of it?"

Seeing Wang Lan’s surprised expression, Yu Ruoyun really wanted to slap him. So what if you’re a top student? Does being a top student allow you to disdain others so recklessly? I only minored in Different Dimensional Space Theory, okay? Do you think I can compare to the big shots at the Academy of Science?

"A fixed space tear!" Wang Lan said gravely. "After I came out of the Nine-layer Pagoda, I went through the materials and even consulted with professors at Zhenhua University.

A fixed space is a type of closed, powerful space. It is generally not opened and is fixed in a specific location. The nine spaces of the Nine-layer Pagoda are fixed spaces, and the way to enter the Nine-layer Pagoda is through its main gate.

But the Nine-layer Pagoda, after all, contains distinct spaces. If a powerful force were to tear space apart, shattering the Nine-layer Pagoda, the Exotic Beasts inside would escape.

When we traveled from the fourth to the seventh floor, we did not use the regular channels. The space-time turbulence activated by the Space Stone was actually a space tear. Because that fixed space was torn, the giant Exotic Beasts entered the East Sea Pioneer Space.

Originally, I didn’t know where that fixed space was. But when I saw the South Heavenly Gate over the East Sea, I suddenly realized that space was likely where the South Heavenly Gate is located."

If Yu Ruoyun still couldn’t understand at this point, then all her years of learning would have truly been in vain. On the seventh level of the Nine-layer Pagoda was the Fairy Cloud Sect, and within it were countless powerful and terrifying Exotic Beasts.

If the South Heavenly Gate over the East Sea was also an Ancient Sect Gate like the Fairy Cloud Sect, then it would make sense for there to be giant Exotic Beasts within its space.

"I just don’t know if the frequent appearances of the South Heavenly Gate are a natural phenomenon or man-made. But the reason isn’t important; the outcome is the same. Above the East Sea, there is a fixed Different Dimensional Space, and within that space is an Ancient Cultivation Sect. That’s enough."

As Wang Lan’s words fell, Yu Ruoyun’s cellphone suddenly rang.

"Hello, it’s me. Alright, just send it to my Penguin account."

After hanging up, Yu Ruoyun opened her phone. "You have a printer at home, right? The records of the beast tide timings in the East Sea Pioneer Space have been compiled."

"Of course. Just send it to me."

Soon, an A3 sheet was printed, detailing the dates, scale, and other precise data of the beast tides in the East Sea Pioneer Space over the past two years.

But these data weren’t important; the crucial point was the timing of the events. Wang Lan quickly opened the post he had previously organized to match the timings. Soon, a smile of someone who had found the answer appeared on his face.

"Ruoyun, look! In these past two years, the South Heavenly Gate has appeared frequently, and the Different Dimensional Space has also had frequent beast tides. The timings almost match. This confirms my speculation."

Yu Ruoyun suddenly gazed at Wang Lan, a seriousness in her eyes that had never been there before.

"What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I’m suddenly feeling a bit inferior..."

The word "inferior" coming from Yu Ruoyun’s mouth was unimaginable. As Princess Yu Ruoyun of the Jade Country’s royal family, a noble of high birth since the moment she was born, how could she feel inferior?

Her background and talent were unmatched in her generation. Perhaps even the heavens thought Yu Ruoyun was too perfect and thus left her with a few flaws. Yu Ruoyun did not possess a stunning appearance. If judged on looks alone, Jiang Xinyu was far more beautiful than Yu Ruoyun; even Xie Sisi was prettier.

But Jiang Xinyu and Xie Sisi were top-tier beauties. Although Yu Ruoyun wasn’t breathtakingly beautiful, she was definitely not ugly. Coupled with her charismatic presence, she was still a girl who could captivate one’s heart at a glance.

So, it was impossible for her to feel inferior, not in any aspect.

But at that moment, in front of Wang Lan, she truly felt inferior. Wang Lan’s excellence made Yu Ruoyun suddenly realize that she might not be good enough for him.

"I can stubbornly believe that my talent is not weaker than yours, and I can stubbornly claim that my strength is not beneath yours. But in other aspects, the gap between you and me feels like a chasm.

The abnormal events in the East Sea Pioneer Space have been happening for two years now. So many people have been tirelessly searching for the source of the disturbance, all to no avail. Yet you, in such a short time, managed to analyze the source and the reason so thoroughly, with both theory and evidence complete?

How in the world... did you think of it? How did you connect an ordinary sea mirage to abnormalities in a Different Dimensional Space? Why didn’t anyone else think of that?"

"You don’t need to feel inferior about this; it’s not like you’re the only one who had this thought. As for why others didn’t think of it, perhaps their thinking was muddled? Anyway, I found it quite easy to connect the dots. Let’s not dwell on this. Let’s go investigate. An Ancient Sect Gate, perhaps we’ll find some ancient cultivation techniques."

"Should I contact my family?"

"I’ll make a trip to the Tianjian Bureau."

The two spoke almost simultaneously, but their thoughts were completely different. Even though Yu Ruoyun, for the sake of the greater good, sided with the state, her first thought in the face of a problem was still her Yu Family.

Upon leaving Phoenix Plaza, in the underground parking garage, Wang Lan saw Yu Ruoyun’s Huaxia sports car, a model Wang Lan remembered Jiang Xinyu also owned.

"Keep communications open. Let’s act together."

"Of course."

Although it had only been half a month, returning to the Tianjian Bureau felt like a lifetime had passed. But that wasn’t an exaggeration; after all, wasn’t a trip to the Pioneer Space like visiting another world?

"Excuse me, is the Director available? I have an urgent matter to report," Wang Lan asked the receptionist at the front desk.

"Colonel Wang Lan, please wait a moment. I’ll call the secretariat immediately."

Soon, the response came. Cheng Jianlong always gave Wang Lan the green light. Entering Cheng Jianlong’s office, Wang Lan removed his hat and saluted.

"Reporting, Director. I, Wang Lan, have an urgent matter to report."

"Speak!"

"Recently, the mirage of the South Heavenly Gate over the East Sea has been causing quite a stir. However, I conjecture that it isn’t just a mirage but a projection of a fixed Different Dimensional Space. That South Heavenly Gate is not an ordinary structure; it’s actually the mountain gate of an Ancient Cultivation Sect.

Furthermore, I also surmise that this fixed Different Dimensional Space is related to the giant Exotic Beasts that have been frequently appearing in the East Sea for the past two years. I plan to investigate deeply. Please approve, Director."

Hearing this, Cheng Jianlong stopped writing, looked up blankly at Wang Lan, and said, "I remember you... just came back from the East Sea space, right?"

"Yes!"

"You came out because..."

"I’m out on rotational leave; I have a three-day break. I happened to hear about the South Heavenly Gate as soon as I was out, and it caught my attention. Coincidentally, I recognized the unusual nature of the South Heavenly Gate because I had seen a similar mountain gate at the Fairy Cloud Sect within the Nine-layer Pagoda."

Cheng Jianlong was dumbfounded. What kind of luck did this man have? No, this was no longer just luck; it was destiny.

"You truly are... a mascot, stumbling upon major issues so casually. I approve your investigation. If you need manpower, just let me know."

"The Yu Family will also be involved in this investigation. How about you assign me some experts? Otherwise, with too few personnel, we’ll lack the necessary gravitas."

"The Yu Family? Why would they get involved?"

"Because this was a discovery I made together with my classmate Yu Ruoyun. After we conjectured the outcome, we agreed to follow up on the investigation together."

"Alright, I’ll have Ming Baiye assign you a couple of independent squads."

"Thank you, Director."

"Call me directly for any needs. Here is my personal phone number; write it down."

The independent squads included Yang Yang’s squad and A squad, totaling eight people. Wang Lan’s name was renowned among the independent squads. The S Squad in particular, having followed Wang Lan for a few days, deeply respected him and often boasted about him to their comrades.

Therefore, even though Wang Lan was young and held the same rank as their squad leaders, they all readily accepted his leadership.

"Gentlemen."

SWISH!

They all snapped to attention.